T.C. Avey's Blog, page 2

Doing things HIS way - Building a Framework of Hope: Part 7

How do you normally handle tough times? 
Are you someone who meets challenges head on… or do you prefer to stick you head in the sand and hope the problem goes away?
When you are met with failure, do you beat yourself up… or look for the lesson to be learned?
When things go wrong, do you blame yourself…or someone else? Are you able to see that sometimes you need to accept responsibility and sometimes things are out of your control? 
When you are successful, do you pat yourself on the back and tell everyone how great you did…or do you realize you couldn’t have accomplished it without God’s help? 
How you handle these things tells a great deal about your relationship with God and how mature you are in your walk with Him. (Hint: no one handles these things perfectly. No need to beat yourself up, just acknowledge your tendencies and be intentional about growing in Christ).
You might be wondering what this has to do with Building a Framework of Hope…
As I mentioned in the previous post, to have hope, we must learn to endure hardships. 
How we handle difficult times (and achievements) says a great deal about our maturity. James 1:2-4 puts it this way:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
To grow and mature, it’s important that we pause from time to time to look back at where we’ve been, analyze where we are, and identify where we are going.
It’s my prayer that the tough questions I pose will help you accomplish this.
I also endeavor to help you recognize any areas, or ways, you are trying to make God fit into your life instead of you conforming to His. 
I know I’ve often prayed with the motive of trying to gain God’s favor, or change His mind about the answer He is giving me.
It’s taken a great deal of self-reflection, honesty, and asking God to reveal the planks in my eyes for me to realize that I don’t trust Him enough to wait for His timing and His will to be done. I want things done my way and in my timing. I’ve tried forcing God to be whom and what, I believe I need. This has hindered my walk with Him, my growth in Him and my fellowship with Him. 
I’m guilty of trying to build upon the foundation He laid for me MY way, instead of His.
I’m guilty of trying to make God’s Word compatible with my lifestyle, and personality, instead of allowing Him to refine me through the fire. 
I’m guilty of wanting to dictate my relationship with Him. How much I’m willing to follow and where I’m willing to go. What I’m willing to give up and what I want to hold onto—regardless of what He says. At times it’s like I’m a toddler sticking my fingers in my ears so I won’t hear Him. 
Truth is: Trials refine us. They get rid of sin in our lives. They point us toward our need of God. They mature us. They increase our faith. They build our hope. They help us endure. They give us joy.
Reflection Questions: 1.        Are you trying to dictate what is being built upon the Foundation of your Salvation or are you open to God’s plan, even if it’s includes pain?2.       Going back to the opening questions, does your behavior indicate you’re growing closer to God or keeping Him at a distance?3.       Are you trying to make God fit into your life or are you conforming to His Character AKA becoming “Christ like”? Remember, sins (even “small” sins) inhibit our fellowship with Him and make it hard for us to see the planks in our eyes. Ask God to show you any planks you’re unaware of.

From Suffering to Hope - Building a Framework of Hope: Part 6

Now that our foundation is cleared of any litter we knowingly, or unknowingly, put there—Let’s BUILD!
In John 16:33bJesus says, “…In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
We are told, we WILL have trouble.
Christian’s are not immune. Troubles and hardships come to us just like they do to non-Christians. But how we deal with them should distinguish us as HIS.
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, wehave peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…  Not only so, but we also GLORY in our sufferings,  because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:1-5 NIV (emphasis mine)
We want to Build a Framework of Hope.
Notice the steps necessary to get to HOPE?
Suffering.Perseverance.Character building. 
None of those sound fun.
But they are necessary in order to have a HOPE that can withstand the trials of this world.
Without Hope, we will crumble when the storms come.
Even with Hope, we will fall at times. But God’s hope will not “put us to shame”.
We have His love as a guarantee.
That guarantee is the HOLY SPIRIT living in us.
The Holy Spirits helps us stand on our foundation when the world tries to knock us down.
He (Holy Spirit) helps us take the sufferings of this world and not only persevere, but turn them into Character building opportunities. 
I don’t know about you, but I’ve learned WAY more in life from failings and hardships than I ever have from triumphs. 
This is because hardships build character.

