Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Sunday Sermonette

They Shall Never Perish
July 26, 2009

"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." (John 10:28-29)

What rich blessings Christ promises to those who "hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (v. 27). To think that the omnipotent Creator knows us, and gives us eternal life! He is certainly powerful enough to see that this life is in no danger, either from our own weaknesses ("they shall never perish") or from the enemy without ("pluck them out"). Temporary eternal life simply cannot be. The eternal life which He gives lasts for eternity.

Actually, the promise "they shall never perish" is very strong in the original Greek. A repeating negative precedes the word "perish," and the specific form of the word "never" literally includes "eternally," or "forever." A more complete rendering would then be, "they shall not, in no wise perish, no, not for eternity."

The word "man" is not in the original, and the word "any" is more properly translated "any one" or "any being." This includes Satan--no match for the Savior. He is powerless to pluck or snatch us from either the Father's or the Son's hands. How could we be any more secure?

Note that the Father gave us to His beloved Son as gifts of His love. In turn, Christ values these precious gifts so much that He holds us securely in His hand, so tightly that no created being can snatch us away. The Father even assists in providing us this security, for we are also in the "Father's hand," and "I and my Father are one" (v. 30).

When we consider the size and strength of the Creator's hand, we can understand why no one, not even Satan, can snatch us out of its protective care.

h/t: J. D. Morris, Institute for Creation Research

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln

You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by encouraging class hatred. You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn. You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independance. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.

h/t: Abraham Lincoln


Since Pres. Obama claims to be a student of Abraham Lincoln, he fails the test on this one, by our most beloved president Lincoln.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Well, They've gone and Done It!

Sunday Sermonette

Problems, Problems, Problems
July 19, 2009

"And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest." (Psalm 55:6)

The 55th Psalm is a psalm of "complaint" (v. 2) by David, and gives an insight into his thought process as he tried to deal with the great problems and burdens that were overwhelming him. His first instinct was to run away from them, flying like a dove far off into the wilderness.

The prophet Jonah (whose name means "dove") tried that strategy years later, only to encounter even worse problems (Jonah 1:3, 15). One does not solve problems by fleeing from them.

Then, David decided to berate those who were causing him trouble and to complain about them to the Lord. "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice" (Psalm 55:17). The words "pray, and cry aloud" here actually mean "complain and mourn." "Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues" (v. 9). "Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell" (v. 15). His burdens were all the heavier because those whom he had trusted as friends and colleagues were now using deceit and guile against him (vv. 11-14), and the injustice of it all was almost more than he could endure. But complaints and imprecations were also unsatisfying: "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord" (Romans 12:19).

Finally, the Lord gave him an answer, and David found the rest for which he had been so fretfully searching. Here it is: "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved" (Psalm 55:22). The last phrase of the psalm is "but I will trust in thee" (v. 23).

The way to deal with burdens and problems is not to flee from them or to fret about them, but to turn them over to the Lord: "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you" (1 Peter 5:7). HMM

h/t: Henry M. Morris, Institute for Creation Research

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Blasting the Socialist Agenda

My English paper blasting the socialist agenda of my school

This essay had some good points but I am seeing a theme, a pattern here at Green River Community College. My husband had to endure a film called “Affluenza” which tried to relate that capitalism is a baaaaaad thing and we ought to be ashamed of ourselves in America for having such a high standard of living. Now I read this essay which tries to take a “light hearted” look at consumerism. I do not understand why it seems that this college is so anxious to push socialism and communism as a viable economic system.

While it is true that our desire for more things has probably increased since World War II, I don’t see it as completely bad. Our economy is based on supply and demand, on capitalism and everyone in this country has an equal opportunity to participate in it – that does not mean that there will be equal results. One problem with business in America is that we do not teach it in most of our schools. The average high school student has no idea about how to start a business and run it. The average college student doesn’t fare much better. Is it any wonder that 70% of businesses go belly up within 10 years? We don’t teach our own economic system to our kids! We need to teach it to our kids so they will not be relegated to only working for someone else and so they can recognize when academialand attacks it with their socialist agenda.

Secondly, why is it portrayed as bad that the consumerism is creating a demand for jobs? I truly do not understand this at all. People need to work and earn money. I get really irritated with people who make “documentaries” in a Michael Moore fashion that lead the audience to assume that what they are being shown is true and oh so bad. For instance, when salaries are talked about in these mockumentaries, do we take into account the local economy? How about the cost of living? Usually not. Usually, we hear things like, “These poor people only make 10 cents a day”… Well, what does 10 cents translate to in their currency? What is their cost of living? We hear 10 cents and equate it to how we would live on 10 cents in our economy and immediately think, “Oh those poor people that we are exploiting for our pleasure.” Let’s get all the information before we start making those judgments.

