Can "love" help our nation's economic problems?

I try to keep this blog to talk about our adoption progress, home life, our heart for adoption (that is an extension of our faith), but not really politics. But there's a connection, keep reading.  I like to read other blogs and I haven't read anything that coincides with my thoughts, so thought I'd write.

The Republican National Convention last week was masterfully done.  Many of the conservative platitudes and qualifications of candidate, Romney, were brought forth by other speakers that went before him, allowing for Romney to talk about higher ideals, more encompassing, that will help our nation.  It was sermon-like, in the tradition of Ronald Reagan.  It went above the political process.  And that is what we need from a leader, it is refreshing.

Ann Romney, in her speech, also talked more about her heart and her husband's heart than policy.  She said in her introduction that she wanted to talk about "Love."

Both speeches had the theme of love all through it.  Here is an excerpt that I loved the most, from Mitt Romney:    

Unconditional love is a gift that Ann and I have tried to pass on to our sons and now to our grandchildren. All the laws and legislation in the world will never heal this world like the loving hearts and arms of mothers and fathers. If every child could drift to sleep feeling wrapped in the love of their family – and God’s love — this world would be a far more gentle and better place.

I know there are speech writers, and it is still politics, but there was a genuineness of their speeches and the message resonated with me, and it wasn't just talk.

Full text of Mitt Romney's speech here.  I have it embedded video at bottom of this blog.  

Full text of Ann Romney's speech here.   

  

Our country is on the precipice economically.  We need an economic plan for recovery.  We want details.  According to the conservative media pundits, Romney was expected to talk about the benefits of Capitalism, teach on that, so success is not seen as "bad," and also, to talk about what he'll do as President.  But he talked a lot about love, not at all what I was expecting but I've been thinking about it.  

Here is why I think weaving the theme of love into the speeches was brilliant, and coincides with my Christian Worldview.  In talking about love, he is talking about the value of the Individual, and the value we place on them, because God does.  This isn't the love we have for politicians, or what government can do for us, as politicians are always promising what they can do for us to get our vote.  Some of us understand what that road leads to by now.  If we are going to replace government subsidies (that is making our country go broke) with charitable freewill giving (monetary and otherwise), what will that require?  It will require love.  I believe this love comes from above, and for the believer, is proof of what we say we believe.  The Good Samaritan loved his neighbor and he took a personal interest in a stranger.  It wasn't Government.  The Pharisee, like the government, didn't really care, and just walked on by.  That is what our healthcare system needs.  It does involve personal, freewill  monetary giving, effort and discretion alongside the competent healers who will get paid.

If it is the government's job to take care of orphans, then orphanages will overflow and we know they will not develop right, even though we need to be thankful for the orphanages (just not like a loving family).  Caring for the elderly is not the government's job, it is family or community.  We need love to keep families together, where wives and husbands are loving each other in spite of their faults.

The message of love shown by individuals is a joyful and hopeful one, and in contrast to a message that says government will solve all your problems where love is disconnected.  Government, when they redistribute wealth, doesn't give you a choice on giving and how much.  They give without enough discretion and oversight (or love!).  So, when we pay our taxes, it isn't a joy and we're not convinced the money will be used wisely or fairly.  It really robs the tax payer of the joy and blessing of giving.  I know the argument is that we don't give like we should, so therefore, government has to force it out of us to take care of the needy.  But I'm not going to make this blog too long and address that.  But I look to what is government's proper role to answer that, and that would be a subject of another blog.

My main voting issue now is the Pro Life agenda, every life is precious and every person is created in God's image.  (I don't want to make anyone feel condemned if that was their past, if they had or paid for abortion, because there is forgiveness at the Cross.)   Romney, talking about his love and heart for children also touched on his Pro Life agenda.  I believe part of the role of the "strong" is to defend the "weak."  These children need an advocate, both the born and the unborn.

As a side note, I was also pleased the Republican party included minorities, not as a token, but they are very much apart of the success stories of America.  Our nation was founded by immigrants, so Latinos, African Americans, Asians, Europeans, etc., have equal opportunities and their origin, color of their skin really becomes a non-issue.

I wish the Republican candidate was a born again Christian, but what is more important to the job he is running for is not what or who he's trusting in to get to heaven (as important as that is for his own soul that he trust in Jesus Christ alone).  But how he will govern and his leadership of our country is how I'll vote.  We're only given 2 candidates at this juncture.  Obama claims to be a Christian and yet he has stopped legislature 3 times in passing a bill that would halt doctors from killing babies born who can live outside the womb.  Even for Pro-Choice people, this is indefensible.