Hardships stretch us, refine us, and highlight our need of Christ. 
Trying to avoid conflict, or rush through a trial, deprives us of these character building opportunities that enable us to place our HOPE in God.
Trials help us realize we can preserve despite the pain. We can claim as Paul did that “we are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us.” (Rom 8:37)
Failures teach us that we are the same person we were before the loss. (That’s why it’s important to know who you are and what you value)
Loss, failure, tragedy, setbacks, and trials do not define us. 
Having a Framework of Hope will hold us securely in who we are IN Christ when these things occur (Holy, Beloved, Redeemed, Victorious, etc.). 
So the next time trials come, don’t “grit your teeth and bare it” and don’t try to rush through it, INSTEAD realize you’re building Strength of Character that will enable you to push forward and confidently say as Paul did:   
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39 NIV

 Reflection Questions: 1.   Think about a past hardship, can you see God in it? What did you learn about yourself from that experience?  What did you learn about God? Ask God if there is anything else He would like you to know about that trial.     2.  What does God have to say about the season of life you are currently in? What does He want you to learn? 4.  How do you tend to view yourself? Does this align with what God has to say about you? If not, 1 John 1:9 is a great place to begin healing so you can move forward.5.  Who does God say you are? (hint: It's all good things- redeemed, loved, apple of His eye, etc)
If you would like help aligning your thoughts to God's Truths, I highly recommend "The Renewing of the Mind Project: Going to God for Help with your Habits, Goals, and Emotions" by Barb Raveling.

Building a Framework of Hope: Part 5

So far we’ve done a great deal of self-reflection. 
We’ve looked at where we are, what we value and build our lives around, and identified what keeps us from maturing in Christ.
At this point you might feel discouraged. 
After all, we’ve stripped layers from our hearts and exposed the ugliness within.I encourage you to cling to 1 John 1:9:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins  and purify us from all unrighteousness. ”
Satan comes to STEAL, KILL, AND DESTROY (John 10:10). 
He does NOT want you building upon the foundation of your Salvation. 
At this point, if you feel like giving up, if you’re filled with shame, if you think maturing is too hard, or you’re content with where you are—I want you to remember you are LOVED and you are saved by GRACE.
Go back to the foundation…The Gospel of The Good News!
SAVED BY GRACE.
You did not earn your Salvation. 
You were a dirty, rotten, sinner when God originally called you to Him.
He loved you then. 
He loves you now.
He wanted a relationship then.
He wants a relationship now.
NOTHING can make Him love you less.
Fact:  “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Rom 3:23 NIV
If you’re struggling with the concept of God’s unlimited and unmerited grace, I recommend:
“The Discipline of Grace:  God’s Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness” By Jerry Brides
Or you can remind yourself of what it takes, and means, to be saved by clicking on my Salvation post here.
Let’s pause in our journey and take time to remember the concept of being Saved by Grace.
I encourage you to reflect upon this, on the foundation you’re going to build upon.  
Nothing you did, or didn’t do, merited your Salvation. 
However, what you build upon that foundation is up to you.
It’s your choice. Your responsibility. And your privilege.
Oxford Dictionary defines Privilege as: “A special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group.”
Those who are not “Saved” do not have the right, or advantage, to build on this foundation.
You do (if you’re a child of God).
This right, or advantage, grants us the immunity of going to hell.
And it came at a high cost to God—His son, Jesus.
This foundation is precious. It’s solid. It can be trusted. 
What do you want to do with it? 
Are you ready to build on it…or are you going to let it sit as it is?

