I read "ACLU lies about WorldNetDaily" by Joseph Farah (December 20, 2007 on WND), which led me to reading what Kary L. Moss, executive director of the ACLU of Michigan wrote about them in the Detroit News. The piece is called, " Freedom of religion includes defending diversity of beliefs". Almost made me all teary-eyed. Teary-eyed from laughing -- not crying.
The ACLU exec writes, "Unfortunately, our victories for religious freedom are overshadowed by well-organized attempts to demonize the ACLU and curtail religious diversity by sounding the alarm bells on the purported "war on Christmas." '
Moss seems so proud when she says, "Yet for true religious liberty to flourish, everyone must be free to worship without government interference."
Excuse me, but aren't courts part of the government?
She goes on, "For instance, Christmas displays -- including nativity scenes -- are perfectly acceptable at homes, churches and even, in come cases, on city property."
Well, thank you ACLU for telling us where (according to your perception) it is acceptable to have Christmas displays. Yes, thank you and the government -- I mean the courts -- for not interfering.
But after all the discussion about Christmas displays and then religious displays, she suddenly says, "That is why the ACLU of Michigan is proud to count among its clients Joseph Hanas, an observant Catholic from Genesee County who was sent to jail for asking a drug court judge to remove him from a drug rehabilitation program that coerced him into practicing the Pentecostal faith. He was forced to read the Bible for seven hours a day and was tested on Pentecostal principles. The staff also told him that Catholicism was a form of witchcraft and they confiscated both his rosary and Holy Communion prayer book."
I think someone should explain to Ms. Moss that there is a big difference between a religious Christmas display and being "CONFINED" in a place that forces actual religious practices and teachings upon a person. In one case, anyone who wishes can avoid, ignore and freely walk away. In the second case, they are forced to remain and endure the exposure.
By the way, Ms. Moss, what if the majority want a Nativity Scene on the court house lawn? Are you going to defend our right to religious freedom against the religion of secularism that strives to suppress anything remotely of Christian nature, or have you determined that secularism trumps all freedoms and rights and what have you(s)?
Saturday, December 22, 2007
ACLU claiming conspiracy?
Romney Symptomatic of Republican Problems
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
COALITION ON URBAN RENEWAL & EDUCATION
It's doubtful that anyone needs any more reasons to explain why Americans are fed up with politics as usual. Nevertheless, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has given us one more.
Apparently when Romney said, "I saw my father march with Martin Luther King," in his much publicized "Faith in America" speech, this was not exactly true. (Full Article)
Freedom Watch Afghanistan
The latest from Operation Enduring Freedom showing the activities of American troops in country. Produced by AFN-Afghanistan.
Argus Lawsuit Can Go Forward
From today's Argus Leader, Dan Scott's lawsuit against the Argus Mis-Leader's misleading "editorial" can go forward:
A Minnehaha County judge Friday denied a motion by the Argus Leader to dismiss a libel lawsuit brought against it by Dan Scott, president of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.
Scott filed the suit against the Argus Leader and Executive Editor Randell Beck in August over a column Beck wrote about Scott's speech to those attending a Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce event in June. That column included a satirical letter of apology from Scott. Circuit Judge Kathleen Caldwell's written decision states the Argus Leader's claim that Beck's column is protected by the First Amendment is not sufficient to keep the lawsuit from proceeding.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Mike Huckabee's Gifts as Governor
If you're like me, financial matters bore you to tears.
So here's a quick video of Mike Huckabee's financial, um, indiscretions when he was governor of Arkansas.
NewsBusted 128: Valerie Plame, Britney as Mary?
NewsBusted is a comedy webcast about the news of the day, uploaded every Tuesday and every Friday.
Latest South Dakota Abortion Statistics Released
The South Dakota Department of Health has released the latest abortion statistics, in this case for the year 2006. Abortion statistics normally come out late in the year following the subject year.
The total number of abortions was down about 7% from 2005, from 805 to 748.
In a press release from the Alpha Center in Sioux Falls, Dr. Glenn Ridder said, “We are very excited to see this decline and are confident that the services of the Alpha Center’s sexual integrity program and the Truth 4 Youth abstinence program are having a significant impact in this area.”
The report also provides the number of abortions done according to the reason.
The number of abortions done because of rape is down from 1.1% to .4%.
The number of abortions for the reason "The mother would suffer substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function if the pregnancy continued" was also down from 2.7% to 1.5%.
The number of abortions because "The mother could not afford the child" was also down from 25.5% to 21.4%.
However, the number of abortions because "The mother did not desire to have the child" was up from 79.5% to 84.6%.
Dr. Ridder noted that, “It is our hope that abortion as birth control will end in South Dakota. Abortion is harmful to women and the women of South Dakota deserve better.”
The new abortion restriction law proposed for next year would include tightly-worded exceptions for rape, incest, the health and life of the mother.
By the guidelines of this proposed law, this would end 98.1% of the abortions in South Dakota. According to the 2006 statistics, that would save 734 unborn children.
Open Letter to Tom Tancredo Supporters
SK Johnson from The Duncan Hunter Grass-Revolt blog has printed an open letter to supporters of Tom Tancredo. Here is an excerpt:
Today is a sad day for conservatism. Another candidate has dropped out of the GOP race, one of the few candidates that can actually be considered conservative. Right now, the media is shoving several moderate candidates down our throats, and forcing the actually conservative candidates to the bottom of the race. Tom Tancredo was one such candidate.
Not only was Tom Tancredo one of the few conservatives in the race, he was one of the few that could be trusted when it comes to the issue of border security; and he is an expert on it too. Now that he has left the race, where are those of us to turn that support actually securing our borders?
Except for Ron Paul (whose record on immigration isn't 100%, and whose Iraq policy ideas are downright scary), there is no presidential candidate with a solid record on immigration and border control. Fred Thompson's is fair, and better than most, but can't touch Duncan Hunter's consistent record.
National security, American jobs and the rule of law are all too important to entrust to pretenders or those who don't really take this issue seriously.
Freedom Watch Afghanistan
The latest from Operation Enduring Freedom showing the activities of American troops in country. Produced by AFN-Afghanistan.
Iraqi Freedom Minute
Focusing on the latest news from Operation Iraqi Freedom. American Forces Network Iraq presents Iraqi Freedom Minute. Featuring newly graduated Iraqi security forces.
