Finding Peace in a Contentious World

Posted on October 6, 2022October 6, 2022 by Marnie Kuhns

Recently, I read a moving tribute to a friend’s 17-year-old grandson written by his teacher upon the boy’s death. It seemed evident that this exceptionally loving and kind-hearted young man had taken his own life. The young man had been a light to the teacher during the difficult zoom days of 2020-2021. The boy was one of the few young people who showed up on camera, participated, and fully engaged. He was talented, creative, and a deeply loving and kind-hearted soul.

Even though no one suspected that this brilliant young man was struggling, the contention and hopelessness in this world was too much for him. Most of us look at the kind-hearted and loving people around us and assume they’re doing just fine. They often appear upbeat and happy even when they are experiencing difficulties. They don’t want to be a burden on others.

Many young people over the last few years have chosen to exit this world. It’s a shame what the contentiousness is doing to our loving young people. This young man’s death and others make me wonder whether our “insistence on being right” is worth destroying these young innocents. Is it worth destroying our ability to love? Is it worth sacrificing our inner peace?

This year I have disconnected from the “news” and focused on fundamental well-being, prayed fervently for more Christ-like love, and endeavored to look for the good in nature and the people around me.

Great blue heron over Mud Creek in Winneconne Wisconsin. I took this photo while canoeing with my husband in September 2022. Great blue herons, according to Native Americans, remind us that God is with us. Find more of my nature photos and God’s messages in nature at CreationGirl.com

The Lord has blessed me with an inner stillness and joy that I would never have thought possible in the world being portrayed “out there” in the media. So many adults and young people believe that the media is true… that things are hopeless, bad, and bleak. I suppose they are from a certain angle. But when I take my camera out in the world, I see colorful birds, flowers, and exquisite sunsets. I see the reflection of sunlight on water, the sunbursts through the clouds. I see little children and good people in my community. I see God in everything and everyone around me. There is so much beauty and goodness if we step away from the electronic devices and look at the REAL world outside our doors.

If you or someone you love is heartsick over this world, I invite you to unplug from all the contentious media and look for the good. Your happiness, your peace… your life is priceless. Don’t let it be stolen by those who profit from contention and drama. There is so much beauty all around! Shift your gaze!

My love and prayers go out to the family, teachers and friends who knew and loved this young man and others like him. May we all be more aware that there are people around us who look like they have it all together, but who inwardly are struggling because of the contentious and hopeless narratives.

As I fell to my knees this morning praying for this family, I felt a deep desire to repent of the role I have played in stirring up contention in the name of “fighting for freedom.” For months now, I have felt convicted that tearing others down, snarky comments, rude judgements, making fun of our “enemies,” or demeaning conversation serve no useful purpose in the fight for freedom. I have tearfully asked God to forgive me for anything I have done to contribute to the despondency of sweet souls like my friend’s grandson. I aim to do better, and I ask you to forgive me as well for my role in stirring up contention.

There is a way to stand for truth and goodness without tearing other people down. There is a way to cheerfully and hopefully look for the good while bringing to light areas where we can improve. I know it can be done because I have watched my father do it his entire life. It’s time I followed his example.

I hope you will join me in this endeavor. If we can’t stop the contention for our own peace, let’s stop it for the young people – our children, grandchildren, and great-grands. They deserve a loving, nurturing world.

Happy Americans when Joe Biden Steps Down

Did Joe Biden Just Say He’d Step Down?

Posted on September 24, 2021June 30, 2022 by Marnie Kuhns

Thursday, 9/23/2021, Joe Biden posted this to his “President Joe Biden” Facebook page:

“Folks, I don’t want to punish anyone’s success. But those at the top have been getting a free ride for far too long. We’re going to change that.”
Joe Biden

Joe Biden quote on his facebook page — Posted 9/23/2021

All I have to say is…

Thank you for admitting that you and your cronies have been taking advantage of the system all these years and getting away with graft and greed, treason, and getting free passes for your criminal kids and your own crimes!

When are you “at the top” (as “at the top” as you can be) going to start making it up to the American people? What’s your plan for making good on your confession?

