Tag Archives: Freedom

When “How Can I Not” Becomes “Why Should I” – Part 3

By Tonja Condray Klein©03/11/2021

First of all, I’d like to make it perfectly clear that every opinion of action is not only towards all others who claim to be Christians but also to me. I read the Bible study by Anne Graham Lotz in the DECISIONS magazine from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association March 2021 and was humbled as I read the scriptures she noted, saw the true beauty of the meaning to the Church of Jesus Christ, and wept as I repented of the times I had failed my Lord and Savior. THIS is how Revival truly begins. Judgement begins at the House of God! We need to listen to the Bible and the Holy Spirit.

It must have been increasingly depressing for those in captivity in the times of Daniel, Nehemiah, and Jeremiah in their land of Israel. How could they even think about speaking the words the Lord gave to them when their very lives were at risk? Yet they did. Over the course of history in this world, people of Judeo-Christian Faiths have had to do the same in the time of Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, and Tao. Now in 2021 America, we might come to the point we will have to stand in the midst of possible punishment if we hold true to what the Torah and Holy Bible says we have to speak as being truth.

Americans have enjoyed Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Assembly, and Freedom of Religion since its creation. I personally have never had to fear sharing what I know the Holy Bible says about any subject in discussion, but now? This might no longer be allowed by American citizens even in discussion if views are opposite those of special interest groups that will be ‘protected’ from anything they view as ‘hate speech’. Opposing views that don’t use degrading metaphors or titles should NEVER be tagged as ‘hate speech’. Freedom of Speech protects speech we don’t agree with for a reason.

If we lose the ability to discuss, debate, and agree to disagree while still allowing people to express their views as safe personally then our country WILL NO LONGER BE FREE. This should not only upset those of faith or any religious belief but also those of different backgrounds and groups that want the right to open representation. “No taxation without representation” was the cry of patriots before the American Revolution. Why should we be forced to not speak what we believe is truth because someone else doesn’t agree? We EACH should have our voices be heard and openly allowed!

“How can I not?” is my cry in 2021. We have so many in groups that call themselves churches that live by ‘Why should I?” since it is convenient to not give friction between others who might not agree with them. John the Baptist was a non-conforming individualist who prepared the way for Jesus Christ to then stand against the religious groups in His time for the TRUTH that HE IS. Christians need to understand that we are not called to be silent. Jesus made a point that if the ones praising Him were silenced then the very rocks would cry out. I WON’T LET A ROCK TAKE MY PLACE!

One of the latest bills that has already passed in the House of Representatives recently and still needs to pass in the Senate would be very negative to those who have conservative views by actually making it illegal to express those viewpoints. THIS is DANGEROUS to our FREEDOM. I might not be able to even post links to my personal op-eds on social media sites like I do now if this happens. While some wouldn’t care about it happening to me, how would YOU feel if something YOU believe in was on that list of things no longer allowed to even be spoken about publically?

This seems Orwellian, right? Welcome to 2021 in America! If ever Christians began to pray against these things, speak out to our leaders, and come together as a united front then IT IS NOW. How can we allow our own freedom-loving Democratic Republic to turn into the land of the bound and home of the repressed? WE CAN’T. Freedom of Speech needs to remain protected for ALL AMERICANS! That has been one of our pillars of society since 1776. Even a historical date is being hit with the freight train of biased lies. Students are no longer being taught documented facts of history.

I’ve mentioned my disregard for present-day teaching mandates, and I will continue to do so for as long as I have rights, but I don’t do it because I disdain education. I was going to college with Teaching as my Minor! I had the grades in high school to get grants and scholarships to go for a Major in Computer Science and a Minor in Teaching if I hadn’t been ill and had to withdraw. Education in important, but only if facts are represented in curriculum. I have read different grade homework that my great-nieces would get me to help them with, and I knew the facts I’d learned were replaced with lies.

I’ve also mentioned the non-fiction novel LIVE NOT BY LIES: A MANUAL FOR CHRISTIAN DISSIDENTS by Rod Dreher. If you are as concerned for America in 2021 as I am, I suggest you get this novel and read it for not only historical facts all over the world but also the parallels we need to be aware of with what is happening in our country. I’m actually angry. My father fought and bled in World War II, and his brother died in combat that had my father being sent home. The changes happening now are not only a slap to every single veteran then and now but to military families too.

I don’t want socialism. I don’t want communism. I don’t want an oligarchy. I don’t want an authoritarian state. I WANT THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC MY UNCLE DIED FOR AND MY FATHER FOUGHT TO KEEP! I won’t sit by and stay silent anymore just to ‘get along’. The Facts are the Facts. Our way of government has been the envy of others in this world for generations. IT WORKS. The only time it doesn’t is when egomaniacs in government try to take control over WE THE PEOPLE, and THAT doesn’t work for long. Americans have always been FREE-thinkers.

