November 28th Debate Orchestrated by CNN?

As has been the practice, the "news" network that is directly involved in a debate which involves aspiring presidential candidates always pulls out all the stops when it comes to promoting the event days in advance.

One has to wonder about CNN's involvement regarding the 07/11/28 event. There was a heavy emphasis on questions coming from individuals in a video format -- supposedly these persons came up with the questions and fired them at the competing candidates.

It is most interesting the types of questions that were asked -- unlike anything so far in the way they were asked and with graphic dramatization in some cases!

For instance:

• A guy held a Bible in his hand and asked if the candidates believed every word in the book he was holding -- then a close up view of the book with the title, "Holy Bible," in prominent view. That sparked interesting responses. Who manipulated that guy to ask that question?
  
  
• A guy asked about gun laws, 2nd Amendment rights, etc. For dramatic effect someone who is out of view of the camera tosses a shotgun to him which he catches with one hand and immediately proceeds to "load" by activating the slide action. Again, is this a case of "clever" manipulation or what?
  
  
• Now for the clincher -- the issue of abortion and a question posed that if Congress overturned Roe v. Wade and sent the legislation to the person who was at that time president, would he sign the bill? Again, a real scramble and fancy footwork when it came to responding!
  

Now for the real question on these shenanigans -- will CNN orchestrate an identical format for the Democrats for their next debate -- same questions worded in the very same way plus the drama?

Or maybe Fox News can do it -- you know, that "glamor channel" with dancing graphics, packed full of ads, and a few "news" comments thrown in now and then with a stress on the fact that Fox News is "fair and balanced" -- and, oh yes, a ticker going once in a while until the ads knock it off until they run their course!

As we grind through 2008 we can be assured that these networks that claim to be "news" dispensers will attempt to manipulate their audiences in every way possible to get us to vote for their preferred "candidate!"

The safe way is to view these people with a high level of suspicion whenever you are exposed to them -- it helps immensely to employ that great button on the remote at times -- it says, "MUTE!"

This, by the way, has been written by one who is officially a "Non-affiliated" registered voter.

At Last -- Barry Bonds Rides off into the Sunset!

There were those who said it would be just a matter of time -- well, the time has come and the newly crowned home run "king" finds himself with a lot of tarnish and corrosion on his long sought "crown of glory!"

Barry Bonds has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. As might be expected his lawyers and fans are quick to support him in spite of evidence indicating he was getting some outside help in pursuit of breaking Hank Aaron's home run record. That "help" came in the form of drugs that "enhance" one's athletic performance. The word "steroids" is an extremely bad word when it comes to athletes ingesting the same -- it's profanity dressed up in athletic attire -- football, baseball, basketball or whatever and always gives the obscene gesture to the public in general and to sports fans in particular!

If found guilty the home run "king" will be wearing his crown in prison for a time -- but who knows -- since the ethics displayed by too many lawyers in their style of operation is of cess pool quality at best, they might get him off in spite of his being clearly guilty -- in the course of time we'll all know due to the fact that the outcome will make big headlines either way!

The greatest tragedy here is the kind of role model example which has been set -- it's bad enough to be driven by the demon of greed, which controls a lot of professionals, but when it comes to the lowest level to which one can sink -- how many young lives will be shipwrecked by this debacle? And how many fans of what has been referred to as "America's greatest past time" now have intense nausea in the stomach area? And each time it is noted as to the breaking of Hank Aaron's record will that nausea so intensify that one starts running to the commode to heave?

And, Barry, can you punch that horse in the ribs and speed him up a bit so that he gets you into the sunset a bit faster?

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man; and birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. --- Romans 1:20-25

Did Bob Hope Prophesy About the Year 2008?

Bob Hope was well known for being one of the greatest comedians in history. However, did he have a "gift" for prophesying but was not aware that he had such a gift? Evidence of this is now circulating a bit around the internet. Was Bob really speaking of 2008 in the United States and didn't realize it at the moment?

Take a look and hear his solemn statement in regard to the 2007/2008 political climate of the United States -- go to Bob Hope Prophesies!

Use reverse feature on your web browser to come back here and browse around a bit.

"Families" without Men -- a Real Heaven on Earth or Is It?

And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God." --- Luke 16:15

It's just another step along the way toward disaster, the dimension of which is totally indescribable.