Most importantly, when are you, your VP, and most of the members of Congress going to step down and let some real patriots serve US?

Waiting… waiting… waiting for some real justice. Are you packing your bags yet?

Featured Image Copyright: famveldman / BigStockPhoto.com

Love Your Enemies: My Dream About Pelosi and Biden

Posted on July 13, 2021July 14, 2021 by Marnie Kuhns

I’ve been learning about and praying about the concept of Christ-like love. As you know, Jesus told us to love our enemies and to be kind to those who despitefully use us and persecute us. I’ve often thought that I can see where I could be that way with ordinary people, but some politicians… hmmm … that’s a tough one for me.

This morning I had an interesting dream. I was in Washington, DC and had submitted my resume for a job in an office setting. I was immediately called in and hired on the spot. At this point I knew I was going to be working in Nancy Pelosi’s office. There was some confusion over where they would be moving her office.

Finally, an address was settled on, and I went inside a government building with long, steep stairs that were rickety. I could feel them shaking a bit under my feet. Ahead of me I saw Nancy Pelosi, walking upstairs to her offices. I marveled that they would put an old woman with such a prominent position in this rickety place.

I understood that she had just spoken on the main floor and was now going upstairs. When I reached the next floor, the person who hired me greeted me at the office door and had me come into a small office that had a desk that ran along three sides of the room. As I stood inside the room by the door and faced the desk, there were two other people seated along the first wall on the left by the door. There was an open desk for me on the right side of the far wall.

“You’ll be editing videos of Mrs. Pelosi’s speeches,” the person explained.

I thought it interesting that they had hired me for video editing since it wasn’t anything particularly mentioned in my resume. I hadn’t mentioned any particular software programs on my resume – even though I am good at video editing. Glancing at the first monitor I could see a Camtasia icon.

I said, “Oh, I see you have Camtasia. That’s good.”

At the second desk sat Joe Biden. He had an article on the screen in front of him. He was using Camtasia for a word processor. I was surprised because Camtasia is not a word processor. I wondered why he didn’t use Word or something like that. They explained that they edit the videos of Nancy Pelosi’s speeches, and then they put the articles at the end of the video.

Strange, but okay, I thought.

I asked who recorded the speeches. The person explained that would be my job to record them as well.

I began to recap what I thought they were hiring me to do so that I was clear on my duties. “So, I record her speeches and then edit them and write articles to go at the end?”

“No, you don’t write the articles. Joe writes the articles.”

At this point, Joe Biden stood up and turned to face me.

I felt rather upbeat. I could do this job. I had the skills, and I could probably finish my work early and have time to spare if this was all I was expected to do.

After I was clear on what I was doing, everyone left the room, but Joe Biden stayed behind. He became serious and said, “I know who you are. You better not let your beliefs interfere with the job.”

I assured him that I was professional and that I would honestly and ethically record the videos and edit them properly.

He asked me if I could do that considering how vocal I had been against them and their party during the election. I said, “It’s not like I’m working on your campaign. What’s done is done. You’re here. I’ll do my job professionally.”

“You are very principled,” he observed as if he actually admired that about me.

“I am very strong in my principles, but I am fluid about people,” I said. As I said it, I had an epiphany. I knew this was important … that I could stay strong in my principles while allowing my perception of people to be open.

At this point I became excited that I might find some good quality… some humanity in these two people. I hoped that while being around them a lot, I might find some goodness in them. Just because I didn’t agree with them on principle, didn’t mean they didn’t have some aspect of them that was likeable.

I then told Biden, “If I find something good in her or in you, I will be the first to admit it. I will be the first to write about it.” His eyes lit up at the prospect.

I thanked Joe Biden for helping me discover an answer I had been seeking … that I could be strong and hold to my principles and still look for the good and be loving and kind toward people who are opposed to my principles.

As the dream ended, I realized that perhaps I could be of service to my country in this place… here among people I had considered my enemies… perhaps I might have some greater influence for good by being myself, being loving, and by staying principled. Obviously, I would have to move on soon. I couldn’t possibly work on their campaigns with the principles they held. But perhaps I could have a positive influence in the meantime by looking for the good.

