Without God

Politics…ugh!

Religion…hmmm…

People say these two things don’t go together. There is also the old adage that goes something like: “Don’t ever talk politics or religion.”  Yeah, right! There’s a lie from the devil if I have ever heard one. I’d like to know when that mindset started. It was probably sometime in the twentieth century as we began to lose the ability and understanding of civil discourse. I’m convinced it hasn’t always been like this. In my opinion, there is nothing more important about which we should be talking. These two subjects are strategically the basis of all things that enable our world to work.

The church was once the place where political discussions had a very prevalent place in our society. It was where people expected to find out what was going on in their communities, as well as our nation.

Curiously, how does one separate these two subjects? I simply don’t understand.

 

Think about it for a moment. For starters, there is nothing more important than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are commanded in Scripture with the Great Commission – to spread the Good News that we have a risen Savior. There is simply no way to minimize the importance of this fact. Really, once one has become a Christian, full understanding will not allow ones conscience to believe otherwise, in my opinion. Next to worshipping and honoring the Creator of the Universe, the salvation of the lost is our top priority. At least it should be. Honoring the King with our lives is a means to reach that end. Of course, it must be achieved with our actions; but without a doubt, sometimes it requires words. Let’s talk.

Humor me just for a moment. Suppose Christians are all doing our job as we should be, and souls are willingly receiving our Savior. Hearts are being changed. Truly Jesus is the answer for everything. But suppose as souls were changed, people did nothing. Suppose they merely got saved and took no action in regard to anything…suppose they were simply an island unto themselves. No love, no charity, no missions, no action at all. Suppose we all simply remained that island with no outward reaching to help anyone else. It wouldn’t make for a very pretty world, now would it? But the Christian wouldn’t do that! Christianity is all about actions! I believe it once was. I’m not so sure about that any more. At least, I will say, the actions we think a Christian should take have certainly become convoluted.

Now clearly most Christians believe that the United States of America was built on our Judeo/Christian roots. We know and understand (contrary to what many teach today), that people came here for the freedom to worship in the manner they prefer for themselves. People sacrificed and died to achieve that end. They also came to this new land to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.[1] Debatable, I know, according to revisionist history, but it is a fact none-the-less.

Most of us believe our Founding Fathers were Godly men and we believe that our rights and freedoms are given to us not by man, but by God. That is clearly stated in our Declaration of Independence. Our Founders made sure we understood this well when Thomas Jefferson included these words:

 

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights; that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

 

Most of us also view our nation as a gift; at least we should. Well then, think also about this for a moment:  If we believe God gifted us with the government that we have here in America, but no one ever did anything to be good stewards of that government, wouldn’t we be disrespecting God’s gift?  Suppose we did nothing to protect, defend or respect our Constitution.  Suppose we didn’t vote. What if we didn’t pray for our leaders as instructed in Scripture to do? Suppose we didn’t care if we kept Godly laws, or Godly men and women in office. What if we didn’t care, whether or not we maintained and preserved the history for which our Founding Fathers sacrificed. What if we cared little about our position in the world, because we all simply believe “Que sera sera”? What will be, will be. So there is no sense in worrying or doing anything about anything. Truly, wouldn’t that be blatant disrespect for God and His blessing on our nation.

 

If God is the Author of Freedom (and He is) and if God gave us our freedom and made it available to us through a nation founded on Biblical principals (which it is and He did) then shouldn’t it be a priority in our lives to be good stewards of that gift? And shouldn’t we ask ourselves why are we so obviously blessed in this country? If we think about it, wouldn’t the answer be that God created a nation and gifted that nation with the ability and means to spread His Good News? A place distinctly able to fulfill the Great Commission and the last words He spoke on this earth. I believe this is why America was built, along with a means to live out our faith as we choose. We are, and always have been, a light to the nations. At least we have, until now.

 

But let me get back to politics for a moment. Think about what Thomas Jefferson meant when he said: “Can the liberties of a nation be sure, when we remove their only firm basis…that these liberties are a gift from God.”

 

Our Founders made sure everyone understood that God was the basis and support of this nation. John Adams assured us that our rule of law would simply not work without God in our lives.

 

“Our Constitution is designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other.”

 

Well now, if the Christian isn’t going to protect that basis for our nation, who in the world do we think will?

 

The Christian, (or anyone for that matter) who states: “Christians have no place in the political realm,” exhaust me.  God has gifted us with the means to take care of our country through the Constitution and “We the people”. Why would we delegate our responsibility to anyone else?

 

Really?? I have to ask. Is the revisionist history that tries to make us believe that our nation was not founded on our Judeo/Christian roots really so believable? Our national documents are full of statements about God, such as the ones afore mentioned. Were these men that built such a strong foundation for our nation so wrong? Clearly they believed the Christian must be active. Certainly that wasn’t even a question that entered their minds; it was simply the way that they lived.

 

As our Founders wrought through their beliefs and finally signed the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin stated: “If we don’t hang together, we shall all surely hang.” In this statement, we see they fully understood the repercussions of what they were doing; it could mean death for them. Clearly, as they risked their lives, they believed freedom was worth working toward and even fighting. Where would we be if not for men such as these and their strong faith? It certainly wouldn’t be the United States of America that has served us well and stood strong for so long.

 

The Infiltration

The liberal left seeking to change the direction of this nation cannot do so as long as we hold to our Christian foundation. Our Judeo-Christian traditions and beliefs must be removed and replaced in order for a leftist agenda to be successful. It is imperative that we hold onto the fact that we are a “Christian nation” to prevent the secularists from succeeding in all they hope to accomplish. To allow that label to be removed, we are in fact joining the forces of those that want to defeat us.

As I was writing this, and contemplating all that I wanted to say, I happened to catch Bill O’Reilly’s “Talking Points” on the evening of December 4^th, 2013. He believes without a doubt that there is a war on Christianity going on in our nation. In his segment, he is focusing on secular progressives using Christmas as a tool to attack Christianity, and he is absolutely correct in his assessment! He points out it isn’t simply a war on Christmas, but rather it is a war on people of faith.

