This is an absolutely awesome essay!!
Christine
*******
Here is a post from a California lawyer that seems to present the "Big Picture," in just the right manner. This is something all Americans should read!!
A California Lawyer's Perspective on Iraq War:
Sixty-three years ago, Nazi Germany had overrun almost all of Europe and hammered England to the verge of bankruptcy and defeat, and had sunk more than four hundred British ships in their convoys between England and America for food and war materials.
Bushido Japan had overrun most of Asia, beginning in 1928, killing millions of civilians throughout China, and impressing millions more as slave labor.
The U.S. was in an isolationist, pacifist, mood, and most Americans and Congress wanted nothing to do with the European war, or the Asian war.
Then along came Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 , and in outrage Congress unanimously declared war on Japan, and the following day on Germany, which had not attacked us. It was a dicey thing. We had few allies.
France was not an ally, the Vichy government of France aligned with its German occupiers. Germany was not an ally, it was an enemy, and Hitler intended to set up a Thousand Year Reich in Europe. Japan was not an ally, it was intent on owning and controlling all of Asia Japan and Germany had long-term ideas of invading Canada and Mexico, and then the United States over the north and south borders, after they had settled control of Asia and Europe.
America's allies then were England, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, Australia, and Russia, and that was about it. There were no other countries of any size or military significance with the will and ability to contribute much or anything to the effort to defeat Hitler's Germany and Japan, and prevent the global dominance of Nazism. And we had to send millions of tons of arms, munitions, and war supplies to Russia, England, and the Canadians, Aussies, Irish, and Scots, because NONE of them could produce all they needed for themselves.
All of Europe, from Norway to Italy, except Russia in the east, was already under the Nazi heel.
America was not prepared for war. America had stood down most of its military after WWI and throughout the depression, at the outbreak of WWII there were army units training with broomsticks over their shoulders because they didn't have guns, and cars with "tank" painted on the doors because they didn't have tanks. And a big chunk of our navy had just been sunk and damaged at Pearl Harbor .
Britain had already gone bankrupt, saved only by the donation of $600 million in gold bullion in the Bank of England that was the property of Belgium and was given by Belgium to England to carry on the war when Belgium was overrun by Hitler - actually, Belgium surrendered one day, because it was unable to oppose the German invasion, and the Germans bombed Brussels into rubble the next day anyway just to prove they could. Britain had been holding out for two years already in the face of staggering shipping loses and the near-decimation of its air force in the Battle of Britain, and was saved from being overrun by Germany only because Hitler made the mistake of thinking the Brits were a relatively minor threat that could be dealt with later and turning his attention to Russia, at a time when England was on the verge of collapse in the late summer of 1940.
Russia saved America's butt by putting up a desperate fight for two years until the U.S. got geared up to begin hammering away at Germany.
Russia lost something like 24 million people in the sieges of Stalingrad and Moscow, 90% of them from cold and starvation, mostly civilians, but also more than a million soldiers. More than a million.
Had Russia surrendered, then, Hitler would have been able to focus his entire campaign against the Brits, then America, and the Nazis would have won that war.
Had Hitler not made that mistake and invaded England in 1940 or 1941, instead, there would have been no England for the U.S. and the Brits to use as a staging ground to prepare an assault on Nazi Europe, England would not have been able to run its North African campaign to help take a little pressure off Russia while America geared up for battle, and today Europe would very probably be run by the Nazis, the Third Reich, and, isolated and without any allies (not even the Brits), the U.S. would very probably have had to cede Asia to the Japanese, who were basically Nazis by another name then, and the world we live in today would be very different and much worse. I say this to illustrate that turning points in history are often dicey things. And we are at another one.
There is a very dangerous minority in Islam that either has, or wants and may soon have, the ability to deliver small nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons, almost anywhere in the world, unless they are prevented from doing so.
France, Germany, and Russia, have been selling them weapons technology at least as recently as 2002, as have North Korea, Syria, and Pakistan, paid for with billions of dollars Saddam Hussein skimmed from the "Oil For Food" program administered by the UN with the complicity of Kofi Annan and his son.
The Jihadis, the militant Muslims, are basically Nazis in Kaffiyahs - they believe that Islam, a radically conservative (definitely not liberal!) form of Wahhabi Islam, should own and control the Middle East first, then Europe, then the world, and that all who do not bow to Allah should be killed, enslaved, or subjugated. They want to finish the Holocaust, destroy Israel, purge the world of Jews. This is what they say.
There is also a civil war raging in the Middle East - for the most part not a hot war, but a war of ideas. Islam is having its Inquisition and its Reformation today, but it is not yet known which will win - the Inquisition, or the Reformation.
If the Inquisition wins, then the Wahhabis, the Jihadis, will control the Middle East, and the OPEC oil, and the U.S., European, and Asian economies, the techno-industrial economies, will be at the mercy of OPEC - not an OPEC dominated by the well-educated and rational Saudis of today, but an OPEC dominated by the Jihadis.
You want gas in your car? You want heating oil next winter? You want jobs? You want the dollar to be worth anything? You better hope the Jihad, the Muslim Inquisition, loses, and the Islamic Reformation wins.
If the Reformation movement wins, that is, the moderate Muslims who believe that Islam can respect and tolerate other religions, and live in peace with the rest of the world, and move out of the 10th century into the 21st, then the troubles in the Middle East will eventually fade away, and a moderate and prosperous Middle East will emerge.
We have to help the Reformation win, and to do that we have to fight the Inquisition, i.e., the Wahhabi movement, the Jihad, Al Qaeda, the Islamic terrorist movements. We have to do it somewhere. We cannot do it nowhere. And we cannot do it everywhere at once. We have created a focal point for the battle now at the time and place of our choosing, in Iraq.
Not in New York, not in London, or Paris, or Berlin, but in Iraq, where we did and are doing two very important things.
(1) We deposed Saddam Hussein. Whether Saddam Hussein was directly involved in 9/11 or not, it is undisputed that Saddam has been actively supporting the terrorist movement for decades. Saddam is a terrorist.
Saddam is, or was, a weapon of mass destruction, who is responsible for the deaths of probably more than a million Iraqis and two million Iranians.
(2) We created a battle, a confrontation, a flash point, with Islamic terrorism in Iraq. We have focused the battle. We are killing bad guys there and the ones we get there we won't have to get here, or anywhere else. We also have a good shot at creating a democratic, peaceful Iraq, which will be a catalyst for democratic change in the rest of the Middle East, and an outpost for a stabilizing American military presence in the Middle East for as long as it is needed.
The European nations could have done this, but they didn't, and they won't. The so-called "Coalition Forces" are, in most cases, little more than a "Token Force" to keep face with the U.S. . And once attacked, like the train bombing in Madrid, they pull their forces and run for home. We now know that rather than opposing the rise of the Jihad, the French, Germans, and Russians were selling them arms - we have found more than a million tons of weapons and munitions in Iraq. If Iraq was not a threat to anyone, why did Saddam need a million tons of weapons? And Iraq was paying for French, German, and Russian arms with money skimmed from the U.N. Oil For Food Program (supervised by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and his son) that was supposed to pay for food, medicine, and education, for Iraqi children.
World War II, the war with the German and Japanese Nazis, really began with a "whimper" in 1928. It did not begin with Pearl Harbor. It began with the Japanese invasion of China . It was a war for fourteen years before America joined it. It officially ended in 1945 - a 17 year war - and was followed by another decade of U.S. occupation in Germany and Japan to get those countries reconstructed and running on their own again .... a 27 year war.
World War II cost the United States an amount equal to approximately a full year's GDP - adjusted for inflation, equal to about $12 trillion dollars, WWII cost America more than 400,000 killed in action, and nearly 100,000 still missing in action.
[The Iraq war has, so far, cost the US about $180 billion, which is roughly what 9/11 cost New York. It has also cost over 2,300 American lives, (Note: was the total when this was originally written) which is roughly 2/3 of the lives that the Jihad snuffed on 9/11.] But the cost of not fighting and winning WWII would have been unimaginably greater - a world now dominated by German and Japanese Nazism.
Americans have a short attention span, now, conditioned I suppose by 1 hour TV shows and 2-hour movies in which everything comes out okay.
The real world is not like that. It is messy, uncertain,and sometimes bloody and ugly. Always has been, and probably always will be.
If we do this thing in Iraq successfully, it is probable that the Reformation will ultimately prevail. Many Muslims in the Middle East hope it will. We will be there to support it. It has begun in some countries, Libya, for instance. And Dubai. And Saudi Arabia. If we fail, the Inquisition will probably prevail, and terrorism from Islam will be with us for all the foreseeable future, because the Inquisition, or Jihad, believes they are called by Allah to kill all the Infidels, and that death in Jihad is glorious.
The bottom line here is that we will have to deal with Islamic terrorism until we defeat it, whenever that is. It will not go away on its own. It will not go away if we ignore it.
If the U.S. can create a reasonably democratic and stable Iraq, then we have an " England" in the Middle East, a platform, from which we can work to help modernize and moderate the Middle East. The history of the world is the clash between the forces of relative civility and civilization, and the barbarians clamoring at the gates. The Iraq war is merely another battle in this ancient and never-ending war. And now, for the first time ever, the barbarians are about to get nuclear weapons. Unless we prevent them. Or somebody does.
The Iraq war is expensive, and uncertain, yes. But the consequences of not fighting it and winning it will be horrifically greater. We have four options -
1. We can defeat the Jihad now, before it gets nuclear weapons.
2. We can fight the Jihad later, after it gets nuclear weapons (which may be as early as next year, if Iran 's progress on nuclear weapons is what Iran claims it is).
3. We can surrender to the Jihad and accept its dominance in the Middle East, now, in Europe in the next few years or decades, and ultimately in America.
4. Or we can stand down now, and pick up the fight later when the Jihad is more widespread and better armed, perhaps after the Jihad has dominated France and Germany and maybe most of the rest of Europe. It will be more dangerous, more expensive, and much bloodier then.
Yes, the Jihadis say that they look forward to an Islamic America. If you oppose this war, I hope you like the idea that your children, or grandchildren, may live in an Islamic America under the Mullahs and the Sharia, an America that resembles Iran today.
We can be defeatist peace-activists as anti-war types seem to be, and concede, surrender, to the Jihad, or we can do whatever it takes to win this war against them.
The history of the world is the history of civilizational clashes, cultural clashes. All wars are about ideas, ideas about what society and civilization should be like, and the most determined always win.
Those who are willing to be the most ruthless always win. The pacifists always lose, because the anti-pacifists kill them. (bold mine)
In the 20th century, it was Western democracy vs. communism, and before that, Western democracy vs. Nazism, and before that, Western democracy vs. German Imperialism. Western democracy won, three times, but it wasn't cheap, fun, nice, easy, or quick. Indeed, the wars against German Imperialism (WWI), Nazi Imperialism (WWII), and communist imperialism (the 40-year Cold War that included the Vietnam Battle, commonly called the Vietnam War, but itself a major battle in a larger war) covered almost the entire century.
The first major war of the 21st Century is the war between Western Judeo/Christian Civilization and Wahhabi Islam. It may last a few more years, or most of this century. It will last until the Wahhabi branch of Islam fades away, or gives up its ambitions for regional and global dominance and Jihad, or until Western Civilization gives in to the Jihad.
Senator John Kerry, in the debates and almost daily, makes 3 scary claims:
1 We went to Iraq without enough troops.
We went with the troops the U.S. military wanted. We went with the troop levels General Tommy Franks asked for. We deposed Saddam in 30 days with light casualties, much lighter than we expected.
The real problem in Iraq is that we are trying to be nice - we are trying to fight a minority of the population that is Jihadi, and trying to avoid killing the large majority that is not. We could flatten Fallujah in minutes with a flight of B52s, or seconds with one nuclear cruise missile - but we don't. We're trying to do brain surgery, not amputate the patient's head. The Jihadis amputate heads.
2. We went to Iraq with too little planning.
This is a specious argument. It supposes that if we had just had "the right plan" the war would have been easy, cheap, quick, and clean.
That is not an option. It is a guerrilla war against a determined enemy, and no such war ever has been or ever will be easy, cheap, quick, and clean. This is not TV.
3. We proved ourselves incapable of governing and providing security.
This too is a specious argument. It was never our intention to govern and provide security. It was our intention from the beginning to do just enough to enable the Iraqis to develop a representative government and their own military and police forces to provide their own security, and that is happening. The U.S. and the Brits and other countries there have trained over 100,000 Iraqi police and military, now, and will have trained more than 200,000 by the end of next year. (Note: Totals are higher now.) We are in the process of transitioning operational control for security back to Iraq .
It will take time. It will not go with no hitches. This is not TV.
Remember, perspective is everything, and America 's schools teach too little history for perspective to be clear, especially in the young American mind.
The Cold war lasted from about 1947 at least until the Berlin Wall came down in 1989. Forty-two years. Europe spent the first half of the 19th century fighting Napoleon, and from 1870 to 1945 fighting Germany .
World War II began in 1928, lasted 17 years, plus a ten year occupation, and the US still has troops in Germany and Japan. World War II resulted in the death of more than 50 million people, maybe more than 100 million people, depending on which estimates you accept.
