Morning in America

84 presidential elections ad for Ronald Reagan campaign.

Barack Obama is too much like a Jimmy Carter clone. Why would we want to put America through that again?

Foods and Food Labels

from "i walked on the moon" Brian talks about foods and labels, and food labels.

Tear Down This Wall

President Ronald Reagan
Remarks at the Brandenburg Gate
West Berlin, Germany
June 12, 1987

The Walkie Talkie

Brian has a good point here.

When I was in the Air Force, I recall one night when a new guy, fresh out of training, came to work on our shift. In military police work, you rely on your "radio" or "portable" quite a bit for communications with the dispatcher or other patrols. We do not, under any circumstances, refer to them as "walkie talkies."

This night, the new guy was out on patrol on his own, and the dispatcher was trying to reach him over the radio, but no answer. So other patrols were dispatched to determine if he was okay or was in trouble. When one of the patrols finally caught up with him, they quickly learned he had accidentally turned down the volume on his radio.

So he turned it back up and called the dispatcher, explaining, "I must have turned down the volume on my walkie talkie."

Needless to say, this poor young guy was the butt of much laughter for quite a while. To his credit, he took it in great humor, and even humorously told other new troops about his misfortune when they would arrive.

Thinking About Having an Abortion?

Some suggested that my mother have an abortion but she did not and so I am alive today. My story in expressed in my video "Morning Has broken: Abortion and Pro-life"

Abortion stops a beating heart thousands of times per day. A human heart starts beating 18-24 days after conception, before a woman even knows she is pregnant.

I am not condemning anyone who has had an abortion, I do not have the authority to judge them. All I am saying is that life and the soul of a baby in the womb is precious , iy means something in this world, and we should think twice before taking that life away. What was his or her life suppose to be? What does her life mean now? What was the baby suppose to learn? Who was she suppose to affect? We don't have the wisdom to stop her beating heart, stop the life the surges through her. Peace.

Regarding Rape, Incest, and the life of the mother:

I, myself, was pro-choice for years. I felt that it was wrong as simply a from of birth control, but that in the hard cases it should be allowed. The thing to remember, however, is that in cases such as rape and incest, the child conceived is still present... Rape and incest are some of the worst, most violating, harmful events a woman can go through. No one can ever justify them. However, the life conceived in this horrible acts is innocent. The rapist often gets away or is given jail time. His child is given the death penalty.

No woman should ever have to make that choice. No woman should ever be violated against her will. But the biology--the life--of the baby conceived is no different than any other baby conceived.

Also, many women who have an abortion after a rape still feel immense regret and go through the same feelings of rape as they go through the painful act of abortion. Many women who allow the child to live feel that they have been able to rise above the evil act of rape by having their child. Nearly 1% of women getting abortions have been raped and we must always show them love and care, but if you realize that the child is a human being how can killing him or her make the rapist act less painful?

And those instances where the mother's life is actually in danger—where the baby or her will die--usually only occur at 5 months gestation or after where, if the baby was delivered and not killed through abortion, he or she would have a least a chance at living.

I do realize that other instances, such as an ectopic pregnancy--where there is no chance of survival for the baby and the mother's life is in danger-- require different attention. In these cases the baby can be removed from the mother, and as he or she is too young to survive outside the womb will pass away.

I am in no way condemning those 1% of women who have to make these tough choices in cases of rape, incest, and illness. It is not my place to judge them. My goal is to spread the reality of life in the womb to the other 99% of women who may seek abortion and their friends, relatives, boyfriend, husbands etc. Between 1/3 and 1/4 of all babies conceived are aborted. These little lives are snuffed out. If only we could all know the beauty that is every human life.

Regarding "Saving" children from abuse, neglect, disease, a handicap etc. by taking their life by abortion:

By saying that one is saving children from tough family situations, and those who may be born with drug addictions or HIV or a handicap, you are also saying that these children are less human or less deserving of life than other "normal" babies. Before we try to "save" those babies by killing them, maybe we should think of the beauty of their life, of the love of their friends, and their future impact on the world. Are the children with the above "conditions" who live outside of the womb, who are newborns, toddlers, teens, etc less worth to live because their lives seem much "harder" than our own. How many of us can really say they should not be alive? A tough family situation, a handicap, having HIV or a pre-natal addiction to drugs does not doom a person's life...Are we willing to tell all those people who have been born "abnormal" that they don't deserve to live or that their life is not as worthy or meaningful as our own? That it would have been better that they hadn't been born? I believe those people would disagree.

If only we all could look at other human beings no matter their race, health, sex, ability, etc. and say, "You are a human being. I acknowledge that you are alive and that you have the same right to live as I have. Though I may not understand you, I respect you as a fellow human on this planet trying to overcome adversity just as I am, trying to find happiness just as I am, crying and laughing just as I am, and above all else and most importantly you are alive just as I am alive."

Government IS the Problem

President Reagan, inaugeration day 1981. He re-iterates his promise from the campaign, to reduce the size of government.

Sarah Palin an Insult to the Hillary Clinton Die-Hearts?

By Carrie K. Hutchens

I caught a few comments made yesterday by the television pundits who were speculating on who John McCain's VP choice was going to be. One comment was to the effect that it would be condescending for McCain to pick Palin and that Hillary supporters would not be impressed, but rather, would be insulted. After all, they didn't just want a woman -- they wanted Hillary and would be satisfied with nothing less.

What I would like to know is...

What makes these pundits think that McCain picked Palin simply because she is a woman? Now that is where the insult rests. Well, at least one of the insults.

Life is not centered around Hillary Clinton, nor should it be. She was simply a woman running for president. She has no special powers or talents that others don't have. For any pundit to imply others can't live up to her bigger than life persona is the major insult and nothing more than media bias (free public relations) at its obvious. And let's be honest... how many Hillary Clinton make-overs can one life-time handle?

Sarah Palin is a governor and she did it on her own -- not on the coat tails of her husband. She was elected because of her abilities -- not her husband's. And if she is ever to be president -- she will be the one that earned the position and is expected to carry out the duties -- not her husband. And when she campaigns, we will know that the experience attributed to her, will be HER experience and not community property experience we seemed to have been exposed to for too long.

As I said...

The world does not center around Hillary Clinton. To suggest that Sarah Palin is a desperate pick on John McCain's part is actually an insult to all women. It is to say that if we aren't Hillary Clinton we are less deserving and less than capable. I think Sarah Palin is the woman to prove that old assumption to be idle gossip that we can throw out with the dish water. After all, life is too short to live by the illusion perpetrated on us thus far. It's time to put real people back into government.

A Devastating Choice

*Publisher's note: this personal testimony is being reprinted in light of the upcoming vote in South Dakota on Initiated Measure 11 and the recent statement by the American Psychological Association that abortion does not threaten women's mental health.

By Myra Jean Myers
Texas State Leader
Operation Outcry

For 31 years, I have regretted believing the lies of abortion. In January 1973, at the age of 28, I was married with four children when my husband and I made the “poor-choice” of abortion based on lies and exaggerated fears.

Unknown to me, my husband was assuming that another pregnancy would result in me becoming more anemic than I had been with the previous pregnancy. When he said there was only one thing to do, I knew what he meant. Abortion had been legalized the week earlier. I was afraid our marriage was not strong. He was afraid, I was not strong enough.

This was so different from 1965 when I was a 20-year-old single, college student and pregnant. We never considered an abortion then. It wasn't legal. We married.

