The Great Pinterest Contest Experiment

This month a group of author friends discovered Pinterest. If you don’t know, it’s a way to share pictures, basically, a digital scrapbook. I have steampunk stuff, cool scenery, Mesopotamian ancient stuff, and books by my husband and I and our author friends. Sometimes people also post links to products you might be interested in buying. It’s kind of like word of mouth in pictures. These are links to sales sites. People can click on my book pictures on Pinterest and go straight to Amazon, and other sales sites, and buy the books.

So an author group I belong to decided to see if we could generate some book sales through Pinterest. Shawn Lamb has a fantasy book series, Allon. We have a whole Pinterest board devoted to Shawn Lamb stuff. Book trailers, banners, dishes made with lamb (I especially recommend the Haggis) , and even a few extras like Princess Bride pins for fun. Please visit the board, if you’re on Pinterest, repin something that catches your eye. Then, leave a comment on the board. At the end of the month we’ll collect the names of the pinner/commentors and Shawn Lamb will have  a random drawing for a free copy of Allon 1.

http://pinterest.com/gtargirl/win-a-book/

Graduate Macroeconomics of Trucking 501

We have posted around 125 blogs and the only thing I have mentioned about trucking is the places we go and occasionally something unusual like a breakdown or weather. One issue that comes up several times a week and is really the basis for how America works is the finances of the trucking industry. Both the mainstream media and politicians have vested interests in deceiving people. This is a small attempt to shed a little light on a very important subject.

Ever since the dawn of large corporations, these corporations want to use logistics to move their product from point A to point B. Logistics goes back to Ancient Greece, Rome and China. In the most basic view, logistics is the flow of control. It began as a military term and emphasizes having the right equipment and manpower at the right place and at the right time. The real control is financial. While logistics includes the people involved, the security along the way, the warehouses where the goods are stored and equipment to move the product, such as a ship, truck, train or airplane, the real issue in the flow of control. The real flow of control is money.

Sears/Kmart, Walmart, Lowes, Target, Home Depot, JC Penney and anyone else with a “big company” mentality use large contracts to ship their products. They demand large shipping companies such as JB Hunt, Schneider, Swift, Werner, etc. These large shipping companies do not bid on individual assignments or “loads.” They fight for huge multimillion-dollar contracts over a period of time, usually between 6 months and 2 years. With a signed contract in hand, they borrow money to buy the trucks, buy new trailers, hire drivers to make the runs, expand or purchase terminals and hire support staff such as planners, dispatchers and mechanics. They make this sound so good. The truth is that new contracts, unless they are for a new plant just opening, undercut someone else already doing the work. Wages are lower for the people actually doing the work. There are also more people to pay and more overhead. The people doing the actual work, that is the drivers and mechanics, are usually paid substantially less.

Not all loads in these jumbo contracts pay the same. Some are easy and pay well. Other loads are very difficult, some are dangerous and some pay very poorly. Companies working on contracts talk about “covering” loads, That means making certain that all loads are delivered, no matter what the conditions or circumstances. This is where the dangerous push to deliver “no matter what” comes from. It isn’t that a $500 load might be an hour late. It’s that the company might loss a $5 million dollar contract.

Often these difficult and dangerous loads are JIT (just-in-time) loads. That is, companies are using the US road system as their warehouse. They finish a subassembly at one plant then load it onto a truck with just enough time to make a delivery in perfect weather to another plant just as it is needed at the second plant. Any problems with weather, breakdowns or construction are not considered and become “the driver’s fault.” This kind of extreme time pressure causes an enormous increase in accidents.

To avoid most of these accidents caused by this time pressure, simply allow the driver to choose the load instead just assigning loads to the driver. This is the system now in place by Landstar.

Not only would the big companies lose control, many intermediate level jobs will no longer be needed. There is no more need for dispatchers or even terminals. Existing noncompany mechanics and drivers will make more money, creating a greater demand for waitresses, video games and whatever else drivers and mechanics want to buy. Individual “bad” loads will have to pay more, increase safety or both. Otherwise they will not be delivered. If there are not enough drivers, then competition for the existing drivers with cause rates to go up. Once rates have gone up enough, more people will want to become drivers.

Once again, the free market, if it is allowed to truly be free, will triumph over central planning. Everyone will win. Everyone, that is, except the central planners.

