I Hate Fear

I've been thinking lately about fear and how people use it to manipulate people into responding a certain way. You see it a lot even in simple ways..."You better not do that or you might end up on Santa's naughty list."

Truth be told my biggest complaint with this is how the Republican party manipulates Christians using fear. I know I've mentioned this before but it just bothers me how easily manipulated people are and how we then as Christians defend not just the cause of Christ but the cause of the Republican party as if somehow they have anything to do with each other.

Now, just to preface, I don't think the Democrates are the greatest. Mainly because I wish they'd just stand up for something instead of sitting around waiting for the Republican party to implode.

But back to my complaint...did you see the ads during the last presidential campaign? They were meant to make you think liberals were predators, out to destroy our families, our country. Now I can say that a great deal of me fits into that category of what is deemed a "political liberal." I don't like the death pentalty, I don't like guns, I care about our environment, I think we spend too much money on war and not enough on fighting poverty, I disagree with most of the economic decisions made by our president (at least the ones I know about)etc.... But I don't think those things make me evil. Perhaps the very opposite of such.

Even now, the Rebulican party controls all three branches of government and yet Christians run around afraid of the crazy liberals ruining our country. If things are bad, we might want to take a look at who's running things.

I was talking to someone the other day about this whole mindset that the world is just getting so much worse and I have to laugh because I remember that God destroyed the entire world at one point because things were so bad. People used to sacrifice their kids to gods. Entire nations have been masacared. We've always been a bunch of "crapbags" as my friend Sean likes to say.

Anyway, I've just been annoyed about it lately. I don't like having to pretend I'm something that I'm not because in the minds of most Christians, if you don't tow the Republican party line, you're a liberal, and to be a liberal is to not be on God's side. I don't buy it.

Don't vote for Republicans because they convince you to be afraid of everyone else. See for yourself what candidates and parties stand for and have an intellectually informed vote. If you're a Christian, don't let fear be your guide. The Bible says it the best, "perfect love casts out fear."

Beach Trip

Matt, Bella and I were lucky to get away last week over Spring Break for a relaxing trip to the beach! We stayed at this incredibly nice home that is owned by some people that we know. Luckily it is pet friendly so our little dear could come along with us.

Bella was cracking me up as she ran around on the beach. I think she liked the sand as it got kicked up in the air. She was jumping and pouncing and running around...except when I took her near the water. As the ocean slowly crept closer to her, she slowly crept backwards, away from the water! She finally let me walk her close enough for the water to cover her legs.

The weather was beautiful so we walked on the beach a lot. I tried to make pizza one night but it was total crap so we tossed it and went and bought a pizza instead. :)

Here's a couple photos...