Building a Framework of Hope: Part 4

There are so many things we build our lives upon. 
Many of them are given to us by God, like our family, jobs, ministry, and church.
But even “good things” can get in the way of a relationship with God.
And to have a Framework of Lasting Hope, you need a relationship with God. 
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”   John 16:33 NIV (emphasis mine)
Notice the “IN ME” part of that?
In order to have peace, you must be IN Christ.
That requires a relationship.
 And a good relationship takes more than a “sinner’s prayer”. Just like a good marriage goes beyond saying the vows. 
Hopefully since my last posts you’ve taken the time to figure out where you are RIGHT NOW in your relationship with Christ and you can identify what you’re building your life upon. I pray you recognize where your priorities are and you realize there are things in your life keeping you from having a deeper relationship with God.
Let’s continue the journey of discovering what motivates our decisions and actions as these will further reveal our hearts true desires.  
Think about your previous week…the decisions you faced, the problems you solved, the things you let slide, the things you made sure got accomplished and what kept you awake at night. 
Keeping these in mind:  What motivated your choices? 
Necessity (eating, bathing, etc.)Priority (bills, deadlines, people depending on you)Want (leisure activities, family time)
Where did God fit into all this ?Did you consult Him before making decisions? Did you thank Him for problems solved? Did you ask Him what HIS priorities where and where HE wanted you to focus your time and energy? Was He involved…or an afterthought? (If you’re feeling guilt or shame, please refer to 1 John 1:9. Satan uses these emotions to cripple us and keep us from moving forward in our maturity)
Digging deeper—Do you make decisions based on comfort? 
What I mean is—Do you take the easy way or are you willing to go the extra mile? 
Are there things you’ve put in place to make your life easier? 
I’m NOT saying comfort and ease are bad—but they can be if you’ve put systems in place that minimize your need of God.
What worries and coping mechanisms do you indulge in that show your lack of Spiritual peace with God?
I’m asking this because in order to MOVE forward and grow in Christ, we must remove anything that hinders our seeking God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength.
Let me give you an example from my life:
I like making lists. They make my life easier. They give me order. 
The downside(s) to this is that I’m not always open to listening to God’s promptings. 
I might hear the Holy Spirit prompting me to pray, but I’m in the middle of another task. I don’t want the interruption so instead of stopping what I’m doing—I multitask. I continue my “to-do” list as I pray.
While this isn’t necessarily bad, it can stifle my communication with God.
Look at it like this—would your spouse be happy with you if he/she called you with a very important need and you continued typing on your computer as you half-heartedly listened? Would they feel like they were important to you? Would this behavior, especially repeated continually, enhance your relationship or diminish it?
My “To-Do” lists can also increase my anxiety if they aren’t accomplished and this makes me less than pleasant to be around. I rush through important things, like family time and Bible reading in order to check off something far less important on my list, like laundry.
On a good day, when I’m ahead of schedule, I feel a sense of accomplishment—“look what I can do!” 
ALL of these things keep God from being front and center in my thoughts, heart, and emotions as I rely on my own strength and talents to get through my day.
Your turn:  
What motivates your decisions? Do you have systems in place that keep you from depending on God and including Him in your day? Are there things you need to let go of, or re-evaluate, in order for you to be “IN” Christ?

Building a Framework of Hope: Part 3

Hopefully you’ve had a chance to figure out where you are RIGHT now in your relationship with Christ.
Are you hot or cold? 
Or worse…Luke Warm? (I like to use the term “Indifferent”—see what God has to say about this type of Christian in Rev 3:16)
Honestly, it doesn’t really matter where you are. 
God will meet you there. 
Therefore, wherever you are, that’s where you will begin.
Before we go any further, we need to look at 1 John 1:9:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ”
Perhaps right now you need to pause and talk with God about where you are RIGHT now. Maybe you need to spend time confessing and accepting His unfailing forgiveness before you go any further.
If you don’t need to do this…just hold on—by the end of this post you will need to refer back to this Scripture.
EVALUATING OUR HEARTS DESIRES
In this portion we are going to discover what drives you. What has meaning in your life? What are you building your life around? 
Ask yourself:  What would completely devastate me if it was taken away?
For years my career defined me. I had little value in myself outside of that. When I became a Stay-at-Home mom I suffered an identity crisis. Who was I? How did the world view me? How did I view myself? Did I have worth?  Fast forward in time… After accepting my new role, I realized my biggest fear was losing my family. I loved my kids so much that I wanted to put them in a bubble to protect them. God reminded me that the things (or people) I worry about the most, are the things I’m trusting Him with the least.
But how to trust Him? What was holding me back from relying on Him?

