Happy New Year Cliff Survivors.

It is January 1, 2013 and there is still no legislation preventing us from going over the “fiscal cliff”.  However, I am awake this morning and the world did not end.  So, just like the doom predicted on December 21 by the Myan Calendar, it appears the world did not end last night in some apocalyptic disaster but we are still in danger fiscally as a nation.

The Senate and White House did come up with a deal to prevent us from going over the “fiscal cliff” on New Year’s Eve and the Senate passed the legislation by an 89 to 8 vote (1).  Now this legislation goes to the House and if it passes there, it will go to the President’s desk for signature.  However, just because there is a deal does not mean we are out of fiscal trouble as a nation for we must look at what The Senate and White House negotiated in the deal.

The deal features spending cuts of $15 billion and tax increases of $620 billion (2) so it would appear that we would see a reduction of $635 billion in federal deficits.  However, we must understand what Washington means by a tax cut and will the tax rate increases actually result in increased revenues to the government.

The Federal Government uses “baseline budgeting” when determining its budget.  This method of budgeting assumes there will be increases in spending for necessary programs and automatically budgets in these increases.  If in the budgeting negotiations the Congress cuts the increases in spending for these programs, Congress considers it a cut (3).  This is why even though we constantly hear of budget cuts, the dollar amount of government spending continues to increase year after year.  This method of budgeting allows politicians to claim they are cutting spending while actually increasing it.  For this reason, we have to question whether the proposed spending cuts of $15 billion in this deal are actual cuts or just reductions in automatic increases. 

We also need to question whether the proposed increases in tax revenues due to tax increases in the rich will actually occur.  This $620 billion increase in tax revenues assumes that company profits and wages will remain the same and does not dynamically score the economic effect these tax increases will have on the economy. 

The deal proposes tax increases on those making more than $450,000 per year or the so-called rich.  To someone making less than $450,000 it may seem these people are rich but most of these people make this much because they are self-employed business owners.  These people do not just take the $450,000 plus in income and spend it on themselves but invest part of this money in business expansion.  These tax increases will most likely come out of money these business owners have set aside for expansion.  Without this expansion, we will see fewer jobs created. 

Some of these business owners may also cut back on their businesses in an effort to reduce net income below the $450,000 level so they are taxed at a lower rate.  This will result in lower tax revenues to the government and more layoffs.  Those laid off will no longer be earning a paycheck and will only pay taxes on their unemployment, which will mean additional reductions in tax revenues.  I therefore, doubt the predicted increases of $620 billion in tax revenues will actually occur.  For example, the tax increases in California resulted in a 33.5 percent decrease in tax revenues (4).

This deal does not prevent us from going over the fiscal cliff but only postpones the fall.  To avoid going over the cliff we need real cuts in spending and real increases in revenues into the Federal Government. 

We need to stop the practice of baseline budgeting.  Each department of the government needs to start the fiscal year at zero and petition the Congress for the funds they will need to operate for the coming fiscal year.  I also favor the offering of incentives to department heads that are able to increase the efficiency of their departments by reducing their operating budget from the previous year.  This is how the budgeting process occurs in the private sector.

We also need to quit punishing business owners who produce products, services, and create jobs for our economy.  If a business owner is making $450,000, we want him to make more so he can expand his business and create more jobs.  Since we tax the business’ net income, an increase in income for businesses will result in increased revenues even without an increase in the tax rate.  The business expansion will also create jobs taking people off the unemployment rolls.  These individuals will see an increase in their personal incomes and pay additional taxes as well.  Increasing the tax rate, as proposed in this deal, will only disincentify the business owner from expanding his or her businesses. 

We need leaders that will actually decrease spending, and not just reduce increases in spending.  We need leaders that will begin cutting taxes for the job creators of our country.  We can avoid going over the “fiscal cliff” but the currently proposed deal is not the way to do it. 

1. Pollak, Joel B. AFTER MIDNIGHT, IT'S A TAX CUT; SENATE PASSES 'CLIFF' DEAL, 89-8. breitbart.com. [Online] Breitbart, January 1, 2013. [Cited: January 1, 2013.] http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/01/01/Senate-Passes-Fiscal-Cliff-Deal-89-8.

