Losing in Two Ways!

United Methodist Church membership declined by approximately 74,791 members as of Dec 31, 2007 – United Methodist Church membership was approximately 7,856,752 as of Jan 1, 2008. --- sources include Annual Conference Reports, Newscope, United Methodist News Service and General Council on Finance and Administration

So, what else is new? Annual Conference reports for the United Methodist Church reveal another year of declining membership which brings total U. S. membership below the 8 million level. The pattern has been an annual loss of tens of thousands of members for quite some time. A very few conferences posted some gains, but for most it was the use of that minus sign again. My own conference, W. Pennsylvania, lost 1,738 members during 2007. And this in spite of all the hype and money invested in the kite flying “Believe Again” campaign which has been underway for a while!

It’s almost like an annual “ritual” -- there is the loss of tens of thousands as reported each year, but there is another loss to which no reference is ever made in the United Methodist Church.

That is an unknown number of persons who would have become members of the UMC but they never had a chance – you see, they were the victims of intentional assault and murder before they were born!

A new milestone is about to be reached in “the land of the free and the home of the brave” – soon there will be 50 million unborn victims who will have been mutilated and murdered in their mothers’ wombs since the infamous decision by very blind and very foolish Supreme Court members back in 1973. The terms “blind” and ”foolish” are very applicable because they did not realize the extent of the harvest yet to be reaped by opening such a Pandora’s Box as this.

Anyone out there want to broadcast your ignorance and deny that at least some of those 50 million victims would have become members in United Methodist churches scattered throughout the 50 states of this republic?

The oldest of these would be in their mid-30’s with families and settled well into their careers! Who can fathom what would have been the extent of their contributions made within the fellowship of the church?

You are aware, are you not, that not much discussion or serious concern is raised about this group which could have made some measure of difference in the life of the United Methodist Church?

Yes, I’m fully aware of the fact that the UMC has an “official” statement on the subject of abortion in its Social Principles. That statement, when all the attempts at pious language are honestly analyzed, brings you to an intersection with a flashing green light which says that any woman can get an abortion with sanction from the United Methodist Church – it’s quite simple – all she has to do is say, “This pregnancy is going to bring a lot of undue stress, financial hardship and extensive psychological damage to me!”

That’s it – a free ticket with the UMC stamp of approval to execute an unborn child whom God is forming in the womb for a high and holy purpose.

Will anything be done to try to reverse the losses? Highly unlikely, although there may be some “campaigns” launched to try to lessen those negative yearly numbers reported by the annual conferences, but very, very few if any will mention that just maybe something ought to be done about ending the United States’ version of “Holocaust” – and our number is nearly 3 times the number of victims under the Nazi version in WW II. Just a little something to think about when it comes to the United Methodist Church and its adventure with numbers!

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; and I ordained you a prophet to the nations." --- Jeremiah 1:4, 5

Up At the Speed of Light – Down At the Speed of a Lame Turtle!

Oil dives below $50 bbl, near 2 year low --- Internet headline on November 20, 2008

Have you ever noticed the way the gas prices at the pump change? If there is a headline or a news clip that says that the price of a barrel of oil has increased by $10 or $15, instantly the prices on those marquees at gas stations are increased right now – no hesitation whatsoever! In fact, if there is even a rumor that the price of a barrel of oil is going to increase, that is enough to up the pump price at least 10 cents or more per gallon – and that is quite some time before the tanker pulls in with a new supply of gas at the new price!

But when the prices of a barrel of oil start to drop off as they have been doing just recently, have you noticed how long it takes before that is reflected on the marquees? It takes about forever and a day until they finally reduce the price by a few cents – always lots and lots of foot dragging on price reduction.

It becomes a real stand-up comedian style experience when the oil company executives try to explain these things – one a while back attempted to explain when the prices were going up and then there was some reduction in the price of a barrel of oil but no reduction in prices at the pump that the oil companies had “absorbed” some of those earlier increases and that was why the price at the pump had not dropped as quickly as expected! Yea, sure – and what was that recent report about Exxon-Mobile having another quarter of record profits recently?

The name of the game in the petroleum industry is still pure unadulterated greed! But of course greed is the kind of disease that is pandemic at the present time and not limited to the issue of how much you pay to put a couple of gallons of gas in your tank – if you want an example of how it works in other areas, just look at what legislators have voted for themselves regarding salaries and “perks” at the state and federal levels – and that’s just for starters!

