Do you ever feel alone?

Do you ever feel like you're on your own, with nobody to rely on? Do your friends and family sometimes blow you off and make you feel like you're not worth their time? Do you ever feel abandoned?

We've all been there at some point. I've played this song over about a dozen times this morning...and not because it's new and I'm just getting to know it. I love this song because it touches the place in my heart that needs reassurance. It reminds me of what I already know: God is always with me, and He's on my side.

God is on your side, and wants you to trust Him. He'll never abandon you.

You're Not Alone

I searched for love
When the night came and it closed in
I was alone
but you found me where I was hiding
and now I'll never ever be the same
It was the sweetest voice that called my name
saying

You're not alone
for I am here
let me wipe away your every fear
My love, I've never left your side
I have seen you through the darkest night
and I'm the one who's loved you all your life
All of your life

You cry yourself to sleep
cause the hurt is real
and the pain cuts deep
All hope seems lost
With heartache your closest friend
and everyone else long gone

You've had to face the music on your own
but there is a sweeter song that calls you home
saying

You're not alone
for I am here
let me wipe away your every tear
My love, I've never left your side
I have seen you through the darkest night
And I'm the one who's loved you all your life
All your life

Faithful and true... Forever
For my love will carry you...

You're not alone
for I... I am here
let me wipe away your every fear... Oh yeah
My love, I've never left your side
I have seen you through your darkest night
Your darkest night
And I'm the one who's loved you all your life
All of your life

Most of you aren't old enough to have watched The Bob Newhart Show. It was very, very funny...primarily because of (you guessed it) Bob Newhart. He's very, very funny. From 1972 to 1978, people tuned in to watch a mild-mannered psychologist. The final episode of the show is legendary.

The video below is from Mad TV. Bob plays a mild-mannered psychologist. Go figure.

Greg Koukl is a Christian apologist.

That doesn't mean that he's sorry for being a Christian. An "apology" in this sense is a "defense"...so a Christian apologist makes a defense for Christianity. Makes a case, if you will. Presents good reasons for believing as Christians do.

Greg's ministry, Stand to Reason, is a great resource for Christian apologetics materials. Greg travels all over the place and teaches Christians a lot of simple, easy to remember techniques for sharing what you believe. He also spends a lot of time explaining how other ways of looking at the world fall short...whether on matters like philosophical materialism (Darwinian evolution) or abortion, for example.

The two videos below show Greg talking about some of these techniques. I appreciate his work because, as a teacher, I can share his techniques with others and help them see that Christianity really is a reasonable faith.

Recently, in a discussion about economics, I was asked this question: "What specific cuts to the federal budget would you make?". Of course I'm not an expert on government spending, so I couldn't bring solid statistics (specifics) to bear here. I can, however, point to some very sound logical starting points. I'd love to hear your thoughts on these...and please remember that they're not the result of hours of serious study. I wrote them off the top of my head, so they're neither complete nor perfect.

