I’m fascinated by what Glenn Beck has been doing these last few years.  From leaving CNN to join Fox News Channel, to then leave Fox and begin his own media company at GBTV.com,  it’s either one of the most incredibly brilliant decisions of a genius, or the tragic end to a once great political commentator and entertainer.

But what captures my attention is Glenn’s passion for God demonstrated throughout his radio, television, and subsequent programing throughout the GBTV lineup.  I will not hide my reservations to his particular brand of Christianity (Mormonism), but you cannot argue his love for Jesus and his love for this country.

So when Glenn Beck begins a year long challenge to his viewers and fans, I take great interest.  If Glenn is willing to commit an entire year of his life to a project, I believe that I should vet the merits of his idea.  I’ve said it before to friends, but if this country survives this economic tailspin, much of the reason will be due to Glenn Beck’s tireless efforts to wake Americans up!

What is this challenge Glenn puts forth:  Can we become more like George Washington?

So what does this look like?  Many answers can be found here.  But in simple terms is a yearlong challenge to add virtues and values into our lives via 13 30/31 day focus periods on character traits of George Washington.  Traits like diligence, virtue, honesty, Godliness are included in the upcoming year, but what turned my attraction into desire was Glenn connecting this challenge with 2 Peter 1: 3-8,

According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For this reason I am accepting the Being Like George Washington Challenge.  I wish to not just be like our nations greatest president, but to be more like our Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Join me…we can hold each other accountable and encourage each other.  At the beginning of next year, will be better or the same?  I choose to be better!

Glenn Beck may be a polarizing personality, you either hate him or you love him, but his book Glenn Beck’s Common Sense, should be required reading for all Americans: Left, Right, Liberal or Conservative.

It is a call to arms for each of us to rise up and take back our country from those who would seek to undermine all this is truly “American.”

You do not have to agree with his politics (he is a registered Libertarian) to appreciate his impassioned writing.  Glenn Beck’s Common Sense is a well written, well thought out, and engaging work that blends history of the past, with commentary from the present, and projects it into the future of what American has been, is, and possibly will become.

I know that it is unpopular to disagree with the current administration, but I also disagreed with the last administration.  The direction that this country is headed in is chilling and decidedly UN-American.

The amount of money that we are spending, and preparing to spend, on health care, bail-outs, social security, welfare, and other governmental programs is astonishing.  We are about to (if we haven’t already) burdened not just our children, but our CHILDREN’S children with a national debt that this country may NEVER fully recover from.

I’m not against President Obama for any reasons other than I disagree with his politics and his policies.  I disagreed with Bush as well…  I fear that we are losing our nation.  We are allowing ourselves to get excited over Government welfare and health care, not really understanding that it US (as in you and I) who are footing the bill.

We are losing our civil liberties daily, the Constitution is being shredded, and we are happily skipping along not even paying attention.

We need to wake up.  We need to realize that it’s no longer Democrats VS Republicans, rich VS poor, Left VS Right, it’s the government vs the people.  They need to remember that they work for us.  It’s a country by the people and for the people.  It’s life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. OUR happiness. We don’t work 40-50 hours a week to support those in Washington D.C., we work for our families and our futures.

But those in D.C. have forgotten that.  We have been too passive, too apathetic, too lazy. Glenn Beck’s Common Sense is a wake up call that we all need to heed.

QUOTABLES

• “The cause of America is, in a great measure, the cause of all mankind.” – Thomas Paine
• “Great and powerful miracles are about to unfold before us – but only if we decide right here and right now that our sun is still rising.”
• “We did not vote to change the Republic, we voted to change Washington [D.C.].”
• “It’s a sad contradiction, but our homes now seem to have plenty of room for everything – except God.”
• “New technology makes us more efficient at work, but we spend less time with our children.”
• “The fastest way to be branded a danger, militia member, or just plain crazy is to quote the Founding Fathers.”
• “‘I am an American’ is not just a collection of words, it is the embodiment of an idea, one that has power only because ‘We the People’ give it power.”

I wanted to remind everyone why this day is so important.  I received this in my email box and was compelled to blog it.  This is via Glenn Beck, and even if you disagree with his political views, this writing is at it’s essence the very reason why we should be celebrating this day.

Hello America,

Here it is, another Fourth of July. Traditionally, this is a day to gather with friends, maybe fire up the barbecue and play with kids until the sun sets and the fireworks start. But in thinking back on the meaning behind this day, we must never forget that our nation was baptized in the blaze of a very different kind of “fireworks.” Yes, this is a day of rest and relaxation, as well it should be, but this year…I’d like to ask you a favor.

At some point during the day, I hope you’ll take time to think and reflect on what it is we’re truly celebrating on the 4th of July — our Independence Day. Of course the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4th, 1776 but it’s so much more than that. On this day, 233 short years ago, a small group of men dedicated themselves to a higher purpose, an ideal they believed in so greatly, they signed their name to its expression and in doing so put their very lives at risk.

Never has a simple act of signing one’s name carried such weight, such a profound commitment. By signing the Declaration of Independence, 56 men stood in direct defiance of the British government. They became marked men, and willingly so. As I was doing some research on the significance of July 4th, I came across some interesting facts about these men. Today as we all enjoy the freedom our forefathers guaranteed us, join me in honoring the extraordinary sacrifice of 56 extraordinary Americans.

Of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence:

Five were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes burned to the ground. Two lost sons serving in the Revolutionary Army, and two more had sons captured. Nine fought and died in the Revolutionary War.

If you ever feel like your lone voice can never be heard, that the political system isn’t set up for “regular” Americans to change the course of history, remember: The signers were flesh and blood, mortal men with a divinely-inspired aim.

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists, eleven were merchants, and nine were farmers and large plantation owners. They were well educated, smart enough to know that by signing the Declaration of Independence, they were signing their own death warrants. They did it anyway, and God bless them for it.

As we enjoy our liberty on this 4th of July, or any day of any month, we must never take that liberty for granted. Too many have given too much. In the words of the Signers themselves, “For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”

Their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor — I think that’s a price paid worth a few minutes of reflection, don’t you? But let’s not be solemn in that reflection. I say rejoice and share this information with your friends and family, especially your kids. The Signers asked for nothing in return for their pledge, but I say that we show our thanks with a pledge of our own: To remember, to be grateful, and to carry on in their spirit.

America is the greatest country this world has ever and will ever know, and it will stay that way so long as “we the people” remember that just like in 1776.

It’s US that surrounds them, and we’ll never back down.

Happy Independence Day, and God bless America.

Glenn Beck