Foolish President! He Rolls Out the Triple Red Carpet....

News media flooded the citizens of the U.S.A. with details upon details of the recent state visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao --- variety of news reports during Hu's visit

Complete title of this piece reads:

"Foolish President! He Rolls Out a Triple Red Carpet for the Chinese Leader, But Not Even a Moth-eaten Rug from a Two Bit Yard Sale for the Israeli Leader!"

The way the news media kept hammering on the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao one would almost be persuaded that we should start taking language courses and learn to speak Chinese! Indeed from the White House point of view this was about the biggest thing yet to take place under President Obama's watch. No expense was spared -- have you wondered at all just what the cost to us tax payers was in regard to that much publicized state dinner alone?

Was it mere coincidence that Hu Jintao closed out his visit by going to Chicago -- hmmmm - where have I heard that name before in the wild, wacky and very slimy game of politics? Further, it was revealed that Chicago will likely profit greatly in doing business with China -- well, it was stated this way -- Mayor Richard Daley is "building ties with China!"

Yes, the Chinese leader was treated to the very best during his visit to the U.S. That is in sharp contrast when one looks at how the leader of Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was treated on his visit to Washington DC. The president of the U.S. treated the prime minister about as rudely as is possible for one head of state to treat another. But being as sympathetic as he is to the Muslim world, it is understandable that Obama has little time for an Israeli!

His foolishness in this regard is due to his ignorance of God's plan for the Hebrew people. A good place to start on this issue is to look at the covenant God made with Abraham in the book of Genesis. A great nation would be descended from Abraham with a large piece of territory involved -- much, much more than is presently occupied by the state of Israel. One of the interesting statements made by God was that He would bless those who blessed Abraham and his descendants and He would curse those who cursed Abraham and his descendants! (Genesis 12:3).

Sadly the history of the Israelite people is one of constant conflict. No other people have such a history of being despised and hated, nor has any other experienced such concentrated efforts to exterminate them from the face of the earth. In that circus known as the United Nations the one main bad guy and the one that is constantly being reviled is the nation of Israel. There have been times that only the United States has stood by and supported Israel when being under fire for something they did or failed to do. But it is a question as to how long that support will continue with the mood in Wasington DC changing in regard to our relationship to Israel.

God has great plans in store for Israel and Jerusalem. The future, if you look far enough ahead, is very bright for Israel because God has stated great promises about the destiny of Israel. Many are the prophecies that speak of peace and prominence for Israel. It will be dominant over all other nations inhabiting the world at that time. Just sift through the prophetic writings of the Old Testament scriptures and see for yourself. A time is coming when all implements of war will be dismantled. Nations of people that are living at that time will seek to be instructed in God's ways at Jerusalem. Obviously that time is not now -- you couldn't pay a lot of people enough money, much less world leaders to go to Jerusalem for the purpose of learning about God's ways! But it will happen -- not by negotiated agreements worked out at the United Nations circus, but by divine intervention on the part of the Son of God, Jesus Christ!

The wise leader of a nation will be extremely careful how he/she and his/her people relate to the nation of Israel -- it will impact a nation's destiny in ways the human mind is incapable of comprehending. And it all started many centuries ago with a man by the name of Abraham who had a son in his old age named Isaac who had a son named Jacob whose name was later changed to Israel -- and now after a few thousand years, a special people known as Israelis continue to exist with a wonderful future ahead, because God has a plan that is focused on that nation of people!

But China, in spite of politicians giving its leader that special red carpet treatment? No such future is mapped out for it as in the case of Israel.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces." For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, "Peace be within you." Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek your good. --- Psalm 122:6-9

Chicago Loses Out on Olympic Bid -- Was It An Answer to Prayer?

Chicago had seemed to pick up momentum in the last few days, with many International Olympic Committee members seemingly charmed by Mrs. Obama. But when IOC president Jacques Rogge announced the results of the first vote, Chicago was the city that fell out.

It was one of the biggest upsets in IOC voting history, and will likely have ramifications throughout the U.S. Olympic Committee. USOC chairman Larry Probst was stone-faced as he and acting CEO Stephanie Streeter walked down a hallway.

Chicago was eliminated in the first ballot of voting for the 2016 Olympics on Friday, a stunning defeat for the city that was expected to be one of the two finalists. Not even the presence of President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama — nor a long list of celebrities — was enough to help the United States' third-largest city. --- news releases Friday, October 2, 2009

Taking two planes (Air Force One for him, and a smaller Boeing machine for her) plus some high profile people including the high and mighty Oprah Winfrey, the Obama camp descended on Copenhagen like vultures going after a dead animal decomposing in 95 degree temperatures!

Their mission? To convince the IOC that Chicago was the only decent place to hold the 2016 Olympic games. The other three cities being considered are not worthy of the honor of hosting the games – that is, if you talk to anyone connected with Chicago politics.

