by Jed Estrada

It's late... I can't sleep.

I wonder why I'm not tired. I've been staying up later and later, recently. The other night I put together a playlist on imeem that inspired me. Tonight I wrote a note on facebook for my friends, and then I read some blogs. I'm finding a theme that I find hard to ignore. People writing... yet not for anyone in particular. I ventured back to xanga the other day to see who was still there. There are a few people yet, blogging faithfully. One girl name Hailey used to be the proclaimed "Queen of Xanga." I remember when she would post, and get 40 eprops. She still writes, even though no one comments anymore! I left mine when my subscribers dwindled.

It's late... I shouldn't sleep.

I've been resting far too long. Just relaxing, and dreaming. I haven't written much in a while. It's true I write for the newspaper, but it's not the same as pouring out your heart in words. I get a rush when I write articles, and I know it's something I'll enjoy doing for a living. But what about when I'm not working? When ever anyone asks what I'm doing these days, I tell them I'm working for Wegmans, and writing for the newspaper. It sounds like enough I guess, but in reality it's not much. I only work 32 hours a week, and I usually write my articles towards the end of the month. Other than that, from day to day in the evenings and on my 3 days off a week, I don't do anything. At least, I can't hold up anything that's finished. I have found I like to work. At Wegmans I throw myself into the tasks, and I excel at them. I never slow down, and I accomplish a lot. My boss loves and respects me, and all the managers appreciate me. Work gives me purpose. It keeps me awake. It's in my leisure that I drift off. I have a quote on the left that says "My heart is stirred by a noble theme..." It's not. My heart is... not empty, but not stirring. It's more like stagnant. I really think I am becalmed, like in the Horse Latitudes I wrote about. Even when I write my articles, it's my mind that's working. I need to write more from my heart, and I can't worry about who reads it.

It's late... but I wont sleep.

 I have things to write about all the time. I just put it off, because I tell myself 'that's not a complete though. Save it until you can use it somewhere.' I'm going to get in the habbit of just writing more when something comes to me. There's more that I need, and I know what it is, but for now I just need to stir the waters.  I hear the song in my mind, by Aaron Shust:

My Spirit is left wanting something more
Than my selfish hopes/ and my selfish dreams
I’m lying with my face down to the floor
I’m crying out for more
Give me Words to speak
Don’t let my Spirit sleep
Cause I can’t think of anything worth saying
But I know that I owe You my life
So give me Words to speak
Don’t let my Spirit sleep
Every night, every day/ I find that I have nothing left to say
So I stand here in silence awaiting Your guidance
I’m wanting only Your voice to be heard
Let them be Your Words

 There's not a lot that I need. I know fully well what God has given me. What I need is to use it! It's late, but I won't let it be too late. I won't let my mind stop writing, and Lord don't let my spirit sleep. Stir my heart with a noble theme, and I'll write it for you... just like the pale letters above my header say.

And now... I'll get some rest. :-)

Hello friends and readers. :-)

This is officially the start of my online publication of all the articles I write. It will include the my monthly column from the MorningStar Newspaper, my articles for the ChristianTeen View e-Magazine, and also any important news about my life, or professional career. I archived all my past published works for you to read if you feel like it. But right now I want to update you all on what's going on in my life. 

First, I have officially registered for online courses through Regen University. I'll be taking Western Civilization, College Algebra, and Biblical Languages. They are quarter semester courses, and begin on October 27th. Patrick Henry College also accepts some transfers from Regent, and I still am keeping my aim towards PHC. :-) I'm taking to Algebra to help prepare for a third shot at the SAT, which I plan to take in December. I am really trying to bring my score up so I can have a chance for the Journalism Scholarship from PHC. my last try was 100 points short of the minimum requirement. :-/ I am also excited to be taking Biblical languages, as I have always wanted to learn more about the Scripture's original context.

Secondly, I have closed on an apartment deal in Elmira, NY. I have been thinking of renting there for a while now, and keeping it under a lot of prayer from my family, friends, and two churches. This was an amazing deal, and a miraculous answer to all of my prayers and hopes, as well as my mom's wishes, and my dad's advice. I am very blessed and encouraged to see God continuing to work so greatly in my life! :-D Anyway, this arrangement will really help me focus during my college courses and SAT prep. It also gives me a strategic location to continue and advance in working with the newspaper, and I wont have to cut any of my work hours since I am so close now.

