May each of you have the heart to conceive, the understanding to direct, and the hand to execute works that will leave the world a little better for your having been here. -- Ronald Reagan

Friday, October 31, 2008

More Freedom of the Press by Obama

On August 27, 2008, respected radio talk show host Milt Rosenberg invited National Review journalist and Ethics and Public Policy Center Senior Fellow, Stanley Kurtz, to his nightly program in Chicago. Kurtz had been conducting thorough and in depth research into Barack Obama's extensive ties to the radical left, including the fraudulent get-out-the-vote group, ACORN. Kurtz was at that point already investigating Obama's connection with Bill Ayers and their collaboration on a left-wing education "reform" organization. After Rosenberg's producer called Obama's Chicago headquarters to offer airtime to challenge Kurtz's claims, the Obama campaign declined and instead sent out an Obama Action Wire email to its supporters encouraging them to inundate Rosenberg's station with complaints and demands that the Kurtz interview be axed. A slew of enraged Obama supporters in fact bombarded the radio station's switchboard demanding that the interview not go forward. The Obama followers were instructed to report their guerrilla tactics back to the campaign through a special dedicated page on the campaign's official website.
A few weeks later, the Obama campaign again summoned its army of supporters through another Obama Action Wire, inciting them to once again inundate the same Chicago radio show with calls to deny airtime for an interview with author David Freddoso, author of the book The Case Against Barack Obama. The Obama campaign's justification for this attack on free speech was that providing Freddoso with airtime would lower the standards of political discourse.
A nonprofit called "Accountable America" that is headed by a former operative of MoveOn.com (which endorsed Obama) has been going through campaign-finance databases and targeting conservative donors with "warning" letters intended to depress Republican fundraising.
The Obama campaign demanded that the U.S. Justice Department stop TV stations from airing an independent ad focusing on Obama's relationship with Bill Ayers. Again, Obama's followers were summoned to inundate stations with tens of thousands of emails to kill the commercial. What's more, the Obama campaign has demanded that the Justice Department investigate and prosecute the group that produced the Bill Ayers ad (the American Issues Project) and the man who funded the group (Harold Simmons from Dallas, Texas). Most recently, the attorney for Obama for America has asked the U.S. Attorney General to investigate John McCain, Sarah Palin, and Republican Senators Voinovich and Cornyn and Representatives Bachmann, Blunt and Ryan because of the Republicans' attempts to draw attention to ACORN's fraudulent voter registration activities.
All of this provides a frightening preview of what an Obama government (combined with a Democrat-controlled House and Senate) would look like. And this doesn't even start to take into account Obama's and the Democrats' intent to bring back the Fairness Doctrine, a spread-the-wealth approach to silencing conservative talk radio wherein the government uses regulation to force successful radio talk shows (i.e. conservative shows) to give part of their airtime to unsuccessful radio talk shows (i.e. liberal shows), or Obama's support for implementing legislation that would make it more difficult for workers to hold a private ballot vote in unionization drives (leading to harassment and intimidation) and thereby denying the democratic right of workers to decide by secret ballot whether they will come under union representation or not. Both issues are further examples of silencing opposition.

What makes Obama's affinity for suppressing dissent even worse is that mainstream newspapers and television networks, the very institutions expected to act as watchdogs and to be a forum for the expression of free speech of all persuasions, have failed the American people during this election not only through biased reporting but also by their shocking failure (refusal?) to dig beyond the surface into Obama's questionable background. As a result, in this election, the American people have been stripped of the protections normally provided by a vibrant and critical press, one of the most important weapons a free nation has against its leaders (or leaders-to-be) and against the tyranny of power.

Should Obama be elected to the presidency, Americans should expect such ugly aggressive tactics to continue, and Americans who disagree with President Obama should expect to be silenced. Whether it is through Obama's use of the mainstream press as a government mouthpiece, the imposition of the Fairness Doctrine to suppress (and in many cases eliminate) radio and television programs or print media outlets critical of an Obama administration, or, the sicking of the press and surrogates on citizens who dare question those in power, Americans are about to experience on a national scale what dissenting students and faculty on American campuses have experienced for years.

At least we can't say we weren't warned.

Anat Hakim is an attorney and writer living in Florida. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School, and the recipient of the 1999 Wisconsin ACLU Civil Libertarian of the Year Award.

Three Reporters Booted from Obama Plane

The Obama campaign has decided to heave out three newspapers from its plane for the final days of its blitz across battleground states -- and all three endorsed Sen. John McCain for president!

