Fiery Servant

Responsible Nation

2012-01-10T16:20:00.001-08:00

"Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature.... If the next centennial does not find us a great nation ... it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces." -President James Garfield

Penn State and the United States

2011-11-11T18:21:00.000-08:00

The news of what is alleged (key word) to have happened at Penn State is heartbreaking. To see someone in authority use their position to abuse and take advantage of vulnerable children can make the most mild tempered person's blood boil. What struck me in reading it today was that several people who witnessed the alleged crimes, followed "protocol" in reporting the crimes to their superiors. While the witnesses followed the law, young boys allegedly suffered for years because of the witnesses unwillingness to speak out against the institution.

This realization caused me some introspection. What would I have done if I had been a witness? Would I be satisfied with letting the people in charge handle it? While I like to think I would be better than that, I know that in my own power I too am only human.

Consider for a moment a shift in focus. What if the country I lived in was breaking laws and in the process harming innocent, powerless victims? What if the people who were supposed to stand up for justice were turning a blind eye towards crime because of their personal ambitions? What if innocent peoples blood was crying out for justice? Would I stand up to protect the Institution and The Ones in power? Or would I, would YOU, cry out for justice for those who are unable to protect themselves?

Ezekiel 22:29-30
The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.
And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

God help me to be a man who will rise up and stand in the gap.

Note: For the record I believe that the Pennsylvania Attorney General (Linda Kelly) is abusing her position of power as well. Check out the excellent article by William Anderson about this here.

The Educated Man

2011-11-01T05:46:00.001-07:00

I think this is a great quote by Commander Edward Whitehead:

“An educated man has been defined as one who can entertain himself, one who can entertain another, and one who can entertain a new idea.”

Clever Take On The Arab Spring

2011-10-25T16:57:00.000-07:00

What happens when you mix a 1932 Disney song of the three little pigs, Angry Birds, and the Arab Spring?
Make sure to watch all the clever subtitles, credits, and text.

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;h/t&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

h/t Chris Blattman

Politician Sues For Job Loss

2011-10-25T16:11:00.001-07:00

Failed Democrat Pol Sues Pro Life Critics Over Election Loss

It seems crazy that the judge is letting this proceed.

Heartline Ministry in Haiti

2011-10-19T08:51:00.001-07:00

I have been following the Livesays blog since the earthquake there last year. I am inspired and encouraged by their compassion and love.

Please check out this blog post of theirs to be encouraged.

maternal health in the developing world

No Quarter

2011-10-18T19:45:00.001-07:00

There was much discussion about terrorists in the Republicans debate this evening. I wish Anderson Cooper would have asked them about this. Apparently it's not good enough to just bomb the adults anymore. Now we are bombing 16 year old Americans as well.
Like Father, Like Son: Murdering Awlaki’s 16-Year Old Son

The Big Chill...errr Kill

2011-10-03T07:44:00.001-07:00

What if you saw a fellow citizen executed by your Government without any trial?

What if that person did not have any official charges brought against him?

What if the only evidence offered against that citizen was: alleged support for past crimes, online teachings, alleged links to radicals, or a Government imposed title?

Would you not be horrified if that person was your son, brother, uncle, friend, friend of a friend…?

What would you think if your President personally held a press conference celebrating the death this citizen as a “major” victory?

What if it was not just one citizen but two?

What if all the major news networks supported and reveled in the murder?

If that person was Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, or Muslim, would their life (or rights) be any less valuable?

These are not hypothetical questions anymore. Last Friday, with the assassination of Anwar al-Awlaki this happened in the USA. This has happened throughout history in the past and the outcomes were never pretty. Do not “gird yourselves” with Fox News, the CNN, MSNBC, or the Drudge Report. “Gird yourself” with truth.

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”
Galatians 6:7

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life…”

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
Evelyn Beatrice Hall

Let Us Never Tolerate

2011-09-28T14:00:00.001-07:00

Al-Qaida calls on Ahmadinejad to end 9/11 conspiracy theories:
"Al-Qaida has sent a message to the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, asking him to stop spreading conspiracy theories about the 9/11 attacks. 'So we may ask the question: why would Iran ascribe to such a ridiculous belief that stands in the face of all logic and evidence?'"

Sounds a lot like another quote I remember hearing:
"Let us never tolerate outrageous conspiracy theories concerning the attacks of September the 11th; malicious lies that attempt to shift the blame away from the terrorists, themselves, away from the guilty."
Must have gotten the press secretaries mixed up.

Shorter Republican Debate

2011-09-14T17:40:00.001-07:00

This post illustrates the absurdity of our political situation as a nation.

" Wolf Blitzer: Congressman Ron Paul, you’re a doctor. If a 30-year-old man in Libya refuses to buy health insurance and can’t afford the Viagra he needs to keep raping, why haven’t we bombed him yet?"

Shorter Republican Debate

I was wondering if we should bomb them for not administering the HPV vaccine. In the spirit of erring on the side of life and all.

"18 Years of Murderous Salvation"

2011-04-19T08:40:00.000-07:00

"The American belief in benevolent mass murder is not a partisan disposition. Most liberals and conservatives alike take it for granted that, while the federal government’s armed agents sometimes act recklessly or carry out mistaken orders, their acts should never be seen as murder. The assumption is nearly universal that Obama, Bush and Clinton, whatever their partisan opponents might think, are not mass murderers in the mold of Gaddafi, or cult leaders along the lines of Koresh, when in fact our presidents are far worse than either of these men in terms of cultish power as well as sheer body count. All three of these chief executives, and many before them, have commanded the loyalty of far more subordinates willing to die on their orders than Koresh ever could, and have extinguished more innocent lives than Gaddafi ever did."

Check out the full article by Anthony Gregory here.

Driving Life While Distracted

2010-11-19T07:55:00.000-08:00

Have you ever looked at Statistics and Facts About Distracted Driving? According to distraction.gov "almost 20 percent of all crashes in the year 2008 involved some type of distraction" and "nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted driver." "More than half a million were injured."

Picture via http://news.webshots.com/

Think about that for a moment. Nearly SIX THOUSAND people died and more than half a million were injured because someone wasn't paying attention to the things that they should have been paying attention to. It's a sobering thought.

Why am I writing about this you ask? Am I promoting a national campaign on Distracted Driving? No I'm not. While that would be a heroic endeavor, my thoughts are in a different vein. God has been challenging me live a LIFE that is not distracted. When I live distracted from my calling as a Christ follower, husband, and father, people around me (usually those I love the most) get hurt emotionally and spiritually. Did I intend to hurt them? Of course not! But the hurt, pain, and scars, that my distracted living caused are real.

1 Corinthians 10:12 (ESV) says this:

"Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall."

I am challenging myself to live a life that is focused on the things that are MOST important. Let us all "take heed" lest the things we desire most slip away from us because we allowed ourselves to live distracted.

Facebook...

2010-11-18T13:48:00.000-08:00

In case you haven't noticed I deleted my Facebook account for now. I don't find anything particularly wrong with FB (in fact there are many good things about it) but I needed to do it. I will miss the regular interaction with my FB friends, but I remain alive, well, and contactable via my email jetdienner at gmail.com, this blog, and my phone (if you have the number). I have a feeling that since I'm not on FB any more I might just find time to blog again.

Blessings,
Jet

Atheist Song - First hymnal for Atheists

2010-08-26T13:30:00.000-07:00

This made me laugh hard.
h/t Jesus Needs New PR

Hazardous Adoption

2010-08-25T18:51:00.000-07:00

In our litigious age, adoption of the most needy can be dangerous. William Anderson's latest blog post really got my attention. Here is a quote from his post entitled "The Adoption that Did Not Happen: How the CAC and Prosecutors Make Adoptions Extremely Hazardous":

For the past two years, we have looked to adopt again, this time a girl anywhere from ages 9-13, and from the USA, and the process has been extremely difficult, and generally has involved pushing a rock to the top of a hill, only to see it roll to the bottom time after time. More than once, we have given up altogether, but still continue to pursue what might be an opportunity.

Last week, an organization contacted us to see if we were interested in adopting a 13-year-old girl who grew up in Russia, but was adopted here at age 9. The child has severe attachment problems, and huge amounts of anger directed at her adoptive mother due to things that happened to her in Russia.

Check out the whole post here. It breaks my heart that our society is not structured to be supportive of these worthy parents.

Wendy's Commercial - Soviet Fashion Show

2010-08-18T06:22:00.000-07:00

The Cold War made for some pretty entertaining pop culture. Like this Wendy's Commercial...

Via Victor Claar

Maddow Guest Lapses Into Inexplicable Candor on Abortion

2010-08-09T06:33:00.000-07:00

MADDOW: So what would be the consequences of having a whole bunch of new sitting senators, elected to the US Senate, who are opposed to abortion not just in all regular cases but also cases in which the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest?

HARRIS-LACEWELL: Well, I mean, I think we've already seen the consequences of having a significant portion of even one party, even the party out of power, with a very strong anti-reproductive choice agenda. We saw it for example in the health care fight where somehow, you know, abortion became the central issue in a comprehensive health care reform bill, the central issue became controlling women's right to choose, controlling women's fertility, not giving women the ability to control their own, but having the government do it.

So, I think clearly every time we move more aggressively against women's reproductive rights, the more that we will see the consequences show up in everything from health care policy to, you know, potentially actually moving towards reducing the opportunities for women to, uh, you know, actually find healthy, safe termination services. [Emphasis added]

HT Newsbusters

If You Have...

2010-07-26T06:05:00.000-07:00

A good reminder.

Epic and Honest Mobile Home Commercial

2010-07-20T10:11:00.000-07:00

This commercial is a classic. Check it out.

And here is "The Making Of The Commercial" video...

