Wednesday, November 27, 2013

A Psalm of Thanksgiving

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Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.


Have a happy and meaningful Thanksgiving.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Christian Pastor Left Behind In Deal With Iran

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American Christian pastor, Saeed Abedini, has been sitting in a filthy Iranian prison for more than a year.

He has been tortured and beaten for practicing his Christian faith.

More than a few have observed that while the Obama Administration "isolated Israel" in the deal with Iran, they left the pastor behind.

The pastor's wife spoke to Fox News Radio about her feelings.

And ACLJ head Jay Sekulow is outraged.

As we give thanks this week, may we also remember Pastor Abedini in our prayers.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Netanyahu: An "Incredible Christmas Gift To Iran"

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While President Obama was on the air this weekend trumpeting the fact that he and others had brokered a "deal" with Iran that was an excellent "first step toward a comprehensive solution," Iranian diplomat Mohammad Zraif was triumphantly announcing the deal includes language that guarantees Iran the right to enrich fissile material.

Iran is celebrating in the streets.

Iran got everything they wanted.

BBC was reporting yesterday that President Obama was "papering over that point of the agreement."

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is calling the deal an "unbelievable Christmas present" to Iran.

Foreign correspondent Robert Fisk wrote in the International Independent that by most everyones evaluation, this deal "isolates Israel."

There are two matters of great concern in this "first step to a comprehensive solution." One involves the security of America, the other the security of Israel and America's support of that security.

Friday, November 22, 2013

An Alternative To Obamacare

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A working group of members of the Republican Standing Committee, chaired by Representative Steve Scalise (R-La), has drafted a bill that stands as an alternative to Obamacare.

The bill has been reviewed by various elected officials and businesses over the past number of weeks.

Scalise says, "It is being taken very seriously."

And it should be. One of the echos of the progressive left is a charge for Republicans to come up with a better plan.

I believe they have and it is only 200 pages long. People can actually read and understand it.

Over 100 members of Congress have co-sponsored the bill, including medical doctors who serve in Congress.

They say this is a bill based on putting patients back in charge of their health care and lowering the cost and "getting government out of health care decisions."

Scalise says the plan would get "Washington politicians, IRS agents and all these other people out of those decisions between a doctor and patient. And what we do is just take commonsense reforms and allow people to buy across state lines so that they have more options in lowering the cost of healthcare."

Here's what the bill looks like:

Thursday, November 21, 2013

How Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker Survived The Recall

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Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is the only governor in history to survive a recall.

The unions put up $21,000,000 to defeat him, his family was confronted in the supermarket and the media was not his friend.

Here's how the New York Times reported the victory back on June 5, 2012: "Gov. Scott Walker, whose decision to cut collective bargaining rights for most public workers set off a firestorm in a state usually known for its political civility, easily held on to his job on Tuesday, becoming the first governor in the country to survive a recall election and dealing a painful blow to Democrats and labor unions."

"With 53 percent of the vote," the Times continues, "Mr. Walker soundly defeated Mayor Tom Barrett of Milwaukee, the Democrats’ nominee in the recall attempt, who had 46 percent, with most precincts across the state reporting results."

Scott Walker stood up to the vicious attacks organized by the left and funded with tens of millions of dollars for one reason.

Principle.

His principle was supported by his conviction and courage.

How did he survive the assault?

What reinforced him most during these very difficult times?

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

"Christianity Is The Intruder" In December

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"Most people think that December is strictly for Christians and view the solstice as an intrusion, when actually it's the other way around," says former evangelical minister Dan Barker.

Barker, who now heads up the nation's largest atheist organization, Freedom From Religion Foundation, also says, "People have been celebrating the winter solstice long before Christmas. We see Christianity as the intruder, trying to steal the national holiday from all us humans."

His statements wouldn't be worthy of mention except they are apparently being embraced by a complicit military, judicial system, public school system, and now, a hospital.

And that resistance to God is hurting individuals and diminishing the culture.

Unfortunately it isn't only the institutions that seek to rid us of God.

While quoting Abraham Lincoln yesterday, President Obama omitted "God."

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

World To Obama: "Trust Needs To Be Re-Built"

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Associated Press is reporting that German Chancellor Angela Merkel said yesterday the relationship between Germany and the United States as well as the future of a trans-Atlantic free trade agreement have been "put to the test."

Her Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich told Parliament that the U.S. administration needs to "come clean" on the NSA spying on Germany and Merkel herself.

Merkel says, "The allegations are grave...for the future, new trust has to be re-built" toward the Obama administration.

Democrat Senator Kristen Gillibrand from New York was asked by ABC's "This Week" if she thought President Obama knew millions would lose their insurance policies at the time he was promising the public they could keep them.