An Unbelievable Intersection of Lives

This is the third contemporary romance I have read recently, and the second by a Christian writer. Normally I don’t read this genre because the stories tend to focus on the self-centered “sufferings” of a heroine who doesn’t have any real sufferings. I have been blessed, however, to find two out of three gems in the genre.

You know Maggie Montgomery has seen real trouble from the very beginning. But you also know she’s learned to “pray without ceasing” in the most down to earth sense. Don’t make the mistake of thinking this is “The Nanny” with tacked-on Christianity. This is no comedy. Grab your box of tissues and follow Maggie through her stunning discoveries and what people discover about her, themselves, and her God. Who becomes her only real friend? Someone who’s totally off-limits. Who does she teach to pray? Not just the sweet little four-year-old boy she cares for. Whose lives does she change? Almost the entire rest of the cast of the book.

I thought the scenes at church were a little strange. They never met a single church member. Didn’t even shake hands with the pastor or say his name. Some of the sermon illustrations were application rather than strictly correct interpretation, but the points made were easy to understand. The focus was on Maggie’s living faith, and that shined clear. Romantic tension seesaws through everything, but was a little repetitive in the way was portrayed sometimes.

The characters were well-rounded, even the secondary ones. Plenty of internal and external conflicts keep the reader going and guessing. It’s an excellent read with a resolution of so much more than just the impossible romance.

 

Ultimate Evil?

Our youngest son, an Army Sergeant, sent us a link to the Kony2012 video about Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony that’s been viewed more than 100 million times on the Internet. This was the first we had heard of this particular video. The film was in production in November 2011 so we are not so very “out of it” not to have heard of it before now.

The premise of the Jason Russell video seems to paint Kony as an ultimate evil. The documentarian formed a friendship with an African boy who fled his village and family to live in a dormitory to escape kidnapping by this madman. He also brings in his own young son and seems to be promising to make the world a safe place for children by getting Kony arrested.

Kony did great evil in Uganda. Boys were forced to kill their own parents and mutilate others who would not support him. Evidence of these killings and mutilation are in the film. It also shows the sad conditions in the dormitory were the boy refugees live.

More than one Ugandan group claims this video should be pulled because it distorts the issues surrounding Kony. Angelina Jolie claims the real criminals are the US-backed established government of Uganda, though the video promotes continuing US support. Others call for Jolie’s execution as a traitor. It is a highly polarizing issue. We know that much for certain.

It is clear that Kony is now in hiding, no longer even in Uganda. He has 300 or fewer kidnapped child soldiers still under his influence. Ugandans who saw the film hurtled objects at the screen in protest. They say it is a picture of Uganda that is out of date and does not do justice to the victims of this evil. They claim it portrays a white man as the only one who can come to the rescue of black people.

The filmmaker protests that if anything like this ever happened in New Jersey it would be taken care of immediately, but that we are ignoring the situation in Africa. Gang initiations, intimidations and virtual abductions, in New Jersey and elsewhere, are not “being taken care of,” so this is not a valid argument. The film, however, has done a good work in raising awareness of a serious problem in Africa, even if it has done it imperfectly.

But the real point is that this is occurring all over the world in different circumstances. Girls are sold as sex slaves in Thailand. Female babies are aborted, killed and abandoned in China under a one-child per family system. Women in Muslim countries are stoned and both sexes murdered for dissent. Human beings become drug test guinea pigs in psychiatric studies when their real “sickness” or “crime” is disagreeing with their country’s government.

Kony is evil. But he is only one of many people who kidnaps, murders and pillages. Murders under communism’s leaders worldwide probably defy numbering at this point. Stalin, Pol Pot, Hugo Chavez, Ho Chi Mihn, Mao, Lenin, Marx, Khmer Rouge, and the list goes on. Why are these and contemporary murderers ignored in favor of this one evil?

As Bastiat says in his “The Law, “To understand the problem is to know the solution.” Kony was not the world’s first warlord, nor will he be the last. Many predict that as soon as he is removed, someone else will take his place. Slavery has been around for thousands of years and will still be here when we are no longer alive. The problem is that evil men use the law for plunder. This attracts more evil men to positions of power. When the law is only used for justice, not plunder, then evil men will not desire political office because they cannot profit from it.

Warlords exist because there are personal gains. When the opportunity for personal gain is cut off and justice is enforced, then the invisible children around the world will no longer be kidnapped.

The purpose of the law is to enforce justice. Kony is just one small example of a worldwide crisis of the breakdown of law and government. To agitate for the removal of a single warlord will accomplish nothing, though the warlords and others like them need to be removed. The profit motive, the rewards for perverting justice, must be removed.