"Embrace Life"

2010-07-14T04:56:00.000-07:00

Always wear your seat belt. Found at www.embracethis.co.uk

"An Innocent Abroad"

2010-07-12T05:54:00.000-07:00

It is said that real life stories are stranger than fiction because some real life stories are so bizarre that even the wildest Tale-Teller wouldn't dream of writing them down as fiction. The following true story is an example of exactly that. I obtained a copy of the memo from a former co-worker of the unfortunate Mr. P. (I removed his full name for the sake of privacy).

An Interesting Question

2010-07-09T08:18:00.000-07:00

Andrew J. Bacevich (professor of history and international relations at Boston University) posed an interesting question in an article in The New Republic here.

The question demands to be asked: Who is more deserving of contempt? The commander-in-chief who sends young Americans to die for a cause, however misguided, in which he sincerely believes? Or the commander-in-chief who sends young Americans to die for a cause in which he manifestly does not believe and yet refuses to forsake?

Rooted

2010-07-01T11:36:00.000-07:00

Image from wikipedia.org

Have you ever pondered how deep your roots are, and what you are rooted in? It is easy to focus on your fruits while forgetting your roots. Fruits are important but they are simply a sign of who you are. Roots are more important because they insure that you will endure.

Deep roots allow you to be chopped down, blown around, and burned up, yet you will grow, bloom, and produce fruit again. It is critical that you prune "diseased, damaged, dead, non-productive, structurally unsound, or unwanted," branches/areas of your life. This allows you to grow deep roots.

Preoccupation with appearances and a corresponding neglect of the out-of-sight root of the true spiritual life are prophetic signs which go unheeded. Tozer

Equally as important as deep roots is what you are rooted in. What you are rooted in feeds/motivates and moves/shakes you. If you are unsure what you are rooted in consider what shakes you. For example, if anger wells up in your heart and you allow it to move you then you likely have a root in anger.

If you are deeply rooted in love (as Paul encourages us to be in Ephesians 3:14-19) then you will not be shaken or moved by the cares of this world but will be filled with "all the fullness of God."

Clever Church Sign

2010-06-21T06:36:00.001-07:00

Arrested For Praying On Public Property In Washington DC

2010-06-09T08:58:00.000-07:00

Matt Lockett (Director of Bound4LIFE) posted a troubling blog about Reverend Patrick Mahoney being arrested for praying on Public Property in Washington DC. Please read it here.

Many people have questioned whether the newly fenced area is indeed Public Property. I did a quick search of the District of Columbia Zoning Map and found that the area in question is clearly designated as Public Right-Of-Way. The Planned Murderhood (better known as Planned Parenthood) building is located right on the property line. Check out these screen shots:

I wonder who gave Planned Murderhood the right to post a "Private Property No Trespassing" sign on Public Property?

Graham Cooke "Throne Room"

2010-06-08T13:27:00.000-07:00

Do you have people around you who constantly cut you down? Watch this:

Morning Thought

2010-05-27T06:41:00.000-07:00

An absence of purpose creates an absence of fulfillment.

Be a visionary for your generation today.

Where there is no vision, the people perish... Proverbs 29:18

Freedom For Alim

2010-05-19T10:27:00.000-07:00

As American Christians it is SO easy to take our freedom for granted.

Consider this story:
"Alimujiang Yimiti was born in June, 1973, in Hami, Xinjiang. In 1995, he converted from Islam to Christianity and became a house church leader. On January 12, 2008, the Kashi Public Safety Department placed Alimujiang in criminal detention and accused him of 'jeopardizing national security and providing national secrets to foreign countries.'"

www.vocn.tv/vocntv/?q=vocn_testimony
www.freealim.com

A moving and challenging video by his wife:

I have difficulty comprehending the pain that Alim, let alone his wife and children, must be suffering.

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer

2010-05-18T11:12:00.000-07:00

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

Morning Thought

2010-05-17T06:25:00.000-07:00

The Lord inhabits praises, but He consumes sacrifices.

Be a living sacrifice today.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1

The Seal of Virginia

2010-05-08T07:23:00.000-07:00

This past week, many media outlets and lefty blogs excoriated Virginia's Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli for "photoshopping," "tinkering," and "censoring," Virginia's "historic" state seal. What they ignore is the fact that most of the "historic" versions of the seal that you can find are more like the AG's version than the ~~new~~ current 1930's standardized one. Prior to the 1930's there were a lot of versions. Most of them - including Thomas Jefferson's rendering here - were sporting a breastplate, long hair, a drawn sword, and an upright spear. (not an exposed breast, short hair, a sheathed sword, and a downward pointing spear). The VA flag code (Ordinance No. 30, Adopted April 30, 1861) said nothing about a specific seal design other than this:

"Virtus, the genius of the commonwealth, dressed like an Amazon, resting on a spear with one hand, and holding a sword in other, and treading on tyranny, represented by a man prostrate, a crown fallen from his head, a broken chain in his left hand and a scourge in his right. In the exergon the word Virginia over the head of Virtus, and underneath the words "Sic Semper Tyrannis."

If there had been a standardized version of the seal (as peddled by our AG haters) do you not think they would have mentioned that important bit of information when they wrote the code for our state flag?
I think the attempts to demonize Cuccinelli over the use of a historical seal in a lapel pin that he paid for are laughable. Those who want to mock him would do well to learn a little more history about our great state.

“Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it.” Edmund Burke

Here are some historic versions of the Virginia State Seal for reference. Most of them are pre-civil-war. A simple Google Image search will reveal many such seals.

Some source documents:

Seal of the commonwealth of Virginia, 1875
Source: Benson J. Lossing, An Outline History of the United States (New York: Sheldon; Company, 1878)77

Seal of the commonwealth of Virginia, 1904
Source: Wark's Modern Educator (New York: Henry Wark, 1904)202

Stocks Plummet as Market Wakes Up to "Real Crisis," Says Peter Schiff

2010-05-07T05:36:00.000-07:00

Presidential Proclamation

2010-05-06T07:40:00.000-07:00

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

April 30, 2010

Presidential Proclamation--National Day of Prayer

A PROCLAMATION

Throughout our history, whether in times of great joy and thanksgiving, or in times of great challenge and uncertainty, Americans have turned to prayer. In prayer, we have expressed gratitude and humility, sought guidance and forgiveness, and received inspiration and assistance, both in good times and in bad.
On this day, let us give thanks for the many blessings God has bestowed upon our Nation. Let us rejoice for the blessing of freedom both to believe and to live our beliefs, and for the many other freedoms and opportunities that bring us together as one Nation. Let us ask for wisdom, compassion, and discernment of justice as we address the great challenges of our time.
We are blessed to live in a Nation that counts freedom of conscience and free exercise of religion among its most fundamental principles, thereby ensuring that all people of goodwill may hold and practice their beliefs according to the dictates of their consciences. Prayer has been a sustaining way for many Americans of diverse faiths to express their most cherished beliefs, and thus we have long deemed it fitting and proper to publicly recognize the importance of prayer on this day across the Nation.
Let us remember in our thoughts and prayers those suffering from natural disasters in Haiti, Chile, and elsewhere, and the people from those countries and from around the world who have worked tirelessly and selflessly to render aid. Let us pray for the families of the West Virginia miners, and the people of Poland who so recently and unexpectedly lost many of their beloved leaders. Let us pray for the safety and success of those who have left home to serve in our Armed Forces, putting their lives at risk in order to make the world a safer place. As we remember them, let us not forget their families and the substantial sacrifices that they make every day. Let us remember the unsung heroes who struggle to build their communities, raise their families, and help their neighbors, for they are the wellspring of our greatness. Finally, let us remember in our thoughts and prayers those people everywhere who join us in the aspiration for a world that is just, peaceful, free, and respectful of the dignity of every human being.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 6, 2010, as a National Day of Prayer. I call upon the citizens of our Nation to pray, or otherwise give thanks, in accordance with their own faiths and consciences, for our many freedoms and blessings, and I invite all people of faith to join me in asking for God's continued guidance, grace, and protection as we meet the challenges before us.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA

Master of Business Card Throwing

2010-05-06T07:23:00.000-07:00

The Red Balloon

2010-04-29T17:54:00.000-07:00

Honoring Tyrants

2010-04-26T10:37:00.000-07:00

If Daniel said this:

My lord, if only the dream [of debasement and ruin] applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! Daniel 4:19

to a pedophiliac tyrannical king who slaughtered his countryman...

And David said this:

I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the LORD's anointed. 1 Samuel 24:10

about a king he was anointed to replace...

How much more should we be careful to honor those whom God has placed in leadership over us.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Romans 13:1

While I believe it is our responsibility as Christians to stand for truth, righteousness, and the oppressed, I have all to often allowed myself to disparage leaders in an ungodly way. God help me to speak the truth in love and honor.

Tea Party Racism

2010-04-19T09:41:00.000-07:00

There is an interesting article on the "Tea Partiers" in the Politico today. "Tea partiers in two camps: Sarah Palin vs. Ron Paul." What caught my attention was the survey information at the end of the article:

The tea party activists on the Mall last week were better educated, more affluent and whiter than the country as a whole.

...12 percent voted for Obama.

Kinda flies in the face of the "ignorant" "racist" theme that is promoted by the Left doesn't it?

*Addendum video: hat tip A Conservative Blog For Peace.

Extremism, The Other Prozac

2010-04-14T07:57:00.000-07:00

Extremism according to John Cleese

Hat tip Chris Blattman.

Oboma The Neo-Con-Lib

2010-04-10T14:04:00.000-07:00

"Confirmed: Obama authorizes assassination of U.S. citizen" linked here.
A must read by Glenn Greenwald at Salon.com. Here is a portion of the article.

Today, both The New York Times and The Washington Post confirm that the Obama White House has now expressly authorized the CIA to kill al-Alwaki no matter where he is found, no matter his distance from a battlefield. I wrote at length about the extreme dangers and lawlessness of allowing the Executive Branch the power to murder U.S. citizens far away from a battlefield (i.e., while they're sleeping, at home, with their children, etc.) and with no due process of any kind. I won't repeat those arguments -- they're here and here -- but I do want to highlight how unbelievably Orwellian and tyrannical this is in light of these new articles today.