Featured Image Copyright: eric1513 / BigStockPhoto.com

Confirmation Bias & Hope for the Future

Posted on June 4, 2021June 4, 2021 by Marnie Kuhns

Quantum physicists have discovered that the universe and nature are not separate entities from us. We aren’t victims of circumstances in a universe where things “just happen” to us. We are intertwined and connected with everything and everyone in the universe. We are both the artists and the art. We create our own worlds through our emotions, beliefs, observations, and expectations.

From a spiritual point of view, God created us to act for ourselves and not be acted upon. As Jesus repeatedly taught, “all things are possible to those who believe.” In quantum physics, scientists discovered that by simply observing photons in experiments, the scientists literally changed the outcome of how the photons behaved. They learned that simply observing changes reality.

“Confirmation bias” is an example of this. Confirmation bias is when you go around seeing evidence of what you believe. The real danger in our world is less about carbon footprints or desolating sicknesses and more about the fear, hate, victim energy, and gloom and doom that pervades our societies. We’re literally creating what we expect. By observation we shift the world toward our deepest fears or toward our greatest faith.

In his book, “The Spontaneous Healing of Belief: Shattering the Paradigm of False Limits,” Gregg Braden says, “Widely held beliefs of hate, separation, and fear can destroy our bodies and our world faster than we could have even imagined. Maybe all we need is a little shift in the way we think of ourselves in order to recognize the great truth that we are, in fact, the architects of our experience. We are cosmic artists expressing our deepest beliefs on the quantum canvas of the universe.”

Studying these concepts from both a scientific and spiritual perspective has led me to consider that perhaps the greatest threat to our world is actually mass media, mass communication, controlled by fear-mongering, division-creating voices who shift the beliefs of millions toward fear, negative expectations, scarcity, violent reactions, angry emotions, and destructive behavior.

You’ll find this same fear-mongering divisiveness on either side of the political spectrum. It doesn’t matter how well-meaning or how much we cling to our principles, if we do so with angry, bitter, blame-centered, us-vs-them emotions, we subvert any positive ends we say we are seeking.

Our fate lies in our own ability to shut out the divisive voices of hate, fear, bitterness, and hopelessness, and instead, choose compassion, faith, hope, connection, understanding, light, and truth.

Jesus truly is “the way, the truth and the life.” He is the WAY for a multitude of reasons, but in context of this topic, He is the WAY because His “gospel” is the “good news” … not the bad. His message is “fear not, doubt not… BELIEVE.” His message is “love one another… love your enemies.” His counter-intuitive admonitions require a completely different state of being than we’re seeing at large in society.

The answer to the challenges we face as a nation and as a world lie, not in the fearmongering, hatemongering, divisive labeling, and victim-creating-energy of the world, but in He who said, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Jesus understood that our emotions and our observations CREATE … if we want to CREATE good outcomes, we must focus on the good, the uplifting, the hopeful, the life-giving, the liberating, the compassionate and the believing.

Perhaps this is why if the Spirit keeps telling me anything … it is to DISCONNECT from the noise, opinions and tumult of the world. No answers lie there. Ultimate truth lies in our constant connection to the Divine! That’s where the answers are! The Spirit keeps reminding me that my time is better spent in meditation, prayer, positive thoughts and uplifting books than in wrangling and contending over every news item of the day.

Featured Image: Copyright: Pixelvario / BigStockPhoto.com

Giving Others the Benefit of the Doubt

Posted on January 24, 2021January 24, 2021 by Marnie Kuhns

What if ordinary people gave each other the benefit of the doubt? (I’m talking ordinary folks … not politicians or media moguls). What if the average American didn’t go around looking for sinister motives and intentions in everything their fellow-Americans are doing or saying? What if we didn’t pick apart their words and assume they meant something derogatory or sinister or offensive? What if we weren’t on high alert to be offended by every word?