Al-Qaeda Driven Out of Stronghold
al-Qaeda in Iraq has been driven out of one of its former strongholds northwest of Baghdad.
Attacks Decreasing in Iraq
The Commander of Multi-National Division-North says there's been a decrease in the number of violent attacks in northern Iraq since June.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Uncovering Terrorist Torture Chambers
When Leftists call the United States a terrorist nation, compare us to terrorists, and place the United States on a morally equivalent plane with terrorists, I want you to remember this story.
From Yahoo News:
BAGHDAD - Blood-splotches on walls, chains hanging from a ceiling and swords on the killing floor — the artifacts left a disturbing tale of brutalities inside a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq torture chamber. But there was yet another chilling fact outside the dirt-floor dungeon. Villagers say they knew about the torment but were too intimidated by extremists to tell authorities until now.
Here's some of the amenities in this hotel of torture:
The floor was littered with food wrappers, plastic soda bottles and electric cables that snaked to a metal bed frame, presumably where detainees were shocked, according to the U.S. account of the discovery during a Dec. 8-11 mission.
The rooms "had chains, a bed — an iron bed that was still connected to a battery — knives and swords that were still covered in blood," said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, the top U.S. commander in northern Iraq.
Nearby were nine mass graves containing the remains of 26 people, he said.
This isn't the only torture chamber uncovered of our morally-equivalent brothers in the Religion of Peace.
It was not the first apparent torture site found after U.S. forces moved into former extremist strongholds.
In March, U.S. troops discovered a similar site in the village of Karmah just west of Baghdad that was used by Sunni insurgents for torture and summary executions. They rescued two Iraqi captives, who apparently had been spared immediate execution because the militants' video camera broke and they wanted to film the killing.
The captives told U.S. soldiers they had been sentenced to death by an insurgent court and had the choice of either beheading or a fatal gunshot.
Both Sunni insurgents and Shiite militia death squads regularly torture their captives before killing them — sometimes with power drills. Most of the hundreds of bodies that have turned up in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq show signs of torture.
This is better than the democracy and stability we've been trying to bring to Iraq, the same stability and peace that the domestic and international Left has been undermining since Day One?
Bush Visits Wounded Warriors
The Commander-in-Chief paid a holiday visit to wounded warriors Wednesday at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Hillary's (Honest) Christmas List
RedState has a more honest version of Hillary's Christmas ad that I posted earlier today. It exposes all those hidden price tags.
Senate Committee Report: 400 Scientists Who Dispute Global Warming
From the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works we have a report that more than 400 prominent scientists disputed anthropogenic global warming in 2007 alone.
Over 400 prominent scientists from more than two dozen countries recently voiced significant objections to major aspects of the so-called "consensus" on man-made global warming. These scientists, many of whom are current and former participants in the UN IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), criticized the climate claims made by the UN IPCC and former Vice President Al Gore.
The new report issued by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee's office of the GOP Ranking Member details the views of the scientists, the overwhelming majority of whom spoke out in 2007.
It appears Al Gore's "consensus" on global warming is as mythical as global warming itself...
Gilchrist Explains Huckabee Endorsement
At Land of the Free, Jim Gilchrist tells why he endorsed Mike Huckabee for president, and why he did so when there are other canidates with far more solid records on immigration and border control:
There have been very few voices in Washington DC who have echoed our call to secure the borders and enforce our immigration laws. One of those lone voices, and a great leader for America as well, is Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo. Congressman Tancredo is a personal hero of mine who gave me the inspiration to create the Minuteman Project over three years ago.
And Duncan Hunter, Congressman from California, actually wrote the bill to get the fence built on the border between the San Diego, California and Mexico.
Both of these men have been more instrumental in moving the debate of border security and illegal immigration to where it is today than any one else. Tom Tancredo and Duncan Hunter are the quintessential political pioneers in the quest to maintain a respectable and responsible immigration system.
But as we go forward in our movement with a national stage to implement a new policy with new leaders, we have to recognize that the American people have decided there are only three viable candidates for a Republican Party presidential nominee: former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, and former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
I understand Gilchrist's point, but I have to disagree with him technically and in essence on one important point: with not a single vote cast yet, the American people have NOT "decided there are only three viable candidate."
At this point, the media and party elites have told us who they consider viable candidates. They have done so with their coverage and lack thereof. They have done so with their endorsements and big contributions. And as the general public is wont to do, the people have dutifully followed with little question.
One of the sad realities of our political process, and our society in general, is that most voters stay asleep until right before the primary election, and many still do not wake up then, taking note of the political landscape about 6 weeks before the general election in November. By this time, the choice has already been narrowed for them by the media and other elites, and by those few who woke up enough to take a cursory glance at the field of choices available during the primary election.
I won't have the media and party elites dictate to me who is a viable candidate and who is not. I'm just silly like that. But apparently Gilchrist and many other Americans are willing to follow their dictates like sheep and go along with whatever they're told.
Meanwhile, our choices come down to a bunch of outright socialists in the Democrat Party, and those that dabble with it in the Republican Party.
Some disagree with the sentiment, "We get the government we deserve." Me? I think if we stay asleep during the opportunity to support and select a good candidate, then we deserve the lousy choice we get in the general election, and have no justification to bellyache that "they're all the same."
Hillary's Christmas List
A little Christmas list of all the taxpayer-funded government benefits Hillary Clinton wants to ever-so-benevolently give you if she gets to be president.
Goodies like universal health care (paid for by you), alternative energy (schemes that cost more than they produce), bringing the troops home (so we can pretend there's no evil in the world), middle class tax breaks (that actually raise taxes on the middle class and REALLY stick it to those evil rich folks), and universal pre-k education (so we can indoctrinate your children much earlier into not thinking or doing for themselves).
Wouldn't it be wonderful to have such a benevolent ruler to do all our thinking for us and take responsibility for all the stuff we're burdened with doing for ourselves now?
HT to RedState.
Wounded Warrior Bonus Equity Act Must Be Passed
Today's Rapid City Journal editorial points out a very callous policy by the Department of Defense:
On the day when the community of Timber Lake gathers to bury one of its own — Army Cpl. Tanner O’Leary — we offer our sympathy to his family and our strong support for the Wounded Warrior Bonus Equity Act.
Unbelievable as it may seem, the Department of Defense has a policy that requires combat-wounded military personnel to give back a portion of the enlistment bonus they received if they are medically retired or separated from the military due to combat-related injury.