Susannah Wesley’s Rules for Raising Children

2010-04-08T02:51:00.000-07:00

This famous mother of nineteen, including Charles and John Wesley, set down these rules.

1. Allow no eating between meals.
2. Put all children to bed by 8 o’clock.
3. Require them to take medicine without complaining. (Those were the days of cod liver oil.)
4. Subdue self-will in a child and thus work together with God to save his soul.
5. Teach each one to pray as soon as he can speak.
6. Give them nothing that they cry for and only what they ask for politely.
7. To prevent lying, punish no fault which is first confessed and repented of.
8. Never allow a sinful act to go unpunished.
9. Never punish a child twice for the same offense.
10. Commend and reward all good behavior.
11. Reserve property rights, even to the smallest matters.
12. Any attempt to please, even if poorly performed, should be commended.
13. Strictly observe all promises.
14. Teach children to fear the rod.

I think the world could use a few more children raised like that.
h/t Worldview Warriors

Sorry About Your Wife and Kids. Here's $2,000...

2010-04-06T06:53:00.000-07:00

Warning Graphic Story

Stories like this grieve my heart and make my blood run cold. Is this the way we want to reach the Muslim world for Jesus? I understand and know about the atrocities of the Taliban & Al Qaeda. That does not excuse these alleged actions by US troops. "...He looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress." Isaiah 5:7b

“The foreigners are always talking about human rights. But they don’t care about human rights,” said Gulalai’s father, Mohammed Tahir. “They teach us human rights then they kill a load of civilians. They didn’t come here to end terrorism. They are terrorists.”

"US special forces dug bullets out of their victims' bodies in the bloody aftermath of a botched night raid, then washed the wounds with alcohol before lying to their superiors about what happened...."

"The victims - two pregnant women, a teenage girl, a police officer and his brother, those killed in the above mentioned February 12 raid. After initial lies and cover-up, NATO finally 'admitted responsibility for all the deaths for the first time last night,' yet continuing to deny a cover-up and saying no evidence showed inappropriate conduct."

"Local elders delivered $2,000 (£1,300) in compensation for each of the five victims to the head of the family, Haji Sharabuddin, after protests brought Gardez, the capital of Paktia, to a halt. 'I don’t want money. I want justice,' he said. 'All our family, we now don’t care about our lives. We will all do suicide attacks and [the whole province] will support us...' The family count seven deaths, not five, because the two women were pregnant."

You can read the articles here and here. Ironically the "blood money" did not include a payoff for the two unborn children (the "uncivilized" Afghans recognize that the unborn children have value while the Americans don't?). If we do not take responsibility for our actions and bring justice to this devastated family we have no business being there.

Other stories:

"Wikileaks Releases Video of US Choppers Slaying Reporters, Civilians" here (Iraqi suburb of New Baghdad).

"We're From the Government; We're Here to "Help" You to Death" here (Prairie Village, Kansas).

April 1, 2010 Favorites

2010-04-01T13:41:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of my favorite April Fools day 2010 pranks.

"Shocking news last night as former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin announced that she is following in the footsteps of the noble senator from Pennsylvania, Arlen Specter, and is switching parties to become a Democrat." here

Introducing the "Google Translate for Animals" Android app.

"McDonald's announced this morning that it would discontinue plans for a worldwide composting initiative after scientists confirmed that no item on the McDonald's menu is compostable." here

"Today we are pleased to announce that as of 1AM (Central Daylight Time) April 1st, Google has officially changed our name to Topeka." here

"Dangerous PCs: Users Blame Sudden Acceleration for Recent Spate of Injuries
Emergency-room visits involving Windows-based computers mount, but industry sources point to user error as likely culprit." here

"Starbucks announced today the introduction of two new beverage sizes in stores in the U. S. and Canada this Fall. The announcement follows a year of research and direct customer feedback through MyStarbucksIdea.com requesting even more choice in beverage size." here

"PSS worked closely with 24 celebrities to create more than 250 different pre-recorded prompts for its Celebrity IVR Library." here
A few include:
* Randi Jackson: “Okay, dawg... check it out. I'm down with your selection, but are you down with your selection?”
* Paris Hillton: “You called us. That’s hot.”
* Sarahh Palin: “You betcha you can press 5.”
* Arnolde Schwarzenegger: “Please hold. I’ll be baaack.”

"Jack Bauer School of Evangelism"

2010-03-31T04:56:00.000-07:00

I found a new blog that makes me laugh. I encourage you to check them out here: The Sacred Sandwich. An "Illustrated Journal for Small Town Christians in a Big Bad World." Here is a sample of their work:

Jack Bauer School of Evangelism

Opening Soon: The Jack Bauer School of Persuasive Apologetics!

The Debt Limit: Made Simple

2010-03-30T13:23:00.001-07:00

This is a bit oversimplified (it doesn't account for inflation, money printing, etc) however, it is a good explanation of politics and the national debt.

"Bottom Line Up Front"

2010-03-25T06:12:00.000-07:00

I have never served in the military but I have a deep respect for those who put their lives -- and the "lives" of their families -- on the line to protect our freedom. May we never take their sacrifice for granted. The following is a brief clip of an article posted by John Hanson, SVP of Communications at the USO, on the real cost of the global expansion of war.

...at the USO we talk a lot about the difference between the price and the cost of war. Discussions by the wise people in the media almost always focus on the price. “Can we afford this?” “It’s driving up our deficit.” “If it weren’t for the war, we’d be in better economic shape now.”

And other blah, blah, from the right and the left.

War has a price, and we can decide to pay it or not. But, military service – especially war service – has a cost that goes on and on. It’s a cost in human lives and suffering; it’s a price in rehabilitation from serious injuries that would not have been survived in earlier conflicts. It’s also a cost in human – especially American – decency. Our vocabulary is filled with trite over-worn quotes about honoring military service. They’re often attributed to people who didn’t serve, but didn’t mind sending someone else to serve.

As far as I know, George Santayana never served in anyone’s military, but he left us with an important thought: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

I lied earlier, there’s no real point here. The struggle is in getting the message out that there are several hundred thousand of our neighbors doing some pretty tough work on our behalf. Thinking that each of us does not have a stake in their wellbeing or in their successful return to our communities is worse than shortsighted…it’s potentially dangerous.

Because, Santayana also told us, “Only the dead have seen the end of war.”

There is much talk about freedom, liberty, and how we should protect it at all costs. The reality is that we live in a fragile moment in history where there is no war on American soil. While our fellow countrymen are being
sent all over the globe to fight wars, we sit back and watch from the comfort of our living rooms. It was not
long ago that we were fighting each other on our own soil. In the words of General Robert E. Lee:

What a cruel thing is war: to separate and destroy families and friends, and mar the purest joys and happiness God has granted us in this world; to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors, and to devastate the fair face of this beautiful world.

It is well that war is so terrible -- lest we should grow too fond of it.

Confederate dead behind the stone wall of Marye's Heights, Fredericksburg, Va., killed during the Battle of Chancellorsville. Note: There were two battles at Marye's Heights. The first was the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862, the second was the eastern portion of the Battle of Chancellorsville, May 1863. Posted at wikiwak.com.

Zac Smith, "God is in charge."

2010-03-24T11:28:00.000-07:00

Don't watch this unless you want to cry. This video pretty much messed me up. Thank you Zac for your testimony of God's goodness through the hardest of times.

The Story of Zac Smith from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

Government Sponsored Terrorism

2010-03-24T06:24:00.001-07:00

"Christians in Karnataka state [India] are under an unprecedented wave of Christian persecution, having faced
more than 1,000 attacks in 500 days... Investigation concludes Hindu nationalist state government is responsible."

Check it out here.

"Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master."
George Washington

"USA: Broke and in Dangerous Decline"

2010-03-18T05:21:00.000-07:00

An interesting blog post by Rod Dreher (linked here)

So foresees the Joint Operating Environment 2010 report released this week by the U.S. military, at least absent urgent and massive change. The JOE sees American government indebtedness, which is going to get far worse with the entitlements crisis on the near horizon, as putting our national security at serious risk. The report says that not even the most optimistic projections of economic growth can make up for the government's revenue needs in the coming years. Say the military analysts: "Projected revenues from taxation in most plausible economic scenarios are far below that which is necessary to meet current and assumed commitments by the federal government." What's more, the report warns, the deepening trade deficit only makes matters worse.

It's really interesting that the U.S. Military is saying that when you consider this (posted at Global Issues).

A Modest Proposal

2010-03-17T07:21:00.000-07:00

In honor of Saint Patrick's day I am posting one of my favorite "Juvenalian" satirical essay's. If you have never read it I highly recommend you do so. Dr. Swift attacks the known political injustices of the day head on. For more information on the historical context of the essay research the "Great Irish Famine."

A MODEST PROPOSAL
posted at gutenberg.org

For preventing the children of poor people in Ireland, from being a burden on their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to the publick.

by Dr. Jonathan Swift, 1729

It is a melancholy object to those, who walk through this great town, or travel in the country, when they see the streets, the roads and cabbin-doors crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags, and importuning every passenger for an alms. These mothers instead of being able to work for their honest livelihood, are forced to employ all their time in stroling to beg sustenance for their helpless infants who, as they grow up, either turn thieves for want of work, or leave their dear native country, to fight for the Pretender in Spain, or sell themselves to the Barbadoes.

I think it is agreed by all parties, that this prodigious number of children in the arms, or on the backs, or at the heels of their mothers, and frequently of their fathers, is in the present deplorable state of the kingdom, a very great additional grievance; and therefore whoever could find out a fair, cheap and easy method of making these children sound and useful members of the common-wealth, would deserve so well of the publick, as to have his statue set up for a preserver of the nation.