Three years later we were expecting our third child. We felt it was too soon for another child, but the idea of aborting was never conceived in our minds. It was not legal. We had two more children.

In January 1973, I did not realize that I had become a mother at fertilization – when life begins. Fearful and under pressure, I went to Planned Parenthood. I was given no information on fetal/child development, not even a pregnancy test. No information was provided on the abortion procedure, risks, or consequences. I was told, "If you have a problem with it afterwards, we have counseling available." I wondered, "Why should I have any problem with it?"

The night before my appointment I asked, "God, Is there anything wrong in what I am going to do? Man says it isn't even life. What do You say?" In the morning a clerk at the clinic called, "The doctor has to cancel his appointments this morning." I wasn't listening; I made another appointment! While in the waiting room, there were three other women. Two of them were also married with children. I could hear their conversation: "It is our second, and it is too soon." "This is our third, and we only want two." The third woman was younger and the only one crying.

I thought nothing and felt nothing – I was already in denial. During the abortion procedure, my uterus was damaged. Because of my “poor-choice,” it had to be removed, which led to estrogen deprivation and eventual depression. Legalizing abortion has not made it safe.

One and a half years later, as I felt a crushing weight of guilt, grief, and shame, I knew “beyond the shadow of a doubt” I was responsible for the death of my child. “Oh God, I’ve murdered!” Legalizing abortion never made it right. Legalizing abortion never made it good for women.

When our third child was born two months premature and died, the loss brought grief but no guilt. But abortion destroyed our parent-child relationship and nearly destroyed our marriage due to the guilt, grief, shame, and blaming. Today, my husband and I agree that the devastating, “poorchoice” of abortion was the worst decision we ever made.

God loves us so much that He gave His Son to pay our debt of sin. Jesus, Himself, bore our sin on His own body on the cross to offer us forgiveness, to take our guilt and shame, freeing us to touch hearts, change lives, restore justice in our nation! Abortion hurts mothers, fathers, families, and America! Have you been hurt by abortion? Considering one? Call the National Helpline: 1-866-482-LIFE.

Myra is the Texas Team Leader for Operation Outcry. She has served as a volunteer and acting director of a pregnancy care center in Okinawa. She has been active with Christian Women’s Clubs for 28 years in Texas, New Hampshire, Okinawa, Tokyo, and Seoul.

Myra testified on behalf of the “Women’s Right To Know Bill” in the Texas Board of Health Committees. She also testified on behalf of the “Prenatal Protection Act” in a Texas House hearing.

Myra and her husband Garry of 40 years reside in Flower Mound, Texas. They are the parents of six children and grandparents of 15.

*Reprinted by permission of Operation Outcry.

Children's Books

One of my favorite comedians, Brian Regan, on children's books

How McCain should take on Obama's 'Trojan Horse'

BY STAR PARKER
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
COALITION ON URBAN RENEWAL & EDUCATION

Despite the careful choreography and showmanship, the Democratic Convention concluded with little in the way of news or surprises.

It's no surprise that we no longer need to refer to Sen. Obama as the "presumptive" nominee. It is no surprise that the Clintons gave rousing speeches in support of his candidacy. It is no surprise that the senator's acceptance speech, drawing on his substantial oratory skills, was socialist in substance and all things to all people in rhetoric.

It's no surprise that the video production introducing Obama made no mention of his Harvard education. And it's no surprise that, despite the intense commentary about the nomination of a black man for president, and the coincidence of this moment with the anniversary of Dr. King's famous speech, Obama barely noted this in his remarks.

Yet, despite the absence of surprises in these details, they nevertheless add up to a big picture that is enormously surprising.

This surprise is how many Americans appear willing at this point to place their bets for the nation's highest office on a candidate whom they still hardly know and who brings a resume to the job he is applying for that shows no experience in anything that he wants to get hired to do.

Moreover, in areas of policy, Sen. Obama's proposals are uniformly big government socialism that, in the past, has never delivered anything but mediocrity or failure.

Yet, despite all this, a Gallup poll of recent days showed registered voters saying they felt, by substantial margins, that Barack Obama would handle every single major domestic issue -- health care, economy, energy, taxes -- better than John McCain. It was only in foreign policy that McCain was favored.

Yes, the Obama candidacy is appealing to a lot of unhappy Americans and giving these folks hope.

Hope is a healthy and critical emotion. Without it, no one can go on.

But hope should be connected to prudence. It should accompany plans and behavior that are responsible and sensible. It should be what kicks in when we know we have done our part and then, with appropriate humility, acknowledge that everything is not up to us.

What is so unsettling about the Obama candidacy is that the hopefulness that it is eliciting does not have these characteristics. It's a kind of hope that is more accurate to call wishful thinking.

It's the kind of hope that goes along with behavior in which there is no logical connection between inputs and expected results. You just hope that what you want to happen will.

This is the "hope" that characterized so much of the subprime mortgage market that now sits in foreclosure. Folks getting loans for properties that they weren't asked to show in any meaningful way they could afford. The whole transaction was driven by the "hope" that prices will go up and up to justify the commitment that's been made.

There's a lot of speculation about why the Obama campaign has not soared. Why, when today's voter identification with the Democratic Party is 13 points higher than with the Republican Party, is the presidential race virtually tied?

I think it's because of the sense that the foundation of the whole Obama enterprise stands on emotional quicksand.

There are two ways that the Republicans can handle this.

One is the way Obama himself in his acceptance speech suggested they would: To drive a negative campaign and feed the many doubts that already plague the Democratic candidate.

The other is to reach out to the troubled hearts and minds of Americans today with a vision of substance.

Obama suggested in his speech that his lofty visions would be dismissed as a "Trojan Horse" for the abandonment of traditional values. He said this amounted to making a "big election about small things."

This was the most significant misstatement of his speech. Traditional values are not "small things." They are the biggest things. And the only terra firma that we really have in an uncertain world.

John McCain can hammer Obama into the quicksand on which he stands. Or he can point the way to the firm ground of real values on which this country was built and on which we must continue to stand.

I hope Senator McCain chooses the latter.

Star Parker is president of the Coalition on Urban Renewal & Education and author of the new book White Ghetto: How Middle Class America Reflects Inner City Decay.

Prior to her involvement in social activism, Star Parker was a single welfare mother in Los Angeles, California. After receiving Christ, Star returned to college, received a BS degree in marketing and launched an urban Christian magazine. The 1992 Los Angeles riots destroyed her business, yet served as a springboard for her focus on faith and market-based alternatives to empower the lives of the poor.

The Scoop on the Money Behind Palin

OpenSecrets.org has the scoop on the money behind Governor Sarah Palin, John McCain's freshly announced pick for VP.

Among the items in the report:

- When running for governor in 2006, Palin raised a total of just $468,400 on her own in 2006 and $874,000 in combination with the lieutenant governor candidate, Sean Parnell, for a total of $1.3 million, according to FollowtheMoney.org,

- Palin's most generous financial supporters have been retirees, who gave her and Parnell $96,400 in 2006, according to NIMSP

- About 90 percent of contributions to the Palin/Parnell came from individuals, as opposed to PACs, which will help to

- McCain's fundraisers shouldn't expect much to come out of Alaska. Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, Alaska ranks 50th in total contributions to federal politics, just above North Dakota

- As governor of a major oil-producing state, Palin supports more drilling, both offshore and on. Like other Alaska politicians, she has close ties to the oil industry. Her husband has worked in production on the North Slope for BP

- Palin is both pro-gun rights and anti-abortion. She's a bona fide member of the National Rifle Association, which will likely win McCain some support from a group he lost favor with after supporting the requirement that gun shows implement background checks and spearheading campaign finance legislation

Read the entire piece here.

