Not afraid to profess your faith.....even as an elected official!

On Saturday, March 14th I had the privilege of sharing the stage with Congressman Gresham Barrett and Senator Kevin Bryant in Anderson, SC at New Covenant Church. New Covenant held a breakfast fundraiser for their private school, New Covenant School and invited the three of us to speak.

It was refreshing to see three elected officials not afraid to profess their personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Thank you Tim Bowers and the elders at New Covenant for allowing me to share the morning with you and the opportunity to speak to the students and parents at New Covenant! God Bless you, always.

Jeff

Religious Freedom

From the SC House Republican Caucus:

One of the most sacred rights that countless South Carolinians have fought and died for is religious freedom. The great leaders in our country's history have been guided by faith that was nurtured over the years in homes, communities and schools. Today, elected officials continue to be buoyed by their strong faith as they make tough decisions during difficult times.

But religious freedom on college campuses has come under attack by Democrats. The massive Democrat spending bill, or so-called stimulus package, recently signed into law by President Barack Obama prohibits funds to renovate buildings on college campuses from being used for buildings with any type of religious connection. Our own U.S. Senator Jim DeMint has called the bill "a direct attack on students of faith."

The South Carolina House Republican Caucus believes strongly in protecting religious freedom and will not allow students to come under attack. That's why House Republicans voted today to safeguard religious freedom on college campuses in South Carolina. According to an amendment passed with overwhelming support from House Republicans, state supported colleges receiving federal stimulus stabilization funds must continue to support and maintain existing student programs and facilities used for religious activities.

What they are saying now......

General Motors. On September 24, Congress approved a $25 billion bailout for General Motors (GM), Ford (F), and Chrysler. In November, they were back.....asking Congress for more of our tax dollars.

Dallas Executive Mr. Jody Grant stated well in the Dallas Morning News stated "I think Washington is inclined to do a bailout. But if it's not done properly, we'll be back in the same old boat: GM's no more competitive than they were before, nor is Ford, nor is Chrysler." GM received $13.4 Billion in round one.

Most people in September and throughout the fall were saying that they should file Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, reorganize the business free from the immediate creditor pressure and, most importantly, renegotiate the union contracts they have. Most people being the American public, not the politicians in DC.

Just this morning (March 8th) Senator John McCain is saying just that - like it is his idea and he just came to this conclusion. How much in taxpayer dollars needs to be thrown down the hole before those in Washington listen to the things that the American people are saying?

Why not bring back the RTC?

When the Savings and Loan Industry failed in the late 1980's, the federal government instituted the Resolution Trust Corporation to deal with the liquidation of what are now called "Toxic Assets" held by the S&L's. From Wikipedia:

"The Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC) was a United States Government-owned asset management company charged with liquidating assets (primarily real estate-related assets, including mortgage loans) that had been assets of savings and loan associations (S&Ls) declared insolvent by the Office of Thrift Supervision, as a consequence of the savings and loan crisis of the 1980s. It also took over the insurance functions of the former Federal Home Loan Bank Board. It was created by the Financial Institutions Reform Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA), adopted in 1989. In 1995, its duties were transferred to the Savings Association Insurance Fund of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Between 1989 and mid-1995, the Resolution Trust Corporation closed or otherwise resolved 747 thrifts with total assets of $394 billion."

This seems like a viable option for the Federal Government now instead of pouring more and more of our future taxes into a bottomless pit.

Outraged!!

If you have ever encountered a leak in your home, maybe behind a wall or under the house where it wasn't noticed for some time, you know the tremendous amount of damage that can be done over time. Incrementally. Gradually. When you finally do realize what has happened, it is too late to save a lot of damaged area that needs to be ripped out and rebuilt.

I am afraid that this is exactly what is happening to our government. Slowly, over a period of time, we are having our Republic eroded and in its place we are seeing a stronger centralization of power in Washington. It is happening in the name of propping up the economy. What really is happening is the nationalization of our banking industry. In addition, just look at what Representative Barney Frank has done: From the WSJ:

"Mr. Frank, by his own account, wrote into the TARP bill a provision specifically aimed at helping this particular home-state bank. And later, he acknowledges, he spoke to regulators urging that OneUnited be considered for a cash injection." To the tune of $12 million.

Our Governor, Mark Sanford is quoted in the article: ""It's totally arbitrary," says South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford. "If you've got the right lobbyist and the right representative connected to Washington or the right ties to Washington, you get the golden tap on the shoulder," says Gov. Sanford

He is correct: it is totally arbitrary now which companies get Federal assistance and which do not, based on political favors and payback! Remember - these are your tax dollars being given out here.....

This has everything to do with the perpetuation of power by guys like Rep. Barney Frank and Sen. Chris Dodd - both chairing powerful Congressional Finance Committees.

It is time to be outraged, Americans, over this! Maybe Madam Speaker Pelosi or Senate Majority Leader Reid don't care. But I do! South Carolina does!

We are going to wake up one day and the world is going to have no faith in the US Dollar. Then what?

It is time for the Federal Government to stop dangling stimulus carrots and get out of the way....this is a scary trend of Nationalization of private businesses - incrementally leading us down the road of Socialism or worse. As bad as it may seem, we must allow some businesses to fail and some to succeed in a natural business climate without being propped up by a government which has greatly overstepped its Constitutional authority. Our Founding Fathers envisioned a weak & limited central government - stronger state governments and most of the power in the hands of the free people.

Thomas Jefferson on the Bailouts.....

"A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government."
Thomas Jefferson

Merry Christmas from the Duncans!

While wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, I stop and think about what Christmas means...what I truly believe:

We are celebrating the birth of our Savior....the only perfect man to ever walk the earth....the Son that God sent to tell man about His love.....to show His love by allowing His own Son to be sacrificed so that we shall not have to spend eternity separated from Him - that separation is the true Hell.....Thank You God for loving me, a sinner who is unworthy of the tremendous Grace you show me.....

A celebration of this birth......WOW....and that is why we give gifts, because God gave us the gift of His Son, but also the gift of his Grace!

Merry Christmas!