Sincerely Amanda
The Writings Of Amanda Read

I have no doubt that Satan thinks he has set up a similar challenge for American believers this year.  The adversary most likely thinks he has found our “weak spot” – and that we will abandon political responsibility because of our high ideals and thus let the fluff-brained people elect a suave winder.

After watching the Saddleback Forum last night, I think the devil has overstepped himself once again.  GOD knows what kind of man John McCain really is – and HE knows what kind of man Barack Obama really is.  Now we have seen the stark contrast better than ever before.  If you haven’t seen it, watch it now.

“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account…”

~ Hebrews 13:17

“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from GOD, and those which exist are established by GOD…therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake…rulers are servants of GOD, devoting themselves to this very thing.”

~ Romans 13:1-6

WE ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE

In this country, we have the privilege to choose who those leaders are.  To whom do you wish to be in submission?

As my father said, Americans will be held more accountable in judgment because we are not under oppression in any way, but have complete freedom to exercise our world view through voting and freedom of speech.  We have choices and power, whether you acknowledge it or not, that many other citizens of the world do not have.  With great freedom and power comes great responsibility.  To stretch this further, I would say that Christian Homeschooling Americans are perhaps the most liberated people of all.  We must not fall slack and abuse our liberties, lest they get taken away.

YOU VOTE TO CHOOSE A LEADER

Like it or not, you do not vote to make a statement.  You do not vote to punish someone.  You vote to choose a leader.  If you vote for John McCain this Election, I assure you that you have nothing to be ashamed of.  If you do not vote simply because you do not “like” McCain, then – and I do not say this lightly, since I know that there are probably people I hold in high esteem that would not – but if you do not, you have every reason to be ashamed.  That would not be a mark of honor, but a mark of a surrendering and complacent world view.  Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee and the other former Republican candidates rally behind McCain.  What reason do you have to be so stuck up as to not do what these fine men are doing?  Every vote you don’t give for John Sidney McCain III increases the chances of Barack Hussein Obama II being your President.   After the 2004 Election, I started praying that the LORD would begin preparing a new leader to take President George W. Bush’s place in the Election I would be privileged to vote for.  Something makes me think that Obama isn’t that leader.  But something makes me think that McCain is.

BEING RIGHT ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH

Henry Clay once made the admirable statement, “I would rather be right than be President”.  However, saying, “I would rather be right than vote for President” doesn’t make very much sense.  Sometimes just being “right” isn’t good enough.  As American citizens, we are born to privilege, and with that comes specific obligations.  Remember?

We must act upon the opportunities we are given, whether we “want” to or not!

When I was a young child and my father was assigned to a brief diplomatic tour at Tashkent, Uzbekistan, I was at the age in which I thought being right was good enough.  There were several instances at that time in my life in which I did some pretty foolish, irresponsible things because I thought I was “right” and thus had a free pass.

One such instance occurred at the time Tajik war refugees came across the boarder and knocked on doors asking for money – including the large front door outside that opened to our courtyard.  Daddy told us the new rules: Don’t open the door, don’t touch the door, and don’t go near the door.

When Rachel and I played outside we knew that the door and front yard were off limits, so we abided by that…most of the time.

One day when we were awaiting the arrival of our Russian babysitter, Maya, we heard a knock at the door.  Maya never knocked, but for some strange reason we thought that it might be her.  Maybe we thought we heard the sound of her driver dropping her off (women didn’t drive in Uzbekistan).  Immediately we rushed toward the door.  Luba and Olga, our Russian-speaking maids, came running after us, calling “Nyit! Nyit! Amanda! Amanda!”

I knew they were serious, because otherwise they liked to call me by the nickname they gave me, “Amandichka”.  But I had everything planned out in my mind.  I wasn’t going to open the door, but rather just stand near it ready to greet Maya (surely that could be an exception, right?).  Finally, frustrated that they didn’t seem to understand, I wheeled around with my hands on my hips and shouted in my American accented English, “I’M NOT GOING TO OPEN THE DOOR!” (I was “right”, remember).  The confused foreign mutterings just outside the door were met with Luba and Olga placing their fingers to their lips and telling me to hush.  By now I noticed that Momma was holding baby Joseph and had Rachel standing next to her, sternly waiting for me to follow suit.  The maids tried to negotiate with the visitors (two of which were veiled women), and fortunately Maya did show up at the same time and gave them some money.