Why has this ‘free-thinking’ suddenly deteriorated? Brainwashing students from grammar school through college with non-factual classes, forcing workers to be re-educated at work on non-work subjects, and constant media coverage of every single possible social stance that goes against every single spiritual leaning of mankind – yes, that would do it. It’s been going on for YEARS behind the curtain, but it’s now being thrust front and center in our own living rooms. Hey, if we want free stuff with free money and free time from not working to do whatever we want then NO free-thinking!

There are quite a few really BAD words that I’d like to use right now – FREE SPEECH, LEGAL GUNS, OPEN FAITH, PAYING JOBS, PERSONAL HEALTHCARE, ATOMIC FAMILY, and BIBLICAL MARRIAGE. Oooh… REALLY BAD WORDS! At least they are for those currently trying to destroy our country. While a couple of those are terms used during my Generation-X or earlier, if you have read, listened, or watched conservative news then you’ll know each of them by now. The point is that we NEED to realize what is happening and what is at stake NOW.

Blow ye trumpet in Zion! Sound the alarm in thy holy mountain! As Christians we should be spiritual Watchers on the Wall of our country the way those in the Old Testament were physically for Israel. I’m not trying to incite panic or a need for fear, but we do need to be MINDFUL of reality within the confines of Biblical prophetic possibilities. America has kept other forms of government from overtaking us for decades, and it’s up to US of legal age and citizenship to make sure we do everything legal to oppose what leaders are trying to do to our country in 2021 to deny Americans our rights.

What can we do? PRAY. Intercessors for America (IFA) is a great source and meeting media for Christians to pray together digitally online or on the phone first Friday of the month, Tuesdays and Thursdays too right now. VOTE. Even though they are trying to pass bills that will make your vote no longer count, do it while you still can. SHARE. No matter what way you use to spread the Gospel and love of Jesus Christ, do it while you can with the understanding that time is of the essence like never before in this country. We need the ELIJAH of each generation to STAND now. ~TK~

“The Attack on Freedom of Speech in 2021”

Op-Ed by Tonja Condray Klein©01/17/21

There was a time in my older sister’s life before I was born when the issue of Freedom of Speech made people rise up against censorship and called those actions illegal according to the First Amendment. It led to varied stances for society, education, and personal liberty, and while it began to protect views against a party in power, it also held for all opposite views to be protected too. Now, certain media outlets are beginning to take accounts away from those with an opposing view to silence them. We must maintain Freedom of Speech for ALL AMERICAN CITIZENS in 2021!

The First Amendment of the United States of America’s Constitution states that, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech; or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” It has been understood that this amendment protects American citizens with the right to express views on any issue in open forums, and that the government can’t deprive you of that unless it’s classified and could danger our country’s safety.

There are many ideas, concepts, descriptions, or expletives that I will never support and try to stay away from as much as humanly possible; but I also support the right for those that support one or all of them to express or support any of them as long as not expressly illegal for them to do so since FREEDOM OF SPEECH is for every legal American. Is this troublesome to me at times? Yes. Will I still support this amendment even if I don’t agree with the content used by someone else that has a view opposite of mine? Yes. Why? Right or wrong, this is an important American Freedom!

As long as a person’s freedom doesn’t take away the freedom of another then it is what this country was founded upon in 1776 and upheld for over two hundred-forty-five years; but now different methods of speech are being limited by media outlets claiming the speech goes against stated rules for users. While private companies have that right, if they are working with government agents who DO have to follow the First Amendment, then their users’ First Amendment rights ARE being violated since the company is no longer ‘private’ in the way the other statutes require it to be for protection.

If the company rules are examined and the speech is blocked when it doesn’t obviously violate the rules listed for users, then that makes it become a form of suppression that has been used by other kinds of governments but NOT with a democratic republic such as ours. This is something this country has fought against since its creation. If it’s allowed then it will mean at least half of our country will no longer be allowed to have the same rights as those who will agree with the new political regime that will govern for four years. ALL AMERICANS SHOULD HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH!

Will this op-ed change the minds of those who have actually been taught false government history that is against our democratic republic? I would say, “Probably not”. Mind-altering programming in education has taken away the rights of children to learn historical FACTS or more than one viewpoint for them to decide if they want history to repeat or not. Some things do have more than one side for a discussion, but others are not only globally true but also universally. Once Freedom of Speech is removed from a major dissenting group then those taking power make slaves out of all the others.

Mankind has always tried to exert personal power over others throughout history, but THIS IS NOT AMERICA! Humanity is flawed, and we have failed often, but our country’s founders tried to make America an example at that time of what FREEDOM should strive to be. While we have had our moments of leaders failing groups of people in the past, 2021 should not put us in any of those positions again! Rights as stated in our Constitution should be legislated as stated and not changed on the whim of a certain group with political bias that defeats our government system as a whole.