The U.S. has taken more than 2,000 KIA in Iraq in 3 years. The US took more than 4,000 Killed in action on the morning of June 6, 1944, the first day of the Normandy Invasion to rid Europe of Nazi Imperialism. In WWII the U.S. averaged 2,000 KIA a week for four years. Most of the individual battles of WWII lost more Americans than the entire Iraq war has done so far.
But the stakes are at least as high . . . a world dominated by representative governments with civil rights, human rights, and personal freedoms; or a world dominated by a radical Islamic Wahhabi movement, by the Jihad, under the Mullahs and the Sharia (Islamic law).
I do not understand why the American Left does not grasp this. They favor human rights, civil rights, liberty and freedom, but evidently not for Iraqis. In America, absolutely, but nowhere else.
300,000 Iraqi bodies in mass graves in Iraq are not our problem. The U.S. population is about twelve times that of Iraq, so let's multiply 300,000 by twelve. What would you think if there were 3,600,000 American bodies in mass graves in America because of George Bush? Would you hope for another country to help liberate America?
"Peace Activists" always seem to demonstrate where it's safe, in America.
Why don't we see Peace Activist demonstrating in Iran, Syria, Iraq, Sudan, North Korea, in the places in the world that really need peace activism the most?
The liberal mentality is supposed to favor human rights, civil rights, democracy, multiculturalism, diversity, etc., but if the Jihad wins, wherever the Jihad wins, it is the end of civil rights, human rights, democracy, multiculturalism, diversity, etc. Americans who oppose the liberation of Iraq are coming down on the side of their own worst enemy.
If the Jihad wins, it is the death of Liberalism. Everywhere the Jihad wins, it is the death of Liberalism. And American Liberals just don't get it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Raymond S. Kraft is a writer and lawyer living in Northern California. Please consider passing along copies of this to students in high school, college and university as it contains information about the American past that is very meaningful TODAY - - history about America that very likely is completely unknown by them (and their instructors, too). By being denied the facts and truth of our history, they are at a decided disadvantage when it comes to reasoning and thinking through the issues of today. They are prime targets for misinformation campaigns beamed at enlisting them in causes and beliefs that are special interest agenda driven.
HT: My friend Bing via email.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Socializing the Gospel of Christ?
The following article truly indicates why we need more Biblically-based Christian culture warriors. Do we want secular humanism to take over the hearts, minds, souls and spirits of our children and grandchildren? Or, are we willing to "fight the good fight" for their sakes?
Christine
*******
Saturday, January 6, 2007
Is the culture overpowering our churches?
Posted: January 6, 20071:00 a.m. Eastern
By Rev. Jerry Falwell
© 2000 WorldNetDaily.com-->© 2007
I believe the church of Jesus Christ faces more challenges today than at any time in history.
The issues of homosexuality, abortion, inspiration of Scripture and spiritual "diversity" have brought divides into many churches.
In the media, there is rarely a positive portrayal of Christianity. As I've recently reported, the few so-called Christian characters represented on the networks have either abandoned core biblical values or are depicted as callous ogres. Further, the media typically tout diverse forms of spirituality that embrace alternative modes of sexuality, worship and lifestyle.
Sadly, countless pastors and church leaders have folded under cultural pressure and have attempted to socialize the Gospel of Christ.
Meanwhile, those of us who remain faithful to the Scriptures are seen as unintelligent and irrational.
But the Bible warns us that the Gospel will be seen as ridiculous to many: "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. …" (1 Corinthians 1:15) It is nothing new to be seen as an idiot for steadfastly following Jesus Christ.
Even in this age of "diversity" and "multiculturalism," evangelical pastors must determine to never serve as arbitrators of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which never changes. Its truth remains as pertinent as ever today.
I read with interest late last year a Barna Group report on "the 12 Most Significant Religious Findings from 2006 Surveys."
In it, pollster George Barna found that, while most Americans claim to be "deeply spiritual" and say that their religious faith is "very important" to them, only 15 percent of respondents who regularly attend a Christian church ranked their relationship with God as the top priority in their life.
That's an astounding discovery.
Mr. Barna noted, "As alarming as that finding was, its significance was magnified by research showing that on average pastors believe that 70 percent of the adults in their congregation consider their relationship with God to be their highest priority in life."
The very important report also found that "three out of every four teenagers have engaged in at least one type of psychic or witchcraft-related activity." The report also detailed that only one-third of 8-to-12-year-olds say a church has made "a positive difference" in their life; one-third said prayer is very important in their life; and most said they would rather be popular than to do what is morally right.
That is the climate we are facing today as we seek to share the Gospel with a new generation. I believe our young people are embracing hedonism and self-gratification as never before. And why not, when the media are strangely fixated on the lives of celebrities and "celebutantes" (people who are famous solely for being rich and famous). We are hero-worshiping people who have no moral compass, and the results down the road will be devastating.
The church must offer unambiguous alternatives.
But Dr. Ergun Caner, president of the Liberty Theological Seminary, in a February National Liberty Journal article, warns that "many churches these days are following the latest trends, while often ignoring Scripture. They choose to do what is popular and culturally acceptable, rather than what is right."
Dr. Caner, a converted Muslim, added, "Some pollster tells us that people do not like public invitations, so some churches have stopped giving them. Polls tell us that sermons on hell make people uncomfortable, so pastors preach on positive thinking instead. The polls show that using words such as sin and salvation are unpopular, so we find prominent television preachers conveniently avoiding those terms."
Those are tough words, but I believe they are words that the church must hear. Evangelical pastors simply must determine to lead by biblical principle, even though those principles are being increasingly disparaged in the popular culture.
I believe it is time for a re-evaluation of the church's efforts. It is obvious that we are losing the cultural battle in many ways, especially with our young people. We will not succeed in reaching this world for Christ unless our churches determine to lovingly reach out with the Word of God to our fellow man.
In this new year, may we commit to reaching more people than ever with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to boldly living our lives with a renewed commitment to holy living.
Related special offer:
"God's Got a Problem"
Rev. Jerry Falwell, a nationally recognized Christian minister and television show host, is the founder of Jerry Falwell Ministries and is chancellor of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.
HT: WorldNetDaily
Christine
*******
Saturday, January 6, 2007
Is the culture overpowering our churches?
Posted: January 6, 20071:00 a.m. Eastern
By Rev. Jerry Falwell
© 2000 WorldNetDaily.com-->© 2007
I believe the church of Jesus Christ faces more challenges today than at any time in history.
The issues of homosexuality, abortion, inspiration of Scripture and spiritual "diversity" have brought divides into many churches.
In the media, there is rarely a positive portrayal of Christianity. As I've recently reported, the few so-called Christian characters represented on the networks have either abandoned core biblical values or are depicted as callous ogres. Further, the media typically tout diverse forms of spirituality that embrace alternative modes of sexuality, worship and lifestyle.
Sadly, countless pastors and church leaders have folded under cultural pressure and have attempted to socialize the Gospel of Christ.
Meanwhile, those of us who remain faithful to the Scriptures are seen as unintelligent and irrational.
But the Bible warns us that the Gospel will be seen as ridiculous to many: "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. …" (1 Corinthians 1:15) It is nothing new to be seen as an idiot for steadfastly following Jesus Christ.
Even in this age of "diversity" and "multiculturalism," evangelical pastors must determine to never serve as arbitrators of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which never changes. Its truth remains as pertinent as ever today.
I read with interest late last year a Barna Group report on "the 12 Most Significant Religious Findings from 2006 Surveys."
In it, pollster George Barna found that, while most Americans claim to be "deeply spiritual" and say that their religious faith is "very important" to them, only 15 percent of respondents who regularly attend a Christian church ranked their relationship with God as the top priority in their life.
That's an astounding discovery.
Mr. Barna noted, "As alarming as that finding was, its significance was magnified by research showing that on average pastors believe that 70 percent of the adults in their congregation consider their relationship with God to be their highest priority in life."
The very important report also found that "three out of every four teenagers have engaged in at least one type of psychic or witchcraft-related activity." The report also detailed that only one-third of 8-to-12-year-olds say a church has made "a positive difference" in their life; one-third said prayer is very important in their life; and most said they would rather be popular than to do what is morally right.
That is the climate we are facing today as we seek to share the Gospel with a new generation. I believe our young people are embracing hedonism and self-gratification as never before. And why not, when the media are strangely fixated on the lives of celebrities and "celebutantes" (people who are famous solely for being rich and famous). We are hero-worshiping people who have no moral compass, and the results down the road will be devastating.
The church must offer unambiguous alternatives.
But Dr. Ergun Caner, president of the Liberty Theological Seminary, in a February National Liberty Journal article, warns that "many churches these days are following the latest trends, while often ignoring Scripture. They choose to do what is popular and culturally acceptable, rather than what is right."
Dr. Caner, a converted Muslim, added, "Some pollster tells us that people do not like public invitations, so some churches have stopped giving them. Polls tell us that sermons on hell make people uncomfortable, so pastors preach on positive thinking instead. The polls show that using words such as sin and salvation are unpopular, so we find prominent television preachers conveniently avoiding those terms."
Those are tough words, but I believe they are words that the church must hear. Evangelical pastors simply must determine to lead by biblical principle, even though those principles are being increasingly disparaged in the popular culture.
I believe it is time for a re-evaluation of the church's efforts. It is obvious that we are losing the cultural battle in many ways, especially with our young people. We will not succeed in reaching this world for Christ unless our churches determine to lovingly reach out with the Word of God to our fellow man.
In this new year, may we commit to reaching more people than ever with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to boldly living our lives with a renewed commitment to holy living.
Related special offer:
"God's Got a Problem"
Rev. Jerry Falwell, a nationally recognized Christian minister and television show host, is the founder of Jerry Falwell Ministries and is chancellor of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.
HT: WorldNetDaily
What Enemies Intend for Evil, God Uses to Save
Weekend, January 6 & 7
Looking Back, Looking Forward: Joseph
But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Genesis 50:20
Recommended Reading
Genesis 37:1-36
It's easy to get bogged down in wondering why God allowed a certain event in our past. Verses like Romans 8:28 can help us, but talking to someone who has lived the before and after of a difficult event can help even more. Joseph is one of those people.
Joseph was his father Jacob's favorite son which caused his brothers to resent him with a fierce jealousy. So they sold him to traders headed for Egypt. Once there, God's blessing on Joseph caused him to rise to great prominence. In anticipation of a famine, Joseph had Egypt store up grain for the future. And when Joseph's brothers traveled from Canaan to Egypt looking for food, the brother they had hated turned out to be their savior. They were shocked and embarrassed to meet Joseph; but he declared to them that what they had intended for evil, God was going to use to save them through the famine. Looking back, Joseph saw trouble and confusion. Looking forward, he saw a reunited family.
The before and after of your story may not be as clear as Joseph's, but your faith certainly can be. Yesterday's events serve tomorrow's purposes.
There are no accidents in the life of the Christian. Rowland Bingham
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 19:1 - 21:34 ;
Genesis 22:1 - 24:67
From: Turning Point Online
Looking Back, Looking Forward: Joseph
But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Genesis 50:20
Recommended Reading
Genesis 37:1-36
It's easy to get bogged down in wondering why God allowed a certain event in our past. Verses like Romans 8:28 can help us, but talking to someone who has lived the before and after of a difficult event can help even more. Joseph is one of those people.
Joseph was his father Jacob's favorite son which caused his brothers to resent him with a fierce jealousy. So they sold him to traders headed for Egypt. Once there, God's blessing on Joseph caused him to rise to great prominence. In anticipation of a famine, Joseph had Egypt store up grain for the future. And when Joseph's brothers traveled from Canaan to Egypt looking for food, the brother they had hated turned out to be their savior. They were shocked and embarrassed to meet Joseph; but he declared to them that what they had intended for evil, God was going to use to save them through the famine. Looking back, Joseph saw trouble and confusion. Looking forward, he saw a reunited family.
The before and after of your story may not be as clear as Joseph's, but your faith certainly can be. Yesterday's events serve tomorrow's purposes.
There are no accidents in the life of the Christian. Rowland Bingham
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 19:1 - 21:34 ;
Genesis 22:1 - 24:67
From: Turning Point Online
Friday, January 05, 2007
The Religion of Peace??
Wow! After 9/11, would anyone have believed that a person who is linked to terrorism would be elected to Congress?
What...you think he's a moderate? Think again. Take a long, hard look at the following article from FrontPage magazine:
Keith Ellison's Friends; Our Enemies.
Follow the links too.
Don't miss A Good Old Hate Speech Smack Down over at ChesterStreet!
Excerpt:
Also see The Religion of Peace
HT: Mark at ChesterStreet
What...you think he's a moderate? Think again. Take a long, hard look at the following article from FrontPage magazine:
Keith Ellison's Friends; Our Enemies.
Follow the links too.
Don't miss A Good Old Hate Speech Smack Down over at ChesterStreet!
Excerpt:
"Muslims are the vilest of animals…”
“Show mercy to one another, but be ruthless to Muslims”
“How perverse are Muslims!”