I wasn’t sure. So I sought God more and He revealed that a great deal of my sense of security was in my husband’s job, our bank account, and possessions. I thought those things kept us “Safe” in case bad things occurred. When really it’s only God who can keep us safe.
What about you?
What defines who you are?
What’s your biggest fear?
What do you place your security in?
Finally, what happens if all these things are taken from you?
Can you survive… or will you curl up in a fetal position?
THIS IS WHY you need to build a Framework of Hope…so that if your worst case scenario happens, you can keep going.
You can’t go backward, and you can’t stay where you are. 
You must move forward. 
Do you have what it takes to be able to do this? 
While no one knows for sure how they will react when tragedy strikes, those who have a solid relationship with God have a hope that defies reality.
“ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God  that is IN Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39 NIV (emphasis mine)
I challenge you to review my last post in light of this one and take time to evaluate not only your relationship with God (you know, how important He is to you in your daily life) but also to assess what truly matters to you.
What are you building your life upon and around? What would truly shake your belief in God? 
Please keep 1 John 1:9 in mind as you do this. Continual Repentance is key in building upon the Foundation Christ laid for you.

Building a Foundation of Hope: Part 2

The next few posts will be uncomfortable. 
I want us to have a clean foundation to build upon and that means stripping off the old and ugly truths we’ve allowed ourselves to believe. It means exposing the things we would rather not acknowledge... even to ourselves.
We're doing this because we don’t want to “gloss over” the cracks we’ve created in our foundation. This would cause our framework to be weak. We want to firmly fix our framework upon the solid foundation Christ so generously gave us at Calvary.
So let’s dig in and get dirty!
First, let’s begin with assessing where we are RIGHT now in our walk with Christ. 
Not where we want to be.
Not where we were five years ago…or even yesterday.
Where are you RIGHT now?
Is your faith strong or wavering?
Are your doubts holding you back from God or pushing you toward Him?
Do you dread going to church, reading your Bible and praying or are you exciting to spend more time with God?
Would others classify you as a mature Christian or does your lifestyle make people wonder if you’re even a follower of Christ?
How would God classify your relationship with Him? Would He be happy with the amount of time you spend with Him or sad that He is far down on your list of priorities?
Do you struggle with “faith verses works”? Do you feel like you’re never enough and wonder how other Christians seem to have it all “figured out”? 
Or is pride a plank blocking your vision? Do you think you’re better than other Christians because you have more Scripture memorized, you attend church more, you volunteer, tithe, etc.?
Where are you RIGHT now in your maturity as a Christian?
Spiritual Growth is like Exercise. 
You have to start with where you are and move forward.
When I started Taekwondo I had to be honest with myself. I was “skinny”, but out of shape. 
It was hard seeing people who LOOKED less in shape be able to do more. 
But I had to start with where I was. Not where I wanted to be or even where I looked like I belonged.
When I began I could only do 5 “real” pushups (not the girlie ones), 8 months later I’m able to do 50 “real” pushups without stopping.
Getting to this point took pain. 
My muscles ached. They protested as I pushed beyond my limit. 
But I kept going. I persevered. And I will keep persevering until I reach my goal of 100.
This process taught me that I can’t jump ahead in my physical capabilities.  Likewise, I can’t jump ahead in my spiritual ones either.
To mature in Christ, I must do the work and I must start at with where I am RIGHT NOW.
You must do the same with where you are in your walk with Christ.
If you’re having trouble, ask God to help you be honest with yourself. 
Ask Him to show you areas you need improvement—because we ALL need improvement. None of us are there yet. 
So until next time, I challenge you to get honest with yourself.
Find out where you are RIGHT now.
Once that’s established we can move on to the next uncomfortable step: Evaluating our hearts desires.
“"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matt 7:7 NIV

Building a Framework of Hope Part 1

“Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity …” Heb 6:1 NIV
For Christians, deciding to follow Christ—AKA being “saved”—,is the FIRST STEP in a life-long process of maturing into the likeness of Christ.
But some treat salvation as the LAST STEP. They never grow past being a “babe in Christ”. 
Other Christians move forward only to stall out at some point along their journey. 
Neither is how God intended the Christian life to be.
He calls us to mature:  Just like an infant is to become a child, grow into a teenager and then mature into an adult.  
But growth and development don’t end with being an adult. 
Even adults continue to move forward and age. 
They go from young adulthood, to middle aged, and finally into their “golden years”. 
If at any point along this natural progression a person stops developing, there is a problem that must be addressed.
This same principle applies to our Spiritual growth.
God does not call us into Salvation simply for us to “get out of hell”.
He does not like a Luke Warm follower—one who is satisfied with the “status quo” or who treats Christianity as a “to-do” list.
God calls us into a LIFE LONG journey with Him. A relationship .
Sadly, many Christians don’t have a clue about how to mature in Christ. Some even think going to church makes them mature—and it is a good start.
But there is more. So much more.
So how do we build upon the foundation of our Salvation?
In the coming weeks I want to help you mature by building a framework of hope upon that foundation. It is my prayer that this series will inspire you to move beyond where you currently are in Christ and into a deeper, fuller experience with Him. One that will help you withstand the storms of life. 
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, ” Luke 14:28-29 NIV
You’re saved.