Dobson Says He Plans to Vote for McCain Palin

Though Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family has been lukewarm at best in his support of Republican presidential candidate John McCain, today's announcement that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is joining McCain on the ticket seems to have finally broken the ice for Dobson.

Radio talk show host and columnist Dennis Prager interviewed Dobson on his show today.

The best Dobson has been able to come up with for the McCain ticket so far has been, "I might."

Dobson recounted the feeling he had when Ronald Reagan was inaugurated, and said

I feel very much that way today. Maybe that’s an overstatement. Maybe time won’t validate it, but this is a very exciting and encouraging day for conservatives and pro-family activists.

After conceding that politicians and campaigns don't always turn out the way you had hoped, Dobson answered Prager's question about whether he believed he could actually vote for the McCain ticket:

But I can tell you that if I had to go into the studio, I mean the voting booth today, I would pull that lever.

Dobson described what it was like when he and a number of other conservatives--many of them Christians--heard Sarah Palin's speech:

I was just with about 300, maybe 400 people in a large auditorium, and they put Sarah Palin’s speech on the screen and we sat there and watched. I’m telling you it was electric. These were conservatives, you know. They were mostly Christian, but not all of them were. I mean to tell you, it set that crowd on fire.

Today's developments have invigorated the Republican grassroots like nothing seen in a long time.

Have we just witnessed the beginning of the end for the Obama campaign?

Quote of the Day on Palin

I think this is it, from RedState:

Sarah Palin Runs A State. Barack Obama Runs His Mouth.

'Nuff said.

Senator Thune: Gov. Palin a Great Addition to the Ticket

August 29th, 2008 - Washington, D.C. - Senator John Thune issued the following statement regarding Senator John McCain's pick of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his Vice Presidential running mate:

"Governor Palin is a great addition to the ticket. This decision proves John McCain is serious about changing Washington. Her experience as a reform-minded governor and a mother of five will have broad appeal and will richly add to the future of this country," said Thune.

Limited Posting This Weekend

I'll be away from home, and both busy and in places where high-speed internet connections are unlikely.

So there won't be a whole lot of fresh posts this weekend, but I do do have several already written and set up for timed publishing. Several of them should be worth a few LOL's, so check in frequently.

Consequently, if you comment, they may not get posted as fast as normal, but members of the Dakota Voice team will be checking in from time to time and get them published (provided they meet moderation standards), so please be patient.

In the meantime, have a great weekend!

Preschool Gains in Sioux Falls Program Mean Little

As Sibby Online points out, the recent Argus Leader report on gains made by 3-year-olds at a pilot preschool program aren't all they're cracked up to be. In fact, they're mostly meaningless.

No one disputes there may be immediate, short-term gains for children in a preschool setting.

However, as I pointed out a few days ago, these results usually don't last very long into a child's academic career. In fact, one study found the gains are dissipated by spring of the first grade.

There are also considerable behavioral problems which arise with children in preschool, including increased aggression, biting and hurting others. And studies have found that these results are long lasting.

When you consider that preschool gains are dubious at best, and produce very real behavioral problems, and that budgets are already tight, it really makes no sense to push for a universal preschool system.

Children do much better with greater parental involvement. Instead of unsound programs at taxpayer expense that take children out of the home, we should emphasize parents spend more time, not less, with their children.

DNC Green Plan Turns a Little Brown

The Democrats made a lot of their plan to have a "green" convention.

However, as I've pointed out before, it ain't easy bein' green.

Now cnet news says it didn't go off too well.

They mentioned those kookie wooden card keys I discussed, plus said that bicycles weren't allowed in certain areas--meaning they had to use golf carts (undoubtedly powered by that icky coal-powered electricity) and other planet-wrecking vehicles. Check out the pics of idling limos and SUVs in the cnet piece.

Even though they were trying to be as "green" as possible, they still generated a lot of trash, and needed

900 volunteers to monitor waste cans and perform the trash-separation, thereby taking them away from tasks that might be more productive.

In the case of people working for a Democrat function, I'm sure it wasn't too productive, no matter what it was. But what about the average citizen. We don't have time for all this sorting crap.

They also issued

"lean 'n' green" catering guidelines that say food described thusly must not be fried and shall contain three of the following colors: red, green, yellow, blue/purple, and white.

I don't know about you, but it that the way you want to live your life? Having a bunch of bureaucrats in Washington, on top of all the other meddling they've done already, telling you what color of foods you can eat???

Man, even when these people are looking for votes, they can't help but show what a bunch of nutcases they are.

NewsBusted Conservative Comedy 8/29/2008

Topics in today's show:

--Barack Obama's big speech

--Al Franken's faltering Senate campaign

--L.A. City Council voted to ban plastic shopping bags

--California State Fair ride powered ENTIRELY by cow farts

NewsBusted is a comedy webcast about the news of the day, uploaded every Tuesday and every Friday.

U.S. Senate Candidate Dykstra Points to Johnson Flip-Flop on Offshore Drilling

More in from the mailbag:

Sioux Falls - Republican Senatorial Candidate, Joel Dykstra, said today that South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson’s recent position switch to support more domestic oil production, particularly off shore drilling, seems like an opportunistic election year conversion.

Dykstra said he anticipated Johnson would “flip-flop” on his long-held position with regard to the ban on oil and gas drilling in the U.S. outer continental shelf. “This is a purely politically motivated shift and only resulted because he sees which way the wind of public opinion is now blowing. If Johnson has been on this side earlier some action might have been taken years ago in time to avoid the current energy crisis before it happened,” he said.

According to Dykstra, Senator Johnson has long opposed American solutions to the energy crisis and his voting record is solid proof of that. “He has voted many times in the past with his Democratic counterparts to oppose the expansion of American production, including voting twice in 2008 to maintain the ban on offshore drilling,” he said.

Dykstra, who has been advocating a comprehensive energy policy since the beginning of his campaign over a year ago, said the Senator is a late arrival to the realization that comprehensive energy solutions must include more drilling and development of domestic sources. “Senator Johnson once again is late to the party. Many Republicans like myself have been promoting home grown solutions to high energy prices for a long time. With the American public now fed up with $4 gas, Democrats like Tim Johnson are finding the political pressure is just too great to remain opposed to drilling.”

Dykstra’s energy policy also includes the use of renewable energy such as wind, solar and nuclear power, as long as it is done in an environmentally responsible way. He is also promoting conservation and incentives for development of new technologies and energy innovation.

So-Called Mainstream Media Tells Half the Story on Palin

The Newsbusters blog points out some of the smack the "mainstream" media is already talking about Sarah Palin.

Confirming that John McCain picked Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, as his running mate, Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulos were quick to jump on the corruption within Alaska’s Republican party, but did not tell the whole story. George Stephanopolous noted that Senator Ted Stevens is under indictment and the state’s at large congressman, Don Young is "facing corruption charges is still in the middle of a recount for their Republican primary."

All of which are true, but Stephanopoulos, a former Clinton aide, did not reveal that Palin actually supports Don Young’s primary opponent. Stephanopoulos also does not seem to have the same concern about Chicago’s Democratic machine when covering Obama.

