From Skeptic to Advocate

I've been debating with myself on what to write over the past week or so. I have multiple angles on how to approach the cultural battle we are in the midst of right now, but this idea has been coming to the forefront of my mind since I took the plunge into leading a homeschool class every Thursday.

Just over a year ago, I would have considered myself a homeschool skeptic. My eyes have been opened. The biggest eye opener has been my friends(not just one family, either) and their dedication to homeschooling. My pastor and his siblings were homeschooled. My friends, the Bontrager Family, have all been homeschooled and several other close friends I've met over the past year were also homeschooled. They are the reason for the break through on this subject for me.

Over the past 14 months, I've been heavily involved with politics(who, me?) and I've had a chance to interact with people from all walks and ways of life. The singular element that I've seen that makes the difference in a young person's life is the way they have been cared for and educated by their parents. Looking back on my education, public school did a decent job of teaching me to do math and to write and read. What it didn't do was prepare me for life after school. What it didn't do was instill in me values I now hold dear. What it didn't do was give me a grounding in the Bible. I've had to do all of these things on my own, and sometimes, I failed miserably. I don't blame my parents because homeschooling really wasn't even a thing people did when I was a child in Nebraska. In some states, it was illegal. In many states, it is still frowned upon. Luckily, here in Iowa, many people celebrate homeschoolers. 

Here's where I'm going with this. The Bible says this in Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.  The more a parent can instill the ways a child should go from an early age, the less likely our society is to be filled with people like we have now, so uninformed/misinformed/ignorant(sometimes willfully so), they can't make decent decisions in areas of great importance. Nobody knows a child better than that child's own parents. Each child can be brought along at a pace suited for that specific child. Most public schools teach to the mushy middle. The kids who could excel are held back and the kids who need a lot of personal help are left behind. This is hurting so many children.

Not to discount everything else I've said above, but the main reason I see to take your kids out of public school is this; public schools teach things that are harmful to children. Secular humanism is now the default religion of the government school. Students are taught that the only absolute is that there is no absolute truth. Everything is gray. Nothing really matters except for how something makes them feel. This is killing our nation.   

Most public school kids, even with highly involved parents, will be fed a steady diet of secular thought and no respect will be given to a child's spiritual well being or to that same child's parents' wishes to have them brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Public school is incompatible with raising godly children. Do some godly Christian people make it out of public schools, yes. Is this the norm, most definitely not. In a study, released last year, the Pew Research Center found that 25% of people born after 1980 have no belief in God. This number is more than double the amount for any previous generation. It is no coincidence that public schools have been consistently moving toward outright hostility to those who believe in Biblical truth. 

The biggest over reach from the progressives running our government run indoctrination education systems has to be the new catch all for all things progressive and anti God: Common Core. The phrase is nebulous but it really just means a whole curriculum centered on making little progressive automatons, suitable for work in factories and service jobs. After much research, I found a piece that sums it up succinctly. 

  It’s easy to see Common Core appeals to those anal-retentive types who cannot function unless U.S. education has some sort of all-encompassing organizing principle.

But there’s more. Common Core supporters will admit that several states had better curriculum requirements than Common Core. Then they typically say it’s still better for those states to have lowered their expectations to Common Core’s level, because that way we have more curricular unity. That’s what the Fordham Institute’s Mike Petrilli told Indiana legislators when he came to our state to explain why, even though Fordham graded Indiana’s former curriculum requirements higher than Common Core, Indiana should remain a step below its previous level. One main reason was that we’d be able to use all the curriculum and lesson plans other teachers in other states were tailoring (to lower academic expectations, natch). Yay, we get to be worse than we were, but it’s okay, because now we’re the same as everyone else!

Tech companies are uber excited about Common Core because it facilitates a nationwide market for their products. Basically every other education vendor feels the same way, except those who already had nationwide markets because they accessed pockets of the population not subject to mind-numbing state regulations such as home and private schools. But the diversity of the unregulated private market far, far outstrips that of the Common Core market. There are, you know, actual niches, and education styles, and varying philosophies, rather than a flood of companies all trying to package the same product differently. The variety is one of substance, not just branding. In other words, it’s true diversity, not fake diversity.

What would you rather have: Fake freedom, where others choose your end goal and end product, but lets you decide some things about how to achieve someone else’s vision for education, which by the way has to be the same for everyone everywhere; or genuine freedom, where you both pick your goals and how to achieve them, and you’re the one responsible for the results? Whoops, that’s a trick question, moms and dads. In education, no one can pick the latter, because our overlords have already picked for us. Common Core or the door, baby.

