Surely the Lord God will do nothing , but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. Amos 3:7
Do you believe this still holds true? If God has determined to bring some calamity upon a people, do you think he would do that without giving that nation ample warning, ample opportunity to repent?
All through the Old Testament, God warned not just his own people (the Jews) but also heathen nations, to repent. The entire book of Jonah is an account of God sending a Jew to warn a nation that the Jew absolutely abhorred. Jonah wanted God to pour out retribution on Ninevah. But God forced him to go deliver the message of impending judgment, so that the people would have an opportunity to repent.
He chastised his offended prophet with these words: Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals? (Jonah 4:11/NIV)
God warns. God calls people to repentance.
In 1997, around 1 million men gathered in Washington, D.C. for a day of fasting and prayer. Don't remember that? I'll bet you remember Louis Farrakhan's "Million Man March" in 1995, but according to a security guard on the National Mall, he had never seen as many people there at one time as were at the Stand in the Gap gathering 2 years later. The major media outlets did not give the day of repentance the same coverage they gave the black march, even though it truly was a "million-man" gathering.
My husband went with a friend to the Stand in the Gap. He told me later there were so many people there that it would take an hour just to shuffle about 10 feet in the packed throng. The dust made it difficult to breath. All those men came there to repent of their individual sins and the sins of the nation. They heard from several speakers, but the high point of the day was when over a million men and boys got down on their faces before almighty God and prayed. In that huge plaza crowded with people, a stillness descended, and all was silent...except for the low murmur of thousands of prayers.
I believe God heard those prayers that day. I believe he stayed his hand, holding off the destruction that this nation has brought upon itself.
In the years after that day, when we have occasionally run across men with a spark of fire in their eyes for the Lord their God, we would find out those men were in Washington on that day in 1997. I believe that spark came from being there.
Then came 9/11 -- the first salvo, the first shot across the bow. God's protection of the United States has been removed, and his judgment has begun. After 9/11, people crowded into churches. People went home, to be closer to those that really mattered to them.
But the churches did not tell people to repent, they just offered them comfort. So everything returned to the status quo, and the judgment continues.
What should we repent for? In the book of Amos, God told Israel that they needed to repent for "treading...upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat...they afflict the just, they take a bribe, they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right." (Amos 5:11-12)
In Ezekiel: "Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood: and shall ye possess the land? Ye stand upon your sword, and ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbor's wife; and shall ye possess the land?" (Ezekiel 33:25-26)
For those of you unfamiliar with English of the King James Bible, I will clarify...
We take from the poor their ability to work and provide for their families, by teaching them the ways of living with a government check.
We mock those who try to tell us to be righteous.
We mock the poor and homeless, and in any conflict he has with a rich person, the rich person must be right.
We slaughter innocent babes in their mother's womb, and that blood is on our hands.
We honor eastern religions, vampires and sorcery.
We are proud. We believe we are the strongest, the meanest, the smartest, and the best-armed, able to defend ourselves, in no need of God.
We laugh at sexual purity, choosing instead promiscuity, perversion, adultery.
For these sins, and more, the United States is under the judgment of God.
Things will get worse...much worse. Is there deliverance?
For this nation? I don't think so. I think the judgment has been decreed already. God has warned for years, but we haven't listened.
For individuals, however, there is always a chance of redemption. You can save yourself and your family, if you get on your face before God and ask his forgiveness. Just as the city of Ninevah was spared when the people repented.
Repent of your sin. Ask God for his forgiveness. Ask Jesus his son to be your Savior. He will save you in the time of trouble, and when you leave this life (as we all surely will) you will have life eternally in Heaven.
The time is now. There will come a time -- I don't know when -- when you will no longer have the opportunity. Don't wait until it is too late.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
We the People
I ran across an interesting video online this morning, and thought I'd share it with you. If we the people don't stand up and tell our "leaders" when to stop, they won't. They are public servants, we the people rule ourselves, but we will lose it all if we don't point that fact out to the people in Washington.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeYscnFpEyA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeYscnFpEyA
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Swine Flu Update
According to a WHO tally on Monday, June 22, 2009, the numbers look like this:
52,160 confirmed cases worldwide; 231 deaths. You can view the map at their Web site here:
http://www.who.int/csr/don/h1n120090622_0800.png
52,160 confirmed cases worldwide; 231 deaths. You can view the map at their Web site here:
http://www.who.int/csr/don/h1n120090622_0800.png
Friday, June 19, 2009
North Korea
When the Korean War ended in July 1953, the line between the two Koreas was re-established at the 38th Parallel, and a 56-year armistice ensued. That means the United States and North Korea are still at war, we just agree not to fight about it.
