Jesus, Donald Trump, and the Army's Parade on June 14th

Regardless of popular belief,

Trump did not give himself a parade for his birthday. He didn't even celebrate his birthday at the parade. It wasn't about Trump.

The United States army is the first military force that the United States has ever had. If it weren't for the army we would still be under British rule. Not to mention speaking German. And we certainly wouldn't be worshiping Christ

How do you think we defend our rights as a nation?.

The United States army has been a force for 250 years. It is their birthday. And this is what they wanted to do.

They applied for the permits over a year ago. While Biden was still in office. Trump had nothing to do with it. The only thing Trump has to do with it is the fact that he is the sitting president.

And if you're trying to say that no other president would ever dare do something like this, then you have missed the parade that was given whenever John f Kennedy was president. They marched ballistic missiles into the streets to celebrate their strength!

By the way, John f Kennedy was a Democrat.

And that's not the only time the military has ever been put on parade. That's just an example.

So get off your high horses and quit saying that Trump is a bad person for attending the parade of a part of military that he is the Commander-in-Chief over!

Someone even had the nerve to ask if Donald Trump should be holding a parade that costs so much money when there are so many hurting people in the world! They invoked the name of Jesus and said, is it something that Jesus Christ would do?

Here is my answer:

I think He did. As a matter of fact I'm sure He did. Remember when He rode through the streets on a donkey the day before His crucifixion?

That was right after the woman washed His feet with perfume that was so expensive it would have fed a village, and even Judas was shocked!

And the integrity of Jesus's heart was the same as the integrity of Donald Trump's. It's not about him, it's about us!

Jesus is King, like it or not. He gave his life a ransom for the whole world!

Donald Trump is President and that is all. That is all he is trying to be. He is giving all he has to save America. Not the world.

But if America loses her greatness, the world is doomed.

If Trump Was in The Bible...

If there were a chapter in the Bible written about Trump it would tell how he came to know Christ. Then it would tell how he led a nation back to God in the face of daily, hourly persecution by everyone in it.

Then it would tell how God sent a great plague to that Nation, and how everyone who persecuted him and hated him looked to him for guidance.

The cities in that nation that persecuted him the most and drove him out to live in a city far away was the most hard hit by this plague.

And Trump, being the man of God, the good Christian (albeit not a perfect man oh, just like all the other heroes of the Bible) did what Jesus would do. He did what Jesus said to do.

"If your enemy falls in a ditch, help him.
Pray for those who persecute you and despitefully use you. It will be like coals of fire raining down on them."

Donald Trump did everything in his power to help out the ones that persecuted him the most, in spite of their hatred.

The end has not been written yet. But you can bet God has a copy of the book already!

Not Perfect

Hello, World

Today, I've been resting. I have made it a point to do absolutely nothing.

There is a lot I know I should be doing, and, later, I may get bored enough to actually do something, but so far, I've done absolutely nothing.

And, I've enjoyed it.

I've kept myself busy surfing the internet so I don't think about things too much.

I've listened to the President's remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast. This made me think about what being a Christian is really about, when at one point the President admitted that it was hard for him, as a Christian, to not hate some people. He said he was learning, and it was hard, and he admitted he wasn't there yet, but he was trying. It's hard to love people when they are actively trying to destroy you in your face.

I see comments on Facebook all the time from people who judge Trump, accusing him of being the opposite of Christian -- basically condemning him to hell (as if that is their job). I've heard friends talk about the reason they don't support Trump is that he is a hypocrite because his wife was a nude model and he has no respect for women.

Yet, on February 4 I heard him champion women during his speech. I heard him apologize to women about it taking so long to give them the credit they deserve in the workplace. I heard him thank his wife for all she had done as First Lady and the support she has given him.

I have to admit, I didn't vote for Trump because he repelled me as the person I knew him to be.

But, today, I am reminded that when you accept Christ into your life, you become a new creature. The old has passed away and all things are made new. The person Donald Trump was before he was elected as President is not the person he is now. And, as a Christian, it is not my job to judge who he used to be, because that person no longer exists. It is not my job, even, to judge who he is, because God is actively working in his life to change him. It is my job to encourage him in who God wants him to be. It is my job to applaud his effort.

The man is clearly doing the best he can.

And, so am I. Who am I to judge anyone? I'm clearly not perfect. If some people knew what I've done even during this past year, they would probably lose all respect for me as a person. I praise God that He loves me enough to see me for who I can become rather than who I am, and that He loves me, anyway.

