Born that way?

One of the hot buttons for a lot of people in the US today is homosexuality. People who are for Gay Rights say that people are born that way and therefore, it is as much a civil right as the rights that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for. But are people really born that way? Let's look at it logically from a Christian point of view and then from the point of view of evolutionists.

If you are a Bible believing Christian, as some in that lifestyle claim to be, you only have to go a few verses into Genisis to find out how God thinks. He told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply. That was a commandment for humanity that has never been recinded. If God wants humanity to be fruitful and multiply, He would not have created homosexuals, since homosexuality does not lend itself to fruitfulness and multiplication.

If, on the other hand, you believe that we evolved, then you have to think about the purpose of evolution, according to scientists. The purpose of evolution is to have a species that can survive. If we were evolving, the genes for homosexuality would have evolved out of humanity, since they do nothing for the survival of the species.

Think about it before you think that gays are born that way

Long gap in posts

I have been neglectful in my posting. I have not posted in quite a while and if I still have any readers, I am sorry. As far as my book goes, I get stuck on one book and go to another project that I am working on. I haven't worked on The Armor in a while, but I have worked on some short stories that I wrote a while ago, updating them and editing them. I have also worked on a couple of other stories that I have been working on. One is a Christian fantasy novel, which is untitled as of right now. The other is written in someone else's universe. It is titled The Butler and the Bat and is a story about Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne's faithful butler. I still hope to finish at least one of these books by the end of the year, maybe even more than one.

Creativity takes a holiday

I did absolutely nothing on the book this week. Got to doing other stuff and misplaced my notebook. I did find it, but the week is over. I will write more in the book in the coming week, after the funeral we are going to tomorrow.

I know...I know...Novel Update is late

I know. I didn't post an update on my novel last week. I am sorry and will try not to do it again. This is a little early for this weeks update, but I will combine the two and make this an update for this week and last week.

I have decided not to enter any more in the computer until I get a lot more done. This will allow me to concentrate more on the writing and not the revising, which I do when I type into the computer. I have completed chapter four and have gotten a good start on chapter 5. I'm not as far as I would like to be, but I am still working on it and will continue to work on it.

For those of you who remind me each week that I forgot to update, THANK YOU! You are keeping me on my toes and holding me accountable.

Smoking on private property

Let me start by saying that I am not a smoker and I prefer to visit establishments that are smoke free. That being said, Oklahoma is talking about banning smoking in eating establishments. Is that a bad thing? Well, for health reasons, I would say no, it isn't a bad thing, but if you think about the implications, it is a bad thing. Smoking is a legal activity. The eating establishments in question are private property. The government is telling the owners of these establishments that they (the owners) can not allow a legal activity on their property. It is eroding our rights as citizens. If you want to say that I can not allow smoking on my property, you need to tell me that smoking is illegal. Next thing you know, they will decide that deep fried foods are not healthy (I know, they aren't) and say that deep fried foods can not be served, or other such nonsense.

Let the owners/operators decide if smoking is allowed in their establishments. If you don't smoke, don't go to a smoking establishment if it bothers you.

Thursday Update

Well, this week, I have been lazy. I wrote a little and did some reading when I usually do my writing. I have been reading the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series: The Lightning Thief. I have a few more chapters of that to read, but will work on my writing as well. I do need to get everything that has been written, entered into the computer.

The Armor update

Again, I didn't update on Thursday, for which I am sorry. As of yesterday, I have completed 3 chapters and part of chapter 4. Haven't gotten it all in the computer, but it is written.

I have been asked what the book is about. I don't want to give away too much, but I will give a brief synopsis. The Armor is a story of demons and angels and spiritual warfare. The main character is a young lady named Kayla who can see the spiritual realm and interact with it. I know how it starts and how it ends, but am getting excited to find out how it gets there.

I hope you can read it when I am done with it. The hardest part of the process will be getting it published.

Thursday Update

I have written a little bit since last week, but not as much as I would have liked to. I write when I am drying clothes at the laundry, but sometimes people decide to talk to me. I know, I can ignore them, but that would be rude. I have met someone who is an artist who says he will work with me if I decide to turn this into a graphic novel. I may do that and still finish it as a novel.

What I have written, so far, seems to be pretty good. I'll probably edit it as I enter it into the computer and then edit it some more after I print it out, but for a first draft, it is coming along pretty good.

Taxes. Necessary?