On a more serious note, I realize that this is a very important time for me. My pastor told me that he observed that everything I was doing in my life rested heavily on self control, and that these next years would be very decisive in my life. As I'm looking ahead to what I am working for, I see how right he is. This is it. Everything I ever told myself I would do someday has to be done now. This is literally the first day of the rest of my life. So prayers are definitely good, and encouragement is always welcome. I feel like God is passing the ball to my court. I am excited about the possibilities, and overwhelmed at the stakes! I'll really need to trust God more than ever now, but I am greatly encouraged that I can feel Him leading me. I am really blessed. 

Anyway, I would appreciate any feedback you might have, and I would be honored if you read my opinions. Thank you for your time, and your support. :-)

- Jed Estrada

You can call it the way of the world, or you can sum it up to the Third Law of Thermodynamics at work, but you cannot deny the tendency of nations to decline. No matter how great the government, or how strong the constitution, erosion always chips away the foundations. America as we once knew it, and as it once existed is deteriorating. You can see it in the men who lead us. You can see it in the entertainment we indulge ourselves with. You can see it in man's creations. But most of all, you can see it in your average Joe American: the people who make up this country, elect our leaders, and who indulge in the worlds entertainment. And if you really take a sincere and scrutinized look, you will see it in ourselves.

What is it about nations that causes them to decline? I have observed that there is a pattern in human nature and development that makes us strive for achievement, and having gotten there we become complacent. In our complacency we then turn leisure, and have and increasing desire to have everything taken care of for us. Politically, this leads to a socialistic form of government, where the people turn to "big brother" for everything from the roofs over our heads, to our daily bread. Ironically, it is then the turn of those in charge to seek achievement, as government strives for power and authority. And when they have achieved absolute rule, it is then their turn to become complacent, and through that the structure of nations fall.

I find it very interesting that through all of that, it is an apathy among the citizens that ultimately allows them to become complacent, then to let their leaders achieve absolute rule, and then do nothing as their nation falls apart until it is much too late. Or as Edmund Burke said, “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.” In this case it is important to remember in terms of moral absolutes that socialism, complacency, and moral decadence is wrong. The Bible and all of History prove this to be true.

So where are we in the U.S. today? A history teacher recently asked me if I thought the United States had peaked as a nation yet. I believe we are in the deciding moments. The peak has not yet been passed, but we are definitely on the ridge. There is a growing apathy among people today, a full grown and established decadence in entertainment, a growing and almost established moral relativism, and definitely a growing movement towards socialism. I see both discouragement and hope. The recent economic crisis is a perfect example of both. We backed ourselves to the edge of a cliff with our credit based economic system, and then the proposed federal bailout which was authored by practically ever federal leader was an enormous step in the direction of socialist control in the public market by the government. I heard so many people say that it was necessary to uphold our economic stability, or at least the illusion if it. I ask you as our patriots asked so long ago, is the economy so dear, or our comfort so sweet to be bought at the price of chains? At the end of the day, and in the closing of the market, government intervention and bailout is a step in the wrong direction. And that is where I see the hope. There were enough wise people to lobby their representatives and tell them that as citizens they did not want to burden of government intervention. There were also enough honest politicians who listened to their constituents, and opposed the measure. And now in the face of economic decline, we have a great choice and chance before us. Either we will work to rebuild our economy on sound business policies, or government will assume control over the floundering market. And trust me, such control is never relinquished. It only grows, and restricts. In these crucial moments in history it is necessary for the citizens of America to care enough for their future to become involved in their nation.

So what is the Christian's duty to America? We remember that as God's people, we are citizens first and foremost of Heaven. But you are also a citizen of the United States. What does that mean? First of all, it is definitely a good thing. Paul was a citizen of Rome, and as such he was better able to serve God in the world. But the United States is very unique nation. Take a moment to think about it, and appreciate the nation that God has given you citizenship in. Over 230 years ago when our nation was created our founders did something never done before in the History of the World. They dedicated the country as a nation Under God! That act of submission to a divine authority in the greatest form of human power (the government) is the greatest reason why God has blessed America.