But my intention is very far from being confined to provide only for the children of professed beggars: it is of a much greater extent, and shall take in the whole number of infants at a certain age, who are born of parents in effect as little able to support them, as those who demand our charity in the streets.

As to my own part, having turned my thoughts for many years, upon this important subject, and maturely weighed the several schemes of our projectors, I have always found them grossly mistaken in their computation. It is true, a child just dropt from its dam, may be supported by her milk, for a solar year, with little other nourishment: at most not above the value of two shillings, which the mother may certainly get, or the value in scraps, by her lawful occupation of begging; and it is exactly at one year old that I propose to provide for them in such a manner, as, instead of being a charge upon their parents, or the parish, or wanting food and raiment for the rest of their lives, they shall, on the contrary, contribute to the feeding, and partly to the cloathing of many thousands.

There is likewise another great advantage in my scheme, that it will prevent those voluntary abortions, and that horrid practice of women murdering their bastard children, alas! too frequent among us, sacrificing the poor innocent babes, I doubt, more to avoid the expence than the shame, which would move tears and pity in the most savage and inhuman breast.

The number of souls in this kingdom being usually reckoned one million and a half, of these I calculate there may be about two hundred thousand couple whose wives are breeders; from which number I subtract thirty thousand couple, who are able to maintain their own children, (although I apprehend there cannot be so many, under the present distresses of the kingdom) but this being granted, there will remain an hundred and seventy thousand breeders. I again subtract fifty thousand, for those
women who miscarry, or whose children die by accident or disease within the year. There only remain an hundred and twenty thousand children of poor parents annually born. The question therefore is, How this number shall be reared, and provided for? which, as I have already said, under the present situation of affairs, is utterly impossible by all the methods hitherto proposed. For we can neither employ them in handicraft or agriculture; we neither build houses, (I mean in the country) nor
cultivate land: they can very seldom pick up a livelihood by stealing till they arrive at six years old; except where they are of towardly parts, although I confess they learn the rudiments much earlier; during which time they can however be properly looked upon only as probationers: As I have been informed by a principal gentleman in the
county of Cavan, who protested to me, that he never knew above one or two instances under the age of six, even in a part of the kingdom so renowned for the quickest proficiency in that art.

I am assured by our merchants, that a boy or a girl before twelve years old, is no saleable commodity, and even when they come to this age, they will not yield above three pounds, or three pounds and half a crown at most, on the exchange; which cannot turn to account either to the parents or kingdom, the charge of nutriments and rags having been at least four times that value.

I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least objection.

I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricasie, or a ragoust.

I do therefore humbly offer it to publick consideration, that of the hundred and twenty thousand children, already computed, twenty thousand may be reserved for breed, whereof only one fourth part to be males; which is more than we allow to sheep, black cattle, or swine, and my reason is, that these children are seldom the fruits of marriage, a circumstance not much regarded by our savages, therefore, one male will be sufficient to serve four females. That the remaining hundred thousand
may, at a year old, be offered in sale to the persons of quality and fortune, through the kingdom, always advising the mother to let them suck plentifully in the last month, so as to render them plump, and fat for a good table. A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends, and when the family dines alone, the fore or hind quarter will make a reasonable dish, and seasoned with a little pepper or salt, will be very good boiled on the fourth day, especially in winter.

I have reckoned upon a medium, that a child just born will weigh 12 pounds, and in a solar year, if tolerably nursed, encreaseth to 28 pounds.

I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children.

Infant's flesh will be in season throughout the year, but more plentiful in March, and a little before and after; for we are told by a grave author, an eminent French physician, that fish being a prolifick dyet, there are more children born in Roman Catholick countries about nine months after Lent, the markets will be more glutted than usual, because the number of Popish infants, is at least three to one in this kingdom, and therefore it will have one other collateral advantage, by lessening the number of Papists among us.

I have already computed the charge of nursing a beggar's child (in which list I reckon all cottagers, labourers, and four-fifths of the farmers) to be about two shillings per annum, rags included; and I believe no gentleman would repine to give ten shillings for the carcass of a good fat child, which, as I have said, will make four dishes of excellent nutritive meat, when he hath only some particular friend, or his own family to dine with him. Thus the squire will learn to be a good landlord, and grow popular among his tenants, the mother will have eight shillings neat profit, and be fit for work till she produces another child.

Those who are more thrifty (as I must confess the times require) may flea the carcass; the skin of which, artificially dressed, will make admirable gloves for ladies, and summer boots for fine gentlemen.

As to our City of Dublin, shambles may be appointed for this purpose, in the most convenient parts of it, and butchers we may be assured will not be wanting; although I rather recommend buying the children alive, and dressing them hot from the knife, as we do roasting pigs.

A very worthy person, a true lover of his country, and whose virtues I highly esteem, was lately pleased, in discoursing on this matter, to offer a refinement upon my scheme. He said, that many gentlemen of this kingdom, having of late destroyed their deer, he conceived that the want of venison might be well supply'd by the bodies of young lads and maidens, not exceeding fourteen years of age, nor under twelve; so great a number of both sexes in every country being now ready to starve for
want of work and service: And these to be disposed of by their parents if alive, or otherwise by their nearest relations. But with due deference to so excellent a friend, and so deserving a patriot, I cannot be altogether in his sentiments; for as to the males, my American acquaintance assured me from frequent experience, that their flesh was generally tough and lean, like that of our school-boys, by continual exercise, and their taste disagreeable, and to fatten them would not answer the charge. Then as to the females, it would, I think, with humble submission, be a loss to the publick, because they soon would become breeders themselves: And besides, it is not improbable that some scrupulous people might be apt to censure such a practice, (although indeed very unjustly) as a little bordering upon cruelty, which, I
confess, hath always been with me the strongest objection against any project, how well soever intended.

But in order to justify my friend, he confessed, that this expedient was put into his head by the famous Salmanaazor, a native of the island Formosa, who came from thence to London, above twenty years ago, and in conversation told my friend, that in his country, when any young person happened to be put to death, the executioner sold the carcass to persons of quality, as a prime dainty; and that, in his time, the body of a plump girl of fifteen, who was crucified for an attempt to poison the
Emperor, was sold to his imperial majesty's prime minister of state, and other great mandarins of the court in joints from the gibbet, at four hundred crowns. Neither indeed can I deny, that if the same use were made of several plump young girls in this town, who without one single groat to their fortunes, cannot stir abroad without a chair, and appear at a play-house and assemblies in foreign fineries which they never will pay for; the kingdom would not be the worse.

Some persons of a desponding spirit are in great concern about that vast number of poor people, who are aged, diseased, or maimed; and I have been desired to employ my thoughts what course may be taken, to ease the nation of so grievous an incumbrance. But I am not in the least pain upon that matter, because it is very well known, that they are every day dying, and rotting, by cold and famine, and filth, and vermin, as fast as can be reasonably expected. And as to the young labourers, they
are now in almost as hopeful a condition. They cannot get work, and consequently pine away from want of nourishment, to a degree, that if at any time they are accidentally hired to common labour, they have not strength to perform it, and thus the country and themselves are happily delivered from the evils to come.

I have too long digressed, and therefore shall return to my subject. I think the advantages by the proposal which I have made are obvious and
many, as well as of the highest importance.

For first, as I have already observed, it would greatly lessen the number of Papists, with whom we are yearly over-run, being the principal breeders of the nation, as well as our most dangerous enemies, and who stay at home on purpose with a design to deliver the kingdom to the Pretender, hoping to take their advantage by the absence of so many good Protestants, who have chosen rather to leave their country, than stay at home and pay tithes against their conscience to an episcopal curate.

Secondly, The poorer tenants will have something valuable of their own, which by law may be made liable to a distress, and help to pay their landlord's rent, their corn and cattle being already seized, and money a thing unknown.

Thirdly, Whereas the maintainance of an hundred thousand children, from two years old, and upwards, cannot be computed at less than ten shillings a piece per annum, the nation's stock will be thereby encreased fifty thousand pounds per annum, besides the profit of a new dish, introduced to the tables of all gentlemen of fortune in the
kingdom, who have any refinement in taste. And the money will circulate among our selves, the goods being entirely of our own growth and manufacture.

Fourthly, The constant breeders, besides the gain of eight shillings sterling per annum by the sale of their children, will be rid of the charge of maintaining them after the first year.

Fifthly, This food would likewise bring great custom to taverns, where the vintners will certainly be so prudent as to procure the best receipts for dressing it to perfection; and consequently have their houses frequented by all the fine gentlemen, who justly value themselves upon their knowledge in good eating; and a skilful cook, who understands how to oblige his guests, will contrive to make it as expensive as they please.

Sixthly, This would be a great inducement to marriage, which all wise nations have either encouraged by rewards, or enforced by laws and penalties. It would encrease the care and tenderness of mothers towards their children, when they were sure of a settlement for life to the poor babes, provided in some sort by the publick, to their annual profit instead of expence. We should soon see an honest emulation among the married women, which of them could bring the fattest child to the market. Men would become as fond of their wives, during the time of their pregnancy, as they are now of their mares in foal, their cows in calf, or sow when they are ready to farrow; nor offer to beat or kick them (as is too frequent a practice) for fear of a miscarriage.

Many other advantages might be enumerated. For instance, the addition of some thousand carcasses in our exportation of barrel'd beef: the propagation of swine's flesh, and improvement in the art of making good bacon, so much wanted among us by the great destruction of pigs, too frequent at our tables; which are no way comparable in taste or magnificence to a well grown, fat yearly child, which roasted whole will make a considerable figure at a Lord Mayor's feast, or any other publick
entertainment. But this, and many others, I omit, being studious of brevity.

Supposing that one thousand families in this city, would be constant customers for infants flesh, besides others who might have it at merry meetings, particularly at weddings and christenings, I compute that Dublin would take off annually about twenty thousand carcasses; and the rest of the kingdom (where probably they will be sold somewhat cheaper) the remaining eighty thousand.