Then a shock wave struck – comparable, if not greater in intensity, than the shakeups taking place in certain areas of the Pacific Ocean in recent days, only in the lobbying sense where the “lobbyist” is arrogant with the attitude, “Because I am who I am, I will get what I’m after!” Chicago was the first one of the four to be kicked out of the competition! Having been in both Rio and Chicago years ago, there is no comparison between the two. Once you’ve been in Rio, Chicago has no attraction whatsoever! Sort of like standing a guy with a fresh haircut and shave dressed up in a brand new tuxedo along side a hobo in rags who hasn't taken a bath in six months!

Was it an answer to prayer? Maybe someone did pray to the effect that until the rampant corruption is purged from that city, may such a blessing as the privilege to host the Olympic Games be withheld!

Preposterous? Yes, many would say so. But stop and think seriously for a moment. Chicago politics is the measuring stick when it comes to how low politics can sink in our republic – so low in fact, that at that level you have to use a high powered telescope to look up in order to see the navel of a blacksnake!

We in Pennsylvania have to put up with the rottenness of Philadelphia politics such as a governor (Ed Rendell) whose roots are in that quagmire and a turncoat senator named Arlen Specter. But these are rank amateurs compared to the pros in Chicago from which there comes forth “The One” named Barack Obama.

This one thing we can be assured of – the bid for the 2016 Olympics disaster is but one of many he will experience. The reason is clear – here is a man who cares not a bit about the will of God for himself and the country he is supposed to lead. Proof of that is clear to anyone who has a sensitivity to God’s view of human life at all stages of existence and the fact that if governing leaders are to fulfill their responsibilities effectively, then the work has to be done in consultation with God on a daily basis!

The prophet Isaiah hit the nail on the head and explains why things are the way they are politically speaking when he said, “For the leaders of this people cause them to err, and those who are led by them are destroyed.” (Isaiah 9:16).

It will be interesting to see what God does in the times ahead so far as the elected officials of our republic are concerned. More answers to prayer as God deals with the self-centered corruption that has brought our system of government to the precipice of unprecedented disaster?

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” --- Jeremiah 33:3

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. --- 1 John 5:14, 15

Forked Tongue #3!

We were confronted with lots of campaign rhetoric by President B. Hussein Obama stressing that the “change” he was going to bring about would involve no lobbyists, transparency, accountability, a high standard of ethics, sacrifice etc. You remember such statements, do you not? It was like hearing one of those old vinyl 33 1/3 records which had become cracked and all you heard was a repeat of a few words or bars of music over and over again until you hit the arm of the player and got it out of the grove with the crack in it!

Let’s start with the ethics of talking “sacrifice” to the American people and mentioning such things as driving SUV’s (we need to quit that) and getting that thermostat set below 72 degrees (especially those who live in winter climate), etc. Here’s a guy that has not shown one single shred of evidence that he and his family are making some sacrifices and leading by example. He’s got that new monster of a limousine which cost a tad more than $1.39 and all the luxuries of the White House with tons of money involved (our money by the way). A comment by one of the staff indicated that President Obama keeps the thermostat set high because “he is from Hawaii” and he desires the high temperature – a temperature in which it was added, “you could grow orchids in there!”

His inauguration was the most outlandish ever in terms of money spent. A report indicated a party held recently at the White House featured steaks on the menu among other things – cost of the steaks? A modest $100 a pound! The guys that sold the Pentagon $100 hammers and $30 screws some years ago must have gone into the cattle business and are now selling meat to the White House! How do you suppose that strikes the low income families across the country and those millions who have lost their jobs?

There was vehement insistence that lobbyists would not be a part of the Obama Administration. But there’s that guy named William Lynn who has been chosen by the president to be Deputy Secretary of Defense – the #2 job in the agency! He was a registered lobbyist for the giant defense contractor, Raytheon Co., from 2003 through June 2008. He served in the capacity of being “senior Washington operations executive” for Raytheon. Will it be like going back home to the Pentagon? Anyway, he gets a “free pass” from the president with the appeal by someone speaking on behalf of the president that this Lynn fellow is very highly qualified and he is needed!

That seems to be the tune played each time there are some highly questionable ethical matters lurking in the background of some appointees such as H. Clinton (conflict of interests), the new Secretary of Treasury, Tim Geithner, with tax problems and the incoming Attorney General, Eric Holder, with some dubious activity in his background dating back to the Clinton era. It came to light that Tom Daschle also had tax problems – that is, paying all his taxes – seems he had “neglected” some! But on February 3 he announced he was withdrawing his name from consideration. Once in a long while there may be a small bit of good news coming out of Washington DC, but very seldom -- especially on the subject of ethics, etc.

On being “transparent” the opening hours indeed were a display of that as a myriad of pictures were taken as the new president signed a number of documents. One the big photo ops took place when he signed legislation that assured employees of equal pay for the same job rather than some (usually females) getting less than male counterparts for the same kind of work done. People were practically falling over one another as the bill was signed and the president handed the pen to one of the witnesses. They had just about everything at that one except a full fledged band giving a drum roll!