1. Every government agency would have outside watchdogs. Without accountability, greed and stupidity run rampant. These watchdogs would be responsible for finding ways to make the agency more efficient...that is, helping reduce the NEED for that agency's work, making that agency's work more cost-efficient, and watching for abuse. They would have incentives built into their jobs: the more money they saved the taxpayers, the more money they would make.
2. I would eliminate 90% of the IRS by eliminating income taxes. We would only pay state and local taxes, based solely on consumption. States would then fund the federal government based on their own GDP.
3. I would spend less on our military by replacing troops with tech wherever feasible...and I'd try to fight fewer wars.
4. I would seek to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts. They may do some good (for which I would keep them around) but there's no reason that the NOAA office in Boulder should have millions of dollars of taxpayer-funded art inside. There's no public benefit to such spending beyond lining the pockets of artists...the building isn't even open to the public!
5. I'd cap government salaries at 100% of the private-sector equivalent. There's no reason that government workers should make so much more than everybody else, considering that everybody else is paying their way.
6. I'd get America out of the UN, and tell the UN to get out of America. Even past UN leaders are saying that it's a ridiculous, inept, and corrupt organization. Spending $1 on the UN is a waste of $1, in my book. We can do better.
7. I'd require EVERYONE to abide by the laws we've enacted. Congressmen would have to pay their taxes, diplomats would have to pay their parking tickets, and so on. That wouldn't amount to much money, but the public would have fewer reasons to resent our government.
8. I'd make sure that the VA really works. This isn't a cut, but it would affect the budget. Our veterans deserve a lot more than they've gotten, and in some cases they deserve everything we can offer. That might cost more money, but the public would have fewer reasons to resent our government.
9. I'd eliminate all federal education programs. Local taxes pay for education, and control of the money spent should be local. That would reduce bureaucracy and add accountability...not to mention putting parents closer to those who control local schools.
10. I'd slash the EPA. From where I stand, it's one of the most bloated, inept, and corrupt organizations in existence on the planet. Yes, we need to take care of the planet. No, we shouldn't not take care of the planet. Yes, we need to take care of the planet. =)
11. I'd eliminate NASA. There are other ways to make Muslims feel good about their contributions to math and science in 700AD. There are also other ways to accomplish the same scientific feats...we just haven't worked on them because NASA is there.
12. I'd offer a bounty of $1,000,000 for anybody in the world that can prove that the US government is wasting $1,500,000. In other words, I'd take all the help I could get to make sure the government is a good steward of the public's money.
13. I'd offer a reward of $1,000,000,000 to anyone that can produce an alternative energy source that's renewable, non-destructive, doesn't pollute, and is reproducible for the general public.
14. If any federal money goes to Wall Street, I'd stop that.
15. I'd stop the current system of government contracting. No more $7000 hammers. If Home Depot has the best price, they get the sale. Equal playing field, no preferential treatment, no waste. If Home Depot's hammers aren't good enough (and so are less cost-efficient), shop around for better hammers. If none are what you need, let the public know...they'll build them for money.
16. I'd require a "long-term" balanced budget...anything that couldn't be reconciled in 5 years is out, and no additional borrowing until existing debt is paid off.

That's enough for now. What would YOU do? Leave your ideas below!

Our Declaration of Independence clearly states that our rights are not given by government, but by God. It is for that reason that we consider them INALIENABLE. Neither our government nor our citizens are free to infringe on these rights because they are not granted, they are recognized.

It also clearly states that governments are created to SECURE these rights...that is, to make sure that our inalienable rights are not infringed upon. The power to secure these rights, it says, comes from "the consent of the governed".

That's the key phrase: "the consent of the governed". Those who do not consent to be governed seek to remove the power of government. In the case of illegal immigrants (regardless of their country of origin), this much is clear:

1. They have been granted - by God - the same inalienable rights as everyone else: the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
2. Because they do not consent to be governed, they do not grant the United States of America the power to secure those inalienable rights for them. They are outside the boundaries of the law, and so are outside the protection of the law. Government can ONLY fill its proper role by consent.
3. Our laws are designed to protect the rights and dignity of all. When a citizen breaks a law, it's fair and right to apply the penalties of that law to them. Illegal immigrants fall outside of the protection of our laws, and cannot fairly fall under their penalties. The only reasonable recourse is to expel them.
4. The laws of the United States of America are written to preserve the rights of individuals. We do not have the freedom to mistreat anyone, whether they consent to be governed or not.

We consider it an injustice when a law is ignored or applied unequally. Our laws are carefully written for specific reasons, and are intended to be enforced. We are free to change them if we wish, but - until we make those changes - existing laws should be enforced. If they are not, injustice inevitably follows.

As with all laws, immigration laws should be blind...that is, applied to all without prejudice. Every human being deserves to be treated with dignity, as we all have intrinsic value. That does not mean that everyone can, or should, be an American. While every human being on the planet would fit in Texas, it's unreasonable to assume that everyone wants to be governed by our laws. Certainly every illegal immigrant has chosen to operate outside of our laws, and should - as a result - operate outside of our borders as well.