I want to start this whole thing by saying that the following opinions are unpopular and I am well aware of that. I will accept comments with honest questions or biblical concerns, but I will not publish or read comments shared out of anger or simply for the purpose of argument.


I've seen a lot of my dear Christian friends express concerns about how this unique time in history is causing the government to take away our liberties at a quick rate. They express concern and even outrage that their fellow Christians are not doing more, saying more, against what is going on around them.

Bothers and sisters in Christ, if we are worried about what the government is doing during this time, our focus is in the wrong place. Don't get me wrong. Please vote and do vote according to your conscious. Yet, during this crisis, if Christians are using their effort to fight the political evils, they are fighting the wrong battle.

Right now, we have an amazing opportunity to reach those in our community with the gospel, to be the hands and feet of Jesus. If we are spending more mental and physical energy on the liberties that the government is taking away, then we are reaching out to those around them and asking what God would have us do, that's a problem.

The bible does not call us to fight for political change, it does not call us to stand up for or rights as citizens of whatever nation that we happen to live in. It calls us to live holy and blameless lives. It called us to live radical lives for Christ and to share the hope within us to the doing world around us.

America will someday be dust. In the grand scream of entirety, what the government is doing is really not the concern of the church. When we get to heaven, our voting record, and political stands will not gain our reward. I doubt there will be one person in heaven because they were won over by our political opinions during the coronavirus. Yet, the church has an opportunity to share our hope with our neighbors like never before.

We can help feed those who are hungry, to get groceries for that mean old lady a few doors down and show her the love and compassion of Christ. I personally know Christians who are helping to fill the huge need for grocery delivery, when many volunteers are running home. I know Christian medical workers rushing toward the epicenters to help in the name of Jesus. We can share hope with those who are feeling hopeless. We can go to go to God for peace, in a culture that is thriving on fear and anger.


Brothers and sisters, let us live quiet lives that respect those in authority, as the Bible commands and use this time to spread the gospel of Jesus, not our political agenda.





A few years ago I wrote a four-part series about my biblical understanding of how we are supposed to treat those with authority over us. You can read about David and Saul, What Romans says, Peter's Stand Against Authority, and Our Response.

You are falsely accused of a crime - maybe you didn’t commit it or what they are accusing you of isn’t a crime at all. What do you do?

Paul and Joseph both give us two responses that I stand in amazement of and pray for that kind of courage. They had the courage to face corrupted governments and still bow to the authorities God had placed over them.

Paul was imprisoned for a crime that was no crime at all. He stood before Agrippa and shared with him the good news of the Gospel. Paul used this miscarriage of justice to carry the message of Jesus to palaces and even hoped to share it with Ceaser. Paul took what the corrupted authorities had given him and used it to share the gospel. How amazing is that?

Joseph was accused of rape and thrown into the dungeon without a trial. While he did ask those he helped to tell the king about him, he continued to serve God in the jail. He served his jailor and helped him to run the same prison that was keeping him in the walls. He didn’t try to escape, he didn’t tell everyone that he had been wronged, he served God and others from where he was.
Over the last few weeks, we have been looking at authority. We have looked at how David treated Saul, how God calls us to treat those in authority, and Peter’s stand against authority. Armed with all this knowledge, how are we to respond?

I think both Paul and Joseph point us toward the conclusion that is easy to miss: We are Christian’s first, citizens to our country after. Both Paul and Joseph suffered horrible miscarriages of justice. Yet, both of them responded not with anger or disrespect, but by turning their adversity into something that glorified God.

In this world, we will have trouble. Our enemy, the devil, is corrupting the world and its governments.  We are the light of the world. We are to let our light shine before men. We are not to do that by shouting against our leaders, but by carrying the Good News to every corner of the earth. We cannot overcome evil with disrespect, hatred, anger, and dishonor; we can only overcome it with good.

I want my response to mirror Paul, Joseph, and Jesus. I want to stand before authorities without fear, and boldly speak of the gospel. I want to be faithful to respect them, even when they don’t deserve it. I also want to be filled with this knowledge: greater is He who is in me, than he who is in the world. He is the King of kings, the Lord of lords, and holds the ultimate authority in my life.

When is it okay to stand against authority?

Obviously, from Scripture, it isn’t because of corruption or immorality. As we read in 1 Samuel and in Romans, God calls us to honor, respect, and even obey the authorities that are corrupt. So is it ever okay to say no to authorities? Yes, and I think Scriptures provide a wonderful example in Acts chapter 4.

