“Life” or “Death” with the tongue…

The Words That We Speak

 Preface: I was inspired to write about this topic from the love of my life and better half. This topic must have certainly prodded at her spirit. She discussed it with me fervently so I thought I would take time today and focus only on this simple, yet perplexing subject that so many people are unaware exist. Having vacillated about such subjects at various times, we have come to understand that the power of thought, speaking life into existence, and changing your words can have a major impact on your destiny. With that said, however I am of the belief that all of these conditions must be favored by and in line with God’s will for your life.

Some excerpts from the books we have read such as “The Secret“, “The 8 Rules of Money”, and “The Purpose Driven Life,“etc; have impacted our thinking and how we truly align our thoughts to what we want in our lives. One case in point, “Everything that is coming into your life you are attracting into your life. And it is attracted to you by virtue of the images you’re holding in your mind. It’s whatever you are thinking. Whatever is going on inside your mind is a result of your thought.” In Rhonda Byrnes book, “The Secret”, she also speaks on the Law of Attraction. This Law has been around since the beginning of time and will always be. It is the Law that determines the complete order of the universe, every moment of your life, and every single thing you experience in your life. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are, the law of attraction is forming your entire life experience, and this all-powerful law is doing it through your thoughts. You are the one who calls the law of attraction into action, and you do it through your thinking and what comes from your mouth.

The words that we speak, are they of life or death? Do they give us hope or discouragement? Since we are held responsible for every word we speak, I think we had better listen very carefully to what
we are saying, not just to our brethren, but also to ourselves. Let us discover some scripture as to what Jesus said:

• Mt.12:36-37 “But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned”.
  
• Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
  
• Ezek 11:19 “I will give them one new heart, and I will put a new Spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh.”
  
• Proverbs 13:3 “He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.”
  
• Proverbs 15:4 “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but unruliness in it breaks the spirit.”
  

Lets us now look more closely at the words condemn and justified. Justified, which means to be freed from guilt without blame and in that, we are proven right. Condemn, on the other hand means to be pronounced unfit for use by God or guilty. If it’s the word of God it is Life, if we are speaking out of line with God’s intent, it is death. And as we know, words can be damaging and destroy everyone who hears them even yourself. So what are we eating and what are we living on? Is it Life of Death? Again, Proverbs says, “Death and Life are in the power of the tongue. And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof”.

In your own life, has there been a time someone said something negative to you and you just wilted inside as if you had just died?  Or perhaps, someone uttered some beautiful words of encouragement that gave hope to you in that very instance. This is evidence of the power of the tongue. So we must take kindly to life with our tongue and tame our tongues so we are speaking living words of life and realness. The scriptures says, “Where there is no wood, the fire goeth out; where there is no talebearers, the strife ceaseth.”

Thus I am led to yet another remark, to have words of life our hearts must be circumcised and our mind put on Christ, while also communicating intimately with him in Spirit and in truth. He is within us and resides within our heart. So, why not speak the words of life and live? We must be transformed in the renewing of our hearts and minds. A double minded man is surely unstable in all his ways. And as long as we are thinking negative of anything or anyone, we cannot claim to have our minds on God, neither have our hearts been circumcised.

I trust you see what Jesus is saying to us? We must hear from our father and speak what we hear. To sum up what is meant by this; We can know the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, know it chapter and verse, and shout it to the world from the top of our lungs, but without the Spirit and if God didn’t decree it, without authenticity, it is death! Jesus, in John 6:63, said, “It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life.” Do you see it? The flesh profits nothing -. So when the Spirit moves through us, let us speak it as not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and of power. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus…” Then the words that we speak are Spirit and Life. They glorify God, not ourselves!

We as believers of the word of God are supposed to be speaking life and not death. We are supposed to give words of encouragement and not words of discouragement. Matthew 12:36 says,” that we will be accounted for by the good and the bad things we say at the time of judgment. Believers should also remember that “you reap what you sow,“so sow good seeds! If you do not want to be disrespected, then you should be respectful to others. Treat others how you would want to be treated. While you are down on your luck, you would want someone to speak words of encouragement to you. It is very important that during these times, your really careful of what you say to people; possibly out of frustration. You might be unaware of somebody else’s problem and the condition of their heart. As Christians, we really need to be careful what we let into our spirits. You need to have your spiritual guard up at all times because the enemy is out to kill, steal and destroy. He will do whatever it takes to keep you off track and distracted. We have to remember that we’re in a battle zone. The enemy will try to make you question God’s decision and even God.

