Ceasar's Decree

We are in transition in Washington these days. The sitting President is preparing to leave and welcome his successor, I wish him well and I thank him and his family for what he has accomplished and what he has been willing to endure to keep our nation safe and free.

These days most people are focused, understandably, on the words and deeds of the incoming President. As the new administration of Barack Obama takes shape, we will certainly have much to say.

Political power has always attracted attention. The people's eyes naturally go to the wielder of the sword and the scepter. It was so in Biblical times. The Gospel of Luke tells us that "a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed." The Roman Empire was vast in those days. It stretched from Britain in the north, to Spain and Portugal in the west, deep into Africa and Egypt in the south, and as far east as modern day Syria. Caesar Augustus ruled all of this territory and the teeming millions who inhabited it.

Rome needed increased revenues, and Caesar knew how to get it. He first ordered that a census be conducted. He wanted a head count in order to apportion the amounts of money each provincial governor like Cyrenius, governor of Syria would be required to raise.

We can envision Caesar's imperial decree being inscribed by hand on vellum, a material made from the scraped clean hide of an unborn calf. From the Emperor's residence in the House of Hortensius on Rome's Palatine Hill, runners would have carried the document to waiting horsemen, the imperial couriers. From Rome, these horsemen would likely have proceeded in relay, changing horse and rider as each messenger reached the border of one of Roman Italy's 11 administrative regions. Passing through Latium and Campania to Samnium, to Apulia along the Appian Way, the riders would make for Brundisium, a port city on the east coast of Italy.

There, Caesar's decree probably would have been received aboard a Roman warship. It might have been a quinquereme, propelled by galley slaves who rowed in banks of five. On board this red cedar built craft, Caesar's order would cross the Mediterranean Sea to the Roman province of Palestine. Palestine was a distant outpost of the Empire, far from the most important of Rome's imperial holdings.

All this ordering and obeying, this saluting and receiving of salutes, this "hail caesaring" was necessary to bring millions of people together in their ancestral villages. And so Joseph, who was of the House and Lineage of David, also complied with Caesar's decree.

Thus were Joseph and Mary brought into Bethlehem. Caesar thought he knew what he was doing. He had never heard of Bethlehem. He had never heard of the Hebrew Prophet Micah. Micah had written: For out of you Bethlehem Ephrata...shall come one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is of old...his greatness shall reach the ends of the earth; he shall be peace. (Micah: 5:2, 3, 5)

God knew what He was doing in Palestine. Today, we know that the birth of Jesus in that little town of Bethlehem was, is, and ever shall be more important than all the Caesars, all the kings, all the presidents who ever ruled. In Bethlehem's dark streets there appeared an everlasting light. It shines for us still.

The Powerful/The Corrupt

It's been two years since Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) pronouncement that Democrats would make this "the most honest, ethical, and open Congress in history." So far, she and her colleagues have yet to make good on that promise, and there is absolutely no indication that liberals will lead a revival of integrity anytime soon.

Corruption has spun its web in America's highest halls of power, entangling both parties and bringing unprecedented disgrace to the nation's elect. The parade of allegations has wound its way through the offices of Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.), Rep. John Murtha (D-Penn.), and, more recently, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), who received a $40,000 campaign contribution from Fannie Mae during an alleged relationship with one of its executives. And let's not forget Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) for potentially inventing tax loopholes for wealthy oil companies.

The Democrats' trouble is even trickling down to eye popping state scandals. Following former Gov. Eliot Spitzer (N.Y.) down the path to public humiliation is current Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), the object of outrage after allegations that he tried to "sell" Sen. Barack Obama's vacant senate seat. Although Obama's transition leader John Podesta insisted weeks ago that Obama was launching a new "Transparency Policy" for his administration, we have yet to see evidence of it. While investigators say Obama hasn't been implicated in the criminal probe, the next President has been surprisingly mum on questions about Blagojevich and their relationship. As Americans cast a weary eye toward their leaders, Obama's party owes the American people the candor they promised if, for no other reason, than to make good on his guarantee of "change."

If Democrats seek to expand government, perhaps they should first earn our trust with the authority they have. With more power comes more corruption. Considering the latest public betrayals, the argument for limited government has never been stronger.

Do They Deserve a Raise?

Members of Congress will return to Washington after Christmas with a lavish $4,700 stocking stuffer in their paychecks. It's the automatic salary increase that kicks off at the start of 2009. Surely those of us who are paying for it would agree the raises are hardly performance-based!

When Congress adjourned this month, it did so with a drab 20% approval rating. After helping spend America into a recession that's cost millions of Americans their jobs, Congress wants more compensation for their own! Adding to the pain, Democratic leaders plan to convene in January with a "stimulus" plan that could strip another trillion dollars in debt from already struggling families over the next two years. The proposal is lined with new spending projects for roads, infrastructure, "green" building projects, school beautification, and, potentially, government controlled health care.

For a snapshot of just how "essential" the line items are, the National Taxpayers Union combed through the wish lists and found this gem. In Alexandria, Virginia, the mayor (one of many vying for "emergency funds") requested $2.4 million to make the trolley motors hybrid and replace the contractors who drive them with unionized city employees. Of course, Congress greased the wheels for this sort of waste with its $152 billion package in February and $700 billion bailout seven months later. If this gets you mad like it did me contact your leaders and tell them to stop the spending madness. If Congress doesn't know where to start, I do. Refuse the $2,514,500 in Capitol Hill pay raises.

Source: FRC,National Taxpayers Union.

Obama's Undo List

In politics, some leaders have a to-do list. It appears President Obama has an "undo" list. Wall Street Journal, reporter Laura Meckler highlights some of the pro-life policies that the next White House will move quickly to reverse. Like President Bush, Obama can accomplish a lot through Executive Orders, which do not require Congressional approval to take effect but have the same legal weight as laws passed by the House and Senate. Even if the 44th President puts the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) on the back-burner, as his transition team now insists he will do, Obama could still do plenty of damage to the sanctity of life. The following is a pro-life "hit list" that Obama may target almost immediately. By Executive Order, he could:

Rescind the Mexico City policy, which would direct taxpayer dollars to groups that provide and promote abortion overseas;

Restore funding to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which condones forced abortion and sterilization policies in countries like China;

Direct the Department of Health and Human Services to change the conscience exemptions for health care workers who morally object to abortion and other practices;

Change the Department of Justice Sexual Assault Protocol, Defense Department pharmaceutical formulary, and USAID's Commodities Program to encourage the use of "Plan B," which can act as an abortifacient;

Create incentives to provide subsidized birth control at college health centers and other providers;

Make "emergency contraception" available over-the-counter for girls of all ages;

Rollback the abstinence-only education requirement for certain federal aid; and,

Permit the use of taxpayer funds for the destruction of human embryos through unethical stem cell research.

Source: FRC

More to the Center

President-elect Obama has asked the Pastor Rick Warren, pastor of California's Saddleback Church and bestselling author of The Purpose-Driven Life, to deliver the invocation at the presidential inauguration next month. I like his choice of one of America's leading evangelical pastors who is pro-life and pro-marriage for this honor.

It was magnanimous of Obama, in light of the fact that his debate with John McCain at Warren's church in August was one of the high points of the campaign for McCain. (This was the event where Warren asked, "When does life begin?" and Obama replied that the question is "above my pay grade.")

Warren has distanced himself from the "religious right" by emphasizing issues more popular with liberals, such as AIDS relief and global warming, I will say here that I do not agree with some of his positions. But he has also been consistent in his support for the unborn and for the natural definition of marriage. This has led left-wing groups like People for the American Way and the Human Rights Campaign to complain about Obama's invitation to Warren.

In a letter to President-elect Obama, Joe Solmonese challenged the selection of Warren saying, "Rick Warren has not sat on the sidelines in the fight for basic equality and fairness. In fact, Rev. Warren spoke out vocally in support of Prop 8 in California saying, 'there is no need to change the universal, historical definition of marriage to appease 2 percent of our population ... This is not a political issue -- it is a moral issue that God has spoken clearly about.' Furthermore, he continues to misrepresent marriage equality as silencing his religious views. This was a lie during the battle over Proposition 8, and it's a lie today." Solmonese's desire to exclude Pastor Warren from the inaugural, based upon his religious convictions, proves the validity of the concerns over the homosexual desire to silence the Church. Let's hope that Rick Warren will use his channel of communication to the new President to press him for more pro-family policies rather than simply being used by Mr. Obama to make political inroads with evangelicals.