She said, "We all knew...he should have just have been specific."

Perhaps "truthful" would have been a better word.

Gillibrand told ABC, "Anyone claiming ignorance, therefore is not telling the truth."

Can he re-build trust?

Friday, November 15, 2013

"We Fumbled The Roll Out"-- A Loss Of Credibility And Trust

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President Obama said yesterday, "We fumbled the rollout."

But it's about much more than a dysfunctional website.

Columnist Michael Goodwin wrote yesterday, "When I first saw the headline saying Bill Clinton was advising President Obama to 'honor his commitment' I had to laugh. The idea of Monica Lewinsky's boy friend as moral referee always cracks me up."

While not as cynical, many share the sentiment. When credibility is lost, trust is also lost.

The President, who has stood his ground on his signature legislation, Obamacare, has apparently had an epiphany.

Is it merely political? Or was there some moral aspect to his words yesterday?

He told the country, "I hear you loud and clear."

The mega chorus of millions who have lost their healthcare combined with the Democrats running for re-election in 2014 is not singing "Ode To Joy." Everyone is hearing the message loud and clear.

The President said, "I completely get how upsetting this can be for a lot of Americans, particularly after assurances they heard from me that if they had a plan they like, they can keep it."

But the haunting question for the millions of Americans who are upset seems to be, "Why would he tell us that, when we now know that he knew 3 years ago this would be the outcome when his heath care plan was rolled out?"

Did he do so just to suppress opposition until he could get Obamacare through Congress, knowing he could perhaps better deal with the truth later?

We know he is hearing us, but what is the motive of his new promises?

He is telling us he will instruct the insurance companies to extend or reinstate those canceled policies for a year.

Will they comply? Or have they lost sufficient trust, concerned about the next chapter of the Obamacare saga, to say thanks, but no thanks?

Speaker of the House John Boehner is asking if the President actually has the authority to change the law with his new promise.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Can One Person Make A Difference In Our World?

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In a highly populated world, it's easy to underestimate the significance of one person.

The problems are so big and so many; how could I possibly make a difference?

Edward Everett Hale responded this way:

"I am only one,
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything;
but I can do something;
and because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."

As our culture careens out of control--morally, fiscally, politically; too many are suggesting it's too far gone to make a difference. And what can I do? I'm only one person.

Let me tell you what Tim Donnelly is doing in California--and lets talk about what you and I can do.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Dr. George Wood--A Message To Pastors, A Message To Believers

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Dr. George Wood, head of the 3,000,000 plus member Assemblies of God church in America, with over 66,000,000 members worldwide, has opened his heart to his pastors.

Titled, "My Greatest Hope and Deepest Concern", he expresses just that.

He writes, "The secular worldview and culture of this age differ radically from biblical faith and practice, and even oppose them."

I wrote and spoke about that yesterday. And will continue to do so with God's help and your support.

Dr. Woods tells the pastors, "This worldview admits to no ultimate truth about reality: no God-created beginning or God-controlled ending of history, no inherent meaning or purpose to life. The culture is relativistic: anything goes as long as everyone agrees and no one gets hurt."

But people are being "hurt" by this evolving world view of secular relativism.

Wood says, "The cultural consequences of this world view are devastating."

In this he gives instruction to his Assemblies of God pastors, and in doing so perhaps gives instruction to all believers.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

ENDA: Criminalizing Christianity

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America is being told the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is merely a much needed law to affirm fairness and tolerance and to insulate those in our culture who practice homosexual behavior from bullies in the workplace.

In truth, this legislation effectively would codify in law the very thing it claims to combat.

Discrimination.

This law, if passed, will criminalize biblical Christianity.

Hypocrisy.

Activists, apparently intoxicated by recent success, are now publicly putting their actual goals on the table---coming out to a complicit press.

At least 10 Republican Senators have joined the parade and voted to criminalize biblical Judeo-Christian sexual ethics by voting for ENDA.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Honoring Those Who Have Honored Freedom

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Wikipedia says: "Veterans Day is an official United States holiday which honors people who have served in armed service also known as veterans. It is a federal holiday that is observed on November 11. It coincides with other holidays such as Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, which are celebrated in other parts of the world and also mark the anniversary of the end of World War I. (Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect.)"

U.S. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed Armistice Day for November 11, 1919. In proclaiming the holiday, he said:

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations."

Congress amended this act several times and on June 1, 1954, they replaced "Armistice" with "Veterans," and it has been known as Veterans Day since.

On this day of honor, I would like to take a look at the profiles of 2 different kinds of patriots---one from the Revolutionary War and one who passed away a few days ago in Bremerton, WA. who served in WW II.

Both the New York Times and local Seattle KIRO Radio has honored this local patriot.