The NY POST, WASHINGTON TIMES and DALLAS MORNING NEWS have all been told to move out by Sunday to make room for network bigwigs -- and possibly for the inclusion of reporters from two black magazines, ESSENCE and JET, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

Despite pleas from top editors of the three newspapers that have covered the campaign for months at extraordinary cost, the Obama campaign says their reporters -- and possibly others -- will have to vacate their coveted seats so more power players can document the final days of Sen. Barack Obama's historic campaign to become the first black American president. ~~Drudge Report

Freedom of the Press??

Obama Forgot to Spread His Own Wealth

Even when making more than $250,000, he gave away less than 1 percent to charity until he became a millionaire.

Thinking about Barack Obama's impromptu lecture to Joe "the Plumber" Wurzelbacher about his plans to "spread the wealth", I wondered whether Obama was a practitioner of his own "spread the wealth" principles when he had the opportunity to do so, or whether he was the cheap political opportunist and redistributor of the wealth of others that he appeared to be.

Looking at Obama's charitable giving in since 2000 based on his tax returns, we find that Obama consistently refused to follow his own advice to "spread the wealth" when he had the opportunity to do so. This is especially true in years when he made nearly $250,000 or more. Their contributions didn't increase until Barack Obama's extraordinary book deal helped make him a millionaire and Michelle Obama received a nearly $200,000 raise in May 2005 when she assumed a new position with her employer as vice president of "community and external affairs".

In fact, Obama gave substantially less than the average family making more than $150,000, which averages giving of 2.2 percent of total income according to University of George Professor Russell James.

By comparison, John McCain gave more than one-quarter of his income in 2006 and 2007 (28.6 and 27.3 percent respectively). And according to the New York Observer, since 1998, he has donated royalties on his books totaling more than $1.8 million.

When Barack and Michelle Obama could voluntarily give more of their own income and had the means well beyond most Americans to do so, they refused. In the event that Barack Obama is elected President, however, he and his Democrat allies in Congress intend to force others to do what he couldn't do on his own.
Vote accordingly.

Patrick Poole

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Ch Ch Ch Changes Mr Bowie

Here's some changes I'd like to see, since it seems to be the buzzword this campaign, and nothing is going to change regardless who gets elected.
Lobbyists: If you have served as an elected official at any level of government, you cannot be a lobbyist. According to a report by Public Citizen, 43% of 198 members of Congress that retired between 1998 and 2005 are lobbyists. Foreign countries cannot have lobbyists. We have a State Department. These countries have been on State Department Travel Warning list or labeled human rights violators. Saudi Arabia, Libya, Iraq, Iran, Dubai, Venezuela, Sudan, China, United Arab Emirates, Palestine. Some of these have declared war on the US, are terrorists states, yet have US citizens lobbying for them.
Federally elected politicians making their home in Washington DC.: We live in the 21st century. We have computers and video conferencing. All representatives of districts and states must live in that district and state. There's no reason for not living where the people you represent are. These representatives should only go to DC if required by a national emergency; and thirty days to pass a balanced budget. If the budget isn't passed, and balanced, they don't get paid until it does. Their check goes to Treasury, and they can't write it off as a deduction.
Fair Tax: There will be no corporate, personal or payroll taxes, no estate taxes, or capital gains taxes. There will be a national retail sales tax. The government can't take your money before you get it. People with less money spend less, so pay less taxes, like now. People with more buy more, so pay more taxes. Like now. Don't you think you could spend your money better than a self interested politician or government bureaucrat? Care about the poor? You can give more to them directly with no middleman. Love your church? You will have more to offer beyond your tithe for more good works.
Government Unions: Government unions will be disbanded. If you work for the government you are a servant of the people. You cannot use the coercion of the union to extort money from the people. If the money isn't good enough, go to the private sector.
Campaigns: Politicians running for state offices cannot accept money from out of state. If you want to run for office, raise the money in your own state. Unions cannot endorse candidates. Their only purpose is to represent employees to employers. No monetary restrictions on campaigns, but every penny from every person must be reported and posted.
Law: If you sue and loose you pay all court costs. If the Congress passes a law, it stands on its own. No amendments until after it is passed.
Time: No more daylight savings time. No more time zones. Everything will be GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). Trade, commerce and communication are 24/7 and planet wide. Manage time by standardizing it.

That's the basics. Ch ch ch changes .....

What’s the Job of the US President?

US Constitution, Article II, Section 1

Before he enter on the execution of his office, he shall take the following oath or affirmation: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."