A Bible prophecy is right on target about this issue:

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money…..--- 2 Timothy 3:1, 2

But there is good news – one of these days the Creator of this great universe is going to personally step in and interrupt the flow of human history – He will take complete control of this planet and things will be done His way from that moment on. To say the least, it will be a whole new ball game for the human race! The greed thing, along with a lot of other maladies afflicting the human race (including the desire to always wage wars somewhere), will no longer exist! One other great blessing as noted elsewhere on this blog is the undeniable fact that all politicians will be out of a job!

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. --- Isaiah 9:6, 7

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. --- Revelation 19:11-16

More Than Just a Count Down of Days Until January 20, 2009!

"The first thing I'd do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That's the first thing that I'd do." -- Senator Barack Obama, speaking to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, July 17, 2007

Mass media people are all lathered up in anticipation of the inauguration on January 20, 2009 with the "count down" well underway. News people are scrambling all over themselves as they attempt to predict who will have cabinet positions (those not yet officially announced) and other top level jobs in the B. Hussein Obama administration.

But there's something else to which nobody in the huge mass of cable news outlets, newspapers and news magazines, TV talk shows and radio talk shows is giving significant attention -- and that is the count down in sheer numbers of certain individuals whose lives will be violently terminated until the newly elected president takes office in January 2009.

It's an interesting number to watch -- strange, is it not, that no person who is high profile is speaking about it -- at the very best it's x number of days until Mr. Obama assumes his position as our nation's chief executive!

Why not take a look? It's all set up -- just go there and see what the count down number is, with an explanation about it and what the new incoming president has to do with it all.

So just slip on over to The Count Down Nobody Mentions! -- use return feature on your browser to come back here.

What's the number at now? Can you explain why this special kind of count down is not being reported in major news organizations? On second thought, most all of us know the answer to that, do we not? Just something to think about.

"The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it." --- Jeremiah 18:7-10

It’s Much More Than Praying, “God bless the President!”

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time…” --- 1 Timothy 2:1-6

In the midst of much criticism associated with the campaigns and the election process, there are those voices which here and there cry out that we need to get behind our newly elected president and pray for him and the members of his administration.

The appeal for prayer is a staple among those who claim to be “evangelical” in their faith. Often the prayers that are uttered are packed full of “bless him..her …this or that” expressions. It seems the “blessing” of God is the point of focus and that God is urged to just pour out blessing after blessing upon our nation, its leaders and its millions of citizens.

It is painfully obvious that we fail to realize that special blessings of God are conditional – they always have been and always will be. And there are those common benefits God grants to all individuals whether they be conscious of that or not, as noted when He gives rain which falls on the righteous as well as upon the wicked, etc.

Can God really bless the individual, for instance, who supports the destruction of large numbers of unborn children in the womb – children for which this same God has a high and holy purpose after they are born into the world?

And if such an individual rises to become the most powerful leader in the world, then what does one seek from God on behalf of that person? It can’t be a “blessing” or “special favor” but it can be something else. It can be a seeking that God in His infinite power will do whatever necessary to bring that leader to a state of repentance with a new understanding of God’s ways and purposes as it applies to the members of the human race.

It means also a seeking that God will confront such a leader with the fact that the nation he is attempting to lead has drifted far from the principles and standards as originally established by God at the beginning for a culture’s unity, health, strength, prosperity and ongoing survival!

The common problem as exhibited by elected officials over time is the attempt to address problems related to the economy, the environment, education of the young, health care, immigration, international crises, etc. But they will not address the ethical, moral and spiritual decay which is steering the nation on a course to sure and certain collapse! On second thought, perhaps the major reason for this is the fact that too many elected officials are a major part of those ethical, moral and spiritual problems!

So, pray for elected leaders – for the President, Vice President, Chief of Staff, members of the Cabinet, the members of the U.S. Congress and the leadership in that body, etc. But move far beyond the “bless so and so” prayer, seeking that God will do whatever necessary to bring this nation and its leaders (political and church) to repent of the massive wickedness of which the nation is guilty at the present time, forsaking all sin, and seeking His holy will in all activities and relationships – to the honor and glory of Jesus Christ, Who is Savior, Lord and our soon returning King!

