Free Words

You are free!

You are free to speak!
Free to use words eloquently;

Or even recklessly.

We must not abuse the privilege of freedom.
Lean on the side of encouragement and wisdom.

Lies and hysterics are the domain of evil.

Dismiss those who only wish to cause upheaval.

Please do not give more weight to the speech of the jealous and angry

than those of the rooted and happy.

Never let hurtful words handicap you or your destiny.

Don't let them define your identity.

The Population Decline Thoughts

 

This morning, I watched a compelling conversation between the demographer Stephen Shaw and the hosts of Triggernometry. I recommend people listen to or watch it. They discussed the declining birth rate and the impact it will have on future generations. It is a sensitive topic because it involves family formation, but we need to discuss it nonetheless. I have several thoughts on this topic. I'm going to outline some of them.

1) This is a cultural issue, and policy can do very little to assuage the birth decline. We have the technology (birth control) now and have had it for over half a century to prevent births. The genie is out of the bottle. I don't see us going backwards technology-wise.

There is an increasing cultural view that marriage and kids are a heavy burden and not worth the investment. It's becoming less rare to hear about the positives of parenthood. That is something we CAN tackle as a society, but it will be a big endeavor. It involves a candid discussion on a very sensitive topic. As an American, I can say we are not very good at that. I will note this is a worldwide issue (very few regions are seeing an increase in birth rates).

2) As a believer, it also got me thinking about what the Church can do about this issue. I think the Church can do a better job supporting marriage and parents. We need to emphasize the importance of marriage and family. One thing Mr. Shaw mentioned is that we are going to see an increase in older, childless people. We need to think in advance about how we can support them and what potential needs they might have.

Strive

 

Was I not ambitious enough?
Perhaps I gave up too easily when the tides turned rough.

Maybe I am not made out of the right stuff.
Or could it be I didn't learn how to bluff.

Why do my dreams always stay dreams?
Always swimming upwards on a downstream.

Do I esteem myself higher than I ought?
Ego, it is simply naught.

Or does my walk lack boldness?
It looks like my confidence has been stolen.

While striving for something more might prove pointless;
It's the only thing that will keep me from drawing my last breath hopeless. 

How the Trump Years Have Helped Me Become Less Partisan

I've been interested in politics for a long time. My first vote was for a Republican. For most of my adult years, I considered myself a Republican. I thought President Obama and then Biden were going to turn us into a socialist country. Looking back, I was too partisan. Go Team Red!

That's not the case anymore. I don't think I'm on any team anymore. What happened? Donald Trump. I've never been fond of him. I find him abrasive and he's all over the place policy-wise. Populism is not my thing. So it really took me back to when the Republican Party asked me to ignore his huge character flaws and lack of strong principles to win elections. I couldn't do it.

I soon became party-less because I didn't align with the Democrat Party platform either. However, I noticed several things that happened when I let go of party identification. 

I noticed how partisan our media are (both conservative and traditional outlets). It is so evident how each side pushes its narratives to win the news cycle. I am embarrassed to say I often ignored how conservative media are just as bad at disseminating untrue narratives so they can win until they were trying to push on me a candidate that I had no desire to support. I have watched very little Fox News in the past decade. It made my stomach turn when I tuned into their 2016 election coverage to be bombarded by their "commentators" telling me that Trump's behavior wasn't a big deal. Really, it's not a big deal to tell a Vietnam POW he prefers his veterans not to be captured? His comments and behavior towards women isn't a big deal? His behavior has only gotten worse since then.

I also found myself way less tribal or partisan. I didn't have a side so I wasn't so invested. It's truly hard to be offended by someone's political opinion when you think both sides are absolutely full of it. It was freeing not to have side.  I saw the hacks for what they were. I never used to listen to left-leaning podcasts but occasionally do now. I still feel my political beliefs are pretty right-leaning but don't automatically dismiss someone's political opinion because they are left of center.

I learned that community and culture matters. Very little of what happens in politics truly matters. What happens in your home, community, and family matters soooooo much more. Stay focused on the stuff that matters, not petty and ridiculous political matters. Let Cesaer be. 

