From the Desk of Former Mayor Malinda Miles

It has been two years since I decided to remove myself from the political scene in Mount Rainier, MD, Prince George's County, and the State of Maryland. Holding the lofty position of Mayor was such a great honor, but as the years flew by, I realized that it was time to do something else -- get a life.! I did, and still continue to provide resources to the residents through The Front Porch Ministries (TFPM). Real people pass through The Front Porch Ministries weekly. LIFE is good.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Over the past year, I have had lots of opportunities to reflect on my life. These reflections came about because death claimed a number of my friends. And, as I watched their departures from this life, I started thinking about how tenuous life is. How we spend so much time worrying about what people will think or trying to please everybody. How we all want to be politically correct, and not step on anyone's toes. How we don't stand for anything so long as it does not stop us from doing what we want to do.

This way of thinking has led to the lose of life, freedom and liberty. We are afraid to say what we think because someone will be offended or they might not like us. We can't live the life that we believe God would want us to live (LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THY SELF) because our next door neighbor might not like us. We can't share our beliefs in Christ. "But I say Unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:43-48

America was founded on religious principles, and yet we are steadily eroding and erasing those principles so that we can be politically correct. For a minority of Americans, we are trying to get rid of "In God We Trust" off of our money. For another small group of Americans, we stopped prayer in our schools (until there is a tragedy, and then we all want everybody to pray). For another small group of Americans it is alright hate Blacks, Jews, Asians, Hispanics, and any other group that we deem not to be worthy of love, respect, and part of the American pie (fabric).

As we give up these small freedoms, and accept sameness as the standard for approval, we give up our freedom. History has shown us that if we give up enough, we will decay from within. Evidence of that decay can already be seen in our children and young adults. They have no values. They have no standards. They have no limits. For them, "anything" goes. It is time to take back our freedom. It is time to stand up for Christ even after we leave church on Sunday. It is time to tell our children to pull up their pants. It is time to tell them that money is the root of all evil, and yes they can have too much of it, if it takes over their lives.

We can show them numerous examples of people with all of the money they will ever need, and what it has done to them, and the quality of their lives. IT did not bring them happiness. IT will not buy them peace of mind. AND, now, they have bodyguards and electronic monitors. They can't mingle with the people that make up this wonderful Country. They can never be alone without wondering who is out to get them.

So my wish for you and yours this year is a return to the REAL MEANING of Christmas. A time to give thanks. A time to remember the birth of Christ. A time to stop whatever you are doing and give praise to Him that loved you so much that He sent His son to a world filled with sin so that each of us might have a right to become Christlike and be with Him when we leave this earth.

The Christmas story is a story of hope, birth, and redemption. It is for you and for me.

The Birth of Jesus Christ

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this; for after his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly. But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She shall bring forth a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins."
Now all this has happened, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child,and shall bring forth a son.
They shall call his name Immanuel;" which is, being interpreted, "God with us." Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself; and didn't know her sexually until she had brought forth her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.

Matthew 1:18-25

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU!

Mayor Malinda Miles

As a long-time resident of Mount Rainier and a homeowner, it is important to me that municipal government be inclusive of all of its residents. It is equally important that information be communicated through all possible channel so that residents can get involved. It is also important for residents to volunteer and serve on committees, commissions, boards and task forces. I truly believe that municipal government is the government closes to the people, and as such should be easily accessible. This BLOG is another effort to reach out to the residents of Mount Rainier.