Another Year

Well God has blessed me with another year of life, I turned 47 today, as I look back through the years i can't help but think how they have flown by. I thank God for His blessings and for the chance to serve Him. My purpose for this year is to serve Him to the best of my ability and to not waste time on worthless things, after all, time is short and there is a lot to do.

See You There

This weekend we have the privilege of hosting Pastor Greg Laurie at our Church Calvary Chapel Kendall. Pastor Greg is an awesome man of God he gave his life to the Lord at the age of 19. At that age he started a Bible study with about 30 people, today that group has grown to more than 15,000 who meet every week to hear Pastor Greg teach the Bible. Whether speaking or writing (he has written a few books) God has gifted Pastor Greg with the ability to communicate Bible truths in a way that everyone can understand. You will not want to miss Pastor Greg as he shares from the Bible with us this weekend. Hope to see you there.

Another Prophet of Doom

After a six-year absence, Al Gore was greeted more like a liberal folk hero on Capitol Hill than a former vice president. His newfound fame, provided in part by two Oscar awards, helped persuade Senate Environment and Public Works chair Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) to relax the rules on his global warming testimony.

Unlike others called to testify, Gore was not required to submit his planned testimony 48 hours in advance. Instead Boxer waived the rule, giving Gore preferential treatment and allowing committee members only a few hours to prepare for the hearing.

During the session, Gore's "Chicken Little" scenarios were met with skepticism, particularly from Senate Republicans like Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) who said he, like many scientists, believed the dire global warming projections were a "hoax." On the House side, the former vice president was called a prophet by some Democratic members but his revelations were challenged by others.

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) cited 600,000-year-old scientific evidence that Gore's carbon dioxide claims are false. When Gore introduced a 10-point plan to make the environment a U.S. priority, conservatives argued that taking the steps he proposed would stifle the economy and harm the family. Mr.

Gore is not the first prophet of doom. Not unlike 19th century political economist Thomas Malthus, who urged drastic steps to limit population growth because of the scarcity of resources, the proposed cure is more intrusive government. In time Malthus was proved wrong, but his heirs love on.

Four Things to Think About

HERE ARE the four things which, aside from Iraq, take up the most time on the agenda of Western leaders regarding the Middle East. All of them are doomed to fail, which makes one wonder about this set of priorities and manner of thinking:

1) Making friends with Iran while trying to persuade it, through relatively mild measures, to stop working on nuclear weapons.

The fact is that Iran is not going to abandon its drive to get atomic bombs and the missiles to deliver them on target, certainly not unless subjected to the toughest possible diplomacy. Everyone should know this by now. Yet the pretense is that watered-down diplomatic wrist-slaps are going to make some difference.

2) Making friends with Syria to get it to stop using terrorism to take over Lebanon, and terrorism against Iraq and Israel.

3) Trying to moderate Hamas. Like Syria and Iran, Hamas does not want to be moderate. Unlike them, it hardly pretends otherwise. It continues to make clear its virulent anti-Semitism and goal of destroying Israel. To their credit, the Europeans are by and large holding the line. But again, a huge amount of time and energy is going into this dead-end effort at moderating Hamas.

4) Suddenly, at the worst possible moment in history for success, resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has become the top priority for many governments. Fatah has collapsed; Hamas is extremist and believes time is on its side, and every Israeli concession has inspired escalation by the Palestinians and others.

I could add two other points: thinking it possible to "solve" the internal situation in Iraq, and expecting that radical Islamists can be reconciled to Western interests.

What do all these things have in common? Not looking at how the interests and ideas of extremists direct them; wishful thinking that concessions and empathy can resolve real conflicts, and so on.

Now ask yourself this question: With so much effort going into guaranteed failures, is it surprising that there are so few successes?

Something to Think About

First we dehumanize you then we can kill you. Read story here.

Guess who's Threathing to deport Palestinians

You won't be reading much about this in the mainstream press, because it doesn't involve Israel.