I believe he is correct in his concern. We are seeing an all out attack on Christmas and the true meaning that is unparalleled. Billboards stating "Who needs Christ in Christmas?" are appearing across the nation. To say "Merry Christmas" has become politically incorrect. Atheists have even found the verse in Jeremiah 10:2-4 that warns of decorating a tree and to prove their secular beliefs they wield this verse like a weapon against Christians. They care not that this verse was about an intent of the heart regarding idol worship, as opposed to the celebration of Christ's birth as the Christmas tree is used today. But that is for a whole other discussion, I suppose.

But even more importantly than all of this, O'Reilly's talking points also include the fact that the left must rid America of Christianity and all for which the Christian stands to succeed in accomplishing their goal. This is the message I felt was particularly important. I hope you will take a moment to watch the video below to contemplate the message he gives us.

Mr. O’Reilly states:

 

“In order to remake the U.S. into a progressive nation, the committed left must diminish Judeo-Christian tradition which stands in opposition to them. So they must get the religious influence out of the way. All of the so-called progressive countries are secular.

Here in America we have maintained most of our Judeo-Christian traditions, but they are under attack.”

 

O’Reilly pinpoints 5 facts that are problematic for those who hope to transform America. I have listed them below. Please watch the video for O’Reilly’s more in depth and accurate perspective.
 

1. Cradle to grave entitlements, which makes the individual dependant on the government.
2. Income equality.
3. Unfettered abortion/ absolutely no restrictions.
4. Gay marriage
5. Legalized narcotics.2

Now much of the progressive agenda has already been achieved. It has been done with pushing “politically correct” positions; removing prayer in schools, as well as public places and meetings. It has been done through revisionist history, and by changing attitudes and mores through television and movies. Especially under the administration of the current President we have seen the goal to “transform” America progressing at an alarming rate.

But other than these things I have mentioned, the progressive agenda has also been achieved by an infiltration of the Christian church. You think that’s extreme? That belief is only a radical conspiracy theory, you charge?  Think again.

It really should come as no surprise! We were warned this would be a tactic with the writing of the Communist Manifesto in 1848 by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.  The Manifesto, also eventually published in America, is an attack on capitalism and explains the means by which capitalism can be destroyed. One of the most important means - faith must be abolished.

“But Communism abolishes eternal truths, it abolishes all religion, and all morality, instead of constituting them on a new basis; it therefore acts in contradiction to all past historical experience.”[3]
 

Later, Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals, published in 1971, was a dissertation on the means to promote a progressive agenda and break down class structures. A break down of class is absolutely necessary to bring a decline in American wealth and exceptionalism!  

 

According to Alinsky the “have-nots”[4] or those in poverty were the easiest to control, therefore he used this group, spending most of his life bringing about change in poor communities across the United States. Promoting discontent by pointing to their poverty as opposed to the wealthy in America appealed to the greater sense of good bestowed upon mankind - at least those raised in a land built with Judeo Christian roots. Alinsky used the fact that if an entire community is adversely affected by something, one can appeal not only to those of that community but also to a caring Christian community. But after speaking to the unfairness of class structure, Alinsky also warns of the evil desires that wealth brings, as well as the distractions materialism can cause.  A materialistic mindset keeps mankind from being concerned with welfare of the poor which hurts society as a whole. Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals is all about division and discontent and a deceitful way to bring us there.
 

Thus, having worked so well, in causing uproar and divide across our nation, his rules also became a blueprint used by the left to infiltrate and to change the mind-set of those within the church body. This, in my opinion, is working best through the mission field. It is exactly what we see occurring within a good deal of several missions-oriented organizations. Not all, mind you, but without a doubt a strong portion. Let me give you some examples.
 

Though Richard Stearns claims to be appointed by God to his position of CEO of the renowned mission organization, World Vision, I fully suspect he was appointed alright, but not by God. Richard Stearns in his book, The Hole in Our Gospel, spent the majority of his writings condemning the American Christian for living in excess while most of the world suffers in poverty. He blames the American Christian for being too political as the biggest part of the problem. What he doesn’t realize (or maybe he does) that by making the statements he is making, he too is being political. Stearns apparent answer for the world problems? The United Nations, of course! He tells the Christian he shouldn’t be involved in conservative politics as this is what is giving the Christian a bad name. Taking a stand on abortion, legalization of drugs; gay marriage are a no-no. Just as O’Reilly pointed out in his talking points, the progressives are trying to make cradle to grave entitlements seem to be a necessity in a truly caring world. But in reality, it only weakens our structure.
 

Shame on the Christian for being political we obviously read in Stearns’ book. But apparently it’s ok to support the dangerous liberal left agenda of the United Nations. He even gives a plug for the United Nations “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” as well as the “United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is simply more of the ideology and political aspirations of the left that the Christian should embrace according to Stearns, though he would never word it that way.

 But whatever one does, one shouldn’t be political. It gives Christians a bad name. And after all, Stearns gave up all his wealth, you know. Note sarcasm, please.
 

The Christian, above all, is compassionate. We believe in action and we believe in caring for others. It is my opinion the left has infiltrated missions in the church in order to promote and achieve their ideology. What better means is there to appeal to the compassion of those that want to serve the Lord, than to remind them of all the poverty and sickness in the world? While this is true, the Christian has always made a point to serve the poor and lost, but we didn’t align ourselves with the UN in order to do it.  And we didn’t bash other ministries in the process; i.e. those that have a mission to protect the unborn, or other political endeavors in our nation that Christians may view as their ministry.
 

Rarely, does Stearns mention that the salvation of the poor should be our goal in missions. Simply that the Christian has a responsibility to take care of them.
 

John Piper lectures us about the American Dream – at least his interpretation of that dream – assuring us it has no place in the Christian’s life while the world suffers.
 