I can think of no one objection, that will possibly be raised against this proposal, unless it should be urged, that the number of people will be thereby much lessened in the kingdom. This I freely own, and 'twas indeed one principal design in offering it to the world. I desire the reader will observe, that I calculate my remedy for this one individual Kingdom of Ireland, and for no other that ever was, is, or, I think, ever can be upon Earth. Therefore let no man talk to me of other expedients: Of taxing our absentees at five shillings a pound: Of using neither cloaths, nor houshold furniture, except what is of our own growth and manufacture: Of utterly rejecting the materials and instruments that promote foreign luxury: Of curing the expensiveness of pride, vanity, idleness, and gaming in our women: Of introducing a vein of parsimony, prudence and temperance: Of learning to love our country, wherein we differ even from Laplanders, and the inhabitants of Topinamboo: Of quitting our animosities and factions, nor acting any longer like the Jews, who were murdering one another at the very moment their city was taken: Of being a little cautious not to sell our country
and consciences for nothing: Of teaching landlords to have at least one degree of mercy towards their tenants. Lastly, of putting a spirit of honesty, industry, and skill into our shop-keepers, who, if a resolution could now be taken to buy only our native goods, would immediately unite to cheat and exact upon us in the price, the measure, and the goodness, nor could ever yet be brought to make one fair proposal of just dealing, though often and earnestly invited to it. Therefore I repeat, let no man talk to me of these and the like expedients, 'till he hath at least some glympse of hope, that there will ever be some hearty and sincere attempt to put them into practice.

But, as to my self, having been wearied out for many years with offering vain, idle, visionary thoughts, and at length utterly despairing of success, I fortunately fell upon this proposal, which, as it is wholly new, so it hath something solid and real, of no expence and little trouble, full in our own power, and whereby we can incur no danger
in disobliging England. For this kind of commodity will not bear exportation, and flesh being of too tender a consistence, to admit a long continuance in salt, although perhaps I could name a country, which would be glad to eat up our whole nation without it.

After all, I am not so violently bent upon my own opinion, as to reject any offer, proposed by wise men, which shall be found equally innocent, cheap, easy, and effectual. But before something of that kind shall be advanced in contradiction to my scheme, and offering a better, I desire the author or authors will be pleased maturely to consider two points. First, As things now stand, how they will be able to find food and raiment for a hundred thousand useless mouths and backs. And secondly,
There being a round million of creatures in humane figure throughout this kingdom, whose whole subsistence put into a common stock, would leave them in debt two million of pounds sterling, adding those who are beggars by profession, to the bulk of farmers, cottagers and labourers, with their wives and children, who are beggars in effect; I desire those politicians who dislike my overture, and may perhaps be so bold to attempt an answer, that they will first ask the parents of these mortals, whether they would not at this day think it a great happiness to have been sold for food at a year old, in the manner I prescribe, and thereby have avoided such a perpetual scene of misfortunes, as they have since gone through, by the oppression of landlords, the impossibility of paying rent without money or trade, the want of common sustenance, with neither house nor cloaths to cover them from the inclemencies of the weather, and the most inevitable prospect of intailing the like, or greater miseries, upon their breed for ever.

I profess, in the sincerity of my heart, that I have not the least personal interest in endeavouring to promote this necessary work, having no other motive than the publick good of my country, by advancing our trade, providing for infants, relieving the poor, and giving some pleasure to the rich. I have no children, by which I can propose to get a single penny; the youngest being nine years old, and my wife past child-bearing.

Slaughtering the Daughters of Glory

2010-03-15T14:01:00.000-07:00

I am the proud (understatement of the decade) father of five beautiful daughters. I have had copious demeaning/derogatory "wisecracks" made to me about the "suffering" I must face. They bust on the amounts of estrogen, the emotions, the cost-of-future-weddings, etc. The truth is I love having all girls!

These little girls dote on and "worship" me (in spite of my fumbling attempts at fatherhood) in a ways that never cease to amaze me. One of my oft repeated sayings to the "doomsdayers" is: "There is more than one way to surround yourself with beautiful women. I chose the godly way." But I digress from the purpose of this post. These thoughtless "commenters" reveal a horrific cultural bias. Our culture despises baby girls (and boys) when they get in the way of "MY-self-serving-rights."

Consider this article in "The Boston Globe," by Jeff Jacoby, entitled "100 Million ‘Missing’ Girls." He describes how as many as a million baby girls are aborted in India each year due to "a fierce cultural preference for boys."

"Sex-selection tests are illegal in India. So are sex-selective abortions. But the laws are rarely enforced and easily circumvented. Rather than openly disclose the sex of a fetus after an ultrasound exam, for example, some Indian doctors signal the results by giving the parents pink or blue candies or candles. Others dispense with subtlety altogether, advertising their services with such brazen slogans as “Spend 500 rupees now and save 50,000 rupees later’’ — an allusion to the potentially crippling dowry that an Indian bride’s parents are expected to pay when their daughter gets married."

Imagine, a beautiful baby is slaughtered due to pink candy being given to the parents.

He describes how "the war against baby girls has spread to South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan, to the former Soviet republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, and even to Asian-American communities in the United States" (as well as China).

Mr. Jacoby states that:

"It is not material poverty that leads these cultures to blithely accept the killing of their very youngest girls. It is a poverty of values, an ancient prejudice that views daughters as a financial burden to be avoided, rather than a blessing to be cherished."

Wow! What a great statement. "It is a poverty of values..." Consider this historical example:

"...they mixed with the nations and learned to do as they did. They served their idols, which became a snare to them. They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons; they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood." Psalm 106:35-38 (ESV)

The truth is that the world we live in is awash in the "innocent blood" of the daughters of God, whom he created for His glory.

"...my daughters from the end of the earth...whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." Isaiah 43:7 (ESV)

Our kind, eternal, heavenly Father. Help us to shine as a light a culture that values wealth, plasma tv's, cars, sexual freedom, and careers, over the "Daughters of Glory" that You have created. Forgive us of our selfishness and pride. We have exalted ourselves in our own eyes to our own demise. Create in us clean hearts. Renew a right spirit in us for Your name's sake.

The "Blasted Avenues of Mogadishu"

2010-03-15T06:31:00.000-07:00

Peter Hitchens posted a good piece on societal decline at "Mail Online" (linked here). Having spent some time abroad in "Third World" countries I heartily agree with him.

In the Soviet suburbs of Hell and the blasted avenues of Mogadishu, I saw what our society could become. ...it convinced me that my own civilization was infinitely precious and utterly vulnerable, and that I was obliged to try to protect it.

When you have seen a place from which the whole apparatus of trust, civility and peace has been stripped, you are conscious as never before of the value of these things. And more curious than before about their origins, not in wealth or power but in the mind of Man and in the better angels of his nature.

As our government continues to "shape our souls" it is wise to consider the direction they are taking us.

"...Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good." Romans 12:9

Regulated

2010-03-10T06:13:00.000-08:00

I wake up in a regulated bed, on a regulated pillow.
To the tune of a regulated radio station, on regulated airwaves.
I style my hair with regulated gel, Brush my teeth with regulated paste.
Put on regulated deodorant, and a splash of regulated aftershave.

I don my regulated clothing, over regulated underwear.
I put on regulated foot-wear, over regulated socks.
I sport regulated eye-ware, with regulated lenses.
I grab my regulated cell phone, swallow regulated meds.

I turn on regulated lights, in my regulated kitchen.
I brew some regulated coffee, eat some regulated cereal.
I sit in a regulated chair, reading a regulated newspaper.
I leave my regulated house, climb in my regulated car.

I drive on regulated highways, powered by regulated fuel.
I drive at regulated speeds, and make regulated stops.
I drive through a regulated entrance, into a regulated parking lot.
Walk into a regulated park, on a regulated trail.

And say, "It feels so good to be free!"

Who gave this man the right to decide if a citizen lives or dies?

2010-03-09T06:21:00.000-08:00

I recently read this article "Who gave this man the right to decide if a citizen lives or dies?" by Eamonn McCann, posted at www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.

Here is a brief snippet:

"George Bush was denounced around the world for allowing his intelligence agencies to install wiretaps without warrants from the courts. But Barack Obama authorizes the killing of citizens without any semblance of due process and there’s scarcely a whimper of protest." (Linked here)

It was disturbing to say the least. What are your thoughts? I'm still processing...

h/t: http://twitter.com/Newfederalists

Better To

2010-03-08T19:10:00.000-08:00

Better to love God and die unknown than to love the world and be a hero; better to be content with poverty than to die a slave to wealth; better to have taken some risks and lost than to have done nothing and succeeded at it.
E. Lutzer

Are You Alive to Make Everyone Comfortable?

2010-03-06T17:41:00.000-08:00

Gianna Jessen, an abortion survivor shares her testimony at Queen's Hall, Parliament House, Victoria, Australia.

She made a statement that really struck me: ""I didn't survive to make everyone comfortable."

Part 1 of 2

Part 2 of 2

My question to you is this: are you alive to make everyone comfortable?

Posted at: http://www.youtube.com/user/TellTheTruthTV

U.F.W.A. The "Unborn Future Workers of America" Union

2010-03-04T11:40:00.000-08:00

Just a thought. The Obama administration has been quite active in protecting Union's and their members.

A Union leader said that "The access and the responsiveness have just been phenomenal," "...the Obama administration is always willing to take advice from labor groups." (here)

Also "the Obama administration is threatening to rescind billions of dollars in federal stimulus money if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state lawmakers do not restore wage cuts to unionized home healthcare workers..." (here)

If unborn children were Union Members, would President Obama protect them?