There are three steps to keep your guard up. The first one is to censor what comes into your mind. Garbage in, garbage out!! Be careful of what you listen to. This includes music, people talking, movies etc. These devices can plant seeds in your mind without you even knowing; especially music and reality TV, which can be vehicles to create disorder and distraction in our lives!!. Next, watch the words that come out your mouth. Your tongue can speak life and death. Lastly, control your behavior particularly if driven by your emotions. As you can see, the enemy can be very tricky with his techniques. But you don’t have to worry about being fooled when you are in line with God’s word and your mind has been transformed…Amen.

The Road To Failure…

Spiritual Vitamin “Soul food 4 thought”:

PREFACE: We all fail in life at some point or another; teachers, doctors, lawyers, preachers, political leaders etc; but one thing is common to all of these cases. Failure does not just happen instantaneously. Normally, it’s a process. Christians do not suddenly tank, it too is also a step by step process down the road to failure. An example of such failure was in the story of Lot who was a righteous man that believed, but failed to use his life for God. He traveled the road of failure and it can very well happen to any Christian. Your life can be one that stands for God or one that’s in shamble as far as the external values. How disgraceful it would be to stand before God proclaiming a destitute life and serving no useful purpose at all.. Therefore, as growing Christians let us make every effort to avoid going down the road to failure.

The story of Lot‘s first failure came as a result of his myopic and unjust perspective. His selfish choice “it‘s all about me“,was based on what seem to be the best deal at the time.. Lot had the wrong perspective due to his lack of communion with God. This same viewpoint is similar to that of the Christian who is not in fellowship with the Lord. Secular, selfish and shortsighted…. Like Lot many of us travel this road to failure when we take our eyes off God and focus on all the worldly possibilities available to us. Shallow it may be, but it‘s natural for us to gravitate to that which will bring us the most pleasure, power, and prestige. God‘s word clearly states what this world has to offer us is doomed. Like Sodom and Gomorrah, this world is programmed for God’s judgment. It is only a matter of time before the earth itself will be destroyed and replaced with a new heaven and earth in which righteousness dwells. Knowing this, why would you invest your time and money into materialism that has no eternal value? This action is sure to lead you down a road of failure.

Although Abraham and Lot had the same biological, social, and cultural backgrounds there was contrasting differences between the two. Abraham, a faithful believer, having the right perspective and outlook on things walked with, and in communion with the Lord. Lot, a believer also, did not worship or call on the Lord. What about us? Do we have a life of an Abraham perspective or a Lot perspective?

The book of Hebrews tells us Abraham was looking for a city with a solid foundation and with God as the architect. Abraham was resting by faith on the promises of God’s word to him and not taking interest in synthetic cities like Sodom and Gomorrah. He was concerned with more solid foundations–the eternal values of God. What kind of city are you looking for?

Lot’s second faux pas on the road to failure was his flirting with the worldly idea to move in the region of Sodom, but not completely. This is usually the next step in a Christian’s failure. It‘s not a matter of living in “open sin”. It’s just a move in the wrong direction. Examples being; taking a job which involves unethical practice, involvement in worldly extracurricular activities that are not Christian like, or loving an irresistible unbeliever; all these can be “innocent” moves in the wrong direction and not long before the move into Sodom. Again, what contrast we see in Abraham. Yes, he moved also but in a totally different direction. The high country of Hebron is where he built an altar unto the Lord… There the lord promised him the entire land. Why not move? God said he will someday return and setup his kingdom on earth. Faithful and enduring Christians in this life are promised an abundant share in that kingdom.