The irrational national leadership of the north has kept that small country at odds with the rest of the world ever since. With no free press and virtually no communication with the outside world, the ruling Kim family keeps the populace completely ignorant of what's going on outside their tiny dot on the planet.
Last year the dictator, Kim Jong-il, probably suffered a stroke, although as I said, communication with North Korea is virtually nil, so there's no way of knowing for sure what happened to him. Recent rumors say that his youngest son has been chosen to succeed him in power, and the military is opposing that decision. With a backdrop of such political uncertainty, the grim shadow of nuclear war now falls across the stage.
North Korea has been testing nuclear weapons and long-range rockets to carry them. The U.S. government has expressed concerns that the impoverished nation is selling these weapons to unstable Third World countries like Iran.
We protested their continued tests, and in response North Korea declared the truce ended. They had done this a couple of times before, but it was a noteworthy threat all the same.
As they continued their tests, the U.S. went to the United Nations Security Council, and secured a unanimous vote to impose sanctions on North Korea, one of which involves stopping any vessels suspected of carrying outlawed armaments and searching them.
This week, the United States declared that such a suspect vessel had been spotted leaving port. North Korea says that if any nation stops and searches one of its ships it will be seen as an act of war.
Into this boiling pot, a Japanese newspaper threw a little spice, by suggesting that North Korea is considering firing a rocket on Hawaii. "Why Hawaii?" one of my children asked. "Because they can't reach L.A.," I answered.
The rocket that North Korea is putting the finishing touches on is supposed to have a range of 4,000 miles. Hawaii is 4,500 miles from North Korea. One of the contributors to an online forum that I frequent gave a sigh of relief -- Well, then, they can't reach Hawaii! But I doubt that 500 miles is enough of a buffer between them and a nuclear warhead, to anyone living on the island.
North Korea bluffs a lot. This could just be a big bluff, to gain concessions (and money) from the United States and its allies. But North Korean leadership has shown itself to be irrational...and who knows who the leadership is by now, anyway?
It all makes for dicey circumstances that clearly bear watching.
The irrational national leadership of the north has kept that small country at odds with the rest of the world ever since. With no free press and virtually no communication with the outside world, the ruling Kim family keeps the populace completely ignorant of what's going on outside their tiny dot on the planet.
Last year the dictator, Kim Jong-il, probably suffered a stroke, although as I said, communication with North Korea is virtually nil, so there's no way of knowing for sure what happened to him. Recent rumors say that his youngest son has been chosen to succeed him in power, and the military is opposing that decision. With a backdrop of such political uncertainty, the grim shadow of nuclear war now falls across the stage.
North Korea has been testing nuclear weapons and long-range rockets to carry them. The U.S. government has expressed concerns that the impoverished nation is selling these weapons to unstable Third World countries like Iran.
We protested their continued tests, and in response North Korea declared the truce ended. They had done this a couple of times before, but it was a noteworthy threat all the same.
As they continued their tests, the U.S. went to the United Nations Security Council, and secured a unanimous vote to impose sanctions on North Korea, one of which involves stopping any vessels suspected of carrying outlawed armaments and searching them.
This week, the United States declared that such a suspect vessel had been spotted leaving port. North Korea says that if any nation stops and searches one of its ships it will be seen as an act of war.
Into this boiling pot, a Japanese newspaper threw a little spice, by suggesting that North Korea is considering firing a rocket on Hawaii. "Why Hawaii?" one of my children asked. "Because they can't reach L.A.," I answered.
The rocket that North Korea is putting the finishing touches on is supposed to have a range of 4,000 miles. Hawaii is 4,500 miles from North Korea. One of the contributors to an online forum that I frequent gave a sigh of relief -- Well, then, they can't reach Hawaii! But I doubt that 500 miles is enough of a buffer between them and a nuclear warhead, to anyone living on the island.
North Korea bluffs a lot. This could just be a big bluff, to gain concessions (and money) from the United States and its allies. But North Korean leadership has shown itself to be irrational...and who knows who the leadership is by now, anyway?
It all makes for dicey circumstances that clearly bear watching.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
The Swine Flu
The H1N1 influenza -- an unprecedented mix of human, swine and avian flu -- surfaced in Mexico this past spring. It has since faded from the headlines, but last week the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) designated it a Level 6 Pandemic. The warning was raised to Level 6 when the new strain of flu met certain WHO criteria, as it established itself in 2 separate regions of the world: North America and Australia.