Peter and John where brought before the Sanhedrin. We know that Peter was full of the Holy Spirit at this point (verse 8) and spoke with great boldness. Peter even recognized their position of authority (verse 8), and they only asked him to do one thing and he refused.

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Acts 4:18 NIV

One request, but this was the one they could not comply with.

But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19-20 NIV

So can we take a stand against authority? Can we refuse their requests? Yes! If they ask us to deny our faith, stop telling others about Jesus, or ask us to do something directly against God, we are supposed to refuse.

One of my favorite modern examples of this is Brother Andrew. I was reading the other day in his wonderful book The Exodus Mandate about authority. While in a county, he would obey the speed limits, taxing laws, etc. all while smuggling illegal Bibles to people. He refused to obey the laws that would keep him from preaching the good news, but followed all other laws.

When the government demands that we discard our faith and the morals it teaches, we must disobey those orders. Yet, we should not allow ourselves to go so far as to disregard the other laws (speed limits and such) or speak against the authorities.

Don’t take my word for it, read your Bible and come to your own conclusions. Join my next week for the final post in this series.

Rome. If you study anything about it at the time of Jesus you will find it was a corrupted society and government. Evil leaders, assassinations, immorality praised, rampant bribery, a lawless army, and many perversions of justice. This was the kind of government in place when Paul penned his letter to the Romans. Yet, in spite of all this, we find a section in chapter 13 verses 1-7.

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

It sounds so odd doesn’t it? Paul commanding those in Rome to submit and honor a government that was corrupted, spending tax money on a murdering army and its own immoral pleasures. Yet, Paul does. Why? I think that the last verse of chapter 12 might give us a hint

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21 NIV

Now there are exceptions (see next week’s post) but not many. Obviously, just because a government is corrupt does not negate these rules, as Rome was about as corrupt as they come. So what does this mean for us in a practical sense? How are we to apply this to how we live today?

• We are to pay our taxes (which I admit I grumbled about when I realized I owed 15% of what I made last year)
• We are to respect (hold them in high regard) those in authority, and treat them with respect. This includes how we talk about them in person and our social media accounts (I am guilty of failing in this.) 
• We are to honor (treat with deference) them. This can be even harder than respecting them, because some of them are not honorable people. But still, God has called us to treat them with honor. If you met with the president that you think has been worse for this country, you still would need to treat them with deference as God commanded.

Yes, this chapter is not an easy one to apply. I know that I have often made up excuses for when I disrespect the president or another elected official. It is so easy to see their faults and so easy to complain. I have failed so many times to obey this part of scripture. However, I refuse to give myself that excuse any longer. I will strive, in God’s strength, to speak with respect about those in authority. I will honor even those who I do not feel are honorable, as God has commanded.

The authorities were after him. He had done nothing either legally or morally wrong. In fact, He was standing for his faith. Now, the government was after him, a corrupted one that perverted justice, and refused to follow even its own laws.
Then one amazing day, this man had a golden opportunity. The leader of this corrupted government fell into his hands. Those around him said that God had given him this day. He could kill this leader, or at least put him in prison. This would be the end of the godless leader and the corrupted government.

But he didn’t do it.

David said; “I cannot lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed one.

I have had a lot of conversations with people over the last year about honoring the governing authorities. What I am hearing has disturbed my heart. Many I have talked to have made fun of our president, joke about assassination, and ignore minor laws like speed limits because they say that the government is corrupt so we don’t have to honor or obey it.

The story above comes from 1 Samuel and you probably recognized it. David twice had the opportunity to kill or capture Saul. However, both time, he refused, even when everyone around him encouraged it. Why? Because Saul was God’s anointed.

Even after his death, when perhaps he should have been rejoicing that he would no longer have to run, he mourned for Saul and grew angry with the man who claimed to have killed him.

David was a man after his own heart and I think that this story is one of the reasons why. David refused to give in to the temptations to take matters into his own hands. He believed that God had raised Saul up and God and only God had the right to depose him.

In reading 1 and 2 Samuel, here is what I was reminded about authority.

• We like David should always speak and act in a honoring manner toward those in authority.
• We should not lift our hand against those in authority
• In God’s time, corrupted rulers will meet their end.

I urge you to open up your Bible and read the story for yourself. Don’t take my word for this, open up your Bible and discover it for yourself.

These are the ashes we focus on so often as Christians. Those of us trying to live our lives so differently from the rest of the world look around and feel helpless to stop the wrongs around us.

There is a very good reason for that: We are.