Christian author and pastor, John Piper, has video after video about the selfish American who looks forward to retirement. Like retirement is the most selfish thing one could ever do. What he doesn’t take time to say, is the statistics that he quotes about the number of people retiring also would include non-Christians that are also retiring. Do we really expect them to behave as Christians and offer up their lives and money?
 

I am not questioning Piper’s faith or salvation; I simply believe he is deceived in this area.  As the flaws of the 1980’s “prosperity movement” were finally revealed, so will the reasons and misguiding behind this abject poverty philosophy eventually be made clear.
 

Piper's video - an error of statistics.

 

As men like John Piper, Richard Stearns and Rick Warren bash the American Dream they are in reality, living the American Dream! Rick Warren is one of the richest pastors in America, for crying out loud. I don’t care if he gives away 90 % of his income. That’s my point! He has been able to do it by utilizing the American Dream. I don’t care if Stearns boasts that he has given up his lavish lifestyle. It was the American Dream that allowed him to do so. They are doing that which they desire and love to do! As men like these criticize those that are political, they are themselves political with their support of UN resolutions and anti-American sentiments, or as in Warren’s case a universal faith that encompasses and includes all religions, negating the Gospel of the Bible with a "social gospel". While Warren has taken a conservative stance on many issues, he advances a “new age" philosophy that dangerously unites all religions to one goal which is contrary to Scripture. Further, to do so by uniting with the one world agenda of the UN is extremely detrimental to America.

As they make their political statements (yes, I said political) they are in effect bashing the very means by which they are supported. If not for the “rich, puffed up American Christian” just where would they get their money to support their agenda, I wonder.
 

I really hate to see people buy into this not so new idea, but rather the same one conceived by Karl Marx. The truth is we are all living the American Dream! If we are doing what we desire, we are living the American Dream. If we are working toward what we believe, we are living the American Dream for which someone else fought and died! If we have given up our riches, just like Richard Stearns claims he has done, we are living the American Dream because we are able to choose how we live. What Richard Stearns apparently fails to see is that it is the “wealthy” American and a capitalistic society that has allowed us to do it. That IS the American Dream.
 
Ironically, wealth and freedom of course, are the very tools that are required to support monetarily Christian missions to the poor of the world.
 

We see just a tad bit of hypocrisy in that, don’t we? We are encouraged to give up the American Dream, while still needing that dream to support our endeavors. I’m still shaking my head on that one.

Without a doubt the church has been infiltrated by those that hope and understand it is a requirement to change the mindset of those who are of the biggest threat to their agenda – the Christian.

“Without God, there could be no American form of Government, nor an American way of life. Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first--the most basic--expression of Americanism. Thus the Founding Fathers saw it, and thus, with God's help, it will continue to be.” –Pres. Eisenhower
 

Our Demise

 

I would like to address one more important point before I finish. I believe the Bible clearly teaches that God is for the division of nations. He is the One who created and made the boundaries. While I am not going to go into this too much at this time, I think this can clearly be seen by the Tower of Babel when God confounded the languages in Genesis 11 preventing them from working together to build an altar to the sky.
 

God warns us of the one world government of the anti-Christ. Clearly He has chosen Israel as the time-clock of the world. And the boundaries of that nation must be left intact for all end-time prophecy to be fulfilled.
 

There is simply no question. For me, that is the strongest evidence of all why we should oppose a United Nations agenda that continues to work toward a one world system. Why would we support that?
 

Our nation is without argument heading toward cultural decline. Faith is losing her place in our lives. Almost all of the progressives’ goals have been achieved with the on-set of Obamacare. We have lost the will to believe we can make a difference. We have decided politics will not work and our government is above all else, evil.
 

My father taught me a long time ago, that once Americans no longer trust their government, they will fail to use that government in the way our Founders intended. Once no one has faith they can make a difference, they will cease to try, and our enemies will win. I saw the bashing of our American government begin in the 60’s; I have seen the results of that beating come to fruition in the 21^st century; specifically and especially 2013.

 

The left is continually waging their war on religion - intent on removing God from the very fabric of our society. When they are entirely successful in their resolve, then will come our demise.

 

Let me leave you with a quote from Dr. Ben Carson, renowned neurosurgeon:

Many believe that the United States is in fact not a Judeo-Christian nation and that it does not embrace any particular philosophy of faith. This is not reflected in the words of our founders, nor is it reflected on our currency of which emphatically states in God We Trust, nor is it reflected in our documents of establishment such as the Declaration of Independence. This very document states that we have certain inherent and inalienable rights given to us by our creator. Therefore how could one possibly could call into question the statements that we are not a nation of faith. History demonstrates that Churches have and continue to play an important role in our self-identification in addition to establishing many of our values. If we are not people of faith then who are we? And if we cannot base our system of fundamental values on our Judeo-Christian traditions, then upon what do we assert its foundation? It is time to stop being ashamed of our faith and stop allowing secular progressive movements to define what we like and who we are.

Without a doubt, someone is going to have to protect our Christian nation.  It's going to take lots of prayer; and it is unfortunately going to require some politics. I'd say the two go together handily, and we would be wise to learn how to use them both. It needs to be without shame as Dr. Carson states, but also without fear. And while we are at it, maybe we had better re-learn a little civil discourse. It is time to help younger generations begin to learn who we are and who we have always been - before the secularist agenda has been achieved in its entirety.

---

[1] Wallbuilders -Is Obama Correct  http://www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=23909

[2] The O’Reilly Factor – Taking Points December 4, 2013

[3] The Communist Manifesto – page 14

[4] Rules for Radicals; Alinsky, Saul

Take Action for Saeed Abedini

This is a very important letter to write.
Everything has already done for you. It could not be more simple as this American pastor suffers.

Please take a moment of your time.