2. Boyle, Matthew. FISCAL CLIFF DEAL: $1 IN SPENDING CUTS FOR EVERY $41 IN TAX INCREASES. breitbart.com. [Online] Breitbart, December 31, 2012. [Cited: January 1, 2013.] http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/12/31/Fiscal-cliff-deal-41-1-in-tax-increases-to-spending-cuts-ratio.

3. Limbaugh, Rush. Baseline Budgeting Explained. youtube.com. [Online] EIB Network, July 30, 2011. [Cited: January 1, 2013.] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtU0pbRXfAI.

4. Before it's News. California’s tax revenue drops 33.5 percent exposing Sacramento’s delusion. beforeitsnews.com. [Online] Before It's News, August 21, 2012. [Cited: August 21, 2012.] http://beforeitsnews.com/tea-party/2012/08/californias-tax-revenue-drops-33-5-percent-exposing-sacramentos-delusion-2449544.html.

What’s Missing Here

I was saddened and in shock when I heard of the shooting in Connecticut yesterday.  Someone asked me what would cause someone to commit such a heinous crime.  This person said that there must be something missing in a person’s life that would cause them to do such a thing.  I thought this was a good question and it got me thinking.

Listening to the mainstream media, we might believe that the thing missing here is tougher gun legislation.  Ironically, another perpetrator slashed 22 children with a knife in China.  Would tougher gun legislation have stopped the tragedy in China?  Should we ban knives as well as guns?  In addition, Can't cars be used to murder people?  It looks like tougher gun legislation is not what is missing here. 

As I have had some time to think about this tragedy, I have concluded that two things are missing here.  Teachers and administrators lack the resources necessary to make students safe in our schools and classrooms.  We also need to broaden the education of our students to include more than the current traditional academic curriculum.

In order to insure the safety of our schools, we need security measures that include armed security.  It is alleged that in this case, the shooting started in the administrative office and then escalated to the classroom where the children were murdered.  Trained armed security would have been able to subdue the shooter before he got to the classroom thus minimizing casualties, especially the murder of children. 

We also need to include curriculum that educates students on the sanctity of life.  In 1962 we removed prayer and the Bible from our public schools.  In essence, we removed morality from school curriculum.  Since that time we have replaced the absence of morality with secular humanism and post modernistic philosophy.  These philosophies teach that there are no absolute truths so if you believe you have been wronged; you are free to do whatever you believe is necessary to correct the situation.  In the absence of a moral compass, this might include murdering anyone that is perceived to be the cause of how someone has been wronged. 

We still do not know the particulars of the situation so this is all conjecture at this point.  However, what the alleged shooter did are the actions of someone who is troubled and believed this was his only course of action to correct the situation.  We also can observe that the administration of the school was powerless to stop or prevent the tragedy and the shootings only stopped when the shooter was taken down. 

Everyday millions of parents send their kids off to school.  Fortunately, a vast majority of them attends class and get home without any incident.  However, we can do more to insure tragedies like the one in Connecticut do not occur again.  Let us not use this tragedy to advance some anti-gun political agenda and instead learn from it and correct what went wrong.  We owe it to our children.  

Political Fighting is Not New

Many today express concern over the divisiveness of our government as if it is something new.  However, divisiveness and gridlock in government is nothing new and in fact, the founders wrote it into the U.S. Constitution with the division of power between three branches and a system of checks and balances.  We also see political infighting and scheming in the Bible in Daniel 6:1-9

Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a prince to rule over each province. 2 The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the princes and to watch out for the king's interests. 3 Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and princes. Because of his great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire. 4 Then the other administrators and princes began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling his affairs, but they couldn't find anything to criticize. He was faithful and honest and always responsible. 5 So they concluded, "Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the requirements of his religion."

6 So the administrators and princes went to the king and said, "Long live King Darius! 7 We administrators, prefects, princes, advisers, and other officials have unanimously agreed that Your Majesty should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human — except to Your Majesty — will be thrown to the lions. 8 And let Your Majesty issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, a law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked." 9 So King Darius signed the law. (NLT)

The first thing we observe in this account is that Daniel got the attention of Darius and was placed in a high position of leadership.  After proving his abilities, Daniel was promoted to a position of leadership over other administrators and princes.  This is where we begin to observe the jealously and political infighting we still observe in our politics today. 

Another observation we can make from this account is that Daniel was a man of explicable character.  Since his political enemies could not find any flaws in his character, his political enemies resorted to attacking Daniel’s faith.  Their scheme involves making it illegal for Daniel to practice his faith so they will finally have a way to arrest him. 