As a 10-year military veteran who worked in a 24/7 career field that had a wartime combat role, I'm familiar with sacrifice and military necessity. As one might expect, military service--even when injuries aren't involved--comes with a lot of hardships and work under extreme conditions and demands that many civilians might never dream of.
But for the DOD to demand that injured and medically retired service members to give back a portion of their enlistment bonus goes beyond cold-hearted into the callous territory.
From a purely fiscal accounting perspective, I see their point. However, a purely fiscal accounting perspective fails to even consider what they have suffered and lost on behalf of their country.
I don't advocate our military members be paid what what their service is truly worth (I don't know if we could afford that much, even if we did away with all the unconstitutional social spending), but they certainly deserve better than this slap in the face, after they've been severely injured in defense of their country.
I join the Rapid City Journal in support of the Wounded Warrior Bonus Equity Act. This bill should be passed with all haste.
Huckabee Admits Secret Message in Christmas Ad
If you're a regular reader of Dakota Voice, you know there's not a lot of love for Mike Huckabee at this blog. But I have to hand it to him for the way he handled these idiot reporters who think his Christmas ad had some kind of mysterious floating cross behind him.
The Huckster does at least know how to turn a good joke on these elitists.
No 'War on Christmas'?
We have been seeing a growing hostility toward anything Christian at Christmas, as odd as that sounds.
We saw new examples of religious bigotry last year in a country founded by Christians on Christian principles where the overwhelming majority of people still call themselves Christians.
In addition to retail stores that won't say "Christmas" in their ads, etc., we have numerous cases where various governments in the US won't allow public displays that celebrate Christmas. And while our congress could vote to recognize Islamic and Hindu holidays, some couldn't bring themselves to recognize a Christian holiday that most, if not all, of them celebrate and take time away from their congressional work for.
We even have a co-hostess of a national television show who expresses incredulity that President Bush would include a Bible verse on a Christmas card he sent out!
The latest on this war on Christmas comes from CNS News:
With Dec. 25 only days away, a central image in the celebration of Christmas -- the manger scene featuring replicas of Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus -- has become the focus of attacks by vandals and leaders of "the secular Left," Christian groups charged on Wednesday.
While the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights was erecting a nativity scene in New York City's Central Park, the group issued a news release condemning three dozen instances in which manger scenes were vandalized or stolen from Antioch, Calif., to Leesburg, Va., this Christmas season.
"In perhaps the sickest incident, a public school coach in Marietta, Ga., drove students around the area in his pickup truck, instructing them to thrash Christmas displays after dark," League said.
During their Dec. 8 vandalism spree, 46-year-old John Hayes and several middle school students damaged a number of Christmas displays, let the air out of inflatable figures and rearranged plastic reindeer into X-rated sexual positions.
How can this be in a country founded by Christians on Christian principles where the overwhelming majority of people still call themselves Christians?
As often happens, the silent, apathetic majority allows itself to be led around by the nose by a vocal minority--in this case, those who either grossly misunderstand the First Amendment (intended to guarantee freedom of religious expression), or who know the intent of the First Amendment and simply want to sanitize the public square of every expression of Christianity, regardless.
But as these numerous articles and links show, people are finally starting to wake up. Oh, there are still those who bury their heads in the sand and claim there is no effort to wipe Christ out of Christmas, or to make the United States a secular nation, but they are slowly falling silent as the evidence becomes overwhelming.
And those who do care about their religious freedom are finally becoming more vocal. They are talking to stores and other retailers who take Christ out of Christmas. They're setting straight those public officials who trample the First Amendment.
So even as the war on Christmas escalates, those very efforts are waking up people who won't stand for it. They realize God has given mankind a special gift in the United States, especially those of us blessed to live here. And many of us won't let that blessing slip away without a fight.
Truth or Hoax: Jobs Plentiful for "All" Who Want to Work
By Carrie K. Hutchens
Some have a firm belief that all who want to work can actually find a job. Perhaps "find" is the keyword in making the statement true. Finding job listings is the easy part. Securing the jobs isn't necessarily so, no matter how badly someone may want to work.
There may be a rash of job openings, but that doesn't mean the job seeker is qualified, fits the "ideal" profile, can relocate or numerous other factors that may come into play. Wanting to work, can often mean little in the scheme of a job search, especially in recent years. (Full Article)
Lakota Group Seeks Withdrawal from U.S. Treaties
From the Argus Leader:
WASHINGTON - A group of "freedom-loving" Lakota activists announced a plan Wednesday for their people to withdraw from treaties their forefathers signed with the U.S. government.
Headed by leaders of the American Indian Movement, including activist, actor and Porcupine resident Russell Means, the group dropped in on the State Department and the embassies of Bolivia, Venezuela, Chile and South Africa this week seeking recognition for their effort to form a free and independent Lakota nation. The group plans to visit more embassies in the coming months.
The new nation is needed because Indians have been "dismissed" by the United States and are tired of living under a colonial apartheid system, Means said during a news conference held at Plymouth Congregational Church in northeast Washington. He was accompanied by a bodyguard and three other Lakota activists - Gary Rowland, Duane Martin and Phyllis Young, all of South Dakota.
And
"Our withdrawal (from the treaties) is fully thought out," Means said, referring to peace treaties the Lakota people signed with the government in 1851 and 1868. "We were mandated by our elders in 1974 to do two things. First, to establish relationships with the international community... and the second mandate, of course, was to reestablish our independence."
I caught part of this story on radio news yesterday afternoon, and I'm pretty sure I heard one of the tribal leaders say that she hadn't been told about this plan, that the people behind this move hadn't talked with tribal leadership.
That would be interesting if Means and his group are doing an end-run around their own leadership.
What do you think of this? Is it a viable plan? Could it be done? Should it be done?
Iraqi Freedom Minute
Focusing on the latest news from Operation Iraqi Freedom. American Forces Network Iraq presents Iraqi Freedom Minute.
Freedom Watch Afghanistan
The latest from Operation Enduring Freedom showing the activities of American troops in country. Produced by AFN-Afghanistan.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Queen Elizabeth II Will Leave Behind Long Legacy Of Waving
Queen Elizabeth II Will Leave Behind Long Legacy Of Waving
As Queen Elizabeth II becomes the oldest reigning monarch in British history, we take a look at some of her most significant waving moments.
New F-35B Fighter Jet
The military unveiled its latest fighter jet Tuesday in Fort Worth, Texas.
