O LORD my strength

Psalm 18:1-3, “I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, so I shall be saved from my enemies.”

Upon whom do you place your trust? David said that the LORD is his strength and that he depends on the LORD for refuge and for safety. He claims the salvation that the LORD God offers and his faith remains strong in the LORD. The most important thing that he says is that he loves the LORD and trusts Him entirely.

Prayer: Father thank you for today. Thank you for Jesus Christ. Thank You for this Psalm of David which heartens us and give us comfort in distress. May we continue to find strength in Your love, may we not waver and remain faithful to You. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

AP is PC - outrageous...prayer is Prayer Praise God!

I was watching the Auburn-Ole Miss game when Auburn's safety Zac Etheridge had a scary injury. His teammates knelt down and prayed for Zac as the trainers, EMTs, paramedics and the team doctor worked on Zac. I just saw this Associated Press story about the event. Notice the bold print as the AP describes what his teammates did:

"Auburn safety carried off field on backboard
Published: 10/31/09, 1:45 PM EDT
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) - Auburn safety Zac Etheridge was carried off the field on a backboard after a collision with teammate Antonio Coleman in the first quarter against Mississippi. The two players banged helmets at the end of a running play Saturday. Etheridge appeared to have hurt his neck and was taken to a hospital for evaluation, but Auburn officials said he was able to move all his extremities. Etheridge lay on the field for several minutes while both head coaches stood at midfield looking on. Auburn players knelt on the sidelines and on the field. The safety was strapped to a backboard with his head immobilized, and flashed a thumbs-up as he was taken off the field and up a tunnel to a waiting ambulance. Etheridge came into the game fourth on the team with 49 tackles."

According to the AP the players just knelt. They just couldn't bring themselves to report that these fine young men were praying for their teammate as were we who watched. As they were carrying Zac off the field he gave the team and the crowd a 'thumbs-up' to thank everyone and to let them know that he would be okay.

Love one another

John 15:12-14, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.”

Men and women today give their lives in defense of liberty. We say that so often that it becomes a cliché. Never should we allow such sacrifice to be seen as a cliché. Each life given is like the life that Jesus gave for us. Jesus gave His life for us in a depth of compassion that cannot be plumbed or measured. We can never merit the devotion or love that God has for us but we can receive His grace and mercy, accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Prayer: Redeemer God, You have loved us from the very Creation. You woke us to this day that wasn’t promised and you saved us through the blood of Your Son Jesus Christ. Help us receive Your love and mercy in love, gratitude and reverence. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

Hero of the Vietnam War

I found this letter from a U.S. Army Advisor to his parents while reading the profiles in courage of the men and women who died in Vietnam. His name is Captain Gerald Austin Brown, Ft. Worth, Texas. Captain Brown died May 16, 1967. Note the date on the letter - it indicates that he wanted his family to know some things about himself and the war. You can read the link yourself: http://www.vvmf.org/index.cfm?SectionID=110&anClip=203684

"The letter below written by Jerry before his departure for Viet Nam was left with long-time friends in Fort Worth. It was delivered to his parents after his death 16 May, 1967. The FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM carried Jerry's letter on the front page of its'May 27, 1967 edition. Picked up by an Associated Press reporter, it was published nation-wide.

June 1, 1966

Dear Mother & Bud,

These are a few of the things that were always left unsaid for some reason or other. First, I loved you very much, and was always very grateful for the many blessings that you saw that I was provided with. Sometimes we didn't say "I love you" enough, so I just wanted to make sure I didn't take off without making sure you understood how much I cared for you.

Second, do not be bitter or have doubts over the cause of my death. If I go fighting for my country, or for the people in Viet Nam, then I go by my own free will because it is right. It is right because (1) It is God's will that we love all our fellow men -- regardless of RACE, CREED, or COLOR. This I believe, and for this I willingly fought. There is good in every single human, and one needs to look until you find it. (2) I am an American. I believe in our country, and all of the ideals on which it was founded, and I prefer death rather than to be guilty of not defending it or its principles to the maximun. By the same token, if a man asks me or my country for help -- then he should expect to be able to receive it. Not just money but a personal, individual, commitment of an individual American to his problem. It was my turn to fulfill this individual commitment and I could not ignore my duty.
(3) I believe in God, and it is only through personal commitment that His will is accomplished. At least I have tried. Read Hebrews II, that was the source of my strength.

These are my reasons, and whether you understand them or not, I don't know. But I did, and that is sufficient.
Do not be sad, and for Pete's sake don't play a lot of sad songs at my funeral. If you must play music, by all means play "When the Saints Go Marching In"! ( and play a good jazzed up version of it too! ). Also, the beautiful sound of TAPS played on a good bugle was always great -- but end it with a rousing charge. You may rest assured by the time you read this I will be hard at work in God's Angel corps or swapping yarns with Big Daddy while hoeing in his heavenly garden ( watermelons -- what else? ). So don't cry over me, I'll be just as happy as I always was.

Good-bye for awhile. Until we meet again in Heaven, remember --

I love you,
Jerry"

"Return to me," says God

Jeremiah 3:12-15, “Return, faithless Israel, says the LORD. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, says the LORD; I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt, that you have rebelled against the LORD your God, and scattered your favors among strangers under every green tree, and have not obeyed my voice, says the LORD. Return, O faithless children, says the LORD, for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

Jeremiah spoke these words of God to a people who had departed from God and seemingly had no interest in returning. We live in a Nation today where the leaders want no mention of God and have no interest in following God. Our elected leaders only want to follow the prurient desires of power and will align him or her with those who will keep her or him in power and privilege. Most of these who are elected cannot succeed anywhere else and seek to destroy free enterprise, free thought and free choice. It’s time that they turn to God. I don’t say turn back to or return to God for these do not appear to have a relationship with God. The spiritual trouble that waits is devastating and the damage that they are causing and fomenting is horrific. Woe be unto them!

Prayer: Loving God, thank You for today and for Jesus who redeems us. Create in our elected leaders a heart for You and for their sworn obligation. Develop and stir within our leaders the foundational desire to create and have a place where freedom and justice for all is revered and seen as sourced in You. We pray this in the powerful Name of Jesus. AMEN!

Home Depot Cowards!!

Home Depot has crossed the line. Trevor Keezer is a young south Florida man who was just fired from his job at Home Depot. He was fired for wearing a button on his apron which reads, “One Nation Under God…Indivisible”. Trevor’s brother is in the military and serving in a war theater of operations. Trevor wore that pin in honor of his brother and the men and women who serve our Nation. Home Depot states that they only permit their pins on the aprons and offered Trevor another one to wear instead of the button, “One Nation Under God…Indivisible.” When he refused to wear their pin they fired him.

Over the years my wife and I have spent thousands of dollars at Home Depot. They’re offended by the Pledge of Allegiance which states, “One Nation under God, Indivisible.” I am offended that they’ve made billions of dollars on freedom-loving Americans and now slap our hand away. I guess this is all part of the Obama-hate-America-campaign. Since Arthur Blank (Mr. Home Depot) was a major fund-raiser for Obama and freedom hater, now apparently a God-speak hater, I will no longer shop at Home Depot.

Link: http://wdbo.com/localnews/2009/10/discrimination-lawsuit-coming.html

The Body of Christ

Jude 1:3-4, “Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. For certain intruders have stolen in among you, people who long ago were designated for this condemnation as ungodly, who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”

This letter of Jude gives us a sense this morning of what is happening among the congregations of the Church. Notice the use of the description, ‘congregations of the Church.’ We are members of congregations but the church is the body of Jesus Christ. What happens to one happens to all. We are encouraged to contend for the faith that was given in trust to us. The Apostles, those anointed by the Holy Spirit, entrusted the body of Christ to us. How have we done? Have we kept the faith that was entrusted to us? Have we been faithful in raising new Christians, making new disciples and teaching others about Jesus Christ? Have we been faithful in keeping Godly that which is Godly?

