God Talk: Will the real America stand up?
Fred Villasenor
You may recall a TV show that continued until the 70's that was called "What's my line?' It consisted of three people being interviewed by a group of celebrities although only one of the three persons being interviewed was an actual worker in a specific line of work: whether builder, plumber, accountant, etc; the other two persons were attempting to fool the celebrities into believing that they were the real worker.
Well today, we are playing the same game, not as a person, but as a nation. We have all the politicos acting like the real thing and talking like the real thing, but they are not the real America. They want you to believe that America is a land of entitlements; that America is a land where there is no room for God; that a baby is not a person until it comes out of the womb, headfirst; that a man can be a woman, and a woman can be a man if they think they are. So many issues are raising their heads every day on our social horizons; issues that were taboo a few years ago are morally accepted today. Today's war veterans that put their life on the line for their country to have freedom to exist and grow, can only shed tears as they see the people they fought to protect and give freedom to, use it to mock, ridicule, and despise them as antiquated and old fashioned.
Will the real America stand up? As I talk to various groups of people, I come to realize that the White House is not speaking for me, Hollywood is not speaking for me, the senators and representatives are not speaking for me. The real America is a people with compassion, mercy, goodness, and a heart that loves people. But this America is grounded in love and these Americans will tell you that the only way to peace and prosperity is through faith in God and hard work. This real America will tell you that it became the greatest country in the world and attracts people from every country because there is justice, liberty, and the right to pursue your happiness. Those facets of the foundation this government are found in the Bible and they have worked to an amazing degree. The national songs do not exalt a mighty army, they do not exalt a massacre of the enemy; they speak of the blood of Christ that was shed for America: "Glory-Glory Hallelujah," "Oh say can you see"; our flag was still standing after a battle that was lost, but God gave them victory over the entire war.
Will the real America stand up? Will you reading this article stand up? I will stand up; I was not born in this country like millions of others that left their homeland to come to this wonderful country and there is no going back, but I will stand up for her. We will not let some evil minds destroy that which God raised up. The real America believes in God, that which made Americans strong in adversity, against all odds yet they still prospered; it was the good of their fathers that have kept America strong. That God is still here, waiting for you to call upon Him, and He will heal our land and remove all evil. Now is the time to stand and pray, pray, pray.
I want to go across this country and call out those that have an ear to hear, can you, reader, hear me? Will you stand with us? We need to hear from you.
------
Fred Villasenor is the senior pastor of Iglesia Nueva Vida in Red Bluff. As a tentmaker pastor, a pastor to immigrants, and an immigrant himself, Pastor Fred has a special appreciation for the opportunity that is America.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
18 comments:
People can post whatever they want, but I'd rather we keep Fix Pacifica focused on Pacifica-related issues. Otherwise, this blog will simply become a dumping-ground for all kinds of miscellaneous, non-related topics.
Lois, as you know I have always appreciated you personally, and your support for improving Pacifica economically, financially, and socially as a result.
This posting I don't understand. We live in a secular society, whereas religion is a component of your personal philosophy. Not everyone views the world in the same way you do, nor do they share your belief structure. Some people do not even share your primise and construct that there is a personal god, yet these same people are highly ethical, kind and well balanced human beings.
Elected leaders exist in this Country, they do represent you or "we the people" (that's the system), a covenant you may deem is under-served or broken, including here in Pacifica. Is the issue really "god" vs."godless", or is it really about the imperfection of human nature?
There are those in Pacifica who think they are God . . .
Love you, Jeffy.
I guess my question to you Kathy is regarding the imperfection of human nature. Who decides what is kind, ethical and what makes a balanced human being? There must have been a guideline to what is acceptable behavior..like "thou shalt not kill" and "thou shalt not bear false witness". Shall we throw it all out and decide for ourselves what is right or wrong? The discussions going on regarding all the lies that are being told...who decides what is right or wrong? Lois
Lois, the Ten Commandments have existed, in some form or other, in many texts outside the Bible. I think at some point evolution (or divine intervention) of the brain of primates made some see that bashing each other over the skull with rocks and sticks was a hurtful thing. I had this discussion with a religious friend of mine, and we got into concepts about "commonly shared beliefs" and how they evolve into "ethics" and social law. Talk to me about the War on Drugs and legalization of marijuana sometime if you want to hear me rant about laws and policies that some believe are "good", but have had such an incalculably negative effect on millions of people in society.