Source: FRC

Unlikely Testimony

Luke 2:8-20 describes the experience of the shepherds when Jesus was born. Think about that for a moment. Out of the whole of Jerusalem society, God picked a band of shepherds to hear the news of Jesus' birth. That's intriguing because shepherds were among the lowest and most despised social groups.

The very nature of shepherds' work kept them from entering into the mainstream of Israel's society. They couldn't maintain the ceremonial washings and observe all the religious festivals and feasts, yet these shepherds, just a few miles from Jerusalem, were undoubtedly caring for sheep that someday would be used as sacrifices in the temple. How fitting it is that they were the first to know of the Lamb of God!

More significant, they came to see Him the night he was born. No one else did. Though the shepherds went back and told everyone what they had seen and heard, and though "all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds" (v. 18), not one other person came to see firsthand.

Scripture doesn't describe how the shepherds' search for the baby Jesus actually unfolded, but it's not unreasonable to assume that they entered Bethlehem and asked questions: "Does anybody know about a baby being born here in town tonight?"

The shepherds might have knocked on several doors and seen other newborn babies before they found the special Child lying in the feeding trough. At that moment, those humble men knew for certain that the angels' announcement was a word from God. After their encounter with Joseph and Mary and Jesus, the shepherds couldn't help but tell others about what the angels had told them. They became, in effect, the first New Testament evangelists.

The shepherd's story is a good illustration of the Christian life. You first hear the revelation of the gospel and believe it (Romans 10:9-10). Then you pursue and embrace Christ. And having become a witness to your glorious conversion, you begin to tell others about it (Luke 2:17).

May God grant you the life-changing spiritual experiences and the ongoing attitude of enthusiasm and responsiveness that causes you to tell others that you, too, have seen Christ the Lord.

Unvarnished Truth

Luke 2:7 sets the scene: "[Mary] gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

That verse is explicitly concerned with a lonely birth. There were no midwives, no assistance to Mary at all. The Bible doesn't even mention that Joseph was present. Perhaps he was, but if he was typical of first-time fathers, he would have been of little help to Mary. She was basically on her own.

Mary brought forth the child; she wrapped Him in swaddling cloths; and she laid Him in a manger. Where usually a midwife would clean the baby and wrap Him, there was no one. Mary did it herself. And where usually there would have been a cradle or basket for the baby, there was none. Mary had to put Him in an animal's feeding trough.

When Christ entered the world, He came to a place that had some of the smelliest, filthiest, and most uncomfortable conditions. But that is part of the wonder of divine grace, isn't it? When the Son of God came down from heaven, He came all the way down. He did not hang on to His equality with God; rather, He set it aside for a time and completely humbled Himself (Philippians 2:5-8).

The Truth of the Nativity

by John MacArthur

The story of the first Christmas is so beloved that singers and storytellers across the centuries have embellished and elaborated and mythologized the story in celebration. However, most people now don't know which details are biblical and which are fabricated. People usually imagine the manger scene with snow, singing angels, many worshipers, and a little drummer boy. None of that is found in the biblical account.

Christmas has become the product of an odd mixture of pagan ideas, superstition, fanciful legends, and plain ignorance. Add to that the commercialization of Christmas by marketers and the politicization of Christmas in the culture wars, and you're left with one big mess. Let's try to sort it out. The place to begin is in God's Word, the Bible. Here we find not only the source of the original account of Christmas, but also God's commentary on it.

We can't know Jesus if we don't understand He is real. The story of His birth is no allegory. We dare not romanticize it or settle for a fanciful legend that renders the whole story meaningless. Mary and Joseph were real people. Their dilemma on finding no room at the inn surely was as frightening for them as it would be for you or me. The manger in which Mary laid Jesus must have reeked of animal smells. So did the shepherds, in all probability. That first Christmas was anything but picturesque.

But that makes it all the more wondrous. That baby in the manger is God! Immanuel!

That's the heart and soul of the Christmas message. There weren't many worshipers around the original manger-only a handful of shepherds. But one day every knee will bow before Him, and every tongue will confess He is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11). Those who doubt Him, those who are His enemies, those who merely ignore Him-all will one day bow, too, even if it be in judgment.

How much better to honor Him now with the worship He deserves! That's what Christmas ought to inspire.

Source: John MacArthur

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Tomorrow most if not all of us will get together with family and friends and celebrate Thanksgiving. It is a time of reflection and remembrance, a time when we remember those pilgrims of long ago and their journey in search of a new land, but why did they come? They tell us plainly in the governing document they signed, the Mayflower Compact: "For the Glory of God and the Advancement of the Christian faith, and the honour of our King and Country." They wanted to worship the Lord in the way their consciences and their understanding of Holy Scripture led them, which included building a community in which they could daily live out their faith in Jesus Christ. They called their dangerous effort "an errand into the wilderness." Sadly, many of them died in that first terrible year. Hunger and disease took their toll. But the Pilgrims are honored because they did not give up.

When their little ship, the Mayflower, returned to England, not one of their little band abandoned the call. They called on God to sustain them. And they accepted the timely help of the Wampanoag Indians, especially the English speaking Squanto. Without this help, they might all have died.

The story of Plymouth Rock also reminds us of the Israelites in the Old Testament. They would place standing stones in key places to help them remember how God had led them, how He had watched over them. The Pilgrims identified most strongly with the people of God in the Bible. There may never have been so highly literate a community. All the Pilgrims eagerly learned to read words so that they might read the Word.

This Thanksgiving is a good time to remind our children of the many blessings that Our Lord has showered upon us in the past year. Even in this time of war and of deepening economic hardships, the harvests of our fields are still abundant. Our people have been spared further terrorist attacks, and we passed through a hotly contested election without the violence that too often mars political conflict in less happy lands.

Most of all, we give thanks for the joys of family life. When we gather around a holiday table, the faith, love, and commitment of mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers bind our family circle. Let us also remember to give thanks to God for the brave young men and women who stand guard for us and our blood bought freedoms in distant lands.

And let us resolve in this season to live as "living stones [who] are being built into a spiritual house." (1 Peter 2:4-5).

God bless you and Happy Thanksgiving.

The Alchemist

I got this book from my daughter who read it as required reading for her English class. The Alchemist,written by Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho, is the story of a Shepard boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Santiago is quite content traveling in the countryside with his sheep, and dreaming of the merchant's daughter in the village where he sells his wool. That is until he has a dream in which a child appears one day and is playing with his sheep. Suddenly the child takes him by the hands and transports him to the Pyramids, telling him "If you come here you will find a hidden treasure." He meets a gypsy woman, a man who calls himself the king of Salem and an alchemist on his journey, all of whom point him in the direction of his quest.

Coelho writes with simplicity and directness. The whole novel is only 167 pages long and reads like a fairy tale. Coelho appears to be a new age proponent who in this novel borrows from various known religions to try an ecumenical approach to our journey on this earth. This is a very shallow tale disguised as a deeply spiritual fable. The Alchemist is a conflicting mixture of Christianity, just enough hints at mysticism to make it attractive to New Agers, the most simplistic of self-help guruism, and a random sampling of anything else leaning vaguely toward shallow spirituality.

I'm surprised and annoyed that this book is required reading at my daughter's school especially since it is a Christian school. If you are thinking about getting this book, please, do yourself a favor and steer clear of this inconsequential book.

What is this World Coming to???

Florida Boy Arrested For Gas Attack, 12-year-old charged after deliberately "breaking wind" in class. Read Story Here.

