Bristol Palin Talking Grace & Forgiveness

It is no secret that I was and am a fan of Sarah Palin, former Governor of Alaska. Now I am becoming a fan of her daughter Bristol also.

You may only know Bristol Palin from all the coverage of her very public unplanned pregnancy and conflicted relationship with the father of her child. Or you may know her from her time on the reality TV show Dancing with the Stars. But now, she is a blogger! Miss Palin has a blog at the Patheos site. One of her earliest posts was called How I Got Over My Very Public Mistakes. She says:

Most of the comments were wonderful and supportive. (I’ve addressed some of the not-so-nice comments here.)  But there’s one constant criticism I didn’t talk about:  some of you insist on calling me a hypocrite. After all, I became a mother before I walked down the aisle – how can I talk about waiting until marriage for sex?

I find it strange that the culture rightfully applauds former drug addicts who warn children of the dangers of drug use. They are happy to listen to former alcoholics talk about how they finally are living a clean life. But when it comes to me talking about waiting until marriage for sex, it’s almost like people want me to slink away in shame… unable to show my face in public again because of my past mistakes.

I want this blog to be a place where we can all be honest, so let me start. I’ve struggled with feelings of guilt and shame. I know (judging from my inbox) many of you have too.

She then quotes from Christian Counselor Ed Welch:

It feels so right – so spiritual – to live with regrets. It means you feel bad for the wrong things you have done or think you have done, and that sounds like a good thing. If you forget those wrongs, you are acting like they were no big deal.
…
We live with regrets because we think we should. We think it’s the right thing to do—that it is our duty before God. But…

The Kingdom of Heaven is regret-free. The truth is that the triune God liberates us from past regrets. His will is being done. Bank on it. Neither your human limitations nor your sins hinder the good plans of your sovereign Father.

Let’s go one important step further. It is God’s will that you jettison past regrets.

In a more recent post she talked about the message of Easter that "it’s not about what you’ve done, it’s about what’s been done for you." She embedded a video of the song You Are More by Christian band Tenth Avenue North which contains those words, and which I featured on my blog last year.

Way to go, Bristol. I look forward to reading more of your stuff.

Sarah Palin - What's Next?

So what’s up with Gov. Sarah Palin? Why did she decide to not only skip running for reelection as Alaska's governor but to also resign now? I do not know the answer, despite the speculation I am about to engage in. Her press conference announcing the decision was low on specifics, perhaps deliberately so. I expect more details to come out after she is actually a private citizen again.

And most certainly, the pundits and critics, many of whom have critiqued her mercilessly and wrongly since last September, do not know either. The political insiders, both Democrats and Republicans, do not understand her precisely because she is not one of them: she is one of us. She symbolizes and represents middle America, the “fly-over country,” the outside the beltway reality that denizens of the fantasy world of New York and DC do not comprehend and look down on.

So why did she do this? I can think of some possible reasons.

1. Perhaps she has decided to run for president in 2012, but to not cheat the taxpayers of Alaska by taking a gubernatorial salary while devoting most of her time to campaigning for higher office. Every four years, senators and governors run for president while neglecting the present duties for which they are supposedly being paid. Barack Obama started running for president full time after only serving two years of his senatorial term, and spent most of the next two years doing so all the while drawing his senatorial pay check. John McCain did the same thing. Kerry did it in 2004 and Bush did it in 2000 while he was governor of Texas. Maybe Sarah Palin so values the citizens and taxpayers of Alaska that she refuses to play that game. If so, good for her!

2. Maybe she has decided that the principles she believes in are more important than her own ego need for high office. Maybe she has decided to spend the next few years campaigning for conservative ideas and helping candidates who agree with those ideas. Maybe she thinks the country needs her ideas, even if she is not the one getting the credit. If so, how refreshing to see someone put principle ahead of their own career.

3. Maybe she just wants to fight back. Maybe she want to be able to defend her beliefs and her family without the restraints of public office. After what has been done to her and her family, I could certainly understand that desire. Her lawyer has already said that any media outlets publishing slander against her family can expect to face legal actions. David Letterman, are you listening?