I don't see anywhere in here about the President of the United States redistributing wealth, providing hope (I'll place my hope in God, not man, and especially not a man), bringing change (especially change to fit a particular ideology). I don't want either candidate to bring change. Neither of them will anyway. I look at that oath, and I want only to see a president that will be commander in chief that will build and maintain a kick ass military, secure the borders, ensure law enforcement protects its citizens. That's all folks. No more than that. Keep the *%*^*^ ing government out of my life!!! Both candidates.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

He’s Already Building His Stage

Obama is already building the stage for his acceptance speech. The press and his other supporters (one in same) are saying the election is over. His victory parties are planned.

Proverbs 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Fascinating Biology Facts

The largest cell in the human body is the female egg and the smallest is the male sperm.
It takes the food seven seconds to get from your mouth to your stomach.
One human hair can support 3 kg (6 lb).
The average man's erection is three times the length of his thumb.
Human thighbones are stronger than concrete.
A woman's heart beats faster than a man's.
There are about one trillion bacteria on each of your feet.
Women blink twice as often as men.
The average person's skin weighs twice as much as the brain.
Your body uses 300 muscles to balance itself when you are standing still.
If saliva cannot dissolve something, you cannot taste it.
Men who read this are probably still busy checking their thumbs.

A Little Hard Work Never Killed Anyone, Son -Every Good Dad

Statistics report that in 2000, 5,915 people died at work, including those that had a heart attack at their desk. Lumberjacks have the most dangerous, and the second most is airplane pilots (small planes, not passenger jets..whew!). Following that are structural metalworkers, miners, drillers. Third most common cause of death on the job is murder; in 2000, 677 workers...of those fifty were policemen, and 205 were salesmen. Falls at work account for 12% of work related deaths; these are usually roofer and structural metalworkers. The most common cause of work related death is auto accidents, 23% of the total. The single most dangerous job is Alaskan crab fishermen working the Bering Sea ('The Deadliest Catch'). --From "The Book of General Ignorance" -John Lloyd and John Mitchinson

Monday, October 27, 2008

God's View of Government

“God’s view of government dictates that it carries out a specified and limited role in human affairs. The church and civil government are made necessary by the same thing (sin), but do not have identical responsibilities (Matthew 22:15-21). The humanist view of the role of government is to perfect mankind. The Scriptural view of the role of government is to protect mankind. Throughout Scripture, God is clear that civil government is charged with a limited responsibility and that good leaders decide to take a Scriptural view of government’s role. We also see in Scripture that God has a welfare plan—people are to look to the family, then the church, then the community (1 Timothy 5:3-16, Leviticus 19:9, 10, 23:22). The humanistic plan is publicly funded, coercive, and creates cycles of dependency. God’s plan is community-oriented, voluntary, and empowers people.” —Nathan Tabor

Flu Shot

I've been down and out for two days because I had a flu shot this past Friday, provided by the Nevada Cancer Institute where I volunteer. I went into work Sat morning and made it until 7AM. I'd been up all night with all the symptoms, and knew that a co worker had the day off, so it was imperative I show up. After three hours, I couldn't sit up, couldn't comprehend what anyone was saying to me (all was like a foreign language), couldn't even do computer admin stuff, so I came home and passed out for six hours. I can't imagine what the real flu would be like if this was just from a little shot. Yikes! So the sheets are being washed, the dish washer is running (the kitchen was a mess!! I can't stand that!!!). Was I sleep walking? My apt was a mess but I don't remember anything I did to make it so. The only other time a flu shot made me sick was the Swine Flu shot in the Seventies. I was in the Navy at the time and all were required to get it. I had quarterdeck watch that night, and collapsed on the stairwell leading onto the deck, just as some jerk officer (not all officers are, just this one) chewed me out for sitting down on watch. I had collapsed at just the moment the officer walked around the corner, so the officer of the deck didn't have a chance to intervene until after the jerk said something. He relived me of the watch. When I got down to my bunk, I went into convulsions and was in that flu state for two days, like I was with this shot. Though it's only happened twice, I've got to wonder if the shot is worth it. The years I didn't get a shot, I did fine. This year I was motivated because of my work at the Nevada Cancer Institute, and I don't even want to be the cause of any illness there. There it could be deadly, so in this case I guess, it was worth it.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

A Prayer

O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
So I have looked for You in the Sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your
glory.

Because Your lovingkindness is
Better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
Thus I will bless You while I
live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul shall be satisfied as with
marrow and fatness.
And my mouth shall praise you
with joyful lips.