It is also wise to keep in the back of the mind that God deals with nations which profess to believe in Him in two possible ways -- first, when a nation gets out of line He will bring various chastisements upon that nation -- a series of calamities of various kinds over time. If that does not eventually bring the people to seek Him in a true spirit of repentance then He will bring judgment upon the rebel nation. Chastising actions mean there is hope, if repentance quickly follows -- but judgment means there is no hope -- only disaster and devastation will take place once God initiates judgment against a nation. 2 Chronicles 36 clearly reveals the pattern!

One of many helpful guidelines for praying beyond the "bless so and so" level is found in the following -- that is, if we have not crossed that "line in the sand" which God has etched with His sword of judgment:

To You I will cry, O LORD my Rock: do not be silent to me, lest, if You are silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary. Do not take me away with the wicked and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbors, but evil is in their hearts. Give to them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavors; give to them according to the work of their hands; render to them what they deserve. Because they do not regard the works of the LORD, nor the operation of His hands, He shall destroy them and not build them up. Blessed be the LORD, because He has heard the voice of my supplications! --- Psalm 28:1-6

Oh, a PS on this one: Do you suppose that statement about certain persons failing to regard the works of the Lord and the operation of His hands could apply to God's activity in forming a human being in the womb? Want a little help on that? Read Psalm 139 -- it gets very interesting in discussing certain things that God does!

It Is My Practice to Never Embrace a Rattlesnake!

“…quit the bickering, appreciate a fair and peaceful transference of power, and unite behind the new commander-in-chief…” --- one of many examples of admonitions, appeals and exhortations from even professed “conservatives” to go completely along with President-elect B. Hussein Obama and give him whole hearted support because he is our newly elected president and deserves respect and support from all the people.

I can hear it now – the “How dare you!” responses that anyone in this republic would make such a statement as related to the incoming president much less entertain such a horrendous thought.

The point to be made is simply this – a rattlesnake is not to be trusted and if you get too close to it, it will strike out at you and sink 2 fangs (as long as an inch) into your flesh, dispensing some deadly poison as it does so!

Those who did not vote for B. Hussein Obama, including many who were quite vocal in their opposition, and that crowd which professes to be “conservative” are now being enthusiastically urged to jump on the band wagon and go along for the ride as the newly elected president takes us to unprecedented heights and ushers in a glorius utopia for all U. S. citizens far beyond our wildest dreams.

Now back to the rattlesnake with its fangs dripping deadly poison – I will be opposing B. Hussein Obama so long as he declares “open season” on the destruction of unborn children. He intends to sign the Freedom of Choice Act – I leave it to you to search this out and read it for yourself. Even if he didn’t sign it, his record is clear – it’s as if he has declared war against the unborn! His Chief of Staff shares this Nazi-like approach to those deemed not fit to live -- numbering on average about 100,000 per month throughout the year! This opposition will be vocal, by means of my web site and blog on the Internet, and by prayer. At a later time there will be a post on the subject of praying for government leaders.

The newly elected president is set to eliminate present restrictions in place which prohibit embryonic stem cell research – you know what that means don’t you? More potential citizens “executed” in the name of science – you say, “No, it isn’t!” What else can you call it when it involves a human being God is forming for a special purpose? Have you really checked into what God has to say regarding His view of human life, its origin, its identity and its purpose? If you have then you will know that B. O. and God are at opposite ends of the spectrum on the issue of human life – and to be at odds with God on anything is to invite disaster!

It’s also his approach to pursue the tragic “tax and spend” policies which some in the past have pursued. It simply won’t work – for some strange reason, too many elected officials (Big John Murtha of the PA 12th District in which I reside is a notorious example) believe there is a bottomless pit with oodles of money into which you can dip your hands any time you want and come up with handfuls to dispense anywhere and everywhere, fixing our economy which presently is in a terminal state. Have you looked at the national debt numbers lately? They are NOT going down, are they? And how often have your heard politicians from the president on down put a priority on paying off the national debt? How often have you heard the congressional leaders draft legislation that says we will stay within budget and also make provision to pay off the debt? Don’t hold your breath on this one!

And then there is this thing of our personal rights and privileges – B.O. poses a potential threat to these, starting with the 2nd Amendment. Time will tell as to how fast he plans to move to restrict U. S. citizens in this area. Gun and ammo sales have sky rocketed since the election. Do you have any explanation as to why?