Jude’s letter isn’t a call to judgmental action it is a call to righteousness. It is a call to renewal. It is our call to restore our practices of faith that are sourced in the foundational church – the church planted by Jesus Christ in each heart at Pentecost. There are those in the body of Christ who can’t even say the Name of Jesus Christ who won’t even bear witness to His Lordship and Redeeming love. There are those who teach in the seminaries of this land who subvert and attempt to destroy the truth of Jesus. We must stand up against this perversion and say no to their destructive practices. Do not let them take an Exacto® knife to the Bible because they don’t like some things that God has said, done or spoken forward. Stand up for Jesus Christ as Savior.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for today – it was not promised us. Thank You for loving us and redeeming us through Your Son Jesus. Help us stand strong and call into accountability all those who use Your Church as their playground and seek to destroy the Truth expressed in Your Holy Word. We pray this in the powerful Name of Jesus Christ. AMEN!

A Pig dressed up to be a horse is still...

I found this on (http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9BIUUF02&show_article=1) “SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) - A government-sponsored "public option" for health care lives, though it may be more attractive to skeptics if it goes by a different moniker, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Monday. In an appearance at a Florida senior center, the Democratic leader referred to the so-called public option as "the consumer option." Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., appeared by Pelosi's side and used the term "competitive option." Both suggested new terminology might get them past any lingering doubts among the public—or consumers or competitors. "You'll hear everyone say, 'There's got to be a better name for this,'" Pelosi said. "When people think of the public option, public is being misrepresented, that this is being paid for with their public dollars." Pelosi said that was a misconception and that any taxpayer money used to start up the public option would be repaid. She also said such an option would ultimately drive down government health care costs.”

WHAT!!???? Where is the money coming from for this sham if it isn’t public money? Speaker Pelosi has lost her mind, if it was ever there. I don’t know what these communist wannabes are thinking. I don’t know where this tack will take them. What is their gain from this if not holding onto power? There is nothing to gain when the taxpayers of this nation get the bill for this treason and sedition. We thought, from our study of history, that King George imposed unfair taxes – he had nothing on Pelosi-Reid-Obama-Durbin-Baucus-et al. Here’s the truth you can dress a pig up to look like a horse and guess what it’s still a pig dressed up to look like a horse. These people are wrapping up garbage and sending it to us, the American voters and telling us that it is a present a real gift that we should be thrilled to get. They all need to be in prison for their treason and deception.

"Forgive your enemies it messes with thier (sp) minds"

“Forgive your enemies it messes with thier (sp) minds,” is the message posted on the lawn sign of a local church. A casual reading of those words may bring a smile to your lips and it may even sound funny or humorous. When I drove by that church and read those words it saddened my heart to realize that someone would allow theology like that to be displayed for the world to see. In my opinion, messages on church signs indicate the heart of those who attend and are members of that congregation. If that message reflects the theology of that particular congregation there is significant trouble brewing.

We don’t forgive our enemies or love our enemies to ‘mess with their minds.’ This statement reveals that this congregation does what God does but for a far different reason – to ‘mess’ with someone’s mind – to damage their spiritual growth – to do some harm. This statement reveals intent that seems to be malicious not intentional love as the love that Jesus spoke of and taught. Jesus said that we are to love our enemies and pray for those who hate us. He said that we are to love one another as He loves us. Jesus loves us so much that He went to the cross for us. He didn’t forgive those who were His enemies to ‘mess’ with their minds, He forgave them so that we could all be part of a restored people, restored back to God who created us in His very Image.

As I write this I am praying for that congregation and the pastor who permitted such flawed theology to be expressed in such a public way.

Jesus and Satan

Mark 1:21-28, “They went to Capernaum; and when the Sabbath came, He entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.”

This is one of my favorite encounters of Jesus with every day folk. Notice that Jesus was in the synagogue explaining the Law and the Prophets. He was speaking, as Mark witnesses, with authority – as one who had been given supreme authority to make the interpretations and explanations that He was making. Jesus was doing so in a very familiar way – a way and manner of everyday people. He spoke in their language and was among them. Notice what happens when a man possessed by Satan (unclean spirits) encounters Jesus as will happen in every church everywhere in the world. The man says, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” Satan knew Jesus and was afraid of Him as well he should be. Jesus called him out of the man and freed him of Satan’s grip. This act astounded those in the synagogue thinking that Jesus was teaching something new and performing miracles on top of that. What the stiff-necked, hard-headed people of the synagogue forgot was that God had been acting in this precise way since God’s first encounter with fallen humanity. Now He had their attention and Satan’s as well!

Prayer: Gracious God, loving Father, thank You for today and thank You for Your Son Jesus whom You sent to redeem us and restore us back to You. Help us live into Your love for though we are undeserving of Your devotion we strive to serve You. In Jesus Name we pray. AMEN.

Let's go fishing!

Mark 1:16-20, “As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.”

How is it that these fishermen would leave their nets and follow Jesus, whom they may have known to be an itinerant rabbi or perhaps a neighbor or maybe they didn’t know Him at all? Their livelihood and the livelihood of their families were dependent upon their being on the water fishing and catching fish. Fish are a frangible commodity and as such last but a few days. What is it that these fishermen knew and understood about Jesus that caused them to follow Him? He was like no other that any of them had encountered. He specifically called them and was seeking several others with the same specificity in purpose.

Jesus calls us with His specific purpose in mind. He wants us to go and make disciples, to share the Good News of eternal life and to baptize in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We are to be ‘fishers of people.’

Prayer: Father, thank You for this Sabbath Day. Thank You for Jesus who saved us by His blood. Strengthen and wizen us for Your Holy purpose to make disciples of the world. In Jesus’ Name we pray. AMEN.

Godliness

1 Timothy 4:6-10, “If you put these instructions before the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with profane myths and old wives’ tales. Train yourself in godliness, for, while physical training is of some value, Godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.”

In this pastoral letter to Timothy we encounter a pastor-mentor to student-pastor counseling moment where Timothy is being encouraged to encourage the body of Christ, the Church, toward a selfless practice of Godliness. Behaving in a manner that reflects what Jesus taught and lived. We read that this behavior is good not only for this life that we live today but for our eternal futures. When others encounter us practicing a Godly way of life two things will occur. They will acknowledge and accept that it is Jesus Christ who inspires, loves and teaches us or they will reject the Godly lifestyle as nonsense. I don’t believe that there are middle ground or grey areas with our belief in Jesus. We either believe in Jesus Christ and live a Godly life committed to daily life in faith or we are living outside of a personal relationship with God through Christ and therefore stand opposed to God. While we cannot do works to gain eternal life, our faith walk in Godliness reflects our eternal promise. Where do you stand on Godly living? How many days do you live as God expects you to live?

Prayer: Redeemer God, thank you for today. Thank you for saving us through Jesus Christ who is Your only Son. Strengthen us to live each day in a Godly way that shows the world how we love and serve You. In Jesus’ Name we pray. AMEN.

Just say 'no' to Fox - not so fast

CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) and his White House Slander Secretary are hard at it this morning as they have been over the past three weeks attempting to muzzle, silence and exile Fox News. The only way you couldn’t know this is if you haven’t turned on the news in the past month. Yesterday an interesting event happened. There is a Whitehouse pool of news outlets that amalgamates events in the Whitehouse for other news outlets to dissect and disseminate. It is a resource conservation technique that works well until you attempt to dismantle it as CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) and his White House Slander Secretary did. ABC, CNN, NBC, CBS and Fox comprise the Whitehouse pool. Yesterday when “Pay Czar” Kenneth Feinberg was ‘allowed’ to be interviewed by the pool, CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) and his White House Slander Secretary said yes but Fox is not allowed to interview Feinberg (link: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/10/23/white-house-loses-bid-exclude-fox-news-pay-czar-interview/). Guess what happened. The other four press members of the pool said no thanks, if Fox is not allowed we won’t interview the “Pay Czar” either. YES!!! What you saw happen with the fourth estate was an awakening to the abridgement of the U.S. Constitution that has been surreptitiously creeping throughout the capitol, especially from the nefarious and evil world of the Chicago-style thugs, thieves and liars of CINCO’s people. They don’t care about the U.S. Constitution. I believe more and more everyday that these criminals will attempt to subvert the 2012 election process perhaps even the 2010 elections through deceit and treachery.