Sadly, it took such a divisive figure for me to lose my partisanship. 

Happy 2024 Election!

American Flash

So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.” "Here it is again, the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first." So the last shall be first, and the first last. -Matthew 20:16

As a Christian something has always sat uneasy with me about American culture. The way our sports and entertainment events are absolute spectacles with bombast and flash. 

Political campaigns now last two years with rallies, televised debates, dramatic campaign ads and flashy conventions. Politicians who promise the world and spend billions to do so. We even have one presidential candidate who sounds like a WWE wrestler (I will let you guess which one). 

This bombast has even infested our religious life. We have megachurches with smoke machines and flashy lights. 

I don’t think this is healthy and gives an outsized sense of importance on things that are not. It’s not reflective of a society that’s modest and humble. In fact, I think it might be affecting things like actually do matter like our marriage rate, for example. While the decrease in marriage rates is multi-causal I don’t think the expectation of a lavish wedding is helping. 

I was listening to a presentation about the election of 1896 and how McKinley just ran a simple front porch campaign and won. That’s not an America that’s recognizable to me. 

Humility and modesty are Christian principles. I would like to see more of it. 

Sabbath

Relax. Rest your bones.

Sabbath is here. Silence your phones.

Quench your soul’s thirst with His Word.

I will swim in your endless fjords.

No thoughts of work or labor.

Your peace I savor.

Time stands still when I’m in your presence.

Honor Him and He will be bless us. 

Realness

Still is all You wanted me to be. 

Realness comes with a subscription fee.

Sanity disturbs those hooked to depravity.

An anxious mind has a hard time seeing anything other than catastrophe.

Peace is not something you march for but fight for.

Appeasing monsters always leaves them feigning for more.

There is no wisdom in crowds.

They’re just mobs advocating for their sacred cows.

Revival in this land.        

In firm ground I stand.

Last Will Be First

Maybe we all are made to have an ache that will never cease.

From burdens we can never be free.

Despair doesn’t discriminate between rich or poor.

We all have pain than can leave us on the floor.

Even so, count the victories when they occur.

In anguish we can not stir.

Hope even when it hurts.

Eventually the last will be first.

Defective

Born defective.

Made to feel like my life is elective.

The Creator’s hands must have been tired when he mold me.

Wounds so deep, I wonder if I will ever be all I can be.

Small and insignificant in the world’s eyes.

They will always choose beauty over blight.

Dilemmas, dilemmas. 

Do I share all my flaws only to be ostracized? 

Or do I hide only to never be fully known?

I am torn apart but I want to be sown.

Lord, stitch me back together.

I want to be your treasure.

Progressives Vote Against Their Economic Interests

In his 2004 book "What's the Matter with Kansas?”, Thomas Frank argued conservatives vote against their economic interests. In 2023, I would argue progressive voters are doing what progressives have long claimed conservatives are doing - voting against their economic interests. I have an interesting news article and an informative video filled with data that both caught my attention and solidifies my point.

Young voters are a hallmark of the Democrat base. According to this Time article, Gen Z is a large reason why the red wave didn't occur in 2022.  Homeownership is a signifier of the American dream and economic security. Guess where Gen Zers are able to buy homes? Red states. The most popular metros for Gen Z homebuyers are Salt Lake City, Oklahoma City and Birmingham, according to Lending Tree.

A question I think progressives should be asking themselves is why are red states seeing a net migration of minorities? What economic policies are red states enacting that are drawing people from all backgrounds? Texas has consistently topped the list for most Latino net migration, best opportunity markets, and producing the greatest number of new Latino homeowners, according to Housing Wire. Between 2020 and 2022, Texas saw a net gain of nearly 150,000 Latino residents. Something else that caught my eye this week is this video detailing the cities with the highest percentage of net migration of Black Americans and the vast majority (a couple of exceptions) of the cities listed are located in red states.

Progressives should be pondering if their economic policies help young people and minorities.