The F-35 can take off vertically like a Harrier, and has stealth capability.
Most Mexicans Enter U.S. Illegally
From Fox News:
The Mexican government reported the results of recent studies on Tuesday showing that 68 percent of Mexicans who migrate or try to migrate to the United States do so without documents and 55 percent of them hire immigrant smugglers.
The report, timed to coincide with the U.N. International Migrants Day, also noted that the Mexican-born population living in the United States increased from about 800,000 in 1970 to more than 11 million in 2006.
The majority of Mexicans now living in the United States — 6.2 million — are undocumented, according to the report, which was based on surveys of migrants and information from the government's National Population Council.
Several sources list the illegal alien population in the U.S. at about 12 million.
While that figure is probably low (how do you accurately count people who aren't here legally in the first place?), I think it's a stretch than only half of them are from Mexico, given that this is the easiest way for illegals to get into the country, and the Hispanic population is exploding in America.
Either way, that's an incredible amount of people here illegally, and how many of them are members of terrorist cells, working on the next 911?
We need a president and congress who will deal with this--now!
Guardian Angels of the Snow Bringing a Merry Christmas?
Dad, 3 Kids Alive After 3 Days in Snow
By JULIET WILLIAMS (Associated
Press Writer)
From Associated PressDecember 19, 2007 5:16 PM EST
PARADISE, Calif. - A father and three children who vanished on a
Christmas tree-cutting trip in the Northern California mountains were found alive Wednesday after huddling in a culvert for warmth during three days of heavy snowstorms.
"Our hearts are all full right now," said Cory Stahl, who owns a pest control business where the father, Frederick Dominguez, works. "It's a very merry Christmas now."
A California Highway Patrol helicopter delivered the family to safety, the two youngest children brought out of the woods first. The father smiled at family and friends, who cheered as he and his 18-year-old son emerged from their helicopter.
The two younger children, ages 14 and 12, emerged from a rescue helicopter after being flown out of the mountains Wednesday afternoon. They stepped out of the chopper and were immediately enveloped in a cluster of well-wishers carrying heavy blankets.
Stahl closed his business so he and his employees could assist the search. The four family members suffered mild to moderate hypothermia and were being taken to a hospital but were otherwise fine, he said.
The four apparently survived by huddling in a culvert, CHP officer Joe Hagerty said.
(Full Article)
I agree with Cory Stahl -- finding the Dominguez' family safe, does make for a very Merry Christmas!
NewsBusted Conservative Comedy
Topics in this show: Hillary Clinton's mom, Bob Schieffer, Ron Paul and New Hampshire, and Alex Trebek in the hospital.
NewsBusted is a comedy webcast about the news of the day.
Want to try your hand at comedy? Send your (short) jokes to rightstuffcomedy at yahoo.com. If they use them, they'll pay you $50.
Candidates Positions on Homosexuals in the Military
Human Events has an in-depth piece by Elaine Donnelly on the current state of homosexuals in the military and the candidate's positions on this issue.
The article points out that candidates' answers on this topic can be confusing, since there are essentially three different measures that govern homosexuals in the military, and the one under which the military operates on a day-to-day basis conflicts with the other two, and the other two carry more authority.
On the one hand we have the law that Congress passed with bipartisan veto-proof majorities, “Section 654, Title 10,” which could have been named the “Military Personnel Eligibility Act of 1993.” The statute, which stands apart from the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), codified pre-Clinton Defense Department regulations stating that “homosexuality is incompatible with military service.” The courts have declared it constitutional several times.
But while Section 654, Title 10 and the UCMJ prohibition on homosexuality have not been repealed or revoked, President Bill Clinton implemented a policy called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" which forced the military to not pursue investigations and discharge proceedings ("Don't ask") as long as the homosexual military member doesn't admit their homosexuality openly ("Don't Tell").
Since one could say "I support the current situation" with regard to homosexuals in the military, and still be interpreted as supporting either side of the issue ("Don't Ask, Don't Tell" still allows homosexuals to serve in the military, while Section 654 and the UCMJ still prohibit it), for the purposes of summarizing the candidate's position, I will try to define "yes" as being in favor of homosexuals serving in the military and "no" as not being in favor of homosexuals serving in the military.
From the Human Events piece, here are the candidates' positions:
Hillary Clinton: yes
Joseph Biden: yes
Dennis Kucinich: yes
Bill Richardson: yes
Rudy Giuliani: yes
Mitt Romney: uncertain
John McCain: yes ("Don't Ask, Don't Tell")
Fred Thompson: uncertain, probably yes
Duncan Hunter: no
Ron Paul: yes ("Don't Ask, Don't Tell")
Tom Tancredo: uncertain
Should we dump "Don't Ask, Don't Tell?" Absolutely! It was a morally convoluted, inconsistent and contradictory measure which not only undermined the moral fiber of the U.S. military, but created unnecessary confusion in the force entrusted with defending this nation.
We should go back to Section 654, Title 10 and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
HT to Free Republic.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Jesus Came to Give Life
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Perhaps one of the greatest reasons Christ came to earth as a human being 2,000 years ago was to bring life.
When we think of life, we usually think of the state where our heart is beating, we are breathing, we are thinking and interacting with the world around us. When God created humanity, this state was intended never to change. In other words, humans were never meant to know disease, decay and death. We thwarted God's perfect plan for the world and for humanity when we thought we could get a better deal from listening to Satan. It turns out we traded in perfection and peace for an empty lie that brought death and suffering into the world.
But the Bible tells us that while death entered the world through the first Adam, Christ came as a "new Adam" to restore the life we forfeited back in the Garden:
Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.
The Bible tells us repeatedly that Christ brings us life:
John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."
John 4:14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
John 5:21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.
John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
John 6:33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
John 6:47 I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.
John 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
This life that Christ brings can be defined on three levels: a new living spirit, the eternal life of the soul, and the resurrection after death.
That first type of life that Christ brings to humans is a newly born spirit that provides a connection to God where none existed before. Jesus tells about this "born again" experience in talking to Nicodemus. Since we are all born children of fallen sinners, we are born with a fallen, sinful nature. It is not until we accept the truth of Christ that we are "born again" with this new spirit. Jesus says no one can see Heaven unless they experience this new birth.
