Thomas hits nail on the head

Thomas hits nail on the head!

by Steve Fair

Cal Thomas is a journalist.  He writes a weekly op/ed for USA Today and his column is carried  by some 300 plus newspapers across America.  But on Sunday at a large Baptist church in Tampa, he sounded more like a preacher.  “Our problem in America is a moral and spiritual problem,” he said.  “Until God changes a man’s heart, we are only changing the external.”  Lynn Windel, former 4 term Oklahoma National Committeeman  from Ardmore and I traveled more than an hour from the Oklahoma delegation hotel to hear Thomas speak.  It was well worth it and Thomas’ remarks will define how I view this convention.

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Thomas briefly mentioned his time with the Moral Majority and how that organization’s plan to ‘reform’ America failed.  He cited the late Dr. D. James Kennedy who founded Reclaiming America and how that premise failed to accomplish it’s goal.  “The motive is right, but the tatic is wrong- only God can change America- one heart at a time,” Thomas said.  I couldn’t agree more.  Electing a more conservative President and Congress is a worthy goal and may slow down the moral decline in America, but until we understand the only hope America has is the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are doomed to fail.

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I was somewhat surprised that Thomas spoke so boldly on the subject of the depravity of man.  Total Depravity is something few journalist know anything about and embrace.  Mr. Thomas cited Romans 8:8 that states all of fallen mankind, are capable of externally good acts (acts that are good for society), but we cannot do anything really good, i.e., pleasing to God because God sees our heart. And from his ultimate standpoint, fallen man has no goodness, in thought, word, or deed. 

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Total depravity is the fallen state of man as a result of original sin. The doctrine of total depravity asserts that people are by nature not inclined or even able to love God wholly with heart, mind, and strength, but rather all are inclined by nature to serve their own will and desires and to reject the rule of God.  It is the first tenet in the five so-called doctrines of Calvinism.  Many don’t teach it because they are afraid it is too negative and places man in a hopeless, helpless situation.  They instead teach man is inherently good, born innocent with a spark of divinity.

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Charles Spurgeon, the so-called prince of preachers, said, “I am bound to the doctrine of the depravity of the human heart, because I find myself depraved in heart, and have daily proofs that there dwelleth in my flesh no good thing.”

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“Some believe that man has a spark of divinity and all we have to do is find that spark and fan it,”  Thomas said.  “That can’t be found in the Bible.”  Indeed it can’t be.  Throughout the scripture it is clear that mankind has inherited a corrupted, depraved nature.

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Thomas’ point was that no amount of political activism will result in any meaningful change until God changes men’s hearts.  “This doesn’t mean we don’t get involved or stay engaged in the political process.  We are told to be the Salt and Light of this world so it is very important Christians are involved,”  Thomas said, “but we must recognize that we cannot by activism alone bring about the change America needs.”

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I was surprised that a man whose columns I have read for years was saying exactly what I have contended for years; America’s problems are not political- they are spiritual.

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I brought one of Cal’s books, Common Ground, one he authored with Democrat strategist and Fox News host Bob Beckel.  I got it signed and got my photograph taken with Thomas.  I then had the opportunity to talk with him briefly and when I told him I appreciated his ‘Calvinist’ message, he laughed.  We agreed that American Christians involved in the political process must stop focusing on behavior modification, but understand we cannot change the heart of man- only God can.

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Cal Thomas’ message is one that is fundamental if we truly want to change our country.  The secret to restoring America’s greatness is to recognize our country has a sin problem and it is rooted in our hearts.  We will never have the blessings of God on our country until we see man as he is before a holy God.  No keynote address at the convention will deliver a more needed message to America than Cal’s.   

The CRAZY hat!

Weekly Opinion Editorial

    

THE CRAZY HAT!

by Steve Fair     

     On Friday, I leave for the Republican National Convention in Tampa.  This will be my third straight GOP convention.  The last two I have served as a national delegate, but National GOP Party rules do not permit me to serve three consecutive times as a delegate, so this time around I am the Oklahoma GOP delegation aide. 

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     In May, I was honored to be elected Oklahoma’s National Committeeman at our state convention.  The Friday after the convention, I will participate in the reorganizing of the GOP National Committee.   There are just 168 members of the National Committee- 3 per state and territory.  The job of the RNC is to establish the rules for how the GOP operates as a Party, craft the message of who we are as a Party, and provide leadership for the grassroots.  I am excited about my new role and look forward to the challenge.

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     A national political convention is like the Super Bowl for a political junkie, but it’s not all fun and games.  Delegates travel to the convention at their own expense. While in Tampa delegates will have a seat on the convention floor and are expected to attend and participate in the various convention sessions.  The sessions you see on television are largely keynote speeches.  If you want to see more of the nuts & bolts of the convention, watch C-Span.   What is not seen in prime time is the actual Party business that is conducted at a national convention.  Here are the four major committees that will function at the GOP national convention.