There are several troubling aspects to this new flu that should be getting our attention. First is the remarkable similarity between the behaviour of this flu and the destructive Spanish flu of 1918-1919.
The 1918 Flu Epidemic
In March of 1918, soldiers at Ft. Riley, Kansas, flooded into the infirmary with acute respiratory distress and high fever. Over 100 soldiers fell sick. As the United States shipped troops overseas to fight in World War I, the flu spread. It was called the "Spanish Flu" because Spain was not involved in the war and had no censorship on its news, so more reliable reports of the disease's spread came through the Spanish press.
Cytokine Storm
According to a Wikipedia article on the 1918 Flu, research has shown that "the virus kills via a cytokine storm (overreaction of the body's immune system) which explains its unusually severe nature and the concentrated age profile of its victims. The strong immune systems of young adults ravaged the body, whereas the weaker immune systems of children and middle-aged adults caused fewer deaths."
Prevention
This means that our approach to this disease will not involve strengthening our immune systems. I know that seems counter-intuitive, but it may be the way to survive if you or someone in your family becomes sick with this new flu.
This flu seems to become an "auto-immune" illness, turning the victim's own immune system against him. Organs begin to shut down and the lungs fill with fluid. One source I've read recommends boosting your Vitamin D3 levels before the flu hits this winter. Vitamin D3 normally comes from sunlight, but most people are not getting much sunlight these days. D3 is anti-inflammatory, so it should help reduce the pro-inflammatory action of this disease.
Other things you can do include getting lots of exercise, lots of rest, and eating a healthy balance of food. Avoid large groups of people once the flu starts to come back later this year (don't eat in restaurants or go to large gatherings). Especially avoid anyone coughing or sneezing, as this flu is spread through droplets coughed up by infected people. It can be contagious from before the person begins to show symptoms until the symptoms go away -- usually about 7 days. Wash your hands frequently, and avoid touching your nose and mouth. Using alcohol-based antibacterial gel on your hands is a good idea as well.
I for one intend to have some bottles of Mucinex or a generic equivalent on hand, as the congestion in the lungs is the biggest killer with this flu.
And even though it seems "Third World-ish," the online discount medical supply houses are selling out of surgical face masks, so you might want to lay in a supply of those... to wear when tending a sick household member or to go out in public when this really sets in.
And it will. I suspect that by this time next year we will all be shaking our heads about the Flu of 2010.
There are several troubling aspects to this new flu that should be getting our attention. First is the remarkable similarity between the behaviour of this flu and the destructive Spanish flu of 1918-1919.
The 1918 Flu Epidemic
In March of 1918, soldiers at Ft. Riley, Kansas, flooded into the infirmary with acute respiratory distress and high fever. Over 100 soldiers fell sick. As the United States shipped troops overseas to fight in World War I, the flu spread. It was called the "Spanish Flu" because Spain was not involved in the war and had no censorship on its news, so more reliable reports of the disease's spread came through the Spanish press.
- The Spanish Flu first appeared in the spring -- an unusual time for the flu, which customarily proliferates in the winter. The current flu virus first appeared in Mexico in the spring.
- The Spanish Flu seemed to subside, only to come back with deadly ferocity in the wintertime. The current flu virus has so far appeared "mild," and reports of it have faded from the news, although in Australia -- where it is now winter -- it is beginning to spread.
- While normal seasonal influenza usually takes the greatest toll on the very old and the very young, because they have weaker immune systems, the Spanish Flu struck those in the prime of life with strong immune systems. The current flu virus is striking down those in their twenties at a greater rate than any other age group.
Cytokine Storm
According to a Wikipedia article on the 1918 Flu, research has shown that "the virus kills via a cytokine storm (overreaction of the body's immune system) which explains its unusually severe nature and the concentrated age profile of its victims. The strong immune systems of young adults ravaged the body, whereas the weaker immune systems of children and middle-aged adults caused fewer deaths."
Prevention
This means that our approach to this disease will not involve strengthening our immune systems. I know that seems counter-intuitive, but it may be the way to survive if you or someone in your family becomes sick with this new flu.