The second kind of life Christ brings is eternal life. Our soul will live forever, regardless of whether we are "born again" or not. It will live forever with God, or it will live forever in eternal separation from God and eternal torment in Hell. While we usually think of death in terms of "non-existence," it actually has a different meaning. When Adam "died" after disobeying God in the Garden of Eden, in addition to the physical death that eventually overtook his physical body, he "died" to God in that Adam's soul no longer communed with God; his spiritual connection to God had died with that disobedience. So when we have eternal life through Christ, our souls live in eternal communion with God; if we are not born again, we exist in the eternal death/separation from God in Hell.
The third type of life that Christ brings is the resurrected life. The Bible tells us that those who were "born again" in spirit before their bodies died will be resurrected, just as Christ was resurrected after three days. That resurrection is still at some point in the future, and is perhaps the type of "life" that I least understand, but Christ followers will nevertheless experience a resurrected life, even after their bodies have died, through Christ.
Perhaps the most meaningful "life" (at least in the here-and-now) that Christ has brought is that "abundant life" that He gives us through our newly born spirit. It is a life that means we can talk to God and he communicates with us, though not through spoken word. Just as the person born blind cannot really understand what colors are like or what it means to see, so the person who has not been born again cannot truly understand what this new spirit is like. But it is as real to the Christian is sight is to a sighted person, even though a blind person cannot comprehend it.
God could have abandoned humanity after we thumbed our noses at him in the Garden of Eden, or he could have snuffed us out in an instant. But in His infinite love, He was not willing to abandon humanity to a lifeless, empty eternity.
The Father send His Son Jesus Christ to Earth 2,000 years ago to restore what was broken in the Garden of Eden. Christ came to live a perfect, sinless life to show us how we were meant to live, and to take the punishment for sin that we deserved on the cross. He, being sinless and not under the penalty of sin, was the only one with the "credit" to pay for someone elses sins.
On Christmas, 2,000 years ago, Jesus came to bring us life. This Christmas, if you haven't already done so, will you reach out and accept the rich, full, abundant life He has for you?
UN Calls for Death Penalty Moratorium
From the Del Rio News Herald, the UN has voted for a moratorium on the death penalty. The vote is not binding.
The article points out that the U.S. took "the unusual step of siding with countries such as Iran, China and Syria." Of course this makes the U.S. look bad, since everyone knows these are barbaric and bloody regimes. Keep in mind, also, that the UN is the same body so bereft of moral discernment that it considers countries like Libya and Sudan worthy of being on the Human Rights Commission. However, even a broken clock is right twice a day.
The difference, of course, is that in the United States, human rights are protected, due process is afforded, and every effort is made to ensure that executions take place only when the person is found guilty by a jury of their peers "beyond a reasonable doubt."
In these other countries, you can be shot simply for saying the wrong thing about a government official, so the moral equivalency should be disgusting and abhorrent to anyone concerned with objective truth.
The death penalty is fully supported by both Old and New Testaments of the Bible, and is an important component of a good justice system, which is characterized by the concept of fair recompense.
Deterrent effect aside, when a person steals or destroys something of value, a healthy justice system demands the perpetrator repay with their own resources with at least equal value of what was destroyed. The only way a murderer can properly pay for the life stolen is to pay with their own life. This makes the statement that innocent human life is so important and so sacred that it requires the ultimate penalty in repayment.
To not execute someone lawfully found guilty of murder is to make the statement that the victim's life was less valuable than that of the murderer.
That is a statement I find morally abhorrent.
Clinton: Bush Dad Will Help Fix Son's Mistakes
There's no end to the absolute gall of Bill Clinton. Watch the clip below tell about how Bill Clinton is saying George H.W. Bush will tour the world with Hillary, helping repair the damage done by his son.
There is apparently no rude and despicable behavior too low for Bill Clinton. It apparently matters little that he's undermining the sitting President of the United States in the world community.
Who is Fred Phelps?
LifeSite.net has an informative article about Fred Phelps and how his extreme hate actually helps homosexual causes because he engenders sympathy for them.
The article also includes some information, and links to other information, that casts some new light on the Fred Phelps.
It turns out that Fred Phelps is not a Baptist Minister, his actions, however, do raise sympathy for the homosexual cause and at the same time bring into disrepute and ridicule the Christian faith. Further, according to Wikipedia and Kansas Voter View, Mr. Phelps is a registered Democrat who ran in five Kansas Democratic primaries including Senator and campaigned for the then Senator Al Gore in the 1988 presidential campaign (photos back this up) culminating in invitations to both Clinton-Gore inaugurations.
Mr. Phelps lives in a large upscale home with his grown children, several of whom are graduate lawyers. Mr. Phelps and his family mysteriously arrive to picket across the country during sensitive times in the cultural war between homosexuals and mainstream society.
Wow. I thought the Democrat Party was the party of tolerance, diversity and inclusion. Something's wrong with somebody somewhere!
I also found it interesting that while this guy seems to have no visible income, he has money to run all over the country, protesting not only homosexuals, but soldiers and pretty much anybody he gets an itch to hate.
In fact, Phelps is so wacked that some like Illinois Family Institute Executive Director Peter LaBarbera have wondered if he might be a "plant" by homosexual activists to make people of traditional values look bad (after all, he does claim to be in a Baptist church in Kansas).
“Politically and culturally speaking, Phelps and his protesters serve as a crude caricature of pro-family traditionalists who oppose the normalization of homosexuality,” LaBarbera stated in his column Monday. “Fred makes an easy target for the media and secularists who are tempted (partly by their own prejudices) to paint any opposition to ‘gay rights’ as hateful. For this reason, I have sometimes wondered if Phelps and his lawyerly clan are ‘gay plants.’”
If the Answers.com article about Phelps is accurate, it seems more likely that he's just completely off his rocker:
During 1993–94 interviews with the Topeka Capital-Journal, the four Phelps children (out of thirteen, Mark, Nate, Katherine and Dotty) who had left the church asserted that their father's religious beliefs were either nonexistent to begin with or have dwindled down to nearly nothing. They insist that Westboro actually serves to enable a paraphilia of Phelps, wherein he is literally addicted to hatred.