In today’s political climate we also observe this same scheming.  When a person of explicable character runs for office, political adversaries often begin attacking their faith.  They tout the supposed Constitutional separation of church and state as legal precedent for citing that this individual is unqualified to serve in government because of his or her faith.  The only difference in the United States political climate is that we do not throw political adversaries into an actual lion’s den but they are thrown into a political lion’s den. 

The rest of this account provides instruction on how to handle political adversaries. 

Dan 6:10-18

10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. 11 The officials went together to Daniel's house and found him praying and asking for God's help. 12 So they went back to the king and reminded him about his law. "Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human — except to Your Majesty — will be thrown to the lions?"

"Yes," the king replied, "that decision stands; it is a law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked."

13 Then they told the king, "That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is paying no attention to you or your law. He still prays to his God three times a day."

14 Hearing this, the king was very angry with himself for signing the law, and he tried to find a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament. 15 In the evening the men went together to the king and said, "Your Majesty knows that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law that the king signs can be changed."

16 So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, "May your God, whom you worship continually, rescue you." 17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel from the lions. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn't sleep at all that night.  (NLT)

Daniel stood his ground and did not compromise his faith and principles.  Daniel knew he would be thrown into the lion’s den but he also knew his God would deliver him.  It is important for our conservative politicians today to stand their ground.  Like Daniel, they need to stand up for Godly principles and not give in even though it means being thrown into the political lion’s den.  When they do, they will be delivered from the political lion’s den and instead their political adversaries will be thrown into the political lion’s den. 

Let this be a warning to any conservatives in Congress who may be considering compromising with Democrats over the fiscal cliff negotiations.  Stand your ground and do not compromise your free market values for if you do, you will open the door to further compromise on other issues such as abortion and gay marriage.  Be like Daniel and stand your ground knowing god will deliver you from the political lion’s den.  Otherwise, we the voters will have no choice but to elect people like Daniel who will stand up for what is right.  

I Support the Separation of Sports and Politics.

We hear much about the so-called separation of church and state but this posting is not going to discuss this issue.  However, after the halftime tirade of Bob Costas I do support a separation of sports and politics. 

As you know from my previous postings, I am involved in politics.  You also know that the results of the last election were not what I wanted them to be.  Sports and music are my escapes from the ups and downs of politics.  The last thing I want to see when I tune into a football game is a sports commentator using the tragic murder suicide of someone to tout his antigun opinions. 

Mr. Belcher had many problems.  From what I have read, he had problems with pain killer addiction and alcoholism.  Yes, he used a gun to murder his girlfriend and take his own life but the gun was only a tool doing what his hands directed it to do.  The real issue to me was this man needed help and apparently was not getting it. 

One of my favorite bands is Third Day.  They are a Christian rock band and released their newest CD ironically on Election Day this year.  The title of the CD is Miracle.  The inspiration for the title song came from a story they heard from someone at one of their concerts. 

The song tells the story of a man who had lost everything in his life.  He had lost his job, home, and family and was planning to take his own live.  He drove out into the woods and planned to hook up a hose from the exhaust pipe into the car.  As he was getting ready to take his life, he turned on the radio and the Third Day song “Cry Out to Jesus” came on. 

The happy ending to the story is that he did what the song said and cried out to Jesus instead of taking his life.  God worked a miracle in this man’s life and a tragedy was averted.  I have to believe that someone at some point in this man’s life planted a seed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this man’s life.  We do not know if anyone planted such a seed in Mr. Belcher’s life but there are valuable lessons to we can learn from this tragedy.

Jesus said in John 16:33, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."  (NLT)  Life comes with many trials.  Jesus is not telling us here that our lives will be a piece of cake even if we are believers but that when we find ourselves in the middle of a trial, He will be there to help us. 

We also have this promise in Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”  (NLT)  We as believers can rest assured that no matter how bad the trial we find ourselves in it will work out for our good as long as we continue to obey God’s calling on our lives. 

Perhaps you are going through a trial right now and you see no way out.  Perhaps you either have considered or are considering taking your own life or the life of someone you love.  I urge you to reach out for help before it’s too late.  Do as the Third Day song says, cry out to Jesus and then take the next step and find some professional help.  Find a Christian church in your community that teaches the Bible and share your situation with the pastor.  Pastors are trained and have a heart to reach out to troubled individuals with the love of Christ. 