This flu seems to become an "auto-immune" illness, turning the victim's own immune system against him. Organs begin to shut down and the lungs fill with fluid. One source I've read recommends boosting your Vitamin D3 levels before the flu hits this winter. Vitamin D3 normally comes from sunlight, but most people are not getting much sunlight these days. D3 is anti-inflammatory, so it should help reduce the pro-inflammatory action of this disease.
Other things you can do include getting lots of exercise, lots of rest, and eating a healthy balance of food. Avoid large groups of people once the flu starts to come back later this year (don't eat in restaurants or go to large gatherings). Especially avoid anyone coughing or sneezing, as this flu is spread through droplets coughed up by infected people. It can be contagious from before the person begins to show symptoms until the symptoms go away -- usually about 7 days. Wash your hands frequently, and avoid touching your nose and mouth. Using alcohol-based antibacterial gel on your hands is a good idea as well.
I for one intend to have some bottles of Mucinex or a generic equivalent on hand, as the congestion in the lungs is the biggest killer with this flu.
And even though it seems "Third World-ish," the online discount medical supply houses are selling out of surgical face masks, so you might want to lay in a supply of those... to wear when tending a sick household member or to go out in public when this really sets in.
And it will. I suspect that by this time next year we will all be shaking our heads about the Flu of 2010.
Monday, June 8, 2009
A desecrated land
According to an Associated Press news story published on Monday, June 8, 2009:
"PORTLAND, Maine -- Agriculture officials say 40 percent of Maine's field corn acreage last year was genetically modified, which is half the national rate.
"According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture survey, Maine farmers last year planted some 29,000 acres of field corn, which is primarily used for livestock feed. The figure does not include sweet corn, the type that is sold at roadside stands during the summer.
"Of the total, nearly 12,000 acres were genetically modified for herbicide tolerance or insect resistance.
"The survey was the first time that Maine field corn farmers have been polled on their use of genetically modified varieties."
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are an issue in Maine, because for the past couple of years organic farmers have been struggling to maintain their government certification, as GMO plants have been finding their way into their gardens and fields.
Last year Montville, Maine became the first town outside of California to ban all GMO plants. Traditional farmers cried foul, asserting that they have a hard enough time keeping their financial heads above water, and they need the advantage that the lab has given them in battling bugs and disease, but even they would not claim they can keep the genie in the bottle...once a field is planted with genetically altered seeds, the wind, the rain -- even the birds and bees -- carry pollen from one field to another. And, bingo, the organic field is infiltrated by altered genes.
So Maine has drawn a line in the sand. The opponents are lining up against each other. And many Americans say, "Why does it matter?"
Monsanto is perhaps the biggest peddler of GMO seed, and their biggest seller is "Roundup Ready" corn and soybean. With this modern miracle of the laboratory, a farmer can plant the seed and then spray the bejeebers out of the field with Roundup, killing every plant that grows...except the corn.
According to Wikipedia:
The Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) is an American-based multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation. It is the world's leading producer of the herbicide glyphosate, marketed as "Roundup". Monsanto is also the leading producer of genetically engineered (GE) seed, holding 70%–100% market share for various crops. Agracetus, owned by Monsanto, exclusively produces Roundup Ready soybean seed for the commercial market. In March 2005, it finalized the purchase of Seminis Inc, making it also the largest conventional seed company in the world. It has over 21,700 employees worldwide, and an annual revenue of USD$11.365 billion reported for 2008.
Monsanto's development and marketing of genetically engineered seed and bovine growth hormone, as well as its aggressive litigation and political lobbying practices, have made the company controversial around the world...
They were also the main developer and seller of DDT (now banned) and Agent Orange -- which was used to defoliate the jungles of Vietnam when the United States was fighting a war there.
In my opinion the main problems with GMO are:
Where I live in Tennessee, I pass daily huge field after huge field of corn, soybean and other crops that are grown with the no-till method promoted by the chemical manufacturers and the government agricultural consultants. Farmers are told that this is the way to preserve the earth, yet it looks like nothing so much as a "scorched earth." They are told not to disturb the soil, but rather spray herbicides over the whole field, wait for everything to die, and then plant. Another spritz of poison once or twice during the growing season, then harvest, and there you go! More corn per acre with a lot less work!
It is a lie that this is good for the earth. Farmers used to work in harmony with the soil, cultivating rich soil that grows good food naturally. Now, they kill the soil. It becomes just a medium in which to grow things artificially, much the same as hydroponics. The soil is a medium devoid of life.