And
Two of his sons, Mark and Nate, insist that the church is actually a carefully planned cult that allows Phelps to see himself as a demigod, wielding absolute control over the lives of his family and congregants, essentially turning them into slaves that he can use for the sole purpose of gratifying his every whim and acting as the structure for his delusion that he is the only righteous man on Earth.[17] In 1995, Mark Phelps wrote a letter to the people of Topeka to this effect; it was run in the Topeka Capital-Journal.[18] The children's claim is partially backed up by B.H. McAllister, the Baptist minister who ordained Phelps. McAllister said in a 1993 interview that Phelps developed a delusion wherein he was one of the few people on Earth worthy of God's grace and that everyone else in the world was going to Hell, and that salvation or damnation could be directly obtained by either aligning with or opposing Phelps. As of 2006, Phelps maintains this belief.
The Answers.com article goes on to point out that Phelps is not only anti-homosexual, but is anti-Swedish, anti-flag, and is a Clinton/Gore/Castro/Saddam Hussein supporter.
Whatever Fred Phelps is, he is definitely not a Christian in good standing, his his "God hates fags" philosophy denies the love and grace that God has expressed toward all sinners throughout the Bible. He is not representative of Christians, Baptists, Republicans or conservatives by any stretch of the imagination.
Poll: Majority of Americans Oppose 96% of Abortions
From LifeNews:
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Time magazine has released the results of a new abortion poll that finds a majority of Americans want virtually all abortions made illegal. The poll specifically finds about 55 percent of the public is opposed abortions in 96 percent of the cases in which women have them.
Time contracted the polling firm SRBI Public Affairs to conduct a telephone survey of 1,503 registered American voters last month. The firm polled Americans from November 12 to 19 and its survey had a three percent margin of error.
This should bode well for the new petition for a law which would outlaw most abortions in South Dakota.
Like the rest of the nation, approximately 3.8% of the abortions done in 2005 in South Dakota were for rape, incest or health concerns. Also, during last year's election, an overwhelming majority (about 75%, I believe) of South Dakotans said they would vote for an abortion ban that had exceptions for rape/incest and the mother's health.
Well, the measure coming up next year has these exceptions. They are structured so as to prevent abuse, making it difficult to create a loophole where none was intended.
Since we tried and failed to get the best, most logically consistent law last year, and since this law would stop more than 96% of the convenience abortions in South Dakota, I would think most pro-life folks could support it (I know I do).
And since the chief objection from pro-abortion folks last year was "no rape/incest exceptions," and since South Dakotans said in overwhelming numbers last year that they would vote for a law with these exceptions, it looks like we'll finally get a good law on the books next year to save 96% of the children being aborted in South Dakota.
Look for a petition to sign in favor of the ban coming soon to your area of South Dakota!
Christmas Wreaths at Arlington
For the 16th straight year, volunteers placed Christmas wreaths below the headstones at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia to honor our nation's veterans.
Congresswoman Confesses: We Bribe Voters With Their Own Money
From The Politico, we have Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-MI) admitting what we all knew, but you seldom see a congressman confess: earmarks are simply a way for politicians to bribe the voters with their own money.
“The disparity of earmarks, and the lack of inclusion of any CBC members in this listing, is disconcerting, to say the very least,” Kilpatrick wrote.
She went on to say the Black Caucus understood that not everybody would receive the same amount in earmark funding. Appropriators generally receive more, as do lawmakers facing tight reelection races who need good publicity back home.
“Inherently, we understand that this earmark process is not equitable,” she wrote. But she still hoped that more earmarks would be doled out to black lawmakers who have competitive reelection contests. “There are a few examples of where your help could significantly assist a few members in highly contested races,” she wrote.
Jesus Came to Divide
Matthew 10:34-36 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'"
When we think of the coming of the Messiah, we often think of peace, especially around Christmas time.
After all, isn't that what the songs always tell us: peace on earth, goodwill to men, silent night, etc.? All these are true. But there is another truth about Christ's coming.
We often hear in political discussions that "people are divided" and critical accusations when certain figures "polarize." The Bible does tell us that "blessed are the peacemakers," but there is a time when evil must be identified, separated from the good and dealt with.
Many people tell us that "all roads lead to heaven," and "it doesn't matter what you believe as long as you're sincere." But this is not what Jesus tells us.
Jesus says, "I am THE way, THE truth and THE life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Just as 2+2 has no other answer but 5, God's truth is absolute. Truth is unequivocal. Truth separates the good from the bad, the evil from the righteous, those who have received God's forgiveness and those who haven't.
Jesus tells us in the passage above that not all will accept the forgiveness that his sacrifice on the cross purchased for us. Sons and fathers will be on opposite sides of salvation, as will mothers and daughters, and sometimes this will mean that those who refused to accept Christ will see us as their enemies.
As important as family and relationships are, there is something more important: obedience and loyalty to God. What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world (or at least his mother/ father/ brother/ sister/ wife/ husband/ family relationship), yet loses his soul?
God requires complete loyalty, with nothing and no one coming before him.
Matthew 10:37-39 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
Just as we divide rotten apples from good ones, just as we separate sick animals from healthy ones, just as we choose the best wood from flawed wood in our building project, so God separates the goats from the sheep, and the wheat from the tares.
The good news is that, unlike a goat or a rotten apple, as humans we have a choice of what we will do with the condition of our soul. We can choose whether we end up with God, or end up on the other side of His grace. Unfortunately, some will choose not to go God's way.
This is a hard truth, but the truth nevertheless. Christ followers must make every effort to help their loved ones find God's truth. But they must not place relationships before God. God told us to have no gods before him, and anything we love more than him, anything or anyone we place in priority before him, is a god.
Why did Jesus come to earth 2,000 years ago? One of the reasons he came was to divide. It's a hard truth, but one we must accept along with the truth of his love, grace, forgiveness and peace. Knowing about this division, now is the time for us to ensure we're on the right side of the divide.
Gilchrist Has Second Thoughts About Huckabee's Unrealistic Immigration Plan
Now border control activist Jim Gilchrist is reconsidering his endorsement of Mike Huckabee.
From WorldNetDaily:
Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist says he will have to reconsider his endorsement of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee after learning the Republican presidential candidate favors allowing illegal aliens to wait only days to receive documents allowing re-entry into the U.S.
Gilchrist's ill-advised endorsement of Huckabee aside, this aspect of Huckabee's plan is unrealistic, to begin with.
The majority of Mexicans who came across our border illegally are working for peanuts. Both sides of the argument admit Mexicans who are here illegally are working for sub-industry wages. Yet we expect them to have the financial resources to pack up their homes and families and move back to Mexico--only to move back again in days or weeks? Man, I don't have enough legs to pull for that one!