She has taken on ethics problems in her own party, even calling on Senator Ted Stevens to come clean.

Newsbusters also points out how "objective" newsman Matt Lauer at NBC found Palin to be a "staunch conservative" and a "stalwart conservative."

How often have you heard the "mainstream" media talk about the #1 and #3 most liberal members of the U.S. Senate (Obama and Biden, in case you missed it) as "liberal?" Yeah, you heard the crickets chirping when you listened for that, too, huh?

They know she's a dynamite choice, so they have to dredge up any excuse to make her look bad.

They must not have a lot of confidence in their oh-so-experienced media-approved candidate Barack Obama.

Is he just a "paper messiah?"

Media Already Trashing Palin With Trash Talk

Michelle Malkin points to an incident from the "mainstream" media that not only highlights their lack of objectivity, but their hypocrisy.

Channel 7 in Denver accidentally had the mic on, didn't realize it, and were talking about how McCain and Palin must be sleeping together, talking in a "sexist" manner about her physical attributes, etc.

I'm not going to repeat it here, but go to the Michelle Malkin link to read it.

Libs love to talk-up women in politics, and if anybody opposes a woman in politics, they they are a bunch of "misogynists" and sexists...unless the woman is a Republican.

Then it's open season on women.

No surprise, really. Liberals have always been more about pandering to minorities, and using their professed love for them as a vote-getting device, than actually valuing the people in those minority groups for their qualities.

Meanwhile, it's conservatives who continually prove--with actions, not words--that they are more interested in, as Martin Luther King Jr. said, judging people "[not] by the color of their skin [or sex], but by the content of their character."

Obama Passes on Landstuhl Military Hospital, But Palin Pays a Visit

As my friend Jenn Sierra at Ft Hard Knox points out, while Barack Obama couldn't be bothered to stop in and visit the wounded troops at Landstuhl Military Hospital in Germany, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin cared enough about the troops to stop in--even without a press entourage to cover her.

This is the kind of leadership we need in Washington. Not politicians who say "I support the troops" while saying publicly "They can't win." Not politicians who look at our troops as props to make themselves look good, but as the heroic men and women who keep us safe and free.

VoteYesForLife.com Issues Statement Supporting Palin Pick

From today's mailbag:

VoteYesForLife.com is absolutely thrilled with the announcement of Sarah Palin as John’s McCain’s Vice-Presidential candidate. What a excellent choice!!! Sarah is the current Governor of Alaska. Prior to governorship she was the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska for two terms. When elected she became the first woman to be Alaska’s governor and the youngest governor in Alaskan history at 42.

Sarah is strongly pro-life and belongs to Feminist for Life of America, a leading pro-woman, pro-life organization that has championed reducing abortions by helping pregnant and parenting students with financial aid and other resources.

Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd are the parents of five children. Her fifth child Trig was born with Down syndrome. As many as 80 percent of unborn children diagnosed with Down syndrome become victims of abortion, but ending the pregnancy was not an option the Palin’s would take. The day after Trig’s birth, Todd & Sarah Palin released the following statement, “Trig is beautiful and already adored by us. We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives. We have faith that every baby is created for good purpose and has potential to make this world a better place. We are truly blessed.”

VoteYesForLife.com is so very encouraged by such a strong pro-life Vice-Presidential candidate!!!

Gov. Sarah Palin: McCain's Best Choice for VP

I've been thinking for a long time about who would be a good VP choice for John McCain. That's a tough one because, since he's not exactly a conservative's dream himself, you have to throw a measure of pragmatism (i.e. how conservative a running mate would McCain actually put up with?) into any estimations.

Some, like columnist Marie Jon', believe Mitt Romney's the one. Others (maybe McCain himself, for all I know) have been pushing for a pro-abortion VP--though it looks like McCain has figured out such a choice would pretty much doom his candidacy.

For some time now, I've been thinking of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. And though I started writing this yesterday, I see my friend Pastor Steve at Voices Carry beat me to actually getting a South Dakota blogosphere endorsement of her published.

Though no one is perfect, Palin has an impressive list of assets to bring to the ticket. We'll find out later today who John McCain actually chooses, but for now I can hope it's Gov. Palin.

While she doesn't seem to be outspokenly pro-life, her pro-life credentials nevertheless seem impeccable. In fact, while I've read that up to 70-80% of Down syndrome babies are being aborted, when Palin and her husband found out pre-birth that their second son Trig had Down syndrome, she refused to end his life.

After he was born, she said

"I'm looking at him right now, and I see perfection," Palin said. "Yeah, he has an extra chromosome. I keep thinking, in our world, what is normal and what is perfect?"

She is also very pro-energy. Her state of Alaska is home to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), and she is very much in favor of drilling for oil there. Her husband Todd works at the current drilling operation on the North Slope, and is a commercial fisherman during the off-drilling season.

Additionally, Todd's work provides a blue-collar connection that may be important to some, given that this presidential race is headed on both sides by millionaires.

She is also very popular in Alaska, with approval ratings running in the 80s and 90s.

Sarah Palin is very attractive and youthful--attributes which don't really amount to much with regard to qualifications, but for that segment of voters out there who are the kind who voted for Jimmy Carter because of the part in his hair, it could help pick up a few more votes.

Finally, there are a lot of angry and disillusioned female voters who are spitting-mad that Hillary Clinton didn't get the Democrat nomination or the VP nod. Giving them a competent female to vote for could just bring a McCain victory by a landslide.

I don't know how interested she would be, but I think the case for a Palin VP pick is very, very strong. Whether McCain will have enough wisdom to see that...well, that could be a different matter.

Steven D. Laib at the Intellectual Conservative apparently concurs that she would be a great choice. I'd encourage you to go read his piece as well.

In the meantime, we should know in a few hours, as McCain is expected to announce his choice at an Ohio rally today.

UPDATE: In case you haven't heard, it's being widely reported now that McCain has in fact picked Palin as his running mate.

Finally, some excitement about the Republican ticket!!! Odd that it's mostly about the VP, but I'll take it. And though the libs are already trying to minimize and trash her...since McCain is unlikely to run again, she'll make a great president in 2012!

You Do Well to Learn the Religion of Jesus Christ

American Minute from William J. Federer

"Beloved Cherokees," wrote President Washington on AUGUST 29, 1796, "The wise men of the United States meet once a year, to consider what will be for the good of their people...I have thought that a meeting of your wise men...would be alike useful to you...I now send my best wishes to the Cherokees and pray the Great Spirit to preserve them."

On May 12, 1779, Washington addressed the Delaware Indian Chiefs at the Middle Brook military encampment: "Brothers: I am glad you have brought three of the Children of your principal Chiefs to be educated with us...Congress...will look upon them as their own Children."

Washington continued: "This is a great mark of your confidence and of your desire to preserve the friendship between the Two Nations...and to become One people with your Brethren of the United States...You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are."

Washington concluded: "Congress will do everything they can to assist you in this wise intention; and to tie the knot of friendship and union so fast, that nothing shall ever be able to loose it...I pray God He may make your Nation wise and strong."

William J. Federer is a nationally recognized author, speaker, and president of Amerisearch, Inc, which is dedicated to researching our American heritage. The American Minute radio feature looks back at events in American history on the dates they occurred, is broadcast daily across the country and read by thousand on the internet.