When I remember You on my
bed,
I meditate on You in the night
watches.
Because You have been my help,
Therefore in the shadow of Your
wings I will rejoice.
My soul follows close behind
You;
Your right hand upholds me.
Psalms 63

Against Obama

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/10/21/the-comprehensive-argument-against-barack-obama/

This is the best comprehensive argument against an Obama presidency. I don't think it will sway any of my leftist friends, they want to live in a socialist state and approve of the class warfare with its distribution of wealth. For my conservative friends it'll strengthen your arguments. Mostly videos so you can see for yourself what this man is about.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Obama International Relations II

"Mark my words," the Democratic vice presidential nominee warned at the second of his two Seattle fundraisers Sunday. "It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking. We're about to elect a brilliant 47-year-old senator president of the United States of America. Remember I said it standing here if you don't remember anything else I said. Watch, we're gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy."
"I can give you at least four or five scenarios from where it might originate," Biden said to Emerald City supporters, mentioning the Middle East and Russia as possibilities. "And he's gonna need help. And the kind of help he's gonna need is, he's gonna need you--not financially to help him--we're gonna need you to use your influence, your influence within the community, to stand with him. Because it's not gonna be apparent initially, it's not gonna be apparent that we're right." --ABC News

So tell me again why a junior senator is preferable to an elder statesman? Reading into this, Russia wouldn't roll into another middle European country, terrorists won't strike in the US again etc., if McCain is elected.

Obama and International Relations

Barack Obama's promise to unilaterally rewrite the North American Free Trade Agreement if Canada and Mexico won't go along with his ideas on labor and the environment has not gone unnoticed in Ottawa. If Canadians are going to have a tougher time selling their goods and services south of the border, who can blame them for looking east -- across the Atlantic to Europe.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Nicolas Sarkozy of France signed an agreement Friday to begin negotiations for a free trade pact between Canada and the European Union. A Canada-EU study released last week outlines the joint economic benefits of such a partnership, with two-way trade estimated to increase 22.9% by 2014.

The proposed partnership goes a lot further than Nafta. In addition to allowing free trade in goods and services, it would harmonize regulations, open up the air-travel market, and boost opportunities in government-procurement. Most important, it would free the labor market so that skilled workers could move easily back and forth across the Atlantic. ...

At a news conference on Friday, Mr. Harper said, "We must stand against protectionism and work to lower and eliminate barriers."

--Wall Street Journal

Acedia

One of a few books I'm currently reading is Acedia & Me by Kathleen Norris. Ms Norris is one of my favorite religious writers, and is a constant source of understanding and knowledge for me. Acedia is an ancient Greek word meaning an absence or lack of care. In Latin it's 'accidie'. The Oxford dictionary has it as heedlessness, torpor, a non-caring state. Webster's as the deadly sin of sloth and spiritual torpor and apathy. An online medical dictionary lists its chief features as listlessness, carelessness, apathy, and melancholia. It was first written about by a monk, Evagrius Ponticus (345-399) in a work called "The Praktikos". It's a really complex idea, and warranted a book, so here I just want to introduce you to the concept. Evagrius called it a demon, the noonday demon that attacks in the afternoon. What it does is distract from prayer and duties, and generates a hatred for place and time. It creates a desire to be elsewhere, to be doing something else. For the monk, it distracts from entering into a deeper relationship with God. Evagrius writes: "when he reads…yawns plenty and easily falls into sleep. He rubs his eyes and stretches his arms. His eyes wander from the book. He stares at the wall and then goes back to his reading for a little. He then wastes his time hanging on to the end of words, counts the pages, ascertains how the book is made, finds fault with the writing and the design. Finally he just shuts it and uses it as a pillow. Then he falls into a sleep not too deep, because hunger wakes his soul up and he begins to concern himself with that." Don't we do that? Have something important to do, but find ourselves cleaning something, running to the store, napping, daydreaming, turning on the TV and going into an unthinking passive state for hours? Kathleen Norris points out that from the perspective of Christian theology; acedia is understood as the rejection of the divine; that because we are made in God's image we're fleeing from a relationship with a loving God, and so running away too from our authentic selves. I remember in a sermon by Pastor Jack Hayford, he said one night he sat with the remote, channel surfing and a couple hours had passed. When he realized this, he was horrified, and dropped to his knees and asked for forgiveness for wasting God's precious gift of life and time.