 

“This Is Not a Small Thing!”

McKenzie Worthington is a desperate woman. She lives in a world of such wealth and privilege she has never even had to spoon food onto her own plate. She is willing to give it all up. Temporarily, at least. Someone must rescue her sister from a truly terrifying marriage in the wilds of frontier Montana, but McKenzie has no reason to hope for her family’s help.

McKenzie grew up in the comfort of Boston high society but she has known heartache. The “perfect” man jilted her for her best friend. She struggles to trust and love in a world of the proper and dutiful. There’s no example of open love or personal sacrifice or pain.

A mail order marriage doesn’t seem “binding.” Marriage is only for convenience and comfort. She travels to Montana only to find to a man who might help her find her sister. Zach Sawyer, however, teaches her the difference between her social customs and empty religion back home and the real God and His Word straight from his father’s worn-out Bible. He teaches her honor, duty and real sacrifice.

This story contains gems of greatness. McKenzie’s first dinner in Zach’s home had stunning potential to show how ill-equipped McKenzie would be. But, while we get description of Boston life, down to the wallpaper patterns, there is little of the hardness of life in Montana. Vague references to learning to cook didn’t satisfy.

When Zach cries out to God about the difference between a wife’s small shortcomings and the “big thing” McKenzie has done to him, it is another gem of greatness in the book.

Over all, though, it was a sweet, gentle lesson in replacing what the world teaches us about family, duty and what’s “proper” with truth, honesty and love based on God and His Word.

About the author of the Montana Skies Series
Penny Zeller

Penny Zeller is the author of The Montana Skies Series from Whitaker House, known for her down-to-earth prose and creativity in conveying spiritual truths with clarity and humor. On her blog, “A Day in the Life of a Wife, Mom, and Author” she addresses the challenges and joys of day-to-day family life from her perspective as a stay-at-home Wyoming wife and mother.

Penny has loved to write since childhood, but it was in 2000 she dedicated her writing skills to God, making a commitment to use her talents to inspire others with stories centered on God’s love. Her Montana Skies Series: McKenzie (2009), Kaydie (2010) and Hailee (2011), her first in the historic romance genre, have been well-received by readers and critics alike.

Her previous books include: Hollyhocks (Booklocker 2003), written for children with food allergies; Wyoming Treasures (Medallion Books 2005), a living history of the region with interviews of residents who had lived through the depression, World War II and other significant events. Her 2008 book from Beacon Hill, 77 Ways Your Family Can Make a Difference, put her in the national spotlight with speaking engagements, radio, and television interviews, including syndicated programs on the ABC Family Channel, CBN, and LESEA Networks.

Penny’s articles have appeared in Woman’s World, Brio, MomSense (official MOPS magazine), Victory in Grace, ePregnancy, Grit, Woman’s Touch, Vibrant Life, Village Family Magazine, Teenage Christian Magazine, Hopscotch, Idaho Magazine, On the Line, and many more.

Penny is active in her community and church, leading a Bible study and women’s prayer group, and regularly volunteering at her daughters’ school. She co-organized a local group designed to provide fellowship among local women, “Sisters in Christ Community Girls Night Out,” and enjoys canoeing, gardening, and playing volleyball with her family and friends.

Website: http://www.pennyzeller.com Blog: http://www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com

For review copies or to schedule an interview, please contact Cathy Hickling,
800-444-448 ext. 283, chickling@whitakerhouse.com.

The Law by Claude Frédéric Bastiat

(originally published in French in 1850)

Over 99% of everything ever written is not worth reading. Of those higher quality works which contribute to spiritual growth, more than 99% of those are only worth reading once. A tiny number are worthy of a second or third look. The Law, a tiny book of less than 50 pages, falls into the rarest of categories. Read and reread until its principles become part of you. It should be a textbook in schools. And it is free as an e-book! Unlike a normal book review, this little more than a collection of quotes.

“The law perverted! The law- and, in its wake, all the collective forces of the nation.The law, I say, not only diverted from its proper direction, but made to pursue one entirely contrary!”

“It is not because men have made laws, that personality, liberty, and property exist. On the contrary, it is because personality, liberty, and property exist beforehand, that men make laws. What then, is law? As I have said elsewhere, it is the collective organization of the individual right to lawful defense.”

“God has bestowed upon every one of us the right to defend his person, his liberty, and his property…”

“The law has been perverted through the influence of two very different causes – bare egotism and false philanthropy.”