If Huckabee wants to feel good about himself, he can include such a provision in his plan. But realistically, we must be prepared (as we already should be) to locate, arrest and deport massive numbers of illegal aliens. And then put them at the BACK of the line of people legally applying for entry into the United States--if we allow them to come back in at all.
Civilizations have been turning back invasions for millennia. With the incredible technology we have at our disposal, and the wealth of the United States, it is not impossible to round up and deport most illegals, and to get control of our borders.
All we lack is the will to do it.
Breaking News!!!
(Independence, MO.) Gary and Cynthia Stocklaufer have been granted the right to adopt Baby Max!
More information to follow!
Calif. to Teach Pre-K That Homosexuality is Natural
Now that homosexual activists have "mother" and "father" illegal terms in California's school system, they're moving onward to indoctrinate children to accept homosexuality as normal, natural and healthy at even younger ages.
From WorldNetDaily:
A list of school resources, sponsored by a homosexual-advocacy group called Safe Schools Coalition, suggests that for those who are only two years old, there's "Felicia's Favorite Story," which tells how she was "adopted by her two mothers."
The list also promotes a book called "Are You a Girl or a Boy?" by Karleen Jiminez, a resource for children ages 4-8 when advocating homosexuality, bisexuality, transgenderism and other alternative lifestyle choices.
It's described as "A sweet book about a gender-different kid."
Other resources being promoted in light of California's adoption of SB 777 as state law include books authored by officials for Planned Parenthood and the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network.
One book, called "Tackling Gay Issues in School," is for kindergarten through grade 12, and offers a "rationale (for the inclusion of les/bi/gay/trans issues in school)." It features recommended "extracurricular" activities for classes.
Indoctrinating children at younger ages is key to gaining acceptance of homosexuality as a natural and healthy way to live. If they can imprint emotional appeals on children at an early age, before logic and reason have a chance to kick in, then they don't have to undo what children have observed from nature, or what their RacistBigotSexistHomophobe parents have taught them. If indoctrinated with pro-homosexual dogma at this age, they will be much more resistant to natural observation and facts when they are adults.
Since sexuality is how biological organisms reproduce, and since homosexuality is a misuse of human sexuality, nature itself demonstrates that homosexuality is not a normal function.
When you consider the long list of health risks particular to homosexual behavior, it is easily demonstrable that this is a very dangerous practice.
Therefore, it is illogical and irrational that we would want to teach our children that homosexuality is a natural or healthy practice...unless we had a specific agenda to do so: to make it easier for those caught up in this practice to destroy their lives without moral or ethical condemnation.
I had hoped we were a better society than to encourage our fellow man in his own destruction...
Monday, December 17, 2007
Huckabee Freed Man Who Murdered Preacher
A closer look at yet another criminal released thanks to Mike Huckabee.
This one is on James Maxwell who murdered a man in 1979. Huckabee said he was "a changed man" and "had become a Christian."
My response: so what? What does that have to do with paying the proper, commensurate price for his crime?
What's more, if I recall correctly, rapist Wayne Dumond said he had become a Christian, too, before Huckabee unleashed him on society to rape and murder two more women.
Barbara Walters Criticizes Christian Christmas Cards
From the Christian Post:
“Usually in the past when I have received a Christmas card, it's been 'Happy Holidays' and so on,” said Walters.
But the veteran anchor expressed dismay that President Bush and the First Lady would send out a “religious Christmas card” with a direct Bible verse from the Old Testament printed inside:
“You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.”
After reading the scriptural message of the card, Walters asked in a critical tone, "Does this also go to agnostics, and atheists, and Muslims?"
I don't know--do agnostics, atheists and Muslims celebrate Christmas?
If I lived in a country that was founded on Muslim principles, where most of the people who lived there described themselves as Muslims, and I received an Islamic greeting card from someone--even their president--during Ramadan, gee, I don't think I'd find that odd at all.
It's not like this Christmas card in any way constitutes a "law respecting an establishment of religion." The card isn't even paid for by the government, but the Republican National Committee.
Imagine level of ignorance it takes to get bent out of shape that a Christmas card might contain something Christian on it. Don't they at least require that you've been to skooel to be a TV show hostess?
Basra Handover
Iraqi security forces were patrolling the streets of Basra Monday - one day after British troops formally handed over security responsibilities for the region to the Iraqi government.
Gen Fil: Pulling out of Iraq Too Quickly is Very Risky
The commanding general of Multi National Division Baghdad says the U.S military must be very careful about pulling out too many troops too soon from Iraq.
Bing Drinking Linked to Abortion
The UK Telegraph reports an interesting connection between excessive drinking and abortion.
Research has found that almost nine in ten women who attended a sexual health clinic admitted binge drinking - an average of two and a half bottles of wine in one sitting.
Three quarters said they had unprotected sex because they were drunk.
Women who were diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection drank 40 per cent more than those who did not, showing a much stronger link between risky behaviour and alcohol consumption than previous thought.
Apparently education wasn't a factor here; as anyone who's ever been drunk knows, rational thought and restraint goes out the door the drunker you get.
Access to contraceptives doesn't seem to have been an issue; being intoxicated led these women not to care.
The article says 1/3 of the women in the study got pregnant, and nearly half of those got an abortion.
We return to the inescapable truth that most moral choices have real-world consequences. Sometimes those choices produce ripples that affect others--like the termination of a human life who's only crime was to be conceived in drunken lust by a woman who sees the child as something equivalent to a hangover.
Clinton Cranks Up Propaganda Campaign to Appear Likable
The headline from today's USA Today: "New Clinton campaign out to show her likability."
A little advice for the Clinton campaign, and for Hillary personally: if you have to "show" your likability, then you have serious personality problems that a propaganda campaign won't fix.
Who Got the Des Moines Register Endorsement--Bill or Hillary?
By Carrie K. Hutchens
I just read that the Des Moines Register endorsed Hillary Clinton, but it looks more like they had to be courted into doing so, rather than coming to the decision for good cause. As reported in "Hillary Clinton gets crucial boost," (The Times, December 17, 2007) "Hillary Clinton received a badly needed boost to her presidential campaign yesterday with the endorsement of Iowa's biggest newspaper, a vote of confidence that followed days of lobbying by her husband."
