Author: timelliott49gmailcom

Looking forward rather than dwelling on the past can bring most positive results. Too many have been taught that the definition of who they are and what they can do is determined by the past. As long as people are stuck in their historical or personal past they are in bondage…mental and emotional slavery.

They can not see the possibilities, their personal opportunities. Their bondage limits their hope and faith in the future. And without that optimism they exist in anger and frustration, never realizing their potential.

Don’t get stuck. Look forward with hope and faith that tomorrow can be better than today.

We have much for which to be thankful. There is no doubt of that. Our lives, our health, our Spiritual blessings for being in God’s family could start a long list of things for which to be thankful.

But often we are not. Sometimes it is because we do not understand how blessed we are. But other times it is because of our focus. We focus more on what we want and are not experiencing than all the riches we already have. For us in the U.S.A. it is partly a cultural thing. We are not trained to think about what we have but how much better our lives would be if we had that next thing.

I believe in expecting good to come to us. That is “covenant” thinking. But to be so focused on lack, or blessings to come, more than appreciation of God’s goodness in our lives is not helpful and can lead to bad attitudes towards our lives and towards God.

Back in 1987 I was struggling with having a right attitude. I was believing for things not yet seen. The Lord encouraged me by saying this. I pray it encourages you.

“As the Children of Israel received my promises regarding their inheritance, so you have received my promises. And like the Children of Israel there has been a period of experience, called wilderness between my promise and your promised land.

Be of good cheer! My Word does not return to me void. It accomplishes that which I have sent it to do. And I have sent good things for you. Don’t you know, my love is big towards you? And nothing can separate you from my love.

Forget not that, although your promised land, your answer seems far off, I AM nearby. I am with you…here to hold you in the arms of my love.

The Children of Israel forgot that the glory of the Lord was always before them, that my love was ever towards them and my presence with them was more valuable than their comfort, even than their promised land.

Don’t be like the Children of Israel. Snuggle up to me, your Abba Father, and trust me, especially in your wilderness. Rejoice that I AM with you and that my love surrounds you.

You can have My Glory in your wilderness.”

I tell my younger friends not to get stuck in a color, a decade, a country, or a genre when listening to music. There is a lot of great music out there that people miss when they limit themselves too much. I enjoy watching some of the YouTube reaction videos. When people discover great artists of which they never heard, it is so much fun to watch especially if they really love it.

The same is true when making friends. Friends should share your values, interests, and beliefs. If you limit your friendships by skin color, nationality, or ethnic group you will rob yourself of knowing great people that are excluded by your choices.

I’m not saying that we accept everything and everyone as “good”. I’m saying that we rob ourselves from true riches if we are stuck in a biased place. Of course we all have our favorite things/people/etc. That is to be expected. It is great to be a free person. Don’t let yourselves be robbed just because others are stuck.

Look at music, people, and other riches with new eyes. Leave behind the preconceived ideas you had. Investigate. If your preconceived ideas were correct pick them up again but this time with knowledge. If you find those ideas were robbing you of good things set them aside. (One of the saddest things about “political correctness” is its insistence that you NOT be free to make your own decisions.)

Any bias can rob you. It doesn’t matter if it is musical, racial, political bias. Bias is part of the human condition but it limits us. It robs us. DON’T GET STUCK. There are so many good thing and good people for you to discover.

So many folks long to help people in need. It is commendable to have a generous heart. However there are many things to consider before helping people with money. Here are a few.

First, be sure you know how much of your giving will actually go to the needs you want to meet. Individual relationships are probably the best way to know where the money goes and whether it did the intended good. Church giving is also a good method. Charities and social government programs can be good.

But the problem with charities and government programs is that some of your money goes to the program not to the needs. The administration of programs, especially government programs can take a large amount of the money allocated. You should investigate how much is actually going to the stated needs.

Also, don’t unthinkingly support labels. If you say “I support education.” What does that mean, Which education? Public? Private? Politically correct? All “education” is not the same. Do you give to support “veterans”? Good! But be careful how you do it. Some “veterans charities” spend the bulk of the money on the charity not the veterans. The same is true of charities for “children”.

I AM NOT SAYING “DON’T GIVE.” Be wise. Make sure you are supporting what you really want to support. Keep a generous, compassionate heart. Just be wise as you share.

The fear mongers who peddled negativity during this past year once again have been proven wrong. There were NOT as many deaths as forecast for the pandemic. The world did NOT end because of voting irregularities or global warming. Democrats, Republicans and Independents went to work the day after the election, not to war.

In spite of difficulties and disagreements people still gave to charities to the tune of 471 billion. As to their disagreements most are working within the legal system to make change NOT in violence as did Antifa and BLM this last year.

There are many things to be concerned about. Many things should change. I am encouraged that many people are getting involved in change rather than just complaining about the need.

There are many rejecting the social and political ideas and people that threaten America free speech. I even put in my two cents by making pro freedom designs. Here is one below.

www.teespring.com/stores/pro-freedom-movement

Many people want a better world, but do nothing to change it. Some believe they can do nothing. Others depend on others; politicians, experts, etc. to change the world. Others just sit and complain. And others just sit and hope things will get better. But for the reality of a better world there must be activity by regular people.

We must do what we can with what we have. Improving my little corner of the world may seem little, but it makes a difference to those who live there. Real positive change must come from real positive people. Improved societies come from involved people.