A Middle Eastern government has announced that it is considering a plan to deport untold thousands of Palestinians from their homes, forcibly uprooting them and compelling them to leave. It won't be the first time this government has threatened such a move – in fact, back in 1995, it carried out those threats, and sent numerous Palestinians packing. But you won't be reading much about this in the mainstream press, nor will you hear nary a peep of protest from much of the left and its sympathizers over the cruelty and brutality of such a move. And that's because the government in question believe it or not is Libya, which views this as a form of protest against the policies of the new Palestinian Authority (PA) government. In fact, the PA is so concerned about the possible Libyan move, that PA Minister for refugee affairs Dr. Atef Adouan went public on the issue, telling the London-based newspaper al-Quds al-Arabi this, "We hope that the Libyan leadership will act wisely and with patience. Deporting the Palestinians from Libya would cause greater suffering to the Palestinian refugees. Full story here.

Religious Persecution in Israel

The arrest of a Messianic Jewish evangelist in Israel reflects the strife that often confronts Messianic Jews despite Israel’s guarantees of religious liberty and without any repercussion from law enforcement officials, the leader of a Messianic congregation told Baptist Press.

Messianic evangelist Eddie Beckford was arrested outside his business, the Chess and Bible Shop in Arad, after a mob of ultra-Orthodox Haradim Jews surrounded his van in the parking lot and beat him Feb. 25. “In general over the years here in the south in the Negev, in Arad and in Beer Sheva, there has been some form of harassment or persecution,” Howard Bass, leader of the Nahalat Yeshua congregation in Beer Sheva, said.

Groups of ultra-Orthodox Jews seem to have a difficult time accepting the fact that some Jews would believe that Jesus is the Messiah and that they would want to evangelize other Jews, Bass said. So those anti-Messianic groups work to stop the people they consider “missionaries” through various degrees of persecution. “In Arad, for instance, for almost three years they have been hounding the believers there at their services, in front of their homes,” Bass, an American Jew with Israeli citizenship, said. Full story here.

House Bids 'Aloha' to Constitution

The House leadership, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and company, is moving forward with bills that undermine the U.S. Constitution. In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a ruling that would have given native Hawaiians "sovereignty." New legislation that would have a similar effect has been quietly introduced under the name "Hawaiian Homeownership Opportunity Act." The bill could lead to exempting Hawaiians from the Constitution and allowing them to create their own race-based government. A second proposal, which would give the District of Columbia its own representative in the House, has come under fire from the White House for being "unconstitutional." The measure has already passed through two House committees and Pelosi vows to secure the bill's approval on the floor. Finally, as if there weren't enough hot air in Congress this week, Al Gore is paying a visit to Capitol Hill to offer his flawed research as grounds for U.S. climate change legislation. He was invited to testify before a joint subcommittee despite the fact that scientists are increasingly critical of his methods and conclusions.

The War over the War Rages On

In the four years since coalition troops first invaded Iraq, it has become painfully obvious that some Americans have short memories and even shorter attention spans. While our brave men and women risk their very lives for freedom, some at home have grown weary of the fight. In their impatience, they have lost sight of what our troops have sacrificed to bring security to America and freedom abroad.

Terrorists have been captured, dictators have been defeated, cities have been secured, and elected governments have been established. Still, many Americans are quick to say that this is not our war. In the face of fearless extremists who seek our destruction, they have forgotten that this is not just a war of weapons but a clash of moral visions and world views.

Popular or not, this is a long-term battle against radical Islam not only for Middle East democracy but for American survival. Bringing our soldiers home will not end the fight against terrorists, it will merely relocate it. As President Bush said today, "It can be tempting to look at the challenges in Iraq and conclude that our best option is to pack up and go home. That may be satisfying in the short run, but I believe the consequences to American security would be devastating... For the sake of the American people, we cannot allow this to happen." This message was echoed by thousands who gathered this weekend to support our troops and counter the latest anti-war protest.

Despite boasting that they would attract 100,000 or more, liberal organizers only mustered a group equal to, if not slightly smaller than, those who rallied on behalf of the war. As The Washington Post reports it, "Much of the passion was supplied by thousands of counter-demonstrators." Veterans from across the country traveled to the nation's capital, in part to protect the monuments from the vandalism that occurred during the January march. That effort, thankfully, succeeded. Above all, our disagreements must remain civil.