More Betrayal

From Fox News:
~~~~~~~~~~

Obama White House Betrays An American Pastor

By Jay Sekulow

Published November 25, 2013

FoxNews.com

 

The Obama administration has left an American pastor behind.

In its quest for a “deal” with the hostile, jihadist Iranian regime, The Obama administration has thrown an American Christian, Saeed Abedini, under the bus – the latest American victim in the administration’s continual, naïve (at best) quest to bargain with Islamic radicals.

Let’s go to the scorecard: A part of this “deal,” Iran not only gets to keep its centrifuges (key equipment in the quest to build nuclear weapons) but is permitted to continue enriching uranium.

In its quest for a “deal” with the hostile, jihadist Iranian regime, the Obama administration has thrown an American Christian, Saeed Abedini, under the bus.

 It also gets billions of dollars in sanctions relief and unspecified humanitarian aid from the West.

What does America get?

Iranian promises. Promises that they won’t enrich over a certain threshold and promises that it will dismantle a modest amount of previously-enriched uranium.

These promises would have been easier to believe had Iran taken at least one concrete step to demonstrate good faith -- by releasing an American pastor -- a U.S. citizen -- whom it has held and tortured for more than a year, tortured because of his Christian faith.

Pastor Saeed Abedini, an Idaho resident, last year received permission to enter Iran to help build an orphanage.

Shortly after his arrival, Iran’s radical Revolutionary Guard arrested him, threw him in one of Iran’s worst prisons, and tried and convicted him on trumped-up “national security” charges – charges that had nothing to do with national security and everything to do with his Christian faith.

Even after President Obama raised Pastor Saeed’s case directly to the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Iran responded not by releasing Saeed but by transferring him to an even worse prison -- a prison full of murderers and rapists, where his life is in danger at every moment.

The Iranian regime rebuked the president of the United States, and we’re now supposed to believe it’s acting in good faith?

President Obama is now trying to spin our stunning act of weakness as a breakthrough for peace. In fact, we were so weak that (according to the administration) that the State Department did not even raise Pastor Saeed’s during the nuclear negotiations.

Fox News asked an administration spokesman why Pastor Saeed was not part of the agreement, and the spokesman responded: “The P5+1 talks focused exclusively on nuclear issues.”

This is self-evidently false. Even the administration’s own fact sheet on the agreement describes how the U.S. will not only ease the sanctions directly related to Iran’s nuclear program but also facilitate additional “humanitarian transactions” that are not related to the sanctions regime.

Why couldn’t we demand that Iran “facilitate” its own “humanitarian transaction” by releasing an American pastor (and all other Americans held in Iran) back to his wife and two young children?
This is an unconscionable betrayal and leaves the American people with no choice but to believe that Iran is unchanged – still our hostile enemy, ready to kill or imprison our people at every opportunity.
Iran’s record of wrongdoing is long and sordid.

Beginning with the 1979-1981 hostage crisis, moving through repeated terrorist attacks – from the deadly Marine Barracks bombing in 1983, to the Kobar Towers bombing in 1996, to the direct intervention of Iran’s Quds force against American forces in Iraq – and including ongoing deadly support for terrorists fighting American forces in Afghanistan, Iran has proven by its deeds and words that it is America’s enemy.

If Iran had released Pastor Saeed we would have at least one concrete action to give Americans confidence that this deal was anything other than a disaster. Instead, we are left with nothing but “commitments” from a regime that has proven itself committed only to killing and imprisoning Americans.

To make matters even worse, we have squandered a position of strength.

Iran was suffering under sanctions that were finally beginning to truly bite -- wrecking its economy and causing deep discontent within Iraq. This was our opportunity to drive a hard bargain, to reach a deal that didn’t depend solely on Iranian “commitments.”

But we squandered that opportunity and left an American behind.

The Obama administration has betrayed Pastor Saeed.

Jay Sekulow is Chief Counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ). Follow him on Twitter@JaySekulow.

None Dare Call It Treason...

From Col. Allen West:

US rolls over on Iran nuke program

Written by Allen West on November 24, 2013

 

Nothing good happens late at night, and America just had a modern-day Neville Chamberlain moment. At 3 am in Geneva, Iran and 6 major powers agreed to “temporary relief” of sanctions in return for Iran stopping or scaling back parts of its nuclear program. President Obama has just empowered the number one state sponsor of terrorism, Iran, to pursue its nuclear goals and objectives.

This is not diplomacy, this is abject surrender and appeasement. Iran loses nothing, not a single facility, not any capability to enrich uranium, but we have conceded the one best non-military option: economic sanctions.

President Bill Clinton promised the same in regards to North Korea, and did that have any effect? Not to mention that North Korea has taken an 85-year-old Korean War veteran into detention, and of course we have done nothing.

Iran has held American Christian minister, Saeed Abedini, in prison for nearly a year, and President Obama said nothing about his fate, nor demanded his release. Israel and Saudi Arabia have lost all trust and confidence in America as a credible ally.

Secretary Kerry said the objective is “to require Iran to prove the peaceful nature of its nuclear program.” Yeah, right. We have fallen for the biggest deception ever. Perhaps these inept progressives should study the model for Islamic totalitarian negotiations, Muhammad’s Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. As well, they need to understand the principle of taquiyya – lying to “infidels” to promote the advancement of Islamic conquest and objectives.

The goal of the sanctions was to bring Iran to its knees and force them to surrender their march towards a nuclear weapon capability — not to get them to negotiate. The agreed-upon measures are in effect for six months, then what?

Right, another red line, that ends up not being a red line, and then we do nothing. Iran already has a capability and are close to having the requisite plutonium. Who in the international community will verify?

The Obama administration is in such a hurry to have SOMEthing going right, they’ve done something that will go very wrong.

We are promising relief along with the lifting of economic sanctions, but this should not have been promised until after complete verification of the terms of nuclear capacity reduction, at minimum over the period of a year.

We will never be able to gather the international support to restart the sanctions, not after open trade has begun. We have just guaranteed the continuation of the theocratic Islamic totalitarian regime. Jimmy Carter could not have botched this up any worse.

