Beginning late in the Clinton administration I've been noticing a growing gulf of ideals between the two major political parties in the United States. From Lewinsky to Bush Lied People Died, to now, town hall meetings with protesters carrying guns. Are these things just an example of citizens exercising their rights to disagree with government? Or, are we growing more and more divisive in our vision for this great country?
Maybe I'm the only right winger willing to be honest about this subject, but the carrying of guns to protest the health care bill is not a simple, "I'm carrying because it is my right to do so." It is instead, "I'm carrying this gun to remind you that the 2nd amendment exists to allow citizens to rise up against a corrupt government." And I'm a supporter.
Of course we don't want to say that is really what the "gun toting" is about. But it is. And that is okay. That is the purpose of the the right to bear arms, so that in the event of a government growing corrupt, the people have a means to remove them, forcibly if necessary, from their positions of power.
Imagine a world without this right. It really is the teeth in the constitution. Pretend if you will for a moment if all guns were removed from the people of this nation. Then imagine that legislators decide all on their own that they will no longer require an election to maintain power. How would you remove them? You couldn't. They would have the force of the military behind them and you would have no means of defense.
Are you okay with that?
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Cody Thunder Rally
Cody thunder rally is a motorcycle rally based out of Cody, WY. It was held this past weekend. Usually this poker run garners numbers around 150. Usually temperatures are higher than 55 degrees. Usually it isn't forecast to rain all weekend. This year there were only 35 riders up for the task.
The ride starts in Cody and runs over 250 miles over what is known as "top of the world", (the Beartooth highway) in Red Lodge Montana, to Cook City and back around to Cody. I should mention that just a few days prior it had snowed several inches on the bear tooth pass where we were headed.
All said it was a great ride. Just a little chilly at the top of the world. 42 degrees. We saw a little hail, a little rain, but had a great time. Here are a few of the pictures from our trip. 
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
A Life All In
The first mission trip my wife ever took was to Mexico. Sponsoring that trip were Chris and Jackie Leggett. This was a transformational trip for my wife. Instrumental in that change were Chris and Jackie who truly exemplified living the life of a Christian.
Chris and Jackie were missionaries to Mauritania, Africa. Where they gave micro-business loans to locals to help build their economy, as well as teach the women trades such as sewing.
In addition whenever the opportunity arose they would share their faith in Christ with the people of this Muslim nation. As with most Muslim countries Christian proselytizing is strictly prohibited.
After marrying, my wife introduced me to the work of this couple, and suggested we support them financially whenever we could. A couple years ago they visited us in our home and spoke at our church. I’m sure we never told them, but they were a greater blessing to us in those few days than we were ever to them.
Chis was killed this June while arriving at his office in Mauritania. Apparently he was shot during an attempted kidnapping. Chris leaves behind a wife and 4 kids. Al Qaida has claimed responsibility.
Chris Leggett lived a life All In. He will be missed.
Chris and Jackie were missionaries to Mauritania, Africa. Where they gave micro-business loans to locals to help build their economy, as well as teach the women trades such as sewing.
In addition whenever the opportunity arose they would share their faith in Christ with the people of this Muslim nation. As with most Muslim countries Christian proselytizing is strictly prohibited.
After marrying, my wife introduced me to the work of this couple, and suggested we support them financially whenever we could. A couple years ago they visited us in our home and spoke at our church. I’m sure we never told them, but they were a greater blessing to us in those few days than we were ever to them.
Chis was killed this June while arriving at his office in Mauritania. Apparently he was shot during an attempted kidnapping. Chris leaves behind a wife and 4 kids. Al Qaida has claimed responsibility.
Chris Leggett lived a life All In. He will be missed.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Happy 100th to Me
I don't know why but for some reason when preparing to post a blog today I looked down and realized, "I'm about to make my 100th post". It is kind of like how when you look down at the odometer just in time to see it roll over the next major milestone.
I guess that means that I might be here to stay for a while. Sorry, to those of you whom I tend to irritate with my usually right wing thoughts. Condolences to my family members, usually my wife, who tends to be at least mentioned in many of the embarrassing stories I tell. And thanks to those of you who take the time to drop by and read my odd collections of writings now and again.
For those of you wanting to send gifts......
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
What REALLY happened
For those of you reading our facebook you are likely to think that my wife had to have a leg and half an arm amputated after our recent ATV accident. I'll clear the air. Yes we, or I, rolled it with her on the back. After reading her accounts you are likely to think we (read I) rolled this 4 wheel drive vehicle at a speed of roughly 75 miles per hour, causing us to be flung from the "vehicle of death" headlong until we collided with the ground causing injuries requiring immediate hospitalization.
Perhaps we remember this incident a bit differently as I ended up with no visible injuries, and she ended up with a couple bruises and a scraped arm. Here is how I would describe the incident.
From a complete stop we began to spin around in a donut. As we reached a 180 degree turn the vehicle began to tip. Unable to stop the momentum we fell off the side of the ATV from a height of approx. 3 feet. As we landed the vehicle continued to tumble and for a brief moment trapped my wife's leg under the metal roll bar. Which she easily pulled out from under vehicle. I was easily able to flip the ATV back onto it's wheels and we were motoring on in a matter of moments.
However, not wanting a good crisis to go to waste my wife is getting some really good "guilt mileage" out of the incident. Examples include; waking in the middle of the night, then waking me, pointing at the barely scratched elbow, making a pout face, and saying oh so sweetly, "will YOU get me a drink of water, It hurts too bad to get up."
Perhaps we remember this incident a bit differently as I ended up with no visible injuries, and she ended up with a couple bruises and a scraped arm. Here is how I would describe the incident.
From a complete stop we began to spin around in a donut. As we reached a 180 degree turn the vehicle began to tip. Unable to stop the momentum we fell off the side of the ATV from a height of approx. 3 feet. As we landed the vehicle continued to tumble and for a brief moment trapped my wife's leg under the metal roll bar. Which she easily pulled out from under vehicle. I was easily able to flip the ATV back onto it's wheels and we were motoring on in a matter of moments.
However, not wanting a good crisis to go to waste my wife is getting some really good "guilt mileage" out of the incident. Examples include; waking in the middle of the night, then waking me, pointing at the barely scratched elbow, making a pout face, and saying oh so sweetly, "will YOU get me a drink of water, It hurts too bad to get up."
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