In a Pit with A Lion on a Snowy Day

A fellow staff member lent me this book. It was written by Mark Batterson who is the lead pastor at National Community Church in Washington D.C. Don't let the funny tittle fool you this is an awesome and inspiring book. The book is based on an obscure passage in the Old Testament book of 2 Samuel (23:29, 30). It centers on the story of an Israelite warrior (Beniah) who encounters a lion in a pit on a snowy day. The plot is that instead of Benaiah running away like most of, if not everyone of us would do, he jumps in to the pit and kills it. Throughout the book Batterson points out that this is the kind of courage that us as Christians must have.

Batterson structures the book on the seven skills he believes will help people chase the biggest lions. The skills according to Batterson are: overcoming adversity, unlearning fears, embracing uncertainty, calculating risks, seizing opportunities, defying odds, and looking foolish.

This book challenged the way I think about faith, and I hope it will find expression in the way I live out my faith. The book is sprinkled with references to pop culture and ancient culture, it digs out Biblical principles and helps us understand their relevance in our everyday live here in the 21st century. But the good thing about this book is that it's not Mark Batterson's story. And it's not Benaiah's story. It is God's story and it is one He wants to write in and through each of our lives.

This book is a fast and funny read, and it will leave you with lots to think about. It made me want to jump out of my chair and start running after God with more intensity and focus than before. It wil make you laugh, it will amaze you, it will inspire you, and it will help you in your walk with God. I give it five stars.

Ken Ham at Calvary Chapel Kendall

This weekend Ken Ham, president and founder of Answers in Genesis - U.S. and the new, highly acclaimed Creation Museum will be at my home church Calvary Chapel Kendall .

Ken’s teachings emphasize the relevance and authority of the book of Genesis, including some of the “hot button” topics of our day. He provides biblical and scientific answers to some of the most difficult questions people ask about the Christian faith, including: Can we really trust the Bible from its very first verse? How do we know there is a God? Are dinosaurs mentioned in the Bible? How can we evangelize more effectively?

Come and join us for our regular weekend services and a special two part series on Sunday evening. This is going to be an amazing weekend you won’t want to miss! Be sure to invite all your friends.

Saturday, Nov. 22 @ 6:00pm
Sunday, Nov. 23 @ 8:45am, 10:30pm, 12:30pm
Special Evening Sessions: Sunday, Nov. 23 session:01@6:30pm & session:02@8:00pm
Childcare will be provided

The Land of the Re-Threads

Breaking news suggests that President-elect Obama is unlikely to govern from the middle. By appointing former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D) as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, the 44th President provided a frightening glimpse of his new Cabinet. According to Politico, "Daschle was also considered for health care czar in the White House, but the transition team decided he could be more effective with Secretary in front of his name." As Majority Leader, Daschle was a notorious opponent of every pro-life measure. He blocked the partial-birth abortion ban, voted for taxpayer-funded military abortions, and supported a measure that would have forced Americans to pay for the distribution of the morning-after pill to young school girls. Apart from his extreme political ideology, the selection of Daschle is even more troubling because the South Dakotan lacks any experience in the public health arena. To most Americans, who thought this election was about "change," these appointments must seem incredibly ironic. So far, the new Obama administration has only managed to change the titles of the same old liberal leadership.

Source: FRC

Kudos for Congressman Tancredo

Congressmen to Bush: Pardon Imprisoned Border Agents. Republican Rep. Tom Tancredo from Colorado has long led the fight to free agents Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos, who were both resentenced last week. Read Story Here.

I'm Embarrassed by These Guys

"To listen to some Republicans you would think that traditional conservatives, the defenders of the unborn and the integrity of marriage were responsible for two wars gone sour, over-spending at a level to embarrass Lyndon Johnson, the largest expansion of entitlement spending since the Great Society, numerous cases of GOP corruption, betrayal of the public trust, and the miserable results in the presidential and congressional elections..." Like me, Tracy Mehan of the American Spectator is fed up with the Republicans' post-election finger-pointing. In his op-ed "Social Conservative as Scapegoats," he lashes out at the GOP's centrists for blaming November 4 on "the solid and most loyal" wing of the Reaganite coalition. To those of us in the pro-family movement, the Establishment's diatribe is a familiar one. When the GOP succeeds because of social conservatives, our importance is ignored. When the party fails for overlooking us, values voters are somehow to blame. With the exception of Gov. Sarah Palin and some hollow overtures by the Democratic Party, the 20 percent of voters who cited "moral values" as their first or second priority in this election had no real horse in this race. Maybe that explains why believers were less active in this election cycle. More than four million Americans who go to church more than once a week and voted in 2004 stayed home on November 4. Those voters would have made up half the difference between McCain and Obama. As the members of the Republican party jockey for position in this brave new Congress and sort out their internal leadership, a commitment to life and marriage is non-negotiable. Without it, the prospects of a Republican revival are bleak. As Karl Rove rightly points out, "These values are often more popular than the GOP itself."

Source: FRC, American Spectator

Could History Repeat Itself???

Barack Obama is warned to beware of a ‘huge threat’ from al-Qaeda
Security officials fear a ‘spectacular’ during the transition period. Read Story Here.

So Much for Global Warming!!!

The world has never seen such freezing heat. Read Story Here.

The GOP Lacks Courage, Conviction, and Leadership

Right on schedule, a small group of GOP centrists started wagging their fingers at values voters this week, blaming them for every lost opportunity on November 4. In the post election dust up, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), and Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) say they want to revisit a losing strategy for Republicans moving Left. "The answer," they claim, "is not to become a more conservative, combative party," but to acquiesce on the GOP's core issues in favor of energy and the environment.

Christine Todd Whitman, co-chair of the Republican Leadership Council, joined them in a blistering op ed that blames the pro-family movement for everything from lost congressional seats to John McCain's campaign defeat. She claims Republicans are "hostage to social fundamentalists" and damns the party to a "long time in the political wilderness" unless it rejects values voters. She cites the selection of Sarah Palin, a "sop" to social conservatives, as evidence of the problem.

The unpleasant reality for Whitman is that Palin was the most compelling part of the Republican ticket not in spite of her pro-family beliefs, but because of them. In a Rasmussen poll, more Republicans actually believed that Palin was the "right choice" (71%) for the GOP ticket than John McCain (65%). There is no better rebuttal to these disgruntled partisans than passage of the state marriage amendments. Despite what the centrists claim, it was a social issue not energy or the environment that delivered the most sweeping, bipartisan victory in the entire election.

Republicans are in this wilderness, not because they spent the last six years embracing limited government and moral values, but because the two parties were almost indistinguishable. The future of the GOP depends on strong leaders who will embrace a positive message of faith and family. Only then will the GOP win the respect of voters.

Source: FRC, Rasmussen Corp

Kudos to Sears

These days, it's tough to find companies that share our values. But this holiday season, some retailers are doing good. At Sears, they're giving back to the community by supporting our troops. By law, employers are required to hold jobs open for any military personnel who are called up for duty. Sears is doing our soldiers one better. To protect their workers from taking a pay cut and losing their benefits when they leave for the front lines, Sears is voluntarily paying the difference in salaries and maintaining all benefits-including medical insurance and bonus programs. A Sears Customer Service rep said, "[We] regard service to our country as one of the greatest sacrifices our young men and women can make. We are happy to do our part to lessen the burden they bear." I salute Sears and other corporations who make their own sacrifices on behalf of America's bravest.

Source: Sears

Intolerance: May be Coming to Your Church Next

Last year, Barack Obama said, "I am absolutely convinced that culture wars are so nineties; their days are growing dark." One year later, the culture wars are not only here they're raging. In their blind fury over Proposition 8, homosexual activists are doing more to hurt their cause than help. Groups like BashBack are storming churches, stomping on crosses, vandalizing buildings, and assailing Christians. On Sunday, the protests, which are spilling into every corner of America, arrived unexpectedly on the steps of Mount Hope Church in Lansing, Michigan. About two dozen homosexuals set off fire alarms during services, rushed the pulpit, and accosted worshippers. The police didn't make any arrests, but this was far from an isolated incident. Other marches are being planned near churches as we speak.