More issues could be cited but that’s enough to let me know that I can no more get on the B. Hussein Obama bandwagon than I could go along the Clarion River in PA near my home town, reach down on a warm rock on a summer day where a big fat Eastern Diamondback is sunning itself, pick it up and embrace it! Its venom would do me in – so will that which will be dispensed by B. O.’s administration which gets underway at noon on January 20, 2009!

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people." Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate," says the Lord. "Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters," says the LORD Almighty. --- 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Hit the Ground Running And Be Sure To Ignore the Banana Peels!

“Hit the ground running!” --- common expression now being applied to B. Hussein Obama and his administration when they take control of a republic known as the U.S.A. on January 20, 2009

A whirlwind of activity is taking place during this transition period as President-elect B. Hussein Obama assembles advisors and his Chief of Staff, R. Emanuel, whips the troops into line. The phrase very commonly applied is to “hit the ground running” as January 20, 2009 reaches the noon time hour!

For a majority, especially those who cast their votes for B. Hussein Obama, this is a very impressive thing and to be expected from one who at times has been labeled “Messiah” and “Savior.”

While the newly elected president may relish the term, he and his cohorts have essentially omitted a rather critical phrase. While doing their running they will deliberately choose to ignore the banana peels that litter the path. A runner who is wise not only avoids the banana peel but will remove and dispose of it so others will not be threatened by such a hazard.

Here are some of the banana peels that will bring this nation down:


3 Very Deadly “Loves”
It has been predicted that as the human race comes down the home stretch of history, it will wallow in three deadly loves which are love of self, love of money and love of pleasures more than love for God. If you want to see it for yourself, go to 2 Timothy 3 in the New Testament of the Bible.

The Ongoing Destruction of Unborn Children
Our republic is fast approaching a tally of 50 million unborn victims who have been mutilated and murdered in their mothers’ wombs. These have ranged in age from a few weeks to being within a few minutes of being born. Ruins of past cultures which adopted a cheap and very low view of human life are mute evidence that you cannot choose this route without paying a very high price, which ultimately is extinction!

Rampant Sexual Immorality
The evolution of a philosophy about human sexuality has reached its zenith where now it can be defined by saying, “Sex is fun with anyone (or more than one anyone at the same time) anywhere and at any time by choice on the part of the parties involved! We simply make our own rules." The ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah still speak but who in these United States (soon to be known as the Obama Nation) is listening? Any few that do are considered right-wing fire-breathing religious fanatics!

A Fast Spreading Cancer of Idolatry
As a culture begins to prosper, it is not long before it begins to forge idols for itself in many forms. It is obvious to a few who are sensitive to such a disaster that money is dominant as #1 “god” in the United States, plus numerous others which could be also cited. The true and living God has given fair warning that there comes a time when He brings judgment upon a nation’s false gods! Anyone noticed how things are going financially in “the land of the free and the home of the brave?”

The Profaning of the Day of Worship
As noted in other areas of my web site and blog, Sunday should be renamed “Funday” – for most residents of the United States this day is the final day of a weekend of pleasure pursuit – fun & games – partying and getting high on alcohol and/or drugs – sports activities of about every conceivable kind! Who in the world wants to spend a very boring bit of time in what is supposed to be the worship of Almighty God Who created this universe, imparts life and grants blessing and benefit indescribable by which life is nurtured on a daily basis. Then He did the unthinkable – He gave His Son that the way of forgiveness, peace and eternal life in His Kingdom would be available to us sinners! But who has time to give any attention to that – we have fun and games to do before Monday comes!

Teaching Our Young the Way of Damnation
The theory of evolution is dominant in the process of educating the young. With a very few exceptions our young begin a journey early on in which they are taught that our ancestry, humanly speaking, is traced back to lower life forms – you have to travel back in time a long ways to get there. This means that millions of our young have no exposure whatsoever to the real and truthful fact that God is the Creator of all things, including human beings. And since back in the early 60’s a Supreme Court ruling effectively said that there could be no more prayer and no more reading of the Scriptures in public classrooms, and since more than half our population chooses to absent itself from a place of worship on Sundays, we are effectively raising millions of heathen – and we wonder why our country is so screwed up ethically, morally and spiritually!

A Government Increasingly Confused and Corrupted
It takes some searching but the evidence is there for any who want to face it – over time our elected officials have concentrated on themselves in terms of benefits and salaries – the retirement benefits are out of this world. Then, once established in their comfortable positions, they throw a bone or two to their constituents to make us feel good and that they do indeed have our best interests at heart – or do they? The partisan battles that constantly go on are a scandal in and of themselves so that it is “party first” and the public can go to ____________ (fill in the blank!).