4. Another possibility is a plan to follow the Reagan model. "Ronaldus Magnus" used his time between his governorship and election as president to study and develop his ideas and policy prescriptions. He wrote articles and books, did a radio commentary, building both his readiness and credibility. The elites always wrote him off as dumb and ignorant too. They were wrong then, and I think they are wrong now.

5. Maybe she is just tired of the attacks and pain her family has been through, and just wants to escape. Based on her past track record as a political fighter, and what she did say at her press conference, I do not think this is likely. However, it would certainly be understandable.

I do no know what her plans are, and neither do you. The truth may be some combination of the above options, or something else entirely. But I do know that she has been a voice for things I believe in, and has suffered greatly for standing firm for those convictions. I also know that she is a believer, and therefore my sister. I intend to pray for her to receive wisdom and guidance to do the right thing, and look forward to discovering what that right thing is. We have not seen the last of Sarah Palin.

Dancing with the Politicial Stars

Check out this dancing with the politicians video!

No the picture to the right is not in the video - it was from another source. Some day I 'm going to learn or figure out how to post video on this blog.

(BTW, I think Sarah wins the contest by a landslide!)

Hat Tip: Rick Ianiello

Sarah Palin Speaks Out on the Birth of Her Grandson Tripp, Teen Pregnancy

From LifeNews.com, Sarah Palin Speaks Out on the Birth of Her Grandson Tripp, Teen Pregnancy

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Former vice-presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is speaking out for the first time on the birth of her new grandson. Palin's daughter Bristol disclosed her pregnancy shortly after she was named as John McCain's running mate and it sparked a national debate on abortion and teen pregnancy.

Palin says she welcomes her first grandchild, Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston, born to Bristol and her fiance' Levi Johnston on December 27.

“We are over the moon with the arrival of this healthy, beautiful baby,” Governor Palin said. “The road ahead for this young couple will not be easy, but nothing worthwhile is ever easy."

"Bristol and Levi are committed to accomplish what millions of other young parents have accomplished, to provide a loving and secure environment for their child. They are both hard workers, they're very strong, and have faith they've made the right decision in setting aside their own interests to make this child their highest priority," the governor said in a statement LifeNews.com obtained.

Palin also responded to criticism that somehow she or her daughter failed because of Bristol's teen pregnancy.

Instead of getting an abortion, Bristol and Levi decided to keep the baby and have been supported by Palin and her family.

“When Bristol and Levi first told us the shocking news that she was pregnant, to be honest, we all at first looked at the situation with some fear and a bit of despair. Isn't it just like God to turn those circumstances into such an amazing, joyful blessing when you ask Him to help you through?”

Bristol Palin also commented and said she “obviously discourages” teen pregnancy and knows that plans she previously made for herself will now forever be changed.

“Teenagers need to prevent pregnancy to begin with – this isn't ideal. But I'm fortunate to have a supportive family which is dealing with this together. Tripp is so perfectly precious; we love him with all our hearts. I can't imagine life without him now," the young Palin said.

After Debate Commentary

Here's the commentary and evaluations on the VP debate at some of the sites and blogs I read frequently.

The Anchoress (plus good summary of others' comments)
Jim Geraghty at The Campaign Spot
Erick Erikson at Redstate
NRO Media Blog says Gwen Ifill is "In the Tank"
National Review Editorial
Peggy Noonan
The Thinklings

Love this comment by Mona Charen at The Corner

Our family's favorite moment last night was when Joe Biden crowed about his diplomatic skills. "I brought Serbs, Croatians, and Bosniaks together."

My son David: "Captain we've detected a Bosniak ship on our sensors." "On screen."

Sarah Palin did great, she blew away the criticism that she is a light weight, but Joe Biden did better than I expected (no silly gaffs). I think Gov. Palin connected better with the "folks." The moderator showed her bias by almost always giving Biden the last word.

What did you think?

A Bible Lesson for Sarah

I hope Gov. Sarah Palin sees this article by Mark Joseph at Fox News' site before tonight's debate. Link = A Bible Lesson for Sarah Palin: King David and the Coat of Mail. Here's the best part.