God knows my heart. He knows my reasons. He knows my struggles. He knows my pain. And, He is giving me the strength to gradually become better than I was.

Anyway, just some thoughts.

Have a blessed day!

Why I love Donald Trump

I was not a Donald Trump fan. I didn't want to see him win the White House. As a Christian, I found him obnoxious and brazen. I didn't like his gambling business ventures, or the fact he was a rich man married to an ex-porno star The operative word here is "ex". Come on, we all have a past we are not proud of. If that were not so, WE would be running for President. Trump just had the courage to.

No, I didn't want to see Donald Trump elected at all.

But, he was.

And, because he was, I decided that I would do as I always do when a new president comes to office to represent my interests as an American. I was going to give him my full support, and watch him like a hawk -- and when he messed up, I was gonna grind him into the ground with everything I had -- web sites, op-eds, social media. I was gonna rip him to shreds when he messed up.

The people elected him because he wasn't a politician. I could get behind that. It was preferable to what we've had. But, with all his money, could he really pull off not being just another politician?

Then he did the unexpected: He started keeping his promises. He started hammering away at everything that we've lost over the last generation and replacing it with policies and practices that really do "Make America Great Again".

He pulled us out of the Paris Climate Agreement. He socked it to the United Nations. He stood up and proclaimed that the NFL should fire anyone who disrespects America by kneeling during the National Anthem. He stood alone...and he kept standing until millions decided to stand with him. Again. He's making deals right and left that benefit the American people, and he's making the American People proud to be American again.

When he went on that long trip to Asia, not once did he apologize for being American, or for anything we have stood for. Not once did he concede any ground in order to move an agenda along. Instead, he focused on how he could gain the support of the world around us in order to be able to be what God made us to be: Americans.

​He doesn't give up. He doesn't give in. He keeps going like the Energizer Bunny. And, when he makes a mistake, he owns it -- like the time when he endorsed Luther Strange over Roy Moore. When Roy Moore won, he realized that the American people want more of who he really is, and he went full force into giving it to them, in spite of what kind of waves were forming.

Now he fully endorses Roy Moore, and the people love him even more for it.

Jobs are up. Stock Market is up. Unemployment is down. Business is good. Our allies feel better and respect us as a country more.

And, it's all because Donald Trump is not a politician.

No, he's one of us.

For the first time in American History...or, at least, in my lifetime, we have a President who is president because the People wanted someone they felt comfortable with; someone they wanted to feel was their "friend" in the White House. A man who was prone to make mistakes, but could lead us in spite of them by example, learning and growing as he did so.

That is why I love Donald Trump.

He's not just some untouchable politician. He's a man. A real red-blooded American man who loves America because America has made his American Dream come true, and he foresaw that it was increasingly becoming difficult for others to do the same, and the reasons why, and he was in the unique position to be able to do something about it. America is about opportunity -- and Donald Trump decided the time was right for him to take the opportunity to make America Great Again.

I did not support Donald Trump.

But, when he became president, he spoke the name of God in gratitude and heart-felt joy. He stood up for God by declaring that Christmas was going to be Merry because Christ was in the name. No more of this "Happy Holidays crap." We were going to wish people an un-apologetic Merry Christmas and mean it.

He has Bible studies in the White House.

No, he's not a perfect Christian, but it's obvious he is a member of Christ's Church. After all, if there were only perfect people who loved God, God would be lonely. God gave me grace in spite of my imperfections, so I now feel obligated to be graceful and accept that this obnoxious, brazen man who married a Porn star (who, by the way, has shown more grace in the White House than any First Lady I've seen in a long, long time) could lead us back to the blessings God promised to those who follow Him.

As if that wasn't enough, he befriended Israel, drew them close, and gave them the respect of recognition of Jerusalem as their capitol. And, being the man of action that he is, he didn't just say it -- he did it. Our embassy is now moving to Jerusalem.

If Donald Trump isn't genuine, then he's playing a spectacular role.

I can't think of anyone who, day after day, continues to meet the "Fake News" talking heads head on like a wild bull who sees red at every turn, without tiring.

I pray that he retains his strength and that his successes energize him more.

I did not support Donald Trump -- and now I regret that. But, like "The Donald", "The Ponder" knows when to admit she's wrong. She knows how to fix her mistakes and make it right -- and, she's thankful that she doesn't have to live with her mistake today.