“Now, labor being in itself a pain, and man being naturally inclined to avoid pain, if follows, and history proves it, that wherever plunder is less burdensome than labor, it prevails; and neither religion nor morality can, in this case, prevent it from prevailing.”

“When does plunder cease, then? When it becomes less burdensome and more dangerous than labor.”

“It would be impossible, therefore, to introduce into society a greater change and a greater evil than this – the conversion of the law into an instrument of plunder.”

“The delusion of the day is to enrich all classes at the expense of each other; it is to generalize plunder under pretence of organizing it. Now, legal plunder may be exercised in an infinite multitude of ways.”

“…the true solution, so much sought after of the social problem, is contained in these simple words – LAW IS ORGANIZED JUSTICE.”

“Here I am encountering the most popular prejudice of our time. It is not considered enough that law should be just, it must be philanthropic.” “This is the fascination side of socialism.”

“The Socialists say, since the law organizes justice, why should it not organize labor, instruction, and religion? Why? Because it could not organize labor, instruction, and religion, without disorganizing justice.”

Socialists “divide mankind into two parts. Men in general, except one, form the first; the politician himself forms the second, which is by far the most important.”

“Whilst mankind tends to evil, they incline to good; whilst mankind is advancing towards darkness, they are aspiring to enlightenment; whilst mankind is drawn towards vice, they are attracted by virtue.”

As Frédéric Bastiat pointed out in his 1849 The Law, when the majority of those who make a country work are convinced the Law has been subverted to the point where there is no hope, there are only two possible choices. People will either stop working seeing that the government will take the fruits of their labors or there will be armed revolt.

What Makes Art Christian?

The Jewish culture of Jesus in the early first century was built on the Law of Moses first, the rest of the Old Testament second and finally Jewish history during the Persian, Greek and Roman periods. Rabbis emphasized memorizing the Torah first and it was a very effective system. The first culture Christians witnessed to outside the Jewish culture were Gentiles who honored, respected and understood the Old Testament, but had not converted to Judaism.

Despite some of the best education the world has ever known, both cultures had illiterates. Though even well-educated people love and learn from art, the illiterate need artwork. It is their only means to an education. Both Jews and God-fearing Gentiles understood the same symbols. The Olive Tree and the Vine symbolized Israel. A lamb, a goat or an ox symbolized the need for a sacrifice for sin. A Menorah symbolized the true temple of God in Jerusalem, because pagan temples also used altars.

Christians then reached out to slaves and cultures with no possible background in the Law and little or no education. Also, Christianity introduced new symbols not found in the Law, such as an empty cross or the two intersecting curves representing a fish. With such great possibility for confusion, standards had to be introduced and somehow enforced.

The first standards were the commandments to not make any graven image and not worship idols. Whatever was made in the way of educational art must never be misused as idolatry or misunderstood to be an idol. Another clear standard found in the Law is that all art must glorify God. Through the centuries another clear standard developed; that of using common, easy to understand symbols. A sword pointing upward means life. A sword pointing down means death. A human skull represents man’s mortality.

These clear symbols in art allow objects of art to become aids in worship. A picture of God the Father with His hands outstretched over an orb can help a worshipper to concentrate on God as creator, sustainer, upholding the universe by the word of His power, among other things. It can help us love and adore a Being far surpassing anything we can make with human hands.

But the power of Art is the very real danger of Art. Who has never heard of the sin of loving “art for art’s sake?” This is nothing more than worshipping the created thing more than the creator. It is the sin of idolatry.

One way of avoiding this sin is to put limits on the realism of the artwork. Icons are made this way. Though Icons can be quite beautiful in and of themselves, they always point to the worship of the God of our salvation.

Another method is to use a medium which intrinsically points us to God. The high vaulted ceilings of Gothic architecture or stained glass windows are two well-known examples.

Another method is to make everyday working objects Glorify God. Candlesticks, lamps, tables and chairs are all some form of art. It is up to the artist to choose to glorify God this way. Amish and Mennonite furniture are famous for being well made, simple and glorifying God.

But the most important point is that all art either glorifies God or detracts from the glory of God. Television, movies, concerts, songs, pleasure reading, personal music are all just as much art as paintings, along with operas, sculpture and fashion.

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. I Corinthians 10:31

 

Irreparably Damaged?

