A Biblical Rant

I have recently grown very tired of hearing from certain political party members just how they think I should vote, and the reasons why they think I should do so. Most of their rhetoric stems from their so-called Christianity.
 Now, let me here insert a sort of resume of mine, none of which matters at all really, but some people will need it to continue reading. First of all, I was raised in a Christian home. I have read the Bible cover to cover more times than I can count, and when necessary can quote chapter and verse for reference. All this to say, I know what I'm talking about, get it?
 To the Republicans and Tea Party Activists who think I should vote for them because they think they know what a Christian should believe, I say: " You don't have a clue." Reread the bible, all of it this time, and see if you can figure out where you've gone wrong.

1). Stop bad-mouthing the President and under-mining his authority. The bible says that you should "submit to all authority".
2). Just let homosexuals do what they want, okay? It's not up to you to judge them. That's God's responsibility, not yours. Your job, should you choose to pay attention and do what is actually right, is to "Love your neighbor as yourself" . That's all of your neighbors, not just the one's whom you choose to like.
3). Rich people should pay taxes too. "Render unto Ceasar what is Ceasar's."
4). Being a Christian doesn't make you special. You don't get to change or ignore laws to suit yourself, or declare that this country is a christian nation; believing it doesn't make it so. And to those who want a christian president who interprets laws and the constitution only in light of the bible, let me ask you this: Will you still believe that when a christian president interprets the bible differently than you do? There are many, many denominations under the flag of Christianity, and even they don't agree on how the bible should be interpreted. What makes you think a Christian president would do things the way YOU think he should? More importantly, what happens when you're outnumbered, and the next president to be elected is a Muslim, or a Budhist, or a Jew, or an Atheist? Will you believe that the Presidency should be a religious office then?
5). Why vote based on your religious view points, when by law, those cannot be taken into account?
Yes, I vote mostly Democrat. I am also a Christian. They are NOT mutually exclusive. Yes, the Democratic party is jam-packed to the rafters with liberals, atheists, LGBT's, hippies, etc. But there are also Christians, small business owners, the older generation, and a couple of wealthy people. Those things don't define us. What defines us is the way we treat others, and the fact that we want what's best for people. The Bible tells us that Jesus hung out with "tax collectors and sinners". Guess what it also says? "For all have sinned..." That means all of those politicians who are telling you to vote for them because they're Chrisitan are also sinners.
Please, people, just do a little research before the next election, before you cast your votes. It's not as hard as you would be led to believe.

Random-I-Zations

1. My son is most like me, emotionally. My daughter is most like my husband, emotionally. But everything else in them is sort of , well, mixed up. It makes for an interesting family dinner.
2. The series,"Alaskan Bush People" is actually a pretty interesting show. I sort of snorted at the thought of it when I first heard the name, but having watched it, it ain't half bad.
3. Every Friday night at our house is pizza night. As soon as I mix the yeast with the sugar and water, our dogs go nuts. They love pizza!
4. Stitch, Dog Number One, loved pizza as well. He gets a crust saved for him every week still. :)
5. I am a Christian. I am also a gay rights supporter, pro-choice supporter, and a Democrat. These things are NOT mutually exclusive. (For supporting references, see: Jesus' words in the New Testament.)
6. Inspiration, in my opinion, is 90%  leisure time, 10% opportunity. Hence, the lag between blog posts.
7. Babies are full of inspiration, but completely lacking in leisure time; One day, when I am retired, I will write a book entitled: "WHY would you put that in your mouth?!" This day is not that day.
8. One night when my van was parked out front, someone backed into it, and left a gigantic scuff on the front bumper. My van is 12 years old, long paid off, and my FAVORITE vehicle. It might be ugly, but it's mine. However, I'm pretty sure that the person who hit it is more concerned about it than I am, but I would still have liked the opportunity to say to that person," Hey, no big deal!"
9. I haven't regularly set foot in a church since we moved out here. I find that my beliefs are pretty much not mainstream. This comforts me though, based on the bible verse that says,"many will say lord, lord..." I am definitely NOT mainstream.
10. I haven't won the lottery YET?!

Small Business Owner/Democrat

So I'm a small business owner-I run a licensed in-home daycare. I pay taxes, give discounts, support the local economy. I take classes, sometimes give away my services to people who need it.
 The thing is, many people think I'm just a stay-at-home-mom, but that's not it at all. After years and years of doing this, I still get up at O'dark thirty, work 16 hour days, have no paid assistants, and pay ridiculous taxes on my tiny little income. I don't support myself completely, because I'm married and my husband makes a decent income. (and by decent, I mean not just minimum wage.) But I know other childcare providers who support themselves only on their own income. And I feel sorry for them. Because in my state, the government uses child care providers as political capital, every single year.     Everyone in my business, in my state, who is experienced at this, knows to save every possible penny for the fiscal year changeover in July. Sadly, that usually means giving up things that other people take for granted: Paying bills on time, eating a decent meal every day, driving a reliable car.
  Like many people, I don't do this because I expect to get rich. I do this for a living because (1) I have to do SOMETHING for a living, (2) I figure I might as well do something I'm passionate about, (3) I like doing this, and the kids can tell that about me.
   Many people over the years have expressed surprise at the fact that I'm both a small business owner and a Democrat, but it's not really that hard to figure out. Once you get beyond the rhetoric, the "I'm a Christian so I vote Republican" nonsense, the fact is that anyone can TALK. But not everyone who talks the talk walks the walk.("Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'  Matthew 7: 21-23) How many of those in that party are part of a company who has assets hidden in an overseas bank? How many have sent our jobs overseas?
   So, in spite of the fact that not every Democrat politician lives a life I approve of, (who does?!" For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God " Romans 3:23) I vote Democrat because they support the small working class man and woman. They're not worried about their flippin' bottom line at the expense of the Everyman and Everywoman. They know we're not indentured servants, they don't own us. They fight for us, because they are us, or they came from us.("The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' Matthew 25:40) 
So, forget all the nonsense they try to distract you with: abortion, whether or not Obama was born here, gun rights, etc.
 Boil it down to the truth: what are they really doing for you? 
"You will know them by their fruits... Matthew 7:16