Our nation, indeed the whole world, is falling apart around us, just as God said it would. We with Elijah sometimes feel as if we are the only true Christian’s left, looking out on the ashes of true Christianity. We look out at a sea of angry people and want to weep at their misguided cause, the ashes of truth at their feet. We look at the women filing into clinics around the country, and see the ashes of morality.

However, we are focusing on the wrong thing. We were never meant to stare at the ashes. We aren’t supposed to live at the feet of the cross and the death of Christ, we are supposed to rejoice in the empty tomb. We aren’t supposed to sit in the ashes of our own sin, but rise and lift our eyes to something better. We are never supposed to look out at the raging sea, but to the only One who can calm it.

Around us we find the ashes of much we once held dear, but now it is time to rise. It is time not to focus on the fact that abortion is legal, but on the teen down the street that needs someone to show her the love of God. Instead of battling in the capitol buildings about prayer in school, we need to start praying for the teachers, school board, and the children in school. Instead of yelling about the horrible sin, we need to weed it out of our own hearts and help those we know who are struggling with it.

Should we still vote? Oh yes! Should we still cry out in the capital against such horrors? May we never cease to. However, instead of staring at the ashes around us, let us rise.

She was one of those people that will always carry a very special place in my heart. She was the one who taught me the ropes of working at the Texas Capitol. I just found out that she died yesterday while on vacation with her husband. Betty will be missed by me and many others.

I wish I could tell her one last thing. I told her so many time that I appreciated her and that she meant a lot to me, but I will never be able to tell Betty that my next book in the Kate's Case Files was going to be dedicated to her.

In her memory, I would like to share it here today.

It has been far to long since I have have given an update on what I have been doing at work. So I am going to give you a snapshot by telling you about my day and sharing some photos.

Out office is really busy because my boss is on the Appropriation Committee which handles all the money for the state. This means if often spends most of his day in meetings that can last up to 8 hours

I realized that I never finished my post of the GOP convention.  Mainly because on Friday, I stayed at the convention center with everyone else working on the party platform.  That was exhausting, but fun.


On Saturday I met up with two very sweet girls. Michelle and I had a great time walking around the vendors. Brittney and I went to TeenPact together in 2006.  We haven't seen each other in a while so it was fun to catch up. 


It was a great convention.  I can't wait to do it again in two years.

This weekend I am at the Texas Republican State Convention!  This is my fourth  here is me with my badges.

Note: I am very politically active and that spills over onto my blog sometimes.  However, I will try not to do to many posts on politics.

"Sarah, how can you be for Rick  Santorum  when Ron Paul is running?" It is the question many of my friends are asking me, and so I thought I would write a post about it to try to explain.

First of all let me say that I like some of Paul's ideas.  Getting the government out of our lives, balancing the budget, and protecting life are all things I am for.  Once again, we used to live in Ron Paul's district, and my parents voted for him with pride.  So why haven't I chosen him as the man I would vote for?  For one simple reason: his foreign policy.


Please let me explain, because I didn't jump to this conclusion. Ron Paul has made a great congressman, and if I lived in his district, I would vote for him for congress.  However, his ideas on foreign affairs seem to me very simple.  Our army has no business outside our borders, we shouldn't be helping anyone with our money, and generally shouldn't be involved in the rest of the worlds affairs.  Although I believe in these ideas in part, I think they are disturbing as a whole. His idea in response to 9/11 (if I understand correctly form my research) was to find the people who planned it, deal with them and then come home again, leaving the rest of the Al-Qaeda alone.

It would be nice if we still lived in a world where the enemies were as well defined as the goose-stepping Germans, but they aren't.  I fear that Ron Paul's ideas on how to deal with the rest of the world could cause us grief in the end.  I do think we should balance the budget, and foreign aid should be some of the first things to go, but is it wrong to send some of our wealth to countries in Africa where the people are starving? Should we keep ourselves safe and watch as innocent people are slaughtered? I know that there is a limit to what we can do, and we might not be able to send aid or armies everywhere they are needed, but to say it isn't an option is not in our best interest.

So, I will vote for Rick Santorum.  I think he has a better idea on how to handle foreign policy; I like that he has not only written a book of the importance of marriage but has worked to protect it; he is staunchly pro-life; he has defended the intelligent design; and he is a man of character.  It is my personal belief that Santorum would be a much better president. If you haven't made up your mind, I encourage you to do your own research and take a closer look at Santorum.








Please note the these are my political views that I have researched carefully and wanted to share.  If you disagree, that is fine, but know that overly negative comments will be deleted.