Lot‘s association with Sodom caused him much strife and turmoil, unlike Abraham who was free from all this nonsense. Not free to the degree of uncaring, because he cared about his mate Lot and decided to help him, This to is a lesson for Christians proper relationship to this world. A Godly walk will deliver us from much of the turmoil and confusion of this secular world but we must do our part to help the people who are caught in its choke hold. We should as Christians do all we can to “rescue” our failing brothers and sisters in Christ. Like Abraham, it doesn‘t mean we have to embellish the “Sodom system” in order to help the people there. In fact, that is precisely why we can help because we‘re not part of that system. The bible claims we are to be transformed and not conform to the world. Jesus said be in contact with the world but not part of the evil world system. Abraham was not “sucked in” by the King of Sodom. It wasn’t by chance though; God has his ways of strengthening us at crucial times.

By now, Lot is fully ensnared in the affairs of Sodom eventually losing everything, but his life. If I may, Lot was some new fool!!! Too preposterous for belief, another step on the road to failure. You would think by now, Lot had learned his lessons from the love Abraham demonstrated earlier in helping him. It‘s fair to say failing believers become hardened to love and common sense. Imagine Abraham’s frustration at this point which many of us can surely identify with. Sometimes it takes a very earth-shattering and traumatic experience to get a believer out of Sodom. A visit from angels and fire from heaven finally forced Lot from Sodom, but not without great struggle. Sadly, Abraham an outsider, garnered more respect from the King of Sodom in one day than Lot did in a lifetime. Like Lot, the ensnared Christian may not be involved in the “grosser” sins of this world, but his thinking becomes twisted and distorted because he is out of touch with God.

All Lot’s failures, began with a choice, having disastrous effects upon him, his family and finally on all of Israel. Lot‘s story is a transparent and earnest warning for every Christian. Living in the “City of Sodom” is nothing more than a dispirited illusion and desolate demise. I trust you will travel the road with greater purpose and not the one to failure!

 Blessings,

~ BJS

Soul Food Sides:
Genesis 13;14;19] [2peter 2:7-8] [1corinth 3:11-15] [2corinth 5:10] [Genesis 11:12] [Genesis 12:1-3]

Vita Quotes:

“Don‘t attempt to be no one but yourself, because everyone else is taken.“ ~Wilde

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow and learn as if you were to live forever.“~ Ghandi

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a cancelled check, today is all the cash you have so spend it wisely.“ ~B. Smith

Motivational Vitamin:

Enjoy life:

By enjoying who you are, you bring out the best you can be. When you enjoy what you‘re doing, what you‘re doing will create great value. When you find something to truly enjoy about where you are, you also find new and rewarding possibilities.

By enjoying the moment you‘re in, you bring unique richness to your life. It‘s not the situation itself that determines whether or not life is enjoyable. It‘s the way you choose to respond to the situation. Enjoyment is not a certain, pre-defined set of circumstances. Enjoyment is a choice.

The more conditions you put on your enjoyment of life, the less time you‘ll spend experiencing enjoyment. Instead of weighing down your enjoyment with arbitrary conditions, set it free by making it unconditional. Enjoy life, wherever you are and whatever you‘re doing, just because you can. Enjoy life as it is, and your enjoyment makes it better and better.

Blessings,

~R.Martson

VITA VOCAB:

Disconcerting =to cause an emotional disturbance;

Placating= intending to pacify or acceding to demands or granting concessions;

Capitulate =to surrender under agreed conditions, or terms;

DARE YOU BE A DANIEL

Spiritual Vitamin “Soul food 4 thought”:

PREFACE: The battle of Carchemish is well documented in the Bible.  Nebuchadnezzar vs. Pharaoh of Egypt. The king made his attack on Jerusalem and some 18 years later came the demise of the kingdom of Judah. The reign of David and Solomon had come to an end. The Jews had given warning from God this day would come if they did not return to worshipping the lord. Yet, they continued worshipping their idol so God sent his people into captivity to learn the hard way. Although he is a just and loving God, He must stay true to form..In his quest, Nebuchadnezzar carried off portions of the temple treasures and some choice male captives with him to Babylon.  By taking some of the privileged class as hostages, Nebuchadnezzar controlled the rest of the royal family who remained as puppet rulers in Jerusalem.  Thus, the kingdom of Judah was now ruled by the Babylonians.  One of King Nebuchadnezzar’s captives was Daniel
This story goes further to share with us how Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with King Nebuchadnezzar choice food nor fine wine which he requested not to partake of. So, he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. After ten days this was proven.