The Ocean



The ocean is my favorite place; even beats out the woodsy mountains. I'm thinking this because I've just spent some time there. Seven tenths of the earth's surface is water. Arthur C. Clarke commented that it's inappropriate to call this planet Earth, when it's clearly Ocean. The earth weighs 5,940,000,000,000,000,000,000 metric tons. Ninety-seven percent of it is salt water, three percent fresh. We're taught too that water isn't blue, but clear or transparent. It turns out that it's blue. Very pale blue, but blue. If you put pure water in a deep white pool, and looked down into it, it would be blue. If you've ever looked at thick ice of a frozen waterfall, it's blue. Impurities in water is what is doing the reflecting, so the ocean appears gray, turquoise, green and all kinds of variations.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

The Victorians Had It Right

We are watching this. An economic meltdown, a political meltdown, a social meltdown. Have we no shame? Corporate execs get a government bailout and take over $400,000 and go to a corporate spa. A Fannie Mae CEO takes $90 million dollars out over six years as it becomes the root cause of our current financial collapse. People buy houses they know they can’t afford, cry fowl when they default, and expect the government to bail them out too. Famous women don’t wear underwear and expose themselves in public. Teenage age girls compete to get pregnant. Public sex is ok at Spring Break. Teenage boys form posses to sexually exploit (even rape) girls. All of this with no social consequence. All of this with no sense of shame or guilt.

DEFINITION: Shame. 1.1. The painful emotion arising from the consciousness of something dishonoring, ridiculous, or indecorous in one's own conduct or circumstances (or in those of others whose honor or disgrace one regards as one's own), or of being in a situation which offends one's sense of modesty or decency. (OXFORD)

The sense of shame has been diminishing since the sixties, if not before. It’s even thought of as a quaint concept that has no bearing on modern society. How few are those that engage in the intellectual and spiritual self evaluation necessary to know shame, and how to deal with it. Any of those CEO’s knows what it is? Any of the politicians that stole the American people’s money to pay off the failed business execs know what it is? Absolutely no moral evaluation is being done here.

This is, in my view, the result of the cutting of the religious underpinnings of western society. Temporal. If it feels good do it. We become absorbed in the material. We give up having to do what’s necessary to live right lives. Do you know anyone, or hear any leader, speak of shame? No. Self-indulgence and self expression are more important. There is no consequence.

I don’t think a culture can survive without shame. The Victorians had it right. It may be hypocritical, the way they structured their society. In public, staunchly civil, but behind the doors was another story. But it was a successful culture. Is our culture the better for it that behavior has no restraints? Goethe believed that only through limitation can mastery be attained. What limitations do we have have? What are we mastering? Self-centeredness, selfishness, greed? How few of us place limitations on ourselves, or the weaker willed of us, put ourselves in places where we accept limitations put on us? I’ll finish with a quote from one of my favorite philosopher/writers Simone Weil: "In every sphere, we seem to have lost the very elements of intelligence: the ideas of limit, measure, degree, proportion, relation, comparison, contingency, interdependence, interrelation of means and ends. To keep to the social level, our political universe is peopled exclusively by myths and monsters; all it contains is absolutes and abstract entities." (Written in 1937)

Shame is no longer a part of our vocabulary. We’ve also lost virtue, honor, loyalty, honesty, generosity. If we had these things, and they were internalized in each of us, and through that connected us to each other, we would have a strong religious culture, business culture, and a social connectedness that would maintain a strong civilization.

The Farcial Files

German poet Friedrich Schiller has been dead for more than 200 years. That's probably why he hasn't paid his mandatory TV and radio license fee. But that didn't stop the government from sending him a bill. In fact, bills kept coming to the Friedrich Schiller Primary School even after the headmaster wrote to the collection agency reminding them that Schiller has been long dead.

After a conflict between two students who were allegedly members of rival gangs, some students at Kentucky's Woodford High School began wearing what school officials believed to be gang colors. Officials barred those students from wearing "Carolina Tar Heel blue" or black and gold. They say those are the colors of the two gangs. Black and gold are also Woodford's school colors.

A security guard at Seagoville High School in Dallas, Texas, ordered Tabitha Ruiz to take off her rosary. Local police say rosary beads are a gang symbol.

Officials at England's Alsager High School gave two boys detention after they refused to kneel and pray to Allah during a religious education lesson. Their parents and the parents of other students say they were furious when they found what their children had been ordered to do. The Cheshire County Council said it is investigating the matter.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Why Parents Drink

WHY PARENTS DRINK

A father passing by his son's bedroom was astonished to see that his bed was nicely made and everything was picked up.

Then he saw an envelope, propped up prominently on the pillow that was addressed to 'Dad.'

With the worst premonition he opened the envelope with trembling hands and read the letter.


Dear Dad:

It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with Mom and you. I have been finding real passion with Stacy and she is so nice.

But I knew you would not approve of her because of all her piercings, Tattoos, tight motorcycle clothes and the fact that she is much older than I am.

But it's not only the passion... Dad she's pregnant.

Stacy said that we will be very happy. She owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter. We share a dream of having many more children.