But there may be another story that fits Palin's dilemma: In the story of David and Goliath, the young, future king decides that he will take on the 9-foot giant and goes to King Saul and tells him of his plan. Saul is bemused by the teenager who has no chance against the giant, but he consents and immediately gives him the appropriate gear, a heavy protective outfit worn to battle, known as a "coat of mail," along with the king's sword.

David, Scriptures imply, was physically overwhelmed by the get-up and barely able to move. Telling the king thanks but no thanks, the young shepherd boy threw off the gear and proceeded to gather stones found by a brook in his slingshot, which he used to fell the giant.

Not unlike the young shepherd boy, the best thing Sarah Palin can do in the remainig hours before she faces her own Goliath in the form of a tough, smart senator with three decades of experience, and the best thing the McCain campaign can do for her, is to let her rid herself of her coat of mail — the overzealous handlers — and let Palin run wild and be the natural, untamed politician she is.

David spent his youth battling bears and lions, but he knew nothing about battle. His victory came when he was freed of the then-modern tools of battle and allowed to bring his native skills, cultivated in the wild, to a battle for which he was by all accounts not trained for.

Palin's political skills are the equivalent of David's battle skills, honed in the Alaskan wilderness where she operated as her nickname "Barracuda" suggests, ruthlessly defeating opponents who crossed her (including her own mother-in-law, who ran for mayor after Palin) and political mentors who she thought had become corrupt (Gov. Frank Murkowski).

If that Palin shows up at Thursday night's debate, it will because she dismisses the advisers, trusts her instincts, regains her confidence and remembers where her success came from.

Debate Bias

When you are watching the Vice-Presidential debate between Senator Biden and Gov. Palin on Thursday night, keep in mind that the moderator of the debate, the person who writes and asks the questions, has a personal financial interest in an Obama victory in the election.

PBS anchor Gwen Ifill, the scheduled moderator for this debate, has written a book entitled Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the age of Obama, which comes out in January - on Inauguration Day. Do you think her book will sell better if Barack Obama is inaugurated as President in January? Do you think she will make more money on her book if Obama/Biden win the election? Do you think she should have disclosed this and recused herself from moderating this debate due to perceived conflict of interest?

As I noted yesterday, media bias has moved far beyond perception, beyond just being an obvious double standard, to become blatant and open cheer-leading for one side. The American people deserve far better.

Hat Tip: RedState: Gwen Ifill: VP Debate Moderator, Obama Shill.
Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin
Fox News Article

Clinging to Her Religion

As long as we are on the subject of the election (see post immediately below), check out this excerpt from an article by Terry Eastland at The Weekly Standard on Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's religious background, experiences and beliefs-Clinging to Her Religion. If you are interested in the Republican candidate for Vice-President's beliefs, this is certainly a better source than just about anything in the "mainstream media."

Palin was baptized a Roman Catholic as an infant. When she was a teenager, she and her mother began attending the Wasilla Assembly of God. There she was "saved," as she has said, and also rebaptized, by full immersion, in Beaver Lake.

At Wasilla High School, Palin was known for her Christian faith. In an interview, John Bitney, who went to high school with her and later worked for her in the governor's office, recalls that she was "just a Christian girl" who was well regarded for her character. He adds that she "didn't preach" at anyone. A basketball star, she led a chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Palin, her husband Todd, and their growing family attended Wasilla Assembly of God until 2002, when they moved to Wasilla Bible Church. Palin also has worshipped at other churches, including the Church on the Rock in Wasilla. In Juneau, the state capital, she has gone to Juneau Christian Center.

Of these four churches, two--Wasilla Assembly of God and Juneau Christian Center--are members of the Assemblies of God. Founded in 1914, the Assemblies of God is the largest Pentecostal denomination in the country. Pentecostalism--which takes its name from the day of Pentecost when, according to the Book of Acts, the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles--is a movement that began in 1901 and is best known for its emphasis on the gifts of the Spirit, including speaking in tongues. The other two churches are freestanding congregations. The Church on the Rock is "charismatic," a term usually applied to more recent forms of Pentecostalism, while Wasilla Bible, the Palins' present church, is neither Pentecostal nor charismatic.