The story of Daniel takes place during these dark days of captivity. It’s an exhilarating cause for excitement as we come to understand how a few faithful individuals were blessed and honored by God in a situation where it seemed there was no possibility of comfort. The Lesson in Daniel‘s story for us is that as Christians we will be faced with a similar situation or situations which will require us not to accommodate our Faith.

 Daniel and 3 others decided, no matter what the cost they would remain unflappable. A minority group for sure!  Others became submissive to the pressure of Nebuchadnezzar. In fact, the majority of the captives who became satisfied with the conditions of Babylon, is not altogether surprising.  Many Christians do the same thing today when they find themselves in non-Christian environments. Example being, a Christ-like teen leaving home from a structured and faith based foundation, only to find themselves in the secular world of college mayhem. You can be assured most will conform to this lifestyle and simply lose sight of all the Christians values to which they have been taught.

 In the story of Daniel, the majority of the captives dared not risk their lives and thought it to be asinine to do otherwise, considering the odds. Why conform to the Babylonian way of life?  Babylonians do as the Babylonians do!  After all, Nebuchadnezzar saved their lives and provided scholarships for them. He also hand-picked and trained them to become future diplomatic servicemen. Life changing so they believed!!! Why ruin it? Just conform and all is well. At the least, it positioned them for a possible reunion and return to the Babylonians; “the faith of the fathers”.. Many felt that God didn’t truly care anyway. Yes, the majority reasoned themselves right out of the will of God…. In contrast, Daniel did not defile himself..”  Daniel knew from God‘s word it was unacceptable to eat from the kings table and the food was forbidden. In doing so he would align with pagan religious practice which he was not willing to do. God is so pleased when we dare be Daniels!

Daniel did not give up at the first sign of failure.. Yes, his requests was delayed, but not denied. And this delay prompted him to try other measures. His determination to obey the Lord in such a precarious situation ultimately met with results. You see, God was working behind the scenes on behalf of his few, but faithful servants. He granted them favor and knowledge. God is always on the scene working, even if it‘s not at center stage.It must be duly noted; that Daniel‘s non conformist beliefs to the Babylonian’s way didn’t mean he aborted his culture. He accepted his name change, the language, and some lifestyle. Not to mention he graduated Summa Cum Laude with God’s favor upon him. He adjusted and acclimated himself to this environment without sacrificing his goals, his glories, his God & God’s word. Not to mention that his faith didn‘t become that of the Babylonians [he was still strong enough]. Daniel stood firm on what he believed, Daring to stand!!! No matter the cost, losing a few buddies, being mocked, eating veggies and water for some three years is a testament to his commitment. He was a paradigm for others. A select few, but God blessed them mightily, promoting and using them for his glory.

 In your life today, I‘m sure many of you are confronted with A Daniel situation, being in a different environment or culture even. Your life as you once knew has been flipped upside down. Yes, you may be a minority and the pressures are great. What do you do? Dare to be a Daniel!! Sure, it may come with a cost and even result in loneliness. Granted, it can be lonely at the top, where you are in God’s eyes. All things considered this is not a bad place after all… you may be vilified, laughed at, and even ignored at times. I encourage you to be proud knowing God has your back. Struggles to be atop in God’s kingdom comes with a price that he has already paid!!!! Embrace the change and watch the wonderful work of God in your life. I DARE YOU TO BE A DANIEL!!!

 Blessings,

~ BJS

Soul Food Sides:
Daniel 1] [Daniel 1: 1-3] [Romans12:2] [Luke 11:9-10] [Luke 11:7] [Daniel 1:9-16] [Genesis 39:8-10]  (See Daniel 1:4-7).

Vita Quotes:

“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what then is a empty desk a sign of?“ ~ Einstein

“Wise men speak because they have something to say, fools speaks because they have to say something.“ ~ Plato

“It‘s easy in the world to live after the worlds opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but great is the man who in the midst of a crowd keeps with perfect sweetness of who he is“ ~ W. Emerson

Motivational Vitamin:

 YOU DON‘T HAVE TO:

You don‘t have to prove anything to anybody. You don‘t have to live in fear of what others might think.