You have the foundation.

Will you join me in building upon it?

For further Bible Verses regarding Maturing in Christ click here.

If you’re not a Christian, or are uncertain, and want more information about becoming a follower of Christ please visit my blog post about Salvation.

I look forward to sharing this journey with you.

Merry Christmas

I pray you all have a very Merry CHRISTmas.

Next year I look forward to sharing how you can build HOPE so that no matter what storms come, you can stand firm in your faith in Christ.

Difficult times will come...some have already arrived.

To survive we must learn to " ...fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen... " 2 Cor 4:17-18. Realizing that what we focus on determines how we navigate through challenges.

We must also learn to " Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him... " Psalm 37:7 

As children of the most high God, we are more than conquerors...but do we know how to live as conquerors when the trials of life beat us down? 

In this upcoming series I pray you will be encouraged and strengthened in your walk with Christ and that you can claim this promise in your own life:

" May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 NIV

Overflowing with HOPE in the mists of the storm is possible. 
Let's learn to trust God together and build our HOPE up so that we can overflow HIS joy and peace to those around us. 

God bless and keep you all.
Merry Christmas,

TC Avey

Faith Without Borders

Have you ever prayed for something but didn’t really want it answered?
I have.
I’ve prayed for more faith, to trust God more, and to mature in Him.
But I’m guilty of resisting His efforts to see this happen in me.
I want to share my experience with you.
It begins with this song:
“Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders Let me walk upon the waters Wherever You would call me Take me deeper than my feet could ever wonder And my faith will be made stronger In the presence of my Savior”

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)By Hillsong UNITED
I LOVE this song. Since it came out, I have sang and prayed it more times than I can count.
“Lead me where my trust is without borders.”
That’s a powerful prayer. One I’m not always certain I want answered…even if I do want my faith to grow stronger.
You see, I like borders.
They help me feel safe.
They’re predictable.
I know how to navigate within borders.
So if I want to go OUTSIDE my comfort zone, OUTSIDE the borders, if I want my faith to increase, then God has to “take me deeper than my feet could ever wonder”.
I will not go into the unknown on my own.
Fear keeps me back.
But thank God. He orchestrates the waves even when I resist.
Recently, these lyrics reminded me to keep my eyes above the waves that were crashing down on my family.  As I sang this song I heard God whisper that He was answering my prayer. 
He is the one who led me into this "great unknown". 
He led me outside my borders and I needed to trust Him.
You see, my 5 year old son has had a medical problem since he was a baby. We’ve seen specialists and done various treatment plans and still he deals with this painful problem.
My heart aches for him.
Over the years I have cried out to God asking for healing, deliverance, and assurance.
I’ve often asked Him, “WHY?”
That day He answered, “I’m taking you deeper than your feet could wonder. I’m stretching your faith. I’m here. You may not understand ‘why’, but I do. Trust me.” 
And that’s when it hit me: On my own, I NEVER would have picked this storm. I NEVER would have gone beyond the borders where my son is hurting. My feet NEVER would have stepped upon these waters. I would have avoided it at all costs.
And yet, God is answering my prayers. 
He isn’t doing it how I would like. 
But that doesn’t make Him any less good. 
This storm is teaching me and stretching me. (And I believe it’s doing the same for my son and husband too- it’s never just about ME). 
You see, we can’t choose the trails we face or the storms we must go through.
We can’t ask God to grow us and then try and dictate HOW it happens (trust me, I’ve tried).
We are NOT in charge.
God is.
And His ways are higher and perfect.
The chaos we feel at being outside our borders can be scary. But God walks on the waters with us as we go through the waves to reach the shore.
Trust Him.
Your faith (like mine) is being made stronger. 
And that’s worth a little sea sickness. 
If you’ve never heard this song click the link above. I think you’ll be blessed.

Who are McMullin, Stein, and Johnson: and what could they mean to you?

