An Ego Distinctly Qualified for a World Record!

Ego: the self; the individual as aware of himself...
Egocentric: dwelling upon one's self or upon one's own personal interests almost to the exclusion of everything else; viewing everything in relation to oneself; self-centered. --- from Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary

All world leaders, as is true of each individual, have to deal with the issue of ego -- to what extent is the ego going to dominate one's life and influence one's decision making. History is strewn with the wreckage of cultures due to leaders who miserably failed to bring the ego into submission to the will of the Creator of this mighty universe. God has revealed quite a few things about the ego and how it is to be dealt with in human experience.

We are presently saddled with a president whose ego demands attention on a 24/7 basis. Some have suggested that he has never really shifted out of "campaign" mode. There is the felt necessity to be always traveling somewhere and personally face crowds of people for whatever reason, and those reasons can be as varied as a giant box of Crayola crayons!

The latest expression of the Obama ego is seen in the planned Asia trip of 10 days which will take him into such countries as India and Indonesia. Controversy has erupted over the magnitude and expense of such a venture when in reality it isn't really necessary. While speaking platitudes about the economy and the need to get things up and rolling, the president fails to recognize that he can do some things or refuse to do some things that will not further burden the way things are financially at the present time in our republic.

Here are some things involved in the trip: already three visits have been made by security personnel to plan for "The Visit." Some hardware involved are 34 warships, 40 aircraft, a bunch of limos including the $300,000 "Beast," and of course Air Force One which gets a tad less than 28 miles to the gallon while in flight!

The entire 5-star Taz hotel has been booked for the entourage. This involves at least 500 people which includes Secret Service and White House staff persons. It was the Taz that was the scene of bombings and riots last year. So it figures that security will require not only a huge number of our people, but those from India as well.

One figure tossed around which is being challenged is 200 million dollars a day. But is it really possible to calculate the grand total which involves the expense of the hardware and the time and salaries paid to all involved somehow in this debacle of the first magnitude? One thing sure, you have more than a figure of $39.95 involved here.

As an aside - the ego rose again to the occasion at the press conference following the day of the election. The message sent by the voters was totally ignored with the "ego" suggesting that we citizens did not really understand what he was trying to do through what we interpret as "government intrusion" -- so there you have it again, we are a bunch of stupid people -- he's the smart one and knows what is best for us and the country.

Fortunately, there is a change coming at some point in the future and he, with the record setting ego, will not be the one who brings it about! Just take a sobering, prayerful look at Revelation 11:15 -- it tells of the time when all world leaders will be out of a job!

Then He (Jesus) said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what advantage is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels." --- Luke 9:23-26

That Gulf Oil Spill - A Certain Fact Commonly and Vigorously Denied!

"Then they will answer, 'Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore He has brought all this calamity on them.'" --- 2 Chronicles 7:22

Therefore thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will surely bring calamity on them which they will not be able to escape; and though they cry out to Me, I will not listen to them. --- Jeremiah 11:11

"Because you have burned incense and because you have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD or walked in His law, in His statutes or in His testimonies, therefore this calamity has happened to you, as at this day." --- Jeremiah 44:23

It is dominating news everywhere on a worldwide basis and the longer the crisis continues, the more the assignment of blame and responsibility escalates! One wonders if President Obama's hatchetman, Rahm Emanuel, continues to play the favorite string on his fiddle which gushes a familiar tune, "Never let a crisis go to waste."

As the president continues to wear out Air Force One (will hundreds of millions have to be spent for a replacement before his term ends?) he is finding out as he walks along beaches with oil penetrating them that things just don't happen automatically when he opens his mouth and gives a command -- you know, like "Fix that ##$$@@%% leak!"

What is really pathetic in this happening is the fact that the president, his administration, the members of the U.S. Congress and the "experts" on deep sea oil drilling fail to realize another dimension in what is termed an environmental disaster of the first magnitude.

Since we have for decades as a nation chosen to give the Creator of the universe an obscene gesture as to our response to His claims and His call that we repent of our sins, receive His Son, Jesus Christ, as Savior and Lord, and commit to seeking His holy will and purpose for us, then we can only expect a series of calamities in our national experience as the blessings of God are withdrawn!