“Strike off the heads of Muslims, as well as their fingertips”
“Fight those Muslims who are near to you”
“Muslim mischief makers should be murdered or crucified”
Hate speech? Incitement to violence? Sounds like it to us, but a knowledgeable Muslim would have to disagree.Well, if you haven’t guessed it already, these are quotes from the Qur’an in which we've replaced the word ‘Christian’, ‘Jew’ or ‘unbeliever’ with the word ‘Muslim.’
Also see The Religion of Peace
HT: Mark at ChesterStreet
Desire To Please God
Hits, Runs, and Errors
But Peter . . . said, "We ought to obey God rather than men."
Acts 5:29
Recommended Reading
1 Samuel 15:20-23
The Mets beat the Astros in a 4-2 victory last fall, partly because of an error made by Houston second baseman, Craig Biggio, who failed to make an easy catch. The ball rolled between his legs and into right-center field. Biggio had a simple explanation. He was thinking so hard about how to score a double play that he lost his focus. "I just forgot to catch it," he said. "It was huge. That was a big error."
The same thing can happen to us. We're so distracted by life's possibilities that we forget the simplest thing—to obey the Lord. Has He told us to meditate on His Word (Joshua 1:8)? To be joyful (1 Thessalonians 5:16)? To abstain from every hint of sexual immorality (Ephesians 5:3, NIV)?
Has He warned us against forsaking the assembling of ourselves together for worship (Hebrews 10:25)? Has He told us to live peaceably with everyone so far as it is possible (Romans 12:18)? To bring our tithes into His storehouse (Malachi 3:10)?
The Bible is chock full of commands—both large and small—and they're just as important as His promises. Focus on them so you'll not have to stand before Him one day and say, "I just forgot to obey."
Let every one, therefore, who has either any desire to please God, or any love of his own soul, obey God.
John Wesley
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 11:1 - 14:24
HT: Turning Point Online
But Peter . . . said, "We ought to obey God rather than men."
Acts 5:29
Recommended Reading
1 Samuel 15:20-23
The Mets beat the Astros in a 4-2 victory last fall, partly because of an error made by Houston second baseman, Craig Biggio, who failed to make an easy catch. The ball rolled between his legs and into right-center field. Biggio had a simple explanation. He was thinking so hard about how to score a double play that he lost his focus. "I just forgot to catch it," he said. "It was huge. That was a big error."
The same thing can happen to us. We're so distracted by life's possibilities that we forget the simplest thing—to obey the Lord. Has He told us to meditate on His Word (Joshua 1:8)? To be joyful (1 Thessalonians 5:16)? To abstain from every hint of sexual immorality (Ephesians 5:3, NIV)?
Has He warned us against forsaking the assembling of ourselves together for worship (Hebrews 10:25)? Has He told us to live peaceably with everyone so far as it is possible (Romans 12:18)? To bring our tithes into His storehouse (Malachi 3:10)?
The Bible is chock full of commands—both large and small—and they're just as important as His promises. Focus on them so you'll not have to stand before Him one day and say, "I just forgot to obey."
Let every one, therefore, who has either any desire to please God, or any love of his own soul, obey God.
John Wesley
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 11:1 - 14:24
HT: Turning Point Online
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Two Bills to Oppose
From Concerned Women for America:
Dear Friends,
The 110th Congress has begun - and so has our work! Congress' first 100 hours include two disturbing bills that we need your help to oppose:
Funding for unethical embryonic stem cell research
In a dramatic ceremony last year surrounded by Snowflakes (former-embryos rescued by adoption), President Bush vetoed a bill to pour federal dollars into destroying human embryos for research. Congress did not have enough votes to override the veto.
Next Thursday, the new leadership in Congress will bring the bill up again. The November elections potentially changed the number of override votes. It is up to us to pray and act to oppose federal funding killing the tiniest of humans.
Restrictions on grassroots lobbying
What we are doing right now - informing you of legislation so that you can act - could be severely restricted and punished if "grassroots lobby reform" is passed.
Last year the Senate failed to pass grassroots lobby restrictions that included severe registration and reporting requirements for grassroots organizations. We expect it will come up again as early as next week.
This legislation would heavily restrict the ability of grassroots organizations like CWA to communicate and mobilize citizen activists like you. Brad Smith, a former Federal Election Commissioner, said it would be used by congressmen for retaliation. "It's a disaster, generally, the notion that the government should be checking up on attempts by citizens to communicate with citizens," Smith told The Hill newspaper. "Can you think of any other reason that members of Congress need to know who's running grassroots ads in their district?"
Grassroots lobby restrictions are an effort by Congress to undermine your participation in the political process. Tell your congressmen to vote NO on grassroots lobby restrictions!
Take Action on Embryonic Stem Cell Research!
Pray that congressmen will understand that embryonic stem cell research kills humans and will lead to perfecting techniques for cloning human beings. Pray that President Bush will continue to stand against spending tax dollars on research that kills human embryos.
Ask your Senators and Representative to OPPOSE squandering taxpayer dollars on immoral, unnecessary destruction of human embryos.
Americans should not be forced to pay for experiments that destroy human beings and will lead to human cloning.
Take Action on Grassroots Lobby Restrictions!
Pray that congressmen will see that "grassroots lobby reform" will have a chilling effect on Americans' right to participate in the governing process. It will severely harm organizations like CWA who exist to equip citizen activists to affect public policy!
Tell your Senators and Representative to vote NO on any so-called lobby reform bill that stifles the participation of grassroots groups in the political process.
Sincerely,
The Legislation Department
Concerned Women for America
P.S. Thank you again for considering CWA for your strategic financial support. With you, we're fighting on key issues like abstinence, pornography and abortion. We need you. Please help today by going to http://www.cwfa.org/support_cwa.asp and entering your most generous donation.
Dear Friends,
The 110th Congress has begun - and so has our work! Congress' first 100 hours include two disturbing bills that we need your help to oppose:
Funding for unethical embryonic stem cell research
In a dramatic ceremony last year surrounded by Snowflakes (former-embryos rescued by adoption), President Bush vetoed a bill to pour federal dollars into destroying human embryos for research. Congress did not have enough votes to override the veto.
Next Thursday, the new leadership in Congress will bring the bill up again. The November elections potentially changed the number of override votes. It is up to us to pray and act to oppose federal funding killing the tiniest of humans.
Restrictions on grassroots lobbying
What we are doing right now - informing you of legislation so that you can act - could be severely restricted and punished if "grassroots lobby reform" is passed.
Last year the Senate failed to pass grassroots lobby restrictions that included severe registration and reporting requirements for grassroots organizations. We expect it will come up again as early as next week.
This legislation would heavily restrict the ability of grassroots organizations like CWA to communicate and mobilize citizen activists like you. Brad Smith, a former Federal Election Commissioner, said it would be used by congressmen for retaliation. "It's a disaster, generally, the notion that the government should be checking up on attempts by citizens to communicate with citizens," Smith told The Hill newspaper. "Can you think of any other reason that members of Congress need to know who's running grassroots ads in their district?"
Grassroots lobby restrictions are an effort by Congress to undermine your participation in the political process. Tell your congressmen to vote NO on grassroots lobby restrictions!
Take Action on Embryonic Stem Cell Research!
Pray that congressmen will understand that embryonic stem cell research kills humans and will lead to perfecting techniques for cloning human beings. Pray that President Bush will continue to stand against spending tax dollars on research that kills human embryos.
Ask your Senators and Representative to OPPOSE squandering taxpayer dollars on immoral, unnecessary destruction of human embryos.
Americans should not be forced to pay for experiments that destroy human beings and will lead to human cloning.
Take Action on Grassroots Lobby Restrictions!
Pray that congressmen will see that "grassroots lobby reform" will have a chilling effect on Americans' right to participate in the governing process. It will severely harm organizations like CWA who exist to equip citizen activists to affect public policy!
Tell your Senators and Representative to vote NO on any so-called lobby reform bill that stifles the participation of grassroots groups in the political process.
Sincerely,
The Legislation Department
Concerned Women for America
P.S. Thank you again for considering CWA for your strategic financial support. With you, we're fighting on key issues like abstinence, pornography and abortion. We need you. Please help today by going to http://www.cwfa.org/support_cwa.asp and entering your most generous donation.
Californication: Where Evil Men Prevail...
The marketing of evil is (unfortunately) devastatingly alive and progressing in California. No wonder over 30,000 families (approx. from what I've read) have left this state over the last year !! A flurry of bad bills were passed in 2006 and signed into law by RINO Arnold. Read the following newsletter and mourn for our children here in Californication....
There is some interesting information about Gov. Arnold that I didn't know prior to reading the newsletter. Randy (the author) mentions voting him back into office as the "lesser of two evils." We shall see. He certainly doesn't appear to be a "lesser evil" to me!
I voted for Tom McClintock when Davis was recalled. He would have been a far better choice for pro-family conservative Christians. Now we are stuck with Arnold and the loonie left liberal Democrats in Sacramento.
*sigh*
Christine
*******
News and commentary from Randy Thomasson
New faces, same spaces in Sacramento
The California Legislature -- controlled by the most pro-abortion and pro-homosexuality-bisexality-transsexuality Democrats in California history has gaveled itself to order. Following Wednesday's "welcome back floor session, most of the 120 state legislators now plan to attend Governor Schwarzenegger's inauguration on Friday. Then they'll spend the next two months rubbing shoulders with lobbyists and busying themselves introducing some 2,000 bills before the committee hearings and floor sessions get underway in March. While the November election produced new faces in Sacramento, unfair "gerrymandered" district boundaries mean the balance of power will stay exactly the same as before: 48 Democrats, 32 Republicans in the Assembly; 25 Democrats, 15 Republicans in the state Senate. Already 132 bills have been introduced, among them the two marriage-destroying bills, AB 43 and SB 11. Visit CCF's website for action steps
8 worst California laws for 2007
There are 910 new state laws that Californians have to live under. Because these laws were approved by a Democrat-controlled Legislature and signed by California's liberal Republican Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, many of these new California laws impose the sexual and anti-family agenda on the rest of us. Here are the eight worst laws you need to know about:
AB 1160 Promoting Transsexuality, Bisexuality, and Homosexuality to Jurors
This new law permits either side in a criminal trial or proceeding to request that the court instruct jurors not to allow their family values (i.e. their "bias") based on "gender identity" (transsexuality and transvestitism) or "sexual orientation" (homosexuality and bisexuality) to be part of their mindset.
AB 1207 Pro-Transsexual-Bisexual-Homosexual Campaign Pledge
This new law revises the voluntary candidate pledge, called the Code of Fair Campaign Practices, to prohibit a candidate's "negative prejudice" against "gender identity" (transsexuality and transvestitism) and "sexual orientation" (homosexuality and bisexuality).
AB 2051 Promoting Transsexual-Bisexual-Homosexual Relationships The effect of this new law is to "promote healthy non-violent relationships in the lesbian, gay bisexual, and transgender community" by requiring law enforcement and domestic violence councils to support and promote so-called "healthy" transsexual, bisexual, and homosexual relationships.
AB 2560 Promoting Condoms and Birth Control Pills to Schoolchildren
This new law sets up a unit within the State Department of Health Services with the purpose of retaining and expanding school-based "health centers." Unfortunately, these centers will distribute condoms, birth control pills, and refer for abortions, pro-homosexual counseling, and suicide counseling; all without parental knowledge or consent.
AB 2800 Transsexual-Bisexual-Homosexual Agenda in Housing Industry
This new law requires the promotion of transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality in housing and housing related areas, including real estate licensure, mortgage lending, club membership, development projects, and community redevelopment.
AB 2920 Transsexual-Bisexual-Homosexual Agenda for Seniors
This new law force California's Department of Aging (within the state's Health and Human Services Agency) to support and promote the "unique needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender seniors."
SB 1441 Threatening Religious Values of Christian Colleges
This new law awards sexual activists a legal hammer to persecute religious colleges that accept Cal Grant students and religious daycare centers that accept CalWORKS childcare vouchers. SB 1441 prohibits "discrimination" on the basis of transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality in "any program or activity"that receives financial assistance from the state. There is no religious exemption.
SB 1827 Completing Counterfeit Marriage
This new law requires California's income tax laws to equate homosexual partnerships with marriage between a husband and wife. Awarding homosexuals the last legal privilege of marriage under California law, SB 1827 requires registered "domestic partners" to file personal income tax returns as either "married filing jointly" or "married filing separate," setting up a direct conflict with federal law which recognizes marriage rights only for a man and a woman.
For 2006 bill information, visit www.leginfo.ca.gov
Read about the 20 anti-family laws signed by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the last three years
Minimum wage hike: California now has the fourth-highest minimum wage in the nation, $7.50 per hour. One year from now, we'll have the highest in the nation at $8 per hour. Unfortunately, you can count on this government socialism resulting in fewer jobs and more businesses moving out of the state.
Good laws:
Out of the 910 new laws, there are a few good ones, because even the pro-abortion, pro-sexual-license Democrats that control the California Legislature oppose vandalism and are shocked by children developing Type 2 diabetes:
Anti-vandalism: Anyone arrested for vandalism now will lose his driver's license for up to two years, not just one, like before now. And vandals who are 13 and 14 will have their drivers' licenses delayed an extra one to three years for their crimes.
