A Singer, A Song

“What really works in this country is not inciting the base, but making partnerships with people with different views to advance your agenda.” - Joel Hunter, Orlando pastor.

via MSNBC.

by Robert Browning

If I forget, yet God remembers.
If these hands of mine cease from their clinging,
yet the hands divine hold me so firmly
I cannot fall.
And if sometimes I am too tired to call for Him to help me,
then He reads the prayer unspoken in my heart
and lifts my care.

I dare not fear since certainly I know that I am in God’s keeping,
shielded so, from all that else would harm.
and in the hour of stern temptation,
strengthened by His power.
I tread no path in life to Him unknown.
I lift no burden, bear no pain alone.
My soul a calm, sure hiding place has found:
The everlasting arms my life surround.

God, Thou art love! I build my faith on that.
I know Thee who has kept my path
and made light for me in the darkness
tempering sorrow so that it reached me like a
solemn joy.

It were too strange
that I should doubt Thy love.

I know this isn’t exactly breaking news. I’m linking to this video in the hope that it might nudge people to more carefully listen and consider Powell’s noble words, especially the anecdote beginning at the 4:30 mark.

“Some people are like slinkies: not really good for anything, but they bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.”

I’m against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG. Instead, I’m in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a We Deserve It Dividend. To make the math simple, let’s assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+. Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up. So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billon that equals $425,000.00. My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve It Dividend. Of course, it would NOT be tax free. So let’s assume a tax rate of 30%. Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes. That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam. But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket. A husband and wife has $595,000.00. What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?

* Pay off your mortgage - housing crisis solved.
* Repay college loans - what a great boost to new grads
* Put away money for college - it’ll be there
* Save in a bank - create money to loan to entrepreneurs.
* Buy a new car - create jobs
* Invest in the market - capital drives growth
* Pay for your parent’s medical insurance - health care improves
* Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean - or else

Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces. If we’re going to re-distribute wealth let’s really do it… instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 (”vote buy”) economic incentive that is being proposed by one of our candidates for President. If we’re going to do an $85 billion bailout, let’s bail out every adult U. S. Citizen 18+!

As for AIG - liquidate it. Sell off its parts. Let American General go back to being American General. Sell off the real estate. Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.

Here’s my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn’t. Sure it’s a crazy idea that can “never work.” But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!

How do you spell Economic Boom? I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion. We Deserve It Dividend more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC. And remember, The Birk plan only really costs $59.5 Billionbecause $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.

Ahhh…I feel so much better getting that off my chest.

Birk
T. J. Birkenmeier, A Creative Guy & Citizen of the Republic

Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

CHORUS:
This, the pow’r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev’ry bitter thought,
Ev’ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life;
“Finished!” the vict’ry cry.

Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death;
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

FINAL CHORUS:
This, the pow’r of the cross:
Son of God—slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.

“If everybody’s thinking the same thing, then nobody’s thinking.”

– General George S. Patton

“Open that door, please.”

“Why?”

“Because I said so. That may not be the best answer, but it’s the only one I can come up with right now.”

I was particularly proud of this one:

“You know it’s been a good nap when you wake up and your eyes are two different sizes.”

• My worth is based on my performance.
• It is critical that everyone like me.
• Life should be fair.
• I have to be perfect.
• I am a bad person because of my past.
• God’s love has to be earned.
• It is wrong to feel angry/sad/hurt/disappointed/etc.
• My needs are more important than anyone else’s.
• It is awful to ever feel anxious, depressed or worried.
• If I feel a certain way, it must be true.
• I should never have to hurt.
• I shouldn’t have to wait for what I want.
• My spouse should meet all of my needs.
• I cannot control my strong desires.
• I cannot be happy when others are upset with me.
• My value depends on the opinions of others.
• I should always act happy.
• God cannot use me with my weaknesses.
• Committed Christians always feel good emotionally and spiritually.
• Because I am a Christian, I will be exempt from the problems non-Christians face.
• How I feel is someone else’s fault.
• How I feel is not important.
• God wants to punish me when I sin or make a mistake.
• I don’t measure up.
• If things are going well in my life, it means God loves me. If things are not going well, it means God does not love me.
• My friends/spouse should think, act, feel like I do.
• I should be able to control everything in my life.
• The most important thing is for me to be happy.
• The abundant life means that everything goes my way, and all of my needs are met.
• I should be competent in all things.