For quite some time our culture has been plagued with individuals and groups who want to deify women in every way possible, degrade and diminish men in every way possible, and issue proclamations from time to time that single parent "families" are just as fulfilling if not more so than the traditional family headed up by a dad and a mom -- especially if the head of that "family" is a female in pursuit of a highly successful career!

This whole debacle got a potent shot in the arm recently with the release of a top selling book with an eye catching title -- "Knock Yourself Up: A Tell-All Guide to Becoming a Single Mom." Now that's an expression some of us older fellows remember using when we were teenagers and the hormones were raging like crazy -- it was a very vulgar way to refer to a female who had become pregnant!

Author of the book is one named Louise Sloan who will make a fat bundle of bucks from this offering and become a heroine at the same time. She relates her experience of inseminating herself in her parents' home as she had moved into the fourth decade of her life and was not married.

She exhibits a spirit that is increasing in popularity -- that is, that men are not good for much of anything except in the case of extracting a little wriggling thing that is 50 per cent involved in the making of a baby!

The way some of these females are expressing themselves they would welcome the situation in which men would be by-passed completely when it comes to population expansion! Sorry, girls -- there has only been one Person born of a virgin and it won't happen again, ever!

Have you noticed how increasingly popular it is to advocate something, be involved in some activity, publish a book or have a talk show (radio or TV) that is against everything which God our Creator represents by way of high standards of personal morality, ethics and spirituality as based on His eternal, unchanging and clearly revealed truth?

A perfect explanation for these crazy things that have been happening and continue to get crazier as time passes is seen in statements by the prophet Isaiah:

The earth mourns and fades away, the world languishes and fades away; the haughty people of the earth languish. The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. --- Isaiah 24:4,5

God's design for a family involves the following: marriage between one man and one woman and children born to the married couple with clearly defined responsibilities resting upon each member of that family. Isaiah 24 is being fulfilled before our very eyes due to a majority of persons choosing to intentionally reject the "blueprint" God has revealed concerning what is required for not only a healthy family but a healthy culture as well!

BUT for the faithful minority, there is some very good news -- this stuff is going to be permanently terminated by the personal intervention of Jesus Christ at some point in the future. Since many of the "movers and shakers" in our culture at the present time are insistent on turning our republic into a 21st Century version of Sodom and Gomorrah, the time may well be much closer than any of us might realize!

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. --- Galatians 6:7,8

Are You One of the Few?

They are the remaining few as winter begins to approach. This year they managed to hang on a bit longer than usual. I am referring to what some of us call lightning bugs -- you know, that flying insect that has a flashing light at its rear end! In summer they have put on quite a display in the field across the road from our place as twilight fades into the darkness of night.

My day starts between 4:30 and 4:45 AM -- before retirement I got up at 4 AM each day -- now that I'm getting old I sleep in a little while! I do about an hour of devotions -- Bible reading guide I follow takes me through the Bible one time, a second time through the New Testament, plus roaming about in the Old Testament prophets in one year's time. There is a prayer time which continues as I leave about 6 AM for my 2 mile walk. In October it is dark in south central PA at 6 AM when we are on DST.

It was on those morning walks during our milder than usual October that I spotted some of them by the side of the road -- the firebugs, that is -- not many -- but they definitely attracted attention with their glowing light. They weren't flashing -- it was more of a steady glow in the grass by the edge of the road. I never failed to look at one as I passed by and that prodded me to remember some things.

First, Jesus said the human race would regress to the conditions which prevailed at the time of Noah before the flood -- wickedness and evil reigned as king and queen! He also said it would be like Sodom when Lot lived there for a time. See Luke 17:24-30.

Second, He said we are to be as lights in this world where evil is dominant and humans who are enslaved by it make up the vast majority of the population which is over 6 billion on this planet at the present time!

Third, as human history approaches its climax those few who display the truth, light, and love of Jesus Christ will be the targets of increased hostility and violence -- and why is this? Note a clear explanation in John 3:19-21:

"And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

So to any reading this -- as the world finds itself immersed in intense spiritual darkness, are you one of the few still shining brightly and revealing clearly that forgiveness, salvation, peace, and hope are found only in Jesus Christ Who is Savior and Lord?

Don't forget -- you may be the only light in someone's darkness!

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." --- Matthew 5:14-16

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." --- Matthew 7:13,14