Does this mean that every time Hillary messes up, especially where diplomacy is needed, that Bill will come running to the rescue? If Hillary can't run her campaign without Bill, how can she run the country without him? (Full Article)
For the Sake of Christ, let's have a safe, sane and sober Christmas
AT ISSUE: It seems as each holiday approaches, there are accidents that ruin the spirit of the festivity. For example, South Dakota suffered seven vehicle fatalities during this past Thanksgiving observance. The anniversary of the birth of Christ is just around the corner. Perhaps a few safety suggestions for both the road and the home may help make this year's Christmas holiday a safe, sane and sober one for all of us. (Full Article)
Terri's Day Announced for Terri Schiavo
NEW YORK, Dec. 10 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation and Priests for Life have jointly announced the establishment of the "International Day of Prayer and Remembrance for Terri Schindler Schiavo, and All of Our Vulnerable Brothers and Sisters" ("Terri's Day"), to be observed each year on March 31, the date of Terri's death. (Full Article)
Gilchrist Endorsement of Huckabee Now Said to be 'Conditional'
From WorldNetDaily, Minuteman founder Jim Gilchrist now says his endorsement of Mike Huckabee is a conditional endorsement--basically that Huckabee actually does what he now says he will and fix the border/immigration problem.
The founder of the Minuteman Project says his endorsement of Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee is a conditional one – based on a tough understanding of the former governor's "Secure America Plan" to oust all illegal aliens, or put them behind bars.
"Huckabee's plan would force all illegal immigrants to leave the United States within 120 days, or be arrested," Jim Gilchrist told WND in an exclusive interview.
When asked why he thought illegal immigrants would voluntarily deport themselves, as Huckabee's plan requires, Gilchrist said, "If you start arresting illegal aliens and start take away all their social welfare benefits, the illegal aliens won't have a choice except to leave."
I wonder if Mr. Gilchrist caught a whole lot of grief over this endorsement?
If Huckabee does get elected but goes back on this new plan for dealing with immigration, it's not like Gilchrist revoking his "endorsement" is going to mean anything at that point.
We'll just have to hope Huckabee is sincere in this change of heart. Based on his previous statements, I don't place a whole lot of stock in the sincerity of campaign-trail-conversions.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
A Messianic Hanukkah
I attended a Messianic Hanukkah service tonight at South Canyon Baptist Church in Rapid City. It was very interesting and inspirational.
Hanukkah, also known as the "Feast of Dedication" or "Festival of Lights," is mentioned in the New Testament in John 10:22-30 when Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Festival.
Hanukkah means "dedication," and it commemorates a miracle at the time the Jewish Temple was cleansed and rededicated to God.
The story of Hanukkah takes place in the Second Century BC. Alexander the Great had conquered Judea along with pretty much all of the Middle East, and after his death in 323 BC his empire was divided into four parts among his generals--a fulfillment of the prophecy of Daniel 8:5-14.
After several years, Antiochus IV, ruler of the Syrian area, waged a campaign to erase the Jewish faith and replace it with Greek culture. In an act of unforgivable sacrilege, Antiochus sacrificed a pig to Zeus on the altar of the Jewish Temple. This led to what is known as the Maccabean Revolt, led by the Maccabeus family and Judas Maccabeus.
In a couple of miraculous and decisive battles (47,000 Greeks against 3,000 Jews, and the other with 65,000 Greeks against 10,000 Jews), the Syrian Greeks were defeated and the Jewish nation was free for a time.
After the victory, the Jews destroyed the desecrated altar and dedicated a new one on December 14, 164 BC. According to tradition, there was only enough sanctified oil to light the Temple menorah for one day, and it would take eight days to prepare more oil. But in the Hanukkah miracle, a single days' supply burned for eight days.
It was either during or near the Festival of Lights that Jesus declared, "I am the light of the world."
The service tonight included several Scripture readings, several songs, the lighting of the menorah, and a first-person telling of the Maccabean Revolt and Hanukkah miracle with Dr. Richard Wells, Senior Pastor of South Canyon Baptist Church, dressed in Old Testament garb as Judas Maccabeus telling the story.
Happy Hanukkah and Shalom!
Key Newspapers Back Clinton, Obama and McCain
This is from Associated Press (AP), probably the biggest news wire service in the country. Notice how this report spends all but about 5 seconds on the Democrats, and mentions McCain in an "oh, by the way..." manner?
Gotta love objective journalism...
Consider The Truth Project
A promo for Focus on the Family's 'The Truth Project' - An In-Depth Christian Worldview Experience
South Canyon Baptist Church in Rapid City will be hosting a Truth Project study for 12 weeks starting January 6, 2008. The study will be from 8:57 am to 10:15 am, so if you attend another church, you could come to the Truth Project and still make your morning worship service elsewhere.
Global Warming Scare Useful for Socialist Dreams
NewsBusters has exposed what the global warming apostles have been up to at Bali recently: they're pushing a "global warming tax" to accomplish wealth redistribution on a massive scale.
In other words, in the manner of hypocritical power grabbers the world over, the method in which they gain the purse strings is less important than the results of gaining control of said purse strings. Morano continues by the eyes by quoting yet another advocate, one Emma Brindal.
The environmental group Friends of the Earth, in attendance in Bali, also advocated the transfer of money from rich to poor nations on Wednesday. “A climate change response must have at its heart a redistribution of wealth and resources,” said Emma Brindal, a climate justice campaigner coordinator for Friends of the Earth.
So there we have it. I think a more honest name for Brindal's group would be Friends of Taxing the US to Give Money to the Unaccountable UN. The real goal of all these so-called climate change advocates is the taxation of rich nations so that they can transfer money to poor nations- socialism in action. This is highlighted by the concerns Inhofe's blog also states. Morano quotes several skeptics of global warming, such as Professor Richard Lindzen of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Writes Morano,
MIT climate scientist Dr. Richard Lindzen warned about these types of carbon regulations earlier this year. "Controlling carbon is a bureaucrat's dream. If you control carbon, you control life," Lindzen said in March 2007. In addition, many critics have often charged that proposed tax and regulatory “solutions” were more important to the promoters of man-made climate fears than the accuracy of their science.
As I've said before, this is just nothing but an elaborate, overblown socialist wealth-redistribution scheme. The proof was before us all along, as the filthiest nations have been let off in schemes like the Kyoto Protocol while the West, which has the cleanest industries, was taken for a ride.
That, and the chief purveyors of this bunk are the same socialists who have always been out to exploit class envy.