Make no mistake; this violence is calculated. These extremists are doing everything they can to invite a new "Stonewall," hoping that a response by law enforcement will go too far and create a backlash of sympathy for the gay movement. The slightest provocation by police or Christians would be disastrous. As difficult as it is, refuse to be intimidated. As Matthew 5 reminds us, "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven...

Source:FRC

A Line In the Sand

Facing the most pro-abortion administration in U.S. history, the Catholic Church is mobilizing to respond. In a meeting yesterday, 220 Catholic bishops drafted an official statement, warning Capitol Hill and President-elect Obama that passing the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) would be viewed as a direct attack on religion. Back in July of 2007, Barack Obama announced at a Planned Parenthood banquet that signing FOCA was his first priority: "Well, the first thing I'd do as President is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. ...On this fundamental issue, I will not yield and Planned Parenthood will not yield." With almost full control of Congress, Obama will be expected to live up to his promise as payback for the abortion community's support. If successful, the newly expanded majority would abolish over 300 pro-life laws and restrictions even reinstating partial-birth abortion.

Although the Catholic bishops have offered to work with the administration on a number of issues, the defense of life is non-negotiable. "This is not a matter of political compromise," said Bishop Daniel Conlon of Steubenville, Ohio. "It's a matter of absolutes." For some leaders, the church's forceful opposition to FOCA could be the excuse Catholic Democrats need to vote the legislation down.

If not for their conscience, members should be wary of the Bishops' warning for the mere fact that Catholics are a powerful player in the U.S. health care system. As Ed Morrissey points out, Catholics run more than 550 hospitals and 415 clinics in America, spending billions out of pocket to help the disadvantaged get the care they need. Under FOCA, religious providers would have two options: either comply with the abortion mandate or end their services completely. Is Congress so intent on appeasing Planned Parenthood that it would jeopardize the health care of 90 million Americans? We'll see.

Source:FRC

The More Things Change The More they Stay The Same

Barack Obama's website, once home to the President elect's sweeping plan for America, is surprisingly empty. Blogs are speculating why the massive, 25 point agenda was replaced this week with a brief statement. But in Washington, where people are policy, Americans should focus on Obama's personnel directory not his website to understand where our country is headed.

This week, as reports circulate about who the President elect's appointments will be, the spotlight has briefly rested on Susan Wood, co-chair of Obama's "advisory committee for women's health." Wood, who is vehemently pro-abortion, is rumored to be the next commissioner of the FDA. Three years ago, Wood was at that very agency, heading the Office of Women's Health. When her boss postponed a plan to make "emergency contraception" available to teen girls over the counter, Wood resigned in protest. She was outraged that the FDA wanted to delay sales until they could ensure that children under 16 could not access the drug without medical supervision. Under Wood's authority, the FDA would err as she does on the side of abortion advocacy, not American safety.

Her influence in the Obama administration could also mean the end of pro-life measures in our global AIDS policy. In a speech, Wood claims the U.S. has been "going in the wrong direction" on PEPFAR. While leaders in Africa have universally praised Bush's emphasis on abstinence and monogamy, Wood hints that the new president will implement a condom-based approach "not just this narrow, political ideology." That would be bad news for Africans

Source:FRC

Where is the Tolerance?

Members of the radical "No on 8" campaign in California have quickly turned their disappointment over the homosexual marriage ban into rabid hostility. Protestors have flooded the streets in Los Angeles with their sights set on the Mormon Church, railing against its leaders for their powerful role in protecting marriage. Together with allies in the Catholic and Protestant churches, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) was one of the main ingredients in Proposition 8's success. The Mormon Church's donations, estimated at roughly $22 million, fueled the hundreds of ad placements across the state that ultimately tipped the scales in the amendment's favor. Yesterday, 2,000 homosexual activists vilified the church, huddling outside the gate of an L.A. temple with profane signs and rainbow flags. Today, another march is scheduled for Temple Square in Salt Lake City, but the Church's leadership has no regrets about its involvement. In a statement, Elder Clayton said, "We believe it's a moral issue, and we reserve the right to speak out on moral issues." At LDS headquarters in Utah, leaders called for a ceasefire with gay activists and "goodwill" on both sides. Unfortunately, that message has yet to stick with the "No on 8" crowd, which has lashed out with unprecedented aggression against the faith community. Apart from the attacks on the LDS church (including ugly ads that depict Mormon missionaries invading the home of a lesbian couple and tearing up their marriage certificate), churches like Jack Hibbs' Calvary Chapel at Chino Hills have been spray-painted, cars vandalized, and police have confirmed at least two reports of physical assault. Once again, the Left is proving its unwillingness to practice the very "tolerance" they preach.

Source:FRC

Restructuring has Begun

The GOP has started a much needed restructuring and it started at the top. Republican Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) is stepping down from his leadership position in the House. Congressman Blunt was the main architect of several of the GOP's biggest legislative successes this year, including provisions that protect U.S. taxpayers. It is expected that Congressman Eric Cantor (R-Va.) will succeed Blunt as Whip, who would be a good choice. Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) is also stepping aside from the third highest ranking minority position, Republican Conference Chairman, and may well be replaced by the well respected Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.). Finally, there is talk that former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele is in line to take over the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee. Each of these conservatives has shown a commitment to the values that were once the GOP's guiding light. By embracing these leaders, perhaps the Republican Party will rediscover its true voice and return to the fundamental principles that brought it such success.

Source: FRC

The Winds of Change are Blowing

For the first time in several years, record numbers of Americans cast their ballots to steer the world's greatest power in a "new direction," seeing in Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) the change they so desperately sought. While assuming the presidency of the United States will be a relatively small step for Sen. Obama, it is a giant leap forward for America, putting our racially divided past far behind. Breaking down barriers and capturing imaginations, he soared to the White House with support from virtually every corner of our nation.

With Obama confidently in control, his party also made gains in Congress. Although Democrats fell shy of the 60-seat majority needed to make the Senate filibuster-proof, Democrats won 18 races to the Republicans' 13. Four are still undecided. Of the 11 Senate "True Bluers" who voted 100% of the time on family issues, it was a relief to see that only two lost, Sens. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) and John Sununu (R-N.H.). The Democrats also expanded their majority in the House, winning 255 seats, including 20 that were previously Republican. There, the "True Blue" casualties were also costly but not catastrophic. Of the 104 pro-family stalwarts, just seven lost, Reps. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.), Tom Feeney (R-Fla.), Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), Thelma Drake (R-Va.), Ric Keller (R-Fla.), Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) and Bill Sali (R-Idaho).

While conservatives will miss these principled voices, we could have lost more. What I have seen and what the exit polling appears to confirm is that this election was driven by the economy and a loss of confidence in the GOP. Despite what some may claim, the nation is not lurching to the left socially. In exit polling commissioned by FRC, voters were asked where "moral values" ranked in their list of priorities. Back in 2004, 22% of voters rated moral issues as their first priority when voting. Yesterday, in the midst of the greatest economic challenge in over two generations 20% of voters still cited "moral issues" as their first or second priority. Trust me, the issues we care about and those who care about them are not going away.

Source: FRC

The People Have Spoken

Senator Obama is now President-elect Obama. After a decisive victory he will assume office with a mandate. His mandate has meaning, especially on the economy and new efforts at international cooperation. But it is clear from the results of the ballot initiatives that he has no mandate to advance a radical social agenda that would destroy human life and overturn man-woman marriage. His stated positions on life and marriage are not where the American people stand on these issues. We as conservatives congratulate him, but as conservatives we will be reminding him, today and every day, that values aren't just among the issues; they are the core issues. We must also remember that we live in the greatest nation on earth, a nation that sees the transition of power every four or eight years without the shedding of blood. A nation that sees heated and sometimes spiteful debates over issues but in the end we can come together and agree to disagree. I thank God for this nation, and I pray that He will give wisdom and vision to President Obama.

Can We Ever Get A Straight Answer from This Guy???