I love listening to idiots who blast business as "BAD"... or rich people as "BAD"... uh, has a poor person ever given you a job??? My bet is no! It is a very simple formula: Businesses need to make a profit to stay in business and feed their families, they HIRE people to help them do that, they SELL things to people to make that profit, they PAY taxes and wages so that others can feed their families. It’s not rocket science!!! If the businesses don't sell their products or get taxed to death, they make no money to pay workers, workers lose their jobs, no one is paying taxes which fund other programs... it's just a big mess.

I agree that the author has some valid points, such as "Human beings love things," of course we do, that is why during the reign of the USSR, we Sailors could sell our Levis to them for about $500 a pair. However, the author’s not so subtle communistic themes were not lost on me. (Marx used is "insight"(???) to motivate the “HEROIC" (???) struggle against capitalism?? Are you kidding me??) Sorry but, whether you like it or not, COMMUNISM DOES NOT WORK!!! Just look at the former USSR, Cuba and what is happening in China now. The author can pooh-pooh all the evil Americans and their ability to buy stuff, but as history shows, the ability to buy things that we choose to buy is one aspect of a free and democratic society. When we all have to line up to be issued cheese or toilet paper (like they used to in the USSR), when we all have our professions chosen for us, when we have absolutely NO chance of making a better life for ourselves, we lose our ambition and our incentive to work and work hard/smart. And when that happens, people start to rise up as they did in Poland, East Germany, the various satellite countries of the USSR and eventually Russia itself. Cuba is even allowing some free enterprise and Chinese officials are already planning for their own security by siphoning off money into Swiss bank accounts for WHEN communism fails, not if it fails, when it fails.

I do think that a combination of bad legislation and out of control consumerism has led to our current economic situation. In 2004 when a certain party was trying to do something about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac being out of control, Barnie Frank and his buddies are on video saying, “There is nothing wrong with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.” Between people like the Sandlers, who sold bad mortgages to Wachovia and made a ton of money (legally-yes, ethically-hell no) and George Soros doing his bit to devalue the dollar, between the 1977 Community Reinvestment Act(CRA) signed by Jimmy Carter and the 1999 CRA section 6 signed into law by Bill Clinton which MADE banks meet quotas for high risk loans for mortgages to satisfy Democrats who asserted that everyone deserves a home, the seeds for this economic meltdown were sown by the Carter Administration, not the Reagan Administration as some would like to think. The quotas for the high risk loans, required by the Democrats, spawned the banks to do a little “creative financing” and so the Sub-prime adjustable rate mortgage was born. Predatory lending practices by banks trying to meet the CRA quota led to some sheeple just signing on the dotted line, not understanding what that ARM meant! Why in the world would ANYONE get a mortgage, that they can barely make now, that will readjust to a higher payment in 5 years???

I have also noticed a huge increase in the popularity of luxury items. I think this has been spurred on by wonderful shows like, “My Super Sweet 16” and the bombardment of images of the wretched lifestyles of the rich and morally corrupt famous for the last few years, I have noticed that people want to buy all this crap that "Paris" or some other no-talent famous nobody has, even if they don't have the money! Now every teenager and middle aged woman wants to be carrying $1500 Prada bags and two pair of $250 Dolce & Gabana sunglasses so they can be the star in their own reality show – or at least their fantasy of it. They get their $200 hair cuts at the trendy salon while their husband is out breaking his back working and the kids are outgrowing their clothes… Grandma and Grandpa were RIGHT! Save your money for the things you want and try not to get into debt. Oh but what do they know, they are old fashioned! Well, see where this has led us?

So here is a suggestion, how about we use the brain that God gave us to discern between our needs and wants... NOBODY NEEDS a pair of $250 Dolce and Gabana sunglasses –let alone two! or a $1500 Prada bag... If you have that kind of money and you WANT it, go ahead but for the rest of us, we need to use wisdom. Say "no" to your kids once in awhile - it won't kill them! Honest! Shoot – say no to yourself once in awhile! Discuss with your kids how empty a person is inside who just goes on mindless shopping sprees. Watch who they hang out with and what they watch on TV. Encourage them, and yourself, to develop character, integrity and creativity and they won't need to fill their lives with junk.

That is what needs to be criticized not our economic system.

h/t: Kerry Hooks

American Hero

A real American hero has died. After a long illness, WWII veteran Darrell “Shifty” Powers passed away 17 JUNE 2009.

You may remember “Shifty” from the portrayal of his adventures with Easy Company 2-506 PIR in the HBO series, “Band of Brothers”.

This is from the site BLACKFIVE.

This email has gone viral about Shifty:

We’re hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services.

I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell “Shifty” Powers.

Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Infantry. If you’ve seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the History Channel, you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10 episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them.

I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn’t know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having trouble reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was at the right gate, and noticed the “Screaming Eagle”, the symbol of the 101st Airborne, on his hat.