It is time to stand up and fight these criminals. Not only have they single-handedly attempted to destroy the dollar’s value and free enterprise but they are attempting to turn America into Amerika where “president-for-life-CINCO” can run amok as a national communist organizer.

Diluting God's Truth

Jude 1:17-23, “But you, beloved, must remember the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; for they said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own ungodly lusts.” It is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions. But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on some who are wavering; save others by snatching them out of the fire; and have mercy on still others with fear, hating even the tunic defiled by their bodies.”

There are events and prophecies that we don’t want to be true. Our desire to not see those fulfilled is backed by a desire to bring all to Christ as He commanded us. Now in Jude’s epistle we encounter just the circumstance of prophecy about which Jesus spoke. The ‘scoffers’ among us are those who aren’t just on the outside of the church but those who have come into the church to water down and dilute the powerful antidote to sin and death. Some of these scoffers are seminary professors, some are preachers, some are friends, and some are seemingly the saintly church mothers who only want their interpretation of what’s best for the church. Each in her or his own way tries to mitigate the powerful message and intent of God. God’s truth is revealed in His Incarnation, His powerful Word, Jesus. We encounter Jesus in a very personal and direct relationship both in scripture - the Bible - and in our prayer life. There is no doubt that what Jesus said is what He meant and certainly what had been offered by God as an antidote to sin and death. There is no middle ground. Either love God through Jesus Christ or face a certain eternal and damnable death.

Prayer: Heavenly Father we thank you for waking us this day. You never promised this day. You made Yourself flesh and dwelt among us. You saved us through the precious blood of Jesus. Thank you, thank you for loving us. Help us to serve only You and hear Your truth completely. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

Honor Code for the elected

Then there is this, “I will not lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate those who do.” The United States military academies train men and women of character to become LEADERS OF CHARACTER. This is the basic premise of the honor code to which each must adhere or face her or his expulsion from the respective military academy. It seems to me that what is expected of the finest among our nation who are deemed qualified to attend one of the nation’s military academies should also be expected of those who say that she or he is worthy of our vote and our trust – specifically anyone who is elected to public office especially to Federal office. If these young men and women of character indeed become Leaders of Character within his or her chosen military service then it should also be expected that the Commander-in-Chief should be held to the highest possible standards of leadership that the subordinate Leaders are held to. If you are going to lead Leaders of Character you had better be at a minimum at least as disciplined as your most disciplined Leader of Character.

So I now call upon CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) to own up to the truth. Congress and the Senate be truthful. Attorney General Holder – stop lying. Press Secretary and head Slanderer speak truthfully.

What is the house that you would build for me asks God

Isaiah 66:1-2, “Thus says the LORD: Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is my resting place? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things are mine, says the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look, to the humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at my word.”

Triumph in the end, in the Year of the Lord comes to the humble to the contrite in spirit and to those who tremble at the very Word of God. We are quick to take authorship of the successes that we touch and less quick to accept responsibility for those things where our efforts have fallen short. There’s an adage in business that states, ‘success has a thousand authors – failure has one.’ In all things God gets the praise for one simple fact. With nothing and from nothing God created everything. What is it that we take credit for? Will we take responsibility for our manifold sins as well? Humility, contrite spirit and trembling at the very thought of God – where are we?

Prayer: Father thank You for this day. Thank you for continuing to seek us through Jesus, Your Son. Drive from us the desire to be ‘number one’ and ‘legends in our own minds.’ Heal us and strengthen us for Your service. In Jesus’ Name we pray. AMEN

Take Responsibility

There are four right answers to most questions (notice the courtesy):
1. Yes sir.
2. No ma’am.
3. I don’t know sir but I’ll find out.
4. No excuse ma’am.

These answers are meant for the person who responds to take responsibility for her or his actions. Notice that numbers 1 and 2 do NOT have a BUT associated with them. There is no, “Yes…but I have a good excuse.” Or “No…but you see it was like this.” When asked a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question answer yes or no.

If you don’t know the answer as in number 3, say so. Then go find the answer and come back to the person who asked the question with the correct answer. Do not make one up or guess – neither is a correct answer and only taints your future actions and responses.

Number 4 is critical – never make an excuse for your behavior, words or actions. If you are asked why something happened; state the facts; do not begin to make excuses about why something didn’t work. It is in the statement of process of how something occurred that we can identify where corrective actions need to be implemented. MAKE NO EXCUSES.

Are you listening Washington? Character is what you do when no one is watching.

Stormy Sea

John 6:14-21, “When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.” When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself. When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.”

The people of Israel, the House of Jacob, very desperately wanted a holy king – a leader anointed by God – they thought they found Him in Jesus. As Ecclesiastes reminds us what we don’t remember we will repeat. The people of Israel failed to recall and remember what the prophets had foretold about the coming Messiah. They wanted an earthly king to fight against their oppressors and God sent His Son to redeem and restore them and us back to God. God didn’t send Jesus to rule as David had or Solomon had or as Hezekiah had. God sent Jesus in exactly the purpose that we encounter in the verses this morning. God wants us to know that throughout the storms and sunlight of our living that He is with us constantly. God used a stormy Galilean Sea to display His persistence in love for us.

Prayer: Thank Father for loving us and sending Jesus across the stormy sea to us. You bring us calm and hope and love in the midst of the storms and joys of our lives. We love You. Guide us this day in Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

Things that are bugging me

There are several things disturbing me this morning and I need to share them with you:

First, I’ve been following the story about a young high school honor student, Eagle Scout, JROTC member, and United States Military Academy hopeful, Matthew Whelan, who lives and attends high school in Troy New York. He has been suspended from school for five days because he had a pocket knife in his winter survival kit stowed in the locked trunk of his car. The suspension is about his violation of the school district’s zero tolerance policy regarding weapons on campus. Also they tacked on an additional 15-day suspension not because it was the policy but because they could – it’s called ‘discretionary’ – how about discriminatory? How did they know that he had pocket knife in his winter survival kit? Who else – staff and teachers included – have had their vehicles checked for a same policy violation? Most upstate New York drivers have a winter survival kit in their vehicles – they have blizzards and they may need every single item in those kits.

Second, CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) and his socialist-free market haters will be in New York City today for two fund raisers - $15,000 per person. He’s been attacking Goldman Sachs for days now because of the bonuses they’re about to hand out – now he going to them with his hand out for campaign (extortion) money. Incredible

Last, I do not listen to Rush Limbaugh not because I don’t like him or care to hear him but because his show is on at inconvenient times. Until this controversy appeared with the NFL and his potential ownership I didn’t really catch an entire broadcast, just snippets. So I began doing some online research into his ‘racial slurs.’ I couldn’t find racial slurs. Now I am disappointed to learn that the left has begun a smear campaign using race baiters and extortionists against Mr. Limbaugh. Why is it okay for lurid sexual behaviors, drug abuse, rape, shootings, DUI/DWI arrests, steroid use and scandalous other activities by NFL players to occur but does not allow Mr. Limbaugh, who dearly loves professional football and knows what success looks like, to participate in the sport? Race baiters and extortionists like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson need a forum to make rain for their personal success (as they have defined it).