Reporters ask whether Palin has ever spoken in tongues. Her spokeswoman has said that Palin doesn't consider herself a Pentecostal. A friend of Palin's told the New York Times that her family left Wasilla Assembly of God for Wasilla Bible in part because the latter's ministry was "less extreme." Exactly what Palin may have found "extreme" at Wasilla Assembly of God is unclear. In any case, Palin retains an evident affection for Wasilla Assembly of God, as does the church for her.....
-----------------------
.....Finally, no discussion of Palin's religious biography would be complete without mention of her infant son, born after a test revealed his Down syndrome, and the child her 17-year-old daughter, unmarried but engaged, is carrying. In America today, some 90 percent of pregnancies where Down syndrome is diagnosed are ended by abortion, as are roughly half of all teenage pregnancies. The Palins' Christian convictions best explain their countercultural decisions in favor of nascent human life.

Voters are free, of course, to make what they will of Palin's religion. It is part of who she is. And together with her hunting and fishing and lifetime membership in the NRA, her Bible-believing faith reminds the country of the vast cultural differences between the two parties--which is part of why Palin continues to excite the Republican base.

Update: All You Need to Know About the Assemblies of God from Christianity Today

Media News Flash-- Christians Believe in Hell

As reporters and political operatives surge all over Alaska looking for dirt on Gov. Sarah Palin, apparently some of them are amazed and shocked to learn that her church and pastor actually believe in hell! Oh no, maybe she does too! Dr. Albert Mohler has a news flash for the national media -read it at A Pastor Believes in Hell. Referring to a Newsweek article, Dr. Mohler comments:

“What this article in Newsweek represents is the absolute confidence that discovering people who believe that those who do not believe in Christ will go to hell is supposed to be shocking.

“So we find in Sarah Palin’s pastor an evangelical who believes in hell and preaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the only means of escaping hell. In other words, he is an evangelical preaching like an evangelical. Alert the media.”

Hat Tip: Denny Burk

Power of Compassion

Here's a great letter from a female voter to Jay Nordlinger at The Corner on National Review Online after watching Sarah Palin's speech Wednesday night.

Dear Jay,

I have an out-of-wedlock child. Unfortunately, the father of my son did not step up to the plate, as Levi seems to be doing. All but one member of my family were so ashamed of my situation that they ignored me for the entirety of my pregnancy and during the first few months of my son’s life.

I found acceptance and comfort where I never expected it. I’m not a particularly religious person, and at the time I attended a Baptist church only occasionally. But the members of this church took it upon themselves to take care of me. By “taking care of me,” I mean that they had a baby shower, called to check up on me, and, after my son was born, brought meals to my house. Stuff like that.

Not once did I feel I was being judged. I might not have the deep faith that those Christians do and sometimes am puzzled by some of the things they say they believe — but I become deeply uncomfortable any time I hear Christian-bashing. With them, there was (as you said) no shame, agony, or hiding under the couch.

Also, my son is high-functioning autistic. Boy, was Governor Palin right on when she said that special-needs children inspire a special kind of love! This son of mine did not fit into a perfect plan, but because he is, I have been so enriched — I have no doubt the same will be true for the Palins.

Compassion and acceptance are powerful things.

Home Run Speech

HOME RUN! A Star is Born.

"A small town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, except that you have actual responsibilities"

Update: Did you know She winged part of that speech because the teleprompter broke?

Roundup of reactions from The Anchoress

Sarah Palin's Christian Faith

Here's a link to an interview with Gov. Sarah Palin's biographer Kaylene Johnson, author of the new book Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment on Its Ear, regarding the Republican Nomiee for Vice President's Christian faith and it's role in her public life. See the ful article at God-o-Meter - A scientific measure of God-talk in the elections

Hat Tip: Between Two Worlds

See also Denny Burk- A Visit to Palin's Church

Real People Soldiering On

From Allen Thornburgh at The Point: Team Palin Just Keeps Soldiering On

As knowledgeable as the screed merchants at the Daily Kos seems to be about Evangelical opinions <snicker- eyeroll combo>, I have to say that I haven't a clue why they think that Bristol Palin's pregnancy is some sort of show stopper for Evangelicals. For me, at least, it only makes me *more* enthusiastic.