As far as I am concerned, we are all human and all imperfect, but anyone who strives to help their "neighbor", whether it be through kindness, charity, not being a complete nob, etc . . . it doesn't matter to me how they came by that belief.
Try scientific, legal, mores of a culture (there are variations), common sense human teaching (religions fit into that category as might humanism).
So our desire to do good and be good depends on our own will? Good luck. Lois
Guess you'll figure it out, "will" (depending upon your definition) may be an essential part of the equation, learned or innate. I think most of us grow-up knowing the difference between good and bad, and evolve as we grow into adulthood and beyond. We are influenced by our environment (families, children, pets, activities, teachers, media, friends, jobs, for some religious institutions, etc.) We also probably have a genetic component, a brain, and whatever other influences exist.
Online merrian-webster defines "will" as choice, desire, but also habitual action, natural tendency or disposition, also capacity or sufficiency, also determination. Take your choice!
Hope we can talk about "Fix Pacifica" in the future, rather than issues of religion.
Actually, Kathy,the issue of "religion" is part of the makeup of Pacifica - worship of the environment.
Evil exists, good exists. Why do some tend to do more of one than the other? I think this subject is part of what is happening in Pacifica. Why do people lie to get their own way?
I chose, by my own will, to acknowledge God in my life because I needed/need help to control my own impulses. People can change regardless of the circumstances of their birth, environment,or whatever things have formed them. To say "I was born this way" (selfish, hot-headed, mean, etc.)is a cop out.
Lois
I agree with Lois. Any belief taken to an extreme can justify any action we WANT to take, but lack the "moral certitude" to follow through on. I've heard more than a few people in Pacifica say that environmentalism is a "religion" to some, that the fight for true sustainability is a "holy war." There are always calls to be reasonable and rely on facts, but as Suzanne Valente has pointed out on another thread, when people make up their own "facts", how does one attack that circular logic? There are people in Pacifica who justify any tactic, and action, because they feel the end (preserving the coastline) justifies the means. Even if it means complete economic devastation for Pacifica.
Look at what happened in Half Moon Bay. There are still "environmentalists" who feel the city erred by not appealing the Beachwood judgment. Its not their money on the table, so why not second guess the city council and the judicial system, if it serves their goal of preserving the coast, even for parcels of land that were designated for development. Burn down a house? No problem, it happened in Half Moon Bay. Try to file a false police report against an out of town developer? Yeah, a former planning commissioner went that route right here in Pacifica. And he was allowed to resign without the public really knowing what happened.
What is really frustrating is when people like myself jump up and down and yell and scream and say things like, "This project is bypassing the process, the developer is getting too sweet a deal from the city, we are placing pet projects over public welfare . . . " and we get mocked, and ignored, and marginalized.
And then what happens? Whole Energy illegally digs a trench, the biodiesel project goes FUBAR, and the city is on the hook for over $100,000 while Whole Energy skips town and leaves a mess.
Because extremism, especially in religion, absolves a person of moral right and wrong. They can always be right, no matter what they do, because their "God" tells them so, whether it be a Big Man in the Sky, or a frog and snake.
A truly pointless post.
A truly pointless comment. I poop on you!
Lionel,
Ignore the dog, please feel free to make a contribution to the blog.
OK, here's another:
"...pray, pray, pray".
To which I say: Nay, nay, nay!
Lionel Emde says:
"Nay, nay, nay"
Good to see they let horses in this blog too - FOR ME TO POOP ON!
To each his own...I shall pray and live by the motto of a song that I like:
"God is great, beer is good, people are crazy."
Lois
Lois, I love that motto, too. But the I also love "Whiskey for my Men, Beer for my Horses", a song about vigilantism., something I may come to support.
This blog is off to a great start, with people expressing their opinions without fear of censure or brutal attacks. I think the intellectual discussion above was interesting, but its much simpler for me than all that. I want to live my life so that when I stand before God, He says, well done. Some people worry (or hope) they will be known as extreme or kooky or wacko if they express truth differently. To me, there is one truth, with many differing opinions as to what it might be. Much simpler for me to accept it on faith.
Meanwhile, a less simple endeavor is to Fix Pacifica. Lo, it has great need. This group and blog is a great place to start.
Hey Floey! This is the first time I have seen you post on a Blog!
Faith is good. Love ya.
Post a Comment