Defend--Not Defund!

As part of a bill to supplement the Iraq war effort, a group of liberal congressmen seized on the emergency legislation as an opportunity to fund "emergency" contraception. Led by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), who has avowed pro-life views, the measure would have lowered the cost of birth control pills to groups like Planned Parenthood.

Ryan, one of a handful of Democrats who campaigned on the life issue, vowed to find some vehicle to pass the measure. Fortunately, the GOP leadership, working with outside groups like Family Research Council, argued that the proposal was entirely irrelevant in "must-pass" legislation and had it removed from the bill.

Unfortunately, a host of unrelated earmarks managed to squeak past the bill's mark-up, including $74 million for "peanut storage costs," $25 million for "spinach growers," and 18 others, which are posted on www.frc.org.

A broader resolution in the Senate, which affirmed that Congress should not cut off or reduce funds to American troops, passed 82-16. That 16 U.S. Senators would vote to endanger our troops as they protect these leaders' very lives is abhorrent. To see the list of those who voted unconscionably to defund our soldiers in wartime, click here.

Remembering Bowie Kuhn

Yesterday saw the passing of Bowie Kuhn, the commissioner of baseball from 1969-1984, one of the most tumultuous (and prosperous) eras in the history of the sport. Kuhn was committed both to the integrity of the game and to its expansion, traits that left him in conflict with many of the game's most interesting characters, like Charlie O. Finley the owner of the Oakland A's and George Steinbrenner owner of the Yankees, but ultimately left him with the respect of them all. What is less well-known is Kuhn's lifelong commitment to family values and the sanctity of human life. He served in leadership roles for various nonprofit entities that foster these enduring values.

Send Out the Clowns

If liberal judicial activism were ever put on trial, the foolish decisions of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (sometimes referred to as the Ninth Circus) would be Exhibit A.

An editorial in today's Wall Street Journal notes that the Supreme Court has reviewed eight decisions by the Ninth Circuit in its current term--and has overturned all eight. The cumulative vote of the justices against the Ninth Circuit's positions is an astronomical 67-5. This gives hope that the Supremes will overturn another absurd Ninth Circuit ruling handed down Friday.

The Contra Costa County (Calif.) Library makes meeting rooms available to the public for "educational, cultural and community related" activities but forbids their use for "religious services." A district court judge overturned this blatantly unconstitutional policy, but a Ninth Circuit panel overruled that decision, and now the full court has refused to hear an appeal.

The judges argue that "mere religious worship" is entitled to less protection under the First Amendment than is secular speech or religious speech other than worship. The dissenting judges declared that "the majority has disregarded equal access cases stretching back nearly three decades." It's no wonder that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich told Dr. James Dobson last week in a radio interview that he favors abolishing the Ninth Circuit altogether.

The New Anti-Semitism

In the last few days of the Third Reich, in a bunker beneath the Chancellery, Adolf Hitler began writing his final will and testament. In it, he made this chilling prediction: "Centuries will pass, but out of the ruins of our towns and cultural centers, the hatred will renew itself against those ultimately responsible … international Jewry." Hitler was wrong. It didn't take centuries; it took less than sixty years for anti-Semitism to once again find a place in Europe and the Middle East. From the burning of synagogues, the desecration of cemeteries to Jews being beaten on the streets of Paris, Antwerp, and London, anti-Semitism has become a daily occurrence in our lives. Who would have believed, for example, that it would take only six decades for a president of a member state of the United Nations to have the audacity to call for the destruction of Israel, label the Holocaust a myth, and host a revisionist conference of Holocaust deniers. Even worse, that Ahmadinejad could do all this without suffering any consequences – that no one would even walk out of the hall in protest. Read full story here.

Teen Mania: Breaking the Sound Barrier

Ron Luce at Teen Mania is challenging America's youth to follow Jesus Christ and become cultural warriors for Him through BattleCry events all over the country. Last year the San Francisco Board of Supervisors actually issued a formal resolution condemning the BattleCry event.