As a Protestant Christian I don’t want my faith to be persecuted or for those who share it to be silenced. I have friends who are Catholic, Jewish, Buddhist, Islamic, and Wiccan so I want their rights to be protected too. We should all have the right to declare our faith as Free Speech allows, compare differences if agreed upon by those in discussion, and not attack each other physically unless in defense. Any other issue should be peacefully debated by those with differing viewpoints. Generations since mine seem to have lost the ability to do any of this at all, and that’s sad and wrong.

I have two webpages that I am now concerned about losing simply because of my viewpoints, opinions, and faith; this is something I never thought I’d face in my lifetime. I have family and friends who are on the opposite side of politics and religion, but I want their rights to be kept free as much as I want my own to be. THAT is a democratic republic. Now if I’m right about my Christian faith and Jesus Christ returns to rule from Jerusalem after the Great Tribulation, then I’ll embrace HIS Theocracy since it will be by our Creator and my Savior. Until then, a democratic republic is my choice.

Facebook, Linked-In, and even LiveJournal may not allow my opinion editorials to be shared on their platforms, but I’m hoping that they and the website hosts will NOT try to silence differing opinions simply for the sake of power. I don’t seek power but want equal justice for ALL Americans regardless of race, color, creed, religion, or gender. THAT’S the American way I was raised on, and I want to have the FREEDOM to share what I know with whomever I wish if they are willing to read or listen. What they do after that is up to them. I WANT FREEDOM OF SPEECH PROTECTED!

“what really is important Christmas 2020”

By Tonja Condray Klein©12/02/20

I’m working on my song “The Colors of Christmas” and the lyrics reminded me of WHY it’s important to take time to celebrate as a Christian believer this time of year. I love the Santa movies in live action or old cartoon style. I love Rudolf who will always be my favorite reindeer. I love the mischievous kid movies that remind me of myself even now. I even love the Scrooge movies in all their different decades of production and differences. I love the lights, the songs, the new clothes, and the food at Christmas. All of those things still aren’t the reason why I love Christmas. Then what is it?

Christmas is what makes Easter possible. You can go into the whole ‘rebirth of nature’ aspect if you want, but for me it was the Resurrection of my Savior, and that couldn’t have happened without His birth. Linus from Peanuts says it as simply and truthfully as can be in that beloved movie, and since I still have a blanket I relate to him even more than most. It reminds me that even though the blanket is for comfort for me here on Earth, I have a Savior who sent my Comforter to me for my soul now and eternally. Money, power, or even gifts don’t really matter. My greatest gift of all time is Jesus!

Many don’t believe that He even came, and others deny even the reality of God Almighty, but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord as the Son incarnate who arrived over 2000 years ago as a human baby to later become our Salvation 33 years or so later. It’s not a fantasy or a fable, and not even just a story. There is more historical evidence for the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ than they have for any other life-altering person. I haven’t seen Him like the disciples did, but I have felt His presence by His Holy Spirit too many times to doubt His prophesied purpose.

The star that shined to lead three wise-men who arrived a couple years later, the angels who proclaimed to the shepherds that came, and the animals that watched it all happened as the Holy Bible states. Others can scoff or even get angry, but I see it as the moment humanity was placed on the pathway to restoration! As I celebrate my husband and me surviving Covid-19, and my mother surviving an infection that almost took her life, I can give thanks for that Baby who came to give us all LIFE ETERNAL if we only accept HIS GIFT this holiday season – Faith even a child can believe.

Do I ever doubt? Well, like the character Charlie in the movie about addiction to shoes (one of my favorites, and reminds me of my much older sister!), I also ask, “If you never doubt then why would you need faith?” This is an ongoing learning experience in the Christian life. Jesus likes to show up where and when you sometimes least expect Him – in the grocery line, in the dollar store, or even in a doctor’s office. I know it because I have had it happen. Moments of Grace are around us every single day if we keep our eyes open and our hearts focused. Like in a manger, Jesus Christ shows up!

If ever Christian believers needed to be praying over this holiday season it is NOW. There are a lot of situations in our country and the world that need the loving and changing touch of Jesus Christ to be given in the same way as the time of His birth to bring peace on Earth and good will toward mankind, in spite of our differences. Hearts need to be changed, minds need to be mended, lives need to be healed, and people of every nation need to be restored. The love of Jesus can do it all, but His people need to release His power everywhere by Prayer, Praise, and practical exhibition of Freedom!

Revival is Coming… DO NOT FEAR!