 You don‘t have to continue holding on to the negative habits and thought patterns that have held you back. You don‘t have to keep living under the outdated assumptions that have closed your eyes to some of the best possibilities.

 You don‘t have to weigh yourself down with anger, resentment, fear or frustration. You don‘t have to settle for less than the very best you can be.

 You can live, you can give, you can love and achieve. You can take this very moment, with whatever it may hold, and transform it into a positive, enriching, fulfilling experience.

 You can feel the truth and beauty of your authentic purpose, and take action to follow that purpose. You can let go of all the burdens you‘ve imposed on yourself, and live this day with a powerful, newfound appreciation for all you have.

 You can choose right now to meet each challenge with positive passion and enthusiasm for the best, most meaningful possibilities. You can choose, again and again, to truly live life on your own best terms

Blessings,

~R.Martson

VITA VOCAB:

Eradicate=to destroy completely or wipe out; extinguish;

Fatuous=showing lack of intelligence or thought; or to be inane.

Impregnable=protected from danger of bad weather; or sheltered;

 

Our Disappointments Are Gods Appointments…

Spiritual Vitamin “Soul food 4 thought”:

Genesis 50:20 Declares: As for you, you meant it for evil against me, but GOD meant it for my good in order to bring about this present result to preserve many people lives;

“Our disappointments are God’s appointments” is one of those well-known “Christian cliches”. Unfortunately, we sometimes become desensitized to the truth of much-quoted sayings because of their familiarity. God really and truly is in control of our disappointments. Maybe you are disappointed this very minute, but remember God is sovereign and knows all about your situation. He has actually appointed you to all these disappointments for good reasons. Joseph’s story is prime example, of how God used his setbacks ultimately as a setup for his good. He realized his foils, even at the hand of his own family was for the greater good of all What faith he showed… when he said God meant it for good. Can you say the same? Is your faith strong enough to see that God not only permits let downs to intrude on our lives he also appoints them.

Joseph setback began as teen with his father playing favorites between he and his brother’s which ultimately caused resentment and friction amongst them. His father should have expected this. This happens today in many families. As a result, Joseph assumed the superior role towards his brother which only exacerbated the situation. Joseph kept tabs and lost no time in relating his heroic dreams. These dreams inspired by God, all eventually came to fruition. Before making judgment that he should or could have done it differently, pause for a minute and think of times we felt the need to assume that same superiority status against one of our siblings, friend, coworker, etc; who we think are not as foppish or “with-it” as you are. How illogical and wrong!!! Everything you have and all your being is a gift from GOD.

The most amazing lesson in this for us is that God cannot only take our failures, he can also take our disappointments and work them into his overall good for us and others. However, this does not atone your faults neither is God culpable of the evil in any way, as God allows us free will. It does show how sovereign our God is and he can overrule in any area of mistakes in our lives. We can be sure he will work things together so that we development discipline and are taught lessons of maturation in areas where we are weak. Joseph, I am sure thought long and hard about his attitude toward his brother as he lay in an empty cistern awaiting his fate. Being sold as a slave was not easy for him I’m sure. God would yet teach him how to use his God given talents. Another lesson we can take from this is concerning Joseph’s faithfulness. Throughout all he endured we’ve not once heard of him losing faith or uttering out against God. We, on the other hand would ask, “Why me God? In fact, I am sure many of you would have become obnoxious, indignant, and full of hatred had your family turned against you. Joseph faith was tested on many occasions, day after day and he remained resilient. Would you have done the same? Not!! Given some situations we would have tried to write off our actions by concluding it was God’s way of meeting my needs. No! God will never lead us to have our needs met in paradox to his word. Other lessons revolved around Joseph’s good looks, Potiphar’ wife being enamoured with him led him to be placed in prison.  Often times testing of our faith centers around appealing things. Certainly, we want the reward to be worth the risk. But Joseph didn’t stand around to see if, in fact it was so, he removed himself from the situation. This scriptural approach was a victory over the “lust of flesh”. In closing, you can be sure if GOD allows it, he too has a purpose and reason beyond our knowing. We may not know why or understand until eternity. This takes a measure of faith beyond commonplace, but God is Omniscient! He was in Joseph’s disappointments then, and is still today in yours. Our setbacks are a setup for a BLESSING!!!