The even greater impact for future generations is this; homeschoolers grow up with a healthy skepticism of government and a greater reliance on family and the Church. We must start to push back at big government. I see homeschooling as the primary way to remove government influence from the life of the American family. We must remove government from as many aspects of daily life as possible. When government doesn't matter, they stop being able to control us. When government doesn't matter, people will actually take care of their neighbor. When government doesn't matter, businesses will flourish.When government doesn't matter, the United States of America will be made great again(to borrow a misused phrase). Government must never be the solution. People must provide that solution or be prepared to fight a tyrannical government at a later date.

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An Eye Opening Week

I spent last week with my friends at a family camp that they, along with another family, host. I had fun being with my friends and meeting many new people. If you know me, you know I like meeting new people. This camp was mainly focused on homeschool families who teach their kids biblical principles, along with their reading, writing and arithmetic. Most of the kids were bright and easy to talk to. After my morning session teaching a little history and current day politics, I was encouraged by the conversations about American government I had with many of the younger men in attendance.

Here's where I break with many of the families in attendance. Many of the families were in home churches or family centered church settings. Some others were in Mennonite Churches. The main thing I heard from many of the people I talked to was a lack of enthusiasm for their church lives back at home. Some had fallen into the trap that the church must only revolve around the family and reaching out to others would somehow taint their ability to raise their kids in the way they wanted to. Some just found church to be a place to learn about the Bible. Learning is good, but I have found I need a soul convicting message from time to time to stay focused on what it is that I, as a Christian, am supposed to do. I was raised in a dying church and from my conversations with many of these families, they are in dying or dried up churches too. It breaks my heart.

A church should be focused on the Great Commission, set forth by Jesus Christ when he reappeared to the disciples after His Resurrection.

Matthew 28:18-20King James Version (KJV)

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. If your church isn't centered around this, you need to find out why. If your church isn't centered around reaching the lost amongst us, why does it exist? If your church is just a place for people to go to feel better about themselves, why go?

There are many Sundays or Wednesdays when I can be found weeping at the altar in my church because I am on my knees before a Holy God asking his forgiveness for my sins and my shortcomings. I was never asked to do this in any other church setting I'd ever attended until I was invited to Marion Avenue Baptist Church. I know I'm nothing with out Christ. I know that I must be broken before I can be of any use to God.

So many times, people get wrapped up in what makes them feel good. I know I did. I took the path of least resistance for so long. I was wallowing in my own iniquity and sin. Until I came to the realization that spiritual growth can't occur until spiritual baggage is let go of, I was unable to grow.

My burden is for this to be made clear, to all who are lost and even all who've been saved but then after their decision to trust Jesus were not discipled and led to grow in their faith, that there is more than just the 4 walls of your house/church. We need to be taking the light of the Gospel to all corners. We can't be afraid to hand out a Bible tract to those we meet. We can't be afraid to tell others. In living for others, we can see God bless our own lives more than we could ever see if we turn inward.

Many of the people I talked to didn't even have actual pastors who were tasked with preaching the Gospel in their churches. Some were in glorified Bible study classes. Learning and memorizing the Bible is great and to be commended. Doing that without applying the principles inside is rather useless. Having a called pastor is a must. That pastor must preach the Gospel and lead people in how to apply God's principles to their daily living. Anything less is dead religion.

People, especially children, need to know the reasons for why they are told to behave in a certain way. If you offer nothing more than, "because I said so" or "Do as I say, not as I do", you'll have children that fall away from God and eschew the Church. I know this happened to me. I was lost and backslidden(that's a Baptist term) for years. I didn't even see it. It has taken me nearly a year to figure out that I need to forgive many people and repent of my own sins to be able to move forward with a joy filled life.

I urge everyone who reads this to find a Bible preaching church where the pastor will challenge you. You should be uncomfortable from time to time. When church becomes comfortable, it starts dying. When you do find a church like I've described, get involved. Help take the saving knowledge of the Gospel to a lost and dying world.

Romans 10:8-17King James Version (KJV)

8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Where does America go from here?

Ask God to forgive our nation.

What I considered the most important election of my life time has now become a contest of two liars. I will sit this one out. I can no more vote for the lying Comb Over than I can vote for Monica's ex-boyfriend's wife. In this case, life didn't give us lemons to make lemonade out of. We've been given rotten cabbage and now both remaining candidates expect us to make lemonade out of that. Frankly(h/t CB and AB), it's impossible, folks. Lousy sauerkraut will never be lemonade.

My efforts will focus on reforming tearing down the current GOP power structure. When I have a hard time telling many GOP Representatives and Senators from the Democrats, there are issues. If you have a representative with no record of standing for smaller government and the Constitution, push that person out. Every Senator or House Rep should fear the voters, not take them for granted.