In reviewing my life I can’t recall a single time I have done something with malicious or sinister intent. Sure, I’ve said things in the heat of the moment I regretted. I’ve done stupid and sinful things. I’ve made plenty of mistakes, and I certainly haven’t been “nice” all the time. But I can’t recall ever, with malicious intent, setting out with forethought to harm, manipulate or injure another person.

I have had people ASSUME that I’ve done something intentionally to harm them. But, I assure you, I did not set out to do so nor has it ever been my overarching motive to manipulate or harm another. I really do LIKE people. I like to get along with other people. I LOVE building other people up and helping them see their greatness. No, I haven’t done that in every moment. I get frustrated like anyone else does.

I really hate contention. Yet, having said that, I will stand for my beliefs and values – especially if they are being attacked, dismissed or undermined for me or anyone else. Whether some people take my freedom to choose my beliefs and speak my mind as a personal affront to them is purely their choosing. It really isn’t about them as far as I’m concerned. It’s about me being true to the light and truth I’ve been given. It’s about me being a voice for those who have no voice… something I feel in my soul I’m on earth to do.

Because I feel this way, I’d rather assume you’re trying to live your life that way too. You’re doing the best you can. You believe what you believe and that drives you. I may not agree with your beliefs. I may feel you are misinformed or misguided about something. But I work from the assumption you are not intentionally trying to harm me.

Until a person proves otherwise (like many politicians have), I like to assume people do not have sinister or ill intent. I may be delusional, but I’m happier in a world where I give other people the benefit of the doubt and am quick to overlook, dismiss, or forgive comments and actions that others might take offense to.

I’ve learned that the end never justifies the means. Shaming, silencing, belittling, nagging, canceling, etc. even if you want the best for someone else is still wrong. You can’t use Satan’s tactics to do God’s work. That is why I will protect your right to believe what you want and speak what you believe til my dying breath.

I don’t have to sit and listen to it. I don’t have to let you post it on my social media wall. I don’t have to acquiesce for it to be taught to my children. I don’t have to authorize my tax dollars to teach what you believe. But sure, you have a right to say and believe what you want. I know that to silence you completely would not only undermine my own liberty but also side with Satan.

Featured Image Copyright: Nikki Zalewski / BigStockPhoto.com

Attacks Ramp Up Against The Sanctity of Human Life

Posted on January 23, 2021January 24, 2021 by Marnie Kuhns

Friday January 22nd was the 48th anniversary of Roe V Wade. Over 62 million innocent lives have been exterminated since then in the US alone. One of President Trump’s last acts was to declare Jan 22nd a National Sanctity of Human Life Day.

On January 18th, Trump’s proclamation was for the National Sanctity of Human Life Day. In it, he said: “As a Nation, restoring a culture of respect for the sacredness of life is fundamental to solving our country’s most pressing problems. When each person is treated as a beloved child of God, individuals can reach their full potential, communities will flourish, and America will be a place of even greater hope and freedom. That is why it was my profound privilege to be the first President in history to attend the March for Life, and it is what motives my actions to improve our Nation’s adoption and foster care system, secure more funding for Down syndrome research, and expand health services for single mothers.” (“Roe v. Wade a ‘Constitutionally Flawed Ruling,’ Trump Says,” The Epoch Times)

The White House announced Friday that the new administration “will codify Roe v. Wade, which would allow for legal abortions even in the event that the Supreme Court overturns the 1973 ruling.” (Source: White House Announces It Will Codify Federal Abortion Law, The Epoch Times)

Bottom line, the sanctity of human life is the core issue. If we do not value human life as a nation, nothing else really matters. Our nation was built on the principles that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are our inalienable rights (God given rights which shall not be taken away). If we will sacrifice babies on the altars of our greed, selfishness, convenience and careers and support it with tax payer dollars – forcing those who find this practice appalling to pay for this devilish practice — mark my words, we WILL reap God’s judgement.

“Vengeance is mine and I will repay,” saith the Lord. (Deuteronomy 32:35)

God will not allow the blood of innocents to cry from dumpsters forever without answering it upon our heads. He will not allow their body parts to be used as science experiments and sold to the rich for their purposes, and continue to do nothing. In fact, the judgement has already begun and we’ve only seen a tip of the iceberg.

