Becoming More Positive

How does one become more positive and filled with hope while the media pours death and terror and downfall across the airwaves? How can I project hope when our government is so negative about everything?

I have been thinking about Dave Ramsey's Townhall for Hope. Maybe this is why I have not been blogging in the past week. Not that I do not have anything to say, just that I don't want to be a parrot nor do I want to give a false sense of reality.

Yes, things are tough. But even more importantly, this is America, and we have overcome worse!

There I said it, and I mean it.

Here's some hope:

Spiritual Hope

• Let's remain true to the Judeo-Christian heritage of our nation.
• Let's return prayer to the public places.
• Let's put the study of the Bible back into our local schools.
• Let's teach ethics to our students that embrace Judeo-Christian principles.

Why? Judeo-Christian values are supposed to build up people while showing love to all. Our values are supposed to reflect the heart of Christ:

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."Luke 4:18-19 (NIV)

And then He commissioned us all to:

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'Matthew 25:37-40 (NIV)

By teaching and reinforcing our heritage, our nation becomes safer and more tolerant. We do not have to pass laws to Christianize the nation if we as Christians are free to exercise our faith and if we will exercise our faith as laid out by Christ.

Government Hope

• Let's demand less federal government.
• Let's recognize the rights of each state which are being trampled by the federal government which is overstepping its bounds. The federal government has become too overbearing.
• Let's demand a better balance of government and stop allowing the president to usurp powers not granted to him.
  
• Let's stop electing Senators and start appointing them once again so they will once again focus on representing their states.

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.Romans 13:1-5 (NLT)

Our representative form of government allows us to make changes and to remove those whom we believe are not best representing our interests. This should generate respect for those who serve in our government because we are the ones who put them there.

If we are doing what is right, we have nothing to fear. But notice that God's design for government is to punish those who are doing wrong, not to make up rules that make the innocent guilty also. So as active citizens we should demand that our government be held to the standards laid out in the Constitution.

Fiscal Hope

• Let's repeal the stimulus package, the TARP package, and any other government incentive into the private marketplace. How's that hope? My grandchildren will not have to pay for our miserable mistakes. That's hope for them!
• Let's repeal the 16th amendment, disband the IRS, and pass the FairTax amendment.
• Let's demand fiscal conservatism and less government.
• Let's get our states to implement financial education into their curriculum in order to curb this insatiable lust for overspending and failed financial policies. Plus, it will give people a better advantage in how they purchase goods and save for their retirement.

Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority. Romans 13:6-7 (NLT)

The great thing about this verse is that we are encouraged to "pay" our taxes - not have money siphoned from us by the government! This is why we need the FairTax, so we can pay our taxes more honorably than having people yank our teeth out by the root.

I am going to think about some other forms of real hope for America. I am going to work hard at remaining more positive. I am also going to try to be less critical of people and more analytical in my critique of policy by providing alternative answers to key issues.

I hope you enjoy the new me and the true hope this blog represents. Let me know what's on your mind and let's bring hope to the table.