To All Concerned US Citizens:

This week there is a very important measure that our Nation’s Senate is debating that could have an impact on the Free Speech of the American People.  Some of our Senators are trying to sneak a Hate Crime Measure through by hiding it in a Bill (H.R. 2647  National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010   http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c111:5:./temp/~c111fwOPIy::)

In this Military Defense Bill, they have hidden what is referred to as the “Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act”.  While this is made to sound like a good thing, who wouldn’t want to protect people from Hate Crimes, they are wanting to use this as an attempt to enable Government to sensor our Speech.  For example a Pastor that would preach against Homosexuality could be “Perceived” (which is a key word in the measure) as HATE SPEECH, which would be deemed a HATE CRIME and could result in incarceration.

There are several Senators that are taking a stand and opposing this bill. They are unwilling to be swayed simply because of other’s attempt to hide this measure from the American Public and to deceive the public into believing that any Senator who would vote against this bill would be voting against the American Military when in reality they would be voting to protect our Civil Liberties.

If you are in one of the following States (Nebraska, Arkansas, Montana, Nevada, Colorado, Louisiana) Please contact your Senators to let them hear the Voice of the American People. You are in a State where you can use your influence and the influence of those you know to determine the outcome of this bill.  The reason you are so important is that your states have senators that can still be persuaded.  Some Senators (Like Oklahoma Senators Tom Coburn & Jim Inholfe) have already vowed to vote against the Bill, Your senators have not yet decided which way they will Vote.  This is an urgent concern that needs immediate action, as our Nation’s Senators are debating this bill this very week.  You have the ability to make a difference.  At the bottom of this letter will be links for each Senator of the above listed States.  We need to protect our Freedom of Speech.  If we, the people, will not speak up, you can be sure that our will and our beliefs will not be heard.

I am encouraging you to take action, speak up, email, call, write, and do what you can to protect, yours and the millions of other American Citizens, Freedom of Speech.

Seth Swindall

Nebraska:

Ben Nelson

http://bennelson.senate.gov/

Mike Johanns

http://johanns.senate.gov/public/index.cfm

Arkansas:

Blanche Lincoln

http://lincoln.senate.gov/

Mark Pryor

http://pryor.senate.gov/

Montana:

Max Baucus

http://baucus.senate.gov/

Jon Tester

http://tester.senate.gov/

Nevada:

Harry Reid

http://reid.senate.gov/

John Ensign

http://ensign.senate.gov/public/

Colorado:

Micheal Bennet

http://bennet.senate.gov/

Mark Udall

http://markudall.senate.gov/

Louisiana:

Mary Landrieu

http://landrieu.senate.gov/2009/index.cfm

David Vitter

http://vitter.senate.gov/public/

Leadership.
U lead people and manage things

Leadership is taking people where they can’t take themselves. Maxwell

1. They r great followers
Every leader is a follower @ every follower is a leader To someone

Reap and sowing.
God is not mocked.

Centurion.  In authority. But also
under authority.

2. They r accountable to someone
The higher u go in leadership the
more important the accountability
is.
Leading a game vs. Leading people

People think higher leadership is more power and less accountability. Think it means u don’t answer to anyone. The opposite is true

The higher the leadership the more accountability u r held to.

3. R responsible
We take responsibility for what we
have been given to do or take care
of.

Not just responsible to do a task but to make sure it is done right, on time, & w/ integrity and character

Part of being responsible is not passing blame. We take ownership

4.  Have no excuses.
Excuses have no place in the language of a leader.

5.  R motivated from internal motivation. Not external.

6. R not always right.

7. R aware of their weaknesses.

8. R aware of their strengths.

9. R in front.
Leaders lead.

10. Don’t always know where they r going but know their going somewhere.

11.  Start w/ end in mind

12  R good at making decisions.
Collect info from all possible sources
And based on info and leadership of holy spirit. Make best possible decision

13. Ask questions.
They don’t just ask questions. They ask the right questions.
Not always how. But more the why.
the people saw the effects of god. Moses knew the ways of god.

14.  See the bigger picture. And know where they fit.
U have to see and balance the importance of ur role and it’s place in the overall.  This keeps us confident. And humble.

15.  Know significance comes from who u r in Christ not in why u do.
Significant people do insignificant things in significant ways.

16. Takes risks.

17. Care more for others than they do themselves.
General Schwarzkopf and mine field

Sometimes we won’t get dirty or risk ourselves because of what may happen to us.

18.  R not controlling but can take control.

19. Lift others lives.
U either suck the life out of those u r around or ads value to them. And lift the level of their life.

R people better or worse foe being around u.

20.  Get things done

21. Give opportunity for people to follow. But don’t stop moving forward if they don’t.

Jesus and disciples / rich young ruler.
Elijah / Elisha

22.  Make friends and enemies.
Some will luv u. Others will hate u.

Leadership is tuff when u have to hold others accountable.

23. Leaders lead with purpose.
Our purpose is changed lives foe Jesus.

24. Pick their battles. With those they r leading.
Know when to impose ur will or compromise.

25. Let’s others fails and helps them grow thru it.

26. Don’t always win. Sometimes they lose.  But they always learn from their loss.
Sometimes u can learn more from a loss than a win.
Leaders don’t let losing defeat them.

Righteous man falls 7 times and gets up.

Sherman woo. Fail 1st & fail fast.

27. Has someone they can vent to.
Leaders who don’t vent r a ticking time bomb.
Their will be times this summer u get frustrated.
Always vent up line

28.  Leaders don’t cause division. They encourage unity.
Some follow Paul …….
Absolom. Positioned himself to split the kingdom.