In a taped appearance on MTV, presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) gave a muddled statement of his position on same-sex "marriage." "I've stated my opposition to [Proposition 8, California's ban on homosexual "marriage"]. I think it's unnecessary," Obama said. "I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. I am not in favor of gay marriage. But when you start playing around with constitutions, just to prohibit somebody who cares about another person, it just seems to me that's not what America's about." Twenty-six states have state constitutional amendments that define the institution of marriage as the union of one man and one woman-and another 17 have laws that offer the same protections. Millions of Americans across this nation have spoken on what the the definition of marriage should be. In contrast, 12 activist judges in three states, California, Connecticut and Massachusetts, have abused their power to overturn the historical and biblical definition of marriage. Would Senator Obama say that the actions of these judges are what "America is about"? On this issue, we need leadership from our elected officials. They cannot merely vote "present" and think "absent" when it comes to marriage.

Get Informed, Get Your Guide and Vote...

Using an undercover camera, Students for Life of America (SFLA) has produced new evidence that infanticide "does happen" at Planned Parenthood abortion clinics. When asked by a pregnant mother if her baby could be born alive at a New Jersey clinic, the nurse responded, "It does happen, but it wouldn't be able to survive on its own so eventually the baby does die." The tape, one in a long line of incriminating videos released to the media, was posted on YouTube to show Planned Parenthood's refusal to comply with the federal Born-Alive Infants Protection Act. Just days later, YouTube removed the post, saying it "violated the website's terms of use." YouTube may turn a blind eye to these injustices, but the U.S. Congress should not. Time after time, the leadership on Capitol Hill has refused to investigate Planned Parenthood, one of the biggest beneficiaries of your taxpayer dollars. Instead of freezing its funds, liberals are seeking ways to increase them! Before you vote for the next class of congressmen, make sure you know where your candidates stand on taxpayer funded abortion. Log on to www.frcaction.org for your free copy of a voter guides.

What our Kids Watch Makes a Difference

A new report suggests that television may be playing a starring role in your child's sex education. In a study of 2,003 teens aged 12-17, scientist Anita Chandra of RAND Research found that children who watched programs with "high levels of sexual content" were almost twice as likely to become pregnant as kids with limited exposure to such shows. The study, which was released today in the journal Pediatrics, is said to be the first to establish a real link between teen pregnancy and racy programming. When asked what shows they preferred, kids admitted to watching "Sex and the City," as well as the innuendo-heavy "Friends," "That '70s" Show," and reality fare. "This might surprise people, but sitcoms had the highest sexual content," Chandra said. Yet for all the glamorization of sex, very little attention has been paid to its consequences. "If teens are getting any of their information about sex from TV, they're very rarely going to get a balanced portrayal," Chandra said. "When there is [sexual content], how often is it coupled with a discussion of [the risks]?" Not very often, according to the Kaiser Foundation. A few years ago, it found that only 10 percent of shows with adult content made a passing reference to the dangers of sexual activity. Of course, RAND's research is far from the first blemish on television's record. Scientists have compiled quite a case against TV, which includes everything from early sexual activity and heightened aggression to an increased rate of STDs. Now that teen pregnancy has been added to the list, I can't help but wonder when has television been associated with anything positive? While it's easy to become enraged with Hollywood, the burden of protecting our children falls on us. We cannot be complacent about what our kids are watching and expect them to take our values seriously. Sex education or the lack of it starts in the home. Don't let your television do the talking. Send your kids a clear message on abstinence before their innocence goes right down the tubes.

Source: FRC, Rand Institute

There is Still Hope

There seem to be few issues preventing Americans from voting for Sen. Obama, but thankfully abortion is one of them. A new poll highlighted in the Washington Times by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner shows that a majority of evangelicals young ones in particular-refuse to betray their pro-life convictions on Election Day. "While young evangelicals... have become more liberal on other social issues... we do not see the same movement toward a liberal position on abortion," said pollster Anna Greenberg.

Although Sen. Obama is still widely popular among young voters, abortion could prove to be a losing issue for the Democratic candidate. Today's teens are far more pro-life than their parents, according to a Pew survey released earlier this year. Those beliefs could easily push them away from a candidate with a 100 percent approval rating from Planned Parenthood. For more on the Senator's policy, check out FRC Action's new video, "Draw the Line: Barack Obama and Partial-Birth Abortion," now available online at www.frcaction.org.

Source: FRC

More Social Issues

Next week, more voters will decide the fate of gambling in their state than any other values issue. And in every instance but one, the question before them is not whether to limit gambling but to expand it. Please consider the following initiatives very carefully. Each one will have a significant impact on your communities and families.

Arkansas: Initiative 3 would amend the state Constitution to allow lotteries.

Colorado: Amendment 50 may be called the "Limited Gaming Initiative," but the measure actually increases gambling in the state with provisions that would allow 24/7 casino hours.

Maine: Question 2 would authorize Olympia Gaming of Las Vegas to operate a gaming facility at a single site in Oxford County. This proposal would also lower the legal age for gambling from 21 to 19 and lower the legal age to work in a casino from 21 to 18. The same proposal would also allow the casino to extend credit to gamblers, which is currently prohibited under Maine law.

Maryland: Question 2 asks voters to approve the placement of 15,000 slot machines at five locations throughout the state.

Massachusetts: Question 3, the only anti-gambling measure on U.S. ballots this year, would shut down the state's two dog racing tracks by January 1, 2010.

Missouri: Proposition A would repeal a state law that limits gambling losses to $500 in a two-hour period.

Ohio: Issue 6 would authorize the building of a $600,000,000 gambling "resort" near Wilmington. If passed, it would be Ohio's first casino. For more information, check out www.frc.org for a 2008 Ballot Watch.

Source: FRC

The State of The Congress

Two years ago, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) pledged to transform America with the most ethical Congress this country had ever seen. Since 2006, voters have yet to see any revival of responsibility in Washington. Instead new charges of corruption have been leveled at leaders from both parties. From Reps. Tim Mahoney (D-Fla.) and Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) to Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) and now Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), integrity is becoming the exception to the congressional rule. Yesterday, a federal jury indicted the Alaska Senator on seven counts of filing false financial statements. The once-powerful Stevens, who was the Senate's longest-serving Republican, is vowing to return home and "ask for [Alaskans'] vote." However, if 2006 is any indication, Americans are not interested in reelecting men of questionable character to Congress. Voters have been burned in the past for trusting Republicans to address these scandals internally. Despite several new charges on both sides of the aisle, both parties seem indifferent to this arrogance of power and refuse to weed out improprieties. If our leaders refuse to restore basic decency to American democracy, then voters must do it for them. But voters should keep this in mind as well: if politicians in Washington can't be trusted, why give them more power?

Source:FRC

Are We That Fickle?

In the midst of the media storm surrounding the upcoming elections, there’s one news item you may have missed. An economic crisis is upon us and Sarah Palin is at the center of it. What’s the cause of this crisis I’m talking about? Her glasses.

In less than one month’s time Sarah has become a household name. Everyone has an opinion about her. But whether you’re Republican, Democrat or Independent, there’s one issue regarding the vice presidential nominee on which the majority agrees. We love her glasses! I suppose not since Ben Franklin invented bifocals have spectacles captured our fancies so.

Women (and even men) are flocking to their opticians in search of Governor Palin’s Kawasaki 704 series designer specs. In less than two weeks, the Japanese company that manufactures the $375 frames received 9,000 global orders. That’s more than they normally produce in a year! I’m no economic analyst but there’s no way supply can meet that demand.

According to Governor Palin’s optician, she selected her now-famous frames from hundreds of choices. I’ve worn glasses almost my entire life and know what a difficult decision this is! After much searching she selected just the right pair for her and the rest, as they say, is history.

As popular as they are today, Sarah Palin’s glasses will become yesterday’s news. While much of our attention is fixed on who will lead our country come January, we must remember politicians come and go. But there is one leader who has, does and will stand the test of time: Jesus. As we set our sights on the future, let’s never forget on whom we need to fix our gaze. And let’s offer Him our one-of-a-kind devotion.

Key Social Issues

As the elections draw near there are very important issues that the voters will be deciding. California's ballot initiative may be receiving the most attention, but there are plenty of important values issues to go around. Next week, voters are considering measures in 33 states on everything from prostitution to casinos. These are the key social questions around the country. California: Proposition 4 would create a limited statewide parental notification law. If it passes, doctors would be required to call home before performing an abortion on a minor girl.