Love Like Jesus

Luke 6:27-36, “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Some time ago I served a church that was ‘club-like’ in its context. If you weren’t from around there you were an outsider. If you were from around there but they ‘knew’ something about you, you could also be an outsider. If your skin wasn’t the right color or if you married outside your race, you were really an outsider. They were uncomfortable with helping the homeless and hungry. Many thought those who didn’t have a home or food were ‘bums’ trying to take advantage of hard-working folks. One circumstance arose where I had helped a husband and wife quite a bit and finally one of the church members wanted to know from me, “How many times you gonna let ‘em slap you in the face?” I didn’t smile all the while feeling a cold chill run down my spine. I finally spoke, “Seventy times seven that’s what Jesus tells us to do.” Jesus said simply, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Prayer: Father, thank You for today and thank You for Jesus. Help us to love as Jesus loved and teaches us to love. That love first came from You. We pray this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Coward-in-Chief

Well it didn’t just begin when CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) began his whirlwind tour of all the mainstream media outlets snubbing Fox News Sunday evoking sharp criticism from Chris Wallace that the Whitehouse is essentially ‘a bunch of thin-skinned whiners.’ I agree with Chris Wallace. Obama will fly around the world to talk with everyone from Hugo Chavez the wing-nut in Venezuela, bow to King Abdullah Saud of Saudi Arabia and carry on nuclear disarmament talks with Iran but won’t talk to Fox News. Arrogant, disingenuous and nefarious – everything but transparent; in fact CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) and his Chicago-style thugs, thieves and liars are cowards and bullies.

Come on President Barack Hussein Obama, get on Fox News with Chris Wallace, bring your real birth certificate, your healthcare reform team to work in the bright light of day (not CSPAN) as you promised and let’s get this transparency train moving away from the station.

CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) is a fraud and a coward who surrounds himself with thugs, thieves and liars. It’s time for this gutless wonder to fess up to his lies and subterfuge and do the right thing.

He and his Whitehouse have decided that it is a wise decision to pick a fight with Fox News. With Afghanistan looming larger everyday and their choice to pick a fight with a member of the fourth estate you would think that the reasonably intelligent among them would remember what happened to President Nixon when he did the same thing. But I suggest to you that there is such hubris among these slobbering fawns of fascism that they don’t think it will happen to them.

Re-member our Fractured Sabbath

Leviticus 23:3-8, “Six days shall work be done; but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no work: it is a Sabbath to the LORD throughout your settlements. These are the appointed festivals of the LORD, the holy convocations, which you shall celebrate at the time appointed for them. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight, there shall be a Passover offering to the LORD, and on the fifteenth day of the same month is the festival of unleavened bread to the LORD; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not work at your occupations. For seven days you shall present the LORD’S offerings by fire; on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation: you shall not work at your occupations.”

God has given us six days to complete our labor and the seventh day is devoted to God’s worship. We are not to be distracted in our worship and attention to what God has done for us. Notice also from the Levitical Code that there are specific Holy Days or Holidays that retain the same sanctity as Sabbath. If we cause someone else to work on Sabbath then we have sinned. Sunday dinners in our home growing up were a huge part of worship. Mom had most of the work done the night before. The main meat baked while we were at church. Today’s world simply goes out to lunch. Down south the Methodists are always trying to beat the Baptists out of worship to get in line at the Golden Corral or some other buffet-style or cafeteria setting. Sunday dinners after worship conclude with family members going their separate ways. STOP. Rewind. Now restart our Sabbath in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer: Loving God, thank you for this day of Sabbath rest. Thank you for Jesus Christ. Guide us this day into reclaiming our Sabbath heritage – please help us re-member our fractured past. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

No peer - no quarter

It’s been a month since I put a fun item out there. My buddy Hutch sent this to me and I enjoy reading it.

Good story for a fighter pilot and Wisconsinite:
This came from a gent who runs a 2000 acre corn farm up around Barron, WI not far from Oshkosh. He used to fly F-4Es and F-16s for the Guard and participated in the first Gulf War... Submitted for your enjoyment, and as a reminder that there are other great, magnificent flyers around besides us:

“I went out to plant corn for a bit to finish a field before tomorrow morning and witnessed The Great Battle. A golden eagle - big fellow, about six foot wingspan - flew right in front of the tractor. It was being chased by three crows that were continually dive bombing it and pecking at it. The crows do this because the eagles rob their nests when they find them.

At any rate, the eagle banked hard right in one evasive maneuver, then landed in the field about 100 feet from the tractor. This eagle stood about 3 feet tall. The crows all landed too and took up positions around the eagle at 120 degrees apart, but kept their distance at about 20 feet from the big bird. The eagle would take a couple steps towards one of the crows and they'd hop backwards and forward to keep their distance.

Then the reinforcement showed up. I happened to spot the eagle's mate hurtling down out of the sky at what appeared to be approximately Mach 1.5. Just before impact the eagle on the ground took flight, (obviously a coordinated tactic; probably pre-briefed) and the three crows which were watching the grounded eagle, also took flight thinking they were going to get in some more pecking on the big bird. The first crow being targeted by the diving eagle never stood a chance. There was a mid-air explosion of black feathers and that crow was done. The diving eagle then banked hard left in what had to be a 9G climbing turn, using the energy it had accumulated in the dive, and hit crow #2 less than two seconds later. Another crow dead. The grounded eagle, which was now airborne and had an altitude advantage on the remaining crow, which was streaking eastward in full burner, made a short dive then banked hard right when the escaping crow tried to evade the hit. It didn't work - crow #3 bit the dust at about 20 feet altitude.

This aerial battle was better than any air show I've been to, including the warbirds show at Oshkosh! The two eagles ripped the crows apart and ate them on the ground, and as I got closer and closer working my way across the field, I passed within 20 feet of one of them as it ate its catch. It stopped and looked at me as I went by and you could see in the look of that bird that it knew who's Boss Of The Sky. What a beautiful bird!

I love it. Not only did they kill their enemy, they ate them. One of the best Fighter Pilot stories I've seen in a long time.

The lesson: If you're forced to fight, give no quarter. It's good to have back-up from your mate though.”

We Glorify Your Name...

1 Chronicles 29:10-13, “Then David blessed the LORD in the presence of all the assembly; David said: “Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of our ancestor Israel, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, are the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours; yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. Riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might; and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all. And now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your glorious name.”

David praised God and blessed God. When he did so he recognized for the people and for himself what God had done, was doing and would do in the future. So awed was he by God and so thankful were the people of Israel that their praise rang long after their voices were silent. Those who heard marveled at the joy, thanksgiving and praise that were raised in a grateful people’s heart and worship.

When was the last time you raised thanks and praise to God such that your voice when joined with others in praise rang out as though it would last the ages? When did we praise and thank God so powerfully, so emotionally and so completely? Perhaps it’s time we did.

Prayer: Father we come humbly before You for being so quiet among peoples that you might barely hear us. Thank You for loving us – for giving us eternal life and for redeeming us. We praise and glorify Your Holy Name now and through the ages. In Jesus’ Name we pray. AMEN!!

Whistle stop socialism tour

CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) and his Congressional mouthpieces are at it again. CINCO continues to push back against those who argue against this destructive tax-and-spend phony healthcare reform. This is nothing more than a way to create a command economy. Healthcare, because of the growing senior population, is quickly becoming a large part of the GDP service sector as well as manufacturing. We have but to look at where CINCO’s Bitter Half – Michelle – worked and received such huge compensation and bonuses (thanks to Michelle Malkin’s work and research). There isn’t an innocence and altruism that we should become doctors, nurses and volunteers – it produces revenue streams for these Chicago-style thieves and thugs who are in the Whitehouse.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid let slip yesterday that the real cost of the Senate healthcare reform legislation is not $880 billion but $2 trillion. $2 TRILLION is outrageous and for what? We’ll have slammed upon us a 10% tax increase if not more to fund this socialism/totalitarianism that feeds directly into the Obama pockets and others in this administration of Chicago thieves and thugs.

These people can’t earn an honest living so they steal and decry Wall Street as thieves. Wow what hubris! CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama), his Chicago thieves and thugs and his Congressional puppets are lining up at the trough. They know that they will need to use the nuclear option to slam this healthcare bill through both houses. They don’t care as long as we pour the money into their pockets. Wait ‘til the un- and under-insured find out what their cost is. It won’t be pretty when the whole nation is in an outrage over this fraud. CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama), his Chicago thieves and thugs and his Congressional puppets are liars and deceivers. This train of deceit has left the station and CINCO is on the whistle-stop tour on our dime (uh millions of dollars) selling this smoke and mirrors socialism/totalitarianism grab.