God has clearly established the fact that a sane, sensible, serene, stable, secure, and stellar society is experienced on basis of total obedience to Him. To reject Him is to become the target of unimaginable calamities and ultimately judgment and total destruction if there is refusal to repent. The principles as to how this comes into play are spelled out throughout the Scriptures, but especially in Deuteronomy 28. In that chapter a sharp contrast is drawn as to what happens when a nation obeys God as opposed to what happens when disobedience is chosen by the majority of the citizens and its leaders!

There will be large numbers who will vehemently deny that God has anything to do whatsoever with what happened in the Gulf of Mexico. Granted, there are any number who deny that God even exists, or if He does, He just kind of looks on indifferently as to what is going on in this world. A greater number may claim there is a God and that they "believe" in Him -- but they live day by day as though He doesn't exist -- what some describe as being a "practical atheist" -- insisting there is a God but denying Him by personal lifestyle!

But what if.....?

Yes, the day will likely come that just maybe the leak will be "fixed" but the damage that has taken place up to that moment is impossible to fully and accurately calculate. Plus the fact that for those willing to face the reality, there is the recognition that Almighty God does interact with the members of the human race and the nations into which they are divided. What is on the divine "agenda" so far as the schedule of future calamities are concerned as Jesus Christ tarries in His personal return to this confused and chaotic world?

"And they shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have not said in vain that I would bring this calamity upon them." --- Ezekiel 6:10

Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; their foot shall slip in due time; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them.' --- Deuteronomy 32:35

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

Do As I Say, But Never As I Do!

President Obama and his co-conspirators in Congress have said much about how difficult it is for a majority of U. S. citizens and how we all have to sacrifice during these times of hardship until the economy improves.

President Obama has mentioned frequently of the need to drastically reduce our dependence upon foreign oil – we need to sacrifice and at one point he stressed the need for U. S. citizens to quit driving SUV’s which have a reputation of guzzling gasoline! But since taking the oath of office back on January 20, 2009 this fellow has done more flying around the country in Air Force One than any other president and the mileage on that Boeing 747 isn’t anything to brag about – in fact, if SUV’s could burn jet fuel, we could keep a whole big bunch of them on the road for a long time in order to burn the fuel that Air Force One consumed during this past month! His most recent excursion was into Canada. Ah, yes – it’s “do as I say, but never as I do!” What evidence has he produced that he is serious about practicing what he preaches constantly to us about when it comes to this issue of “belt-tightening?”

Then there is that infamous Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi – or Queen Nancy as some have labeled her. She too prattles on in much the same way as the president, talking about how difficult it is for a lot of our citizens at a time when the economy is going belly up! Just recently after passage of that monstrosity bit of legislation posing as a “stimulus” bill, Nancy, her husband, and a few cronies from Congress flew to Italy. She and hubby had an audience with the Pope among other things.

It cost about $10,000 an hour to keep the government aircraft in the air which was used by Nancy and Co. That of course is not the only expense racked up on this trip which we citizens, who are in a difficult time according to Queen Nancy, will have to pay! You know, do you not, that the "Queen" is constantly flying back and forth to California, since she "represents" the district in which San Francisco is located?

These antics are a constant reminder of how low this nation has sunk in terms of leadership which claims to have concern for the citizens which they are supposed to lead. Again, I struggle with that word which so clearly applies to the likes of an Obama, a Pelosi or hundreds of other elected officials – it’s hypo or something – it sounds a bit like hippopotamus at the beginning but not at the end – the hippo part, I mean – help me out please. These people are an incarnation of that word!

Oh, look just below – a man who lived centuries ago used that word and it looks like the leadership at that time was more than just a little bit irresponsible. Seems like we are witnessing that old saying that goes something like this – “Those who will not learn from the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it!”

What say you?

For the leaders of this people cause them to err, and those who are led by them are destroyed. Therefore the LORD will have no joy in their young men, nor have mercy on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is a hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still. --- Isaiah 9:16, 17

Little Jack Horner Replayed!