"Since Roe vs. Wade 1973 decision legalizing abortion America has lost 46 million Unborn Children, $35.2 trillion in Gross Domestic Product, and $13.8 trillion in Federal & State Tax Revenues." (here)

A Simple, Constitutional, Health Care Solution

2010-03-03T06:45:00.000-08:00

Much ado has been made over the recent Health Care Summit. Democrats claim the Republicans are "The Party of No" (they are quite proud to finally shed this distinction post Bush years). The White House claims that the obstructionism of the Republicans goes against the "Founders intent" (like they really care what the Founders intent was). Pelosi claims that "...there is no federal funding of abortion in this bill" (liar, here and here). Meanwhile the Republicans claim that the Democrats want to destroy our county via health care reform. The audacity of the prattle and grandstanding was embarrassing to listen to.

Beyond "health-care-for-all" being a cushy campaign promise (which is broken by the way) the bottom line as stated by President Obama is this:

...the costs of Medicare and Medicaid are on an “unsustainable” trajectory and if there is no action taken to bring them down, “the federal government will go bankrupt... “Because if we don't do this, nobody argues with the fact that health care costs are going to consume the entire federal budget...” (linked here)

This is a fact that both parties agree upon. If nothing is done then Medicare/Medicaid will eventually go bankrupt. In order to fix the problem (that the federal government created) both Democrats and Republicans claim that we need more regulation (ie; more federal control) the argument is simply what, and how much, to control.

I think both parties are on shaky ground. If the Democrats really believed what they say they do (that everyone should have access to affordable health care) then they should push for a "robust public option" after which they should press for a similar global mandate in the UN (Hello, billions around the world do not have health care). If Republicans really believed in limited government, then they should call for the abolition of Federal Medicare/Medicaid.

My simple (and Tenth Amendment friendly) proposition is this:

1. Congress would turn the control of Medicare/Medicaid -- along with associated revenues received via FICA taxes -- over to the respective states.
2. Over a ten year period Congress would phase out the receipt, and payment, of all Medicare/Medicaid related FICA taxes.
3. If states wanted to maintain coverage of their citizens, they could ramp up their state taxes as the Federal Government taxes were phased out.

Nothing in the United States Constitution prohibits states from providing "socialized-medicine" to their citizens. If states want ramp up, or down, the health care coverage of their citizens they are free to do that on a local level. This would allow everyone to get the type of local health-care coverage they want. If people don't like the coverage in their state then they could move to a different state.

What are your thoughts on this issue?

* For additional information on this subject check out "Sorry, But The Problem With Medicare Is That It Is Un-Constitutional!" and "Health Care “Debate” A Total Scam, Phony War, As Demicans, Republicrats Ignore Most Important Questions"
** "Mandated Health Insurance Benefits and State Laws" at the "National Conference of State Legislatures" website.
*** This solution could also work for Social Security.

Summer's Almost Here

2010-03-03T06:22:00.001-08:00

Summer's almost here... I can see the deer moving around in the back yard.

Yep, won't be long.
*Sent to me via email. It was too good not to post.

Time for Pajamas

2010-03-01T02:59:00.000-08:00

It's time for pajamas, it's time for our bed
It's time for our pillows to cushion our head
It's time for the angels to come to our room
It's time for our Jesus to talk to us soon

This is a little bedtime poem that I made up for the girls a couple years ago.
My girls love bedtime routines. What are some things you do with your children?

Pants-On-Fire Club V. 1.0

2010-02-23T05:43:00.000-08:00

Republicans are "constitutional" "fiscal conservatives" who are against any "budget-breaking" health-care "take-over," while the Democrats are "for" the suppressed and dis-advantaged, right?

'The majority party was pushing the largest entitlement expansion since the Great Society. The minority attempted byzantine legislative maneuvers to obstruct the vote. The majority never relented, even taking unprecedented action to ram the bill through Congress." (hat tip David Paul Kuhn, HERE)

You might be surprised who voted for, and against, one such Measure just seven years ago.

The Measure: H.R. 1 (Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act of 2003 )
Measure Title: An act to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a voluntary prescription drug benefit under the medicare program and to strengthen and improve the medicare program, and for other purposes.

Republican Yea's (current Senate members depicted in bold)

Alexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Allen (R-VA)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burns (R-MT)
Campbell (R-CO)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Cochran (R-MS)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Craig (R-ID)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeWine (R-OH)
Dole (R-NC)
Domenici (R-NM)
Enzi (R-WY)
Fitzgerald (R-IL)
Frist (R-TN)
Grassley (R-IA)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Lugar (R-IN)
McConnell (R-KY)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Roberts (R-KS)
Santorum (R-PA)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R*-PA) *now a D
Stevens (R-AK)
Talent (R-MO)
Thomas (R-WY)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)

Republican Nea's

Chafee (R-RI)
Ensign (R-NV)
Graham (R-SC)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Lott (R-MS)
McCain (R-AZ)
Sununu (R-NH)

See entire vote summary HERE.

It should be noted that the Democrats voted 35:11 against this measure (I thought they were for increased health-care coverage?).

"Spiritual Warfare" by Pastor Mark Driscoll

2010-02-15T06:14:00.000-08:00

I recently listened to this teaching series by Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church. I highly recommend that anyone who is involved in ministry listen to it. He applies a Bible based perspective to the topic of the Supernatural and the Demonic.

You can get more information at his website: www.marshillchurch.org

Spiritual Warfare
Part 1: Introduction to Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual Warfare
Part 2: The Devil

Spiritual Warfare
Part 3: Christus Victor

Spiritual Warfare
Part 4: Q&A

The Loved

2010-02-14T06:49:00.000-08:00

I am so loved, this how I know
By One who has made me, in flesh to grow
It's to this Love, that I must cling
While every day, my moods do swing

It's in His arms, that I can rest
He bids me come, and be His guest
I'm dressed in rags, so dirty and foul
On my haggard face, I wear a scowl
How could He love me? I fathom not
I'm wretched and poor, I fall a lot

But He holds me gently, in His hand
And shows me visions, oh so grand
He washes me clean, says that I am Loved
By The One who made, the heavens above
I lean in toward Him, and state uncertainly
Do You know the enormity, of my deformity?

I've slain my brothers, in words and deeds
I've walked in darkness, I'm so unclean
I love what's evil, and shun what's good
I find it impossible, to do what I should
I lower my eyes, hang my head in shame
How could this God, even speak my name?

He leans in gently, with a tear in His eye
It is I who formed you, don't you want to know why?
I cast you in weakness, in brokenness yes
I made you unable, to plot goodness in your flesh
I did this not, to leave you in decay
But through your weakness, My goodness to display
I love you my child, and I will make you shine
My glory will flow through you, though the end of time

You are The Loved, who causes angels to wonder
In awe of the glory, that I pour out with thunder
It's over you that I sing, its with you I talk
It's through you I touch, and with you I walk
My heart beats for you, and for you it stopped
My mouth pleads for you, around the clock
You are The Loved, walk away from the shame
You are The Loved, because I call your name

Presidential Oath of Office *addendum

2010-02-11T06:45:00.000-08:00

In years past (and present) it has become increasingly obvious that the restraints -- as set forth in the "United States Constitution" -- have caused unnecessary hardship for our Presidents, causing them to break the "Presidential Oath of Office" within hours of taking said office. I hereby proposed the following addendum to alleviate any superfluous moral/ethical repercussions that might be caused by breaking said oath.

Oath:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.*"

Proposed Addendum:

*Unless it pertains to: Contracts/Bankruptcy, Education, Environment, War, Tor-ture, or whatever else that may be deemed necessary (or not) as determined by me, my vice president, congress, my secretary of state, or...well anyone (because I won).

Decide to Abandon Retirement as the Reward for Your Life

2010-02-10T14:04:00.001-08:00

John Piper calls every young adult to make a radical decision now to pursue Christ as his/her greatest treasure as opposed to pursuing earthly comfort at the end of his/her life. There is too much ...

Pro-Abortion is About Women's Rights, Right?

2010-02-09T18:06:00.000-08:00

Most of the the pro-infanticide/abortion advocates proclaim that they are staunch advocates of womens rights. They say that every woman deserves to make "the choice" for themselves; that no one else should try to tell someone else what to do with "their" body. If that is true why did they vote to effectively kill this bill in the VA Senate Courts of Justice Committee?

SB 504 Abortion; any person who forces or coerces pregnant female to have is guilty of Class 1 misdemeanor.
Forced or coerced abortion prohibited; penalty. Provides that any person who forces or coerces a pregnant female of any age to have an abortion against her will is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. However, if such a violation is committed by the father or putative father of the unborn child when the pregnant female is less than 18 years of age and the father or putative father is 18 years of age or older, the father or putative father is guilty of a Class 6 felony.

D: For the purposes of the section, the term "forces or coerces" means any act or attempted act including a threat of physical, emotional, or psychological harm intended to compel a pregnant female to have an abortion performed in otherwise lawful circumstances but performed against her will.

I read the bill (posted here) and I didn't any "hidden" agenda. All I saw was more protection for vulnerable pregnant women. My state Senator Mark Obenshain (R-26, Harrisonburg) called them on their little game (see video below) but they sent it to committee to die anyway. "Womens Rights" hypocrisy revealed.

Thanks to The Family Foundation for covering this.

These are the Senators who voted to kill it (all pro-abortion Dems).
Henry L. Marsh, III (D) (804) 698-7516
Richard L. Saslaw (D) (804) 698-7535
Janet D. Howell (D) (804) 698-7532
L. Louise Lucas (D) (804) 698-7518
R. Edward Houck (D) (804) 698-7517
Toddy Puller (D) (804) 698-7536
R. Creigh Deeds (D) (804) 698-7525
A. Donald McEachin (D) (804) 698-7509
Chap Petersen (D) (804) 698-7534

STATE SENATE CONTACT LIST

Silence is Golden

2010-02-04T05:26:00.000-08:00

Words quickly spoken can quickly bring regret.

Show me a man who cannot be silent and I will show you a man who speaks nothing; at best.

Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes through much activity, and a fool’s voice is known by his many words.
Ecclesiastes 5:1-3

A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
Proverbs 18:6-7

If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.
Proverbs 18:13

In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
Proverbs 10:19

God help me to be a man of measured words. How quickly I forget and use my tongue to bring death instead of life. Change my heart to be more like Yours. Enable me to bring glory to Your name.

Haitian Orphan Rescue

2010-01-27T14:07:00.001-08:00

This video made me weep.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

False Teeth

2010-01-22T06:14:00.000-08:00

As advertised in National Geographic, Sep, 1941.

Are you sporting a shiny white pair of false teeth? Before you tune me out I should mention that I not speaking literally but spiritually. Consider this verse:

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:12-14 (NKJV)

In times of crisis it is crucial that you have a correct understanding of "the first principles of the oracles of God, " or who God is, what He does, and what He doesn't do. If your view of the heavenly Father is skewed or incorrect you will find yourself struggling to explain the character of The Father to those around you who desperately need answers. Crisis/hard situations requires real teeth to "chew through" and understand. If you have not been "exercising your spiritual senses/teeth" you will find yourself turning to someone else to chew it for you (GROSS!) or perhaps buying spiritual false teeth (have fun with that).

Consider the recent tragedy in Haiti. The responses by Christians to the earthquake has been all across the board. It is really making me examine my theology. Here are few of the camps:

1. The Haitians are grievously sinful people and earthquake is judgment by God for their sin.

2. God is love and would not cause harm. The Haitian nation is in spiritual bondage and demonic forces caused the earthquake.

3. God is sovereign and in control. He caused the earthquake not out of judgment, but with a "infinitely wise and good purpose."

This is not an all inclusive list by any means and I'm sure there are other biblical views to consider as well. The point of me writing this is to make you (and me) THINK about it. What exactly is it that you believe and why? It's time to move beyond the milk, false teeth, and regurgitated food ("first principles") into the fullness of the deep principles of God.

Don't leave behind your principles or one day your principles will leave you behind.

Nothing New Under The Sun

2010-01-20T21:18:00.000-08:00

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9

A little background history on this post: Several years ago I saw the last image in this set and I distinctly remember being rather surprised by it. A few months ago I saw the next-to-last image in this set and immediately I remembered the first one. The irony of the parallels here were too humorous for me to ignore.

This is the faked "Kenyan birth certificate" for President Barack H. Obama as promoted by Orly Taitz (see you in court Berg).

This is part of the faked memo that formed the basis of now infamous CBS 60 Minutes report (see you in court Rather) that raised questions about President George W. Bush’s Texas Air National Guard service.

Here are Kenyan's wearing the face of President Barack Hussein Obama (image via Reuters)...

...and yes, here are Kenyan's clothed in the smiling mug of President George W. Bush (image via AP).

Other comparisons include but are not limited to: cranking up the war machine, bailing out the Wall Street crooks, increasing the federal government's control of education, promotion of the Patriot Act, etc. There truly is very little "new under the sun."

Differences

2010-01-19T06:30:00.000-08:00

Clyde N. Wilson recently published a brilliant article entitled "Differences." "How much better off the American people would be if they could learn the difference between..."

investors and speculators

the Constitution ratified by the people of the States and the one promulgated by federal judges

a “conservative” and a conservative

public life informed by Christianity and politicized churchmen

etc...

Check it out here. What are some things that you think Americans should know the difference between?

*WARNING the actual understanding of said differences as listed in the article may make standard "news" fare unpalatable.

What Would You Pay For Freedom?

2010-01-08T07:19:00.000-08:00

Individual rights and liberty have been devalued in American society because most Americans have never personally experienced any real lack of them. They foolishly assume that rights and liberty are easy to come by. They have been willingly trading their liberty for illusions of security ( USA PATRIOT Act courtesy W. Bush, Special Administrative Measures courtesy W. Clinton, etc) provided by a government that shows less and less regard for our Constitutional Republic.

What if you (an American citizen) were held in solitary confinement -- in America -- for over three years without ever seeing the evidence against you? What if your access to attorneys, family and other prisoners was prevented or severely curtailed? What if you were required to clean yourself and use toilet facilities on camera? What if during that period you were only let out of solitary for one hour every 24 hours to exercise in a cage? If all these things were being done to you what would you be willing to "pay" for freedom?

As you probably already guessed, this is happening --in America -- right now. This is not the "...liberty and justice for all" that we say we believe in. According to Paul Craig Roberts,

Syed Fahad Hashmi is a U.S. citizen, but his government has violated every right guaranteed to him by the Constitution. The U.S. government, in violation of U.S. law, is also subjecting Hashmi to psychological torture known as extreme sensory deprivation. The bogus “evidence” against him is classified and denied to him. Like Joseph K. in Kafka’s The Trial, Hashmi is under arrest on secret evidence. As the case against him is unknown or nonexistent, defense is impossible.

I have at least a basic understanding of the threat of Radical Muslims and their stated purpose to destroy our country. I have been to Africa. I have seen the hatred for America ("The Great Satan") and the western world. But while I believe that there is a physical and spiritual war of civilizations going on right now, I am compelled to stand for liberty and the oppressed. Thomas Paine rightly stated, “He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.”

John Adams defended his enemies and wrote in his diary: "The part I took in defense of captain Preston and the soldiers, procured me anxiety, and obloquy enough. It was, however, one of the most gallant, generous, manly and disinterested actions of my whole life, and one of the best pieces of service I ever rendered my country. Judgment of death against those soldiers would have been as foul a stain upon this country as the executions of the Quakers or witches, anciently.”

May our generation stand up and be as "gallant, generous, manly and disinterested" as Adams was. For if we do not stand for the principles of liberty and individual rights today, the generation following us may only dream of what we hold in our grasp.

Stand for liberty today. It's much cheaper than trying to buy it tomorrow.

What Makes You Happy?

2009-12-16T17:24:00.000-08:00

What is important to you? What are you committed to at all costs? What makes you happy?

It was a deal,” wrote one prisoner later. “We preached, and they beat. We were happy preaching, and they were happy beating—so everyone was happy."

The following is posted at http://www.persecutionblog.com

Reinstating Commitment

The preacher was only making his first point when the prison guards burst into the room, grabbing him and slamming everyone else to the floor.

    “You know this preaching is forbidden,” one of them growled. “Now you will face the punishment.” The husky guards dragged him out of the cell and down the hall. The other prisoners knew that the Eastern European Communist guards were taking their friend to the “beating room.” They heard the door of that terrible room slam and then the muffled shouts and cries as the guards ruthlessly beat their friend.


Almost an hour had passed before the guards threw open the cell door and shoved in the man who had been preaching. The other prisoners saw that his clothes were now bloody and his face bore the marks of the beating. He looked around at his cellmates almost as if taking attendance.

    “Now, my brothers,” he said, “Where did I leave off when we were so rudely interrupted?” And the sermon continued. Christians in prison knew the price they would pay to deliver a sermon, and yet many preached. Some, with no theological training or ministry experience, would preach passionately and eloquently in prison.

    “It was a deal,” wrote one prisoner later. “We preached, and they beat. We were happy preaching, and they were happy beating—so everyone was happy.”

In a world where a contract is no longer binding, a family is dissoluble, and divorces outnumber marriages, Christians must reinstate the meaning of commitment—at all costs. What is the value of a promise if it does not mean anything? However, the consequences of our commitment to Christ are not cheap. It may cost us a chance at being very successful according to the world’s standards. It may cost us friends and popularity. It may cost us our family. Our security. And for some, even our lives. Commitment must have a price. The prisoners understood that full well. Yet Christ’s reward is also part of the bargain. Are you holding up your end of the deal?

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Run For Your Life

2009-11-19T17:29:00.000-08:00

"On the first Sunday following the tragedy of September 11th, 2001, Carter Conlon delivered this soul-stirring message at Times Square Church in Manhattan. The sermon was titled, 'Run For Your Life'... "

2009-11-17T15:48:00.001-08:00

Charis reading to her younger sisters. (sorry for the poor quality, I'm trying out mobile blogger from my phone.)

Eyes of Destiny

2009-11-14T07:40:00.000-08:00

...who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 1 Peter 2:10 (NKJV)

We live in a society that is becoming increasingly antagonistic and hate-filled. A friend, Dara Stoltzfus, made a recent observation that stuck with me: "if someone knew nothing of Americans except for what they read in the 'comments' section of YouTube...one would assume that the US is full of angry, critical cussers who can't spell..." What a true statement that is. Rich versus Poor. Black versus White. Muslim versus Christian. Republican versus Democrat. Gay versus Straight. Pro-Choice versus Pro-Life. The list could go on and on.

While I am a firm believer in absolute truth -- "I am the way, the truth, and the life" -- God has kindly revealed an ugly tendency within myself to use particular truths that I know as a measuring rod or club against others. My "gift" is to take a truth that I know -- measure others with it -- if they don't measure up to that particular truth, as it has been "revealed" to me, I beat them with it. "I'm giving you the truth here." "Don't you understand that you will be better off if you would receive this truth?" "Why are you running away from me?" I know..I know...my brilliance is being revealed. Please don't fall of your chair while you laugh at my stupidity. But all joking aside, Why is it that I allow myself to do this? Not once, not even twice, but over and over.

God recently challenged me to look at others as he sees them. I know that sounds clique but it's much deeper than that. This isn't about looking at others with eyes of compassion (although there is a time for that) this is about looking at others as a "completed" work that is covered by the blood of Jesus. This requires me to look past the failings they are currently walking in and look for the strengths that Christ has placed in them. People don't need/want pity. They need/require significance and value.

"...being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it..." Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)

He wants me to look at others as he looked at His disciples. Alive in their giftings, operating in the fullness of what He has for them, and covered by His grace. He told me that :

Those who look at others through the eyes of destiny will forever be surrounded by brilliant, loving, and faithful, friends.