Stacy has opened my eyes to the fact that marijuana doesn't really hurt anyone.... We'll be growing it for ourselves and trading it with the other people that live nearby for cocaine and ecstasy.

In the meantime we will pray that science will find a cure for AIDS so Stacy can get better.

She deserves it.

Don't worry Dad. I'm 15 and I know how to take care of myself. Someday I'm sure that we will be back to visit so that you can get to know your grandchildren.

Love,
Your Son Cody,

P.S.. Dad, none of the above is true. I'm over at Tommy's house. I just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than the report card that's in my center desk drawer.

I love you.
Call me when it's safe to come home.

Liberalism

“Liberalism, as an experiment against common sense, undermines every institution it touches, including financial ones. In the age of political correctness, the conservatism of the banking industry was bound to give way to mindless multiculturalism and Great Society babble. Tried-and-true lending principles were deemed illiberal and imprudent loans became a form of ‘progress.’ Whatever the area that falls under it—whether it is banking or education—liberalism’s regulatory regime consists of forcing people to adopt ideological goals which defy rationality: banks are told not to insist on such outmoded tests as good credit; schools are told not to insist on good test scores for admission. High standards across the culture have eroded under liberalism. Why not in banking too? Indeed, given the choice between economic decline and political correctness, liberals always choose the former. To preserve the kangaroo rat, they will cut jobs. To advance faddish global warming theory, they will undercut whole industries. Instead of bemoaning economic decline, they normally interpret it as a measure of enlightenment: that some worthy ideological goal, far more important than money, is slowing business down.” —George Neumayr

Neil Cavuto on Wall Street

You know me, I'm not one to say I told you so.

But I told you so.

I told you that the markets the experts said would soar on this rescue deal wouldn't soar on this rescue deal.

That they'd lose air just as politicians were filling the capitol with their hot air.

That they'd be snapping sell orders as politicians were thumping chests.

It happened. A Dow up more than 300 before the vote, collapsing after the vote.

This isn't about buying on the rumor, and selling on the fact.

This is about babies.

Arrogant, petulant, what have you done for me lately market babies.

Markets whose temper tantrums have dictated government policy and cost taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars desperately hoping they'll stop.

But here's the thing about babies, about kids in general with temper tantrums.

You can't shut them up trying to pay them off.

Whether it's hard candy for toddlers, or hard cash for traders.

Because once you do that, the kid has your number.

And the trader has it on speed dial.

Because they know they've got you.

That you'll give them more candy, and more cash.

All it takes is another temper tantrum, another sell off, another "this isn't good enough, I want more."

And you give more.

Because they know you'll give more.

Because you fear they'll sell more if you do not give more.

And who can blame you when other very smart people say they'll sell more if you don't give more.

And the very smart people make you feel very dumb for wanting to be tough.

So you stop being tough. And you start being dumb.

The only difference between the parents who cave and the politicians who cave?

The parents are blowing their money.

The politicians are blowing ours.

That's what's dumb.

And that's what's worth a tantrum.

Stoned

The Blarney Stone, located in the walls of Blarney Castle, Ireland, is said to impart eloquence to those who kiss it. *** The basalt Rosetta Stone, discovered in 1799, is inscribed with a Ptolemaic decree and its markings helped experts decipher hieroglyphics. *** One who has 'sprung from the stone' has no known parents or provenance. *** To boil, roast or wash a stone or to attempt to get blood out of a stone all mean to labour in vain. However, one should leave no stone unturned in killing two birds with one stone, since a rolling stone gathers no moss. *** Stone-boiling is a primitive technique for heating water by putting hot stones in it. *** The Stone of Scone (also the Stone of Destiny) is where Scottish kings were traditionally crowned. Edward I captured the stone in 1296 and took it to Westminster Abby. The stone was returned to the Scots in 1996 and place in Edinburgh Castle. *** Kidney stones are solid masses of calcium which originate in the kidney and can pass down the urinary tract. *** The Philosopher's Stone is believed by alchemists to turn base metals to gold. *** The London Stone (possibly a Roman milestone) is built into the wall or 111 Cannon Street.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Chrestotes

chrestotes (khray-stot'-ace) gentleness, goodness, kindness
rom chrestos; usefulness, i.e. Morally, excellence (in character or demeanor) -- gentleness, good(-ness), kindness.
In the Bible:
Romans 3 times
2 Corinthians 1 time
Galatians 1 time
Ephesians 1 time
Titus 1 time
Colossians 1 time

I learned this word from my good friend Kelly, who gets much credit to introducing me to this and other ideas and trains of thought. I'm still working on wrapping my meager brain around this, but the concept keeps growing. So below are what others far more learned than I have written. Someday I'll form this into my own words, but for now I feel compelled to share.