Blessings,

~ BJS

Soul Food Sides:
[Genesis 37-50];[ Genesis 37: 3-4] [Genesis 37:5-11][1^st Corinth 4:7]; [Genesis 40-41]; [Genesis 39:8-10]

VITA QUOTES:

“I would rather look back on my life and say “I can’t believe I did that, than say I wish I had… It’s better to have had a life full of mistakes that you learned from than a heart full of regrets.” ~Chinese Proverb

“It’s better to be hurt by the truth, than comforted by lies and deceit” ~B.Smith

“It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the weight you carry, so lighten the weight”.
~ Unknown

Motivational Vitamin:

Every challenge:

You have made it through every challenge you’ve ever faced. And you have what it takes to get through many, many more. It can be frightening to stretch yourself and test your strength. It can also be energizing, and invigorating.

Overcoming a difficult challenge can bring you to a level of satisfaction which cannot be reached in any other way. Along with that satisfaction comes the solid confidence of knowing for certain that you’ve done it before and you can do it again.

When you seek challenge what you end up getting is achievement. By welcoming each challenge you’re expressing and expanding your own confidence in a way that is truly genuine and enduring.

There was a time when you were challenged by many of the things you now can do without even thinking about them. Think of how far you’ve come as a result of your willingness to take on those challenges. And think of how very far you still can go when you welcome each challenge as the great opportunity it can be.

Blessings,

~R.Martson

VITA VOCAB:

• Obstinate
  =tenaciously unwilling or marked by extreme stubborn persistent;
  
• Unctuous
  =unpleasantly or excessive suave ingratiating in manner or speech;
  
• Splenetic
  =being very irritable or prickly ;
  

THOUGHT PROVOKING….

1. WHAT FASCINATES YOU MOST?
   
2. WHAT HAS HAPPEN TO YOU THAT MADE YOU STRONGER?
   
3. WOULD YOU RATHER BE RICH AND PARALYZED FROM THE WAIST DOWN OR POOR AND ABLE BODIED?
4. IF SOMEONE COULD TELL YOU THE DAY AND TIME YOUR WERE GOING TO DIE WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN THE LAST DAY ?
   
5. IF YOU HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO SIT DOWN WITH MARTIN LUTHER KING WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO KNOW FROM HIM?
6. WHAT ARE YOU GLAD THAT YOU QUIT DOING?
   
7. WHAT REGRETS IN LIFE DO YOU HAVE, IF ANY? WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF ?
   
8. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIVING AND EXISTING?
   
9. WHAT DO YOU APPRECIATE MOST ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE IN LIFE AT THIS MOMENT?
   
10. IF YOUR LIFE WAS A NOVEL, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR TITLE AND HOW WOULD YOUR STORY END?
    
11. WHAT IS ONE RANDOM AND ECCENTRIC FACT ABOUT YOU?
    
12. WHAT’S SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT HAS NEVER CHANGED THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE?
13. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE HAPPINESS IN YOUR OWN WORDS?
14. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LOVE AND INFATUATION?
    
15. IF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WERE TRAPPED IN A BURNING FIRE AND YOU COULD ONLY SAVE ONE OF THEM WHO WOULD IT BE?
    
16. WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU WISH YOU COULD DO OVER IN LIFE ?
    
17. WHAT DOES BEAUTY LOOK LIKE IN THE DARK?
    

Democrats Stands For …. Pt. 1

Education, civil rights, open government, voting rights, health care, job creation, economic revitalization, and social securtiy/retirement to name a few. Individuals on social security received their first cost of living increase in two years…first time it has taken this long to get an increase since COLA was established in 1975.

When it comes to education democrats claim it’s about more than getting into a good college, a good job when you graduate, it’s about a chance at a promising future and being the best one can be according to President Obama.  Democrats share the commitment of preparing our children to lead lives of success and happiness which is why they are dedicated to ensuring the next gen is equipped with the tools to have a first- rate education…a vital component which is necessary to propel our economy into the future. Our country is strongest when our workers are trained with knowledge and skill sets that allow individuals to perform at high levels. Every child should have the opportunity to reach that pinnacle and fulfill the “American Dream”.  To their credit, Democrats have long valued education as the key to success for both the individual and our nation.