It is my prayer that there be no more tragedies like we saw this weekend, instead I pray there are more miraculous deliverances such as the man experienced who reached out to Jesus.  

Restoring the Guardrails Missing in Public Education

A few years ago, my family and I took a vacation up to Yellowstone.  One day, we took a drive to Yellowstone Lake, which involved taking a winding mountain road that had no guardrails.  I was busy keeping the car between the lines but my wife and son told me later that there was a sheer drop off into what is called the grand canyon of Yellowstone. 

I did not need the guardrails to tell me to keep the car on the road but often we do need guardrails in our lives to keep us from going over the edge where we can be hurt or even killed.  However, in 1962 the Supreme Court effectively removed the guardrails of morality from our education system.  The results have been a society full of single mothers, millions of abortion due to unwanted pregnancies, rampant drug use, violence in our schools, and a general decaying of our society. 

By removing prayer and the Bible from public schools, we left a void in the lives of public school students.  As with any void left in our lives, these students are filling this void with illicit sex, drugs, and violent behavior.  Many of these students are now adults who vote. 

This is why in this last election we witnessed the legalization of Marijuana in many states.  We also watched the Democrat Party adopt planks in their party platform supporting abortion and even infanticide.

Absent of guardrails, our education system condones students illicit sex by providing sex education along with condoms.  Educators believe students are going to have sex anyway so they provide a condom to promote so called “safe sex”.  Now, with the legalization of marijuana, instead of students being busted for smoking cigarettes in the boy’s room, they will be busted for passing a joint. 

Is it any wonder that with these distractions, students are graduating without the basic skills of reading, writing, and basic math.  These young people could not understand the conservative message about the failure of Obama’s policies but believed Obama when he told them Romney would make abortion illegal and take away their contraceptives.

Absent of guardrails, our education system is failing students.  Instead of equipping students to succeed in the market place, it is condoning deviant behavior.  This deviant behavior is contributing to the decay of our culture.  Unless things change, we will continue to see our culture decay making it difficult, if not impossible for the conservative message to be understood.  Here are a few suggestions for restoring the guardrails in the lives of our youth

1)       Parents and grandparents have a responsibility to instill morals and values in their children.    Proverbs 22:6 Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it.  (NLT).  I encourage parents and grandparents to take the initiative here as a way to cancel out the values taught in schools.

2)      Become involved with church youth groups and encourage those already attending to invite their friends.  Older adults can also consider volunteering to coach a Little League or soccer team.

3)      Volunteer to become a mentor with Big Brothers or Big Sisters.  There are also Christian mentoring programs that target troubled youth. 

4)      Learn the culture.  I can remember as a youth thinking my parents were uncool.  Today’s youth are no different, believing older adults to not understand their culture and as such do not relate to them.  Learning their culture will help develop trust.

5)      Learn the technology.  Today’s youth communicate using texting, Twitter, and Facebook.  Become familiar with these technologies begin using them to reach out to the younger generation.

6)      Pray.  Remember, our battle is not a conventional battle fought with conventional weapons.  Prayer prepares us for the spiritual battle we are facing.

These steps will not reinstall the guardrails in public education but they will train our youths about the importance of staying on the road even though the guardrails have been removed.  

Thanksgiving and Prayer

Thanksgiving is a day when we get together with family and friends, eat some turkey along with all the other fixings, and watch some football at least until the tryptophan kicks in.  Most importantly however, it is a day in which we take a moment to slow down our hectic lives and reflect on the things for which we should be thankful.  It is also a great opportunity to reflect on things for which we should be praying.  Philippians 4:6 tells us to “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (NKJV).  Therefore, let us take a few moments this Thanksgiving to pray for issues facing our nation and our world and things for which we should be thankful.

Hurricane Sandy may not have been as intense a storm as Hurricane Katrina but it hit a highly populated area of our country.  It also hit at high tide and collided with a winter cold front from the north.  This combination of circumstances resulted in a super storm or as some called it frankenstorm.  Many are homeless and without power this Thanksgiving season.  While many have cited the ineptitude of the government’s response to the needs of the victims of the storm, during this Thanksgiving season I want to express my gratitude to those who are helping victims by opening up their homes, providing food and warm clothing, and coming in from other states to help restore power. 