The most important election so far was Virginia. Mitt Romney ran with only Ron Paul opposing him on the ballot. Yet Ron Paul, overall in a distant 4th place, polled 40%. The normal, reasonable, rational reaction is what the exit polls showed. 40% of the registered Republican voters will not vote for Mitt Romney under any conditions. Though it is impossible to know, regardless of polling data, how many of these voters will actually vote for Mitt Romney in a general election if Mitt Romney and Barack Obama are the only viable choices, many, many are quite vocal that they will still not vote for Mitt Romney.

Mitt Romney supporters insist that he must be the Republican Party nominee because he is the only man left who can defeat Barack Obama. In 2008, Barack Obama had 69,456,897 votes to John McCain’s 59,934,814. If Mitt Romney is the nominee and even a small number of registered Republicans refuse to vote for him on principle, then he will have almost no chance of winning the general election. Mitt Romney will take some democrat votes away from Barack Obama, but it is very doubtful that these will come close to offsetting the Republican abstainers. Mitt Romney has only one real hope. Democrats are even more upset with Barack Obama. It is very likely that Democratic turnout will be record lows. Some are making early predictions of the WINNER having less than 50 million votes.

The real problem is that a Mitt Romney nomination will convince millions that the election process is irreparably damaged. Unlike the parasites of the occupy movement, these are taxpayers who actually make this country work.

As Frédéric Bastiat pointed out in his 1849 The Law, when the majority of those who make a country work are convinced the Law has been subverted to the point where there is no hope, there are only two possible choices. The nomination of Mitt Romney will do one of two things. It will either cause those who believe Mitt Romney to be no better than Barak Obama to lose heart and stop working. In this case America will descend into a massive, Soviet style depression. The other, far more likely, response? Armed rebellion.

A Terrifying Alternative to Science

Malcolm Drake has so much to bear as a sixteen year old high school student. His mother left for another man, taking all their savings. His father has worked long hours playing financial catch-up and been too weary to see his son grow up. Bullies force him to find a hiding place deep in the school’s basement to eat and study. Still, he’s managed to stay out of trouble and keep his grades high.

Malcolm has deeper issues in his past, however, that won’t leave him alone. Haunting dreams of relentless chases through the darkness leave him exhausted in the mornings. A visiting minister called out a prophecy about Malcolm when Malcolm didn’t even know God. Besides, he fled the church because his mother became involved with a deacon and choir director. Malcolm’s father also abandoned the scene of his heartbreak and humiliation. Church keeps pulling Malcolm back, though, and people are praying for him and his father even after ten years’ absence.

A chance for a scholarship pulls Malcolm into an elite science class. He feels strangely drawn to tell the youth pastor about this opportunity since his father is seldom home. Transcendental Meditation is one of the lighter items on the strange “science class” menu. Is it just ancient wisdom applied to solve today’s problems? Or did a chance scene of violent intimidation witnessed from Malcolm’s hiding place give him a hint about the real agenda of the scholarship committee?

This story gives one teenager a lot to deal with. But Malcolm’s not alone as he comes to grips with deciding what he has to do about all the pressure and danger in his life. He has a protection he doesn’t even know about. Because even when you think you’ve left God behind, you might just find that God’s people, and God Himself, still have your back.

Worlds to Save With Five Minute Armies

At first I was kind of put off by the idea of a college student pulled into an alternate world and larger than life adventure. What new thing could Steve Biddison bring to a genre that I think started with Alice in Wonderland? But there’s at least potential here for a great allegory.

Biddison’s got plenty of homage to the great SciFi and Fantasy books and shows geeks love. He’s also got a group of young people prepared to save not just one world, but multiple worlds, while keeping ours safe too. I had to consult my History expert husband about this solid silver sword business, even though it is a fantasy. He says a number of famous fighters in history had swords of solid silver, and although they were ceremonial, you really can fight with one.

I loved so many of the details in this story. Lost in a cave? Maybe you’ve just found out a foreshadowing secret you’ll need later. Your soldiers only “exist” for five minutes per wave? Plan your battles very carefully. The Feelings of Faith were a little disturbing. I would rather have had a Holy Text they could rely on. Feelings can deceive us, and Biddison even brought up the ability of their enemy to deceive. Hope he develops this idea more in the series.

The book also deals with issues teens can really relate to. Why does the nasty one get to be the leader? Why is the outcast still outcast after all these years? Why don’t I fit in? Who do I trust? What am I here for?