One evening we were eating supper on the patio (as usual) and Dad and his drivers were cleaning out the swimming pool (they didn’t use chlorine in their pools – instead it was cleaned frequently).  Someone turned out the outside lights, and I wanted them turned back on.  I got up from the table (despite my parents and maids telling me to sit back down) and began walking in the dark towards the pool.  Olga started following me, once again trying to get me to turn around.  But I was “right” – I wasn’t doing anything bad, I was going to get those lights turned back on.  A few seconds later I felt myself fall – I got tangled in pipes and felt my feet touch water and my back bang and get scraped against cement.  I had fallen in the 4 foot deep cesspool that controlled the draining of the swimming pool.  All for the price of being “right”…when it would have made more sense to be obedient and responsible.

A MESSAGE TO MY YOUTHFUL GENERATION PEERS

A tip from horseback riding:  If you are an inexperienced rider setting out on an uncharted trail, do not choose an inexperienced horse for the adventure in the excitement of having a fresh outlook and growing up together (a.k.a. recipe for disaster).  We have a lot of experience and knowledge yet to gain.  We don’t need some celebrity in the White House that has to grow up with us.

I don’t know what gave you the idea that Obama is the ideal candidate to lead us through this new century.  He is more style than substance.   He has the amazing ability to use a thousand beautiful words to say absolutely nothing.  You can tell from the recent forum.  He droned on for so long that he didn’t even get to answer as many questions as McCain did.  Charles Krauthammer referred to him as having a “post-modern” style.  Come to think of it, Obama reminds me of one of those abstract pieces of modern art that everyone is so enthralled with and yet I simply can’t get into it.

 

RESOLVE vs. IDEALS

From examining my journals of world events, etc. from years past and from studying history, I tend to see two basic types of leaders; those of resolve and those of ideals.  Some propose many fine-looking ideals, but have very little resolve to carry anything worthwhile through, while other leaders have such firm resolve that they refuse to let ideals woo them and often have a hard time conveying their own, preferring instead to just get the job done.  People are naturally enamoured with ideals, but they are so intimidated by resolve (perhaps because they themselves lack it) that they tend to view leaders of resolve as shallow, gruff and narrow minded.  Thus, caught up in a political romance, they quickly swoon from idealist to idealist, thoroughly enjoying the experience of almost witnessing a great change, but alas, since their attractive leaders lack resolve, nothing ends up getting done.  Or, in the case of totalitarianism, the people surrender their souls to the idealists in the anticipation of change and thus the nation tragically crumbles.

There is one significant historical fact that has been forgotten in the midst of the swooning.  Socialist leaders throughout history have repeatedly attempted to bring about “change” through all their genius philosophy.  All the times they have tried, it has never worked.  What makes you think it will work now?  This nation was not founded on socialistic ideals that insist that ”Nanny Government” must take care of every aspect of its citizens’ lives through millions of dollars worth of cutesy programs.  Nay, fellow Americans, you have too long expected to be spoon fed! 

AMERICA’S DNA

As John McCain said last night, this nation was founded on Judeo-Christian principles and values.  I think of it as our nation’s DNA - it is the way it was constructed and established, and thus any attempts to manipulate that DNA and insert Marxist/Socialist/other anti-Biblical formulas causes an auto-immune disorder.  It will begin to self-destruct.

“WE NEED JOHN MCCAIN MORE THAN HE NEEDS US.”

- Rudy Giuliani

Think about that.  McCain has accomplished much in his life time.  His family is successful.  He doesn’t need to become President for his sake.  He is making a tremendous sacrifice.  Why do you think this is?  Does he really come across to you as someone running for President just for recognition’s sake?  For political power’s sake?  He doesn’t come across that way to me at all.  What kind of person would be willing to spend years of his life in a prison camp when he was given the option of release?  Someone with the self-sacrificing resolve that makes a good President. 

 

UNDECIDED PEOPLE MAKE THE DEVIL PROUD

McCain is pro-life, acknowledging last night that life begins at conception.  Obama is pro-choice, whose speech is seasoned with innuendo suggesting that unwanted infants don’t have human rights, stating that the answer to whether or not life begins at conception was “above his paygrade”.  McCain recognizes that evil must be defeated.  Obama thinks evil must be cautiously confronted.  Have you considered the dilemma of Supreme Court Justices?  Once again, they are shockingly different.  The list goes on…what is there to be lukewarm about?

“So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of MY mouth.”

~ Revelation 3:16

So, do you plan on honoring the devil?  He’s stalking you, you know.  He is probably watching you intently to see what choice you plan on making.  The question is, is he trembling with fear or laughter?

PRAYERS FOR THE NATION AND THE WORLD,

~Amanda~

This entry was posted on Monday, August 18th, 2008 at 12:29 am and is filed under Politics, World Views. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.