Now then – will the administration of B. Hussein Obama as it hits the ground running on January 20, 2009 address the issues represented by the banana peels? The chance of that taking place is as great as a snowball surviving in a very hot place which you have heard mentioned from time to time – a hot place which is vehemently denied at the present time by not a few pastors and church leaders!

Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Do not trust in these lying words, saying, 'The temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD are these.' For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt, then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.” --- Jeremiah 7:3-7

Only One Kind of Change Will Restore Our Republic!

Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you." --- Jonah 3:1, 2

B. Hussein Obama made “change” the key word and constant theme of his campaign for the presidency. Like the Pied Piper of olden times, he quickly gained a very large following with extensive help from many in the mass media and high profile celebrities such as Oprah, etc. Over time he was able to fill his campaign coffers with at least a half billion or more dollars. It’s still true – money talks and buys a lot of stuff!

But will the Obama formula for bringing about “change” really work? At least during the “honeymoon” period and glowing positive reports from most of the media, it will seem that this fellow does indeed have the answers the country has been searching for over many decades.

But there is only one change that will bring the nation to the place where it needs to be if it is to survive and have hope for the future. It is not a change involving the economy, the environment, the employment rate, national security, energy resources, or education. It is a change that must take place in the ethical, moral and spiritual realms of our culture – literally in the heart and soul of every person living in this nation. But that is something the overwhelming majority of citizens and their leaders (political and religious) do not want under any circumstance to seriously consider.

At the beginning was reference to a man called by God to go to a place called Nineveh. Jonah’s message was a warning of impending judgment within a few days' time – God’s wrath was going to be poured out upon the city for its wickedness. However, something most unusual happened – the people believed and began to change their wicked way of living – they actually sought to repent of all sin, and this included the king himself. Read the account for yourself:

So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent. And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day's walk. Then he cried out and said, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, "Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?" Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it. --- Jonah 3:3-10

The wickedness found within the republic of the United States is excessive and manifested in countless ways, starting with the destruction of unborn children. But we also have our rampant sexual immorality which violates the numerous standards God has established for acceptable sexual behavior and relationships. Other ways we have defied God involve our idolatry, our profaning of the day of worship, and our feeble attempt to erect a fence to keep God confined so that He doesn’t interfere in areas of public life and education! We also are doing a first rate job at convincing the vast majority of our young that our “roots” go back to lower life forms – and that we have arrived at our present condition by means of a process of evolution, but we’re not finished yet!

Elected officials and church leaders are at a critical crossroad at this point in time – as God issues the call for repentance, personally and collectively, what will the response be? Will it be a correct change which results in turning from all that offends God, or will we as a nation give Him the all too familiar obscene gesture and suffer catastrophic consequences which we cannot begin to comprehend?

At this moment in time there is no recognition on the part of elected officials or on the part of church leaders that there is the urgent need to repent, call on God for mercy and commit to being an obedient people, seeking His will for our daily lives!

It appears more likely with the passing of each day that we will experience what ancient Judah experienced (the wrath of God) in spite of urgent appeals rather than what Nineveh experienced (the blessing and mercy of God) after heeding the message of a prophet by the name of Jonah!

Consider the record of what Judah experienced:

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He also did evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the LORD. And he also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear an oath by God; but he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD God of Israel. Moreover all the leaders of the priests and the people transgressed more and more, according to all the abominations of the nations, and defiled the house of the LORD which He had consecrated in Jerusalem. And the LORD God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy. Therefore He brought against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, on the aged or the weak; He gave them all into his hand.And all the articles from the house of God, great and small, the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king and of his leaders, all these he took to Babylon. Then they burned the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious possessions. --- 2 Chronicles 36:11-19

Is that a mighty voice thundering out of eternity shouting, “Now it’s your turn!”

And the LORD spoke by His servants the prophets, saying, "Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations (he has acted more wickedly than all the Amorites who were before him, and has also made Judah sin with his idols), therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Behold, I am bringing such calamity upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle.’” --- 2 Kings 21:10-12

“Tough Guy” As Chief of Staff? Why Not Someone Much More Superior?