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     First, there is the credentials committee.  The Credentials Committee examines and rules on the accreditation of state delegations to the conventions. The credentials committee handles disputes and challenges from the various delegations.  Polly Hawke from Logan County and Allie Burgin from Garvin are the Oklahoma GOP representatives on credentials.  As a member of the credentials committee, they have to be at the convention nearly a week early.  Credentials are the first thing the national convention delegates will vote on.  Until the 2,286 delegates are credentialed, no official business can be conducted.  Oklahoma has 43 delegates to the 2012 national convention.

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     The second committee is the Rules committee.  This committee establishes the ‘proposed’ rules by which the convention business will be conducted.  They also meet several times prior to the convention and craft rules that are designed to facilitate business in a fair, equitable manner.  Rules are designed to insure the will of the majority is ascertained while giving a voice to the minority.  The rules are ‘proposed’ until the convention delegates approve them.  That is the first order of business.  Stuart Jolley, from Oklahoma County and Linda Lepak from Roger Mills County are Oklahoma’s representatives on Rules. 

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     The third committee is the platform committee.   This committee meets several times prior to the convention.  Members of that committee take all the resolutions that have been submitted by the State GOP organizations across the country and craft them into a proposed GOP Party platform.  The proposed platform is then voted on at the national convention by the delegates.   The GOP platform resolutions in the platform had their beginning in a GOP precinct meeting somewhere in America.  Our platform is crafted from the bottom up, not the top down.  That’s why it is important to get involved in your precinct meetings.  Our next scheduled precinct meetings/elections will be in January of 2013.  Oklahoma’s representatives on the Platform/Resolutions committee are Carolyn McLarty, our current National Committeewoman from Woodward County and Tony Lauinger, State Chairman of Oklahomans for Life from Tulsa County.. 

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    The fourth committee is the committee on Permanent Organization.  This committee’s primary role is the selection of convention officers. Trent Shores, from TulsaCounty and Lonnie Lou Anderson from Pittsburg County are Oklahoma’s representatives.

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     Starting Monday the 27^th, watch the Republican National Convention.  It will be on every major network and cable channel.  Governor Chris Christie will be keynoting Tuesday night and I expect will deliver a powerful speech.  Watch for me-I will be the one in the crazy hat! 

Ryan is a great pick!

Weekly Opinion Editorial

RYAN IS A GREAT PICK!

by Steve Fair     

     

     On Saturday morning, Governor Mitt Romney chose Congressman Paul Ryan from Wisconsin as his Vice Presidential running mate.  Ryan is the Chairman of the House Budget committee and surprisingly the pick seemed to please both Republicans and Democrats.

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     Republican grassroots Party activists were excited when Romney chose the seven term Congressman who has a life score of 93% with the American Conservative Union.   Matt Pinnell, Chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party said, “Today marks a turning point in this presidential race. Ryan’s addition to the ticket shows that Governor Romney, in addition to his focus on job creation, is prepared to run a robust campaign with a sharp message built around tax and spending cuts, deficit reduction and entitlement reform; policies that will literally save this country. “When you couple this winning message with the fact that he’s married to an Oklahoman and his dogs are named Boomer and Sooner, Mitt Romney couldn’t have chosen a more qualified running mate.”

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     Minnesota State GOP Chairman Pat Shortridge said: “Ryan’s a great pick.  This proves Gov. Romney knows that getting to 270 electoral votes is a means to an end.  Only bold solutions will suffice.”

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     Democrats seemed excited they would have Ryan to hammer in the election.  President Obama’s senior campaign adviser David Axelrod called Ryan a “right wing ideologue” and said, "It is a pick that is meant to thrill the most strident voices in the Republican Party, but it's one that should trouble everybody else - the middle class, seniors, students.” President Obama said Ryan was a decent guy, a family man and he welcomed him to the campaign, but that he fundamentally disagreed with him. 

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     Is Paul Ryan a good pick for Romney as VP?  Absolutely and here is why? 

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      First, it’s a bold pick that will force the Obama and Romney camps to talk about the sustentative issues like the national budget, Medicare and Social Security during the course of the election.  With the unemployment rate in the United States at 8.3 percent and job creation at all time lows, the American public is ripe and ready for hearing about real solutions and not just clever themes.  Ryan has been dealing with the hard issues for a long time and is not afraid to tackle them with solutions. 

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      Second, by picking Ryan, Romney puts Wisconsin, and their ten electoral votes, into play.  The presidential election is decided by ‘electoral votes.’ Wisconsin has not gone for a Republican presidential ticket since 1984, but emboldened by their defeat of an effort to recall Gov. Scott Walker for his reforms of pension and health care plans for some public sector employees, Badger State GOPers are sure to be encouraged further by the choice of one of their own for second place on their ticket.