“Sing Against the storm”

I haven’t put these lyrics to music yet, but I felt I needed to post them. This may be taken down, but it’s not meant to go against common sense safety practices. It’s to display my disregard for “banning” two things some are saying we can’t do for two of the most celebrated holidays in this country. THAT IS WRONG. Ken recovered from a positive test Covid-19, and I may have had it too since I had the same symptoms two weeks before he did but self-quarantined until I recovered. Be safe, but don’t let fear be your master! My Master is my Lord, Savior, and King Jesus Christ, and I WILL NOT STOP SINGING! The enemy is using fear to try to control us… SING AGAINST THE STORM! Rejoice in the Lord, Always, and again I say REJOICE! THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH! Wear masks. Wash your hands. Limit your group, but SING!!!

"Sing Against the Storm 
Tonja R. Klein©11/20/20

Verse 1
They tell you not to sing
They tell you not to dance
They demand all things
So gathers have no chance
Freedom needs revived
We’re not slaves to country
Everyone has rights
Be what you must be!

Chorus
Sing against the storm
Don’t let winds hush you
Smile when the waves crash
Faith will get you through
When difficult to stand
Facts will still hold true
Let your voice be heard
Sing… let none stop you!

Verse 2
Too much blood has been bled
Freedoms must be saved
Too many tears were shed
By those who were brave
Lies that steal, don’t believe
Truth will make them pay
Show proof that all can see
Sing each breath you take!

Repeat Chorus

Codicil
When difficult to stand
Facts will still hold true
Let your voice be heard
Sing… let none stop you!"

NOT ON MY WATCH…

By Tonja Condray Klein – 11/01/20

As I watch what’s happening in America 2020, I must not keep my voice silent or fingers idle! We’re facing a possibility of seeing the complete totalitarian over-throw of our Founded Constitutional Democracy. WE MUST VOTE OUR FAITH on 11/03/20! Support all of the candidates that stand for protecting our CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOMS, our GOD-GIVEN RIGHTS, and our ability to use FREEDOM OF SPEECH online or in public! I will NOT be silenced. I will NOT stop sharing views. I will NOT let anyone keep me from utilizing my abilities with the written and spoken words that are all mandatory for my calling as a Singer/Songwriter/Novelist/Blogger in this crucial voting time!

NO ONE should be allowed to take away my rights to share my views, my support, or even my disagreement. WE ALL HAVE RIGHTS! I may not agree with you, but so help me God I have the right to say why online or publicly. YOU TOO! I’m calling on all of those who share my beliefs or at least the foundation of our country to VOTE YOUR FAITH or FREEDOM! Anyone who is for Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness should see themselves as ‘Watchmen on the Walls’. This concept is from the Old Testament in the Christian Bible in the days of Israel centuries before our country began. Being a watchman means we MUST NOT let others succeed taking over our country’s political system!

The watchmen have to stand on the wall, watch for invaders trying to infiltrate for purposes of destruction of present government, and fight them with the weapons they had. We must FIGHT WITH OUR VOTE! I don’t want violence, whether social, psychological, or even physical during this election. I want people to THINK about what is important, VOTE for those who will try to keep us safe, and PRAY for those who are against our government’s foundation to have moments of clarity by spiritual means we need to employ immediately. Be KIND to those we meet but protect yourself, stay STEADFAST with your values in spite of hate, and LOVE enemies in the midst of contention.

THIS IS NOT EASY! I have a temper like Mt. Saint Helen, but I will do all I can to utilize my decades of Customer Service skills during this time. I may hand out cards for my two Fantasy novels as witness to someone who desperately needs Christ as well as great stories of action and adventure. We must find ways to distract from the political anger that seems to be seeping into every single group. It isn’t God Almighty’s will that we fail to be His representatives here on Earth until Jesus Christ returns. That may happen sooner than any of us can imagine, but we need to VOTE to keep this county as the Constitutional Democracy that it must remain for as long as we are still here to share the Gospel!

Even if you don’t share my faith I want you to be free to live your life with the FREEDOMS this country founded and has endured since after the Revolutionary War. There is NO country in this world without failures of certain groups in dark times, but the foundations of THIS FREE COUNTRY needs to be upheld and protected by the constituents AT ALL COST. Our flag bleeds red from the many soldiers who have defended it, white for the righteous concept that ALL men and women were created equal, and blue is for vigilance and justice in keeping this country FREE. We must NEVER forget what good we Americans have done over the years, and we must learn from our mistakes. VOTE for that chance!

We have today and two more days before we cast our ballots if you haven’t already. I’m asking all of you, regardless of race, gender, color, creed, or religion to VOTE for those that want to make life in America to be the land of promise and opportunities that the colonists and immigrants saw it as all those years ago. We MUST have law and order. We MUST keep our rights to worship together. We MUST see others get the chance to legally join our nation. These are ALL necessary to keep this nation as a whole fulfilled country that leads the way to prosperity, shines its light of freedom around the world, and lets its countlessly different citizens continue to strive for the future and show how FREEDOM reigns!