Rahm Emanuel: A Tough Taskmaster for the White House
--- Time headline - Nov 7, 2008

“…… you bring in a guy like Emanuel, the most hard-headed, no-nonsense, foul-mouthed, smart-as-hell, get-it-done-or-get-out-of-my-way Washington insider of his generation.” --- quote from article by James Carney for Time - Nov 7, 2008

There you have it – what better way can it be said as to the character of the person who fills the position of Chief of Staff in the Obama kingdom? That in itself should tell us that the future of our republic is far from bright and we'll not make it to the Obama "promised land" as we have been led to believe!

God has spelled out clearly what all persons must do in order to be under His blessing and receive guidance in order to insure future peace, prosperity, security and contentment.

It begins with a spirit of repentance, the realization of the need of God’s mercy and forgiveness and a commitment to serve Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. It is extremely rare for those in the business of politics to make such a beginning or confess to such a need. But once in a great while it does happen. B. Hussein Obama’s Chief of Staff provides no solid evidence that he has chosen to go this route – read again the Carney description!

Now read some things God has to say about how it is to be if we are going to rightly relate to Him and experience the fullness of His blessings:

He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? --- Micah 5:8

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart; these, O God, You will not despise. --- Psalm 51:17

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. --- 1 Peter 5:6, 7

However, the most powerful statement on the issue of either doing it our way (being a tough guy) or God’s way is declared by Jesus in John 15 – note carefully the specifics for experiencing the best in life:

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” --- John 15:1-8

A Chief of Staff who submits his will to the will of God in humility will do a much better job in that awesome position, will he not? Honesty dictates that such a person would be far superior to the one now selected to hold that position. But on the other hand, he would be as much out of place in the Obama nation as a lamb in a stadium filled with hungry wolves!

Don't forget -- there is a solid fact to remember as this republic continues to slide down the slippery slope toward inevitable judgment and disaster -- even “tough guys” will come to a place where their foul mouths will be silenced and right on schedule

they have to face the reality well described by the famous Gomer Pyle, “Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!” Guess what? It’s now time to face the Judge of all human beings and answer as to why His holy will was totally ignored and a course of action was pursued which led to unprecedented disaster for millions!

And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" --- Revelation 6:15-17

Good News! An Abortionist Missed Out on One!

For You have formed my inward parts; You have covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. --- Psalm 139:13-16

I received an email (quoted below the third paragraph) and the exciting thing about what it reveals was the fact that an abortionist missed out on making a few hundred bucks in a situation which is detailed! Our newly elected president, B. Hussein Obama, is solidly behind the grisly practice of destroying unborn children for about any excuse imaginable. In a speech to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund on July 17, 2007 he said, “The first thing I’d do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That’s the first thing that I’d do.” By the way, you should not be surprised to learn that he became a co-sponsor of that deadly legislation (S. 1173 – House version is H.R. 1964) on May 11, 2007. As an aside – my mother’s birthday was May 11th – I’m sure glad she didn’t practice what our newly elected president preaches!

And B. Hussein Obama’s selected Chief of Staff, Congressman Rahm Emanuel, along with a number of others introduced the FOCA in the House of Representatives on April 19, 2007. What would be an appropriate term for this – co-conspirators? After all, doesn’t it qualify as a plot to take the lives of a number of innocent persons?

Some church groups have statements about abortion, do a fancy dance about the ins and outs of the practice, and then end up giving approval to abortion because a pregnancy might bring about distressing “hardship” to a female – if you want to see how they “justify” destroying unborn children, read the United Methodist Church’s statement on abortion in its Social Principles section in the Book of Discipline! There are very few United Methodists who vehemently protest the “shedding of innocent blood” in this country – and that includes the leadership which chooses to be very silent on this issue! One has to wonder how United Methodists or those in other “mainlines” would have counseled the young lady mentioned below in the early months of her pregnancy

Email from X:
Hello,

I don't know you, but I see you are from Mav. Thank you for sending me this, and for the stand you are making. When I was very young, and VERY unsure about life, much less my own life I was pregnant and was afraid of the baby's father. My own family, as wealthy as they are, didn't want anything to do with me, and to this day I still don't know why they don't, but nevertheless I had no help with this life. I was told over and over to have an abortion. I had no one. I feared my baby's dad, and I had no money, no work, and no one, but I still could not kill my baby. Fast forward to today. I just talked to that baby who is now (age withheld) years old and is heading for work in the (name withheld) field and (name withheld) field. He is VERY smart, and extremely loving person. So I buck the system that tells you that it's TOO HARD to go this by yourself. You need to just get rid of your problem. He was not a problem, and never has been. The milli-second he was conceived he was my son, and that's it, and that's all. No if, ands, or buts about it.