Rapid City Bloggers Interviewed by KOTA

As Curtis Price at Robbinsdale Radical highlights, he and I were interviewed by Rachael Embler at KOTA yesterday.

The segment was about the impact of blogging on the youth vote.

It was done over a Skype webcam connection, so the video quality of the interview portions isn't the best, but it's alright. I'm not sure what happened on Curtis' end, but either there was bad lighting, or a bad angle between the camera and Rachael's laptop, or Curtis was going for that look of the bad-guy avatar on the old movie "Hackers." (No offense intended, Curtis)

Anyway, it was a good segment. Thanks, Rachael.

To Help and Heal the Hurting

*Publisher's note: this personal testimony is being reprinted in light of the upcoming vote in South Dakota on Initiated Measure 11 and the recent statement by the American Psychological Association that abortion does not threaten women's mental health.

By Danelle Hallenbeck
North Carolina State Leader
Operation Outcry

I believed in the right to get an abortion. I believed that because it was legal it must be okay. When I got pregnant and exercised that right, I was not told of the devastation that it would cause. I was only told how everything would be all right and that it would be over before I knew it.

For 12 years I lived with torment and sorrow. I hated myself, and I felt undeserving of anything good, even life. I told counselors and psychiatrists about all the bad things that have ever happened to me, but I would not tell them what was really wrong. I was too ashamed.

I was given all kinds of anti-depressants. They helped for a short time, but the pain kept coming back. I kept stuffing my pain down inside me for the fear of exposing the shame, anguish, and grief that filled my spirit and was at the very core of my being. It just kept seeping out no matter what medications drugs I took.

I was a workaholic. I made sure I didn’t have time to feel or reflect. I felt I had committed so great a sin that I could never ever think about forgiving myself, and I knew I could not ask God to forgive me. I punished myself by being judgmental, critical, unforgiving, harsh, and self-destructive – showing no mercy to others or myself, which hurt people around me. I did everything in my power to keep all of the pain under the surface, but to no avail.

No matter what medications I took, I still felt the same, so I decided to quit taking them. Then, I began to face and feel the pain I had been hiding for all these years I was struggling with the bitterness and unforgiveness because I didn’t know how to forgive, and I felt as if I didn’t even have the right to ask God to forgive me for what I had done. There were a lot of things in my past that had hurt me – things that were done to me that I felt were unforgivable. I realized I had to forgive others so I could forgive myself for my abortion.

A few weeks after I quit taking my medication, I talked to a neighbor who is an ordained minister. I asked her how to forgive when it seemed impossible to forgive in my mind. She said all things are possible with God, nothing is impossible. She told me I had to let go and pray for God to put love and forgiveness in my heart so I can love and forgive others. It is true; you can’t give away what you don’t have. It was from this point on that I really began to see God work in my life.

On July 6, 2005, I asked God to help me make the right decisions in my life, to know His will, and to please fill my heart with tender mercy, forgiveness and love for everyone.

That same day, I saw the Faces of Abortion television show with women telling stories of their pain after their abortions. I could not believe it. I was so relieved to know that I was not alone. I cried through the entire show.

I learned that day about a retreat to help women like me. I printed information from the website and drove home. I got home and walked back and forth until I finally handed my husband, Jeff, the information. I told him to read it but not to say anything because I couldn’t talk about it. He walked out onto the front porch and read it, then came back in and said “See you later.” Jeff has always been supportive of me.

God knew exactly what he was doing because if I had to plan it, or if I had time to change my mind, or if I knew what I was getting into, I would have stayed home. Some women there had been going through the same torturous pain as I had – for over 20 years! Some had an abortion more recently.

The next day was one of the most difficult days of my life. We all told our stories one at a time. Everyone’s story had the same common denominator: pain, shame and guilt.

The very thing that I was most ashamed of – and could not talk about – is the one thing God is going to use to help heal others. I know now that God has given me a purpose. He has given me a ministry to help and heal the hurting.

Danelle is the North Carolina State Contact. She serves as a volunteer with two pregnancy centers and leads abortion recovery programs. She graduated from Iowa Sate University with a BS in Sociology, and she has worked as a branch manager for a mortgage business, as a financial office manager, and as a paralegal.

*Reprinted by permission of Operation Outcry.

We Begin Bombing in Five Minutes

I still remember hearing about this the day it happened. The media was incredulous. I was ecstatic.

Reagan always did love a good joke at the Soviet's (and the media's) expense.

President Ronald Reagan, August 11, 1984

Reagan's Humor

When things are the way they are in a presidential election year, it really helps to have a good laugh now and then.

It also helps to remember what phenomenal leadership was like, and that it is possible to have it in Washington.

Here's to President Ronald Reagan, the greatest president of the Twentieth Century. Long may our memory of him live!

Study Finds 12 Percent of Native America Deaths Alcohol Related

Last year, the question was examined whether to open up the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to alcohol sales on the reservation.

The logic was that the border towns like Whiteclay, Nebraska are "getting rich" off Pine Ridge dollars--dollars which could fill Pine Ridge public coffers. Also, since so many people on the reservation travel to towns like Whiteclay for alcohol, at least people wouldn't have to travel as far for it...and with the distance, increase the risk of an alcohol-related accident.

I argued at the time that selling alcohol on the reservation, and thus making it more accessible, would be like throwing gasoline on a fire. The reservation is already crippled with alcohol-related issues; why in the world would you want to add to that by making the source more accessible?

Today, the Rapid City Journal reports that the alcohol-related death rate is 12% for Native Americans, or more than three times the rate for the general population.

Dwayne Jarman, a CDC epidemiologist who works for the Indian Health Service and is one of the study's authors, said it is the first national survey that measures Native American deaths due to alcohol. It should be a "call to action" for federal, state, local and tribal governments, he said.

The researchers obtained their statistics by analyzing death certificates over the four-year period.

Traffic accidents and liver disease made up more than 25% of the deaths. Alcohol-related homicides and suicides made up 6.6% and 2.2% of the deaths, respectively.

That should quash any reasonable discussion of selling alcohol on the reservation.

Also, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome plagues the Native American community. When pregnant women consume significant amounts of alcohol, FAS can result. Symptoms of FAS include low birth weight, developmental delay, physical coordination problems, physical deformity, poor memory, and behavior problems.

According to a 1989 New York Times article, studies have found between 5 and 25% of children affected. Jeaneen Grey Eagle, who ran the alcohol recovery program Project Recovery at that time, estimated 25% of the children on Pine Ridge were affected, and said the rate was growing.

My church has done several outreach programs on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in recent years, and I've been involved in some of those.

The level of suffering which is occurring right here in the United States--right here in South Dakota--is staggering. And a great deal of it is due to alcohol abuse; some estimates of the rate of alcoholism go as high as 80%.

Pine Ridge suffers from a very high unemployment rate, high crime rates, and high spouse and child abuse.

Jarman is absolutely right. This report should serve as a call to action. How can we stand by while so many of our neighbors are suffering so?

The starting point must be the embrace of personal responsibility and objective moral values. Only by recognizing that each of us must take responsibility for doing the right thing, and that we are accountable to do the right thing, can the tide begin to turn on the suffering and despair going on in the Native American community.

You Don't Say

Stuart Shepard offers a special Stoplight synopsis of some of the major speeches at the Democratic National Convention.