Below is a partial list of taxes that were not in existence 100 years ago. Now, I believe that taxes are necessary to run the government, but as you read this list, you will notice that government (federal, state and local) is in every aspect of our lives. I don't know about you, but I think that we need to trim government and trim taxes. Get government out of our lives and let us live. We are drowning in a sea of taxes and red tape. No tax has ever stimulated the economy, but tax cuts have. The more money that employers get to keep, the more money they will have for hiring. The more people who are employed, the more people can spend. The more people spend, the more money employers have to hire new employees. I know, it is a vicious cycle, but I think it is one we can live with.

The list is not my own compilation. I found it at The Tax List



1. Accounts Receivable Tax
2. Accounting and Tax Preparation (cost to taxpayers $300 billion)
3. Accumulated Earnings Tax
4. Accumulation Distribution of Trusts
5. Activity Fee (Dumping Permit Fee)
6 . Air Tax (PA coin-operated vacuums)
7. Aircraft Jet Fuel Tax
8. Aircraft Excise Tax
9 . Alcohol Fuels Tax
10. Alcoholic Beverage Tax
11. Alternative Minimum Tax – Amt
12. Ambulance Services (Air Ambulance Services, SD)
13. Ammunition Tax
14. Amusement Tax (MA, VA, MD)
15. Animal Slaughter Tax (WI, others, Per Animal)
16. Annual Custodial Fees (Ira Accounts)
17. Ballast Water Management Fee (Marine Invasive Species)
18. Biodiesel Fuel Tax
19. Blueberry Tax (Maine)
20. Bribe Taxes (Pay If You Dare)
21. Brothel licensing fees (NV – $35,00000 per year per brothel)
22. Building Permit Tax
23. Capital Gains Tax
24. California Interstate User Diesel Fuel Tax
25. California Redemption Value (Can and Bottle Tax)
26. CDL License Tax
27. Charter Boat Captain License
28. Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Fee
29. Cigarette Tax
30. Cigarette Tax Stamp (Acts) (Distributors)
31. Compressed Natural Gas Tax
32. Commercial Activity Tax (OH – for Service Providers)
33. Corporate Income Tax
34. Court Fines (Indirect Taxes)
35. County Property Tax
36. Disposable Diapers Tax (Wisconsin)
37. Disposal Fee (Any Landfill Dumping)
38. Dog License Tax
39. Duck Hunting Tax Stamp (PA, others)
40. Electronic Waste Recycling Fee (E-Waste)
41. Emergency Telephone User Surcharge
42. Environmental Fee (CA – HazMat Fees)
43. Estate Tax (Death Tax, to be reinstated)
44. Excise Taxes
45. Facility Fee (CA – HazMat Fees)
46. FDIC tax (insurance premium on bank deposits)
47. Federal Income Tax
48. Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
49. Fiduciary Income Tax (Estates and Trusts)
50. Fishing License Tax
51. Flush Tax (MD Tax For Producing Wastewater)
52. Food License Tax
53. Fountain Soda Drink Tax (Chicago – 9%)
54. Franchise Tax
55. Fresh Fruit (CA, if Purchased From A Vending Machine)
56. Fuel Gross Receipts Tax (Retail/Distributor)
57. Fuel Permit Tax
58. Fur Clothing Tax (MN)
59. Garbage Tax
60. Gasoline Tax (475 Cents Per Gallon)
61. Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax
62. Generator Fee (Recycled Waste Fee)
63. Gift Tax
64. Gross Receipts Tax
65. Habitat Stamp (Hunting/Fishing in some states)
66. Hamburger Tax (Ask Huckabee)
67. Hazardous Substances Fees: Generator, Facility, Disposal
68. Highway Access Fee
69. Household Employment Taxes
70. Hunting License Tax
71. Illegal Drug Possession (No Carolina)
72. Individual Income Tax
73. Inheritance Tax
74. Insect Control Hazardous Materials License
75. Insurance Premium Tax
76. Intangible Tax (Leases Of Govt. Owned Real Property)
77. Integrated Waste Management Fee
78. Interstate User Diesel Fuel Tax
79. Inventory Tax
80. IRA Rollover Tax (a transfer of IRA money)
81. IRA Early Withdrawal Tax
82. IRS Interest Charges
83. IRS Penalties (Tax On Top Of Tax)
84. Jock Tax (income earned by athletes in some states)
85. Kerosene, Distillate, & Stove Oil Taxes
86. Kiddie Tax (Child’s Earned Interest Form 8615)
87. Land Gains and Real Estate Withholding
88. Lead Poisoning Prevention Fee (Occupational)
89. Lease Severance Tax
90. Library Tax
91. Liquid Natural Gas Tax
92. Liquid Petroleum Gas Tax
93. Liquor Tax
94. Litigation Tax (TN Imposes Varies With the Offense)
95. LLC/PLLC Corporate Registration Tax
96. Local Income Tax
97. Lodging Taxes
98. Lump-Sum Distributions
99. Luxury Taxes
100. Make-Up Tax (Ohio, applying in a salon is taxable)
101. Marriage License Tax
102. Meal Tax
103. Medicare Tax
104. Mello-Roos Taxes (Special Taxes and Assessments)
105. Migratory Waterfowl Stamp (addition to hunting license)
