(This was originally written on October 21, 2012 by Shonda M. Ponder)
The Freedom Rally in Texarkana was very inspirational. The purpose of the rally was to encourage conservative Christians to vote. I had to attend, being a volunteer Patriot media representative, and I am happy to report on the events:
At 1:38 p.m. I arrived and sat on the lawn across from the post office and watched as people started to trickle in. The Texarkana Post Office straddles the State Line between Texas and Arkansas. Because of it’s unique location, it doesn’t have an address. It is simply listed as Texarkana Post Office, the United States of America.
There was Christian music playing through the loudspeakers in front of the post office. The Little River Patriots had set up an awning tent. Their mission statement was posted in front as “Recruiting, Educating, and Electing Christian Conservatives.”
Mike Landers, who was running for sheriff was campaigning in the next awning with shirts and buttons. “Mike Landers for Sheriff” yard signs permeated the grounds around the post office.
Slowly, more cars drove up and parked. People set up lawn chairs and were gathering in small groups, getting ready for the day’s activities. It didn’t look like a huge gathering, but I was encouraged by this morning’s Sunday School lesson on Judges 6-10. Gidean led an army of 300 men and defeated two kings, in spite of people who mocked him for being so small. God never uses large armies to do His will, only a small, very loud minority.
As the crowd thickened, I made a small mental note to be sure and have business cards made up when I get my new web site started. They sure would have come in handy, today.
The announcer welcomed everyone and said that a few of the speakers were still en-route and to just hang on and hang out with everyone for a few minutes longer.
Another red, white, and blue table was being set up under an awning with hats and flags. Ted Cruz for Senate was being promoted at one of them.
It was a very patriotic atmosphere. There were everyday people in shorts and t-shirts, sunglasses and smiles, laughing and shaking hands with the people around them. One man sat texting on his cell phone, on the steps of the Korean War Memorial, while children climbed on it and sat in the rafters with the statue. While more motorcycles, cars and trucks drove up, cameras and binoculars came out.
Pastor John Miller, of the Church on the Rock, gave a brief speech about the history of the flag, then led everyone in saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Then there was a prayer and one lady sang the National Anthem.
A Cuban immigrant named Raphael Cruz spoke of his journey to America, why he came here, and why he was so outspoken today. His story touched my heart. He spoke of his son, and how he would tell his son, Ted, when he was eight or nine, that, “I lost my freedoms in Cuba. If we lose our freedoms here, then where is there left to go?” He told the story of what his son did as a result, and how it has led him to running for the senate. Ted Cruz sounds like someone worth watching in politics.
To hear a Cuban immigrant speak so highly of my country, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution was more than inspiring to me. It made me be proud to be an American by birth. As if that wasn’t enough, he then exalted our God and made me proud to be a Christian by choice.
Then Rick Scarborough of Vision America spoke. He told his story of how he got involved preaching politics from the pulpit. He advised that if you are part of a church in which the pastor is afraid of preaching about politics, fire him. Get one that will. He said it was time that preachers, who so love to be the light of the world, also be the salt. He finished by advising us to find a friend who shares our values and encourage them to vote. If we have a friend that doesn’t share our values, pray that he sleeps on election day.
Rick brought up the point that homosexuals only took up 3.4% of the population, yet they are pushing their agenda successfully on
(This was originally written on October 21, 2012 by Shonda Ponder)
America. If they are such a small minority and can get so much done, then we should have no problem taking America back. All it takes is a small, VERY LOUD, minority.
Again, I thought of Gideon and his army of 300 men who did nothing more than make a bunch of noise that frightened the enemy so bad that they panicked and killed themselves. I thought of Abraham using pots and pans to make a large noise and do the same thing when he rescued Lot.
Then a young man who majored in Political Science at A&M University, Noah Jackson, spoke. He quoted facts and poll results. He encouraged us to vote for Freedom. He’s another young man planning a future in politics that needs to be watched, and encouraged.
Curtis Coleman spoke next, encouraging us, as citizens, to stand up. “This election is not about choosing from right and left,” he said, “It’s about choosing from right and wrong!”
The last speaker was media personality Jan Morgan. She started her speech quoting George Orwell: “In times of great deceit, speaking truth is a revolutionary act!” Then she told us about how others have made threats on her life for speaking the truth to the public. “In order to speak truth in America today, you have to be willing to lay your life on the line!” She continued to speak, inspiringly, about how we are giving our freedoms away, and that it’s time to stand up and take back what our founding fathers gave us.
Morgan boldly advocated protecting our 2nd Amendment rights. “If we allow the government to strip away our 2nd Amendment rights, then we will have no way of protecting the rest of them!” She told us that, throughout the world, 170 million people have been annihilated AFTER the government disarmed them.
Morgan then spoke about Islam and our religious freedoms here in America. “I believe your religious rights stop when it advocates the murder of innocent people in order to promote it.”
She ended her speech with, “If you are afraid of your government, you are already a slave.”
I wasn’t planning on staying for the whole thing, but I’m glad I did. I even made it a point to shake Raphael Cruz’s hand and tell him, “Thank you.”
For those of you who didn’t show up, you missed a great gathering and some good messages. For those who did, I hope you are motivated to take what you have and use it to keep what you have been given.