Romney could be a good actor with a great speech, however, he has an impressive past of charitable service and giving to match his rhetoric.  He has lived it out.  I'n not going to go into every vote or appointment but I can still generalize based on his history, and people grow and modify positions.

He also has shown himself to be a competent businessman and governor who can help our country balance the budget.  I see our economic issue as a moral issue, and having a heart to do good and integrity is what we need.  The overspending of our nation is a moral issue.

I am not voting for Romney be my pastor, or Bible Study teacher. God in His common grace allows many from all religious beliefs to demonstrate His caring love, and become very competent individuals, because we are created in His image.  This is why I have no problem voting for a Mormon.  He understands how important Individuals are, and his message of Love is a message that we all need to hear, and he is the best man for the job who understands many things from his experience.

I think the economic plan, and all aspects of government, have to start somewhere, and if we don't have that love, I think we will bear the consequences of a repressive government.  More than ever, we need God.

Our Fourth of July Celebrating Freedom

We had a simple celebration.  Chris works in retail, so this was a big day for him at work.  I guess this is all part of our freedom right?  :O)

Anton and I watched a show about the American Revolution, on one of the history channels.  (comment on that:  I found it amazing that so many of our American heroes were so fashion-conscious, like General/President George Washington!  Gave me a chuckle.  Do great things and by all means look good doing them!  Ha ha.)

One particular character really stuck with me, Benedict Arnold.  What a cautionary study of pride!  He was a great military hero, but an unfriendly press really ate away at him.  He was so bitter that his sacrifices weren't appreciated.  This could happen to anyone, you know?  We all have that ugly pride to varying degrees.  He finally betrayed our country in a battle that was to take place that was named after him!   Now called Westpoint.   It was just a reminder to crave only the opinion of our Lord and Savior and serve Him.  People will not appreciate us as they should, or they will think too much of us when we don't deserve such credit.

We had some dear friends over for BBQ.  Chris made it home in time to say "hello" and "farewell" to our friends who didn't want to be out after dark.  Then we headed out to buy some fireworks.

I am thankful for our Freedoms.  With all the changes in our country, many feel this freedom is gone.  I'm not there yet.  But I see it slipping away.  Our Supreme Court just ruled in favor of Obamacare.  This is the President's and left-leaning members of Congress' attempt to social medicine.  By all appearances, the Chief Justice Roberts changed his mind at last minute and cast the swing vote to uphold Bill, in order to dodge the Supreme Court's responsibility of stopping it, even though there are many constitutional reasons he could have stopped it, and indeed he opposed the Federal Government forcing anyone to buy anything.  It could be a "tax."  There are many different conjectures as to why he did it, believing it was an "institutional" decision and not "constitutional" one, or based on logic following the constitution, that is their job.  I sort of reject the idea we can judge his motive or his heart.  But I think a lot of these conservative pundits are right.  I just hate to judge.  The thing that I'm glad about is that people are talking about the Constitution more.  We live in a day where lawlessness seems to be increasing.

How I Named My Blog / Movie Recommendation

I named my blog, as you can see in web browser above:  www.our-resting-place.blogspot.com

"You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in You." ~Augustine

Augustine of Hippo, who lived in the 4th century (beginning of Dark Ages) came to Christ later in his life.  He saw his life before Christ as burdensome, he carried the weight of sin for so long as an irreligious libertine, and in his search he didn't understand "grace" but saw the requirements of God as a burden.  After a lot of searching, and after his mother's many prayers, the grace of God mercifully came down and he partook of the saving nature of Christ.  He saw 2 worlds, the City of God (eternal) and the City of Man (temporal and subordinate).  His theological writings influenced many great theologians after him.  Catholics and Protestants alike draw from his writings (and from what I understand, his writings show a progression in his understanding, so he wasn't always consistent in everything he wrote).

He influenced a girl name Sophie Scholl who quoted him.
  

I think I heard the quote above, before I saw this movie, but I heard it again in: Sophie Scholl, the Final Days.  She is now one of my heroes.  The movie is based entirely on a true story.

Sophie was a a brave young girl, at only 21 years old, who was willing to die, like Bonhoeffer, or Stauffenberg, in order to do the right thing for the City of God.  