If you should pass one such field one day, even if something is growing in it, look at the ground there at the base of the plants...what do you see? If it is brown stubble, the field is no-till. And when you see that, just remember that apart from Monsanto and other companies like it, the field could grow nothing. If a terrorist wanted Americans to starve to death, all he would have to do is bomb all the chemical plants. Without the chemicals, a modern American farmer could not clear the field, could not plant, could not grow anything. There would be famine in the land where once was a bountiful harvest.
Our desecrated farmland has become sterile.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, "The nation that destroys its soil, destroys itself.”
Maybe it's not too late, if we undertake to preserve and restore the fertility of our farmlands. But we need to stand up now.
"PORTLAND, Maine -- Agriculture officials say 40 percent of Maine's field corn acreage last year was genetically modified, which is half the national rate.
"According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture survey, Maine farmers last year planted some 29,000 acres of field corn, which is primarily used for livestock feed. The figure does not include sweet corn, the type that is sold at roadside stands during the summer.
"Of the total, nearly 12,000 acres were genetically modified for herbicide tolerance or insect resistance.
"The survey was the first time that Maine field corn farmers have been polled on their use of genetically modified varieties."
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are an issue in Maine, because for the past couple of years organic farmers have been struggling to maintain their government certification, as GMO plants have been finding their way into their gardens and fields.
Last year Montville, Maine became the first town outside of California to ban all GMO plants. Traditional farmers cried foul, asserting that they have a hard enough time keeping their financial heads above water, and they need the advantage that the lab has given them in battling bugs and disease, but even they would not claim they can keep the genie in the bottle...once a field is planted with genetically altered seeds, the wind, the rain -- even the birds and bees -- carry pollen from one field to another. And, bingo, the organic field is infiltrated by altered genes.
So Maine has drawn a line in the sand. The opponents are lining up against each other. And many Americans say, "Why does it matter?"
Monsanto is perhaps the biggest peddler of GMO seed, and their biggest seller is "Roundup Ready" corn and soybean. With this modern miracle of the laboratory, a farmer can plant the seed and then spray the bejeebers out of the field with Roundup, killing every plant that grows...except the corn.
According to Wikipedia:
The Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) is an American-based multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation. It is the world's leading producer of the herbicide glyphosate, marketed as "Roundup". Monsanto is also the leading producer of genetically engineered (GE) seed, holding 70%–100% market share for various crops. Agracetus, owned by Monsanto, exclusively produces Roundup Ready soybean seed for the commercial market. In March 2005, it finalized the purchase of Seminis Inc, making it also the largest conventional seed company in the world. It has over 21,700 employees worldwide, and an annual revenue of USD$11.365 billion reported for 2008.
Monsanto's development and marketing of genetically engineered seed and bovine growth hormone, as well as its aggressive litigation and political lobbying practices, have made the company controversial around the world...
They were also the main developer and seller of DDT (now banned) and Agent Orange -- which was used to defoliate the jungles of Vietnam when the United States was fighting a war there.
In my opinion the main problems with GMO are:
- A tomato plant was never meant by God to carry a fish gene (this is an actual GMO, which gives the plant resistance to cold)
- These chemicals that are pervasive in our system of food distribution and consumption could easily be responsible for the high rate of cancer, autism and other afflictions of our day that did not seem to be as common 100 years ago. Is anybody trying to find out?
- As explained in the Maine case, you can't keep a plant from spreading. These altered seeds are contaminating fields of organic and heirloom plants all over the country. Will we lose the valuable diversity of our agricultural heritage, and then find out too late that we can't eat what Monsanto is feeding us? Will we have a choice?
- I believe the Colony Collapse Disorder of bees could be eventually traced to the bees' exposure to GMO crops, and bees are necessary to pollinate crops.
Where I live in Tennessee, I pass daily huge field after huge field of corn, soybean and other crops that are grown with the no-till method promoted by the chemical manufacturers and the government agricultural consultants. Farmers are told that this is the way to preserve the earth, yet it looks like nothing so much as a "scorched earth." They are told not to disturb the soil, but rather spray herbicides over the whole field, wait for everything to die, and then plant. Another spritz of poison once or twice during the growing season, then harvest, and there you go! More corn per acre with a lot less work!
It is a lie that this is good for the earth. Farmers used to work in harmony with the soil, cultivating rich soil that grows good food naturally. Now, they kill the soil. It becomes just a medium in which to grow things artificially, much the same as hydroponics. The soil is a medium devoid of life.