But our founders did something else which was both Historic and rare. They made America a nation of the people, and the power of government in that nation was "of the people, by the people, and for the people!" Where does that leave us today? The real blame of why we have fallen so far is ultimately on the people of America. As a nation we have moved away from God, by our actions, or our lack of action. That is our greatest shame, and yet our greatest hope! The Bible says "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." In that verse, the literal Hebrew interpretation of nation is 'people.' Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord. In this moment in time, God has given us a nation whose blessing under God is hinged upon the faith of its people. Why then are we the least active in their nation today? Less than 40% of Christians are even registered to vote. This is the apathy that is destroying the nation. I know people in churches who are not even ashamed to define themselves as apathetic. How can we be using our gifts and occupying until Christ comes if we are failing to use such a great gift of liberty? We are no better than the servant who buried his talent in the ground. How can we dare to look for hope if we are not daring enough to try and fight for it? The elections are coming up in this nation, and it's not just about the next president. There are offices all over the nation, the state, and even our city which are open for election. Do you even care enough about your own city to vote and raise your voice?

President Ronald Reagan said in his farewell address, “We've got to do a better job of getting across that America is freedom - freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of enterprise. And freedom is special and rare. It's fragile; it needs protection… I'm warning of an eradication of the American memory that could result, ultimately, in an erosion of the American spirit.” How true has this become? How important is this today? I beg you on the behalf America and the blessings that God has given to it, to understand and appreciate what you have, because if you don't it will quickly be lost. As Abraham Lincoln wrote to Congress, "We shall nobly save or meanly lose this last best hope of earth." America! May God shed His grace on thee!

Looking for a good book for teens? Even if you aren’t, here’s one that might be worth your while. Do Hard Things is a best selling book for teenagers. It is written by Alex and Brett Harris, the twin sons of Christian and Homeschool pioneer Greg Harris. Alex and Brett are teenagers who are sold out for Christ, and they give us an awesome and inspiring message of making a difference while you are young. Beginning with a foreword penned by Chuck Norris’s fist, and packed with real life stories of committed teens making a difference in their worlds, Do Hard Things will challenge you wherever you are, and show the way to do something hard!

“Most people don’t expect you to understand what we’re going to tell you in this book. And even if you understand, they don’t expect you to care. And even if you care, they don’t expect you to do anything about it. And even if you do something about it, they don’t expect it to last.” Whew! Take a moment to think about that! Those are the first words of chapter 1, and it sums up the entire message of overcoming low expectations.  

Have you ever felt that no one takes you seriously just because you’re a teenager? They don’t. Not only that, most people don’t expect much from teenagers. As a result, it’s easy for many to ride through the teen years without having to do too much. Even schools are dropping their expectations of teenagers. Do Hard Things offers an alternative to that. It shows you how to use your teen years “not as a vacation from responsibility, but as a launching pad for the rest of our lives.”  

The most amazing thing about the book is its perspective. It is filled with an overpowering sense of encouragement and empowerment from teenagers themselves, showing that it is possible to go against the flow of the popular culture. They take the concept of rebellion and revolution, and apply it to the rebellious attitude of teen life today. The Rebelution as they call it, is a teenage rebellion against low expectations, and a revolutionary return to biblical authority, and character. That is what ‘hard things’ are: actions that challenge us, build our character, and make us stronger.   

So what is a hard thing for you? No matter where you are, there is always something you can do to grow stronger, or learn more. Your hard thing could be something that most people would not expect you to do. Whatever it could be, this book will give you the ideas you need to find your challenge, and the mindset you need to challenge the world! Do Hard Things is a fantastic book, and if you’re willing to spend the $9.70 (plus $3.99 shipping and handling) on Amazon, and read through this book, I think you’ll be well on your way to overcoming society’s low expectations!

Theodore Roosevelt once said, “It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, … and spends himself in a worthy cause.” They say a critic has an easy job, that he can spend his time building nothing, and still make a livving in the profitable field of breaking down the creations of others. The church is one organization that is probably criticized more than any organization in this country, besides the government. This may likely be that because the church has the great commission to be the light in the world, and one can always find something else that it could be doing… or not be doing. But as necessary or useful even constructive criticism can be, it is always greater to point out achievements, and success. In that standpoint, I believe it is extremely noteworthy to mention what the church is doing right. 

The Christian community in Elmira is extremely vibrant, and has been increasingly active in the past few years. Many churches organize street ministries, or open their doors to the community in a variety edifying and educational programs. Probably the biggest example of church activity was the Let Elmira Live rally last May, in which more than 10 churches sent volunteers, and supported the ministry. But it wasn’t just a week long project that ended with the final rally at the Elmira Christian Center, it was the beginning of a greater movement of the churches within Elmira. On August 12th, I sat in on a meeting of several churches discussing the success of Let Elmira Live, and how they were following up with the people who had become saved through it. One lady told of how their church sent a group to Hawthorn Court, and the kids came running out asking, “Are you from the Elmira Christian Center?” It struck me that it is an incredible thing that the community recognizes the church’s involvement, and even looks forward to it coming to into the neighborhood. 