School junk food: A handful of new laws will require schools to sell and serve more healthy foods and snacks and less junk food next school year than they do now. And the elementary school ban on soda-pop sales will be extended to high schools, meaning vending machines will contain more fruit-and-vegetable-based drinks. These laws won't go into full effect until July.
Telephone privacy: It is now illegal for businesses to buy or sell your telephone calling records without your permission.
Obscenity: A very small step in the right direction, a new law prohibits government employees from using state-owned or state-leased computers to view obscene material. However, so little falls under the state's definition of "obscene" that lots of addictive and dehumanizing pornography can still be viewed on California government computers. America has degraded significantly since the U.S. Supreme Court's 1947 Wegglo standard, which held that anything that causes lust was obscene (FYI, this is also Jesus' standard, who said to lust after a woman was to commit adultery with her in your heart). This was replaced in 1973 by the totally subjective Miller standard, which, in the last 36 years has been interpreted to allow possession of all kinds of obscenity and pornography, except child pornography, yet allows authorities to prosecute distributors of obscenity. Here is the high court's "Miller test" making it difficult to prosecute obscenity: "The basic guidelines for the trier of fact must be: (a) whether 'the average person, applying contemporary community standards' would find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest, (b) whether the work depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by the applicable state law; and (c) whether the work, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value." Under the reign of former California Speaker of the Assembly Willie Brown, California law changed "community standards" to "statewide standards." This means what's sexually offensive in Bakersfield isn't legally obscene unless it also makes San Franciscans blush
.
Are you still glad he's governor?
Many Republican voters who supported Arnold Schwarzenegger as the "lesser of two evils" are shocked to hear that the Governor has asked liberal Democrat Willie Brown, the former San Francisco mayor and the self-proclaimed "Ayatollah of the Assembly," to be master of ceremonies for Arnold's swearing-in party on Friday. But I'm not shocked, and you shouldn't be either. Power over principle on moral matters has been the norm for California's liberal Republican governor. Early on, in his bodybuilding days, Schwarzenegger raised eyebrows when he posed nude in a homosexual magazine and endorsed the homosexual lifestyle. As Governor of California, he's simply putting his transsexual-bisexual-homosexual agenda into law.
Here in 2007, Schwarzenegger has fashioned an administration that an anti-family Democrat would be proud of. After winning reelection in November, Schwarzenegger hired gay activist Daniel Zingale, Gray Davis' point-man on homosexual, bisexual and transsexual issues, as his senior advisor. This means the top homosexual activists from the Davis administration, including Arnold's lesbian chief-of-staff Susan Kennedy, are ready for action in the largely unaccountable Schwarzenegger administration. A homosexual newspaper has glowed about Schwarzenegger, writing "He has named gay judges to the bench in Southern California and has surrounded himself with a cadre of openly gay aides." (Bay Area Reporter 12/21/06). Arnold's "cadre" includes his personal assistant Clay Russell, an open homosexual, who accompanies Schwarzenegger "almost everywhere he goes (including vacation, sometimes)," and lives with his "partner-in-life." Is Arnold's selection of homosexual-activist staffers any surprise given the 20 anti-family laws he's signed over the past three years? Some pro-family Republican legislators have privately told me they believe Schwarzenegger may be totally unaccountable to family values his second term.
Last fall, most California pro-family voters supported Schwarzenegger as the "lesser of two evils." But is the "lesser of two evils" doctrine in the Bible? No, it stems from Greek philosophy. Liberal journalist Max Lerner (1902-1992), who loved pornography and frequented the Playboy Mansion, wrote, "When you choose the lesser of two evils, always remember that it is still an evil." Why did Lerner, an unabashed hedonist, understand what so many pro-family conservatives don't? Consider that in addition to the 20 anti-family laws Schwarzenegger has signed, the anti-family staff he's hired, and the big money he's raised for homosexual "Republican" activists, Schwarzenegger has done what no Democrat governor could ever do. Arnold has dumbed down the Republican Party, dumbed down conservative talk radio, and dumbed down the Church, all of which tolerate the anti-family things he does. Having liberal Schwarzenegger as California's "Republican" governor is like the fox guarding the hen house!
California Supreme Court preparing to legalize homosexual 'marriages'
For the last several months, I've been warning that the California Supreme Court is one vote away from legalizing homosexual "marriage" licenses. Now, after analyzing the latest evidence, I am predicting the state high court indeed has the votes it needs to destroy the definition of marriage between a man and a woman. You've already heard that the California Supreme Court has taken the San Francisco "gay marriages" case and will rule in early 2008. Now, get to know the four bad votes on the seven-member court:
1. Kathryn Werdegar: Voted in 2004 against nullifying the 4,000 "gay marriage" licenses issued by the City of San Francisco.
2. Joyce Kennard: Voted the same as Werdegar, against nullification, writing that "Individuals in loving same-sex relationships have waited years, sometimes several decades, for a chance to wed, yearning to obtain the public validation that only marriage can give."
3. Carol Corrigan: Nominated by Governor Schwarzenegger, Corrigan was enthusiastically supported by California's leading homosexual "marriage" organization when she was confirmed in early 2006 with the help of an equally enthusiastic Attorney General Bill Lockyer, who supports same-sex "marriage" legalization. The Los Angeles Times reported that Corrigan "is unmarried and shares a house in Oakland with a female friend."
4. Carlos Moreno: He is the fourth and deciding vote to destroy the definition of marriage between a man and a woman. Moreno, the high court's only Democrat, was put on the state high court in 2001 by former Gov. Gray Davis. In August 2005, Moreno authored the court's radical decision forcing businesses to treat homosexual "domestic partners" exactly the same as married customers: Domestic partners registered with the state, wrote Associate Justice Carlos R. Moreno for the majority, "are the equivalent of spouses for the purposes of the Unruh Act and a business that extends benefits to spouses it denies to registered domestic partners engages in impermissible marital status discrimination." (Daily Journal 8/1/05). The same month, Moreno authored a ruling that awarded parental status to two homosexual women, writing, "We perceive no reason why both parents of a child cannot be women." Now it's coming out that Moreno has a homosexual-activist research attorney named Michael Nava. In December, Moreno endorsed Nava's failed attempt to become California's first homosexual appeals court judge.
If you don't want the California Supreme Court to impose homosexual "marriage" ceremonies upon every community for every child to see, please pray for the success of the VoteYesMarriage.com amendment, which is the only marriage amendment left in California. The VoteYesMarriage.com amendment needs a wealthy soul to donate $2.5 million to place it on the ballot to override the state Supreme Court and permanently and fully protect marriage for one man and one woman in California. (In case you're wondering, Proposition 22, approved by the voters in 2000, was a mere statute and not a constitutional amendment, thus tempting judges to "reinterpret" the California Constitution to try to find the "right" to homosexual "marriages." In contrast, the VoteYesMarriage.com amendment will fully, specifically and permanently protect everything about marriage for a man and a woman in the California State Constitution, far above the reach of judges and politicians.)
Thank you for supporting CCF
"When good people in any country cease their vigilance and struggle, then evil men prevail."-- Pearl Buck, famed American writer who witnessed the Communist takeover of China, which resulted in the deaths of 77 million Chinese
I want to thank all of you who have done your part to donate to Campaign for Children and Families in December. Truly, you are fueling our public campaign for marriage, life and moral values up and down California. You are sincerely appreciated for standing up for God, family, and California!
If you haven't donated yet, CCF still needs your help. Please send your best gift today to CCF, P.O. Box 511, Sacramento, CA 95812 or donate online at http://www.savecalifornia.com/. You need CCF and CCF needs you here in 2007!
# # #
CAMPAIGN FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (CCF) is a leading West Coast pro-family organization empowering citizens to live out their values. Sign up today for CCF's free email updates at http://www.savecalifornia.com/. Your partnership empowers CCF's innovative work on behalf of children and families in culture, media and government. Please support CCF by making a secure online donation or by sending a tax-deductible gift of any size to:
Campaign for Children and Families
Randy Thomasson, President
P.O. Box 511, Sacramento, CA 95812
(916) 265-5650
http://www.savecalifornia.com/
http://www.saveamerica.net/
There is some interesting information about Gov. Arnold that I didn't know prior to reading the newsletter. Randy (the author) mentions voting him back into office as the "lesser of two evils." We shall see. He certainly doesn't appear to be a "lesser evil" to me!
I voted for Tom McClintock when Davis was recalled. He would have been a far better choice for pro-family conservative Christians. Now we are stuck with Arnold and the loonie left liberal Democrats in Sacramento.
*sigh*
Christine
*******
News and commentary from Randy Thomasson
New faces, same spaces in Sacramento
The California Legislature -- controlled by the most pro-abortion and pro-homosexuality-bisexality-transsexuality Democrats in California history has gaveled itself to order. Following Wednesday's "welcome back floor session, most of the 120 state legislators now plan to attend Governor Schwarzenegger's inauguration on Friday. Then they'll spend the next two months rubbing shoulders with lobbyists and busying themselves introducing some 2,000 bills before the committee hearings and floor sessions get underway in March. While the November election produced new faces in Sacramento, unfair "gerrymandered" district boundaries mean the balance of power will stay exactly the same as before: 48 Democrats, 32 Republicans in the Assembly; 25 Democrats, 15 Republicans in the state Senate. Already 132 bills have been introduced, among them the two marriage-destroying bills, AB 43 and SB 11. Visit CCF's website for action steps
8 worst California laws for 2007
There are 910 new state laws that Californians have to live under. Because these laws were approved by a Democrat-controlled Legislature and signed by California's liberal Republican Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, many of these new California laws impose the sexual and anti-family agenda on the rest of us. Here are the eight worst laws you need to know about:
AB 1160 Promoting Transsexuality, Bisexuality, and Homosexuality to Jurors
This new law permits either side in a criminal trial or proceeding to request that the court instruct jurors not to allow their family values (i.e. their "bias") based on "gender identity" (transsexuality and transvestitism) or "sexual orientation" (homosexuality and bisexuality) to be part of their mindset.
AB 1207 Pro-Transsexual-Bisexual-Homosexual Campaign Pledge
This new law revises the voluntary candidate pledge, called the Code of Fair Campaign Practices, to prohibit a candidate's "negative prejudice" against "gender identity" (transsexuality and transvestitism) and "sexual orientation" (homosexuality and bisexuality).
AB 2051 Promoting Transsexual-Bisexual-Homosexual Relationships The effect of this new law is to "promote healthy non-violent relationships in the lesbian, gay bisexual, and transgender community" by requiring law enforcement and domestic violence councils to support and promote so-called "healthy" transsexual, bisexual, and homosexual relationships.
AB 2560 Promoting Condoms and Birth Control Pills to Schoolchildren
This new law sets up a unit within the State Department of Health Services with the purpose of retaining and expanding school-based "health centers." Unfortunately, these centers will distribute condoms, birth control pills, and refer for abortions, pro-homosexual counseling, and suicide counseling; all without parental knowledge or consent.
AB 2800 Transsexual-Bisexual-Homosexual Agenda in Housing Industry
This new law requires the promotion of transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality in housing and housing related areas, including real estate licensure, mortgage lending, club membership, development projects, and community redevelopment.
AB 2920 Transsexual-Bisexual-Homosexual Agenda for Seniors
This new law force California's Department of Aging (within the state's Health and Human Services Agency) to support and promote the "unique needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender seniors."
SB 1441 Threatening Religious Values of Christian Colleges
This new law awards sexual activists a legal hammer to persecute religious colleges that accept Cal Grant students and religious daycare centers that accept CalWORKS childcare vouchers. SB 1441 prohibits "discrimination" on the basis of transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality in "any program or activity"that receives financial assistance from the state. There is no religious exemption.
SB 1827 Completing Counterfeit Marriage
This new law requires California's income tax laws to equate homosexual partnerships with marriage between a husband and wife. Awarding homosexuals the last legal privilege of marriage under California law, SB 1827 requires registered "domestic partners" to file personal income tax returns as either "married filing jointly" or "married filing separate," setting up a direct conflict with federal law which recognizes marriage rights only for a man and a woman.
For 2006 bill information, visit www.leginfo.ca.gov
Read about the 20 anti-family laws signed by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the last three years
Minimum wage hike: California now has the fourth-highest minimum wage in the nation, $7.50 per hour. One year from now, we'll have the highest in the nation at $8 per hour. Unfortunately, you can count on this government socialism resulting in fewer jobs and more businesses moving out of the state.
Good laws:
Out of the 910 new laws, there are a few good ones, because even the pro-abortion, pro-sexual-license Democrats that control the California Legislature oppose vandalism and are shocked by children developing Type 2 diabetes:
Anti-vandalism: Anyone arrested for vandalism now will lose his driver's license for up to two years, not just one, like before now. And vandals who are 13 and 14 will have their drivers' licenses delayed an extra one to three years for their crimes.
School junk food: A handful of new laws will require schools to sell and serve more healthy foods and snacks and less junk food next school year than they do now. And the elementary school ban on soda-pop sales will be extended to high schools, meaning vending machines will contain more fruit-and-vegetable-based drinks. These laws won't go into full effect until July.