If you’re like many American’s today you value your right to vote but feel trapped between a rock and a hard place—you don’t like either of the primary political party candidates.
And if you’re like many others (on both sides), you might be tempted to simply vote for your affiliated party even if you don’t like that candidate simply because you REALLY don’t like the opposition.
But what if you had another option? 
What if a third party candidate better represented your beliefs?
Now, you might be thinking that’s a wasted vote (after all, that’s what the media is trying to make you believe). 
History (and our constitution) disagree. 
4 Times in American History neither candidate reached the needed 270 electoral votes to become president. If you’d like information on that please click here. 
So what happens if neither candidate reaches the needed 270 electoral votes?
The National Achieves and Records Administration: US Electoral College says: “If no candidate receives a majority of Electoral votes, the House of Representatives elects the President from the 3 Presidential candidates who received the most Electoral votes. Each state delegation has one vote. The Senate would elect the Vice President from the 2 Vice Presidential candidates with the most Electoral votes. Each Senator would cast one vote for Vice President. If the House of Representatives fails to elect a President by Inauguration Day, the Vice-President Elect serves as acting President until the deadlock is resolved in the House.”
Here are 3 other options:
Evan McMullin- Is a constitutional conservative. For 10 years he worked for the CIA spearheading counterterrorism in places such as the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. Later he used his Master’s in Business to help industries such as energy, biotech, technology and more. 
Here are a few of the issues he is focused on. 
1.       Military- “…we will rebuild the military and give our service members the tools they need to defend our freedoms and our way of life—while also protecting Americans’ hard-earned dollars.”
2.       Economy-“…make the tax code fairer and simpler, helping to spur business innovation, especially the growth of small businesses... Small businesses should pay closer to 25 percent of their profits in taxes, whereas now there are many that must pay almost 40 percent. Right now America also has the highest corporate tax rate – 35 percent – of any advanced economy.”
 3.       Healthcare- “…repeal Obamacare as soon as possible, replacing it with a more streamlined, pro-market approach to insurance…encourage competition and innovation by putting patients, families, and doctors for first.” 4.       Government Accountability- “…support House Joint Resolution 100, a proposed constitutional amendment for the re-empowerment of the states. This amendment would enable a two-thirds majority of the states to repeal any Executive Order, regulation, or administrative ruling issued by the executive branch.”
5.       Immigration- “The path to reform begins with securing our borders. Once they are secured, there should be a process of earned legalization for the illegal immigrants who are already here. There is simply no efficient way to deport 11 million individuals; doing so would break apart families and likely cost $100 billion. Furthermore, legalization is not amnesty.”

6.       Trade- “…supports the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade agreement recently signed by 12 countries, including Japan, Australia, and Vietnam. The TPP will eliminate tariffs for all the countries that sign, but it will not go into effect until ratified by Congress.” SIDE NOTE-This is NAFTA on steroids. While there are many benefits of NAFTA, the disadvantage of it includes “…destroying half a million American jobs and lowering U.S. wages. In addition, NAFTA increases the U.S. trade deficit.”To learn more about NAFTA (pros and cons) click here.
7.       National Debt- “…enact reforms that make these essential programs more efficient while fighting pervasive fraud and abuse…simple truth that you can’t keep spending money you never had.”
To learn more about McMullins Platform click here.
Dr. Jill Stein- 2012 Green Party candidate for president. Wants to revitalize democracy. She’s a mother, physician, and an environmental-health advocate. 
Snapshot of her platform:
1.        Jobs as a Right- “…replacing unemployment offices with employment offices. Advance workers rights to form unions, achieve workplace democracy, and keep a fair share of the wealth they create.”
2.       Health Care as a Right- “Establish an improved “Medicare For All” single-payer public health insurance program to provide everyone with quality health care, at huge savings.”

3.       Education as a Right- “…Guarantee tuition-free, world-class public education from pre-school through university. End high stakes testing and public school privatization.”
4.       A Just Economy- “Set a $15/hour federal minimum wage. Break up “too-big-to-fail” banks and democratize the Federal Reserve. Reject gentrification as a model of economic development. Support development of worker and community cooperatives and small businesses. Make Wall Street, big corporations, and the rich pay their fair share of taxes. Create democratically run public banks and utilities. Replace corporate trade agreements with fair trade agreements.”