Another example of the way the community sees the church took place two weeks ago at the Living Word Evangelical Free church on Lake street, not far from Pigeon Point. Some kids were playing in the church park, and began to break a window on the shed with rocks. The other kids called the youth Pastor, Mark Walker, who lived down the street. When Mr. Walker arrived, he found the adults from the neighborhood stopping the kids, and scolding them. “This is God’s house” said one parent, “and you don’t treat it this way.” The interesting thing here is the sense of ownership that the parents in the neighborhood have for the church property. Even though they don’t attend church, they recognize it’s presence, and feel the duty to protect it. Living Word reaches out to the kids in the community with Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and a 5 Day Club ministry at the Walker’s house. The kid’s parents have even come to church picnics on occasion. This builds a trust, and a mutual connection with the neighborhood, and is great way for the church to gain respect in the community. When parents see how the church takes their kids in, and shows them love, and teaches them, it shows the parents that the church is part of the social structure. “We see it as an opportunity to get close to them” said Mr. Walker. “You can’t force the issue, but when they open their hearts then there is an opportunity to share God’s love.” 

The Bible tells us that we are the salt of the earth, and to let our light shine among men. Not merely a salt that adds spice, but as a cleansing, and preserving component. And not just a light so the world can see our works, but a light that shines the way to Christ, who is the Light of the world. A church that is built on this firm foundation is one which Jesus tells us in Matthew 16:18 that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against.” I am encouraged to see a generation growing in churches that recognizes their responsibility in the community, and a generation in the community that respects the role of the church. I firmly believe with many other Christians in this city that if we persevere with Faith and Hope, that a revival is truly possible in our land.

On July 30th, President Bush signed a bipartisan bill to increase the money spent on AIDS in Africa from 15 billion, to 48 billion. This historic bill is what Bush calls a picture of the generosity of the American people, which the Wall Street Journal reports will save 5 to 7 lives. people. Since the benefit of life is so significant, I would be very reluctant to criticize such an expensive gift. But I am left to wonder whether our government is just looking for opportunities to spend money. I don't know how many people can grasp the concept of a multi-trillion dollar national deficit, but it basically means that the next several generations are going to be paying off our nations debt. Our leaders may have promised that they wouldn't raise taxes, but by spending so much on credit they are essentially passing the bill down to the next generation.

On the same day that President Bush approved the AIDS package for Africa, he also signed a bill to bail out  the gigantic Freddie Mae and Fanny Mac organizations, and cover up to 400,000 home owners, according to the Wall Street Journal's Market Watch. It is one thing that the government has spent billions of dollars on disaster relief. It is still another that it spends additional billions on disaster relief in other countries. But for the government to become involved in the 'free market' is a vast overstepping of it's constitutional bounds, and will invariably cause further problems for the market. Not only does this give government a foot in the door of the market, it also opens up dependency for yet another area... our failures. The market bill also included a provision to create a federal backstop to ensure the future stability of the mortgage giants. Businessmen learn judgment and discernment for a reason, so that their companies don't go bankrupt. But now the government has sent the message that they will bail out important corporations who go broke.

So doe generosity and good intentions make it right? Giles St. Aubyn, an author and historian said "It is melancholy to reflect that Mankind has suffered more from ill-judged philanthropy than calculated malice. The road to hell is no less harrowing for being paved with good intentions." To give a gift is a worthy thing, but not if it is not yours to give. It is one thing that our government wishes to use its taxpayers' money abroad, but it is quite another to borrow money against the future, and bind that future in debt. Just because the government deals in the trillions of dollars doesn't mean that basic principles of economics and saving do not apply.

The Heritage Foundation, a research and educational think tank published an article entitled My Neighbor's Keeper? Rethinking Responsibility and the Role of Government, in which it noted that "Government is not solely-- or even primarily--responsible for taking care of our neighbors. That responsibility belongs to each one of us as participants in a variety of relationships and overlapping communities."

So what is our Christian responsibility? When the Bible says to give to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar and to God the things that belong to God, it is addressing an individual responsibility. Our taxes are due to our government, and our gifts are due to God. The AIDS crisis in Africa may be beyond individual generosity, but the poor of our community are always with us. Just because our government gives welfare to the needy in society, doesn't mean that we don't have a responsibility to minister to them. To sit back and ignore them just because they have handouts from the government will only cause more dependency, and make it harder for them to achieve success. An old Chinese proverb says "Give a man a fish, and you have fed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you have fed him for his life."  As we reach out to help our neighbors, we can teach them to be responsible instead of dependent, and perhaps our politicians will learn to temper their generosity with prudence.