Successful Liberal Strategy: Lie Brazenly

Apparently Nancy Pelosi isn't the only brazen liar when it comes to the Catholic Church's so-called "confusion" or ambivalence about abortion and the origin of human life.

LifeSiteNews reports that pro-abortion Joe Biden says, "My views are totally consistent with Catholic social doctrine."

Last night I watched again Nancy Pelosi's brazen claim that the Catholic church--and Christianity for that matter--doesn't have a clue when life begins, and that apparently the Catholic church is just dandy with killing children in the womb.

As I marveled at her brazen deception, the thought occurred to me: the brazenness of the lie is the magic.

After all, the average, common-sense reasonable Joe who really isn't up on all the particulars would probably watch her say this and think: "Wow. That sure sounds different than what I thought about Catholics. But surely someone--certainly not the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives--would get up in front of the world and tell a brazen lie like that. Must be true."

And it occurred to me that this is how liberals have been successfully peddling their lies for quite a long time now. They make outlandish and verifiable false claims that reasonable but uninformed people know don't sound right...but most reasonable people don't get up in front of the public and tell brazen lies. And since most people judge the behavior and veracity of others on standards similar to the ones they have for themselves, they can't believe someone would get up a tell a big fat one like that...so it must be true.

This is why it is so important for people to do their homework and research issues for themselves.

The Left is unencumbered by things like facts, history, science, and even a conscience which whispers "Don't do that" when they think about telling a whopper of a lie. So you can't rely on the traditional "Well, nobody'd say something that outrageous if it weren't true" test.

Liberals have taken this common "truth test" and are subverting it to their advantage.

Embryonic Stem Cell Research: The Body Rejects It

While the pro-death community continues to push embryonic stem cell research, even though it has yet to produce a single medical success, Scientific American points out yet another problem with this line of research.

Not only does it involve the destruction of human life, the human body tends to reject these sells as foreign (which they are) and produce cancerous tumors.

Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine found that mice mounted an immune response after being injected with human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). The result: all the transplanted stem cells—which hold the promise of maturing into several different types of tissue—were dead within a week...The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, however, has not approved the injection of hESCs into patients because the raw cells have the potential to become cancerous.

The cells die off in a few days, and when more are injected to replace them, the next set die off even faster.

This is a natural response when anything is transplanted from one organism to another. I have a friend who received a kidney transplant some time back...and he will be on anti-rejection drugs the rest of his life to keep his body from rejecting the transplanted kidney.

Meanwhile, adult stem cell research has already produced dozens of successes ranging from new bone growth, diabetes treatment, regenerating heart tissue and treating leukemia.

There is no need to destroy human life in pursuit of a therapy that isn't producing anything and obviously faces major hurdles. Especially when there is a line of research that is already producing results without destroying human life.

HT to the FRC blog.

Investment Plan Based on Social Responsiblity Avoids McDonalds

McDonalds, which for some time now has had pro-homosexual policies, recently kicked their support of this immoral, unnatural and unhealthy lifestyle into high gear.

The burger company has joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, made huge financial contributions, and has even gone so far as to label those who speak out against this dangerous practice "haters."

OneNewsNow reports that Timothy Plan, a socially responsible investment plan, has publicly announced that it's portfolios will not include McDonalds.

"McDonald's actually has been on our screen or prohibited list since 1999 -- so this is nothing new," says Ally. "What is new is the aggressive approach that they're moving to, in promoting and supporting the homosexual agenda."

That aggressive approach? The fast-food giant's $20,000 donation to the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce for a seat on its board of directors, and labeling of those who oppose the homosexual agenda as "haters" -- both of which Ally says marked an extreme step up from sponsorship of TV programs and movies with anti-family and pornographic entertainment.

According to the article, McDonalds also offers transgender health benefits to their employees.

It's refreshing to see people in the financial world put common sense and values ahead of making a buck.

Former Senator Tom Daschle Trashes America

Steve Sibson at Sibby Online points a finger to former senator Tom Daschle's anti-Americanism.

From KELO:

"In less than a decade we've gone from being perceived as being the beacon of Democracy and justice all over the globe to a country whose government has little respect even for the most basic tenants of human rights."

Daschle also mentions World War II, but this statement shows that his grasp of history is spotty, at best.

His trashing of his own country (and mine) is undoubtedly a reference to our incarceration of terrorists and attempts to get information from them in order to prevent the next terrorist slaughter of innocent lives.

Daschle, if he thinks real hard, might remember that in war, it is normal for humane countries to incarcerate enemy soldiers to prevent them from continuing to fight against and kill our soldiers. And they usually remain there until the war is over. With no trials that treat war like a law enforcement issue.

That is a preferable solution, rather than the one terrorists use: shoot, blow up, stab, slash, burn, etc.

Which side is the more humane here? Daschle would do well to give his own country a little credit.

When we extract information from terrorists, we do so to save lives, not for sadistic enjoyment or thrills. And while we might use loud music or barking dogs, we don't behead or use drills and blow torches.

Daschle might give his own country a little credit there, too.

Perhaps Daschle's incapability to appreciate his own country is one of the reasons why he is a former U.S. senator.

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

American Minute from William J. Federer

At the Civil Rights March in Washington, D.C., AUGUST 28, 1963, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., stated: "I have a dream...where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together."

Martin Luther King continued: "This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning, 'My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrims' pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.'"

Martin Luther King concluded: "When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, 'Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!'"

William J. Federer is a nationally recognized author, speaker, and president of Amerisearch, Inc, which is dedicated to researching our American heritage. The American Minute radio feature looks back at events in American history on the dates they occurred, is broadcast daily across the country and read by thousand on the internet.

Abortion Begins a Downward Spiral

*Publisher's note: this personal testimony is being reprinted in light of the upcoming vote in South Dakota on Initiated Measure 11 and the recent statement by the American Psychological Association that abortion does not threaten women's mental health.

By Theresa Bonopartis
New York State Leader
Operation Outcry

My name is Theresa Bonopartis and I am post abortive. Like many teenagers who find themselves pregnant, I hid my pregnancy from my parents out of fear. I was in my fourth month when I finally told them, and although it was something I did not expect, they threw me out of the house and told me to forget I was their daughter.

Over the next few weeks, I found myself with no job, no money and no place to live. In temporary housing at a friend’s, my dad had my sister call me daily to tell me he wanted me to have an abortion and that he would pay for it. Day after day, I kept saying “no”, but after a while, feeling desperate and as if I had no choice, I gave in to the pressure and agreed to kill my unborn baby. To this day I still cannot remember how I got to the hospital where the abortion was performed. No one bothered to give me the facts. I did not know the development of my baby. No one told me about the procedure or what was going to happen to me. As a teenager, I was put in a room to undergo a horrific procedure alone. A procedure I never wanted but was pressured into having.

I can still remember the doctor coming into the room with a sadistic look on his face as he injected my abdomen with saline solution. Then the horror began. Although at the time I was not aware that this is what was happening, I felt my baby thrashing around inside of me while it burnt to death from the solution. I then went into labor only to deliver a dead baby boy in the room by myself 12 hours later. I remember looking at my son lying in the bed next to me. I saw his tiny feet and hands and all I could think of was how I wanted to put him back inside of me. I could not believe what I had just done or how this was allowed. I rang for the nurse who came into the room, picked up my son and dumped him into a big plastic jar marked “3A”. My life was forever changed from that moment on.