Now liberal socialists and the media are going to chime in saying Obama has achieved peace — so said Sir Neville Chamberlain upon return from his “negotiations” with Chancellor Adolf Hitler. Some people only understand strength and might. For them weakness is enticing. The better alternative? Crush the mad mullahs.

Read more at http://allenbwest.com/2013/11/us-rolls-iran-nuke-program/#fYh0TG8FAyiYKQIA.99

Important Advice

I believe this is important and wanted to share:

Advice for the Tea Party

Written by Allen West on November 18, 2013

 

Thomas Sowell is without a doubt one of the most highly respected voices advocating Constitutional conservative principles. One of his most recent articles is a sort of an “after action report” for the conservative grassroots movement known as the Tea Party. He clearly applauds the efforts to highlight the faults and failures of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) i.e. Obamacare, which truly seem prescient at this point.

But Sowell does admonish the Tea Party Congressional members and supporters to learn from one mistake: the tactical error of inviting the government shutdown.

I would also like to make some recommendations for the Tea Party. First, the Tea Party needs its leadership to coalesce in order to have a more unified strategic vision. Then the Party must have Red Cell unit to war-game the Left’s response and have a proactive communications program and marketing plan that highlights the fundamental principles of the TEA Party in contrast to the corruption of Washington DC. The goal of the Left, and indeed for some within the GOP, is to define the Tea Party as a gang of incompetent amateurs who do not have the capacity to govern or comprehend policy — this is rich, coming from certain current holders of leadership positions in DC.

The Tea Party has to focus on solutions and stressing what they are for, not droning on about what they are against. Be strategic and play chess, not reactively playing checkers.
Another point of order that Sowell makes is whether the Tea Party will stay focused on its original goals or let itself become preoccupied with fighting other Republicans. I like the military metaphor: stay away from the circular firing squad.

There are many who are considering running primary contests against each other within the GOP. Mind you, the mainstream media will never highlight when the Far Left targets and takes out conservative Blue Dog Democrats — former Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) comes to mind. Sowell uses the example of the 1860 presidential election where abolitionists ran a single-issue candidate who almost tipped the election to pro-slavery candidates. Lincoln won that election with just 40 percent of the popular vote.

Sowell counsels, “Whatever your principles, you have to weigh the human consequences from whatever you do in the name of those principles.”

If America is to survive the disastrous presidency of Barack Obama and the onslaught of progressive socialism, it will require a unified loyal opposition — not a fragmented internal food fight. The Republican party cannot win by being a lesser version of liberals, there has to be a clear delineation in principles.

Those principles are rooted in our Constitution and promote the individual, not the collective. They encourage economic growth and opportunity, not dependence and welfare nanny-state expansion. Our principles inspire entrepreneurship and the free market, not government sponsored crony capitalism. We advocate equality of opportunity, not equality of outcomes by way of social egalitarianism. We support traditional values, which strengthen our society, not abandon our faith heritage and redefine foundational values. And finally, we defend our nation’s honor and safety by peace through strength, not acquiescence and weakness by leading from behind.

The GOP was established to secure the promise of Jefferson: individual liberty and freedom for all. Then, it was against the physical chains of slavery, today it is against the metaphysical chains of economic servitude.

Read more at http://allenbwest.com/2013/11/advice-tea-party/#V0DfexOIMTfEis0X.99

Sharing!

Doing my part:

A Sane Society

Erick Stakelbeck is one of the premier experts on terrorism.  I highly recommend his book, The Terrorist Next Door, as well as his newest book, The Brotherhood.

The quote below is far from the essence of his work. In a chapter about the alarming number of mosques that are being built without question across our nation, Stakelbeck gives way to some frustration. It is by no means the most important message of his book. I am simply feeling frustrated, today, too; so I decided to share what I believe to be a dangerous truth.

I will say, there are very few people that I admire more than Erick Stakelbeck. We would be wise to pay attention.

From Erick Stakelbeck's new book, The Brotherhood, page 225:

"In a sane society, an ongoing, existential struggle against Islamists - of both the violent and stealth variety - would mean fewer mosques, not more.  But the West, including the United States, isn't too concerned with self or cultural preservation these days.  Besides, the new iPhone is out and Honey Boo Boo is on the tube - so who has time to worry about depressing stuff like jihad and sharia? Better to bury our heads in the latest gadgets, watch the Kardashians, and have another brew.  It'll all work out in the end: after all, in Barack we trust, and he shall protect and provide."

One Line Sound Bites - PM B. Netanyahu

Truth is: 

                                                                    Standing strong...

WATCH This!

Erick Stakelbeck's new show, The Watchman:

Pants on Fire!

From Jay Sekulow at American Center for Law  and Justice: ~~~~~~~~~

President Obama made a promise to the American people: "If you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your health care plan. Period."

He knowingly broke that promise.

Today, millions of Americans are losing their plans. In fact, many more Americans have lost their health insurance than are enrolling under ObamaCare.

The Obama Administration knew for the past three years that this was going to happen.

How did they know? Federal regulations made the "grandfather" clause that would allow Americans to keep their insurance meaningless.

The Obama Administration knew Americans would lose insurance at historic rates. Yet they did nothing. Worse, they misled the American people with a false assurance that they would be able to keep their health plan.

Today, the person most responsible for overseeing ObamaCare, HHS Secretary Sebelius, is testifying before Congress because you spoke out. Now it's time to demand an end to the deception.

Join over 45,000 Americans in standing with the ACLJ and our new legal strategy to defeat ObamaCare.

Sign the petition to defeat ObamaCare at ICantEnroll.com.

Jay Sekulow
ACLJ Chief Counsel

One Line Sound Bites - Alan West

The problem with taking God out of our government and instead, believing our rights come from the government:

"The problem is, progressive socialists believe they are the grantors, and therefore takers, of individual rights." 
     ~ Col. Alan West

Read more at http://allenbwest.com/2013/10/latest-senate-hearing-demonstrates-democrat-disconnect/#za1hjD48uDM2Vqg4.99

One Line Sound Bites - Ann Coulter

"Republicans, stop trying to get purity in the party!  Let's take the Senate, first!"
                 ~Ann Coulter

Hal Lindsey Report for October 25, 2013

