Bias. Liberal bias. Conservative bias. Bias against Bill Clinton. Bias against George W. Bush. Bias colors our world even when we think we are above the it. If you read this blog at all you know that I am a huge Mike Huckabee fan. I have been an ardent supporter since November, 2007. I also listen to talk radio constantly. I have been amazed at the rhetoric coming from the political "pundits" and talk radio "gurus". In fact, it's almost comic to listen to them twist in the wind with each day's poll numbers or debate performance. Justifying every gaffe, restating every spin. Who won last night's CNN debate? If you listen to Michael Medved, who is a McCain supporter, Ron Paul! Yep, that's right. He's claimed Ron Paul came off looking the best. At least Michael tried to be intellectually honest. He admitted that John McCain came off looking less than presidential. More like a squabbling child. John McCain revealed his true colors last night. But, here's where bias comes in. He is so enamored of John McCain that he couldn't bear to admit that Huckabee outperformed his guy. He would rather praise Ron Paul. He couldn't give credit where credit is due. Bias. Every time it turns around and bites you in the rear.

Check out the video, it's so true:

In September, I signed Tory up for a class in writing. Every week with much wailing and gnashing of teeth she churns out another descriptive paragraph, revises last week's using the teacher's notes and prints out a final copy. This class has been a stretch for her, but I am incredibly pleased with the progress she has made. Here is her latest addition to her portfolio.

An Autumn Day

Crisp and breezy, the wind blows as I stand outside quickly raking leaves. The chilled air nips my face as I step on the crackling foliage below. I look up at the tree above and see scarlet, amber, and burnt orange leaves jostling in the wind waiting for their turn to fall. The air is scented with the sweet aroma of pumpkin pie. As I turn to look at the house, I see smoke rising from the chimney. It tells me that a fire is burning inside. Finally, I tuck away the last leaf in the pile and run inside. I plop on a chair and warm by the fire as I sip hot cocoa.
Tory, age 12

I listen to them all. Michael Medved, Laura Ingraham, Hugh Hewitt, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly. Ok, I'm really forced to listen to O'Reilly and Hannity because my husband likes them so well and they're usually on sometime in the evening. Between you and me, the aforementioned duo are a couple of blow-hards. My favorite is Michael Medved - he's one of the best talk radio hosts I've ever heard. His debating of the issues is unrivaled. He is even-handed in the way he approaches each issue and does not walk lock-step with the other talk radio gurus. In fact it was Michael Medved that first pointed out the viability of a Huckabee nomination. Before that I really had not considered him an electable option. But, once I started checking him out, the better I liked him. Now I am a full-blown supporter. I've actually donated money (first-time ever) and I've made phone calls to Iowa to get out the vote. I take a little credit for the win in Iowa. So, why the long introduction to this post?

Michael has turned on me. He's now supporting McCain. I never saw this stab in the back coming. Why, Michael, why? After all we've been through. How could you do this to me? How?

Here's how. For all their bloviating about who is the true conservative the talk radio pundits have gotten it wrong. Michael likes McCain, Hannity has been pushing Rudy Guiliani down our throats, Hugh Hewitt wants Romney (his support is a bit tainted, more on that later). And their big complaint about Huckabee? He's a fiscal liberal. He offered a helping hand to the children of illegal immigrants. It's amazing how they can overlook the liberal tendencies of their candidate, but when it comes to Huckabee they can't forgive his indiscretions. Here's the rundown according to this homeschooling evangelical Mom.

John McCain - Do you not remember the last presidential race, the Gang of 14, McCain-Feingold, need I go on? Also, he's such a Washington insider. It doesn't get anymore inside than him.

Mitt Romney - Too slick for the room. You thought Bill Clinton was slick? Take a gander at Slick Mitt. I just do not trust him on the pro-life issue. He is from the Northeast for goodness sakes. He's the governor of a liberal bastion, Massachusetts. Also, I don't want a businessman running the government. The businessman will fire you because it's good for his bottom line. Fiscal heresy, you say! Be that as it may, I still respond to Huckabee's comment about the next President being less like the guy who fired you.

Rudy Guiliani - Strong on the war, weak on the social issues. I don't trust Rudy if it comes to the pro-life issue. Would he sign a partial birth abortion ban? I don't know. By the by, Rudy is my second choice of candidate.

Fred Thompson - ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ oh I'm sorry I must've dozed off.

Ron Paul - Nut Job with a few good points. His argument against giving three times the aid to the Arab nations as we give to Israel? Why do we do that anyway?

Mike Huckabee - The only man that can rally the evangelical base and attract the African-American evangelicals and the average Joe. What's not to like? He's down-to-earth, folksy, and extremely electable. He has a good head on his shoulders and cares about the common people. He has also beaten the Clinton political machine two different times. Oh, by the way, being governor of Arkansas for ten years doesn't make him qualified to run for president? Just ask Bill Clinton. Put Huckabee head to head against shrill Hillary and you've got yourself a winner.