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     Third, Ryan is young and a health nut.  He is the first Gen Xer to be a presidential ticket candidate.  At 42, he is closer to the age of most college students than he is to Joe Biden.  He has 6% body fat, works out all the time and eats healthy.  Ryan will have appeal with young voters who voted for Obama in 2008 expecting hope and change, but instead got despair and decay.   

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     Fourth, Ryan married a southern Oklahoma girl- Janna Little from Madill.  She is the niece of David Boren, President of OU and the cousin of Representative Dan Boren.  Ryan visits Oklahoma frequently to hunt and fish.  He loves to ‘noodle’ for catfish.  He is real guy who lives in the same small town he grew up in.  He is a family man who is pro-life and pro- traditional marriage.    

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    Fifth and maybe the most important reason: President Obama fundamentally disagrees with Ryan’s vision for America.  That should be reason enough for most Americans to vote for the ticket of Romney and Ryan.  Obama’s vision for America has  been to use government to prop up businesses and banks, redistribute wealth, and to implement socialized medicine.  He wants to make America like eastern Europe where personal initiative and their economy has been destroyed.

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     Rest assured, the Democrats will attack Ryan and his bi-partisan budget plan.  They will do anything to make Ryan look like an extremist.  The truth is we need an extremist to get America back on track.  Ryan will raise the level of dialogue on the economic woes that are destroying our country.  Win or lose, this was a great pick!

Chick Fil-A or Pray?

Weekly Opinion Editorial

CHICK FIL-A OR PRAY?

by Steve Fair

     The first amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees free speech.  That means Chick Fil-A President Dan Cathy has a right to his opinion on marriage just the same as any other American.  Cathy has been called a ‘hater’ by the gay rights crowd because he said he believes in traditional marriage.  Actually all Cathy did was express his opinion.  Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee put the word out that Americans should support Chick Fil-A and their values by buying some chicken last Wednesday.  The result was a record sales day for Chick Fil-A.

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     I have five observations about the Chick Fil-A Wednesday event:

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First, we need more chickens in sandwiches and less chickens filling pulpits in America.  One of the reasons America has declined morally is due to compromising preachers.  Many worship services have been reduced to nothing short of entertainment.  That’s way thousands of  Americans felt comfortable doing their ‘God thing’ by buying some nuggets at Chick Fil-A Wednesday.  The exercise wasn’t much different than a typical service at their church.   

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America’s preachers should be preaching the pure, unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ.  That is what is missing in America.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is the hope of America, not a #5 combo.

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Second, government officials like Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel who said the fast food chain’s values “are not Chicago values.”  Since when does a business or product have to conform to the ‘values’ of their area in which they market? The only values a chicken sandwich has is nutritional value.    Emanuel’s comments are inappropriate and a blatant abuse of his office. 

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Third, patronizing a business or buying a product because you agree with the values of the people who produce or sell the item is exercising your right as a consumer.  However, that is usually not the overriding factor in the consumer’s buying decision.  Most seek a quality product for a value.  That is why a consumer driven boycott of a product or business seldom works as effectively as the threat of a boycott. 

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Chick Fil-A products are no more or less virtuous as their competitor’s products.  The chain purchases most of their products, supplies and equipment from the same vendor community as their competitors.  Their products have basically the same nutritional value and are prepared the same way as their competitors.  Chick Fil-A has been successful in selling a consistently good quality product at a value, not by selling the moral values of their chicken.

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Fourth, some conservatives are exploiting the controversy over Cathy’s comments for political points- pure and simple.  Many of these so-called conservatives stood in line because they believe it will further the Republican cause, not because they are strong traditional marriage proponents.  It’s a safe bet that many of those standing in line for a Chick Fil-A shake on Wednesday were people who have never really been committed to anything except waffle fries.

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Fifth, corporations in and of themselves do not have opinons or values.  People have values and corporations are made up of people.  Publicly traded companies must abide by a more strict set of rules and guidelines than a privately held corporation like Chick Fil-A, which is family owned.  

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Oklahoma based Hobby Lobby, Tyson Foods, ServiceMaster, and Interstate Batteries are others that espouse Christian principles in the marketplace.  Cathy is not the first corporate executive to express an opinion on marriage.  Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, which is now owned by British corporation Unilever, created quite a stir a few years back with a flavor called Hubby Hubby, a take-off of their Chubby Hubby, to support gay marriage.  Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, two liberal social activists who started the company, are no longer involved in the company, but they used social activism as a marketing tool for years.  Yet most of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream products are purchased by consumers based on the product’s merits, not Ben & Jerry’s values. 

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2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and PRAY"- not Chick Fil-A.  If all those who stood in line on Wednesday would invest the same amount of time on their knees in prayer for our country, then perhaps God would forgive our sin and heal our land.