The incident mentioned below has been reported not only by Hal Lindsey, but others as well. Further, this isn't an isolated incident regarding religious discrimination in our military. Below Hal Lindsey's report is a link I have placed from the American Center of Law and Justice (ACLJ), in order for us to take action.

 

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October 25th, 2013

This week on 'The Hal Lindsey Report'
 

This week, I'll continue my discussion of "The Man God Became."

As I mentioned in this space last week, as we see the demonic spirit of "political correctness" take firmer hold on all areas of our society, I'm convinced that the decision by true Christians to stand up for Jesus on certain issues and claims will spark an onslaught of derision and discrimination against us. I think those defining issues will include abortion, same sex marriage, parental rights, and the role of God in our national life.

Already, our military, our schools, our courts, our media, and our governments are in a mad dash to eliminate any vestige of religious freedom. Just this week, a story broke about a pre-deployment briefing at Fort Hood, Texas. Todd Starnes at FoxNews.com is reporting that on October 17, U.S. Army soldiers were told that "evangelical Christians and members of the Tea Party were a threat to the nation and that any soldier donating to those groups would be subjected to punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice."

Though a Pentagon spokesman denies this incident happened, it has been corroborated by other witnesses.

I believe it will ultimately come down to the declaration by Jesus Christ that He alone is the way to heaven. Jesus Himself said that because the world hated Him, it will hate us. He cautioned that true, and faithful, believers will be persecuted "for My name's sake." (John 15:21)

It now appears that the men and women of our armed forces -- the very ones who have volunteered their lives to defend our Constitution and our nation -- may be among the first who will have to decide whether to deny Christ or face criminal prosecution.

Folks, as a former member of our nation's armed services, the Coast Guard, I am incredulous as I write these words. President Dwight Eisenhower once admonished the nation that "there are no atheists in foxholes." If he were alive today, I wonder how that great soldier would respond to the prospect that soon there may be no Christians in foxholes!

Last week, I told you that if we are to remain strong in the coming days, months, and years, we must be planted on a firm foundation. To be able to unflinchingly press the claims of Christ in this hostile world, we must first understand the man who made those claims.

On the last Report, we looked at some of the reasons "Why God Had to Become a Man." This week, I'll continue my examination of "The Man God Became."

I'll share with you seven reasons why God had to become a man. I'll tell you about the claims that Jesus made. Claims that leave no wiggle room for doubt. Either He is the Messiah -- or He is a lunatic. As C.S. Lewis observed, "...let us not come up with that patronizing nonsense about His being just a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."

You'll learn about His two distinct natures that are inseparably united -- total deity and true humanity. These two natures are united in one person, without confusion or mixture of attributes and function. The Lord Jesus is equal to God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, yet different in that He is also a true man. As we will see, this is the reason why He, and He alone, can be the Mediator between God and Man.

Without Jesus, there could be no reconciliation between God and man. Without Jesus, there would be no redemption for us.

As I said previously, the majesty, the beauty, and the sheer complexity of the concept of the God-Man Jesus Christ is almost overwhelming. But it was all necessary to redeem the creation lost to sin at the fall of Adam. Thank God that He loved us so much He provided a "second Adam" to unselfishly take our place and become our "kinsman redeemer."

Don't miss this week's Report on TBN, Daystar, CPM Network, The Word Network, various local stations, www.hallindsey.com or www.hischannel.com. Please check your local  listings.                                       
God Bless,

Hal Lindsey  

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From ACLJ:

There are ominous signs the U.S. military is turning its back on religious freedom.

On April 23, Pentagon leaders met with Mikey Weinstein, an anti-Christian extremist who decries “fundamentalist Christian monsters” and calls Christians “pitiable unconstitutional carpetbaggers.” He compares Christians to racists from the civil rights era.

If he said these things about Muslims, he’d never be permitted in the Pentagon; but now military leaders are actually consulting with him – relying on his input – as they create new policies that may roll back religious liberty – especially for Christians. This must stop:

Petition to Protect Religious Freedom in the Military

To President Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel:

Cut ties with anti-Christian extremists who seek to redefine tolerance to include every religion but Christianity. Protect the constitutional rights of all soldiers, including Christian soldiers. Anti-Christian extremism has no place in the military.

A Tea Party Hero

An article well worth reading from an American hero:

Slow Assault On Our Faith Heritage

Written by Allen West on October 19, 2013

        

I recently visited the Five Star Veterans Center in Jacksonville, Florida on behalf of the Allen West Foundation where we had a nice gathering of Americans and the theme of “The American Dream.”
As I drove home after the event heading to South Florida, ‘round about Cocoa Beach I gazed over in amazement at a disturbing electronic billboard sign. I thought perhaps my eyes were just tired. However, as we got further down the road near Vero Beach, I saw the sign again: “Find Jesus in the Quran” with some quranic verse number and the website, [...]

Hours before, I had spoken about the American dream and Jefferson’s immortal words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” Those words embody the American Dream: that our individual rights emanate from God, our Creator, not from man or government. It is that deep Judeo-Christian faith that enabled 56 men to embark upon the quest of creating a nation where the individual reigned preeminent.

So how was it that I gazed upon two electronic billboards promoting an ideology that translates into the word, “surrender?”

America is facing its most threatening challenge, a dangerous triumvirate of progressive socialism, secular humanism, and Islamic totalitarianism.

Progressive socialism rooted in the precepts of Karl Marx, who once stated, “religion is the opiate of the masses,” seeks to erode any faith or belief system in God and religion. Marx and progressive socialism is counter to our first amendment rights of free exercise of religion and our fundamental Judeo-Christian faith heritage. You might recall, it was at last years’ Democrat National convention where they had to conduct a vote to reinsert God into their platform. We all remember the disturbing boos and resounding NAY votes rising from the convention floor. But if we take God out of America, then we change the fundamental premise of the American dream. We then replace God with government, and then who is the giver of our unalienable rights?