Making conversation, I asked him if he’d been in the 101st Airborne or if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the 101st. I thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served, and how many jumps he made.

Quietly and humbly, he said “Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so, and was in until sometime in 1945 . . . ” at which point my heart skipped.

At that point, again, very humbly, he said “I made the 5 training jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy . . . . do you know where Normandy is?” At this point my heart stopped.

I told him yes, I know exactly where Normandy was, and I know what D-Day was. At that point he said “I also made a second jump into Holland, into Arnhem.” I was standing with a genuine war hero . . . . and then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of D-Day.

I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France, and he said “Yes. And it’s real sad because these days so few of the guys are left, and those that are, lots of them can’t make the trip.” My heart was in my throat and I didn’t know what to say.

I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in Coach, while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came forward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have it, that I’d take his in coach.

He said “No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are still some who remember what we did and still care is enough to make an old man very happy.” His eyes were filling up as he said it. And mine are brimming up now as I write this.

Shifty died on June 17 after fighting cancer.

There was no parade.

No big event in Staples Center.

No wall to wall back to back 24×7 news coverage.

No weeping fans on television.

And that’s not right.

Let’s give Shifty his own Memorial Service, online, in our own quiet way. Please forward this email to everyone you know. Especially to the veterans.

Rest in peace, Shifty.

“A nation without heroes is nothing.” – Roberto Clemente
Rest in Peace, Shifty you’ve earned it. If you stop by Fiddler’s Green I’m sure the Cav Troops there will hoist a cup or two with you.

AIRBORNE!

h/t: Outlaw13 on threedonia.com

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

The Constitution

The Federalist states on pages 295 & 296, Section 44, #2, written by Madison:

“This Constitution and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land, and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any thing in the constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.

The indiscreet zeal of the adversaries to the Constitution has betrayed them into an attack on this part of it also, without which it would have been evidently and radically defective. To be fully sensible of this, we need only suppose for a moment that the supremacy of the State constitutions had been left complete by a saving clause in their favor.

In the first place, as these constitutions invest the State legislatures with absolute sovereignty, in all cases not excepted by the existing articles of Confederation, all the authorities contained in the proposed Constitution, so far as they exceed those enumerated in the Confederation, would have been annulled, and the new Congress would have been reduced to the same impotent condition with their predecessors.

In the next place, as the constitutions of some of the States do not even expressly and fully recognize the existing powers of the Confederacy, an express saving of the supremacy of the former would, in such States, have brought into question every power contained in the proposed Constitution.

In the third place, as the constitutions of the States differ much from each other, it might happen that a treaty or national law, of great and equal importance to the States, would interfere with some and not with other constitutions, and would consequently be valid in some of the states, at the same time that it would have no effect in others.

In fine, the world would have seen, for the first time, a system of government founded on an inversion of the fundamental principles of all government; it would have seen the authority of the whole society everywhere subordinate to the authority of the parts; it would have seen a monster, in which the head was under the direction of the members.”

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Sunday Sermonette-The Called

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

This great promise has been an immeasurable source of strength and comfort to Christians through the ages, especially during times of trial. It is specifically directed, however, only to those who are "the called."

Recognition of those who are "the called" is best achieved through their synonymous description as "them that love God." There are also numerous other Scriptures that further describe them. There are two Greek words (each occurring 11 times) which specifically refer to those who are members of this select group: One of these words is kletos ("called"); the other is klesis ("calling"). Another very important term is ekklesia, meaning "called out," which occurs 115 times and is almost always translated "church." That is, a true church is composed of people who have been specially called by God out of the world system, then joined together in a local church to fulfill the purposes of their divine calling.

"Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called" (1 Corinthians 1:26). No I.Q. test, or physical exam, or social standing is used as a criterion; neither are any human achievements. "|God| hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began" (2 Timothy 1:9).

God’s call was strictly by grace, according to His own eternal purpose! The means by which God calls is the gospel: "Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 2:14). No wonder then that we can know that all things work together for good on behalf of those whom God has called, and who therefore love God!

h/t: Henry M. Morris, Institute for Creation Research

Friday, July 10, 2009

Logic 101

An interesting letter in the Australian Shooter Magazine this week, which I quote:

"If you consider that there has been an average of 160,000 troops in the Iraq theater of operations during the past 22 months, and a total of 2112 deaths, that gives a firearm death rate
of 60 per 100,000 soldiers.

"The firearm death rate in Washington , DC is 80.6 per 100,000 for the same period.

That means you are about 25 per cent more likely to be shot and killed in the US capital, which has some of the strictest gun
control laws in the US , than you are in Iraq .