Telephone privacy: It is now illegal for businesses to buy or sell your telephone calling records without your permission.
Obscenity: A very small step in the right direction, a new law prohibits government employees from using state-owned or state-leased computers to view obscene material. However, so little falls under the state's definition of "obscene" that lots of addictive and dehumanizing pornography can still be viewed on California government computers. America has degraded significantly since the U.S. Supreme Court's 1947 Wegglo standard, which held that anything that causes lust was obscene (FYI, this is also Jesus' standard, who said to lust after a woman was to commit adultery with her in your heart). This was replaced in 1973 by the totally subjective Miller standard, which, in the last 36 years has been interpreted to allow possession of all kinds of obscenity and pornography, except child pornography, yet allows authorities to prosecute distributors of obscenity. Here is the high court's "Miller test" making it difficult to prosecute obscenity: "The basic guidelines for the trier of fact must be: (a) whether 'the average person, applying contemporary community standards' would find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest, (b) whether the work depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by the applicable state law; and (c) whether the work, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value." Under the reign of former California Speaker of the Assembly Willie Brown, California law changed "community standards" to "statewide standards." This means what's sexually offensive in Bakersfield isn't legally obscene unless it also makes San Franciscans blush
.
Are you still glad he's governor?
Many Republican voters who supported Arnold Schwarzenegger as the "lesser of two evils" are shocked to hear that the Governor has asked liberal Democrat Willie Brown, the former San Francisco mayor and the self-proclaimed "Ayatollah of the Assembly," to be master of ceremonies for Arnold's swearing-in party on Friday. But I'm not shocked, and you shouldn't be either. Power over principle on moral matters has been the norm for California's liberal Republican governor. Early on, in his bodybuilding days, Schwarzenegger raised eyebrows when he posed nude in a homosexual magazine and endorsed the homosexual lifestyle. As Governor of California, he's simply putting his transsexual-bisexual-homosexual agenda into law.
Here in 2007, Schwarzenegger has fashioned an administration that an anti-family Democrat would be proud of. After winning reelection in November, Schwarzenegger hired gay activist Daniel Zingale, Gray Davis' point-man on homosexual, bisexual and transsexual issues, as his senior advisor. This means the top homosexual activists from the Davis administration, including Arnold's lesbian chief-of-staff Susan Kennedy, are ready for action in the largely unaccountable Schwarzenegger administration. A homosexual newspaper has glowed about Schwarzenegger, writing "He has named gay judges to the bench in Southern California and has surrounded himself with a cadre of openly gay aides." (Bay Area Reporter 12/21/06). Arnold's "cadre" includes his personal assistant Clay Russell, an open homosexual, who accompanies Schwarzenegger "almost everywhere he goes (including vacation, sometimes)," and lives with his "partner-in-life." Is Arnold's selection of homosexual-activist staffers any surprise given the 20 anti-family laws he's signed over the past three years? Some pro-family Republican legislators have privately told me they believe Schwarzenegger may be totally unaccountable to family values his second term.
Last fall, most California pro-family voters supported Schwarzenegger as the "lesser of two evils." But is the "lesser of two evils" doctrine in the Bible? No, it stems from Greek philosophy. Liberal journalist Max Lerner (1902-1992), who loved pornography and frequented the Playboy Mansion, wrote, "When you choose the lesser of two evils, always remember that it is still an evil." Why did Lerner, an unabashed hedonist, understand what so many pro-family conservatives don't? Consider that in addition to the 20 anti-family laws Schwarzenegger has signed, the anti-family staff he's hired, and the big money he's raised for homosexual "Republican" activists, Schwarzenegger has done what no Democrat governor could ever do. Arnold has dumbed down the Republican Party, dumbed down conservative talk radio, and dumbed down the Church, all of which tolerate the anti-family things he does. Having liberal Schwarzenegger as California's "Republican" governor is like the fox guarding the hen house!
California Supreme Court preparing to legalize homosexual 'marriages'
For the last several months, I've been warning that the California Supreme Court is one vote away from legalizing homosexual "marriage" licenses. Now, after analyzing the latest evidence, I am predicting the state high court indeed has the votes it needs to destroy the definition of marriage between a man and a woman. You've already heard that the California Supreme Court has taken the San Francisco "gay marriages" case and will rule in early 2008. Now, get to know the four bad votes on the seven-member court:
1. Kathryn Werdegar: Voted in 2004 against nullifying the 4,000 "gay marriage" licenses issued by the City of San Francisco.
2. Joyce Kennard: Voted the same as Werdegar, against nullification, writing that "Individuals in loving same-sex relationships have waited years, sometimes several decades, for a chance to wed, yearning to obtain the public validation that only marriage can give."
3. Carol Corrigan: Nominated by Governor Schwarzenegger, Corrigan was enthusiastically supported by California's leading homosexual "marriage" organization when she was confirmed in early 2006 with the help of an equally enthusiastic Attorney General Bill Lockyer, who supports same-sex "marriage" legalization. The Los Angeles Times reported that Corrigan "is unmarried and shares a house in Oakland with a female friend."
4. Carlos Moreno: He is the fourth and deciding vote to destroy the definition of marriage between a man and a woman. Moreno, the high court's only Democrat, was put on the state high court in 2001 by former Gov. Gray Davis. In August 2005, Moreno authored the court's radical decision forcing businesses to treat homosexual "domestic partners" exactly the same as married customers: Domestic partners registered with the state, wrote Associate Justice Carlos R. Moreno for the majority, "are the equivalent of spouses for the purposes of the Unruh Act and a business that extends benefits to spouses it denies to registered domestic partners engages in impermissible marital status discrimination." (Daily Journal 8/1/05). The same month, Moreno authored a ruling that awarded parental status to two homosexual women, writing, "We perceive no reason why both parents of a child cannot be women." Now it's coming out that Moreno has a homosexual-activist research attorney named Michael Nava. In December, Moreno endorsed Nava's failed attempt to become California's first homosexual appeals court judge.
If you don't want the California Supreme Court to impose homosexual "marriage" ceremonies upon every community for every child to see, please pray for the success of the VoteYesMarriage.com amendment, which is the only marriage amendment left in California. The VoteYesMarriage.com amendment needs a wealthy soul to donate $2.5 million to place it on the ballot to override the state Supreme Court and permanently and fully protect marriage for one man and one woman in California. (In case you're wondering, Proposition 22, approved by the voters in 2000, was a mere statute and not a constitutional amendment, thus tempting judges to "reinterpret" the California Constitution to try to find the "right" to homosexual "marriages." In contrast, the VoteYesMarriage.com amendment will fully, specifically and permanently protect everything about marriage for a man and a woman in the California State Constitution, far above the reach of judges and politicians.)
Thank you for supporting CCF
"When good people in any country cease their vigilance and struggle, then evil men prevail."-- Pearl Buck, famed American writer who witnessed the Communist takeover of China, which resulted in the deaths of 77 million Chinese
I want to thank all of you who have done your part to donate to Campaign for Children and Families in December. Truly, you are fueling our public campaign for marriage, life and moral values up and down California. You are sincerely appreciated for standing up for God, family, and California!
If you haven't donated yet, CCF still needs your help. Please send your best gift today to CCF, P.O. Box 511, Sacramento, CA 95812 or donate online at http://www.savecalifornia.com/. You need CCF and CCF needs you here in 2007!
# # #
CAMPAIGN FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (CCF) is a leading West Coast pro-family organization empowering citizens to live out their values. Sign up today for CCF's free email updates at http://www.savecalifornia.com/. Your partnership empowers CCF's innovative work on behalf of children and families in culture, media and government. Please support CCF by making a secure online donation or by sending a tax-deductible gift of any size to:
Campaign for Children and Families
Randy Thomasson, President
P.O. Box 511, Sacramento, CA 95812
(916) 265-5650
http://www.savecalifornia.com/
http://www.saveamerica.net/
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Obsession Documentary Update
A few weeks ago, my order of the documentary Obsession: Radical Islam's War With the West arrived. With the rush of the holiday season, I have not been able to view it. I have already seen it once via YouTube (before it was censored by Google...the new owners of YouTube) and it is truly an eye opening and gripping display of what we are facing in this global war against terrorism.
I also sent a copy to a liberal relative of mine, and she was totally shocked about what she saw in the movie! I have been telling her all along that she is not getting the whole picture or truth from the mainstream media about why winning the Iraq war is so important and how the goals of radical Islam are quite similar to nazism and communism.
The worldwide goal of nazism was atheistic in nature and they wanted to to eradicate the Jews from existence. The worldwide goal of communism involved atheistic domination and rule over all people under their government. The worldwide goal of radical Islam is religious domination , oppression, and rule over (or, more likely death to... ) those (especially the Christian and Jewish infidels) who do not bow the knee to their false god, allah.
The following is an email that I received today which contains updates on how this documentary is changing minds and waking people up to the long battle that we are up against in our fight to eradicate radical Islamo-fascist terrorists.
Christine
*******
On December 14th, Obsession producer Raphael Shore and Nonie Darwish who is featured in the film were interviewed on CNN. The 12 minute feature compared Nazi Germany in the 40s with today's radical Islam. Watch the full clip here.
On Monday, December 11th, the American parents of Daniel Wultz, a teenage victim of Arab terrorists in Israel showed Obsession on Capitol Hill. The screening took place two days before what would have been Daniel's 17th birthday. The family traveled from their Florida home to speak about terrorism and screen Obsession for Congressmen. Watch the clip here.
Is academic freedom an endangered species on American campuses? On December 6th, Front Page Magazine examined the issue of freedom of speech on campuses, and discusses the cancellation of Obsession screenings due to protests from Muslim student groups. Read the full article here.
On December 11th Obsession Director Wayne Kopping was interviewed on Front Page Magazine. Read the full interview here.
On December 6th, The Heritage Foundation's Helle Dale published an article about Obsessionin The Washington Times. She focused on the chilling reality that faces young children in a radical Islamic society. Read the full article here.
On December 2nd, South Africa's Saturday Star Newspaper interviewed the film's director, Wayne Kopping, in an exciting cover story article. Read the full article here.
Obsession has been accepted to the Film Festival BIFF 07, (Beloit International Film Festival) in January. The festival runs from January 18th-21st in Beloit Wisconsin with Obsession screening on the 20th. The New York Times recently chose BIFF as one of the four top alternate festivals to Sundance! Check out more details about BIFF at http://www.beloitfilmfest.com/.
Some of our newest approbations:
"This film offers incontrovertible evidence the world must be prepared for a long-term struggle against Islamic extremism. Expertly produced with solid historic research; every viewer regardless of background will learn something. The enemy objectives are clear. Do we have the courage to do what's necessary? " Jeffrey H. Norwitz Professor, US Naval War College
"Heart wrenching…I encourage everybody to see this film…you definitely get an incredible education by watching this film…the movie left many of us speechless…we appreciate what you’ve done. " Kyra Phillips anchor, CNN Newsroom
A review of Obsession is to be published in The Officer Magazine in February 2007. The Officer Magazine is distributed to over 70,000 readers, including congressional offices on Capitol Hill. Stay tuned for more details on the exciting release.
As of now our list of upcoming screenings is as follows:
January 1- Woodmere, New York
January 7- Island, Florida
January 9- Killeen, Texas
January 11- Miami Beach, Florida
January 13- Minneapolis, Minnesota
January 14- Albuquerque, New Mexico
January 18- Farmington Hills, Michigan
January 18- Buffalo, New York
January 23- Manalapan, New Jersey
January 24- Rochester, New York
January 28- Tenafly, New Jersey
January 29- Ottawa, Ontario
January 30- Bothell, Washington Our December screenings included:
December 1,2- Hamilton, Montana
December 4- Agoura Hills, California
December 4- Encino, California
December 7- Burnsville, Minnesota
December 10- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
December 13- Manchester, United Kingdom
For more information on any of these events, please visit our website.
To organize your own event, please contact
screenings@obsessionthemovie.com
To organize your own event on your college campus, please contact
It is no secret that Obsession’s success is largely dependant upon our supporters. How widely and effectively we are able to spread the message about the threat of Radical Islam and the necessity for the free-world to stand up for our values is in ALL of our hands.
Click here for more information on how you can get involved.
You can pre-order the 60 minute pre-release edition Obsession DVD here.
"Spiked" Stories of 2006
There is so much to write about today that I don't even know where to begin! Looks like another 3 blogpost day! Thank God for the cut & paste!
The first article of interest is the annual WorldNetDaily "spiked" and underreported stories of the year. I will just list all ten chosen for 2006 and provide a snipet of info about them here. Go to the website above for the full article.
There is a WND poll up on this issue, too.
And they love the fact that liberal left loonie Nancy Pelosi is the incoming speaker of the house. If the truth be told, they would probably more likely love to cover her up with a head to toe burka! Just sends chills down my spine...
I just have to include all of the next "spiked" story:
Did a post about the following story yesterday, but here's more info about it:
Current poll results:
What do you make of the talk about the North American Union?