...we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong... 2 Corinthians 5:16 (Message)

For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:14-20 (NKJV)

Lord, help me to stand for truth with Your love and grace for others. Help me to see others as You see them. Help me to release others from bondage just as You released them. Help me to build others up with truth instead of dismantling them with it. Remove from me the yoke of fear and pride. Don't allow me to walk in the fear of rejection, or in the arrogance of inflated self worth. Lord may Your kingdom come (not mine) and may Your will (not mine) be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Abby Johnson Interview Quitting Planned Parenthood

2009-11-09T10:56:00.001-08:00

"Sit down. Brace yourself. And watch this video. This is what we’re praying for."
(hat tip: Matt Lockett )

I Can Do It Myself

2009-10-27T19:16:00.000-07:00

"I Can Do It Myself."

These words were uttered in utmost seriousness from the pouty lips of a determined two year old, as I was preparing to give her a small dose of Ibuprofen. She wanted not only to drink the medicine out of the flimsy little measuring cup by herself, she also wanted to pour the medicine into the cup by herself. When I refused to allow her to dispense said pain killer (she is cutting two year molars) she got upset, and made a somewhat dramatic show of refusing the medicine altogether.

As I was talking to her and dealing with the "situation," thoughts were running through my mind (a dangerous place to venture) like:

"She doesn't understand the concept that too much of this medicine will hurt, or kill her." "Just like walking into the road, or handling a lawnmower, her little brain is unable to grasp the reality that control and maturity are a needed components for this task."

In the midst of these thoughts the Holy Spirit spoke to me and the following little dialogue ensued:

(HS) "You do the same thing to Me Jet."

(me) "I do?"

(HS) "Sure you do. Look how selfish, greedy, and angry, you can be at times. You say that you want My Kingdom and Glory to come, but in reality you mostly want it only for yourself.

(me) stunned/awkward silence

(HS) "Why would I allow you to dispense My goodness and glory when you won't even let me help you with your bitterness toward that brother who wronged you? Or allow Me to take that 'anger' you feel when someone cuts you off?"

(me) mumbling incoherent thoughts in my brain like:
"...but that brother was a mean son of..."
"...seriously Jet listen to the HS..."
"...but that driver almost killed me..."
"...really I think I'm a pretty good guy in..."
"...you know He's right so just submit to Him already..."

(HS) "My power and glory can be a deadly thing in the hands of an immature someone who 'wants to do it by himself.' If you cannot obey my simple commands, ie: love your neighbor as yourself, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, etc... Why would I entrust you with more important ones?"

(me) "hmmmm good point."

Needless to say, the thought that I MUST mature in Christ has been running through my head ever since. Lord help me to submit to the process and allow myself to be shaped into His image. I so desire that I would be able to reflect Your goodness to a lost and hopeless world.

"Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature." 1 Corinthians 14:20 (New King James Version)

"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Hebrews 5:12-14 (New King James Version)

Quick Swine Flu (H1N1) Numbers

2009-10-01T00:05:00.000-07:00

With all the panic that is being spread about the swine flu, I thought I would crunch some numbers from the CDC to see what the odds of contracting, being hospitalized, or dying from the pig sickness actually are.

Once the study results from the new vaccine are released I want to compare the odds of getting sick from the vaccine as compared to getting getting the sickness itself.

If you see additional data on this topic please let me know.

If you have lived in the US (thru 8/30/09) you had a 1 in 304 (population of the US/1 million) chance of getting the swine flu. Those are pretty slim odds considering you had a 1 in 100 chance of being in a car accident.

IF you got the "Swine Flu" during that time you had a:

1 in 110 (0.91%) chance of being hospitalized.

1 in 1686 (0.06%) chance of dying from the infection.

See the link to the CDC data below:
"By August, the cumulative number of infections in the United States was estimated to be at least 1 million." "From mid-April to August 30, a total of 9,079 hospitalizations and 593 deaths associated with laboratory-confirmed 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infections were reported to CDC"

*Please be advised that I am NOT a physician (or statistician for that matter) and this information should in no way supersede the advice of your doctor.

I Have a Dream

2009-08-28T13:05:00.001-07:00

Forty six years ago today Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. I decided to listen to it to "commemorate" the occasion. As I was listening I was struck by the call for revival that is laid forth in the last part of his speech. He quotes Isaiah 40:4-5 word for word.

"I have a dream today! I have a dream that one day 'every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.'"

As I was soaking in the weight of Rev. King's speech, God reminded me of a dream I had 4 years ago that was based on the exact same passage of scripture! God gave me this dream just days before a major shakeup happened in our church that ultimately led to one of our pastors leaving. Here is the dream as I wrote it down back in the fall of 2005:

My Dream of a Highway through a Wasteland

I was walking up the side of a steep dirt mountain which was a “completed” portion of the County landfill (you can see this landfill from the front of our church). As I walked up the steep crusty dirt, I saw a straight and level highway which was being built/cut through this mountain of dirt and trash. On either side of the road the bank went straight up through the dirt and trash. It was obvious that whoever was building the road wanted it straight, level, and had said "no matter what is in the way, the road must go on level and straight," so the road had been built straight through the dump.

This is the interpretation and scriptures that God gave me (at the time) to go with the dream:

Interpretation
The Lord says; Look and see I am making a way were there was no way. Where waste and rejection have become a mountain, I am building my highway. What once was rejected, ridiculed and mocked, I have chosen as a pathway of blessing; a highway of righteousness. Where once there was no way, I have made a straight and level way. Ridicule, shame, and hopelessness will be replaced with amazement, awe and wonder.

Isaiah 40:3-5
The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our GOD. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Isaiah 49:8-13
This is what the LORD says: "In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances, to say to the captives, 'Come out,' and to those in darkness, 'Be free!' "They will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill. They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat upon them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water. I will turn all my mountains into roads, and my highways will be raised up. See, they will come from afar, some from the north, some from the west, some from the region of Aswan. Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

So why did God give me the same dream (literally) as the "Dream" Reverend King spoke about metaphorically 46 years ago? Are they connected? What part is he asking me to play in His plan?

I'm going to have to think about this for a while...

The Most Important

2009-08-03T14:06:00.000-07:00

This is a song that Charis wrote for me. She wrote out two copies of it and sang it with Selah on my birthday. I have no words to describe the way I felt while they sang it. I can say that I now have a small understanding of how much our Father God loves our worship.

The Most Important
By Charis, July 2009

The most important thing for Daddy's are love
The most important thing for Daddy's are love
When I run to Daddy, he runs to me
When we come together we will hug
My hug means love
My Daddy is proud that his little girls love him
He is important to me
He is important to me
My Daddy is the best daddy in the world
He is a good daddy to me
I have a mark of Daddy on my heart

This is the "original text" of the song.

This is the Cover sheet of Charis's copy.

Below is the Cover sheet of Selah's copy.

Happy Birthday Grandpa

2009-02-21T09:12:00.000-08:00

We Love You Grandpa!!!

Dear Daddy God

2009-02-16T17:15:00.000-08:00

Dear Daddy God ( poem from a child's perspective)

I know you have a busy day,
But could you please stay home and play?
I feel alone here by myself,
But I long to know and touch your wealth.

I know you do important things,
But can't you stay and push the swing?
Won't you come and play with me?
We can climb the old oak tree.
I'll let you in my secret club,
If you give me one big hug.

Did you watch me spin around?
I'm the best in the whole town.
You're sure to like my latest dance,
Just stay and watch, just give me a chance.
See how fast that I can run!
I think I'm faster than the sun!

I hurt my toe, can you see the scar?
I think it's the biggest I've got so far.
My friends were mean, they called me names,
My heart it hurts, it's filled with shame
I often struggle with being myself.
Why can't I be somebody else?

Your arms are strong, I feel so safe.
I want to feel your breath, and touch your face.
When I grow up one thing I'll do,
I'm gonna grow up, to be like you.

The Domestication of America

2009-02-16T17:05:00.000-08:00

“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes.” The Declaration of Independence, July 4th, 1776

The Domestication of America

Have you ever watched, a bald eagle fly
Floating so high, up into the sky
Wings spread out wide he majestically soars
To heights unattainable by those behind doors

Freely he comes and freely he goes
The breadth of his travel is almost unknown
Other birds they fear him, this king of the sky
And scuttle into hiding when his shadow is nigh

A beauty so raw, so dangerous, so free
One can't help but marvel, at the sheer majesty
Through springtime and winter, the eagle survives
Using his talons and instincts, to keep himself alive

Some say he's violent, a predator at large
That he must be subdued, or the rats will be harmed
They desire to cage, the mightiest of fowl
And control his ascent, for the good of the owl

His habits must change, they excitedly say
Forgetting the creator, who fashioned him this way
His flight is too vast, his reach is too wide
We must coop him up, and keep him inside

They tried to ensnare, this king of the sky
But found they could not, as he would not draw nigh
Frustrated they sulked, they moaned and complained
That the damage he caused, should be to his shame

They decided however, to switch up their game
To let the king fly, but takeover his range
His young could not fly, their resistance was meager
And so in one generation, they conquered the leader

I quickly wrote the above poem as an outlet for all the emotions I am currently feeling with regards to the proposed “Stimulus Package.” While I understand that some of our political leaders think they are doing the best thing for the country, I believe they are destroying it by ensnaring us in debt. We are mortgaging our children's future for the sake of our current comfort. As most of my friends know, my hope does not lie in the future of this great nation. My hope and trust is in The Lord alone. I do however believe that our country is a great force for good in the world, and I do not want to see the freedom that was bought at such a great price be destroyed. Please be praying for Obama, and the members of congress as they make big decisions over the next few days.

My Place For Thoughts

2009-02-16T07:03:00.000-08:00

This is my blog for my God thoughts and general musings. Stay tuned for future postings.