Why? Because the Palins are Real People living a Real Life. That's simply rare for the celebrity politicos of our day. Barrack Obama, as likable as I find him as a person (not so much his political philosophy), typical of a D.C. politician, has lived a life nothing like the life that most of America leads, devoid of the normal challenges of a Real Life.

Immediately after law school, Obama began carefully crafting his political future as a "community organizer." More like "community agitator," as, in this role, his duty was to find groups in whom he could cultivate a sense of victimization and disenfranchisement, and then direct them toward government and business with demands for resources. Then more of the same, but with a more sophisticated flavor, as a state legislator and senator, and with the further pleasure of being seen as the up-and-coming Golden Child by his party. During that time, he and his wife became quite wealthy in their various power career positions.

I can't fault Obama for that. But it isn't the life that many Americans lead. Sarah Palin's life looks a lot more familiar to us: a middle-class life, building a small business, getting involved in kids' sports and the PTA, and dealing with difficult decisions. Decisions like "Wow, I'm going to be 44 when I have this child ... and he's got Downs ... do I keep him?" Decisions like "Wow, my 17-year-old daughter is pregnant ... what do I counsel her to do?"

Modern Western society dictates that Team Palin is supposed to view themselves as victims in these problems, hunker down, focus on themselves, and suck their thumbs. But they don't.

Team Palin keeps taking responsibility, fielding Real Life's toughest challenges and making the rare right decision.

I love that. To heck with the Entitlement Generation's victim mentality. America was built by those who eschewed such self-pity, fearlessly took responsibility for themselves, and soldiered ahead. Sarah Palin is clearly such a soldier, and I enthusiastically salute her.

The Palin Family: Living Pro-Life by Example

Many Evangelical voters (me included) were electrified on Friday when news broke about newly selected Republican Vice Presidential nominee Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska due to her strong pro-life stance and openly professed Christian faith.

Today Governor Palin and her family have announced that Bristol Palin, their 17 year-old daughter, is pregnant and intends to both keep the baby and to marry the father of her child. Fortunately for both the daughter and the soon to come grandchild, the attitude of the Palin family is vastly different from that of Senator Obama as expressed in the quote shown above.

"We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us," said Sarah and Todd Palin in a statement. "Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support."

The Palins asked the news media to respect the young couple’s privacy. However, some liberal bloggers are celebrating, thinking this news will distress evangelical voters and hurt the Republican campaign. They just don’t know us very well, do they. As Dr. Richard Lamb of the SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission said:

"This is the pro-life choice. The fact that people will criticize her for this shows the astounding extent to which the secular critics of the pro-life movement just don't get it. Those who criticize the Palin family don't understand that we don't see babies as a punishment but as a blessing. Barack Obama said that if one of his daughters made a mistake and got pregnant out of wedlock he wouldn't want her to be punished with a child. Pro lifers don't see a child as punishment."

Senator Obama is to be commended for his official statement. He said exactly the right thing.

“Let me be a clear as possible: I have said before and I will repeat again, I think people’s families are off limits,” Obama said, “and people’s children are especially off limits. “This shouldn’t be part of our politics…it has no relevance to Gov. Palin’s performance as governor, or her potential performance as a vice president."

“And so I would strongly urge people to back off these kinds of stories,” he said. “You know my mother had me when she was 18, and how a family deals with issues and, you know, teenage children, that shouldn’t be the topic of our politics and I hope that anybody who is supporting me understands that’s off limits.”

Well said, Senator. However, as Erik Erickson at Redstate said, with reference to the Senator's comment at Saddleback about the question of the beginning of life being "above his pay grade":

“The question "when does life begin" is apparently not above Sarah Palin's pay grade. She's willing to and has confronted the tough choice.

Obama either took a pass or voted present.”

Hat Tip: The Anchoress,