If you should pass one such field one day, even if something is growing in it, look at the ground there at the base of the plants...what do you see? If it is brown stubble, the field is no-till. And when you see that, just remember that apart from Monsanto and other companies like it, the field could grow nothing. If a terrorist wanted Americans to starve to death, all he would have to do is bomb all the chemical plants. Without the chemicals, a modern American farmer could not clear the field, could not plant, could not grow anything. There would be famine in the land where once was a bountiful harvest.
Our desecrated farmland has become sterile.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, "The nation that destroys its soil, destroys itself.”
Maybe it's not too late, if we undertake to preserve and restore the fertility of our farmlands. But we need to stand up now.
Friday, June 5, 2009
America under judgment
For many years, God has been speaking to me and my husband about destruction coming to the United States of America, and so, when the 9/11 terror attacks rocked the nation, we realized it was an act of violence that came because God removed his protection from this sinful land.
Some people ask me "What sin? What's so sinful about America? Look what some of the other countries are doing! They're much worse..." Well, yes, but those other countries were never birthed as a Christian nation, and we were. God treats the heathen nations different from those that are called by His name. Those nations called by His name receive special attention -- many warnings, many "shots over the bow" before the judgment begins to come, and then it comes in waves that gradually increase in intensity. We are His children. We receive His chastisement, if so be that we may turn and repent.Repent from what? Abortion is a big one. Over 4 million of our most innocent, most helpless brethren have been ripped from the womb. There is blood of violence saturated in the soil of this perverse nation.
In addition, the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah are here, not just the sin of sexual perversion for which those cities became the byword, but also, as God proclaimed in Ezekiel 16:49: Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
Add to these sins that of verbally denying the God who created us and the Savior who gave His life to save us, and yes, we are under judgment as a nation. God has no reason to save us, yet he has shown incredible mercy and grace toward us in not just wiping us off the face of the earth. He extends the time, giving the greatest opportunity for repentance...but there is none.
I read a significant document this morning, explaining in detail the fulfillment of God's judgment on America. You might want to read it too:
http://www.stevequayle.com/News.alert/09_Global/090316.watchman.911.pdf
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Pres. Obama's Muslim heritage
When Barack Obama ran for president, the possibility that he was a Muslim -- because his father was Muslim and he attended a Muslim school as a child -- was a big issue for some voters. His campaign denied that he was in any way, shape or form a Muslim.
Americans still with the 9/11 terrorist attacks still fresh in their minds, and many of them with family members serving on foreign soil in the military, fighting mainly Muslims, didn't want to hear about the "Muslim heritage" of a man running for the highest political office in the land. It was a political liability for Obama then.
But this week Obama is touring the Middle East, speaking to huge crowds of Muslims. These Muslims have, many of them, never seen an American face-to-face and have only hatred for our nation. That makes for a fertile breeding ground for terrorism that can be directed against us. Many young Muslims are easily swayed by persuasive speakers among their own people to take action against us, by becoming suicide bombers or joining with our enemies in Iraq, Afghanistan or Palestine.
In such an environment, Obama's background is seen not as a liability, but an asset. In his speech in Cairo today, he pointed out that he is not the only American with a Muslim background. In fact, he said, 7 million Americans claim to be Muslim.
Using his "Muslim heritage" as a tool to reach out to potential enemies of the United States is to be expected.
Just because he denied that heritage as a candidate, and promotes it now as a "statesman abroad" is not, to my mind, being duplicitous, but rather just part of being a politician. Stressing what draws one together with others is the greatest part of diplomacy. You have to let people of other nations see you're human...just like them.
The problem that stands out to me is not Obama claiming his once-rejected Muslim background, but his seemingly naive trust of our enemies.
According to the BBC account of Mr. Obama's speech, he does not plan to oppose Iran's pursuit of nuclear power, and even appeared to concede that they have a right to nuclear bombs. My heart skipped a beat at that.
The BBC's website states, "On the Iranian nuclear issue, Mr Obama said: 'No single nation should pick and choose which nations hold nuclear weapons' and said Iran had the right to peaceful nuclear power."
If we permit Iran to attain to "nuclear weapons" and then maybe Sudan, and then maybe every 3rd world nation around the globe that can afford to hire a laid-off Russian scientist... Is there safety for anyone anywhere? It is very Democratic of Mr. Obama to want everyone to have a fair share of Mutually Assured Destruction, but is it wise?
And then, to top it off, it was announced this week that Iranian diplomats are being invited to visit U.S. embassies for the Fourth of July.