I have now read quite a few Indie Authors and I am hopeful about the ideas and the talent out there. I am also hopeful honest and trustworthy editors and proofreaders will step up and work something out with these struggling new voices. This books does need that kind of help, but not at all to the point where it’s unreadable.

 

This “Blog in a Book” Waters Christian Seedlings!

 

 

Review of Growth Lessons by Naty Matos

 

Naty Matos says she has been through some tough times, but she doesn’t dwell on them in this work. She keeps a sweet, cheerful attitude, a lot like the gardener, while gently and persistently digging around our roots, aerating our soil, fertilizing our ground, and pruning our parts to get some growth going.

 

She knows better than anyone what it’s like to grow up “saved,” but to only become truly converted after many years of “do-it-yourself” Christianity. What a timely message for today this book is. Folksy, flowing, as good as a chat over tea. Here’s the heart of a fellow believer opened to us, begging us to open our hearts and examine our relationship with our God.

 

I can’t think of a real surprise to tease you with from this book, because it’s not so much new, as charmingly presented, drawing you along from subject to subject. It’s a project, a patchwork quilt Naty invites you to work on together with her. Plenty of Scripture gets mixed in with Naty’s own thoughts.

 

It’s a blog, as I understand it, a person’s scattered thoughts collected and shared, in a stream of consciousness style. Yet the author says she has a Masters Degree, so I have to say that there seems very little regard for traditional punctuation here, especially periods. She also says she grew up with other languages so I hope that is an explanation. I enjoyed the book and could recommend it wholeheartedly with that one proviso.

 

Unlike Stephen Crane’s Red Badge of Courage, They Met At Shiloh Gives Us Hope

Review of They Met at Shiloh by Phillip M. Bryant

I think I was required to read The Red Badge of Courage in High School. Normally a compliant student, I failed to complete that assignment. I don’t really like war stories, particularly graphically realistic and gruesome ones. I did, however, finish reading They Met at Shiloh. Yes, there is extreme realism in the description of the battle scenes and aftermath. But even if you’re very squeamish like me, here’s why you should read it anyway.

I swear I was there, trudging down those endless roads, rolling up those bedrolls, changing from my nightcap to my forage cap, hot, cold, sweat-soaked and rain-soaked, right along with these characters. Michael, Stephen, Robert, Phillip — I know them. Bryant gives such a richness of detail to his scenes, his clothing, and his characters. I smelled the powder and the blood. I saw that horrible pool you must read about to understand.

Above all else, I saw how real men felt and described their different Christian faiths, something glaringly missing from anything Stephen Crane might have written. Catholics, Methodists, Lutherans, as well as those who only scratched their heads at another’s belief (or screamed that it was hypocritical and false) all had their say. Crane gave us no hope. Bryant didn’t “save” everybody, or straighten everybody out to one belief, even. He let them grope, struggle, and come to grips or turn away in bewilderment as real men do.

That isn’t to say the message of what brings a man peace in Christ wasn’t clear. It was realistically presented, but not everybody understood what was happening or how it applied to them. Green soldiers think they understand how to do battle before they really engage. Some run. Some fumble. Some understand and do exactly what they must to do their duty. So it is with the lost. As prepared or unprepared as they may be by our poor efforts, God gives the increase.

 

 

 

Why do Mitt Romney Supporters Have to Compromise to Support Their Candidate?

American politics is all about picking the best candidate among the available choices. I hated Gerald Ford; thought he was awful. But, in 1976, the first year I could vote in a national election, I voted for Gerald Ford against Jimmy Carter because Jimmy Carter was so much worse. In 1980 I was pleased and happy to both support and vote for Ronald Reagan. In 1988, I voted for George Bush Sr., believing once again that it was a vote for the lesser of two evils. His administration was a very pleasant surprise. I can still remember Rush Limbaugh’s parody, “Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iraq.” When operation Desert Storm was over, our family stood across from General Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. in Philadelphia for the biggest parade I had ever seen.

Fast forward to 2008. The best candidate was Mitt Romney, so I supported him. This was more depressing than 1976, because Gerald Ford was picked by Richard Nixon, not the electorate. When John McCain defeated Mitt Romney, I voted for him in the general election without enthusiasm.

Now it is 2012. John Kyle, Rick Rubio, Pat Toomey and other great, well-qualified men are sitting on the sidelines. At this point, whatever you think of them, Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich have no chance. The race is between Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney. Rick Santorum is the better of the two men. While there are ads from both men that disappoint me, the outright fabrications are coming from the Mitt Romney supporters.