" Conclusion: The US should pull out of Washington ."

h/t Jason Tiemeier

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

No Vision

"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." (Proverbs 29:18)

The "vision" mentioned in this familiar verse is more than just a noble goal; it means a literal revelation from God to His people. It was first used in the sad testimony of 1 Samuel 3:1: "And the word of the LORD was precious |that is, 'rare and costly'| in those days; there was no open vision." This was just before the capture of the Ark by the Philistines and the death of the inept prophet Eli.

The word used for "perish" here means "exposed and helpless," and the glory soon departed from Israel once they had forsaken God's leadership (1 Samuel 4:21). Our own nation was also founded on God's written Word (the modern equivalent of the divine "vision"), but the Word has now been almost forgotten, at least in our schools and other public institutions, as well as in the daily lives of most of our people. Consequently, "the people" are indeed largely exposed and helpless before the attacks of the wicked one. The terrible warning of Psalm 9:17 hangs over our nation: "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."

There is an encouraging exhortation to the believer, however, even if he lives in an apostate nation: "He that keepeth the law, happy is he." To keep the law means not merely to obey God's commands, but more precisely, to guard His Word! Even if all around us are neglecting, or even ridiculing and seeking to destroy the Scriptures, we must defend and obey and proclaim their eternal truth and authority. Even if this should entail opposition and persecution, God assures us that here is the way of blessing and true happiness. "Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book" (Revelation 22:7). The people will perish who lose God's Word, but "happy is that people, whose God is the LORD" (Psalm 144:15).

h/t Dr. Henry M. Morris-Institute For Creation Research

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

60 Seat Senate "Bullet-Proof" Majority




I apologize for the sizing. This was the smallest it could be sized to come near to fitting.

Blatantly stolen from www.threedonia.com

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Sunday Sermonette II

Psalms 33: 18-22 NASB

Behold the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope for His lovingkindness,
To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.
For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name.
Let Thy lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us,
According as we have hoped in Thee.

Sunday Sermonette-How to Become Great

"And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." (Matthew 23:12)

The principle expressed here by our Lord Jesus is found frequently in the Scriptures and thus must be of key importance. The greatest example of humility was set by the Lord Himself.

"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).

"He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name" (Philippians 2:8-9).

The words of our text verse above were actually spoken both to and about a group of proud scribes and Pharisees, very religious and very proud of it. But as Jesus said to them, "ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity" (Matthew 23:28).

Yet His closest disciples needed also a similar rebuke when they fell to arguing about which of them was the most important. "Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: . . . whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant" (Matthew 20:25-27).

Remember that even Paul could testify that he was "serving the LORD with all humility of mind" (Acts 20:19). Finally, Peter's admonition is most fitting: "Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5:5-6).

h/t: Henry M. Morris, Institute for Creation research

Saturday, July 4, 2009

July 4th, 2009

“(Say) Keep Your Hands to Yourself”

I used to have change in my pockets till this ding-a-ling-a-ling
Claimed he could spend it better, thought he’d make himself king
But each time he talks, I hear the same BS
Always somebody else’s problem, ’steada cleanin’ his own mess
My fellow Americans, this ain’t how you share the wealth
Don’t fall for his lies, say, “Keep your hands to yourself!”

Obama-bama-bama, why you gotta treat us this way
Keep pilin’ up debts that our grandkids’ll have to pay
Didn’t you get the memo ‘ bout nothin’ comes for free
You musta got lost, whole forest for the trees
My fellow Americans, this ain’t how you share the wealth
Don’t fall for his lies, say, “Keep your hands to yourself!”

So I pray we stay strong that we won’t ever give up
Liberty or death, like our forefathers taught
Socialism nightmare’s exactly what it seems
Capitalism, man, the only way to dream
My fellow Americans, we’re the ones who create the wealth
Tell him, “No more lies and keep your hands to yourself!!!”

h/t Eric Porvaznik, at www.threedonia.com

Friday, July 3, 2009

Independence Day, 2009

Remember the God who gave us the Founding Fathers of our great land. Remember the sacrifices they made, with God's guidance, to create this "land of the free and the home of the brave."

Today we struggle with the encroachment of those who would ruin all that we hold dear in America. Don't ever forget the true history of America, nor the blood that was shed by patriots to make this land an outpost of Godly Christianity. No matter what our illustrious leader says, America was and still is a Christian nation.

Progressivism (socialism or communism in my book) is a creeping blight on not just America, but on all mankind. It hearkens back to a day when people owned other people, because of the survival of the fittest theory. That theory has no basis in faith or love for your fellow man. It is nothing more than a massive "power play" with the power of the "elite" the end result.

Sadly, those who profess this socialism don't, haven't and won't learn the lessons from history, which show in all cases that socialism is and always will be a massive failure which causes much in the way of human suffering.

We are called upon to pray for those in authority over us. This I do on a daily basis. Now all we can do is wait upon the Lord, for our redemption draweth nigh!

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Will Socialism work in America?

Albert Einstein said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”

The resounding answer is, of course, "NO!"