This announcement reminded me of the story of King Hezekiah in the 39th chapter of Isaiah. A contingent of diplomats from a little known country in a distant corner of the world came to visit the king and offer their expressions of concern for his recent sickness. And the king, in the pride of all he had achieved, showed them everything he had, even down to the precious things in his treasury. The prophet Isaiah told him when he heard of it that those men would return and ravage his nation one day. Those men were from a little-known country lying along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. They came from Babylon. Israel was destroyed by them.
It may be politically correct to trust your enemies. But is it wise?
Americans still with the 9/11 terrorist attacks still fresh in their minds, and many of them with family members serving on foreign soil in the military, fighting mainly Muslims, didn't want to hear about the "Muslim heritage" of a man running for the highest political office in the land. It was a political liability for Obama then.
But this week Obama is touring the Middle East, speaking to huge crowds of Muslims. These Muslims have, many of them, never seen an American face-to-face and have only hatred for our nation. That makes for a fertile breeding ground for terrorism that can be directed against us. Many young Muslims are easily swayed by persuasive speakers among their own people to take action against us, by becoming suicide bombers or joining with our enemies in Iraq, Afghanistan or Palestine.
In such an environment, Obama's background is seen not as a liability, but an asset. In his speech in Cairo today, he pointed out that he is not the only American with a Muslim background. In fact, he said, 7 million Americans claim to be Muslim.
Using his "Muslim heritage" as a tool to reach out to potential enemies of the United States is to be expected.
Just because he denied that heritage as a candidate, and promotes it now as a "statesman abroad" is not, to my mind, being duplicitous, but rather just part of being a politician. Stressing what draws one together with others is the greatest part of diplomacy. You have to let people of other nations see you're human...just like them.
The problem that stands out to me is not Obama claiming his once-rejected Muslim background, but his seemingly naive trust of our enemies.
According to the BBC account of Mr. Obama's speech, he does not plan to oppose Iran's pursuit of nuclear power, and even appeared to concede that they have a right to nuclear bombs. My heart skipped a beat at that.
The BBC's website states, "On the Iranian nuclear issue, Mr Obama said: 'No single nation should pick and choose which nations hold nuclear weapons' and said Iran had the right to peaceful nuclear power."
If we permit Iran to attain to "nuclear weapons" and then maybe Sudan, and then maybe every 3rd world nation around the globe that can afford to hire a laid-off Russian scientist... Is there safety for anyone anywhere? It is very Democratic of Mr. Obama to want everyone to have a fair share of Mutually Assured Destruction, but is it wise?
And then, to top it off, it was announced this week that Iranian diplomats are being invited to visit U.S. embassies for the Fourth of July.
This announcement reminded me of the story of King Hezekiah in the 39th chapter of Isaiah. A contingent of diplomats from a little known country in a distant corner of the world came to visit the king and offer their expressions of concern for his recent sickness. And the king, in the pride of all he had achieved, showed them everything he had, even down to the precious things in his treasury. The prophet Isaiah told him when he heard of it that those men would return and ravage his nation one day. Those men were from a little-known country lying along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. They came from Babylon. Israel was destroyed by them.
It may be politically correct to trust your enemies. But is it wise?
Monday, June 1, 2009
The death of George Tiller
George Tiller, 67, was shot dead at a church in Wichita, Kansas, on Sunday, May 31.
Tiller had been performing late-term abortions for decades, and it is believed that the man who killed him this week considered these abortions murder. In fact, the anti-abortion protesters who have staked out the entrance to his clinic for years referred to him as "Tiller the Killer."
Many Christians have conflicted feelings about this man's death. On the one hand, no one I know condones murder. But on the other hand, was this murder? Or was it the forcible removal of a monster who slaughtered thousands of infants?
No matter whether you believe a woman has a right to choose abortion or that abortion is murder, Tiller was in a class all his own... He did not even make a pretense of "destroying a non-viable fetus," but rather confessed with his own lips that he aborted more than 2,600 viable fetuses... just since 1998. What this means is that he killed babies who would have likely been born healthy if delivered, and made a fortune each year doing it.
According to recent trial proceedings concerning possible illegal actions by Tiller, in 2003 Tiller charged an estimated $2 million for the 318 viable abortions that required a second opinion, in addition to income from the reported "non-viable" late-term abortions and other, early-term abortions. He was making a lot of money from killing babies.