In recent years Democrats have increased access to higher education and restructured the financial aid. In addition, federal aid programs are easier to understand, more reliable, and efficient for students. President Obama signed into law, student loan reform which ended govt. subsidies to big banks and made college more affordable to millions of Americans. Second, only to the G.I.Bill.  Currently, President Obama is working on the overhaul of the ‘NO Child Left Behind” program that provide teachers with minimal support and resources; while ultimately holding them accountable. The Democrats also instituted the ‘Race to the top” a revolutionary program designed to promote innovation and to also provide incentives for improving education. Many states have already made provisions to encompass these measures. Democrats recognize education as the most pressing economic issue in America’s future, and we cannot allow our country to fall behind in a global market economy. We must prepare the next generation for success in college and in the workforce as a means to ensure that American children once again become global leaders in creativity, innovation and achievement.

• Reforming the fed student loan program and making college more affordable
  
• Promoting community service and civic engagement.( Edward Kennedy Serve Act)
  
• Investing in early childhood education (Recovery Act) for programs such as head start, EHS , childcare, and special needs programs.t
  
• Shared responsibility and shared Prosperity vision for living within our nations means
  
• Latinos and Educations town hall
  
• Boosting college graduation rate across the country.
  

Democrats stand for the values of hard work and responsibility, and we know that as a country we are most successful when we invest in our people—middle-class families and small business owners—who can grow our economy from the bottom up. Together, we have begun to lay a new foundation for growth, building an economy that works for all Americans. 

As for economy and job creation, President Obama says ” I don’t believe we can have a strong and growing economy without a strong and growing middle class”. The Democrats are fighting valiantly to repair a decade of damage in an attempt to stimulate an economy based on hard work and responsibility, not greed and reckless speculation.  Strengthening our country and economic situation through economic and job stimulus programs directed towards the middle class will strengthen our country for years to come.

At this point, the recession has impacted nearly everyone in some way or another, but the heart of the American promise is our resilience to overcome hardship. Democrats are committed to helping all Americans confront these challenges…spurring job creation, rebuilding infrastructure, investing in clean energy tech, and restoring fairness and opportunity for all.

President Obama inherited an economy in free fall, with huge deficits, skyrocketing health care costs, dwindling employment, and banking and housing markets on the brink of collapse. Working with the President, Democrats stabilized the financial system and helped to prevent a second Great Depression. An economy that was losing 700,000 jobs a month is now gaining jobs. We still have a long way to go, but we are now moving forward on the road to recovery. Democrats recognize the importance of meeting our most urgent needs—not just in the short term but also in the long run. Starting with the passage of the Recovery Act, Democrats began a series of strategic investments in health care, energy, and education that are laying the groundwork to build a stronger economic foundation for the future. Democrats cut taxes for 95 percent of working families, provided help for small businesses and homeowners, and strengthened consumer protections for anyone who has a credit card or a bank loan. Despite Republican obstruction at almost every turn, Democrats have provided relief for hardworking Americans who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Democrats reinstated fiscal responsibility in government spending and ensured that American taxpayers will never again be forced to bail out big banks.

We still have work to do, but Democrats are moving forward with a “Made in America” economic plan to strengthen American industries and create jobs for American workers by:

• Ending tax loopholes that let corporations hide profits overseas, and investing those dollars in small businesses that create jobs in America;
  
• Providing tax cuts to small businesses and expanding lending so that businesses can create new jobs;
  
• Investing in a clean-energy economy, and providing tax credits to spark manufacturing of windmills, solar panels, and electric cars here at home; and
  
• Putting Americans to work rebuilding roads, bridges, rails, and ports, strengthening our economy and our infrastructure across all 50 states.
  

What are Democrats doing to make change:

• Helping small businesses( passing the SBJA creating jobs and small business tax cuts.)
  
• Spurring manufacturing job creation(manufacture enhancements Act)
  
• Supporting Americans looking for work.(passing the Unemployment Comp Act )
  

To Be CONT…..