29.  Leadership is about influence. Not postion
People will follow u because. Ur relationship and the way u care for them.
3 questions people will ask before they follow you….from john maxwell
1. Can u help me
2. Do u care about me
3. Can I trust u

30.respond well under pressure.

Is it a responsibility or a right, that we have, to vote?  Both…We live in a great country…A country that has given us the ability to choose who will lead us…You have the right and the responsibility to vote…

The thing that makes it tough today is that people don’t vote on substance and character of a Candidate…they vote on the looks, style, and charisma of a candidate…

In past elections…I was only informed on the major candidate or major questions on the ballot…but Last week I took some time to research each race…each question…each candidate….I was much more informed…and able to vote clearly and confidently..

Take the time….then internet is your friend…

Vote for the substance…not the style…Don’t let the charisma hide the lack of substance…

Vote…Vote…Vote

Real Men are…

NOT EFFEMINATE….

Gen 2:21-22…God took Eve OUT OF Adam…so everything that Eve was…Adam was no longer…So everything a woman is…a man isn’t…everything a man is…a woman isn’t…

So there are great differences between men and women…and it’s not that one came from Mars and the other Venus….we actually came from the same place….Woman was simply TAKEN OUT OF man….

1.  Men Walk Different / Physically & Spiritually

Men were designed to lead…to be out front….to blaze a new trail…to provide the “where we are going”    Women were designed to walk ALONGSIDE…not behind…Men do not want to follow…We don’t want to wait on others…We want to lead…But we want our wives by our side…supporting…walking w/ us…

2.  Men talk different

Men say…..I think we should….      Women say….I feel like we should….     Our 1 track mind and our stubbornness can be misunderstood as insensitivity…it’s not…We are men…we don’t think or talk like you…Women like the mushy details…men want the bare facts…

Here is an interesting thought….”The More Emotional Women Get…the More Rational Men Get”….chew on that for a bit…

3. Men Act different

When is the last time you saw a woman approach another woman and punch her in the arm and ask her how she is doing….Men are naturally more aggressive and competitive…we want to win…we like to wrestle….Me and several friends…got together once and had our own personal boxing match….it was a blast…women get together to paint nails and pamper each other…men somehow build relationship by punching each other…it was a blast…Men act and behave differently…it is not always wrong for your boys to be aggressive…they need to get that aggression out…

4.  Men Think Different…

Men for the most part are built to be decisive….firm…once we make up our mind we have to be firm….stand strong…Women are more flowing…more indecisive…can often change their minds quickly…Women are soft…pliable…more flexible…women are effeminate….

Men are built to be strong and have strength…we are designed to be the protectors of our families…

Here is a thought….Even in most Homosexual Relationships….one will often take the male role and one the feminine role….Even when we are wrong we are still trying to be right….

More to come….thoughts?

1. A clear Mission / A Clear Vision / A Clear Definition of what a Man is…how can we teach what we don’t understand or know how to define
2. Mentors
3. Defining Moments…what signifies the transition from boy to man
4. Clear Message…we have to clearly communicate what it is to be a real man…
5. Multitudes….we have to help each other raise real men…we either help me or hurt each other in teaching and training boys how to be men…our best teaching method is by our lifes example…

more to come…..

If you had to give a definition of what a real man was….how would you phrase it?  What is it that seperates a man from a woman….and before you go there…I am aware of physical differences….but is that all that seperates us….

What is it that makes a man…a man…
Paul said “WHen I became a man…I put away childish things and thinking” (my paraphrase)

How do we become….what does that mean…..

In some civilizans in the days of old….a boy would go to the woods and when he came back w/ a dead lion….the tribe recognized him as a man…what do we have to compare to that today…
We are in the middle of a new series by P. Lee that is life changing talking about what a real man is….I will send back more info on how to get that series…but it is something every man woman and child needs to hear…

men need to hear it so they know what and who they are suppose to be…women need to hear it so they know what they should expect from the men in their life…and children need to know what they are to become….

thoughts?

I recently heard a stat that stated; the majority of people 20-35 get there news from the likes of David Letterman, Jay Leno, and John Stewart.  If this is true how can truly get an accurate view of what is going on in todays world.

So I am curious…Where do you get your news…Do you believe everything you hear….and why do you get your news there?

thoughts?

Let’s hold our own little pre-election…

If you had to vote today….who would you vote for….

McCain/Palin

Obama/Biden

Just reply and leave a comment w/ your tickets name?

This is not normally a political blog and I do my best to stay focused on issues that will lift the lives of those that read it….but I do want to stop and blab about 1 story I read today….

Hilary Clinton and Sarah Palin were scheduled to speak at the same event.  Both were invited by the host to come and speak at an event protesting the Iranian Gov and President who will be speaking at the United Nations….

Obviously…Iran w/ nuclear weapons is trouble waiting to happen….

The sad issue is that as soon as Clinton found out that Palin had also been invited and had accepted her invitation to speak out along side Hillary in opposition to Iran…Hillary backed our of her commitment to speak, in fear that the Republican Party would benefit.

Liberal Democrats are praising Hillary for unaccepting her invitation saying that this was some sort of political ploy by Republicans to gain Hillary voters…

It is sad that we have become this polorized.  What does this say about the state we are in?

I do have to say that I am proud of Gov. Palin’s response…below is their official statement…

“Governor Palin believes that the danger of a nuclear Iran is greater than party or politics. She hopes that all parties can rally together in opposition to this grave threat.”

Thoughts?

What language does the church use that is outdated….irrelevant….and hard to understand for unbelievers…

What should it be replaced w/ so that the msg is delievered effectively and not compromised….