And the procedures normally used in late-term abortions are brutal to the child:
"There are three general procedures of late-term abortions and partial birth abortions. The first and most popular is called D&E (Dilation and evacuation). Once the cervix is dilated, the fetus is removed by inserting forceps into the uterus. The fetus is then separated into pieces. These 'pieces' of your baby will be removed one at a time...
"The second procedure is early induction of labor. This is very painful and intense for the woman and is rarely used as an abortion procedure.
"The third procedure is called Intact D&X surgery. This procedure includes a 2-3 day process to gradually dilate the cervix using sticks of seaweed which absorb fluid and swell. Once this process is finished, the doctor uses forceps and grasps the baby’s leg to turn it to breech position. The baby is then pulled out of the birth canal, leaving the head inside the canal. An incision is then made at the base of the baby’s skull and the brain tissue is removed, causing the skull to collapse. The entire baby is then removed." (from All About Life Challenges, http://www.allaboutlifechallenges.org/late-term-abortion.htm)
This man has been dicing up healthy infants -- murdering them -- for years. Just because it is legal, does that make it right? Does that make it okay?
If Mr. Tiller had been going into the nursery of a hospital, and chopping up little babies with a butcher knife, anyone would have considered the man that shot him down a hero.
Until Roe v. Wade, anyone becoming a doctor used to recite the Hippocratic Oath. In it, the doctor would promise to do no harm, and to never give a woman an abortion. Swearing to such things has become inconvenient for most doctors in our present-day society.
It's interesting though, how the old Oath ends:
"If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot."
I will not rejoice in George Tiller's death, because there is one more soul lost in Hell today, but I won't grieve his passing, or even refer to it as "untimely." Perhaps with him gone a few more children will not suffer untimely death.
Tiller had been performing late-term abortions for decades, and it is believed that the man who killed him this week considered these abortions murder. In fact, the anti-abortion protesters who have staked out the entrance to his clinic for years referred to him as "Tiller the Killer."
Many Christians have conflicted feelings about this man's death. On the one hand, no one I know condones murder. But on the other hand, was this murder? Or was it the forcible removal of a monster who slaughtered thousands of infants?
No matter whether you believe a woman has a right to choose abortion or that abortion is murder, Tiller was in a class all his own... He did not even make a pretense of "destroying a non-viable fetus," but rather confessed with his own lips that he aborted more than 2,600 viable fetuses... just since 1998. What this means is that he killed babies who would have likely been born healthy if delivered, and made a fortune each year doing it.
According to recent trial proceedings concerning possible illegal actions by Tiller, in 2003 Tiller charged an estimated $2 million for the 318 viable abortions that required a second opinion, in addition to income from the reported "non-viable" late-term abortions and other, early-term abortions. He was making a lot of money from killing babies.
And the procedures normally used in late-term abortions are brutal to the child:
"There are three general procedures of late-term abortions and partial birth abortions. The first and most popular is called D&E (Dilation and evacuation). Once the cervix is dilated, the fetus is removed by inserting forceps into the uterus. The fetus is then separated into pieces. These 'pieces' of your baby will be removed one at a time...
"The second procedure is early induction of labor. This is very painful and intense for the woman and is rarely used as an abortion procedure.
"The third procedure is called Intact D&X surgery. This procedure includes a 2-3 day process to gradually dilate the cervix using sticks of seaweed which absorb fluid and swell. Once this process is finished, the doctor uses forceps and grasps the baby’s leg to turn it to breech position. The baby is then pulled out of the birth canal, leaving the head inside the canal. An incision is then made at the base of the baby’s skull and the brain tissue is removed, causing the skull to collapse. The entire baby is then removed." (from All About Life Challenges, http://www.allaboutlifechallenges.org/late-term-abortion.htm)
This man has been dicing up healthy infants -- murdering them -- for years. Just because it is legal, does that make it right? Does that make it okay?
If Mr. Tiller had been going into the nursery of a hospital, and chopping up little babies with a butcher knife, anyone would have considered the man that shot him down a hero.
Until Roe v. Wade, anyone becoming a doctor used to recite the Hippocratic Oath. In it, the doctor would promise to do no harm, and to never give a woman an abortion. Swearing to such things has become inconvenient for most doctors in our present-day society.
It's interesting though, how the old Oath ends:
"If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot."
I will not rejoice in George Tiller's death, because there is one more soul lost in Hell today, but I won't grieve his passing, or even refer to it as "untimely." Perhaps with him gone a few more children will not suffer untimely death.
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