Rick Santorum’s greatest weakness is that his during his time in the Senate, he should have taken a stronger stand against excessive government spending. However, Mitt Romney’s record on government spending in Massachusetts is no better. Mitt Romney, as governor, had to support and/or sign bills he actually disagreed with. He has had many opportunities to explain why he made some of these decisions as Governor and as far as I am concerned, he has not done a very good job of explaining his positions.

The fibs his supporters bring up again and again all center around the false concept that we are opposed to Mitt Romney as a person. Nothing could be further from the truth. Here is a list of hard-core reasons for not supporting Mitt Romney. And yes, even today he is better than John McCain.

1) As Sandra Day O’Conner pointed out, he is not a very good Mormon. America was founded on the Judeo-Christian ethic. Speeches from George Washington to George Bush make frequent references to God, pray to God, ask for God’s guidance and blessing as well as repent of sin. You may search for a long time without finding anything in Mitt Romney’s speeches to follow in this tradition. On this issue, he would be no different from Obama.

2) He signed gun control legislation. There are 80 million gun owners in the USA. That is an enormous voting block to offend for a man who calls himself a conservative. In spite of this, Ann Coulter and Ted Nugent have endorsed Mitt Romney. Ted Nugent made his endorsement Friday evening. In less than 48 hours there were several petitions with thousands of signatures (at least that is what the circulators of the petitions claim) asking Ted Neugent to resign from his position of NRA board member. Ann Coulter is facing an organized boycott of her products. Unofficial, individuals within the NRA are claiming that Mitt Romney is a greater threat to gun ownership than Barack Obama because Mitt Romney has actually signed several pieces of antigun legislation. Barak Obama would have, but he has never had the opportunity.

3) He appointed liberal judges as Governor, passing over conservatives. Though he says now that he would appoint judges like Roberts and Alito, he does not mention Clarence Thomas or Antonin Scalia. Why? Mitt Romney looks at Alito and Roberts as more moderate. Scalia and Thomas are too conservative for him.

4) Ann Coulter calls Obamacare and Illegal Immigration the “make or break” issues of this election. On the Illegal Immigration issue, Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney are close enough to ignore the issue. But Obamacare is really nothing more than a national version of Romneycare in MA. Romneycare even requires private health providers to provide free birth control, like Obamacare.

5) Rick Santorum is not making social issues the focus of the campaign. The media and Mitt Romney are. Every media event Rick Santorum attends, the social issues are the only questions these people ask. Rick Santorum has principles he is not going to compromise so he is forced to resort to short canned answers to questions which he has answered thousands of times already. Then he moves on.

Why do Mitt Romney’s supporters ignore these enormous issues and falsely claim that we have some sort of personal, unreasoning animosity toward Mitt Romney? I read a list of these personal attacks in an Ann Coulter piece defending Mitt Romney which ended with “are these the best arguments the Romney haters have?” Coulter says in the piece, published on her website February 22, “Purely to hurt Romney, the Iowa Republican Party fiddled with the vote tally to take Romney’s victory away from him and give it to Rick Santorum — even though the ‘official count’ was missing eight precincts.”

We are not Romney haters, those are not our arguments and to falsely claim that they are is dishonest. The only reason I can think of for relying on this straw man type of attack is that you are defending what you know in your heart is indefensible.

Anxiety Part 2: Distress Guest Post by Karen Baney

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
Last week we looked at casting our earnest and tense desires (a form of anxiety) on Jesus. Today, let’s look at it from another angle.

Dictionary.com gives this as another definition for anxiety: distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune.

We can still cast our fear, distress, and uneasiness on him. He’ll take it.

I love this passage in Psalms, which is listed as one of the cross references for 1 Peter 5:7.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Psalm 37:5-6 (NIV)
This is such a vivid word picture of God’s active part when we cast our anxiety on him. And it’s not just that we cast our anxiety on him, but we also commit our way to him. When we do this, whatever outcome we fear, or whatever person or situation we fear, God will overpower it with our righteousness—which comes from him.

I find this verse particularly helpful when I feel anxious because I think I’m being treated unjustly. He says that he’ll make the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. If you’ve ever visited the southwestern part of the United States, you’ve probably noticed that even in the winter time, the sun is very bright and intense. I live in Arizona and I don’t even like going outside on a lunch break without sun glasses on because it hurts my eyes. That’s how intensely bright God will make the justice of your cause.