Colorado: Also known as the Personhood Amendment, Question 48 would define a "person" as "any human being from the moment of fertilization." If successful, this initiative could have a significant impact on future abortion laws.

Michigan: Proposal 2 would allow human embryos created for fertility purposes to be used for research, leading to the destruction of these embryos and undoing a 1978 law banning the killing of human embryos.

South Dakota: Except in the cases of rape, incest, or threats to the mother's health, Measure 11 would amend the state's constitution to protect the unborn in South Dakota.

Washington: I-1000 would legalize assisted suicide, allowing doctors to order lethal drug overdoses for patients with six months or less to live. Family members would not have to be informed.

Get informed and get out and VOTE!!!

Source:FRC

First Comes Love, Then Come Taxes

If Barack Obama's "family-friendly" tax code sounds too good to be true, a little research into his plan proves that it probably is. Senator Obama says that under his proposal, "families" (i.e., married couples) making less than $250,000 wouldn't experience a tax increase. But he also says that single people earning less than $200,000 would face no tax increase. In other words, if you are a cohabiting couple each making $200,000 a year ($400,000 total), you will be spared a tax hike, but if you're a married couple who each makes $200,000 a year, you would likely face a substantial tax penalty. Talk about a marriage deterrent! On page five of his six-page plan, it states, "Obama would work with the Treasury Department to adjust the thresholds of these rates slightly to ensure that no married couple making less than $250,000 (or single making less than $200,000) was affected by these changes." Of course, it won't just be wealthier families who find themselves burdened by Obama's plan. The Illinois senator has said that he opposes making President Bush's tax cuts permanent, meaning that every family would experience a tax increase after the per child tax credit and marriage relief expires.

Source:FRC

Can Dead Fish Vote???

Just when you think it can't get any crazier in this election year another "crazy" story comes out. It seems that in Illinois which happens to be Senator Obama's home state, a dead goldfish was registered to vote. Read Story Here.

More on Barney

Congressman Barney Frank, one of the bozos responsible for pushing the sub-prime mortgages, said in an interview this week that now is the time to start making sure we 'increase spending' in order to help the current financial mess. Let this be exhibit 'a' in support of the 9% approval rating Congress is currently enjoying. Can you believe this bozo???

They are at it Again

Just when you thought congressional approval ratings couldn't drop any lower, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced plans for a new economic stimulus package. The ink on Congress' $700 billion bailout bill is barely dry, yet House Democrats are back at it, adding to America's tab by the hundreds of billions. Ironically, Pelosi and company still believe they can solve this crisis by exacerbating the problem that got us here, spending money America doesn't have. In the latest proposal, liberals are trying to bribe voters with their own money. "Re-elect us," Pelosi seems to say, "and Congress will send you a check." What Pelosi doesn't mention is that this package won't create wealth but redistribute it. With a price tag that could climb upwards of $200 billion, the Democrats' plan would increase funding for unemployment benefits, food stamps, and "infrastructure." States that find themselves in financial trouble would also profit. The plan would create an economic crutch for those who spent unwisely, rewarding irresponsibility and plunging America even deeper into debt. At a press conference, the House Majority Leader said, "That is something that we all know that we have to do." On the contrary, what Congress needs to do is stop fooling itself into believing that it can deliver real relief with paternalistic payments when fundamental tax fairness for families needs to be made permanent before the bills for these billion dollar bailouts come due.

Source: FRC.

Financial Apocalypse

I don't believe one U.S. political party or the other is specifically to blame for our own financial crisis. There is plenty of blame to go around and the problems have been developing for years. That said, it is becoming increasingly clear to me that the U.S. stock markets are tanking especially hard right now in part because investors believe Sen. Barack Obama is going to win on November 4th. As polls for Obama and Congressional Democrats have risen and Americans have begun to sense that Obama's election as president and expanded control of Congress by Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Harry Reid and their liberal allies is inevitable investors' fears have not been calmed. They have been exacerbated. True, investors don't see a complete and convincing economic rescue plan from Sen. McCain. But they see disaster in Obama's plan and the likelihood of full control of the U.S. government by the Democrats. The Obama-Pelosi-Reid prescription, after all, is the worst possible medicine for the economy. Fact, $1.3 trillion in new federal spending, dramatic tax increases on small businesses, dramatic tax increases on big businesses, dramatic tax increases on those who create wealth, a major new tax on energy producers, as well as nationalized health care system. We are not simply on the brink of a serious recession; we are on the brink of another Great Depression. How, then, will massive tax increases and massive government spending help us fight our way out of this crisis? Answer: it won't. And Main Street and Wall Street know it. Just ask Joe the Plumber.

Source: J. Rosenberg.

Obama's Abortion Extremism

Sen. Barack Obama's views on life issues ranging from abortion to embryonic stem cell research mark him as not merely a pro-choice politician, but rather as the most extreme pro-abortion candidate to have ever run on a major party ticket. Read Story Here.

When Does Life Begin?

I had posted this before, but since we are getting ready to vote in one of the most important elections of our time we need to meditate on our values, and we need to find out whether the values of those that are seeking our votes align with the values that God has given us. So here it is again.

You saw me before I was born. (Psalm 139:16 )
So when does life begin? It’s one of the most debated legal questions of our day. The dispute has spread so wide and far and created so much division, that the U.S. Supreme Court has been forced to weigh in on it. Every state has had to deal with the issue when passing and enforcing laws. Every country has had to decide where it stands on the matter of what to do with a life inside of a mother’s womb.
When does life begin? Only when we answer this critical question can we know how to answer the abortion debate.
For believers the question takes on a different form. We need to ask ourselves, Where does God stand on the issue? And that question is dealt with definitively in Scripture.
“You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed” (Psalm 139:15-16 , italics mine).
According to God’s holy Word, life begins at conception. Your life began before your mother and father knew they were going to have a child. Your days were numbered before you were a twinkle in your daddy’s eye. God knew your soul before he decided to place it into a body.
The debate on life is really nothing more than a question on the authority of God. If you believe that God created us and that Scripture is his inspired Word, the question has already been answered. There is nothing left to talk about. God weighed in on the debate before it ever became a debate. We simply have to ask ourselves whether we’re going to take his Word as truth or continue arguing our opinions.
How much easier to simply leave it to God to answer the big questions of life and concentrate instead on trusting what he says.

Thoughs on Self-Discipline

God wants me and you to develop a self-discipline that pushes us to do things, even as others are giving up.

Over the years, I’ve observed six key expressions of self-discipline:
People with self-discipline master their moods. They live by their commitments, not their emotions. People who do the right thing even when they don’t feel like it accomplish most of what gets done in the world! “A man without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls” (Proverbs 25:28).

People with self-discipline watch their words. They put their minds in gear before opening their mouths. “He who guards his lips guards his life” (Proverbs 13:3).

People with self-discipline restrain their reactions. How much can you take before you lose your cool? “If you are sensible, you will control your temper. When someone wrongs you, it is a great virtue to ignore it” (Proverbs 19:11).

People with self-discipline stick to their schedule. If you don’t determine how you will spend your time you can be sure that others will decide for you! “Live life, then, with a due sense of responsibility … Make the best use of your time” (Ephesians 5:15–16).

People with self-discipline manage their money. They learn to live on less than what they make and they invest the difference. The value of a budget is that it tells your money where you want it to go rather than wondering where it went! “The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets” (Proverbs 21:20).

People with self-discipline maintain their health. That way they can accomplish more and enjoy their achievements. “Every one of you should learn to control his body, keeping it pure and treating it with respect” (1 Thessalonians 4:4).

The disciplines you establish today will determine your success tomorrow. But it takes more than just willpower for lasting self-discipline. It takes a power greater than yourself: “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7).

The more I accept God’s control over my life, the more self-control he gives me.

Can Dead People Vote?

Apparently they can in Texas, where one county found that 4,000 of its registered voters were dead but even that didn't stop many of them from voting!