Plans for a union are an absolute reality, and anyone who can't see concerted attacks on U.S. sovereignty is blind 64.66% (1738)
The evidence keeps mounting. When will people stop being in denial? 14.51% (390)
I'm astounded the mainstream media haven't even touched this issue 8.18% (220)
You'll have to prove it to me, along with the 'black helicopters' 2.94% (79)
Preposterous, only paranoid conspiracy theorists believe it's a reality 2.79% (75)
It's a real movement, but only small numbers of people are pushing it 2.75% (74)
Other 2.19% (59)
Conspiracy mongers are giving the most sinister interpretation of the evidence 1.56% (42)
The union is not for real, but I wish it were 0.26% (7)
It's for real, and it's a very good thing to stop wars and strife 0.15% (4)
TOTAL VOTES: 2688
8:15 a.m. PT
HT: WorldNetDaily
Update: Just found the shameless The New York Times caught in another monumental lie! Could this be the first, future "spiked" story for 2007? Or should it have been on the 2006 list??
All The Abortion Lies Fit To Print
HT: TownHall.com
Trackback URL: http://rss.townhall.com/trackback/www/bf29816e-5e2b-484f-8f5e-6bc72d001025/
Second Update: Another article about the NYT Abortion lie at LifeSite News.
The first article of interest is the annual WorldNetDaily "spiked" and underreported stories of the year. I will just list all ten chosen for 2006 and provide a snipet of info about them here. Go to the website above for the full article.
1. Plans under way for North American Union: While most Americans consider their nation's unsecured borders and the resulting flood of illegal immigrants to be among the country's most dire problems, the U.S. government – inexplicably – is engaged in progressively de-emphasizing those borders while integrating the U.S., Mexico and Canada into a North American "superstate."While driving in my car the other day, I was listening to the Michael Medved radio show and he was claiming that this story has to be just a ridiculous conspiracy theory. He lambasted Joseph Farah for speaking his mind on this issue and Farah has since written an article firing back at Medved.
Although most in the media regard the notion of a merger agenda as sheer conspiracy theory, an increasing number of high-level voices – including congressmen like Tom Tancredo and Ron Paul, and newsmen like CNN's Lou Dobbs who calls the government's actions on this issue "unconscionable" and "Orwellian" – are sounding the alarm over recent moves in the direction of a de facto North American Union.
There is a WND poll up on this issue, too.
2. Wave of murders and other crimes by illegal aliens: Though most of the media don't report it as such, and no government agencies are keeping tabs on it, there is an explosion of crime in the United States attributable to illegal aliens.So, what we have here is a preference of illegals to murder and rape! But we can't racially profile such murderers and rapists in the mainstream media now can we? Oh no! That wouldn't be prudent. C'mon! Wake up and smell the criminality, hatred, jealousy and rage of these people!
Last month, for instance, WND reported that more Americans were murdered this year by illegal aliens than the combined death toll of U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan since those military campaigns began.
In another disturbing expose, WND reported that a wave of illegal-immigrant gang rapes is sweeping the U.S. while public officials and law-enforcement authorities fear drawing the link.
3. Female teachers sexually preying on their students: In one of the most sensational stories of the year, WND documented dozens of cases of female teachers having sex with their underage students – both male and female.
Prosecutors dropped charges against teacher Debra Lafave who had sex with a 14-year-old
Although local media covered individual cases, most of the national media – with the exception of WND – ignored the starting epidemic. One exception was Fox News' Bill O'Reilly, which had WND Executive Editor Joe Kovacs on to discuss the phenomenon.
WND even devoted an entire issue of Whistleblower magazine to the subject, in an investigative report titled "PREDATORS." And WND Managing Editor David Kupelian delved in-depth into the reasons why the teacher-sex abuse scandal may eclipse even the Catholic Church's clergy sex-scandal.This should bother us all...immensely! What an outrage! Just because a sexual predator is pretty on the outside doesn't mean that she should get a pass when her black heart on the inside sexually molests and preys on children! Disgusting!! Just so disgusting!!
4. Mideast terror leaders favor Democrats: Recently, al-Qaida's No. 2 man, Ayman al-Zawahiri, spilled the beans about which U.S. political party the Islamic terrorists prefer to be running the show here in America – the Democrats. Addressing the Democrats, he said: "… you aren't the ones who won the midterm elections, nor are the Republicans the ones who lost. Rather, the Mujahideen – the Muslim Ummah’s vanguard in Afghanistan and Iraq – are the ones who won, and the American forces and their Crusader allies are the ones who lost."
Although it was obvious the terrorists would prefer the Democrats, especially in light of their willingness to "cut and run" in Iraq, WND alone among the major media actually canvassed key terror leaders before November's midterm election to see what their preferences were.
"Of course Americans should vote Democrat," Jihad Jaara, a senior member of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terror group and the infamous leader of the 2002 siege of Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, told WND.
"This is why American Muslims will support the Democrats, because there is an atmosphere in America that encourages those who want to withdraw from Iraq. It is time that the American people support those who want to take them out of this Iraqi mud," said Jaara, speaking to WND from exile in Ireland, where he was sent as part of an internationally brokered deal that ended the church siege.
Muhammad Saadi, a senior leader of Islamic Jihad in the northern West Bank town of Jenin, said the Democrats' talk of withdrawal from Iraq makes him feel "proud."
And they love the fact that liberal left loonie Nancy Pelosi is the incoming speaker of the house. If the truth be told, they would probably more likely love to cover her up with a head to toe burka! Just sends chills down my spine...
I just have to include all of the next "spiked" story:
5. Manipulated war photos by major news outlets: Once again, in 2006 the blogging world played a vital truth-telling role, this time during the month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah. Even though Israel was attacked by Hezbollah – which daily fired rockets and mortars into Israel, killing and terrorizing civilians – world opinion turned strangely against Israel, as its incursion into Lebanon went on day after day. Widely published photographs by the world's major international news services conveyed the horror of Israel's "disproportionate response" to Hezbollah's murderous attacks on Israeli men, women and children.This was despicable! Absolutely despicable!! I served as an ugly, added propaganda tool for the likes of the rancorous radical left! It was used to put the Cindy Sheehans and John Murthas of the world (who wish to keep their heads in the sand regarding the goal in getting the U.S. to abandon our efforts in Iraq) center stage when they should just shut up! My next post today will discuss the impact that the "Obsession: Radical Islam's War with the West" documentary is now having in getting people to realize the severe, global threat that we are facing from these deranged terrorists!
Some of the photos, however, were fraudulent – or, as one blogger dubbed the practice, examples of "fauxtography."
Connecting the dots, WND columnist Michelle Malkin surveyed the journalistic carnage:It's the story that the journalistic elite would rather just go away. In the aftermath of Reuters' admission that one of its photographers, Adnan Hajj, had manipulated two war images from Lebanon after bloggers smoked out his crude Photoshop alterations, and all 920 of his Reuters photos were pulled, evidence of far more troubling photo staging and media deception in the Middle East continues to pour in.
After citing other galling examples, Malkin noted: "Not all photographers overseas have their heads in the sand. Last week, Middle East-based photographer Bryan Denton, whose work has appeared in the New York Times, revealed on the professional photography website Light Stalkers that he had observed routine staging of photos – and even corpse-digging – by Lebanese stringers:"[I] have been witness to the daily practice of directed shots, one case where a group of wire photogs were choreographing the unearthing of bodies, directing emergency workers here and there, asking them to position bodies just so, even remove bodies that have already been put in graves so that they can photograph them in people[']s arms."
Malkin also quotes CNN's Anderson Cooper, who "revealed the routine mechanics of Hezbollywood propaganda tours last week":
"I was in Beirut, and they took me on this sort of guided tour of the Hezbollah-controlled territories in southern Lebanon that were heavily bombed ... they clearly want the story of civilian casualties out. That is their – what they're heavily pushing, to the point where on this tour I was on, they were just making stuff up. They had six ambulances lined up in a row and said, OK, you know, they brought reporters there, they said you can talk to the ambulance drivers. And then one by one, they told the ambulances to turn on their sirens and to zoom off, and people taking that picture would be reporting, I guess, the idea that these ambulances were zooming off to treat civilian casualties, when in fact, these ambulances were literally going back and forth down the street just for people to take pictures of them."
6. New revelation showing that contrary to his claims, Sandy Berger deliberately hid classified documents: The bizarre spectacle of Bill Clinton's National Security Adviser Sandy Berger receiving only a slap on the wrist for stealing classified documents and stuffing them in his clothes rated as one of the top 10 spiked stories for 2005. But a recent development in the case caused the story to shoot up the charts of the 2006 "spike" list as well.Why this law breaker and thief didn't get jail time is beyond comprehension!!
As WND Editor Joseph Farah reports:We learn that his first "cover story" was that he might have inadvertently thrown the papers in the trash.
We learn he admitted retrieving the documents he stashed under the construction trailer and brought them to his office.
We learn the reason he was not confronted earlier – and that law enforcement authorities were not notified – was because of Berger's high-level position in the Clinton White House.
And let's remember what Sandy Burglar was doing rummaging through classified materials in the National Archives. He was on assignment for former President Clinton, to help prepare him for upcoming testimony before the 9/11 commission as well as to prepare himself for impending testimony before the Senate and House intelligence committees.
Specifically, he was reviewing National Security Council documents about Osama bin Laden, al-Qaida and Sudan. Now, as you might recall, if you have a very good memory, the Clinton administration was offered bin Laden's head on a platter by the Sudanese government – an offer spurned by the White House.
The 9/11 commission was investigating the mistakes that led to the biggest attack on American soil in history.
Why was the punishment for this high-profile security breach so minimal, and so underreported? Berger plea-bargained a criminal sentence on the charge of unlawfully removing and retaining classified material for three years.
Did a post about the following story yesterday, but here's more info about it:
7. Iran leader's apocalyptic end-times vision: While most of the reporting and analysis of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech at the U.N. focused on what he had to say about the West and specifically the U.S., his chilling closing remarks were lost on most listeners – and apparently all reporters as well.
The last two paragraphs of his remarks revealed once again his steadfast and driving conviction, as reported in WND, that a messianic figure known as the "Mahdi" to Muslims is poised to reveal himself after an apocalyptic holocaust on Earth that leaves most of the world's population dead.
"I emphatically declare that today's world, more than ever before, longs for just and righteous people with love for all humanity; and above all longs for the perfect righteous human being and the real savior who has been promised to all peoples and who will establish justice, peace and brotherhood on the planet," Ahmadinejad said at the U.N. "Oh, Almighty God, all men and women are your creatures and you have ordained their guidance and salvation. Bestow upon humanity that thirsts for justice, the perfect human being promised to all by you, and make us among his followers and among those who strive for his return and his cause."
With Iran on the verge of producing nuclear weapons and already in possession of sophisticated medium-range missiles, mystical pre-occupation with the coming of a Shiite Islamic messiah is of particular concern because of Iran's potential for triggering the kind of global conflagration Ahmadinejad envisions will set the stage for the end of the world.
Ahmadinejad is on record as stating he believes he is to have a personal role in ushering in the age of the Mahdi. In a Nov. 16, 2005, speech in Tehran, he said he sees his main mission in life as to "pave the path for the glorious reappearance of Imam Mahdi, may Allah hasten his reappearance."
According to Shiites, the 12th imam disappeared as a child in the year 941. When he returns, they believe, he will reign on earth for seven years, before bringing about a final judgment and the end of the world.
Ahmadinejad is urging Iranians to prepare for the coming of the Mahdi by turning the country into a mighty and advanced Islamic society and by avoiding the corruption and excesses of the West.
All Iran is buzzing about the Mahdi, the 12th imam and the role Iran and Ahmadinejad are playing in his anticipated return. There's a new messiah hotline. There are news agencies especially devoted to the latest developments.
Ahmadinejad and others in Iran are deadly serious about the imminent return of the 12th imam, who will prompt a global battle between good and evil (with striking parallels to biblical accounts of "Armageddon"). Some interpretations of the events that precede his coming include a war that wipes out most of the world's population.
8. Two border agents face heavy prison time for injuring a drug smuggler they thought was armed: In one of the most disturbing stories of the year, two U.S. Border Patrol agents were sentenced to prison terms of 11 years and 12 years for shooting a drug-smuggling suspect in the buttocks as he fled across the U.S.-Mexico border.
On Feb. 17, Alonso, 37, an eight-year veteran of the U.S. Naval Reserve and a former nominee for Border Patrol Agent of the Year, responded to a request for backup from Compean, 28, who had seen a suspicious van near the border town of Fabens, Texas.
Both pursued a suspect, a drug smuggler by the name of Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila, who fled across the border to Mexico, but not before the agents saw what they believed to be a gun in his hands and heard shots fired. Both fired in return in an effort to stop his escape.
Far from being awarded medals for heroism, the two agents were hit with charges of violating the illegal alien's civil rights. The suspect, with 800 pounds of marijuana in his van, was given full immunity from prosecution to testify against the agents.
It turns out Border Patrol agents are forbidden from pursuing fleeing suspects.
At Christmastime, Compean was joined by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist and representatives of other border-security groups at a rally asking President Bush to offer the two law enforcement officers a pardon.