Friday, November 08, 2013

GOP--Creating a Schizophrenia Culture?

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The New York Times is reporting on its front page, "GOP Weighing Limited Clout of the Right Wing."

The Washington Post is saying, "Close Race in Virginia Governor's Race Hardens GOP's Division."

Neither of these news organizations are likely hoping the GOP gets things figured out any time soon, but both are defining the problem with some clarity.

The Times says the Party is grappling with "vexing divisions over its identity and image, and mainstream leaders complain that more ideologically-driven conservatives are damaging the Party with tactics like the government shutdown."

The Post says if any lessons were learned from the Virginia election, they were lost in the almost instant finger pointing, even before the polls closed.

But perhaps there is a lesson to be learned.

What is the Party planning? What about the Party platform that the Party simultaneously embraces and dismisses?

The Party leaders are moving to change state caucuses and conventions like the one that nominated Mr. Cuccinelli in Virginia.

Why?

Well, they say, in favor of a "more open primary system" that will "produce more moderate candidates."

Party leaders are saying that conservatives are highly motivated and therefore get their candidates elected in primaries---and that is the problem within the Party.

Mitt Romney says he agrees.

Is Party leadership suggesting that conservatives and people of faith continue to work as they do to elect candidates who embrace their conservative and biblical values, but direct their effort and passion toward candidates who do not share those values?

Is the GOP trying to create a culture of schizophrenia in their attempt to find themselves?

Thursday, November 07, 2013

ENDA And The NYT : Defining The New Assault On Religious Freedom

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The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) supposedly fights discrimination. Congress is currently considering whether it should become law.

It is written, its advocates say, to fight discrimination based on "sexual orientation and gender identity" in the workplace.

However, it's becoming more and more clear that the bill is about much more than "fighting discrimination."

It is becoming apparent that the bill is also intended to advance a belief and behavior that stands in opposition to the biblical beliefs and values that millions of Americans hold. It is, itself, discriminating.

The New York Times editorial yesterday not only speaks for the NYT, but for many other news organizations and the activists who are intent on "remaking America."

The NYT is strongly advocating that ENDA be passed, but also pointing out that it has a "significant flaw" that should be corrected.

And that flaw relates directly to religious freedom and the exemptions currently in ENDA.

Wednesday, November 06, 2013

NBC: "Pentagon Holding 'Phony' Ceremonies For MIAs"

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Our culture is in chaos, morally and politically, because we have discarded the Truth for a new "evolving truth" that among other things, asserts that "the end justifies the means."

Washington State election results are available here from the Secretary of State's office.

A lie or misrepresentation is not wrong, in fact, it is considered "truth" if it helps people. This is the so-called reality in the world of relativism.

No absolutes.

The continuing revelation of the IRS targeting people and organizations because of their conservative and/or Christian beliefs gave many a reason to push back---way back.

The revelation of just how intrusive our own government's NSA program is into our own personal lives---without cause, was alarming to many of us.

All of this is creating a lack of trust in our government and those whom we've elected to lead it.

Now, NBC has discovered that the Pentagon has been holding "phony" formal ceremonies for MIAs whose remains are not even in the casket and have been staging phony photo ops showing the caskets being taken from a US Air Force plane that NBC discovers can't even fly.

Why would our government carry out such a deception?

Tuesday, November 05, 2013

Hallmark: "Don We Now Our 'Fun' Apparel"

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As Christmas---I mean "holiday," rolls out across America, once again it is not without controversy.

This time it's not a public school demanding that this special day is "solstice" rather than that other religious day whose name they can't utter out loud--- it's a new Christmas ornament presented by Hallmark.

Its causing quite a stir. And the clatter on the roof top is not Santa's reindeer.

Monday, November 04, 2013

NYT--"The End Justifies The Means," A PowerPoint On Ethical Relativism

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Sunday, the New York Times gave America a PowerPoint presentation on how relativism works to destroy a culture, while trying to prop up a President who has clearly lost his way.

President Obama may have lied repeatedly while telling Americans that they would be able to keep their insurance plans if they liked them, but according to the New York Times, that's not a lie – that’s just a slip of the tongue.

“Mr. Obama clearly misspoke when he said that,” the Times editorial board said this weekend, but they explained why his "mis-statement" was justified.

Friday, November 01, 2013

Sexual Orientation School Counseling Turns Predatory--Mother Reacts

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Diane Splitz, a mother in Massachusetts, was stunned to learn that her son, who had questioned his sexuality to a high school counselor, had been referred by the high school to a local homosexual organization--a "gay club," without her knowledge.

Following the referral to homosexual activists, things dramatically changed for the Splitz family.

Every parent and grandparent should know what the "gay club" told the boy and what the mother is now doing about it.