The excitement over the spike in voter registrations has quickly turned to suspicion as officials in almost a dozen states have launched investigations to determine whether these nine million Americans are actually eligible. In the weeks leading up to November 4, the New York Post found dozens of people who have different names but share the same story. Most of the accounts, like Christopher Barkley's, are from swing states and involve ACORN, the "community activist group" with ties to Obama submitting the bulk of the new voter applications. Barkley says he was "hounded" to register by ACORN workers in Ohio, a crown jewel of the presidential race. "I kept getting approached by folks who asked me to register. They'd ask me if I was registered. I'd say yes, and they'd ask me to do it again." Ohio voter Lateala Goins told a Post reporter, "You can tell them you're registered as many times as you want; they do not care. They will follow you to the buses, they will follow you home..." Another man in Cleveland says he "was given cash and cigarettes" by ACORN representatives for registering a whopping 72 times in the last year and a half.

Here in Florida, a state that President Bush won by less than 600 ballots in 2000, the Sun-Sentinel discovered that more than 30,000 felons are still on the rolls, despite the law rendering them ineligible. Although 11 states are investigating ACORN's role in widespread election fraud, time is short. With the nation on edge and Americans sharply divided as to who can lead us back, democracy cannot become corruption's next victim. Regardless of who wins, we all have a stake in an honest process.

Are We on a Slippery Slope???

First it was the bailout of AIG, then it was the $700 billion "rescue plan", now the government is "mulling" over the possibility of taking over banks the same way that is happening in England. i don't know about you but when the government starts taking control of private industries, there is a word to define it and that word is socialism. Interesting times we are living. Read story here.

Get Informed, Get Your Guide and Vote...

If you're wondering what tops Congress's wish list, try job security. Given the choice, a Rasmussen poll shows that almost 60% of Americans would clean House literally and fire every member of Congress. Only 17 percent of voters would be willing to keep the legislature we have now. And for good reason! While there are some very good men and women presently serving, the Congressional majority has been more hostile to American families than any contingent in history. With their values assaulted almost daily, voters have grown increasingly frustrated with our leaders, and Congress' single digit approval ratings show it. To help educate you about the men and women competing for your support, FRC Action has just released their latest Congressional Voter Guide. From abortion and hate crimes to marriage and gun control, they show you where the next class of leaders stands on some of the year's hottest issues. With an important election on the horizon, please do your part. Log on to www.frc.org for the information you need to make an educated decision. And while you're there, check out the Presidential Voter Guide.

On November 4th, make a difference by voting your values.

Source: FRC.

Are We Raising a Generation of Cheaters???

Cheaters may not prosper, but according to a new ABC story, they do graduate. As technology evolves so has intellectual dishonesty. According to writer Dominick Tao, the Internet has become a haven for students who are both browsing and sharing ways to outsmart their teachers. Helped by everything from invisible ink pens to YouTube videos, this moral indifference is spreading faster than the products that fuel it. In a shocking national poll, more than 70 percent of college students admitted to cheating at least once. When it comes to personal integrity, these young adults just don't get it. Considering the culture they live in, who can blame them? They've been taught by Congress, Wall Street, and Hollywood that the ends justifies the means. Unfortunately, this collapse of values at college has even wider implications. Not only are we raising a generation of moral relativists, but we have done so while witnessing what this deep seated corruption can do to our country. It levels corporations, tarnishes our political process, and breeds an incredible mistrust between voters and their elected leaders. Until we get down to the business of instilling a sense of honesty and ethics into society, we are only cheating ourselves.

Source: FRC, ABC News.

What Your Tax Money is Doing !!!

I wrote before that I would let you guys know who are the biggest offenders in this mess that we call "our economic crisis". Well here is the next one. If you'd just gotten a government bailout, you might be tempted to hold a retreat at a nice California hotel and that's exactly what American International Group (AIG) employees did. And their executives Blew $440,000 of yours and mine tax money. Read Article Here.

What the Bailout has really Done.

Washington has just put every member of your family deeper in debt. Washington added $700 billion to what we owe, making our debt $11.3 trillion. That amounts to $37,667 for every man, woman and child in America. Several hundred million of this $700 billion bailout went for “pork barrel” spending which is unrelated to the financial crisis.

The financial crisis is the result of power-hungry politicians telling Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to make loans to people who could not afford them, and then Fannie and Freddie forced the banks they serve to do the same. Those who lived inside their means and bought what they could afford are seeing their retirement funds going down the drain while the responsible parties pocket their millions.

I don't know about you but I'm are fed up!

We must demand open congressional hearings to investigate this matter. If we don’t act now, the politicians will sweep this under the rug.

• I want to know who did what, when and why that caused this crisis.
• I am fed up with politicians mismanaging my money.
• I am fed up with politicians “taking care of your buddies” in smoke-filled back rooms.
• I am sick and tired of having my money taken from me and squandered by Washington for political gain.
• I am tired of individuals doing a shoddy job of running a quasi-governmental operation and being paid $90,000,000 with our tax dollars.
• We must demand an explanation of how this crisis happened and who was responsible for it.
• If laws were broken, we want those responsible prosecuted.
• For those who acted unethically, we want to know who they are and what they did.
• We want hearings on this matter, and we must demand that they be open, not behind closed doors.
• We hold Congress responsible to get to the bottom of this matter so that it will never happen again.

Source: AFA

Meet Barney.

I'm still mad about the whole bail out deal, so I decided to research it, well the more I learn about the financial mess our government is in, the more I see how the liberals got us in this crisis and now want the government to get us out. I think that what we need is a thorough investigation of this whole thing. Those found breaking the law need to be prosecuted. What I will do is this, when I find out about an individual that may have done something "fishy" I will write about it, I will name names and give you all the information I come across. The first guy I want you to learn about is congressman Barney Frank democrat from Massachusetts, read this article, to learn more about Frank and to better understand why we are in this mess. Here is another article about Frank. Stay tuned there is more to come.

Get Informed

With just weeks to go before a climactic presidential election, all eyes are on the national stage. But the stakes are equally high if not higher for the country's congressional races. We've all watched as Congress has muddled its way through the last two legislative sessions, increasing its attacks on the American family and leaving critical issues like the sanctity of life, cloning, taxes, hate crimes, and marriage in limbo. This all culminated with the fiasco of the "bailout bill". To help you navigate the candidates on November 4, FRC Action has released its first installment of the Congressional Voter Guide. In it, America's next leaders are asked what their positions are on a host of key issues. Log on to www.frcaction.org and download your copy, which compares House and Senate candidates in 25 hot races. Look for phase two of FRCA's Voter Guides to hit the site next week.

Do your part to elect men and women of character tomorrow by getting informed today!

More Thoughs on the Bailout

What do NASCAR, the Motion Picture Association, and Puerto Rico rum makers have in common? They all benefited from the Senate's $700 billion economic bailout plan. Hoping to entice the bill's skeptics with some familiar bait, the upper chamber sweetened its deal with more than a billion dollars in tax breaks for special interests. As the Dow plummets, unnerving investors from coast to coast, the House approved the Senate's bill. With the economy hanging in the balance, more responsible members were faced with the question-to pork or not to pork? And while the Senate managed to slip in relief for manufacturers of toy arrows, its quiver contained little for American families. As the sun sets on President Bush's tax cuts in 2010, leaders may use these amendments to leave the impression that the major tax issues have been addressed. They couldn't be more wrong. To restore confidence we must actively pursue tax simplification and permanent tax relief. Energizing the economy means expanding the IRS's grace not to a handful of niche markets, as the Senate suggests, but to all Americans, especially American families. If our leaders are this determined to bail out Wall Street, how much more concerned should they be with rescuing the family from our suffocating tax policy?

Source:FRC

They Did it Again!!!

Once again we have been had by our so called representatives. The vote is in and the "rescue plan" passed. Never mind that we the people were against it. But I guess we are to stupid to know what we want and they have to tell us what is best for us. The final count was 263 in favor and 171 against. I applaud the 63 democrats and 108 republicans that did not compromise their character and stood on their convictions and voted the will of their constituents. As for the rest of them, I hope we remember come November. I will personally find out how my representatives and senators voted and I will hold them accountable in November. Hope you do the same. If you don't then you don't have a right to complain.