From that day forward I began a downward spiral as I suffered from depression, anxiety, and panic attacks and made countless bad choices because I did not believe I deserved any better. Although I sought help, no one was willing to address my abortion. I was told repeatedly by professional therapists that I needed to get on with my life. The same message many women seeking help still are getting today. No one would legitimize my pain or acknowledge what had happened. I killed my unborn child. I was left feeling crazy and alone thinking I was the only one suffering from abortion’s aftermath. The truth is, there are countless people suffering.

For years I lived my life in misery. I made a poor choice for a spouse, a drug and alcohol abuser, because I did not think I deserved better. There were days when I was not even able to get up and function. Ultimately, it impacted every aspect of my life, while society and professionals kept telling me it had nothing to do with my abortion in spite of the fact that I kept saying it did. Even today great pains are taken to dismiss post abortion stress as evidence by a New York Times Magazine article “Is there Such a Thing as Post Abortion Syndrome?”. When did we become a society when killing your unborn child and having it bother you is unacceptable and denied??? It just does not make sense.

It was many years before I found the help I needed to find healing. Through my faith and finding a therapist who dealt with post abortion issues, I was finally able to heal from my abortion. Today, if an abortion bothers someone, society is quick to blame it on a person’s religious beliefs which they say instills “guilt and shame”. My faith does not instill guilt and shame, my faith brings me the mercy of God and forgiveness and healing, the act of killing my own child and seeing him dead on the bed beside me instilled the guilt and shame.

People protect abortion rights because they have believed the lies we, as a society have been fed over the years. It is my hope that women who have been made to believe abortion is a freedom when in reality it is a bondage, will come to see, as more women speak out in truth, that the truth is what set us free.

Thank you.

Theresa is the New York State Contact for Operation Outcry and the Director of Lumina/Hope & Healing after abortion, a post abortion referral service. She has two sons, one currently serving as a US Marine.

*Reprinted by permission of Operation Outcry.

Channel Surfing Obama's Qualifications

Dennis Miller Gives the Straight-Scoop Analysis on the Democrat Convention

Bill Oreilly Rips the Lid Off Dem Media Bias

Doctor Slays Credibility of APA Statement that Abortion Doesn't Harm Women

The statement a couple of weeks ago by the American Psychological Association that abortion isn't a threat to women's mental health was hailed by pro-abortion forces as a victory for their contention that the procedure which ends a human life is harmless to women.

The ink on the statement wasn't dry, however, before the sloppy and disingenuous background of the statement started coming out.

A hundred medical and psychological professionals immediately came out with a statement refuting the APA conclusion.

Brenda Major, chair of the APA task force, admitted that many of the studies looked at had "serious methodological problems."

Dr. Rachel M. MacNair, an APA insider, called the statement a "politically-motivated exercise." She also said the statement was really only based on a single 1995 study, and even that one found more cases of drug overdose in women who had abortions compared to others who had not.

Now Dr. Warren Throckmorton, associate professor of psychology and fellow for psychology and public policy at Grove City College's Center for Vision and Values, has a piece in the Washington Times today which says that pro-abortion scholar David Fergusson, who is executive director of the Health & Development Study at the Christchurch School of Medicine & Health Sciences in New Zealand, also questions the statement.

In 2005, Dr. Fergusson published a longitudinal study of young women, which found adverse mental health effects associated with abortion. What is striking about his work is that he began his study with the expectation that abortion would not prove harmful. What he found convinced him that the concerns about mental health effects were credible.

Throckmorton says that Fergusson corroborates MacNair's contention that the statement relied on only one study.

Throckmorton also says "mental health outcomes were not assessed by mental health professionals or standardized surveys but rather by reports to general practitioners" and that "well over half of the women dropped out of the study and were not available for follow up."

Throckmorton says Fergusson questions the rationale for setting this policy in the absence of more evidence:

"What the Committee has, in effect, said is that until there is compelling evidence to the contrary, people should act as though abortion has no harmful effects. This is not a defensible position in a situation in which there is evidence pointing in the direction of harmful effects. The moral of all of this is very simple: In science, drawing strong conclusions on the basis of weak evidence is bad practice. The APA report on abortion and mental health falls into this error."

Remember, this is a "pro-choice" scholar speaking who has no moral issues with abortion.

Throckmorton says the APA should start over and do a thorough study this time.

It would be a remarkable act of scientific integrity to acknowledge they were premature, but it would be the right thing to do.

He's right. Sloppy, agenda-driven medical policy is a tremendous health risk for the general public.

HT to the FRC blog.

A Girl Changed and Set Free

Homosexual activists claim change is not possible, that homosexuals are "born that way" and there is nothing they can do about it, but the evidence is clear that it is.

They might as well claim the alcoholic must embrace his alcoholism because he was "just born that way," or that the adulterer must embrace his adultery because he was "just born that way."

Not only have homosexuals like Joe Dallas and others helped by ministries like Exodus International been able to get freedom from this sin, people have been breaking free for thousands of years.

The Bible records in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 that homosexuals had been set free from the sin of homosexuality:

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

This piece today by Christine Sneeringer at the Baptist Press is an inspiring story of change and a life redeemed from a world of hurt.

Christine is a young woman who tells of how she came to be susceptible to the temptation of homosexuality:

I had grown up in a home where women were either objects of a man's lust or victims of his abuse.

My father was addicted to pornography, and he was verbally and physically abusive to my mother. Once I saw him hit her with a tennis racket. I vowed in my heart that I would never let any man hurt me like that. I resolved to be tougher and stronger than any man.

I hated being a girl because I didn't want to be a victim like my mom. I mistakenly believed that to be feminine was to be weak, so I gravitated toward showing masculine behaviors.

She tells of how she received the illusion of love and acceptance through homosexual relationships. But God had better plans for her.

I was a lesbian for six years and thought I would always be that way, and I never knew that change was possible. But in my early 20s, I met some Christians who showed me a better love -- the love that God had for me. Still in a homosexual relationship, I joined a friend's church softball team. I just wanted to play ball, but God had other ideas.

Over the course of time, God opened her eyes and her mind and made her ready for the biggest and best change of her life:

One Sunday night in October, 1989, Kelly led me in the prayer of salvation as I knelt beside my bed in my dorm room.

When I stood up, I knew that deep down something had changed. I knew that I wanted God more than my homosexuality. But becoming a Christian was only the beginning of my journey. It didn't instantly resolve my homosexual feelings. I broke up with my partner, but I continued to struggle with unwanted same-sex attractions.

Thankfully, I found out about a ministry that helps people overcome their homosexuality, and I began to attend a local support group. There, I discovered the root causes of my homosexual desires, including sexual abuse, gender confusion, a breakdown in the relationship with my same-sex parent, an abusive father and peer rejection.

Through the healing power of Christ, any person can change. But they have to want to change.

When I was a drunk, I knew that getting drunk all the time was causing problems for me, but while I didn't like those problems, I didn't want to give up the booze, either. I didn't change because I didn't really want to change.

But there came a time when I came to the end of myself and my own strength, and God got through to me. It was like I had been standing in front of a brick wall for years, and all of a sudden, God made it vanish and I couldn't escape the truth about myself any longer.

There were still plenty of times for several months after that when I would hit a rough patch and would have the impulse to return to that old crutch. But God was kind enough to remind me that I'd run as hard as I could down that road and found...nothing. There was nothing to return to there. So I trusted God and stuck it out.