Next stop your wallet!!

habeas corpus

President Abraham Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus three times during the Civil War: April 27, 1861, again on September 24, 1862, a few days after signing the Emancipation Proclamation, and finally on September 15, 1863 (Lincoln and Habeas Corpus, Craig R. Smith, California State University – Long Beach). Ulysses Grant suspended the writ in 1870-1 to deal with the Ku Klux Klan in South Carolina.

What is the writ of habeas corpus? Why do we need to be concerned? Why now?

“The writ (document) of habeas corpus is a legal code stating that a person cannot be arrested and held without first being taken before a judge. The judge will then determine whether such detention complies with the laws of the land,” (U.S. Constitution, Article I, section 9, clause 2, “The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.”).

When circumstances became unmanageable for Lincoln and Grant with regard to rebellion/insurrection they suspended the writ of habeas corpus. There are circumstances whereby the nation would be unsafe with insurrectionists loose on its landscape. It has been proffered to me by a good friend that we may see CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) suspend habeas corpus if we the people become any more restless and outspoken about his drive toward socialism. I thought and prayed about this circumstance for quite a while. What if this dismantling of the military, strengthening governmental control, weakening the dollar and growing our debt to astronomical proportions is just the beginning of a totalitarian move in this nation? In order to prevent insurrection and rebellion CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) would need to collect all the privately owned firearms and detain presumed troublemakers, insurrectionists and rebels. During the American Revolution the most notable insurrectionists were the pastors who stoke the fires of liberty.

What if…

The Blood of Christ

1 Peter 1:17-21, “If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.”

God through His Son Jesus Christ paid for our sins with His blood that was let in His passion, suffering and death. He then descended into Hell and God raised Him from the dead to defeat our slavery to sin and our ultimate death. Satan was defeated once by Jesus Christ and will be defeated finally. As Peter bears witness to the fact that God preordained this act of grace, mercy and love to restore us to Him who Created us. Through Jesus Christ we have come to trust in our Creator – our Father who is in heaven – Yahweh, Jehovah, and almighty God. Why do we turn to silver, gold and American Idol for trust and faith and hope when we have the promise of eternal life? Turn from sin and death to Jesus Christ and eternal life.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Creator of all and Redeemer through Jesus thank you for this day for it was not promised yet we were awakened to it and now we live. May we live it entirely for you. This we pray in the redeeming Name of love of Jesus. AMEN!

Effective, Fruitful and Enduring

2 Peter 1:3-11, “His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature. For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For anyone who lacks these things is nearsighted and blind, and is forgetful of the cleansing of past sins. Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.”

Peter speaks with authority about becoming effective, fruitful and enduring Christian witnesses. But as he points out so vividly we need to be practitioners of our faith. A practitioner is one who ‘practices’ her or his faith everyday in every way not letting a moment slip by that isn’t bathed in God-light and God-love. We have, as a guide, God’s Holy Word in scripture and prophecy to help us understand holy living. We have no excuse for not knowing. We encounter the written Word and the spoken Word. We can also encounter the inspired Word of Christ’s very presence in us. We must make the choice to have these interactions with the Holy of God.

Prayer: Father thank You for this day and thank You for salvation through Jesus Christ. Cleanse me of impure thoughts, words and deeds. Help me be a practitioner of my faith in You through Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

'Keep on spending...'

‘Keep on spending,’ that seems to be the credo of Congress and this insane administration. The dollar is dropping like a stone in the world economy. We’re beginning to feel the change in the dollar value at the gas pump because we’re being charged more per barrel of oil due to the decline in dollar value. The change you see in the stock market is driven by multinational stock prices increasing due to the relative change in dollar value and the gains in the income statement that usually result from a declining dollar. CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) wants this dramatic change in our economy because it will underscore his premise that capitalism is dead and the U.S. needs to be at a minimum a mixed economy if not a full-blown command economy. The more Congress and the ludicrous left continue to borrow and spend the less the dollar will be worth and the more beholden the U.S. will be to China et al for our foreign policy. CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) is driving the U.S. down to the economy of the rest of the world – beholden on government drippings that they have robbed from hard working men and women. This is fiefdom all over again – the monarchy just shifted its mantle around.

Had enough yet? Or does the dollar need to drop so low that it is replaced with the Chinese yuan?

Time to call in the reserves

Some things to consider:
- CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) in his infinite wisdom has decided to find a way to let the Taliban into the political process in Afghanistan…really? Karzai is corrupt and you think letting the Taliban into a process that is questionable will bring balance and fairness? I wonder what the women and other minorities in Afghanistan think about that?
- Healthcare Reform is on CINCO’s (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) hit list. The Senate Finance Committee approved a version of the bill that the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) says will not decrease the deficit by $81 billion as the left-wing nuts say it will the ‘off-budget amount’ is really social security taxes flowing into the treasury that should be reserved for the social security trust fund. It’s no wonder the world doesn’t want to loan this nation led by idiots any money.
- CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) continues to vacillate and pontificate over whether to send the troops to Afghanistan meanwhile one of our friends is heading there. May God bless Scott and keep him safe.
- It is NOT too late to voice your angst, concern or worry about the mounting deficit. What are you waiting for? If you need an email address or telephone number for your representative or senator send me an email.

Words

2 Timothy 2:14-19, “Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth. Avoid profane chatter, for it will lead people into more and more impiety, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth by claiming that the resurrection has already taken place. They are upsetting the faith of some. But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.”

How often have you seen a seemingly simple disagreement widen and deepen because of the way in which words were used among the disagreeing parties? It happens so much among governments that each polity has a diplomatic service corps to make sure that wars aren’t started over words. Not that these diplomatic service corps have entirely prevented wars. Consider this, words divide us from one another. Often it is because we don’t take the time to listen carefully or to choose our words carefully and more often than not it is because both things are happening at once. In this pastoral letter to Timothy we see that wrangling and fighting is becoming a sickness within the church. Gossip, lies, innuendo, fighting over words and misunderstandings divide churches all over the world. It happens in our communities. We have the power to stop such divisive behavior and remember these words, “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.”

Prayer: Father, thank You for today and all that it brings and thank You for salvation offered through the blood of Jesus Christ. Father, help me to use the right words today. Help me to hear the right words today. I pray this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.

Not everyone...

Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’”

Somewhere along the timeline in every pastor’s tenure he or she will be asked, “Why do I have to ‘do’ all these ‘things’ that the Bible says, isn’t my coming to church and Sunday school enough?” Perhaps the question won’t be that plainly asked but it will come and rarely in private. The right answer is found in Jesus’ words not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. This reminder by Jesus to those who were gathered around Him was meant to remind us that we are to have a loving and healthy relationship with Jesus Christ and our neighbors. It is not enough to say that we believe in Jesus or even to say His Name we must live out our ‘new life’ in Jesus Christ else we will not be known by Him at judgment. This is not a quid pro quo deal this is how we are expected to live as Christians. Others will ‘know that we are Christians by our love’.

Prayer: Father thank You for today and for Your Son Jesus Christ. Help us live today in such a way that we are honest in our relationship with You and our neighbor. Help us to live our Christian beliefs and faith. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Holiness

Matthew 6:1-6, “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Matthew, chapters 5, 6 and 7, bears witness to Jesus teaching how to live a holy and righteous life. Theologically, these chapters are referred to as the Sermon on the Mount or the holiness code. This is how we should live our lives once we have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; confessed our sins and sought God’s forgiveness; and we have repented. We live holy lives as our response in faith to God’s redeeming grace through Jesus Christ. Attempting to live a life that is holy without first emptying the unholy from our lives is meaningless.