106. Minnow Dealers License (Retail – For One Shop)
107. Minnow Dealers License (Distributor – For One+ Shops)
108. Mobile Home Ad Valorem Taxes
109. Motor Fuel Tax (For Suppliers)
110. Motor Vehicle Tax
111. Music and Dramatic Performing Rights Tax
112. Nudity Tax (Utah)
113. Nursery Registration (Buying and selling plants)
114. Occupancy Inspection Fees
115. Occupation Taxes and Fees (Various Professional Fees)
116. Oil and Gas Assessment Tax
117. Oil Spill Response, Prevention, And Administration Fee
118. Parking Space Taxes
119. Pass-Through Withholding
120. Pay-Phone Calls Tax (Indiana)
121. Percolation Test Fee
122. Personal Property Tax
123. Personal Holding Company (undistributed earnings)
124. Pest Control License
125. Petroleum Business Tax
126. Playing Card Tax (Al)
127. Pole Tax (TX – A $5 Cover Charge On Strip Clubs)
128. Profit from Illegal Drug Dealing
129. Property Tax
130. Property Transfer Tax (DE, ownership transfer between parties)
131. Prostitution Tax (NV – Prostitute Work Permits)
132. Poultry Registered Premises License (Sales License)
133. Rain Water Tax (Runoff after a Storm)
134. Rat Control Fee (CA)
135. Real Estate Tax
136. Recreational Vehicle Tax
137. Refrigerator and Freezer Recycling Fees
138. Regional Transit Taxing Authority (Trains)
139. Road Usage Tax
140. Room Tax (Hotel Rooms)
141. Sales Tax (State)
142. Sales Tax (City)
143. Sales And Use Tax (Sellers Permit)
144. School Tax
145. Service Charge Tax
146. Self Employment Tax
147. Septic And Drain Field Inspection Fees
148. Sex Sales Tax (UT, when nude people perform services)
149. Sewer & Water Tax
150. Social Security Tax
151. Sparkler and Novelties Tax (WV Sellers of Sparklers, etc)
152. Special Assessment Tax (Not Ad Valorem)
153. State Documentary Stamp Tax on Notes (FL RE Tax)
154. State Franchise Tax
155. State Income Tax
156. State Park Fees
157. State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
158. Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) Fuel Tax
159. Stud Fees (Kentucky’s Thoroughbred Sex Tax)
160. Tangible Personal Property Tax
161. Tattoo Tax (AR Tax On Tattoos)
162. Telephone 911 Service Tax (some states)
163. Telephone Federal Excise Tax
164. Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
165. Telephone Federal Surcharge Taxes
166. Telephone State Surcharge Taxes
167. Telephone Local Surcharge Taxes
168. Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
169. Telephone Recurring Charges Tax
170. Telephone Universal Access Tax
171. Telephone Non-Recurring Charges Tax
172. Telephone State Usage Charge Tax
173. Telephone Local Usage Charge Tax
174. Tire Recycling Fee
175. Tobacco Tax (Cigar, Pipe, Consumer Tax)
176. Tobacco Tax (Cigar, Pipe, Dealer Tax)
177. Toll Road Taxes
178. Toll Bridge Taxes
179. Toll Tunnel Taxes
180. Tourism or Concession License Fee
181. Traffic Fines (Indirect Taxation)
182. Transportable Treatment Unit Fee (Small Facility)
183. Trailer Registration Tax
184. Trout Stamp (Addendum To Fish License)
185. Use Taxes (On Out-Of-State Purchases)
186. Utility Taxes
187. Unemployment Tax
188. Underground Storage Tank Maintenance Fee
189. Underpayment of Estimated Tax (Form 2210)
190. Unreported Tip Income (Social Security and Medicare Tax)
191. Vehicle License
192. Vehicle Recovery Tax (CO, to find stolen cars)
193. Vehicle Registration Tax
194. Vehicle Sales Tax
195. Wagering Tax (Tax on Gambling Winnings)
196. Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO) Fuel Tax
197. Water Rights Fee
198. Watercraft Registration Tax
199. Waterfowl Stamp Tax
200. Well Permit Tax
201. Wiring Inspection Fees
202. Workers Compensation Tax

Tenth Amendment

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

What this means is that unless it is specifically stated in the United States Constitution, the federal government can not do it. The first amendment states, in part, that Congress shall make no law regarding the establishment of a religion. This means that Congress can not tell everyone that they have to belong to the Church of America in order to be a citizen. This was written by people who were forced, by virtue of being British citizens, to belong to the Church of England. However, this amendment was not binding on the states. Massachusetts, for example, has in their constitution (written after the ratification of the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights) an official state religion. Other states had official state religions as well, but that is ok, because the Bill of Rights was written to limit the powers of the federal government, not state governments.