This year city officials are using the bureaucracy to harass Teen Mania. Last week the city entertainment commission issued a decree that prohibited the use of the San Francisco Giants' stadium sound system before 10 a.m. Despite the fact that the stadium hosts concerts and ballgames year-round at every time of the day and night, San Francisco has found the limit of its tolerance in BattleCry's morning worship service. City officials are working overtime to dampen what has proven to be a life-changing, health-promoting rally for the nation's youth.

Thanks to the intervention of a local radio station, KFAX AM 1100, which offered to broadcast the service, kids will be able to join in the praise and worship through their personal radios. In hopes of reversing the city's decision, the American Center for Law and Justice has intervened and is considering legal action. The city of San Francisco may pride itself on its "diversity" and "tolerance" but it apparently draws the line on tolerance when it comes to Christians.

The Wrong Impression

Former Sen. John Edwards has turned his attention to wooing voters of faith a feat made more complicated by his recent refusal to fire two anti-religion bloggers. Though the controversy died when the women left of their own accord, Edwards is still trying to carve a niche among evangelicals.

In a discussion with beliefnet's David Kuo, Edwards was asked what parts of American life he thought would outrage Jesus. He responded, "Our selfishness... I think that Jesus would be disappointed in our ignoring the plight of those around us... what we're doing about [poverty]."

An examination of conscience is always a good idea, but Edward's broad assertion about American "selfishness" deserves scrutiny. In fact, as Arthur Brooks notes in his book Who Really Cares, one of the best things that could happen in the fight to reduce poverty would be for Americans to become more religiously conservative.

The reality is that of religious conservatives, secular conservatives, religious liberals, and secular liberals, "religious conservatives are the most likely to give away money each year (91%)." Brooks goes on to write, "Religious people are, inarguably, more charitable in every measurable way. Meanwhile people deeply embedded on the political left are usually not part of a 'culture' of giving." Edwards' claim that the U.S. has turned its back on the poor and destitute is deeply misleading. "Approximately three out of four families make charitable donations each year... [or] up to about a quarter trillion dollars per year," Brooks says. Simply being more vocal about the poor doesn't mean one is more likely to donate his own money to do something about it.

Poll Position

At the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), every GOP presidential candidate but Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) tried to stake a claim for conservative support.

The results of CPAC's presidential straw poll indicate that voters are grappling to find candidates whose platform addresses both the crisis abroad and the dilemmas at home. Of 1,705 registrants, 21 percent backed former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Mass.) for President. Rudy Giuliani, who was given a prime-time slot at the event, came in second-place with just 17 percent of the vote. Senator Sam Brownback received 15%.

The poll also surveyed conservatives for their opinion on what the government's priorities ought to be. Half responded that "their most important goal is to promote individual freedom by reducing the size of government." However, what voters considered the second biggest concern wasn't national security or immigration, but "promoting traditional values by protecting marriage and the life of the unborn."

Although attendees deemed marriage and life priorities, CPAC organizers did not. Neither issue was highlighted during the three-day conference. These results are indicative of the greater divide in the GOP. Contrary to what pundits said in the aftermath of the 2006 election, values voters are still a force to be reckoned with. This is even more evident in the CPAC split over the 2008 conservative front runner. Social conservatives are looking for a Commander-in-Chief who will provide bold leadership in tackling both the internal threats brought about by social decay and the external threats posed by radical Islamists.

Marriage Leads to Prosperity

The Washington Post reported yesterday on statistics which show that married couples have higher incomes than single people or cohabiting couples, and that children raised by married couples are less likely to live in poverty than children raised by single or cohabiting parents. This should come as no surprise. What is surprising is how the Post chose to spin this story. Instead of praising marriage as a ticket to prosperity, it seemed to lament the greed of those who wed, saying that the institution is "becoming the self-selected province of the college-educated and the affluent," a "luxury item" that is "helping to drive a well-documented increase in income inequality." When the Post says that "the marriage gap appears to be driven primarily by education and income," the cart is pulling the horse. Economic prosperity and educational advancement (especially for children) are driven by the decision to marry (before having kids) and staying married--not the other way around. The cost of the marriage license is the best investment most couples ever make.