It's not popular to speak about these things, but I don't care. Doesn't matter to me. If you don't like it then go the other way is my feeling about it. No one pays my bills and have nothing to do with keeping me out of Heaven so I don't care about mouthing off to people, who don't have a clue about other people’s lives or what put them there. Of course, if you have faith then you CAN believe, but that's not always the lot that each and every person has. It's hard to believe when your FATHER figure hurt you all your life.

So, again, I thank you for the stand you make, and respect a person that is PRO for the living.

Sincerely,
(Name withheld)

Upon receiving the above email I immediately responded and requested the lady’s permission to publish her message on the condition that her name and some other information would not be revealed. Her reply is given below.

Sure you can. If what I went thru can save even one life it was worth it all. I would be honored. My son is one of my joys in this life, and never for one moment did I EVER give it a thought to end his life. It was never so much as a fleeting thought even. It has proven out to be the good thing I knew it would be to save my baby's life from all the naysayers!!!!

He is a joy, and a confirmation that God is not one to make a mistake. He is perfection in EVERY situation. If the mother's health will be in dire straits then I believe it is warranted to end that pregnancy, because God has her here for a reason, and has that child’s life in His hands in the Heavenlies, but other than that I don't believe a child should be aborted; even if it involves rape.

I do not believe in ending a life. It is murder.

Sincerely,
(name withheld)

A few small corrections were made and as promised, certain information has been withheld so that the lady’s identity and that of her son has been kept confidential.

Isn’t it wonderful that a profiteering abortionist lost out in this case, which in the unbelieving world’s view, a son who is now making a positive contribution in our republic should have been mutilated and murdered while still in his mother’s womb?

Before leaving are you willing to read slowly and very prayerfully the statement made by God to one man a long time ago? Obviously, this man’s mother didn’t believe in terminating the life of her unborn child either!

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; and I ordained you a prophet to the nations." --- Jeremiah 1:4, 5

Requiem!

They soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel, but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul. --- Psalm 106:13-15

This may be interpreted as “sour grapes” after an election, but really it is not – it is reality and the fact that about 62.5 million people have just signed our republic’s death warrant!

In an earlier post it was stated that God would either express His intentional and deliberate will in this 2008 election or His permissive will. In the latter case it means He will let the majority get what they want, but eventually there will be a very high price to be paid.

What we can expect starting in mid-January 2009:

• The greatest impending disaster brought on by President Barack Obama is the fact that he will vigorously support the ongoing destruction of unborn children and seek to remove whatever few restrictions are presently in place to protect the unborn such as the heinous partial birth “procedure.” He will likely appoint at least 2 or more Supreme Court judges who will always rule in favor of destroying the unborn. And he will appoint judges in the lower courts who will not see their responsibility as supporting the Constitution but rather to “legislate” from the bench even in defiance of the Constitution!
  
  
• What will be the kind of people with which he will be surrounded in terms of advisers, cabinet members, etc? It has been well documented that his associations in the past have often been with persons of questionable character, including one named Jeremiah Wright. God’s revelation speaks loud and clear on the matter – a person who governs must have God-fearing persons surrounding him, and in this age of the Gospel, it means specifically relying on persons who know Jesus Christ personally as Savior and Lord. It is highly unlikely that B. O. will be at all concerned about selecting such people to be a part of his administration. In a sense, having bought this election by having outspent his opponent by millions of dollars, the young president is now beholden to quite a bunch of people – obviously there will be “political” pay offs!
  
  
• We can expect an ambitious “tax and spend” policy which will be enthusiastically supported by a Democratic controlled Congress. He and they will never learn that you cannot spend your way into a state of prosperity. Further, these people will not so much as lift a finger in an effort to reduce a national debt now approaching 11 trillion dollars. As an aside, "Big John" Murtha (unfortunately my rep in Congress) was reelected and will continue to do his big "earmark" thing -- he's a champion at this -- that is, until the country goes belly up financially!
  
  
• Eventually we can expect an assault against our 2nd Amendment rights. He has already indicated his dissatisfaction with the practice in a number of states of granting licenses to persons allowing them to carry concealed and loaded handguns. In some manner or other there will be an effort launched to further restrict sale and use of firearms and sales of ammunition! The dream of some persons in this republic is the outright ban and possession of all firearms by U. S. citizens. B.O. will at some point attempt to get us moving toward that objective!
  
