I Believe

A few months ago, my very good friend, Colonel Joe Lane Travis, came to my defense with a local purveyor of ink and cheap paper.

My family and I had been criticized by this yellow journalist from Central Kentucky. Joe Lane told the fellow that we had no underhanded political agenda. "These people believe in something," Joe Lane told him.

I could be paid no higher compliment.

I do believe. I believe that God is the Creator of all things and the only Judge whose decisions really, really count. I believe I have been given talents by God just like every single person in the world, and I believe we are obligated as children of God to use our talents to make this world a better place. I believe Jesus is God's Son come to Earth to save mankind if only we will give up our pride and ask him to save us. When we follow Him, He leads us to fulfill our promise that God breathed into us.

I believe America is God's best plan for mankind to govern himself. Self-government is a direct result of following God's Perfect Plan. The old carnal self is thrown away, and we do the "right" thing as He leads.

I believe there is good in everyone, even as I believe we are all filled with sin. There is more good in some than in others, but it is NOT for me or anyone else to say how much. Actions speak louder than words, and I believe what I see, not what I hear.

I believe ambition causes us to submerge the greater good to our personal good as we see it. Ambition is a wonderful thing if it is controlled by the leading of God. Out-of-control ambition leads the political class to listen to the yammering of the "special" interests who want a big piece of the pie to the detriment of the rest of us. Misplaced compassion toward the slothful who consider themselves "downtrodden" is the primary excuse for the political class to take away from us to give to someone. Thank you, but if I want to give, I am quite capable of deciding to whom or what I wish to contribute. I don't need the pointed gun of Big Government Nannies to tell me what to do.

And that is why I believe in the TEA Party movement. It is the breath of fresh air in political discourse for which I have waited "in the Wilderness" for so long, sometimes believing I was Alone, but always knowing in my heart someone else really cared.

Believe. It will lift your spirits, and it will inspire you to exploit your talents to the fullest. Then contentment and joy will be yours.