My involvement in this campaign season has given me access to many elected officials. They are just human beings, the same as any other. There is no reason to treat them any differently. They are subject to the same worldly pushes and pulls as any other person might be. Being elected doesn't make them "special". Because of their position of power, they must be held to higher standards. They chose to run for public office and they must answer to the voters.

The following are just a few of the ways I think we could help reform our country. Will it be easy? Nope. Do I think these ideas and points need to be brought to the forefront? Most definitely.

Another overriding issue is the lack of basic education amongst the electorate. My experience of canvassing all over the country has been quite telling. So many people that vote are incredibly misinformed or they are just plain stupid. Some are both. Many of these people have college degrees and couldn't think or reason their way out of a wet paper bag. There is no other way to put it. Our horrible public education system has failed to educate people in civics and constitutional government. The home schooled kids I know are so far ahead of their public and even parochial school peers, if a parent can do it, I see no other way to educate your kids. I know the government hates home schoolers because they don't control what these kids learn. I have never had constitutional discussions with public school students in the way I have with home schooled kids. I remember going to College Republican meetings at the University of Iowa to represent the Cruz Campaign and coming away scratching my head at the abject ignorance of the students involved with that organization. I know a home schooled 14 year old who is smarter than any College Republican I know. The same goes for his brothers and sisters too. The college students were only involved for resume enhancement rather than furthering the ideas of smaller government and liberty. When I posed small government ideas to them, their eyes glazed over. It really was frustrating.

The solution for our country's ignorant electorate will have to come from parents, not government. Government wants children to be compliant to socialism and politically correct speech. Parents will have to make the sacrifice to choose their children over vacations, cars and expensive houses. I know I might make some "liberated" people mad, but if you have children, everything else must come second. Don't get me started on people who think their pets are just as important as any child. There is no animal worth the future of a child.

Another issue that needs addressing is the new found easy voting trend in this country. Why do we have a month of early voting, or in some states, an all mail in ballot election? Donald Trump does say he loves the uneducated masses because they love him(I'll attest to that fact). Stupid people are compliant. Rather that making it easy to vote, I would love to see a caucus system instituted in every state. It encourages citizens to get involved. If you actually have to show up and listen to arguments from candidate representatives, you actually learn something about those candidates. If a candidate can't energize the actual grassroots voters, they will lose. Is it so bad to ask that people involved with choosing the direction of this country actually have to make an effort to do so?

There are many political issues that would be remedied by my above solutions. The ingrained governmental maladies that plague our nation are institutional and must be addressed in another way. The Constitution provides for an avenue to address these issues. The Constitution was intended to be the tie that bound the hands of government. It has since been left by the wayside. The only way that government will be reigned in will be an Article Five Convention of States to propose and ratify new Constitutional Amendments. There are many naysayers but those naysayers are highly invested in big government for one reason or another.

I only have a few issues to address with new amendments.

The first has to be term limits and compensation reforms for Congress. I have no problem with the yearly pay of a lawmaker. My issues arise with the compensation after they leave office. If there were no pensions after office, the decision to run for that office would be much more contemplative and lawmakers would have to go back to the private sector like our founders intended. Also, I firmly believe in a total term limit of 12 years in Congress. Whether that is two Senate terms or 6 house terms or any combination of the two, it makes no difference to me. Legislators must not enter into public service for a career. It should be a sacrifice. I don't care if Congressmen and Senators are forced to share old apartments in Washington, DC or not.

Secondly, I believe we must have an amendment doing away with baseline budgeting. Every dollar must be accounted for every year. Each federal department must be kept to a strict budget and waste must be eliminated. I believe we could fully fund our Department of Defense with our current level of funding if all the waste and fraud was eliminated from the federal budget process. A budget cut must be a budget cut, not just reduction in the rate of increase.

The same amendment dealing with baseline budgeting could also include a section to require a balanced budget to be passed every year except in times of Congressionally declared war.

I believe that these two Constitutional Amendments would solve nearly every institutional issue with the federal government. Others could be debated but these would be a good start toward restoring constitutional order in the federal government.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the Church must return to Biblical preaching and teaching. I'm talking about the whole Body of Believers. I wrote about this just before Easter of this year. Find the post here. The Bible must be the center of preaching and teaching in the church for true revival to take place. This would solve nearly every cultural problem in this country.

If you believe as I do, I urge you to connect with like minded Christian patriots in your area. Form friendships with those people that share your ideals. We must band together to defeat the radical anti-Christian left and the progressive statists, supposedly on our own side of aisle.

Email me to find out how to be involved.

#AlwaysCruz #NeverTrump