Next election, I hope he runs again. I'll be the first in line to vote for him.

If I am alone in voting for him, I'll still vote for him. He is making America Great Again.

And, he's doing it in spite of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. He's making such mountains look like pebbles beneath his feet.

He's only a man -- one we can all relate to.

But...he's a BIG, BIG man.

He's MY President.

And, I fully support Donald Trump.

Read all of Shonda Ponder's Opinions and Articles at The Ponder News by clicking HERE

Computers vs. Humanity: Star Trek, Our Country, and Social Security

Oh, yes. We have come so far.

Watching Star Trek has inspired me to ask my computer questions and expect an answer.

Last night, a man who represented the Convention of the States came into the restaurant. He first talked to some customers who were already eating who had noticed his T-shirt (If my flag offends you I will help you pack).

Then, two other gentlemen came in. He wandered over to their table and spoke with them. I heard him telling one of them about how we need to act in order to preserve our heritage and what we stand for as a nation. The man in front of him said, "But, isn't that why we elected Donald Trump?"

I couldn't help myself. I exclaimed, "Donald Trump is not the end all be all. I mean what is going to happen in 8 years when he is no longer president? We need to stay vigilant."

The man in the flag T-shirt then said, "I TOTALLY Agree with you. That is why..." and he went on to explain things to the man and his friend...

Anyway, I was sitting here thinking about all this as I was watching Star Trek. Somehow I began to think about Social Security and how we are in danger of losing that. What is going to happen to us when there are is no more money in Social Security for our retirement.

Then, I found myself saying, "Computer: who was the first person ever to receive a social security check?"

I checked myself, then went to google and typed the same question:

According to SSA historians, Ernest Ackerman was the first recipient of Social Security benefits -- 17 cents, paid to him in January 1937. The first person to receive monthly benefits was Ida May Fuller from Vermont, who retired in November 1939 and started collecting benefits in January 1940 at age 65.

This was the answer I got.

Star Trek...

I was talking to a customer the other night. He asked the question: "Do you realize all the stuff that was in those shows that are reality now?"

I said yeah.

He said, "It makes you wonder..."

I said, "You mean, is all that stuff here because of the inspiration of the shows, or because it was already here and they used the shows to help us get used to the idea?"

He said, "Yeah, exactly."

Computer: How much further, technologically, can we advance and still remain "human"?

"The real danger is not that computers will begin to think like men, but that men will begin to think like computers" -- Sydney J. Harris

Try getting it out. Just Try.

Someone on my friend's list said:
"Donald Trump is the only non-Establishment Republican who ran - and won. He is God's man, for God's plan, at this time. A vote for a third party candidate, or a write-in vote for Cruz or anyone else, or not voting, is support for Hillary."

This is my response:
If Donald Trump IS indeed God's man, and if it IS God's plan that Donald Trump be president, then my vote won't matter. When God has a plan, it's GOING to happen. l, however, am STILL not voting for evil, even if he IS the lesser of the two. I do not presume to know the mind of God. I only know what He has said in His Word. And, His Word says that one needs to ask for forgiveness before they are accepted into the Kingdom. Donald does not think he needs to because he doesn't believe he has ever sinned. That's enough reason right there for me not to vote for him.

Tie into that the fact he doesn't respect women and he's all about "making deals" rather than following the Constitution, and that is all the reason I need NOT to vote for him.

No, his opponent isn't any better. In fact, she is worse. However, I won't vote to enable one sin over the other.

I vote, instead, to let God have His way. I throw up my hands and believe that no matter what, God's got this. The inevitable is that we are doomed, no matter what sin we vote for. Why prolong the inevitable?

And before you beg me to give Trump a chance because, after all, all of the Bible is full of imperfect heroes: we had no choice in electing Abraham, Gideon, or any of the other Biblical personalities that have been the focus of our learning as Christians. God APPOINTED them. No man can get in the way of what GOD wants. So, Trump is not on my conscience if he doesn't win because I didn't vote for him.

And for those "Christians" who want to sling mud at me and call me "self righteous" in a derogatory manner just because I choose not to vote for their candidate, I have one question: When Jesus comes back, what excuse are you going to have for supporting evil and slamming those who choose to "wear their religion on their sleeves"? I would suggest looking at what YOU are turning into.