Look for how you can get involved with your neighbors, with your church, with charities and so forth. Don’t try to be a Messiah. Do what you can. If we all do that we will make a more positive world.

Speak out against Hate. http://www.teespring.com/stores/anti-hate-campaign-2

Many people have no idea about the basics regarding the vision of the founders or why things were set up as they were. Our education system has failed us in this regard.

The first radical idea was that people were created with basic human rights. The idea was that these were “born with” rights. No king, queen, or any other kind of government has the right to take these basic rights away. At the time it was a radical notion.

Many Americans believe the constitution especially the bill if rights give them their rights. That is incorrect. The constitution is not to give rights but protect rights, Further, the first ten amendments to the constitution list some personal rights. According to amendment nine we are not to assume that only the rights listed are all the personal rights to be protected.

DEMOCRACY

Democracy is basically another word for majority rule. But since our founders believed in basic “born with” human rights they structured the constitution so the majority could not vote away basic rights from people, ie. freedom of speech, freedom of religion,etc. They also structured federal elections to be run by the people and their state representatives. They structured the presidential election with the electoral college so each state and its voters would have a say. If presidential elections were ‘majority rule” three or four most populous states could control the presidency, giving most states and millions of voters no say.

I’ll stop here. These are things to think about. So many do not even know what was intended. To have a positive country we must value and protect our freedoms.

http://www.teespring.com/stores/pro-freedom-movement

The cancel culture is the twenty-first century version of Nazi, Fascist, Communist Opposition to individual freedoms. The leaders in politics and industry who give in to the mob are like the Germans who gave in to the Nazis in order to get along with them. That never works.

It does not end in banning books or burning them. The more power you give the oppressors the more they oppress. It goes from speech control and book burning to concentration camps, gulags, and executions.

We all must resist those forces which want to take away our freedoms. We must speak, blog, design as I have.We must not fall for the political tribalism. We must support those who stand with against political correctness and for moral correctness.

If good people do nothing. Evil people will succeed. In our own lives we must support freedom and resist hatred and oppression. We must resist those who wish to take our freedoms.

I ask all fellow veterans. Is this why we served? To win overseas and lose our freedoms at home? Get involved in education, politics, social discourse. Wear a freedom button or a shirt as a conversation starter. My friends know of my designs. There will be a link below. Wear any buttons or shirts that will get people thinking about it. They do not have to be mine. We must project our support of our God-given freedoms. Let us NOT remain silent.

One of my designs at www.teespring.com/stores/pro-freedom-movement

Not all positive outcomes are easy. Some take courage and mental toughness. In a society that loves conveniences, it is a concern as to whether or nor we have the courage and mental toughness to fight for positive change when it is hard.

There is no “easy” button for meaningful social and political changes. These changes take work, sacrifice, courage, and toughness. Passing laws or overturning political systems do nothing to change the hearts and minds of people.

Let’s look at some historical examples of what it sometimes takes to overcome.

GEORGE WASHINGTON

During the war for American independence he faced many defeats, privations, and disappointments but he stayed with it until final victory.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

During the war between the states, the Civil War; Lincoln had general after general let him down. He faced draft riots, dissension in his own party, the death of his young son, and more. It took courage and mental and emotional strength to persevere to the end.

WINSTON CHURCHILL

During World War Two he spent a lot of his time as British leader in bomb shelters as German planes and rockets rained down devastation on England. But he not only had the courage to persevere but to encourage the English people in very dark times.

There have been so many others that have had the courage and toughness to resist their enemies. How about us? Do we quietly withdraw from public discourse because someone calls us a name? Do we depend on politicians or the mob to make things better? Or do we become the home of the brave? That is the only way to be the land of the free.

It is a wonderful time. We have gone through a difficult time. The pandemic took some of our friends and loved ones. Some of our civic leaders made things worse. We’ve had a contested election here in the U.S. with our leadership really not that interested in investigating the thing. So for different reasons, many are in a funk. The wonderful part is that we are still here and new days are ahead. Of course, you really can’t get the most of the new days if you are stuck in the past. But they are coming with their opportunities.

I have decades of perspective and an understanding of history that reassures me 2020 was not the worst year ever. The riots pale beside those of the sixties. The pandemic was not the worst in history. Read a history book. Read about the pandemic in Europe in the middle ages. The fuss over politics is not the worst this nations has seen. There were brawls in congress as well as duels because of the disagreements. This was not the most contested election ever. I believe it was that of 1876 which was so undecided that it took until March to determine who the president was. Maybe we are so hooked on convenience that whenever things go wrong we tend to think “it is the worst ever”.

We are still here, still alive, still able to live positive lives if we will.

If you use YouTube I have some suggestions for fun and refreshment.

Some Humor

Look up “A vegetarian’s Nightmare” by Baxter Black on the Tonight Show.

Look up Tim Conway’s “the dentist” scene.

Then watch Abbott and Costello “Who’s on First”

If those three don’t bring you some smiles, let me know. I’ll pray for you.

Some Music

Kim Sohyang known as Sohyang is a Korean singer who uses her gift to help and encourage people going through hard times. She is a gospel singer and a cancer survivor. She is one of the best female vocalists I’ve ever heard.

Her cover of Bridge Over Troubled Water is worth your time to check it out.

Her version of Lean on Me she sang in a contest honoring Michael Bolton is spectacular. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

Laugh a little. Listen to some great vocals. Look ahead with optimism. We are still here and still determined to improve our lives and our world.