Prayer: O God our Redeemer, You found us among the brokenness of life and redeemed us. Thank you for loving us this much. In Jesus precious and powerful Name we pray. Amen.

Pictures say it all...

Go to this link; copy and paste it in your address line and just look at the pictures...

http://www.redstate.com/jlynnr/2009/10/06/obama-vs-mcchrystal-every-picture-tells-a-story-dont-it/

I'll put the link at the bottom of the page as well

Listening...

1 Samuel 3:1-9, “Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called, “Samuel! Samuel!” And he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. The LORD called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.”

Samuel was faithful in his duties to Eli. Eli was old and his sons were cheating the people of Israel. Little was left to Eli of his family. His Temple duties were accomplished with Samuel. As Eli slept Samuel was called by God. Three times he thought that Eli had summoned him and he quickly went to his mentor and priest. Finally Eli determined that God was calling his protégé and advised him to speak to God to let God know that he had heard God’s call upon his life. Have you answered God’s call upon your life?

Prayer: Father of all Creation and lover of my soul. Your grace is unmerited and You have given me the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ. I am humbled and listening to Your call on my life. Here I am Lord, here I am…Amen.

King David's prayer

2 Samuel 7:18-29, “Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD; you have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come. May this be instruction for the people, O Lord GOD! And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord GOD! Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have wrought all this greatness, so that your servant may know it. Therefore you are great, O LORD God; for there is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. Who is like your people, like Israel? Is there another nation on earth whose God went to redeem it as a people, and to make a name for himself, doing great and awesome things for them, by driving out before his people nations and their gods? And you established your people Israel for yourself to be your people forever; and you, O LORD, became their God. And now, O LORD God, as for the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, confirm it forever; do as you have promised. Thus your name will be magnified forever in the saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is God over Israel’; and the house of your servant David will be established before you. For you, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house’; therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. And now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant; now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you; for you, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.” Amen.

Late at night while you're sleeping...

I am struggling this night. Last Saturday, eight soldiers died on an outpost in Afghanistan because the politicians in Washington D.C. put them in such tight constraints they couldn’t fight the war the way they were taught to fight it. In May 1969 the same ugly thing happened – Hill 937, Dong Ap Bia. You know it as Hamburger Hill because it chewed up so many men. What we fail to remember we are condemned to repeat. This CinC, Obama, is going to bail out of this war on terror and these men and women who have died will forty years later be coming home to the same contempt from their government that we returned to. They’ll be ignored in the street and in church because CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) hates the military and doesn’t want to make a decision that will make him look like anything but a pacifist. He’s going to get a lot more young men and women killed with this Clintonian-style stand-off war fighting and before you know it a nuclear device will be detonated in the United States much to the surprise of Nobel Laureate CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama).

I’ve been thinking about Vietnam and what it means to come home and be looked upon as a loser. It hurts -- especially when you went to fight for your nation who now sees you as a failure.

Father forgive them for they know not what they do. Amen.

Keep our eyes on Jesus

John 15:18-19, “If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you.”

Living and working in the world is a real challenge. It is especially challenging today for those who believe in the salvation offered through Jesus’ as the Incarnate, suffering Savior whom God sent to redeem us. The world wants us to be like it. The world needs us to be fallen, broken and craven because it is. The world needs us to be depressed and on medication, weak and needing another human to follow, addicted to be comforted by its own weakness. The world wants and needs someone to blame for its malaise and dissolution. Look around, politicians are welcomed and cheered because they do what the world wants them to do – blame someone else for their present failures. We have but to look at the financial crisis and see how the politicians decided to reward those who lied, cheated and robbed investors and homeowners of their life’s work to line their own pockets. Jesus said to His disciples, “If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you.” And while His words do not seem to be a comfort we must remember that He promised eternal life and eternal joy not the temporal, momentary, earthly, fleshly pleasures that the world offers. As Christians our temporary suffering will give way to eternal life – soon and very soon. Remain strong and do not be alarmed at the worldly haughtiness.

Prayer: Loving God, help me to keep my eyes on Jesus and the promise, the New Covenant that You made with us through Him. This is the day that you have made help us to be glad and rejoice in it! In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

Iceberg Warning!!

The iceberg warning signal has been sounding for a while, yet everyone on the deck is busy rearranging the deck chairs, ordering lunch and prescribing new healthcare. Now the iceberg looms large. It is the cult of personality and adulation. Somewhere around February 1st 2009 CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama), barely two weeks in office was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in diplomacy to bring everyone in the world to the ‘table.’ The Nobel Committee announced this morning that it had given the Peace Prize to CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama). Perhaps he will divide those funds with the families of those 8 soldiers recently killed in Afghanistan or with the people of Israel (the Jewish people) whom he is throwing away for the sake of his Islamic brothers or perhaps he’ll give it to the U.S. government to pay for the healthcare fiasco that he is foisting upon us.

If there was ever a case of severe personality cult disorder, the fawning world has just been diagnosed with its terminal case. There is nothing that this pretender president has done in his entire life that has brought peace or will bring peace. This is what the world wants us to be a round shouldered, weak-wristed clan of sheeple bound to follow with drone-like adoration its idol, Ba’al, Satan. The Nobel Committee is priming the pump of weakness in hopes that the rest of the U.S., the free people, will fall into line and see what they see in Satan.

Holy Living

1 Peter 1:13-16, “Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when He is revealed. Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. Instead, as He who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

What does it mean to be holy? First it means that we no longer live the way we lived before we accepted God’s grace through the redeeming act of Jesus Christ on the cross. Accepting God’s gift of redemption is followed by coming to an awareness of all of our sins and transgressions and then confessing those to God and asking His forgiveness in the Name of Jesus Christ. We then repent. We stand up forgiven seeking to sin no more. Now the hard part; we begin each day in prayer with God to guide our thoughts, words and deeds. Next as we work through our day ensure that we are doing what God blesses – seek His guidance. Then at the close of the day we turn in our lives confessing our sins, seeking forgiveness and repenting. Remember that tomorrow is not promised as we pray in God’s will we must be prepared for God’s will to be done. Practice these things first and we’ll talk more, later about Biblical study and Christian duties.

Prayer: Thank You Father for today and for Your gift of redeeming grace in Jesus Christ. Help me to live today as the ‘present’ Your ‘gift.’ Help me live a holy life. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

More to think about...

1. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) gets to keep his chairship of the House Ways and Means Committee (the committee that recommends new taxes) even though he is a scofflaw. He doesn’t pay taxes on income that he conveniently hides and when discovered…just an oversight. House Republicans voted to have him removed from his chairship and as you might expect the party of ‘no-corruption and plenty of transparency’ (Demokrats) voted for him to keep his chairship. Disgusting.
2. You and I will not get to read the healthcare bills before these are voted on. CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) said we’d have five days…tick tick tick. Liar!
3. The Taliban say they are no threat in Afghanistan well good morning Afghanistan a Taliban suicide bomber detonated his way to 70+ virgins in Kabul over night. The war we should be fighting huh CINCO?
4. No taxes increases for the middle class and working class, keep your health insurance, keep your doctors…every single medical device you can imagine will have taxes on it…Nutty Nancy is pushing a Value Added Tax (VAT) like Europe. The medical device with additional Federal taxes, prostheses, breast milk pumps, wheel chairs, apparently there are 87-pages of new appliance and device taxes. CINCO is a liar, Harry Reid and Pelosi are liars!
5. Congress labors away in secret while CINCO fiddles; leaving the men and women who serve in our military to languish in the gun sights and kill zones of our enemies. Who exactly do they (Congress and CINCO) think will protect them when things get really bad (and they will)?
6. Our nation is teetering on the brink of extinction, the dollar is a joke because of our mounting spending and accruing debt while the loony left refuses to let our nation be a producer nation again. If you aren’t ready to clean the slate of these crazies in Washington what more will it take?

Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!

John 2:13-22, “The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.”