If you’re fearful of an abusive spouse, or you’re anxious over a pending court date, or you fear your boss’s retaliation because you stood up for something right at work—take these things and hurl them at God. He’ll take them and he’ll make justice so bright that all will see.
It may not be in your timing. You may find that you need to hurl it at him again because you tried to take it back. That doesn’t matter. Just re-commit your way to him. Trust him. He’ll show up in ways you could never imagine.

Karen Baney writes Christian historical and contemporary romance novels. When she’s not busy writing, she enjoys traveling the state of Arizona with her husband, exploring museums and the picturesque landscapes the state has to offer. Her faith plays an important role both in her life and in her writing. Karen and her husband make their home in Gilbert, Arizona, with their two dogs.
You can pick up copy of Karen’s novel, A Life Restored (Prescott Pioneers #3), on Amazon for your Kindle. This story follows the lives of two young people who have a lot to learn about trusting God. He takes them through dark and fearful places, eventually drawing them to himself and restoring their lives to ones that honor him.

Visit Karen at her website: http://www.karenbaney.com or on Facebook or Twitter. Visit her special blog for authors at http://www.everythingauthor.com.

The Books and Novels to Read.com Compendium of Short Stories

Presenting a collection of short stories featuring two by Mary C. Findley. Look for “Most Fortunate of Men” and “My Lord’s Table,” in this eclectic collection. Companion stories, these two tales begin with a young woman waiting ten years for her betrothed to return from war. But will he return? Will Jael have to go and ransom him back? Will he even be alive? Will the handsome enemy prince claim her for himself?

In “My Lord’s Table,” yet another war tears apart the life of a country estate owner when a mercenary invades his home and threatens his peace for food, and perhaps much more than Lord Caleb is willing to give. What will it take to stop a man who smells victory and wants its spoils all at once?

Political Termites

Termites: tiny creatures invisibly destroying massive buildings from the inside. Did you every meet anyone who got involved in politics for what they could get out of it? Most low-level politicians either work for free or almost free. They do the job because they honestly believe they are helping people.

At what point do they succumb to temptation and make something for themselves? With some politicians, they enter politics with no personal principles. They simply start out taking the easy road to personal rewards. But most people do not start out corrupt. Somewhere along the campaign trail or after they get into office they make a decision. That decision might come when someone takes them into a room and “explains” to them the way the “system” works. It could be some type of personal temptation, usually sexual or financial. But with most politicians, the pressure to do “greater good” overwhelms personal principles. They cannot help anyone unless they are in office. So they do what they have to do to get or stay in office.

It does not have to be just individual politicians, either. States at the end of the Primary voting season see that their votes do not count. By the time they get to vote, all the competitors have dropped out. In 2012, 33 states and territories, including the District of Columbia, moved their primary or caucus date forward, even though the Republican National Committee (RNC) passed rules forbidding voting before April 1, 2012. Arizona, Florida and South Carolina defied the rules even further. For those who moved their voting date, the RNC cut the number of delegates in half and required that they award their delegate proportionately instead of winner-take-all. Arizona, Florida and South Carolina awarded all their delegates to the winner. In South Carolina Newt Gingrich had 40.4%, Mitt Romney had 27.8% and Rick Santorum had 17%. In Arizona Mitt Romney had 47.3% to Rick Santorum’s 26.6 %, a difference of 8 delegates. In Florida Mitt Romney had 46.2% to Newt Gingrich’s 31.9%, a difference of 16 delegates.

In Iowa, Mitt Romney was originally declared the winner by 8 votes out of a total vote of 121,394. He was awarded one extra delegate because he was the winner. After the votes were certified, effectively recounting the votes, Rick Santorum was declared the winner by 34 votes. However, the state election board made this announcement very late on a Friday night, declared the election a tie and awarded the same number of delegates to Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum.

In Michigan, delegates are awarded by popular vote per congressional district. Winning big in one district does not help you out in another district where you narrowly lose. Though Mitt Romney won the popular vote, in delegate count by congressional district, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum tied. According to Michigan law, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum should have an equal number of delegates. However, in violation of Michigan law, the Michigan Republican Party awarded Mitt Romney an extra delegate, taking one away from Rick Santorum.

Normally, these small “irregularities” would go unnoticed because the winner would be determined long before the final primary and few delegate votes here or there would go unnoticed. After all, each one of these is only a little termite. But with the possibility of a brokered convention looking more and more likely, these results certainly appear as if the fix is in for Mitt Romney.