  
• Under his “leadership” (term used very loosely) government will continue to expand and steadily move onward toward duplicating the horror of George Orwell’s novel, “Nineteen Eighty Four” -- you know, the condition where we are all monitored by “big brother.” The dominating force is the deceptive idea that the government can take care of us from the cradle to the grave – or as put more dramatically in other terms – from the womb to the tomb!
  
  
• Obama’s military will be interesting to watch. He will be “Commander in Chief” but never has had 1 day of military experience. Will we see a mass exit or not when enlistment terms expire and officers determine whether they will stay a while longer or retire? Time will tell on this one. A poll among the military before election revealed very strong support for John McCain with the exception of blacks in the military – as expected, their support was highly in favor of B. O.
  
  
• Perhaps one of the most crucial areas of concern under the administration of Barack Obama, second only to his attitude toward unborn children is how he will support Israel or refuse to support Israel. So far, this country has had leadership which has been supportive of the country of Israel and at times has been the only country to stand with Israel in certain crises. Shenanigans at the United Nations demonstrate all too well the truth of this. It likely will not be too long until we know if our new president will be supportive of Israel or will back off and eventually abandon the Jewish state.
  
  
• Finally, what will be his faith identity and church identity while occupying the White House? God has again made plain the fact that one who is in the powerful position of governing is to be one who bears witness to his faith and relationship with God – in other words leadership that is powerful and influential begins by exhibiting a holy example in conduct and providing evidence that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – that this same God is the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ and is real in every day experience. Will B. O. and family identify with a church – if so, will it be nothing more than one of those “feel good” churches where the word “repentance” is avoided like the plague, and the pastors of which would never say anything that would offend someone, especially one who is president of the United States?
  

Yes, there are times in recorded history when we observe God giving the people what they wanted, and too late they discovered they wanted what was not at all good for them, and then disaster struck!

"Then you shall say to the people, 'Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wept in the hearing of the LORD, saying, "Who will give us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt." Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you shall eat. You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, but for a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have despised the LORD who is among you, and have wept before Him, saying, "Why did we ever come up out of Egypt?"' …………… But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was aroused against the people, and the LORD struck the people with a very great plague. So he called the name of that place Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had yielded to craving. --- Numbers 11:18-20, 33, 34

Pennsylvania Wildlife Anxiously Await Implementation of This Redistribution Thing!

Plumber to Obama: “Your new tax plan is going to tax me more. Isn’t it?”

Obama: “It’s not that I want to punish your success, I just want to make sure that everybody that is behind you, that they have a chance for success too. I think that when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.” --- as noted on Fox News, October 13, 2008

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has an abundance of wild life which keeps the PA Game Commission extremely busy throughout the year. Among the many species is a creature called the black bear. These are also rather numerous and can cause a lot of problems in a variety of ways. They often come on our property and raid our bird feeders. Some time back I got a lot of pictures of a “nuisance bear” who destroyed my sunflower feeder one noon day – he hauled it down, sat down and proceeded to eat, giving me a look which said, “If you don’t like it, throw me off your property!” I said he was a nuisance bear – he had a tag in each ear which were clearly visible in photos which I took from about a distance of 15 to 20 feet away. That meant he had been trapped at least 2 times, tagged each time, and transported to a remote area in the forests of Pennsylvania with hopes he would stay in the wild, but obviously this one didn't get the message!

And I saw one just a few weeks ago on my morning walk – he was on the road about 100 yards or less from me and only moved when a car was approaching. Then there was a young one which I saw walking down behind our home in the back yard just recently. And just a few days back a truck hit one on a highway just a few miles from us – this one weighed 523 pounds – lots of bear there!

Rumors are now flying that the PA Game Commission has been observing that changes are taking place among our state’s wildlife population. Perhaps it is best explained in the below picture of a black bear who seems to be overwhelmed with B.O.’s redistribution plan. Notice how he is patiently waiting to be served – that is, to get his “share” which used to be in the possession of someone else!

On November 5th we will all know whether or not “Blackie” pictured above will get generous amounts of something, which formerly belonged to someone else, set before him or whether he will have to go back to raiding bird feeders and garbage cans!

Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart will utter perverse things. --- Proverbs 23:33