During the relief and recovery effort in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, I took a load of goods to a nearby church that was functioning as a relief drop-off point. I met one of the several pastors who welcomed me warmly and then proceeded to ask if I had seen their facility. I said no but I’d be glad to come back and join in a tour. The pastor insisted that we take the tour right then. I went and was stunned at ‘things’ available at that church’s facilities: movie theater, bookstore, school, gymnasium, auditorium, et al. The pastor was grinning from ear to ear. I asked where they worshipped and the reply was, “In the auditorium;” not sanctuary but, auditorium. I thanked the pastor for the tour and wished the church well. I guess they had a ‘stage’ and not a chancel and a podium not a pulpit or lectern.

Prayer: Father thank you for today and for Jesus Christ who saves us. Help us be a living sacrifice to you and your love. Help us not forget why we gather together to worship and praise you. In Jesus Name I pray. AMEN

Just a few things to consider:

1. CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) is a coward when it comes to backing down his left-wing colleagues about fighting the war in Afghanistan that he insisted was the ‘right war’ for the U.S. to fight. His hatchet-people including Press Slanderer Gibbs have begun a campaign to have General McChrystal removed as CinC of the war in Afghanistan. Next on his hit list will be General Petraeus. General Jones (ret) is CINCO’s (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) lap dog and is criticizing these two warriors for doing their best for this nation and their soldiers.
2. Congress…there is just nowhere to begin without waves of nausea. They are fighting against our knowing anything about the healthcare theft that they are perpetrating on this country. Alan Grayson pretty much reflects the entire Demokrat party…I think he’s Nancy Pelosi’s right brain (sic). Congress doesn’t want you to read the healthcare legislation before they vote on it. HAVE YOU HAD ENOUGH YET? I HAVE!! WRITE, EMAIL, CALL OR FAX YOUR CONGRESSIONAL (YOU AND I ELECTED THEM) REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS AND TELL THEM ENOUGH!!!!
3. A nearly trillion dollar defense bill was just passed with junk that even the defense department didn’t want—full of earmarks and CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) said no earmarks under his watch.
4. Press Slanderer Gibbs says that we shouldn’t be worrying about all the ‘czars that are in CINCO’s (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) administration. He sneers at us as though we’re sooooo uninformed about what they really do. We know Slander-in-chief that they are political patronage and meant to destroy free economic choices in America.

Walking the walk...

Matthew 10:32-33, “Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.”

What does Jesus mean when He says ‘acknowledges me before others?’ In word and deed we are to speak and act upon our belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; not just in our prayers or Bible studies or within the confines of our respective congregations but we are to bear a living witness to Jesus Christ before the world. Talking the talk isn’t enough we must walk the walk. These words of Jesus are powerful in our eternal futures.

Prayer: God, thank You for waking me today and granting me another day in Your Kingdom. Thank You for Jesus Christ by whose sacrifice I may gain eternal life with You. Please help me walk the walk as well as talk the talk. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

Sexual Harassment

David Letterman is trying to wise-crack his way out of a sexual ethics mess. He has not considered for once nor has the adoring liberal Hollyweird nor has the New York City entertainment (which includes ABC, NBC, CBS) establishment considered for a moment that his sexual antics and peccadilloes are reprehensible. He’s crying ‘foul’ as though his righteous high mountain has been violated when what has really happened is that some of the other slimy creatures from his fetid closet have slithered out and he’s blaming them for his behavior. Now the media is boo-hooing his circumstance when it should be chastising him. The N.O.W. says it’s much ado about nothing that he had consensual sex with adults. The N.O.W. wouldn’t be so non-plussed if a conservative arbiter were exposed in this circumstance.

David Letterman needs to leave the air. Did Halderman do something wrong? Yes!! And David Letterman did something wrong as well. He had sexual relations with female staffers which constitutes sexual harassment even among consenting adults because of the manager-employee relationship. Also, Letterman behaved badly toward a guiltless Sarah Palin and her underage daughter and without so much as a mea culpa and yet he skates. When is it not okay? This society that we live in that calls itself moral is anything but moral.

We need to contact CBS and express our contempt of this behavior and demand that they take action to remove Letterman from the air. Or does this fall into the Rahm Emmanuel circumstance of not letting a crisis go to waste?

David Letterman is immoral and his behavior is toxic to those who watch his program. If you want to express your opinion to CBS here’s where you can send your email complaint:

http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.php

To the pure all things are pure

Titus 1:15-16, “To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure. Their very minds and consciences are corrupted. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”

How often do we read the pastoral letters, like this one to Titus? The text describes the circumstance that my older brother routinely bemoaned regarding the church and his reasons for not attending – it’s full of hypocrites. I told him routinely if that was the circumstance one more in church wouldn’t matter. But this goes deeper than hypocrisy this goes to the heart of those who claim purity and set himself or herself up as the keeper of truth and justice. Eventually we learn that the vehement attacks are supported by nothing spiritual or holy. What we learn is that behind the righteous exterior is a flawed and corrupted mind and soul, unrepentant and unwilling to see her or his spiritual shortcomings attempting to ‘lay blame’ on someone else.

When we come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior we allow our former life to go away. We are transformed miraculously by Christ’s redemptive act on the cross. We accept what Jesus DID for us and become true heirs to the Kingdom of God and of Heaven.

Prayer: Redeemer God, Savior – create in us a pure heart and a willing spirit to follow You faithfully unto our own physical death. You have made us for Your service, keep us faithful and strong in Your pure and perfect Way. In Jesus’ Name we pray. AMEN.

How many representatives and senators does it take to ruin America?

How many representatives and senators does it take to ruin America? Well, let’s look at it from the perspective of the number of healthcare proposals that the Demokrats in the House and the Senate (of the U.S.) have proposed. There are presently five different proposals (bills) floating around the legislature. This morning CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) will entertain 50 physicians who are members of the AMA (American Medical Association) for a photo-op support of this government takeover of healthcare. This in the wake of the weekend news that nursing home funding by Medicaid and Medicare is being reduced again and that you will be fined and sent to jail if you don’t ‘buy’ healthcare insurance. By the way less than 30% of the AMA is physicians. Link: http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/sermo-ama-physicians-battle-brews. (Wikipedia says the AMA claims 20% - I am not always sure about the accuracy of Wikipedia).

This ruination of America does not include the potential amendments nor does it include the Cap and Trade legislation or the internet takeover or the House Bill to tax firearms owners for their firearms (by number), nor does it include the failures of CINCO with Afghanistan, Iran and Israel. Friends this is an enormous mess. With CINCO, Pelosi, Reid, Baucus, Rank, Dodd, Emmanuel, Gibbs, Daley and Rangel we don’t need any more help thank you.

It’s time to wipe the slate clean of these pretenders. The campaigns to get these rascals and thieves out of office cannot wait until January – it must start now.

Redeemer...Savior...Lord God

Hebrews 9:23-28, “Thus it was necessary for the sketches of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves need better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own; for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”

Too often those who wish to dissolve the deity of Christ fail to remember that if Christ were merely priestly that He would do the same things over and over in a liturgical and ecclesial practice. Jesus Christ is Redeemer. He took our sins upon Himself was crucified, died and was buried. On the third day He was raised from the dead and He ascended into heaven. He will come again and He will be our judge. That is God’s promise and we; we are to wait upon God’s promise for eternal life.

Prayer: Father help us see Your purpose for redemption through Your Son Jesus Christ. We miss the details of Your truth because we’re busy with nonsense. Clear the nonsense from our selves and help us to live to Your promise. In Jesus Name we pray. AMEN

My way or God's Way?

Zechariah 7:4-6, “Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me: Say to all the people of the land and the priests: When you fasted and lamented in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted? And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink only for yourselves?”

There was a song made popular by Frank Sinatra, “My Way.” Throughout the song the words tout the self-sufficiency of the singer. The words attempt to raise the self-congratulating persona of the singer to the level of God. Everything that the singer did, said or thought was entirely his way. Where is God in this? Zechariah asked the question that God prodded him to raise, “was it for me that you fasted?” Well, was it?