Through her college connections and brother, she was involved in a group called, The White Rose.  This  organization, wasn't necessarily "Christian," (can read their pamphlets here), but more political, but I believe some of the the participants, maybe not all (not sure), derived their motivation from a Christian worldview.  There is  Biblical thought in the pamphlet, but the writings draw from many religious philosophies, thus making it not entirely "Christain" (but maybe they just wanted to have a broad appeal to many audiences.)  I think there was one main writer of the pamphlets in this group (Alex Schmorel), if I remember correctly from when I researched this a while back.  They wanted to tell the truth about Hitler and what he was doing, even exposing that Jews were dying in concentration camps.  The White Rose wanted to motivate people to resist   Hitler's regime.

(spoiler alert)  She didn't want to be caught, of course, no martyr's complex, but she was caught along with others and given a quick trial.  She was executed quickly, only 4 days after she was caught.  It wasn't instant, but she mustered up remarkable bravery before her death.  The movie brings out that process as well as the court proceedings.  There is a distinct Christian worldview throughout the movie.

The movie sought to be completely accurate based on her quotes and people that came into contact with her, albeit some information is second-hand.  It is in German (with English subtitles available), German-made, and that gives it the more accurate feel as well.  It is one of those movies that have you on the edge of your seat.  I can't tell you how incredibly well-done the movie is.  (I made some popcorn before we began the movie and I couldn't eat it, I was so riveted.)  By the way, if you saw Valkyrie, and feel that you've seen this movie already because they're both about brave heroes during WWII, that movie is not on the same level as Sophie Scholl at all.

Her excutioner had killed over 3,000 people and remarked he had never seen anyone die as peacefully as she did.

She is quoted as once saying,

Stand up for what you believe in even if you are standing alone.

Her last words were:

How can we expect righteousness to prevail when there is hardly anyone willing to give himself up individually to a righteous cause. Such a fine, sunny day, and I have to go, but what does my death matter, if through us thousands of people are awakened and stirred to action?

For sure she was an activist and motivated to change things because of her faith in Jesus Christ, and I think Christ was not just her example of self-sacrifice, but her Joy and source of strength and courage.

Her parents were Protestant.  Her father particularly loved theology of the Reformers, including Luther, and that love spread to her, as evidenced by some of her quotes.  Her worldview was developed in her younger years but was solidified as she matured, and applied what she learned in the home.  There seems to be a progression of her understanding of her theology and how that would influence her actions, just like with Augustine.

In the movie, she was in prison, and she quoted Augustine as she looked out the window (if I remember correctly).  "Our hearts are restless until they find rest in you." (she was having anxiety attacks, knowing what her future was, she longed for the comfort only God can give during that difficult time)  When I heard that, I thought, what a great verse!  Is that in the Bible?  Psalms? I Googled it.  (don't you just love that you can Google anything and find it??)  It was Augustine.  

Here are a few other quotes:

I know that life is a doorway to eternity, and yet my heart so often gets lost in petty anxieties. It forgets the great way home that lies before it. 

I will cling to the rope God has thrown me in Jesus Christ, even when my numb hands can no longer feel it. 

An end in terror is preferable to terror without end. 

But I want to have that kind of love, that denies itself, that takes risks that God might be calling me to, that has peace that surpasses all understanding in Christ, and He is a source of that love.

In the political world, (the City of Man), as we see tyrant leaders, even in America, who find the God of the Bible and religious freedoms distracting from their evil and hypocritical agenda, I believe we are called to to stand up for (with an attitude of thankfulness and respect for governing authorities according to Romans 13):  the lives of the orphans, the unborn, the persecuted, the rights to worship God freely and pursue our service and growth in Him, and to tell others about Christ.  We need to be educated voters. We should blog, Facebook, tell others the truth because the MSM (main stream media) will not.  Remember that Hitler was voted for democratically by people who were duped and only thinking short term of their own personal pocketbooks.  Stalin was worshiped even as he sent them to die in the gulags because the press carried the myths.  These are things worth fighting for especially those who are apart of the City of God, as we rest in Him.

Sir Winston Churchill wrote in particular of the German resistance:

The political history of all nations has hardly ever produced anything greater and nobler than the opposition which existed in Germany. These people fought without any help, whether from within or from without, driven only by the uneasiness of their consciences. As long as they were alive, they were invisible to us, because they had to put on masks. But their deaths brought their resistance to light.

C. S. Lewis wrote:

If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. The Apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages....all left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth 'thrown in': aim at earth and you will get neither.

I'm so thankful I live in a country that gives us the opportunity to adopt. and help orphans thrive and come to a knowledge of Him.  If we lived under a Hitler or Stalin, I don't know that we could have anything to offer these orphans.   This is the kind of freedom the founders of America understood, not freedom for the sake for greed and materialism, but to be free to help others and be instruments of his grace.  To God be the glory.