Many have also been laid off recently as companies grapple with how to survive when they have to comply with new regulations and higher taxes next year.  It seems government is not paying attention to the needs of these people and is currently considering raising taxes even higher in an attempt to reduce massive deficits.  However, I am thankful for charities and churches assisting these people by helping them with groceries, paying utility bills, or making their mortgage payments.

We also need to continue to pray for the people in Israel.  I have been to Israel and know that the citizens of Israel only want to live peacefully in the Land God granted them.  Unfortunately, Israel’s neighbors do not share their desire to live peacefully and want to kill as many innocent Jews as they can, believing they are making Allah happy.  Psalm 122:6 tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and promises that those that do will prosper.  Please join me in praying for the peace of Jerusalem and be thankful that the “Iron Dome” in Israel has been able to stop most of the missiles aimed at the citizens of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. 

Finally, join me in praying for our nation.  We have just gone through an extremely contentious election.  Citizens supporting the winning side are gloating while the losing side is frustrated, depressed, and angry.  I am among those on the losing side this election and have had to grapple with all of these feelings.  However, as time has passed since the election, I have come to understand that somehow the results of this election are part of God’s plan.  I may not understand why but by faith, I accept God’s will, understanding that God will take care of his people.  Romans 8:28 tells us.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

NLT

This promise only applies to those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.  We can only understand God’s purpose for our lives by making Jesus Lord of our lives.  I am thankful that making Jesus Lord of my life only requires believing Jesus died, was buried, and arose from the dead (Romans 10:9-10) and that salvation is a free gift from God because God is a gracious God (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Maybe you are experiencing uncertainty over what will happen in the next few months as our nation faces many serious issues.  I invite you to pray to receive Jesus as Lord of your life so you can have peace knowing you will have God’s help.  Pray this prayer with me.

Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned and missed the mark.  I know you died for me, was buried, and rose from the dead.  I invite you to be Lord of my life. 

If you prayed that prayer, you are now a child of God and can depend on Him to be with you through these uncertain times.  I urge you to begin reading and studying the Bible and find a good church in your community where the Bible is taught and you can associate with other believers. 

We have much to pray about this Thanksgiving season so while enjoying time with your family and good food.  Take a moment to reflect on what we have to be thankful for and pray.  

Fighting The War on Women

This past election and its aftermath have been very divisive.  Since November 6, there have been numerous allegations of cheating and voter fraud.  There is even a movement for states to leave the union all together.  Prior to the election, there was division in our country over the economy, taxes, and social issues.  In this posting, I want to look at the issue of the war on women.

During the election, Democrats accused Republicans of waging a war on woman.  This accusation started during one of the republican debates where the debate moderator asked Mitt Romney if he favored banning contraceptives.  At no time during the campaign had Mitt Romney even hinted at a desire to ban contraceptives so we must look at the undermining philosophy that would lead Democrats to claim Republicans are waging a war on women.

In his letter to the Church at Ephesus, the Apostle Paul reminded the people that their battle was not against flesh and blood, but that it was a spiritual battle against principalities and powers in high places.  To gain understanding of what Paul was speaking about, we must place his writing in the context of the situation in Ephesus at the time. 

Ephesus was a thriving center of travel and commerce but it was also a center for the worship of the Greek goddess Artemis.  Ephesus was home to one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Temple of Artemis. (1)  It was in the middle of this situation that Paul came declaring the Gospel.  The Gospel and its adherence to the one true God would have been a threat to the worship of Artemis.  We have an account showing the seriousness of this threat in Acts 19:23-41

23 But about that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way. 24 It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. He kept many craftsmen busy. 25 He called the craftsmen together, along with others employed in related trades, and addressed them as follows:

"Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business. 26 As you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren't gods at all. And this is happening not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province! 27 Of course, I'm not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business. I'm also concerned that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis — this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world — will be robbed of her prestige!"

28 At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" 29 A crowd began to gather, and soon the city was filled with confusion. Everyone rushed to the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia. 30 Paul wanted to go in, but the believers wouldn't let him. 31 Some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, also sent a message to him, begging him not to risk his life by entering the amphitheater.