What a Joke...

I have been watching on and off the so call debate in the house of representatives about the so called "rescue bill". These guys and gals are amazing at talking a lot and saying nothing. How can they sleep at night? How can they sell their integrity for power? Is amazing. I guess that old saying still holds true today. absolute power corrupts absolutely. This is an election year and these guys are counting on us the people having a short memory like we have had in the past. I hope that we don't, I hope that we are mad enough to remember come November.

More Pork!!!

Here are some more "pork" that our tax money is helping "bail" out, oh I'm sorry should I use the term the politicians are using now? "rescue" plan. Stuffed into the 451- page bill are more than $1.7 billion worth of targeted tax breaks to be doled out for a sty full of eyebrow-raising purposes over the next decade. Anyways here are some of them:

* Wool research.

* Auto-racing tracks - $128 million. (bet you NASCAR is smiling).

* Corporations operating in American Samoa - $33 million. (What???).

* Small- to medium-budget film and television productions - $10 million. (HuH???)

* $223 million package of tax benefits for fishermen and others whose livelihoods suffered as a result of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill.

* $3.8 billion health-care provision that forces insurance companies to provide coverage for mental-health treatment equivalent to the coverage they provide for physical illness.

Now can somebody please tell me what all of this has to do with "rescuing" Wall Street? I'll tell you, NOTHING. This is just a transparent attempt at buying the votes of those congressmen/women that voted NO on Monday.

What effect will this bill have if it passes? The Congressional Budget Office said the package of breaks including obvious pork and some more defensible tax-relief measures will add about $112 billion to budget deficits over the next five years because the bill doesn't contain enough offsetting revenue hikes to keep the budget balanced.

Are You Kidding Me????

I don't know about you guys and gals, but I'm mad as hell at our senators. Those guys that we elected to represent us who constantly ignore us, who think that we are stupid and need to be told how our money needs to be spent. Yea I'm mad at those spineless cowards who yesterday passed a $700 billion bill. Yea and that includes the two presidential candidates who voted for this bill. Are you kidding me? A bill filled with "pork". Let me give you a couple of examples the bill gives millions of dollars for, ready for this? rum research, yea you heard right. Here is another one, tax break for a toy company that makes wooden arrows. Yea you heard that one right too. I don't know about you but it gets me mad to see these sanctimonious wind bags being so gracious with my tax money. So what can we do? We can hope that the guys in congress stay true to their course (I doubt it) and vote it down again. At least the congress showed more sensitivity to their constituents and listened. But it they buckle to the pressure and vote this bill into law, then I hope you remember when November comes around and you can exercise your biggest weapon against these guys and that is your vote. Get informed, find out who voted for this bill and make them pay come November.

"If You are Ashamed of Me"

The Virginia State Police Department now joins Saudi Arabia as one more place where the name of Jesus cannot be honored in an official ceremony. Six of the 17 police chaplains in the Virginia State Police have resigned in protest over a new directive from Superintendent Steven Flaherty that bans the use of "Jesus" or "Christ" in prayers at such functions as trooper graduation ceremonies and the annual memorial service for fallen officers. Flaherty singled out the name of Jesus for censorship because he wants to be "inclusive and respectful of the varied ethnicities, cultures and beliefs of our employees." However, it's apparent that his definition of "inclusive" extends only to those who are offended by the exercise of First Amendment rights. The superintendent is bowing to the pressure of liberal groups such as the ACLU who believe that our Constitutional rights of freedom of speech and religion are trumped by the "right" not to be offended. I applaud these six chaplains for their courageous stand to defend their right to pray according to their conscience.

More on the "Bailout"

Someone once said that the U.S. Senate is like a "cooling saucer," where the passionate debates of the House of Representatives are tempered in the high atmosphere of the upper chamber. Tonight, when the Senate votes on a $700 billion financial rescue plan that both party leaders in the Senate are embracing, that saucer may look more like a buffet platter. The three-page bill that launched the debate in the House earlier this week has expanded to well over 400 pages. Some of the provisions, like expanded FDIC insurance amounts for bank deposits, are reportedly drawing more grassroots support. The Senate bill also reflects some tax add-ons, dealing with such topics as the refundability of the child tax credit and education tax breaks. In other words, Congress is in session and people with pens and barrels of red ink are writing into the night.

Just the Facts

Now that the $700 billion bailout bill failed to become law. Politicians did not wait to start finger pointing and assigning blame. The Democrats who by the way are the majority in the House are blaming the Republicans for the bill's failure, however, let's see what the facts are.

The House of Representatives defeated the plan by a 228-205 vote.
A majority of Democrats -- 140 -- supported the bill.
95 voted against it.
Most Republicans -- 165 -- opposed the plan.
65 supported it.
Twelve members of the Hispanic Caucus voted against the plan and 8 voted for it.
21 members of the Congressional Black Caucus voted against the bailout package and 18 supported it.

As we can see members from both parties voted against the plan. The American people rejected this corporate bailout and yesterday the people's House did likewise. The Democrats hold the majority in the House, if they felt so strongly about this plan they certaintly did not need the Republicans to pass this bill. The truth is that they didn't want this plan to pass because they knew that it is wrong, it is wrong to bail Wall Street out without holding them accountable for the mess they got us in. Kudos go to those House members who had the backbone to stand against pressure and placed the interest of their constituents first. Now lets hope they don't succumb to pressure as they go back Thursday and try to hash out a new plan.

What Next???

I was totally shocked and surprised when while driving in a rainstorm to pick up my daughter from school i got an alert on my phone that stated "House defeats $700B financial industry bailout". I personally am opposed to the bailout plan but I didn't think the politicians had the backbone to do what their constituents were demanding. I still think that what did it was the fact that it is an election year and they are afraid of the backlash come November. The question now is, what next? As I write this the stock market is taking a beating down 721. There is a definite need for something to be done, I just don't think that a "bailout" is the answer. Bailout has the connotation of not holding those responsible for this mess accountable, and that is something that we must do. So where does our president stand on all this? Bush and a host of leading congressional figures had implored the lawmakers to pass the legislation despite howls of protest from their constituents back home. Not enough members were willing to take the political risk just five weeks before an election. More on this Story Here.

These are the People Looking out for Us???

As President Bush was talking to the nation about the consequences of uncontrolled spending and speculating and the resultant need for the $700 billion bailout of Wall Street, Congress passed a $633 billion Continuing Resolution (CR) that not only funds the Department of Defense; Homeland Security and Military Construction (VA), but also includes over 2,300 earmarks. While pork is nothing new, carving it up in the dark is rare. When the huge spending bill hit the House floor last night the Defense funding portion, which was the carrier of more than 2,000 earmarks, was seeing the light of day for the first time. Most of Congress and the public had not seen the provisions, giving them just minutes to review hundreds of pages of spending. Where's the transparency in this? Where's the accountability? And this is the backdrop to the American taxpayer being told Capitol Hill is going to teach Wall Street how to manage its money? And these are the people we are supposed to trust with $700 billion of our money?

Fireproof

Fireproof, the new feature film from the makers of Facing the Giants, debuted Friday in 830 theatres across the country here in Miami is showing at Kendall Regal. The movie is about Captain Caleb Holt, a fireman who is a hero to all but his own wife. The couple, exhausted by constant conflict, prepares for divorce until Caleb decides to follow his father's wisdom. Caleb's father gives his son "The Love Dare," a book of 40 daily challenges that he hopes will point the couple toward reconciliation and faith in Jesus Christ. The movie provides a message of encouragement for those seeking to strengthen their marriage or prepare for marriage. With a hostile cultural climate that undermines marriage, this movie is a breath of fresh air. Spread the word to your friends and family!

The Winds of War are Blowing...

Are we going to have an October surprise, an attack on Iran by either the Bush administration or by Israel to stop the regime from becoming a nuclear power??? Read Story Here.