But this “transparency” is quite selective – on the day (Jan. 23) after the annual March for Life (mass protest of abortion) in Washington DC the president signed an order that changed things drastically -- no cameras or video recorders present at that one! There had been a standard in place in which our tax dollars could not be used for family planning organizations in foreign countries that perform abortions or encourage women to employ this route to take care of a problem pregnancy. President B. Hussein Obama, being an ardent supporter of abortion, reversed the policy so that now our tax dollars will help to fund abortions and counseling services which encourage pregnant women to murder the child whom God is forming in their wombs!


However, when you have circulated for years in the environment of Chicago and Illinois politics and cut your political eye teeth in that environment the word “ethics” has two meanings. One, it has to do with a Judeo-Christian standard of truth and righteousness as based on God’s revelation in determining what is right and wrong when it comes to human conduct, relationships and moral responsibility – this is totally alien to the Chicago brand of politics! There is still a minority of citizens who believe in that description as to what ethics is about. But when the word, ethics, comes from politicians in high places, it doesn’t mean a thing – it is simply employed to gain favor and approval of people so that they are led to believe that there is no longer a clear line between right and wrong – everything is simply a murky gray and we are the sole judges as to what is right or wrong, according to our unregenerate way of thinking and reasoning!

The president was given many millions of dollars in his quest to buy the White House. Now that he has purchased it, the time has now arrived for pay backs and ethics is something you can only briefly mention from time to time but cannot practice because of the Mt. Everest sized pile of those pay-back obligations!

The foremost Authority on human behavior addressed such issues as those cited above a long time ago and the standards have not changed. Unfortunately that Authority is ignored today within the circles of elitist power and wealth just as He has always been from generation to generation. But the time is coming when Jesus Christ will personally interrupt the flow of human history as King of kings and Lord of lords and when He does, the whole world will know what genuine ethics, transparency and accountability are all about! It will be far from a Sunday School picnic thing for those who may have tossed the word "ethics" around repeatedly but failed miserably to put it into practice!

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

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink, who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away justice from the righteous man! --- Isaiah 5:20-23

Do Those Claiming to Be “Servants” Need to Live in Mansions?

“Michele calls me and says, ‘I’m in. I love this house, but it’s more than we were talking about paying for, but I really think it’s a great house, you should go take a look at it.’” --- Barack Obama’s report of his wife’s assessment of the “house” they eventually bought in Chicago for $1.65 million dollars, which involved a $330,000 discount! Source: The Obama Nation by Jerome R. Corsi, Ph.D.

It is a common claim made by elected officials, particularly at the federal level. Members of the U. S. Congress will often refer to their status of being a “servant” or “I work for you!” etc. when they are campaigning for reelection. These people are supposed to represent their constituents in D. C. and as such, ought not their personal lifestyles clearly reflect that status?

But if they insist on living in a house that costs in excess of a million dollars, send their kids to expensive private schools, and continually conspire to increase their salaries, perks and retirement benefits, how can they possibly have a genuine concern for the average citizen whom they claim to represent?

This has been a justifiable criticism in the realm of professing Christianity as well.

Those who head up mega churches and TV ministries have too often betrayed the people they claim to serve by indulging in worldly and lavish lifestyles. The days of “his & hers” Rolls Royce's (Jim & Tammy Faye Baker) or owning a very costly mansion (Jimmy Swaggert) have by no means ended!

It is all too easy when one moves into a position of power, influence and increased wealth to become infected with the spirit of this present world and “servant hood” fades away, becoming as dead as the many corpses buried in the local cemetery.

This is a tragic reality constantly repeated in both the political and the religious realms of human experience. And it is why you often find a lot scathing denunciations of political and religious leadership recorded in the holy Scriptures. Persons involved in political and religious leadership are regarded as being servants and are to discharge their responsibilities in obedience to Almighty God. Corruption setting in with a very negative influence on political and religious leaders will ultimately contribute to the downfall of a culture in time! The best summary where this pattern is demonstrated is revealed in 2 Chronicles 36 of the Old Testament Scriptures. The Old Testament prophets addressed this issue time and time again!

There will be attempts to justify the lavish lifestyles of politicians and those in the “higher ranks” of professing Christianity – if for no other reason than the fact that they deserve it for all the work they have done or they came out of very humble and poverty stricken backgrounds in younger and earlier years.

If one wants to get rich and live “high on the hog” then go into business, play the stock market (if you like to gamble), enter a profession, or become a trial lawyer! It’s wide open when it comes to opportunities to earn income and become rich, but even then one is still accountable to God for what you have done with your life. And if in the process you have become a billionaire many times over, then you really have a lot of accounting to do when you appear before God – and all of us will have that moment in which we answer to our Creator concerning what we have done with this most precious commodity called life.

But when it comes to involvement in something called government or a call to proclaim the Word of God, we then take on the role of “servants” and that means we are not to bathe in luxury in this present life. Keeping a proper focus is not at all easy due to a daily invasion of worldly distractions, but we can be greatly helped and challenged when we consider the example of One Who said, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." (Matthew 8:20).

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” --- Matthew 16:24-26