32 Inside, the people were all shouting, some one thing and some another. Everything was in confusion. In fact, most of them didn't even know why they were there. 33 Alexander was thrust forward by some of the Jews, who encouraged him to explain the situation. He motioned for silence and tried to speak in defense. 34 But when the crowd realized he was a Jew, they started shouting again and kept it up for two hours: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

35 At last the mayor was able to quiet them down enough to speak. "Citizens of Ephesus," he said. "Everyone knows that Ephesus is the official guardian of the temple of the great Artemis, whose image fell down to us from heaven. 36 Since this is an indisputable fact, you shouldn't be disturbed, no matter what is said. Don't do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, but they have stolen nothing from the temple and have not spoken against our goddess. 38 If Demetrius and the craftsmen have a case against them, the courts are in session and the judges can take the case at once. Let them go through legal channels. 39 And if there are complaints about other matters, they can be settled in a legal assembly. 40 I am afraid we are in danger of being charged with rioting by the Roman government, since there is no cause for all this commotion. And if Rome demands an explanation, we won't know what to say." 41 Then he dismissed them, and they dispersed.

NLT

The belief in the one true God was both a philosophical and economic threat to the worshipers of Artemis in Ephesus.  However, what does that have to do with the war on women?

The feminist movement began in the 1970’s.  Its goal was raising women to an equal position with men.  Feminists wanted women to get equal pay for equal work.  They wanted women to have the same career opportunities as their male counterparts.  (2)  I presently work for a women and have no difficulty with that.  I also would be upset if I discovered my wife was passed up for a job or promotion she was qualified for in favor of an equally or lesser qualified male just because he was a male. 

However, the feminist movement soon ran into a roadblock.  Women can get pregnant and men cannot.  Women also wanted to live promiscuously like their male counterparts but needed to solve the problem of unwanted pregnancies.  To solve this dilemma, women began using contraceptives to prevent pregnancies and would have an abortion when the contraceptives failed.  (2)  Careerism and promiscuity became the religion of feminists and abortion became the holy sacrament.

Feminists see Evangelical Republicans as a threat to their religion of careerism and promiscuity and therefore, just like the early Christians in Ephesus they must be stopped.  The truth, however, is that evangelicals are not at war with women, they just understand that women are blessed with the privilege of  having children and that when a woman conceives a child, a bond between mother and child is formed.  An abortion severs this bond, which results in emotional trauma for the mother.  To cover this trauma, many women become pregnant again with an “atonement baby” and if they abort this child, they will feel the need to conceive two children to compensate.  This is a vicious emotionally damaging cycle for a woman. (2)

It is not evangelicals or republicans who are at war with women, it is women who feel they must fight people who threaten their religious belief in careerism and promiscuity who are at war.  The results of this election however have demonstrated that this battle is not one that can be won in the political battlefield.  Just as Paul instructed the Church in Ephesus that they could not win their battle against the worshipers of Artemis with conventional weapons, we can only win this battle by a change of heart in women. 

Men and many women are learning that when their career comes between them and their family, their career controls them instead of them controlling their career.  Both men and women are coming to grips with the fact that career is important but must not take the place of their role as fathers of mothers.  Women are blessed when they fulfill their God given role as mothers bring a new life into the world and must learn not to allow a career to get in the way.

Likewise, promiscuity is a damaging lifestyle.  Not only can it result in an unwanted pregnancy but also exposes both men and women to sexually transmitted diseases that are damaging to their health.  It also degrades sex to its biological component instead of a beautiful expression of love and commitment between a man and a woman as God intended it to be. 

The war on women that we now find ourselves in can only be won through teaching and mentoring men and women on how to correctly prioritize their careers as well as learning and practicing the Godly view of sex as an expression of love and commitment between a man and a woman. 

I am a conservative republican white male Christian.  I have been married to the love of my life 37 almost 38 years.  My mother was a great influence in my life, especially in establishing my faith in God.  I have a sister that is 7 years older than me whom I love dearly.  I also have worked for a woman for 18 years and find her to be a great boss.  I do not consider myself to be at war with women.

1. BiblePlaces.com. Ephesus. www.bibleplaces.com. [Online] [Cited: November 14, 2012.] http://www.bibleplaces.com/ephesus.htm.

2. Mathewes-Green, Frederica. WHAT WOMEN NEED. touchstonemag.com. [Online] touchstone, 2012. [Cited: November 14, 2012.] http://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=14-06-020-f.