5.       Protect Mother Earth- “Lead on a global treaty to halt climate change. End destructive energy extraction: fracking, tar sands, offshore drilling, oil trains, mountaintop removal, and uranium mines. Protect our public lands, water supplies, biological diversity, parks, and pollinators. Label GMOs, and put a moratorium on GMOs and pesticides until they are proven safe. Protect the rights of future generations.”
6.       Freedom and Equality- “Expand women’s rights, protect LGBTQIA+ people from discrimination, defend indigenous rights and lands, and create a welcoming path to citizenship for immigrants. Protect the free Internet, legalize marijuana/hemp, and treat substance abuse as a public health problem, not a criminal problem.”
7.       Peace and Human Rights- “…End the wars and drone attacks, cut military spending by at least 50% and close the 700+ foreign military bases…”
To learn more about Stein click here.
Gary Johnson- Libertarian Candidate. Two term Republican Governor of New Mexico. A business owner who describes himself as “fiscally-conservative and socially-liberal.”
Here are a few of his beliefs:
1.        Taxes- “…elimination of special interest tax loopholes, to get rid of the double-taxation on small businesses, and ultimately, the replacement of all income and payroll taxes with a single consumption tax that determines your tax burden by how much you spend, not how much you earn.”
2.       Civil Liberties- Supports Same Sex Marriage and Abortion Rights

3.       Immigration- “we should focus on creating a more efficient system of providing work visas, conducting background checks, and incentivizing non-citizens to pay their taxes, obtain proof of employment, and otherwise assimilate with our diverse society .Making it simpler and more efficient to enter the United States legally will provide greater security than a wall by allowing law enforcement to focus on those who threaten our country, not those who want to be a part of it.”

4.       Environment- Believes in Climate Change. “…believe that the federal government should prevent future harm by focusing on regulations that protect us from real harm, rather than needlessly costing American jobs and freedom in order to pursue a political agenda.”
5.       Education- “…believes that state and local governments should have more control over education policy. Decisions that affect our children should be made closer to home, not by bureaucrats and politicians in Washington, D.C. That is why he believes we should eliminate the federal Department of Education. Common Core and other attempts to impose national standards and requirements on local schools are costly, overly bureaucratic, and actually compromise our ability to provide our children with a good education.”

6.       War on Drugs-“…remove cannabis (Marijuana) from Schedule I of the federal Controlled Substances Act, which will allow individual states to make their own decisions about both recreational and medical marijuana -- just as they have done for decades with alcohol...do not support the legalization of other recreational drugs that are currently illegal. It is, however, their belief that drug rehabilitation and harm-reduction programs result in a more productive society than incarceration and arrests for drug use.”
7.       Wasteful Spending- “…pledged that his first major act as President will be to submit to Congress a truly balanced budget. No gimmicks, no imaginary cuts in the distant future. Real reductions to bring spending in line with revenues, without tax increases. No line in the budget will be immune from scrutiny and reduction. And he pledges to veto any legislation that will result in deficit spending, forcing Congress to override his veto in order to spend money we don’t have.”
To learn more about Johnson’s platform click here.
While no candidate is perfect, perhaps one of these lesser known candidates better represent your beliefs and concerns.
If so, I encourage you to not buy into the lie that you must vote for either Hilary Clinton or Donald Trump. But if you like them, vote for them. It's your choice.
You are given one vote and are free to vote however you choose. And your vote matters.
Michelle Obama recently gave a powerful speech that highlighted how important each vote is.In 2012 Barack Obama won the election by a small number of votes in certain states. Hilary Clinton recently showed a few maps of just how powerful each vote is. Examples: If 13 people would have stayed home in Florida Obama wouldn’t have won that state. Likewise he won Ohio by 19 votes, Wisconsin by 34 votes. Breaking it down by precinct- If 7 Obama Voters in each precinct had chosen to vote for Romney in the state of Florida, Obama would have lost that state. YOUR VOTE MATTERS- To see more click here.  
If you do like one of these candidates and they are not on your state’s ballet you can WRITE IN YOUR VOTE. So just because you don’t see your preferred candidate on the ballet doesn’t mean he/she is not an option. It means you must WRITE in the name you want to vote for.
I encourage you- Vote your Conscience. 
SIDE NOTE- McMullin has a real shot at winning Utah. For more click hereorhere.