Rohrabacher, noting the president already has received a letter about the case from more than 50 Congress members, asked Americans to sign petitions and send e-mails and letters to the White House requesting a "Christmas pardon."
Grassfire.org has an online petition calling on Bush to pardon the agents, with more than 150,000 signatures.
"This is the greatest miscarriage of justice that I've seen in my career," Rohrabacher told WND. "Two brave Border Patrol agents trying to enforce the president's nonsensical border policy ending up being sent to prison, while an illegal alien drug smuggler is given immunity and walks free."
The letter to Bush included the signatures of Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Fla., Rep. Gary Miller, R-Calif., Rep. Sue Myrick, R-N.C., Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Va. and Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., the chairman of the House Immigration Reform Caucus.
"We ask that a full investigation of this case be ordered immediately," the letter said. "We are confident that during such an investigation you will find that these Border Patrol agents were acting within the scope of their duty and were unjustly prosecuted. Also, we ask that you use your power of presidential pardon, as granted by the United States Constitution in Article II, Section 2, to pardon these two Border Patrol agents. We understand these requests usually are for those that have already completed their sentences; however, we feel in this case it would be a miscarriage of justice to send these two Border Patrol agents to prison for protecting our nation's borders from an illegal drug smuggler."
.9. Mega-pastor Rick Warren praising Syria:
Like Saudi Arabia, Iran and other Middle East nations, Syria is well-known for persecuting Christians, and is officially acknowledged as such by everyone from private groups like Christian Freedom International to the U.S. government.
"For Christians, one of the core tenets is the ability to share your faith, but in Syria that can lead to arrest (and) persecution," CFI President Jim Jacobson told WND. "We list Syria as one of the top … countries where Christians are facing real persecution."
If you convert from Islam to Christianity, he added, "you're disowned by your family, [and] if the local mosque issues a death threat, no one is going to do anything about it, you'll just end up dead. Nothing is done, no police action, that's just understood. If you convert you'd better leave the country."
For those who already are Christian, the government allows them to practice their religion – but within harsh and restrictive guidelines. A Christian is not allowed to proselytize – ever. And churches that want to hold an extra service must get a government permit. Sermons are routinely monitored, as is church fundraising.
The status of Christianity in Syria reached the headlines recently as Pastor Rick Warren, author of "The Purpose-Driven Life," visited there and was quoted by Syrian media describing it as a "moderate" nation.Warren also said in a video that was posted briefly on the Internet that Syria is a "moderate" nation, although the video was pulled when he was asked about the comment, and he has denied making those recordings.
The audio from that video, however, was captured and can be heard here:
Go to WND website article to listen to Rick Warren talk about Syria:
According to SANA, the Syrian government news service, Warren said "many Americans don't realize that both Christianity and Judaism are legal in Syria. In addition, the government provides free electricity and water to all churches; allows pastors to purchase a car tax-free (a tax break not given to Muslim imams); appoints pastors as Christian judges to handle Christian cases; and allows Christians to create their own civil law instead of having to follow Muslim law."
In a series of widely read columns, WND Editor Joseph Farah publicly confronted Warren on his public defense of Syria as a moderate nation friendly to Christians, as well as numerous contradictions and apparent falsehoods in Warren's defense of his actions while in Syria and after
10. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg snoozing for 15 minutes during oral arguments.If you'd like to sound off on this issue, please take part in the WorldNetDaily poll.
The world's largest news organization, the Associated Press, gave it a two-sentence mention in the 16th paragraph of a story focusing on a political boundary case. Aside from Fox News which provided some coverage, very few in the media seemed to think a U.S. Supreme Court justice sleeping while hearing a case was newsworthy.
But on March 1, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was snoozing during oral arguments over political redistricting in Texas.
During a report by Megyn Kendall of Fox News, an artist's sketch of the hearing was aired with Ginsburg's head using the bench as a pillow.
There was no word if there was any audible snoring echoing through the esteemed chamber, but the sleep session was noticed by Bader's colleagues who made a snap judgment to let their associate continue her slumber.
"Justices David Souter and Samuel Alito, who flank the 72-year-old, looked at her but did not give her a nudge," the AP reported.
The incident caught the attention of Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank, who writes:
"At first, she appeared to be reading something in her lap. But after a while, it became clear: Ginsburg was napping on the bench. By Bloomberg News's reckoning – not denied by a court spokeswoman – Ginsburg's snooze lasted a quarter of an hour.
"It's lucky for Ginsburg that the Supreme Court has so far refused to allow television in the courtroom, for her visit to the land of nod would have found its way onto late-night shows."
Current poll results:
What do you make of the talk about the North American Union?
Plans for a union are an absolute reality, and anyone who can't see concerted attacks on U.S. sovereignty is blind 64.66% (1738)
The evidence keeps mounting. When will people stop being in denial? 14.51% (390)
I'm astounded the mainstream media haven't even touched this issue 8.18% (220)
You'll have to prove it to me, along with the 'black helicopters' 2.94% (79)
Preposterous, only paranoid conspiracy theorists believe it's a reality 2.79% (75)
It's a real movement, but only small numbers of people are pushing it 2.75% (74)
Other 2.19% (59)
Conspiracy mongers are giving the most sinister interpretation of the evidence 1.56% (42)
The union is not for real, but I wish it were 0.26% (7)
It's for real, and it's a very good thing to stop wars and strife 0.15% (4)
TOTAL VOTES: 2688
8:15 a.m. PT
HT: WorldNetDaily
Update: Just found the shameless The New York Times caught in another monumental lie! Could this be the first, future "spiked" story for 2007? Or should it have been on the 2006 list??
All The Abortion Lies Fit To Print
HT: TownHall.com
Trackback URL: http://rss.townhall.com/trackback/www/bf29816e-5e2b-484f-8f5e-6bc72d001025/
Second Update: Another article about the NYT Abortion lie at LifeSite News.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Islamic "messiah" in Spring, 2007?
Fellow blogger Roscoe Daley has a post up about the coming Muslim "hero" named Mahdi. I have heard bits and pieces about this, but Roscoe's link to Joel C. Rosenberg's post gives a lot more detailed information.
Roscoe writes:
Joel writes:
If I remember correctly, I think that Pastor John Hagee mentioned the significance of the Spring of 2007 in connection with Iran's nuclear weapons enrichment. I will need to locate the book, Jerusalem Countdown, and find the chapter where he describes that in his estimation, Iran is on target to finish a nuclear weapon by March or April of 2007.
I thought it was so interesting that in Joel's post, he mentions that this so-called "Mahdi" wants set up a "global government" based in Iraq, not Iran!
Since Ahmadinejad lies through his Iranian teeth about now being willing to help out in Iraq, we can clearly see the deception behind most of his words. I just hope that the do-nothing-until-it's-too-late U.N. doesn't fall for his lies; but I'm afraid that the U.N. probably will continue their blindness to the danger of radical Islamo-fascists intent on destroying us; and thus succomb under their "land of Oz, peace, not war" mentality and view of the world... right along, lock in step with the lunatic fringe lefties.
Note how France didn't learn its lesson by cracking down, rounding up, punishing and jailing the "youths" that torched hundreds of cars during the Muslim uprising there back in November, 2005. 400 more cars were torched this New Years Eve. LGF has a detailed post about it. What will it take for the rational part of earth to reach the government officials of France, wake them from their slumber and get their heads out of their..err...the sand?
Hat tips:
The Roscoe Daley Report
Joel C. Rosenberg
Little Green Footballs
Roscoe writes:
Did you know that Iranian Shiites believe Jesus is returning soon? That’s right—except they believe he’ll be returning as a footman for their Messiah, the Mahdi, who sounds ominously like the Beast of Revelation. We’ve devoted more than a few posts to this alarming development.
Joel writes:
The New Year may not be so happy if Iranian leaders have their way. The Islamic Messiah known as the "Twelfth Imam" or the "Mahdi" may come to earth in 2007 and could be revealed to the world as early as the Spring Equinox, reports an official Iranian government news website. The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) website says the world is now in its "last days." It claims that the Mahdi will first appear in Mecca, and then Medina. He will conquer all of Arabia, Syria, Iraq, destroy Israel, and then set up a "global government" based in Iraq, interestingly enough, not Iran. Such Islamic eschatology (end times theology) is driving the Iranian regime and helps explains why Iran has no interest in helping the U.S. and E.U. create peace in Iraq or the region, much less in ending its bid for nuclear weapons, the Iraq Study Group Report notwithstanding.
Anticipation of the imminent arrival or "illumination" of the Islamic Messiah has been steadily intensifying inside Iran since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad emerged as president of the country in June of 2005. A television series on IRIB called "The World Towards Illumination" has been running since last November to help answer the many questions Iranians have about the end of the world as we know it. The series explains the signs of the last days and what to expect when the Islamic Messiah arrives. The program also says that Jesus is coming back to earth soon as a Shiite Muslim leader and it denounces "born again Christians" for supporting "the illegal Zionist state of Israel." An Israeli news site was the first to pick up the story and its significance to Israeli national security, noting that the Mahdi will soon "form an army to defeat Islam's enemies in a series of apocalyptic battles" and "will overcome his archvillain in Jerusalem."
If I remember correctly, I think that Pastor John Hagee mentioned the significance of the Spring of 2007 in connection with Iran's nuclear weapons enrichment. I will need to locate the book, Jerusalem Countdown, and find the chapter where he describes that in his estimation, Iran is on target to finish a nuclear weapon by March or April of 2007.
I thought it was so interesting that in Joel's post, he mentions that this so-called "Mahdi" wants set up a "global government" based in Iraq, not Iran!
Since Ahmadinejad lies through his Iranian teeth about now being willing to help out in Iraq, we can clearly see the deception behind most of his words. I just hope that the do-nothing-until-it's-too-late U.N. doesn't fall for his lies; but I'm afraid that the U.N. probably will continue their blindness to the danger of radical Islamo-fascists intent on destroying us; and thus succomb under their "land of Oz, peace, not war" mentality and view of the world... right along, lock in step with the lunatic fringe lefties.
Note how France didn't learn its lesson by cracking down, rounding up, punishing and jailing the "youths" that torched hundreds of cars during the Muslim uprising there back in November, 2005. 400 more cars were torched this New Years Eve. LGF has a detailed post about it. What will it take for the rational part of earth to reach the government officials of France, wake them from their slumber and get their heads out of their..err...the sand?
Hat tips:
The Roscoe Daley Report
Joel C. Rosenberg
Little Green Footballs
A Variety of "Gay" News Out There...
With the Christmas and New Year holidays over, I have had more time to browse the usual websites. But when I clicked on Abiding Truth today, I saw four links with very different "gay" news.
First, of course, is the fact that eight new "gay-friendly" laws come into effect in California in 2007. No surprise there! Plus, Mark Leno, the "never-give-up-forcing-gay-marriage-on-the-state legislator, plans to re-introduce the same bill on "gay" marriage that Arnold vetoed last year.
The next article reveals Mitt Romney's gay connection in all its glory. If he plans to run for president as a "conservative" Republican, the homosexual rights wolf will not get to hide in his sheep's clothing for much longer.
Speaking of sheep, we get to the next article. It is sure to generate a huge amount of outrage from gay activists! (Peta, another radical group, would not be pleased, either, I'm sure).
Apparently, Science should keep it's hands off of gay sheep experimentation. Here's the first paragraph:
Barney Frank and the "gay" marriage state will not be pleased with that new development!!
My prediction? Gay rights advocates might pair up with PETA to stop such a procedure with the sheep. This kinda reminds me of the brief period of time when news of a so-called "gay gene" had been found and homosexual activists briefly joined the ranks of the Christian, pro-life movement to prevent the action of aborting fetuses seen as carrying the "gay" gene and deemed to having the possibility of being a "gay" child! We now know that there is no such thing as a gay gene, but the hype over the possibility led to much mis-information in the media. This, in turn, led many formerly thinking people to be misled in the morality and ethics area of their faith.
Speaking of morality and ethics...
There's even more "gay" news! The Pope has spoken out about the belief that homosexuals destroy themselves!
This one is short so here it is:
May the gay vs. traditional family blog battles begin...yet again!
Hat tips:
Abiding Truth
WorldNetDaily
San Francisco Chronicle (ugh!)
Times Online UK
First, of course, is the fact that eight new "gay-friendly" laws come into effect in California in 2007. No surprise there! Plus, Mark Leno, the "never-give-up-forcing-gay-marriage-on-the-state legislator, plans to re-introduce the same bill on "gay" marriage that Arnold vetoed last year.
The next article reveals Mitt Romney's gay connection in all its glory. If he plans to run for president as a "conservative" Republican, the homosexual rights wolf will not get to hide in his sheep's clothing for much longer.
Speaking of sheep, we get to the next article. It is sure to generate a huge amount of outrage from gay activists! (Peta, another radical group, would not be pleased, either, I'm sure).
Apparently, Science should keep it's hands off of gay sheep experimentation. Here's the first paragraph:
Experiments that claim to ‘cure’ homosexual rams spark anger
SCIENTISTS are conducting experiments to change the sexuality of “gay” sheep in a programme that critics fear could pave the way for breeding out homosexuality in humans.