And if we replace God, then what do we become as a nation?

We will become a nation of secular humanists, set adrift with no foundation, no faith, clinging to a belief that government can provide our needs. We then live in a nation with no moral compass, no standards, and a culture based upon self-gratification and indulgence. We will become a nation where those who openly profess their faith will be chastised, attacked, and demonized.

We will no longer be “one Nation under God” but rather one nation gone under, as Ronald Reagan so aptly stated.

And when we are one nation gone under, with no fundamental faith, we are primed for the infiltration, the stealth jihad that undermines any remaining concept of faith, in other words, Islamic totalitarianism. This is exactly what was described and planned in the 1991 Strategic Plan and Explanatory Memorandum of the Muslim Brotherhood discovered during an FBI raid in northern Virginia.

The American dream is in our Declaration of Independence. Our Judeo-Christian faith heritage enables us to be a unique nation and defines our exceptionalism. We carry our faith within each of us, and we refuse to convert, submit, or be conquered by an ideology that is anathema to who we are, freedom loving Americans.

In the end, progressive socialism, secular humanism, and Islamic totalitarianism will be tossed upon the ash heap with fascism, imperialism, and communism because in America, those dawgs don’t hunt.

Read more articles at http://allenbwest.com.

Inside a Heart

Former Vice-President, Dick Cheney, was on Sean Hannity's FOX televison program last night. It was an awesome interview.  He was there mostly to promote his new book, Heart, which tells the story of his many years suffering with heart disease. What a miracle man!  Such an amazing story!

But along with the story of his health, Hannity also asked him some political questions, and we were able to get a glimpse inside the true "heart" of the man.

I couldn't help but feel proud.  This man who in some circles would be considered an establishment RINO, had lots to say...If one didn't know his name, see his face, or recognize his voice, but rather only listened to what he had to say, one wouldn't be able to label him "establishment RINO".  His politics haven't changed, he is still the same man with the same values, ideals and world view that he has always had. Maybe we should begin to listen to the man, or woman, (regardless of who it is) instead of listening to the liberal media, or the rants of those that simply regurgitate what they have heard  somewhere.

When someone is wrong, there is an appropriate means to correct them. But when they are right, they should have our ear, as well as our support. Mr. Cheney's service to our nation is probably mostly over, but he has a lot of life and political experience from which we can gather garnets of truth. I think he's right on! We would do well to listen to his words, as well as his passion.


http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/hannity/2013/10/22/exclusive-dick-cheney-opens-about-heart-disease-battle-new-book

Wreckless In-Fighting!

I am so frustrated with all the lies and deception going on in our nation. We have a President that doesn’t think twice about spewing things that are not true. He certainly seems to believe what the Nazi’s attempted to perfect when Hitler said:  “If you tell a lie long enough, it will become the truth.”

Now, we know that statement isn’t a true fact - truth doesn’t change - but this strategy is definitely effective in convincing a lot of people to go along with a particular agenda. Obama seems to be doing a darn good job of perfecting this strategy. Our nation is changing; people are buying the lie.

Right now, Democrats are blaming the Republicans and Republicans blame the Democrats for the recent government shut down.  No surprise there; disagreement between the parties is the way it has always been, though the rhetoric sure seems to be much more inflammatory and vicious than I ever remember seeing.

The thing is - there is a solid truth with no shades of gray regarding who is responsible for this government shutdown.  But I am not going to try to make that argument – at least in this post.  Democrats will always believe what they believe and Republicans will believe what they believe. The divide between the two parties is huge; we would be wise to realize that.

What I want to address in this post is the constant bickering we are seeing among Republicans. My goodness, they are all acting like children, and they can’t seem to see the harm they are doing to the party.  One would think after loosing a Presidential election twice to the Democrats due to what was mostly lack of unity in the Republican Party, we would learn.

Recently, I saw a Tea Party leader on a Fox television program say that “Sarah Palin hates the Tea Party.”  What????  And truthfully, though I love Governor Palin, she won’t quit bashing Karl Rove. So what if he said something about her in his book that she didn’t like. Get over it, already! She is usually pretty good at letting things like that slide off her back. I’m not sure why she can’t do it in this case. But it simply does no good to continue this battle! The name calling going on - such as “RINO’s” and “Tea Baggers”, and who knows what other names flying around between the factions - is entirely out of control. And it all, only plays into the Democrats’ hand!

Passion is wonderful. Believing in something and standing strong for it is admirable.  We must have convictions. But to attack those of your own party borders on…dare I say, insanity!

Just before the shut down, I saw some tea party groups and supporters of that recent movement running down the government, and crying for their members “To vote them all out!” meaning all members of Congress.  So many were focusing on ineffective tangents bashing the government, when what they should have been doing is instructing their members to get on the phone and call their Senators, call their Congressmen; write letters.  Now granted, many good organizations are trying to encourage others to do just that, and some of these groups are even doing the leg work for citizens; as example, Patriot Voices, or Secure America Now. I have posted many such efforts on this blog.  But there are also groups that are nothing more than clanging symbols ringing a wrong and ineffective message. “Vote ‘em all out!” they cry. Or, “They’re all the same!” Now where is the effectiveness in that!  We can’t just throw the baby out with the bath water, to use the old cliché.  Sorry, but it fits.

My dad taught me a long time ago, when I was a kid growing up in the sixties, that to run down one’s government is to invite defeat. I mean think about it; it’s common sense really. If no one has trust in the government, how can it possibly be effective? What better way to keep people from being active in their government than to convince them it doesn’t do any good?  Well that is exactly what we see happening, today.  It began during the 1960’s with protests from the likes of Timothy Leary, Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dorhn and we are seeing the results of their intentional mission, today.

To continue to bash the government is insanity.  We should be using our government; we should be working within its principals. That’s how one changes things! We have the best system in the world. The only thing that happens by bashing our system is to aid those that seek to destroy it.  Why can’t people get that??