In 1995, the Department of Justice reported a dramatic decrease in serious violent crimes. After a steady rise of criminal violence, this year marked the greatest drop ever, and started a steady decline that continued through the turn of the century. There have been many theories about these facts, including the notion that this is due to the legalization of abortion in 1973. Several professors and lawyers have published papers and articles citing this explanation. Their reasoning is based on statistics that since the poor, uneducated, and single parents are more likely to have an abortion, and since most crimes are committed by 18 to 25 year olds from poor, single, and uneducated parents, according to even more statistics, that the millions of abortions per year since 1973 basically aborted a generation of criminals. Aside from the obvious discrimination and defamation of the poor and uneducated, this reasoning relies far too heavily on a slippery slope fallacy. Is this how society justifies abortion? By saying that they would all grow into criminals anyway?

Lliberal professors saw this as an easy opportunity for put in a plug for abortion. Liberals have been waiting for the chance to jump on the benefits of abortion ever since it was legalized. But what was really the reason for the decrease of crime in1995? Well if we were trying to twist events that into a political statement, it would be just as easy to say that this was because of the newly elected republican legislators, or that the conservative appointed judges of Reagan and Bush Sr. (who according to the Law and Order research society were much less supportive of criminal defendants) were finally starting to curb crime. But in all objectivity, it should be noted that neither of these politically polarized remedies have much of a direct connection on criminal actions, and crime rates themselves. I think we should take a look at the obvious: the statistics.

The Department of Justice uses two sources to create its statistics. It compiles documented arrests, along police and FBI reports from the Uniform Crime Report, but it also relies heavily on National Crime Victimization Survey. The NCVS polls an average of 77,200 households per year, randomly selected by the Census Bureau. The survey asks questions on domestic violence, and is launched from the principle that there are many crimes which aren’t reported to the police. However, in 1989 the NCVS went through a redesign, in which the methodology of the survey was changed, purportedly to improve the gathering of information. The questions were also changed to be more direct, according to the Bureau of Justice. This new method was phased in between 1993 and 1995, in perfect timing with the documented decrease in crime. The interesting part is that the decrease was almost entirely according to the NCVS portion of the statistics. The police arrests and reports for serious violent crimes remained roughly the same, with only smaller decreases towards the end of the 1990s.

It is a sad thing when we become used to evil. This has happened in our nation after 35 years of abortion, where it is starting to become just another side for a politician to take, and not the life and death struggle that it truly is. It is something that is mentioned almost as an afterthought from the pulpits, and just another statistic in our country. Now we have come to the point where people in our nation are showing it to be a benefit. What is truly sad is that the Justice system in our nation is devaluing life on the one hand by narrowing the margins, and lowering the statistics of serious crimes, and then our professors credit the murder of millions of unborn as our solution to crime. Yet even with the sharp drops on the graphs, and the coincidental introduction of a survey redesign, there is still no logical correlation between abortion and crime rates. The statistical evidence that tries to link the two also fails to take into account the ratio of crime with population increases. Dr. John Lott, professor of Law at Yale University, and John Whitley, an Australian economist published their own rebuttal article, in which they applied the theory to all the states, and all the statistics, including abortions before the Roe. vs. Wade decision. Not surprisingly, the evidence did not show a proportional decrease in crime. "Many factors that reduce murder rates, but the legalization of abortion is not one of them. Of the over six thousand regressions that we estimated here, only one regression implied even a small reduction in the murder rate” said their summary.

Do we really understand the value of life today? Do we feel anything when we hear that 50 million babies have been aborted since 1973? Does it hurt us to know that 300,000 people were murdered in Darfur? Do we weep for the 80,000 people killed in an earthquake in Myanmar? A friend on mine recently asked me, "what is life worth, and what is worth dying for?” For example, 60 million soldiers died for us in WWII for the freedom and safety of America and her allies. So would it be worth if the reality was that abortion was decreasing crime? The difference between taking a life and giving a life, is ultimately love. Sacrifice is noble, and the Bible says that there is no greater love. It is a sacrifice that is vastly opposite to the selfishness that defines abortion. Killing only leads to more death, or as Dr. John Lott says, “Essentially, the message is, if you choose death, you get death. With interest.”