The technique being developed by American researchers adjusts the hormonal balance in the brains of homosexual rams so that they are more inclined to mate with ewes.
Barney Frank and the "gay" marriage state will not be pleased with that new development!!
My prediction? Gay rights advocates might pair up with PETA to stop such a procedure with the sheep. This kinda reminds me of the brief period of time when news of a so-called "gay gene" had been found and homosexual activists briefly joined the ranks of the Christian, pro-life movement to prevent the action of aborting fetuses seen as carrying the "gay" gene and deemed to having the possibility of being a "gay" child! We now know that there is no such thing as a gay gene, but the hype over the possibility led to much mis-information in the media. This, in turn, led many formerly thinking people to be misled in the morality and ethics area of their faith.
Speaking of morality and ethics...
There's even more "gay" news! The Pope has spoken out about the belief that homosexuals destroy themselves!
This one is short so here it is:
TESTING THE FAITH
Pope: Homosexuals destroy themselves
Church has duty to speak out: 'Does man not concern us, too?'
Posted: December 30, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com
Pope Benedict XVI (Vatican photo)
In his most powerful statements to date on issues involving sexual morality, Pope Benedict XVI said homosexuals end up destroying themselves so the Church has a duty to speak out on moral issues that affect the very spiritual and physical lives of man.
"In seeking to emancipate himself from his body (from the 'biological sphere'), [man] ends up by destroying himself," the pope told cardinals, archbishops, bishops and members of the Roman Curia last week in a traditional meeting overlooked by most of the world's press. "Against those who say that 'the Church should not involve herself in these matters,' we can only respond: does man not concern us too? The church and believers must raise their voices to defend man, the creature who, in the inseparable unity of body and spirit, is the image of God."
The pope also lamented low birth rates in Europe, saying couples no longer seem to want children. This fact, he said, has "penetrated my soul."
"Men and women today are unsure about the future," he explained. "This fact, alongside the desire to have all of life to themselves, is perhaps the most profound reason for which the risk of having children appears to many as almost unbearable. ... If we do not relearn the basic foundations of life – if we do not rediscover the certainty of faith – it will also be ever more difficult for us to give others the gift of life and the challenges of an unknown future."
The pope also referred to the controversy over same-sex marriage.
"At this point, I cannot fail to mention my concern over 'de facto' couples," he said. "When new legislation is created that relativizes marriage, the rejection of the definitive bond gains, so to speak, juridical endorsement. Relativizing the difference between the sexes ... tacitly confirms those bleak theories which seek to remove all relevance from a human being's masculinity or femininity, as if this were a purely biological matter."
*******
Welcome to 2007!May the gay vs. traditional family blog battles begin...yet again!
Hat tips:
Abiding Truth
WorldNetDaily
San Francisco Chronicle (ugh!)
Times Online UK
The Battlefield of Faith
I chose the name "Talkwisdom" for this blog mainly because I wanted to discuss situations and topics that are front and center in the world today, and search the Scriptures in order to apply Biblical wisdom to them. I have found that oftentimes, non-believers claim that their own reasoning leads them unable to believe in the God of the Bible. Their doubt and confusion over why God allows sin and evil to continue in the world and their rejection, distrust, and refusal of God's provision for salvation, (Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior) doesn't allow them to realize and/or recognize the spiritual battle that is behind it all.
Remember that song by Pat Benatar called, "Love is a Battlefield?" Well, the truth is that our minds are in a battlefield and it's the devil that has declared war against each of us. People who do not know Jesus Christ and God's Word are lost in doubt and confusion. But God has provided His Son and His Word to help us overcome the wondering, doubt and confusion that plagues us.
James 1:5-8 tells us this:
Jam 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Jam 1:6
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
Jam 1:7
For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
Jam 1:8
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
One thing that often happens when people rely only on their own human reasoning, is that it can lead them into confusion. Proverbs tells us:
Pro 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (bold, italics mine)
The Bible tells us that reasoning in the mind can lead us in the wrong direction...away from God. It's a battle between reasoning in the mind versus obedience in the spirit. True faith (genuine trust in the Lord Jesus Christ) lies in the balance.
1Cr 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.
Where does confusion come from? It often comes from the fact that people want to figure out the "why" behind everything. Reasoning makes us want to understand all of the intricate parts.
The dictionary partially defines the word reason in the noun form as an "underlying fact or motive that provides logical sense for a premise or occurrence" and in the verb form as "to use the faculty of reason: think logically." We often have the habit of disregarding something that we have dissected in our minds if it is not "logical."
But logical reasoning is not an absolute law which governs the universe. Logic is not a set of rules which govern behavior, either. We must discern and decide whether logic is the right tool for the job. There are other ways to communicate, discuss and debate.
Jesus demonstrated that where faith is concerned, reasoning can lead to confusion. ...O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves?... Matthew 16:8 KJV
Logic can be used for evil purposes. Satan frequently steals the will of God from us due to reasoning. If the Lord is leading a person in a certain direction, but the mind doesn't think this makes sense, (perceiving it to be illogical, perhaps), then we may just want to disregard it. But for the Christian believer, faith in God may not always lead a him/her to do what makes logical sense to his/her mind. We may sense in our spirit that the Holy Spirit within is affirming it, but our minds may want to reject it because it might require some sort of discomfort or personal sacrifice on our part.
This may turn out to be a lame example of how logic can be used for evil purposes, but it popped into my mind so I'm going to go for it.
If you are a fan of the original Star Trek series, you may be familiar with this episode called Amok Time. You can read all the background information at the link, but the part that I want to concentrate on is T'Pring's use of logic. What isn't included in the episode description, is the very telling dialog between Spock and T'Pring when Spock believes that he has killed Captain Kirk. I'm paraphrasing and trying to recall it accurately (I'm sure GMpilot will correct me if need be!), but Spock asked why T'Pring chose Kirk for the fight. She said something like, "if Kirk won, he wouldn't want me and I would have Stonn (her current lover). If you won, I knew that you would be held in account for Kirk's death and again I would have Stonn." So, it was her logic that she used in this situation to get what SHE WANTED, despite the wreckage and ruined lives that she would leave in the wake of the battle. T'Pring was willing to sacrifice the life of someone she didn't even know because of her own, logical, but selfish reasoning.
But in the end, what she (T'Pring) and the leader, T'Pau, didn't know (Kirk wasn't actually dead), turned their selfish logical reasoning upside down on itself. Both Spock and Kirk won ( a kind of redemption) that day, despite the weapon of "logical evil" that was attempted against them.
Over the course of a lifetime, God shows us in so many ways that He is with us. Jesus was also called Immanuel which means "God with us." So, in the Person of Jesus Christ, we see the Father. Our part is to open up our heart to God to receive Him through Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. Our willingness to put aside our carnal mind and be sensitive to obeying God in the spirit is the battlefield of faith. I have seen individuals who want to call what God has unequivocally called sin in His Word, to be reconsidered as "something" that isn't really sinful. They enjoy a particular sin so much that they can "logically twist it" to be perceived as something which the devil was trying to take from them! See how our own reasoning can lead us away from obedience, the Truth, righteousness and genuine faith?
We can be masters at falling into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth! James 1:22 tells us:
Jam 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
The entire chapter of James 1 helps us in this battlefield area of our faith.
We all know that our minds like logic, order and reason. No doubt about that. But what we have reasoned in our own strength, without the direction of God's Word to keep us on course, can make us think we are correct, but still be incorrect. It's a fact that we can rationalize anything; especially what makes our minds and bodies feel comfortable. But the danger is that if it goes against the Word of God, we can still be totally wrong!
We are given the gift of understanding on many, many things in Scripture. Upon deep study, I have personally found that it is enough for me to have steadfast faith. Like the Apostle Paul said in Roman 9:1 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,
Remember that song by Pat Benatar called, "Love is a Battlefield?" Well, the truth is that our minds are in a battlefield and it's the devil that has declared war against each of us. People who do not know Jesus Christ and God's Word are lost in doubt and confusion. But God has provided His Son and His Word to help us overcome the wondering, doubt and confusion that plagues us.
James 1:5-8 tells us this:
Jam 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Jam 1:6
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
Jam 1:7
For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
Jam 1:8
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
One thing that often happens when people rely only on their own human reasoning, is that it can lead them into confusion. Proverbs tells us:
Pro 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (bold, italics mine)
The Bible tells us that reasoning in the mind can lead us in the wrong direction...away from God. It's a battle between reasoning in the mind versus obedience in the spirit. True faith (genuine trust in the Lord Jesus Christ) lies in the balance.
1Cr 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.
Where does confusion come from? It often comes from the fact that people want to figure out the "why" behind everything. Reasoning makes us want to understand all of the intricate parts.
The dictionary partially defines the word reason in the noun form as an "underlying fact or motive that provides logical sense for a premise or occurrence" and in the verb form as "to use the faculty of reason: think logically." We often have the habit of disregarding something that we have dissected in our minds if it is not "logical."
But logical reasoning is not an absolute law which governs the universe. Logic is not a set of rules which govern behavior, either. We must discern and decide whether logic is the right tool for the job. There are other ways to communicate, discuss and debate.
Jesus demonstrated that where faith is concerned, reasoning can lead to confusion. ...O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves?... Matthew 16:8 KJV
Logic can be used for evil purposes. Satan frequently steals the will of God from us due to reasoning. If the Lord is leading a person in a certain direction, but the mind doesn't think this makes sense, (perceiving it to be illogical, perhaps), then we may just want to disregard it. But for the Christian believer, faith in God may not always lead a him/her to do what makes logical sense to his/her mind. We may sense in our spirit that the Holy Spirit within is affirming it, but our minds may want to reject it because it might require some sort of discomfort or personal sacrifice on our part.
This may turn out to be a lame example of how logic can be used for evil purposes, but it popped into my mind so I'm going to go for it.
If you are a fan of the original Star Trek series, you may be familiar with this episode called Amok Time. You can read all the background information at the link, but the part that I want to concentrate on is T'Pring's use of logic. What isn't included in the episode description, is the very telling dialog between Spock and T'Pring when Spock believes that he has killed Captain Kirk. I'm paraphrasing and trying to recall it accurately (I'm sure GMpilot will correct me if need be!), but Spock asked why T'Pring chose Kirk for the fight. She said something like, "if Kirk won, he wouldn't want me and I would have Stonn (her current lover). If you won, I knew that you would be held in account for Kirk's death and again I would have Stonn." So, it was her logic that she used in this situation to get what SHE WANTED, despite the wreckage and ruined lives that she would leave in the wake of the battle. T'Pring was willing to sacrifice the life of someone she didn't even know because of her own, logical, but selfish reasoning.
But in the end, what she (T'Pring) and the leader, T'Pau, didn't know (Kirk wasn't actually dead), turned their selfish logical reasoning upside down on itself. Both Spock and Kirk won ( a kind of redemption) that day, despite the weapon of "logical evil" that was attempted against them.
Over the course of a lifetime, God shows us in so many ways that He is with us. Jesus was also called Immanuel which means "God with us." So, in the Person of Jesus Christ, we see the Father. Our part is to open up our heart to God to receive Him through Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. Our willingness to put aside our carnal mind and be sensitive to obeying God in the spirit is the battlefield of faith. I have seen individuals who want to call what God has unequivocally called sin in His Word, to be reconsidered as "something" that isn't really sinful. They enjoy a particular sin so much that they can "logically twist it" to be perceived as something which the devil was trying to take from them! See how our own reasoning can lead us away from obedience, the Truth, righteousness and genuine faith?
We can be masters at falling into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth! James 1:22 tells us:
Jam 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
The entire chapter of James 1 helps us in this battlefield area of our faith.
We all know that our minds like logic, order and reason. No doubt about that. But what we have reasoned in our own strength, without the direction of God's Word to keep us on course, can make us think we are correct, but still be incorrect. It's a fact that we can rationalize anything; especially what makes our minds and bodies feel comfortable. But the danger is that if it goes against the Word of God, we can still be totally wrong!
We are given the gift of understanding on many, many things in Scripture. Upon deep study, I have personally found that it is enough for me to have steadfast faith. Like the Apostle Paul said in Roman 9:1 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,
We also have fellow Biblical Christians born again in the Spirit to discern truth from error and keep us Biblically accurate.
Non-believers have told me that they don't believe there is such a thing as "the Holy Spirit." Without breaking such a barrier first (through being born again in Jesus Christ), they will just let their own reasoning and understanding prevent them from gaining discernment and revelation knowledge. There is a huge difference between head knowledge and revelation knowledge.
This is why the Bible tells us that the preaching of the cross to those who are perishing is foolishness to them!
1Cr 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1Cr 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Those verses reiterate what I have been saying. Human reasoning (the world by wisdom knew not God) thinks that Christian preaching of the cross of Christ is foolishness! But it is what saves them that believe!
Paul's approach to knowledge and reasoning is an example for us all. The Gospel message is of utmost importance in the battlefield of faith. I have found that I can experience the peace of mind and heart that only comes from trusting God, despite all the turmoil going on around me in this world. How did I reach that point? By not putting my own human insight and understanding first in my life, but "to resolve to know nothing but Christ."
1Cr 2:1
¶
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
1Cr 2:2
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
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