Powers that are not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states. Powers such as education, health care, gun control. None of these are mentioned in the constitution, except for gun control, which is not allowed. Gun control is mentioned in the negative by the second amendment which says "...the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." But again, this is meant for the federal government, not the states.

The government of the United States is supposed to do the will of the people, not force the people to do their will. For too long, the federal government has been assuming more power than delegated to them. For too long, they have been taking the rights of the people away. WE THE PEOPLE need to remind them that they are to serve us, not the other way around. WE THE PEOPLE need to pay attention to who we send to Washington DC. WE THE PEOPLE need to vote out our representatives if they don't represent us. WE THE PEOPLE need to take back our rights that have been slowly stripped from us by representatives who do not represent.

A novel update

Sorry I didn't update on Thursday, like I said I would. I have no excuse. I am late on my book update, but I am posting it.

I now have chapter 2 about halfway written and chapter 1 entered into the computer. I need to get a flash drive to save all my writing on, just in case the hard drive crashes. I didn't write as much this week as I should have, but I will write more next week. Keep me on my toes and don't let me miss an update. Thank you to those who did remind me.

The birthplace of the President

There has been much speculation since before the 2008 election on the true birthplace of Barack Obama. According to official reports, he was born in Hawaii and therefore, a US Citizen by birth. Some reports, however, say that he was born in Kenya and not a native born American. If that is true, he is not legally the President of the United States. What is true and what is not true?

That is a good question. If it were up to me, he would be stripped of the office because of the mess that will be left when he does leave office, but is there a legal reason to do so, based on his place of birth?

Let's look at the facts. Barack Obama was running for the Democratic nomination for president against Hillary Clinton. Mrs. Clinton, with her husband, Bill, know how to dig up dirt on political opponents. If there were any pieces of dirt to be found about Mr. Obama, I believe the Clintons would have found and used said pieces of dirt.

Therefore, my conclusion in this question is that there is no truth to the rumors that President Obama was born in a foreign country and not a native born American Citizen.

Project for the year

I don't know if I put this in my profile, but I am also an author of fiction. I have some short stories that I have completed and several novels that I have started and not yet completed. None of the short stories have been published as of yet. At the beginning of the year (a whole 2 weeks ago) I decided that one of my resolutions for the year 2010 is to complete a novel, so I am currently working on a young adult novel with Christian themes. The working title is The Armor. As of right now, I have the first chapter written and partially entered into the computer (I write longhand and then enter it into the computer...I can think better when I'm writing longhand than when I'm typing) and I have chapter 2 started. I will update my progress here once a week, on Thursdays.

Constitutional Authority

US Constitution-Article I, Section 8 - Powers of Congress

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

To borrow money on the credit of the United States;

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;

To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;

To establish Post Offices and Post Roads;

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations;

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

To provide and maintain a Navy;

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; And

To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

These are what Congress is authorized to do by the US Constitution. No where in here do I see anything about Social Security, running the nation's education system, mandating that every person purchase health insurance or quite a few other things that Congress has done over the years. Ask yourself and ask your representatives in Congress and in the Senate where the authority to do these things is in the Constitution. They have all sworn to uphold the Constitution and if they are passing laws that are beyond their authority, they ARE NOT upholding their oath. Let your representatives know that you expect them to defend and uphold the Constitution and that means not overstepping the authority given them by the Constitution.

Welcome. Let me introduce myself

For those of you who know me, welcome. For those who don't, let me introduce myself and let you know a little about me. My name is John and I live in Oklahoma with my wife and 2 children. Although one of the children doesn't live in the house too much since he is in college. He comes home from time to time, when he can, but his RA duties in the dorm don't allow him to come home as often as we would like.

I am a US citizen, born in Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, DC into a military family. I am proud to be an American and think that the US Constitution should be followed and not trashed, like some in this country want to do. I am a registered Republican and conservative in my political thinking.

I belong to a small church called City of Refuge. Counting the pastor's family, there are 4 families in the church. (If you want to join us for Sunday or Wednesday services, let me know and I'll tell you where we meet) We are Pentecostal in our thinking and beliefs and very much Biblical based. Our pastor encourages us to do our own research and reading into what he preaches and teaches.