Thoughts of our Country on this National Day of Prayer

When we were in Russia at the airport, ready to take Anton to his new country, it was quite an emotional time and perhaps that was a turning point for having now a greater appreciation for our country.  We have a lot to be thankful for.  And a lot to pray about.  In summary, that God would allow us to be a blessing to others in the world, through missions, humanitarian aid, adoption, opportunity through industry (capitalism), and freedom (that costs the ultimate price), to be found pleasing to Him. 

Here's the story that I love to tell (and probably wrote about some of these things in earlier post).  The Russians in the airport wanted to comfort my little 2 1/2 year old, clinging to me tightly (bonding wonderfully), that he is going to another land, but it will be good.  He was going to be an "Americansky."  Perhaps these nationals working in the airport were more appreciative of other countries, being in a travel industry.  But, Russians are very patriotic, as a people.  They respect their own country with all its flaws.  They really respect it when they see us appreciate our country; that's our duty.  Many there love Americans.  We were allies once and in many ways still are.  Respect and love for country is something that they're taught and maybe it is something we have lost, because, as you know, speaking our minds and criticizing our country is one of freedoms and hobbies (that I indulge in) as part of the First Amendment.  They don't speak so freely, and that is part of the problem with Russia, but also convicting to see their respect, according to Romans 13.   

Getting back to the story, as we walked our way to through the lines toward the airplane, as the nationals learned that we were adopting our little Anton, they would speak to Anton in Russian.  (And I can't talk or type about this without getting teary eyed.)  They told him he was going to a wonderful country.  And they were sincere; you could see it in their eyes.  Some of them were almost envious of him (remember, that adopted children in Russia are a little persecuted.  Things are changing, but they are seen as "unwanted children" and because of that will never be "normal.")  And yet you can see in some of their eyes the joy for what awaited our little guy.  Many of them had tears in their eyes for him.  I was very emotional too, because I knew he was leaving his home country, and even though that was "good," I was experiencing a loss of some sort for him.   I never expected that.  I expected that we'd "high tail" it out of there and be happy about that.  I was happy, but it is hard to explain.  Perhaps it was just an important moment.  I hope someday to visit Russia with him.

I was so thankful that we were taking Anton to a land of opportunity, where he could get good medical care, education, eventually find out who he wanted to be when he grows up.  And of course, be loved by his family, who would share the gospel with him and he would not be alone in an institution any more.  What opportunities awaited to him!  God was bestowing His blessing on him.  Everyone could see it.  I thought I was being blessed finally getting a child (about time!).  And, and I was being blessed, but I realize how much God loves Anton, and how much we should be thankful for our country that was founded on Biblical principles.

We have a lot to pray for.  Most of all, prayer of thanks.  And prayer that God would revive us, as in the days of the Great Awakening.  Pray that "theology" would be important, because it is all about our relationship with our Creator.  The churches today are so poor in spirit, but busy, and extravagant...not truly "rich."  Doctrine was something people thought about more 200 years ago and prior.  That is why the Pilgrims came here because they wanted to worship our God freely. 

I hope that our country means something to you.  If you have forgotten, just look at my son.  What would his life be without the opportunities that have come to him by way of our country.  By way of our God. 

He loves America.  I think the workers in the orphanage trained him during the month before we picked him up (almost 6 years ago today, that would be May 15, 2006).   In the car, here in Texas, he would say excitedly (only days after we got him!),  "America flag!  America flag!"  I didn't teach him this.  I was convicted.  Yea, OK.  It's a flag.  You see them everywhere.  We're in America.  ...conviction, because I wasn't ready to teach him these things, but somebody already had (those orphanages aren't all bad).  That flag means a lot to Anton.  And now it means more to me too. 

I pray "thank you Lord for our great country that has afforded us freedom, safety, opportunity...to thrive, to worship, to learn, to grow, to love the Lord our God with all our heart soul, mind and strength." 

I have a heart for the world.  I would love to work in missions in Russia someday or other part of the world if the Lord wills.  But I'll always be thankful for this little experiment called America.  People say that her days are limited.  And we know in Scripture that all nations will oppose God one day, as they all will oppose Israel who will get a new heart from her God at that time.  We know this country won't be forever, and indeed, we see her slipping away before our very eyes.  We need a Savior, more than we need a good President. 

So, I pray for our country and the hearts of the people here.