Imagine a rolling piano score, the sweet timber of a soprano solo and finally the swelling sounds of a choir. This is one of my favorite hymns. The lyrics were written by Bernard of Clairvaux in the 12th century. The music was arranged by Johann Sebastian Bach in the 18th century. Combined they speak a truth that is powerful yet beautiful.

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down;
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call thee mine.

What thou, my Lord, hast suffered was all for sinners' gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! 'Tis I deserve thy place;
Look on me with thy favor, vouchsafe to me thy grace.

What language shall I borrow to thank thee dearest Friend!
For this, thy dying sorrow, thy pity without end?
O make me thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to thee."

The last line "O make me thine forever, and should I fainting be, Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to thee." is my life's prayer. I pray that the Lord would take me home before I would betray Him.

Scripture for tonight - Luke 5-9. We finished up Matthew and listened to Mark. Mark seemed to only hit the highlights of Jesus life on earth. Whereas Matthew focused on the teachings, parables and miracles of Jesus, Mark focused on the death and resurrection of Jesus. Out of sixteen chapters, the last four dealt with the death of Jesus. We have found it interesting to see what each Gospel has concentrated on. Luke spent a lot of time with Jesus birth and early life. It is in Luke 1 that you have the Christmas story, the birth of John the Baptist, all the stories associated with Jesus before He began His ministry. Also, Luke is the first gospel to be a letter written to someone, Theophilus.

I have one unanswered question. In all the accounts of Jesus healing someone, it usually ended with Jesus telling the recipient to "Go and tell no one of what has happened." Yet, the Scripture states that each went and told everyone. Why is that? I don't know...I am pondering...praying that the Holy Spirit will reveal that to me. I find it odd that Jesus would command such a thing. I don't know about your tradition, but in my church tradition people are always "testifying" about God's goodness. I do it myself. When God blesses us, or speaks a word of truth I usually share that with my closest friends. Why would Jesus forbid that in Scripture? If I get an answer I'll "testify" and let you know. For now it remains a mystery.

Day two of Scripture reading ~ er ~ listening. We listened to Matthew 8-12. These chapters spoke of the miracles Jesus performed. It was amazing how many of them had to do with demon possession. Also, I was struck by how much like hapless sheep people are. We are blithely eating our grass while the wolf is pacing just outside the fence waiting for one of us to stray too far. Jesus truly is the Great Shepherd. Another impression from these chapters is the compassion that Jesus felt for people. Think of it, the God of Creation felt compassion for hurts and needs. For the man who was crippled Jesus came, felt compassion and healed him. I don't think Jesus healed to impress people, I think He healed, because he wanted to bring comfort to the hurting. I find that comforting.

HUCK - A - BEE, HUCK - A - BEE, HUCK - A - BEE!! Woohoo, one down, forty-nine to go. Mike Huckabee pulled off the coup of the century. Being outspent 15 to 1 by Mitt Romney, who's just too slick for the room, Huckabee pulled 34% of the Republican vote to Romney's 25%. It just don't get any better than that. Check out Jay Leno's show with Mike Huckabee, he is a down-to-earth compassionate conservative. I Like Mike!~

Tonight was the first night of our 40 days of Scripture reading. Our church has started a 40 day program of the New Testament on CD. As a family we listened to Matthew chapters 1-7. It's interesting to come at the Bible from a different mode. I usually read Scripture, but tonight I listened. Having the Words of God come to me auditorily opened my heart to new meanings. Most of the time I focus on a single chapter, digging deep into each verse to find meaning. Listening to seven chapters at one sitting lifted me to a another level. Matthew 1-4 is a chronicle of the birth of Jesus and the beginnings of His ministry. Matthew 5-7 spells out The Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes. His teachings convicted my spirit. When I look at myself compared to the world and the people around me I feel pretty impressed with myself. I don't find that I'm much of a sinner. Oh sure, I might gossip, I might get angry at a colleague or disrespect my husband, but that's not near as bad as spreading slander, murdering someone, or committing adultery. Right? Wrong. I forget how holy God is. His holiness is like the whitest paint on the whitest wall. No speck of dirt or tint of gray. His essence is so pure that Scripture states that "No man may look on God and live." Next to him I look like a sinkful of dirty water, dark gray with swirls of grease and bits of food floating around. Now I may not be black and thick like tar, but I am definitely not a white wall. So, the moral in this tale? Get my eyes off of those around me and onto God's holiness. I am called to holiness. Matthew 5:48 says "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Honestly, when I read that Scripture, my heart seizes in panic. How can I be perfect? I can't even go one day without criticizing someone. But, this verse serves it's purpose. "Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith." Gal. 3:24 The Scripture about being perfect leads me to Jesus, because the only way that I can be perfected is to run, flat out run as fast as I can, to the cross and the sanctifying work of Holy Spirit. Father help me.