“As nations cannot be rewarded or punished in the next world they must be in this by an inevitable chain of causes and effects Providence punishes national sins by national calamities.”
George Mason, the Father of the Bill of Rights

Featured Image: soupstock/BigStockPhoto.com

Where Has Forgiveness Gone - Front Porch Sense Podcast Episode 28

Episode 28 – Where Has Forgiveness Gone?

Posted on September 30, 2019October 16, 2019 by Marnie Kuhns

In this episode of Front Porch Sense, Marnie and her husband David Kuhns talk about how society is moving toward an inability to forgive. With technology recording our words and actions, creating a record of nearly everything we do and say, there has to be room for forgiveness and the ability for people to change and grow. Unfortunately there seems to be zero tolerance and no statute of limitations on societal “crimes.”

People were created to learn, change, grow. No one is all good or all bad. If we want to grow and change ourselves we must allow others the opportunity as well. Do we really want to live in a world where there is no redemption? No letting go? No moving on from the past? Where one misstep, one misspoken word, or series of steps/words damns you for the rest of your life?

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Featured Image Copyright: Victoria 1 / BigStockPhoto.com

Front Porch Sense 26 - A Case for Morality

Episode 26 – A Case for Morality

Posted on September 6, 2019September 7, 2019 by Marnie Kuhns

The problems of our society will never be fixed by more laws or more controls. We have enough laws. What we need is self-mastery, self-government. In a word, morality.

The downside of the concept of freedom and personal agency is that people choose things we don’t like or agree with. They do or say things that may even offend our sensitivities. And we may do things that offend theirs. But, if we do not allow others to believe, think, feel or act as they wish, then we can’t expect to have the freedom to believe, think, feel or act as we wish.

Freedom comes down to choice. We can choose what we wish (given that it doesn’t infringe on someone’s inalienable rights of life, liberty or personal property). But, we cannot choose the consequences of our choices. When we make a choice, we automatically reap a consequence. We are personally accountable for the choices we make.

Negative thoughts, words and actions bring negative results. Garbage in. Garbage out. For example, a fixation on sex and an addiction to porn leads to certain consequences … the need for something more shocking and more intense.

“Rather than asking ‘does pornography cause rape?’ we would be better served by investigating whether pornography is ever a factor that contributes to rape. In other words, Is pornography implicated in sexual violence in this culture?” (See Pornography and Sexual Violence, Robert Jensen, Ph.D.)

There does appear to be a correlation to many sex-related crimes. For example, see the article, “Sexual Trafficking and Pornography – The Link Between the Two.

While outlawing pornography is a possible option — at a “state or the people” level, it most likely will not stop people from creating their own pornography and texting it to others. Outlawing drugs hasn’t stopped drug use. Outlawing guns won’t stop mass shootings.

People who do not possess self-mastery or moral boundaries will violate whatever laws you put in place. Micromanaging millions of people from a top-down approach is next to impossible. The amount of government force required to micromanage that level of individual control would eradicate freedom completely.

What we need is self-mastery and self-control. We need citizens who take personal responsibility for their choices. In a word, we need a moral people.

John Adams said “our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

The best way to teach morality is by introducing people to God. If they choose to create a relationship with God, God will change them from the inside out.

“The Lord works from the inside out. The word works from the outside in. The word would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of the people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The word would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature. (Ezra Taft Benson, “Born of God,” Ensign, Nov 1985, 6)

We don’t need more laws in America. We need people, en mass, to return to God!

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How to really Make America Great Again - MAGA

Episode #24 – What Really Makes America Great?

Posted on August 23, 2019August 27, 2019 by Marnie Kuhns

We hear the slogan Make America Great Again, but what really makes America great? What does greatness look like and how do we return to it?

What really can make America great again? In the 1840’s Alexis de Tocqueville came from France to America to observe first-hand what he referred to as “this great experiment.” When he returned to France and wrote Democracy in America, he explained what he observed that made America great. In this episode, Marnie Pehrson Kuhns shares the secret to America’s greatness that de Tocqueville related and how we can regain it.