Eventually, the desire for a good drunk completely went away. I could be disappointed, hurt, angry, lonely, misunderstood or mistreated...and I no longer wanted to reach for the bottle.

I'm told leaving other lifestyle sins like homosexuality are also hard to break free of. But like drinking or doing drugs or gambling or any sin, deliverance is possible...if you really want to be free.

I think Christine would tell us all that it's worth it.

New Bible Arranged Chronologically

If you've ever read through the Bible, you've probably figured out that not all the books are arranged in chronological order. Rather, they are mostly grouped according to type.

For instance, the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) are attributed to Moses for their authorship, and do run pretty consistently in order. They cover events ranging from "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth..." to preparations for the Israelites to enter the Promised Land.

Other divisions include historical books that primarily record the events of the nation of Israel, such as the Kings and Chronicles. There are the "wisdom" books such as Ecclesiastes, Job and Proverbs. There are the books of the major and minor prophets. There are the Gospels, the historical book of Acts, the epistles of Paul and other apostles, and the prophetic book of Revelation.

While there are definite advantages to this arrangement, it can be difficult for the Bible student who wants to get a feel for the flow of history and events.

For this reason, Christian publisher Thomas Nelson has come up with a new chronological Bible where not just books but passages within books of the Bible are chopped up and rearranged according to their historical sequence.

According to the Christian Post, some people like this approach, while others definitely don't.

"I do think you do lose something when you start demolishing any book of the Bible," said Richard Hess, professor of Old Testament at Denver Seminary in Colorado, according to The Tennessean. "You lose the literary and theological context."

I'm currently reading through the new Archaeological Study Bible published by Zondervan. It contains archaeological references on practically every page from countless archaeological sources. Many include references to similar historical notations in other extra-Biblical writings of the ancient world, such as the "serpent motif" mentioned on page 14 of this sample of the Bible.

I would have to read this chronological Bible to form a solid opinion of how I liked such an arrangement...but I would like read the Bible in this manner, and plan to get this new Bible.

I've read through the Bible in it's traditional order several times, and that arrangement does have it's advantages. The divisions by type can help the reader to get into a certain frame of mind to better absorb the type of material being discussed.

But having done that several times, and being an avid fan of history, I'd like to take that journey again in chronological order.

I don't think I would recommend a Bible arranged like this for the new Bible student, but it sounds like it could be an enlightening experience for someone who's traveled the road before and comfortably knows the way.

Maybe I'll try and remember to come back sometime and write about it after I've read the chronological Bible...which could take quite a long time, with my heavy reading list and still working my way through the Archaeological Study Bible.

Media In the Tank for the Homosexual Agenda

As if there was any doubt remaining that the "mainstream" news organizations were in the tank for the homosexual lobby, they really showed their underwear at the annual convention of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA).

According to the Culture and Media Institute, NBC led the way:

In a full-page ad in the convention program, NBC Universal declared it is “proud to support NLGJA,” under the bold headline: “YOUR VICTORIES ARE OUR VICTORIES.”

So who was paying for this journalistic pro-homosexual party?

Who paid for this blend of journalism and activism? The NLGJA convention was underwritten by most of the biggest names in the news business. At the $25,000 level: the McClatchy Company. At the $15,000 level: CBS, CNN, Gannett Foundation, ESPN, and Hearst Newspapers. Kicking in $10,000 were NBC, Fox Business, Fox News, News Corporation, and The Washington Post. Good for $5,000 were ABC News and Bloomberg. Publisher and broadcaster Cox Enterprises bought the inside cover of the program, and CBS News “salutes NLGJA” on the back cover. Gannett (USA Today) “salutes” NLGJA in a full-page ad, as does The New York Times in a half-page ad. A.H. Belo Corporation (Dallas Morning News, Providence Journal) declares it is a “proud sponsor” in a full-page ad, while The Washington Post “congratulates” NLGJA in its full-page ad.

By the way, Gannett owns the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls.

According to another report from CMI the NLGJAs plan to ignore Biblical religious leaders in favor of those with more "tolerant" opinions on homosexuality.

According to Gold, “the single biggest [obstacle] to gays having equal rights in the country is religion,” so “I set myself to learn about it.” GLAAD’s Craig said, “We’re not getting anyplace until we begin conquering the debate” in the religious community.

They make it clear they want to marginalize those Christian voices who are true to the Bible, while seeking out the obscure religious "voices" out there who don't really care what God says about homosexuality.

Of Biblical figures like Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family, they say:

But the public hears these voices over and over again and they begin to think ‘this is what the Christian faith is all about.’ It’s very important not to be used by those people who are wanting to get their voices out. Don’t let yourself be complicit. Don’t become their access to the public. Know that there are many other voices to be heard who aren’t standing around waiting to be asked, aren’t making themselves accessible.

So the "objective" media will make it's strategy to even further marginalize and ignore anyone who is unpleasant enough to actually refer to what the holy book of their religion says.

I suppose you can't stop someone who's determined to ignore the facts.

But it's most disappointing to see such an attitude elevated at a meeting of journalists, who, according to their own profession, are supposed to be interested in providing the objective facts to the public.

A little "truth in advertising" from the "mainstream" media would be nice.

Liberal Agenda on Display in Denver

More fun from the liberal freaks in Denver at the Democrat convention.

This video is of a transvestite claiming free thought is more important to God than anything. And the sign he/she/it is holding says this:



That pretty much sums up both the homosexual activist and liberal agenda.

Arkansas Adoption Measure About Children, Not Adults

Arkansas voters will consider a measure this November to restrict unmarried couples, homosexual or heterosexual, from adopting children.

As my post on this subject a few days ago illustrates, homosexuals are aghast at what they consider anti-homosexual oppression and dehumanization.

But what they have conveniently overlooked is that this measure is about providing a stable, reliable, healthy home for children, not about imaginary attempts to dehumanize homosexuals.

As OneNewsNow points out (and as I pointed out previously), this bill would bar all unmarried couples from adopting.

Even unmarried heterosexual couples, while they can at least provide both a mother and father for the child, cannot provide the stability and security children need.

For one thing, if they are unwilling to commit to each other, how can they be relied on to commit to the demanding task of raising a child?

But it goes deeper than that.

According to “The Negative Effects of Cohabitation” published in the The Responsive Community journal by sociology professor Linda Waite, 16% of cohabiting women reported physical arguments in the previous year, compared with 5% of married women. Department of Justice figures show a domestic violence rate four times higher for cohabitative women than married women.

Waite's research also showed that while surveys reveal only 4% of married women having sex with others outside the relationship, 20% of cohabitating women do.

These problems are even worse in the homosexual community. A National Institute of Justice found that 39% of same-sex cohabitants reported domestic violence. The Handbook of Family Development and Intervention found that 54% of lesbians couples had experienced 10 or more abusive incidents, and 74% had experienced six or more incidents. A Journal of Social Service Research survey found more than half of lesbian couples reported abuse by a partner.

All children deserve and need a stable home environment where healthy intersex relationships are modeled and healthy behavior is the norm.

But adopted children, because of the chaos and trouble they have already experienced, need this good environment even more. They desperately need peaceful, stable, reliable home environments where they can begin to put the hurt, confusion and uncertainty of the past behind them.

This measure in Arkansas is about the welfare of children, and putting that before the desires of selfish adults.

It's time we started putting children higher on the list of priorities than our pets.