Prayer: Father, may the sacrifice of our beings into Your Holy Will be seamless and invisible. May we do all things that bring honor and glory to you be that fasting or feasting. In Jesus’ redemptive Name. AMEN

Iran: Obama made a big mistake

Iran thinks that CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) made a ‘big mistake’ by accusing them of hiding a nuclear facility. Here’s the AP story:

“Iran's president says Obama made a big mistake
Published: 10/3/09, 8:25 AM EDT
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran's president says President Barack Obama made a big mistake when he accused the country of hiding a newly revealed nuclear site that Iran claims it reported to the U.N. nuclear watchdog within the necessary timeframe. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's comments Saturday come just before the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed El Baradei, is scheduled to arrive in Iran to discuss the uranium enrichment facility near the holy city of Qom. El Baradei recently said Tehran was "on the wrong side of the law" over its new plant. He said Iran should have revealed its plans as soon as it decided to build the facility - a position backed by the U.S. Ahmadinejad said Iran revealed the facility to the IAEA on Sept. 21, four days before Obama denounced Tehran.”

Is that what they really think or is it because he came to direct talks with them? I believe that Teheran listens to nothing except for direct action such as preemptive strikes against its enrichment sites. Teheran is trying to forestall Israel’s strike and Brzezinski is another Obama administration tool being used to dissuade and destroy Israel.

Whatever the cause or reason with Teheran they think CINCO is weak and they will exploit his naiveté and our perceived military weakness. They are mocking him for his weakness in Afghanistan and now meeting directly with them.

Link: http://my.att.net/s/editorial.dll?pnum=1&bfromind=7406&eeid=6853864&_sitecat=1505&dcatid=0&eetype=article&render=y&ac=-2&ck=&ch=ne&rg=blsadstrgt&_lid=332&_lnm=tg+ne+topnews&ck=

Apologist and groveler-in-chief

CINCO (Comrade-in-chief Obama) said this during his arm-twisting speech in front of the IOC (International Olympic Committee), "he would use the Olympics to restore the image of the United States as an accessible and multi-ethnic nation" after an impassioned pitch to win the 2016 Games for Chicago. The President told the International Olympic Committee (IOC), gathered today in Copenhagen to decide between his hometown, Rio de Janeiro, Madrid and Tokyo, "that America was ready to re-engage with the world after years when its sense of diversity had not been reflected abroad." Link: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article6858325.ece

Why would anyone want to come to a country where its president thinks his nation is lousy?

G.I. Joe and Lillie

Go to this link and share this moment with Joe Bonsall as he sings a tribute to his Mom and Dad: http://silverandgoldandthee.net/V/Lil.html.

I put the link below as well...get the tissues...guys too.

‘All the king’s horses and all the king’s men…’

‘All the king’s horses and all the king’s men…’ The latest news from Copenhagen reveals this,

Rio, Madrid still in race for 2016 Olympics
Published: 10/2/09, 12:06 PM EDT

By JOHN LEICESTER

“COPENHAGEN (AP) - The race for the 2016 Olympics has come down to just Rio de Janeiro and Madrid, with the International Olympic Committee eliminating Chicago in a stunning first round of voting. Tokyo was knocked out in the second round. That left just Rio and Madrid still in the mix. The IOC voted again to separate the two and elected a winner, which will be announced by IOC president Jacques Rogge later Friday. Madrid's surprising success in reaching the final round came after former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch made an unusual appeal for the Spanish capital, reminding the IOC members as he asked for their vote that, at age 89, "I am very near the end of my time."

Interesting choice of words by Mr. Leicester, “Chicago's elimination was one of the most shocking defeats in IOC voting history. It had long been seen as a front-runner and got the highest possible level of support - from President Barack Obama himself.” Too bad this didn’t happen in November at the hands of a viable presidential opponent.

Next time CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief Obama) spend your time more wisely than wasting it political patronage. It seems the world is slowly coming out of its ‘Obama-hangover’, I only hope that We the people… do as well.

He who is without sin

John 8:2-11, “Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”

David Letterman apparently had affairs with several female staffers of his show over the years and a CBS news person attempted to extort $2 million from Letterman to keep it quiet (http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/10/01/2009-10-01_david_letterman_reveals_extortion_plot_con_man_wanted_2m_for_sex_secrets.htm). So I wonder where this will all lead.

You’ll recall the scalding criticism that Letterman poured onto Sarah Palin and her family because of her daughter’s out-of-wedlock pregnancy. It seems that Mr. Letterman, bearing his own sin, should have listened to Jesus Christ. What guilt do we try to place upon others when we might be harboring our own guilt and sin?

Prayer: ‘Father forgive them for they know not what they do,’ is what Your Son our Savior Jesus prayed from the cross. I can barely lift my eyes to the cross for my sins are nailed there. Please forgive me. In Jesus’ Name I pray. AMEN.

Obama or Biden?

The LA Times (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/10/obama-mahatma-gandhi-olympics.html) brings us an interesting story. It seems that CINCO (Comrade-in-Chief-Obama), purveyor of Black History in America said this, "...Americans owe an enormous measure of gratitude to the Mahatma. His teachings and ideals, shared with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on his 1959 pilgrimage to India, transformed American society through our civil rights movement." The Times points out that Ghandi was assassinated in 1948. Uh, Jobama (Joe-Obama) try doing some research. It was Dr. Howard Thurman, mentor, professor and advisor of Dr. King, who spent time with Ghandi - on several occasions. For someone who charges racism at every personal failure CINCO sure cannot seem to get his knowledge of Black History in America remotely correct.

We Can't Figure Out How to Put the Bill on the Internet

Senator Max Baucus, Demokrat Montana, paid for by Ted Turner and Hollyweird, has stated that neither he and his staff nor other members of the vast bureaucratic miasma in the Senate can figure out how to get the revised healthcare proposed legislation onto the world wide web (internet) so that we can see it 72 hours before they vote on it. Really Senator Baucus? You expect us, living in an information age, to believe that you cannot figure out how to put a .pdf file onto the internet? That is crass and an insult to our intelligence. Just once I wish that you and your Demokrat colleagues would publish a rational statement. What kind of foolishness is going on with you people? There isn’t a single representative or senator deserving re-election at this point if someone doesn’t stand up and challenge that ludicrous and obviously false statement. In Christianity we call that bearing false witness – it’s the 9th Commandment, “Don’t lie!” You guys railed against Representative Joe Wilson when he called the president into accountability for lying and now I call you into accountability for lying. Senator Baucus you are lying. Put the proposed bill on the internet so we can see what malfeasance you are committing.

No peace for the wicked

Isaiah 57:16-21, “For I will not continually accuse, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirits would grow faint before me, even the souls that I have made. Because of their wicked covetousness I was angry; I struck them, I hid and was angry; but they kept turning back to their own ways. I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will lead them and repay them with comfort, creating for their mourners the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and the near, says the LORD; and I will heal them. But the wicked are like the tossing sea that cannot keep still; its waters toss up mire and mud. There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.”

God, through His prophet Isaiah, explains what has happened in the world. And He says that He will not continually accuse nor be angry otherwise even those who are righteous will crumble under His countenance of anger. In a conciliatory move God explains His anger. So what do we take from this moment of compassion and conciliation? We should hear loud and clear that while God is forgiving and patient that God will not wait forever for us to turn back to Him and His Way. Even though we human have sinned and have failed to love God, God says, “I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will lead them and repay them with comfort, creating for their mourners the fruit of the lips.” That healing comes in the form of God Himself, Jesus Christ. And there is this, “But the wicked are like the tossing sea that cannot keep still; its waters toss up mire and mud. There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.” There is no peace for the wicked.

Prayer: Father for this day that wasn’t promised – thank You; for Your persistence in love for us – thank You; for restoration back to You through Jesus Christ – thank You. Let us be the redeemed in Your sight and not the wicked. We seek Your peace in Jesus Christ. AMEN.