We are scared of the police; we are scared of being watched; scared of this and that and the other thing.  Now, I am not saying we shouldn’t be aware of all that can take place in a nation with a potential of becoming a police state.  But one shouldn't work out of fear.  We shouldn’t get so focused on the things we fear, that we ignore that which we still have the means to change.  People have time to pack a “bug-out bag”, but they don’t have time to call a Congressman. They hide, instead of vote.  They only complain, rather than sign a petition. They would rather see an enemy in our government, while they ignore the enemy that is infiltrating our land….and it ain’t first and foremost, our government! Radical Islam is sneaking its way into our lives, while we focus on who called who what name this week!

We should absolutely criticize and work to change the mistakes, or intentional wrong-doing in a particular administration, but we should never criticize our government, rendering it ineffective because people soon believe anything they may attempt does no good. Bashing our government, the system our Founders fought and died for which was, in fact, given to us by God, does no good!  It only aids those that hate us. We need to utilize what our Founders orchestrated for us when they put in place our Constitution.

Mike Huckabee had an excellent monologue on his show this week.  It isn’t going to be popular by any means, and I may not agree with it in its entirety.  But there is a whole lot of truth in it, if we get off our "high horse" long enough to pay attention and understand it.

I have wanted to write about this for sometime, but I failed to find the right words. The Governor has done that with his televison show monologue this week. The passion and action is admirable with the “new recruits” in Washington, but it must be tempered with foresight and wisdom that only comes with experience. Governor Huckabee has offered some of that.

When the two factions learn to work together, taking the best thoughts and tactics from both, we will finally get somewhere because of the unity working together ensures. As he tells us, it isn’t going to happen overnight due to the overwhelming digression we have seen. The young bucks with such exuberant passion would do well to understand solutions don't come overnight; they aren't going to get perfection all at once.  Further, maybe they should stop to think that quite possibly there is something worth holding on to in regards to what some of the old timers might have to offer. Those "old-timers" that have been there awhile would be wise to grab hold of some of that passion we are seeing in the new recruits, and not allow themselves to become stale or give-in where there is no room to give. Above all, the in-party attacks has got to stop!

We would do well to remember the words of President, George Washington, when he said: "We are not to expect perfection in this world." It just isn't going to happen this side of Heaven. But it is certainly something for which we should strive. As our Founders worked together to bring about a system of government, they certainly didn't all agree, all the time. But a wonderful, exceptional document came through diligence to the task, persistance and strife. Those men tried there best to reach perfection, but it was James Madison that finally said in regard to the "Constitution" as opposed to the original "Articles of Confederation": "It is not necessary that the former should be perfect; it is sufficient that the latter is more imperfect."
 

Let’s take this one step at a time. We didn’t lose it all overnight and we are not going to get it back overnight.

Below is Governor Huckabee’s monologue:

Oct 20 2013

My Show Opening Monologue

Mike Huckabee

Did the Republicans make a heroic stand as in the Alamo, or a poorly planned and executed assault like Little Big Horn, which was led by a general who failed to calculate the risks, who ignored the scouting reports of the strength of the opposition, and who made assumptions of the battle that proved to not be true. In the Alamo, men fought to the death to protect what was theirs. In Little Big Horn, and last week in Washington, Republicans launched a fight that wasn’t the plan of the battle-tested generals, but rather the plan of the newest recruits. Blame the press, blame the establishment, blame the liberals, blame one’s own team-- was the analysis of those who thought it wise to charge up the hill for a great cause but without following the counsel of Jesus who admonished to “count the cost” before starting the war. But liberalism among Republicans isn’t destroying the Republican party. Compared to the most conservative Democrats, there are no Republican Congressional liberals. Legalism—not liberalism is dividing the GOP. I’ve seen what legalism does to the church. Legalism is focusing more on HOW one expresses belief to WHAT one believes. The liberal might abandon the Biblical truth, but the legalist abandons Biblical love. Legalists make the method equal to the message. The facility of the church becomes a focus equal to the fellowship of the church. Legalists fight for an artificial purity that they will claim is based upon the “truth,” but for them truth is the WAY they “do church” more than the spirit with which they do it. It’s an arrogant and prideful self righteousness that focuses on self instead of a humble and broken righteousness that focuses on Christ. Legalism fights over the color of choir robes, the tempo of the hymns, and the architecture of the church building. For the Pharisees, purity of faith is based on external behavior. What one DOES becomes more important than what one IS. Some people eat their soup louder than others, but it doesn’t mean the soup tastes better. Political legalism in the Republican party is declaring that the purity of conservatism is based on following a particular personality or taking a very specific tactical pathway. The Republicans’ greatest threat is not from liberals--it’s from legalists in its ranks who would rather raise and spend vast money to defeat another Republican in a primary than to defeat a Democrat. The arrogant and self-righteous indignation of those who elevate themselves to be superior in conservatism because they can cause a train wreck. We should ask if the purpose is to derail the train, or to turn it around? Derailing the train is easy. Turning one around takes time, patience, perseverance, and planning. My political heroes are those like William Wilberforce who spent a lifetime fighting slavery, and Dr. Martin Luther King who died fighting injustice and racism. They understood that politics and change are the result of a process, not just a singular event. They were strong and unyielding in their convictions, but humble, patient and forgiving. They never got all they wanted, but they got more than nothing. If Republicans really want to defeat the threat of liberalism and socialism, they need to learn that their friends aren’t their enemies.

Permalink: http://www.mikehuckabee.com/2013/10/my-show-opening-monologue

 

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"But liberalism among Republicans isn’t destroying the Republican party. Compared to the most conservative Democrats, there are no Republican Congressional liberals." 

~Gov. Mike Huckabee