'When the kindness of God' - Spurgeon says that “The philanthropy of God” would be a good translation...
Kindness is God's beneficial provision that meets the need of sinful man.

Kindness is not an apathetic response to sin, but a deliberate act to bring the sinner back to God.
Kindness reflects the tender concern of God, providing for helpless, hapless man what he never could have provided for himself. This is the "starting point" for our salvation. Expositors call it God's "pitying kindness that prompts Him to bestow forgiveness and blessings". John MacArthur writes that kindness (chrestotes) "connotes genuine goodness and generosity of heart. Our salvation from sin and lostness and death issued wholly from God’s kindness, His loving, benevolent, and entirely gracious concern to draw us to Himself and redeem us from sin forever."

Kindness reflects benevolence in action, kindliness which disposes one to do good but not a goodness qualitatively but a goodness in action and expressed in deed. Kindness is that temper or disposition which delights in contributing to the happiness of others, which is exercised cheerfully in gratifying their wishes and which supplies their wants or alleviates their distresses. Kindness is not just a sweet disposition but is a serving trait. (This is my favorite observation.)

From Beth Moore:

"Chrestotes - is the grace which pervades the whole nature, mellowing all which would be harsh and austere. Chrestotes - is a tender heart and nurturing spirit

Hosea 11:3-4
3. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
taking them by the arms;
but they did not realize
it was I who healed them,
4. I led them with cords of
human kindness
with ties of love;
I lifted the yoke from their
neck
and bent down to feed them.

Beth Moore says, "The cords were kindness-the tenderness of God's heart-and the ties which bound them together were His love. Don't miss an important part of this Scripture: The chrestotes or nurturing of God was their healing, whether or not they recognized it as such!
Reread the end of verse 4. There aren't many things sweeter than watching a Daddy feed his baby. This bonding experience is portrayed so typically as God "bent down to feed" His children. Just picture it! Can you almost see Him opening His mouth as He tries to get the child to open his-just like we do?"

The Tyndale Bible Dictionary summarizes "kindness" as that "state of being that includes the attributes of loving affection, sympathy, friendliness, patience, pleasantness, gentleness, and goodness. Kindness is a quality shown in the way a person speaks and acts. It is more volitional than emotional."

My brother, a very kind man, pointed out that kindness is often misinterpreted as weakness. He is quite right, and so I think that being kind is often a courageous act too.


World Communion Sunday and My Church

World Communion Sunday started with the Presbyterians in 1936 and is way to experience communion in an international context; to remind Christians that we are all unified under Christ. At our church we've combined that with Reconciliation Day, which is a focus on healing racial wounds and bringing all races and cultures together. On our campus we have the Logos Church (Korean), Centro Cristiano de Libertad (Hispanic), Premiere Eglise Dvangelique Haitienne de Las Vegas (Haitian), Filipino-American United Church of Christ, and another Disciples of Christ Church that meets in Summerlin (multi-cultural/primarily African American). On World Communion Sunday we all come together in one service, and all languages are spoken. Opening our service today we had a responsive reading, "Passing the Peace" lead by the pastor of each church:
Pastor: The peace of Christ be with you!
People: And also with you!
Pastor: La paz del Senor se Contigo.
People: Y contigo tambien.
Pastor: Gue-Lee-Sau-Dou-i Pyung-Hwaa-Gaa Ham-Kkeh Haal-Hee-Uh-Daa
People Daang-Shin-Sh-Keh-Doh
Pastor: Que la paix et la grace de Dieu soit avec vous tous.
People: Et avec votre esprit.

Followed by the "Call to Celebrate"
Pastor: We are all one family.
People: We are all one family, made in the image of God.
Pastor: somos todo una familia. (Spanish)
People: We are all one family, all over the world.
Pastor: Woo-Lee-Neun Mooh-Doo Haan Gaa-Johk-Ip-Nee-Daa (Korean)
People: We are all one family, brothers and sisters.
Pastor: Nou tout se yon sed fammy. (French)
People: We are all one family, given gifts and talents to share.
Pastor: We come to the table as one family, united in love, united in peace, united in Christ our Lord. Amen

For our call to Prayer we sang "Alleluia" in English, Spanish and French.

Eglise Enagelique Haitienne church members sang "Great is Thy Faithfulness" (French)

The Scripture reading, Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Then to tie in Reconciliation with the Communion Sunday, 2nd Corinthians 5:17-20 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God , who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God." I want to note here, the word 'new' in this context. From Strong's, 'new' is unused, fresh, novel; new in regard to form or quality, rather than new in reference to time.

