Religion & Politics

By William F. Sims

Politics today has reached a new low. Sometimes you just want to kick all those bums out of office and start all over again. I wonder if we, the 99 percent, were to treat the politicians the way they treat us, would they like it? This is why I vote in each election. I want to throw as many of the bums out of office as I can.

A funny yet serious look at religion and politics.
Has there ever been two topics that frustrate people so!
What happens when you mix them together?
Do you get chaos or heaven on earth?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 20, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496959959

William F. Sims

I come from a family of preachers, or pastors. My father was a preacher, four of my brothers are preachers, my sister married a preacher. Yes, I know what goes on in preachers’ households. At times it’s funny and at times it’s serious. It’s never dull.

Book preview

© 2014 William F. Sims. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 12/19/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4969-4997-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-5994-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-5995-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014922494

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

Contents

Chapter 1   A Positive Self Image

Chapter 2   The Financial Rape of America’s Poor, Elderly and Middle Class by Congress

Chapter 3   Governments around the World

Chapter 4   Letter to My Muslim Brothers

Chapter 5   Different Yet So Much Alike

Chapter 6   Too Many Chiefs, Not Enough Indians:Bad Leadership in Business, Government and the Church

Chapter 7   Keep Congress Honest Bill

Chapter 8   Dear God Why?

Chapter 9   Colorado Gun Violence Victims Versus the State of Colorado

Chapter 10 Assault Weapons Paradox

Chapter 11 Some Attributes of God

Chapter 12 My P-Prayer

Chapter 13 No One or Thing above Christ

Chapter 14 Oops, I Pooped My Pants

Chapter 15 The Storms of Life (Part 1)

Chapter 16 The Storms of Life (Part 2) Anxiety and Life’s Trials

Chapter 17 Relationship Essentials

Chapter 18 Are There Any Biblical Jobs in the World Today?

Chapter 19 The Big Bang Theory: True or False?

Chapter 20 The Chapter I did not want to write

Chapter 21 Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

Introduction

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These two subjects—religion and politics—really get a reaction out of me, like most people. This book represents my views on both.

I wrote this book so that my children and grandson could

have a better future than me.

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Slow down! … Run faster, Grandpa!

The artwork in this book was created by the author, William Sims.

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Chapter 1

A Positive Self Image

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Let’s start this book off with a little fun.

Once upon a time I looked into the mirror and I saw a tall, handsome man with a body like James Bond or Arnold (Arnold Schwarzenegger, not Tom Arnold). Now Twinkies, cupcakes, and cheeseburgers have given my body a different shape, but my self-image is high. Many years ago, I stopped putting myself down. I stopped the negative internal self-talk. I stopped accepting the putdowns from others. I saw myself as God sees me, fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 131). You know God doesn’t make junk. Motivational speaker Les Brown stated that most people’s self-talk (internal conversation) is 87 percent negative. I’m dumb, I’m stupid, I’m ugly, I’m fat, no one loves me. I changed mine to 87 percent and higher positive. I’m good, I’m great, I’m smart, I’m talented, I’m really good looking. I personally am a walking mass of yummy goodness and much, much more! I may not be God’s gift to women, but I’m close enough. Eleanor Roosevelt said, No one can make you feel inferior without your permission. I don’t give permission for any negative junk to live in my life. A good self-image is worth more than you can imagine. Think of the money you save when you’re not spending it on depression pills, anxiety pills, or diet pills. A positive self-image is my wish for all of you. To help you with this, create a purpose statement and a vision statement for yourself. Here are mine; use them if you wish to.

Purpose Statement: Make the most of each day: Be all I can be!

Vision Statement: Grow daily in knowledge and understanding. I press on, moving forward, each day improving myself: learning new ideals, technologies, and philosophies. I accept the challenges that lay ahead. Not dwelling on yesterday’s failures, I move forward.

That last part can be found in the Bible, at Philippians 3:13, 14. Not dwelling on yesterday’s failures, I move forward. Simple, yet it says a lot. So go for it people! Have fun! Life is what you make it. Remember the 10/90 rule: Life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. Go! Do! Have fun! Live, don’t just exist! If you have no purpose in life you have no passion towards the future. (Self Matters, 12). Without a vision my people perish (Proverbs 29:18).

In my past I volunteered as a training assistant for a seminar where a PhD helped people overcome some sort of emotional baggage that was keeping them from moving forward in their lives. Divorce, childhood abuse, and deaths in the family were the most common reasons people attended the seminar. It surprised me when a woman, eighteen to twenty years old, told the group, I’m ugly. I’m ugly. She had a beautiful face and perfect figure yet she cried, I’m ugly, several times. The verbal taunts from her so-called friends had crept into her mind and become real for her. Hearing such statements from loved ones or friends makes them believable to young, impressionable minds. You’re dumb, you’re ugly, you’re stupid, or you’re fat become real facts to those who have not the strength to resist. If young people are lucky, they had parents who filled their minds with positive statements like, you’re attractive, you’re smart, you’re talented, you’re loved. In that case the hate-filled statements would have a tough time getting in and taking root. Parents, teachers, relatives, and friends can all be part of the group that builds the positive inward conversation young people need in order to be strong. Be that person! Charles R. Swindoll says, Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children. What deposits are you making?

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If there’s no enemy within the enemy outside can do us no harm.

When I was a manager at a computer company, I kept the following list on my desk. I gave each employee a copy, and I worked to make it a part of my daily life. I did not pen these quotations; they are not original to me; I shamelessly used them to inspire me to be a better manager and person. I find their inspirational value transcends occupations and time. Do you have a list that inspires you?

1. No one can make you feel inferior without your permission, —Eleanor Roosevelt

2. Tell me, and I’ll forget.

Show me, and I’ll remember.

Involve me, and I’ll understand.

3. What have you done to improve yourself today?

4. Challenge yourself!

5. We owe each person the opportunity to grow.

6. You may have been great in the past, but show me, prove to me, that you still are today.

7. Turn your weaknesses into strengths.

8. Think! Do! Think! Do!

9. People thinking that old limitations still exist don’t attempt to go farther.

10. Excuses are not acceptable!

11. I won’t listen to any problem that you don’t have several possible solutions for.

12. Thought for the day: Would I like doing business with me?

13. Those who say it can’t be done should get out of the way of those who are!

14. With every dream there is a dragon that must be slain.

15. When you help someone up a hill you get nearer the top yourself.

16. Faith seldom grows when you rolling in the dough.—Bill Sims

17. God is more concerned about my character than my comfort. Rick Warren. Sometimes He takes away my comfort to improve my character.—Bill Sims

I worked twenty-six years for a computer company and nine years at the US Post Office—a job that really stank. Yes it was that bad. I predict that