There wasn't a sermon, but a dialogue amongst the pastors, our pastors asking the others about their history, countries, faith, and how they come to use our church as a meeting place for theirs. The most heart aching story was from the Haitian pastor. She had started her church at another campus, and she said the negative reaction to her skin color was stronger than any sense of the brotherhood and sisterhood of Christ. She said when she met our pastors, she knew these were truly different people from what she had experienced. She and her congregation have felt so comfortable and supported by us, that she was grateful beyond words. It breaks my heart to hear that such racism is still so acceptable to so many, and at the same time happy and proud that my church works so hard, from the heart, to bring love and comfort to all people.

After the sermon/dialogue, Communion was served. There was a long table with breads from all over the world, and along the back of the table were creches from many countries. Communion is not only the high point of any service for me (our church serves communion every Sunday), but the high point of every week. I feel so full of the Spirit when I partake, feel so much that my prayers are being answered, that I know all I practice and believe is so very true and real. This was especially true today.

Friday, October 3, 2008

A Friends Opposing Political View

This is written by a good friend of mine. Boy, talk about views 180 out from each other.

Subject: Speak Out: Fundamentally Wrong

To Las Vegas Review-Journal, Las Vegas Sun, Desert Dispatch, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Spectrum, Rafu Shimpo

Subject Our Nation

Message The nation is facing a crisis unlike the one being presented to it's people by the media. Many politicians won't tell you about it, because it doesn't make them look good. Republicans don't know about it and if they did, they don't care because they have the evangelicals to carry their votes. Democrats know about it, for the most part, but fear being called out on it for fear of being labeled a liberal.< br />
Internationally, we say that we want to bring liberty to those who are oppressed. At home, we still find it difficult to talk openly about the oppressed in this country. Internationally, we have elected and appointed officials who stink hypocrisy, jealousy, greed, and call it God's plan. I thought that the dreamed up religions were supposed to exist to keep the ignorant masses "morally sound." No?

Abroad, we torture people and redefine what "torture" means. These are warcrimes, regardless of if your war is God's task or not. We outlawed war crimes and signed a treaty about it. We must hold our government accountable. It's our government, all of this is OUR fault. Stop voting for people because you want to have a drink with them and hang out. Stop voting for people because you saw their name on a sign and you recognize it more. Stop being irresponsible.

At home, our mega capitalistic nature under the watch of the Republican party's deregulation has morphed into something that for people who don't pay attention to it is threatening to cripple the world's global economy.

And now, like King George II did to start the Age of Fear when he struck at Iraq for not being the kind of country we would want to hang out with, King George II comes forth asking for shameless amounts of money to bail out the criminals from the mounds of debt they acquired while cheating the American people out of homes and dreams. This madness must stop.

Congressmen from the House and Senate who have been in positions on committees meant to regulate Wall Street should resign now. Members from these committees who ALSO took money from the lobbyists of these banks should go to federal prison. George Bush should be impeached.

John McCain is more of the same. He boasts of how he's been serving in the Senate for so many years. WAKE UP, AMERICA. Our government's been screwing up for as many years. If McCain had what it took to fix the country, he could have done more in all his vast years of experience. Do you really want someone who barely understands how the internet works? This is 2008, you can't punish people you don't like by not talking to them. You can't disregard allies who have been allies for centuries because they speak out against actions that your crooked hypocratic administration has done. John McCain thought the fundamentals of the economy were sound a few weeks ago. He's finally admitted it might have a problem. I think he just looked up what "Change" meant, he mentioned it at the Republican convention, but since then has done nothing but show that he is stuck in the past and has no vision for our future. Oh and by the way, it's ok that Palin used earmarks in Alaska, her st ate needed them. Hmm, 18 billion doesn't go far for 50 states, maybe they needed them too?? How about cutting out that big WAR expense??? When will men realize that killing other people's children doesn't solve anything. In the end, only diplomacy ends a "war".


I hope you see why we must elect Barack Obama.

Barack has a vision, he sees America for what it stands for, liberty and justice for all. Barack has been talking about the economic issues since his campaign started. Barack knows that the economy does not trickle down, it's a shared responsibility. You can not only fix the rich and their desires, society only works when it is whole. Obama knows that Anerica needs to resurrect it's image and brand with all other countries. We are a generous and giving people and all of that is overshadowed by the horrific policies of McCain and Bush's GOP Republican administration.

Vote for Barack if you want to live in a country with vision again. Make this smart, intelligent, and honest man our next president. It's your responsibility. We cannot elect another Bush.