Just about everyone has heard of Little Jack Horner at a very tender age. There may be some exceptions, but Jack is a prominent personality in nursery rhyme lore along with a number of others. He sat in a corner and munched on Christmas pie. At a certain point he seriously violated Emily Post’s standard of conduct when eating – he stuck in his thumb and pulled out a plum and said, “What a good boy am I!”

Little Jack Horner has been resurrected and it started back quite some months ago but really came to the forefront in November 2008 and then culminated in the inauguration of B. Hussein Obama as president of the United States on January 20, 2009.

While he is commonly known now as President Obama, he really is Little Jack Horner in disguise! Here are the ways we know it is really Jack:

• this is the guy who has already signed some highly questionable executive orders and there are more earth-shaking ones to come, but for now he will sign a financial Frankenstein that is erroneously termed a “stimulus” bill and then will say, “What a good boy am I!” His co-conspirators in Congress will enthusiastically agree!
  
  
• this is the guy that takes the word “extravagant” to a new high by flying all over the country in a Boeing 747, which isn’t cheap, and then tells you and me we have to quit running SUV’s, do some sacrificing and help to cut down on our dependence on foreign oil – after all that he says, “What a good boy am I!” – and a vast horde of citizens agree!
  
  
• this is the guy who says he is going to have high ethical standards in his administration and then appoints a bunch that has problems paying all taxes or they are under investigation for something or there are possible conflicts of interests -- and who knows what other kind of baggage some of these people are bringing along with them to their plush positions. But he’ll say, “What a good boy am I!” -- and a vast horde of citizens agree!
  
  
• this is the guy who said no lobbyists were going to be hired in his administration, and then turns around and gives a waiver to a powerful character in the lobbying business (related to the Department of Defense!) so that he can serve in the Defense Department – and he’ll simply say, “What a good boy am I!” -- and a vast horde of citizens agree!
  
  
• this is the guy of whom it is said that he is still in campaign mode and has yet to shift into the gear in which he actually begins to govern – it must be so, because he is city hopping all over the place – maybe he needs a weekly ego “booster shot” which can only come from the crowds who worship the ground he walks on! Certainly it could be expected that he would then say, “What a good boy am I!” -- and a vast horde of citizens agree!
  
  
• this is the guy who likes to throw out the terms, “God bless you. And God bless the United States of America,” but cannot find time to give public expression in acts of worshipping this God to Whom he makes reference. He can find time to play basketball, work out and do government “business” on the Lord’s Day, but to set an example before his family and the nation by giving public expression to his professed faith, he simply doesn’t – yet he will still insist, “What a good boy am I!” -- and a vast horde of citizens agree!
  

Granted, you might not hear him vocally say, “What a good boy am I!” And the reason is, he lets the mainstream media say it for him or the shouting crowds that he plans to visit on a regular basis, according to David Axelrod, who is in reality the Propaganda Minister for the Obama Administration. Just listen to him talk sometime and you’ll see – he will confirm repeatedly that B.O. is indeed a very good boy!

Before you go to sleep tonight, why not recite the record of Little Jack Horner. After you have done that, then think of how that has been dramatically updated and the new version of Jack lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC!

And the people kept shouting, "The voice of a god and not of a man!" --- Acts 12:22

And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'" --- Jesus in a confrontation with Satan in Luke 4:8

Partying in Williamsburg VA!

President Obama spoke of his first ride in Air Force One and expressed with a big smile, “I like it.”

It was truly a case of “birds of a feather flocking together” as the Democrats held a retreat in Williamsburg VA. They couldn’t do this without President B. Hussein Obama joining them and being on center stage at one point in this circus. He obviously is having no difficulty in adjusting to being center stage wherever he is or wherever he goes in his travels.

And how did he get there? Well, what better opportunity to try out Air Force One than to go to the Dems’ retreat in Williamsburg VA which is only about 147 miles down the road from DC! Marine One (the president’s personal helicopter) could have made the trip with much less expense – so much for a little sacrifice and a bit of savings to the American taxpayer from one who has talked and talked and talked (add as many talks as you want even if it fills an 18 wheeler to the point of overload in its load capacity!) about sacrificing, cutting back on some expenses and foregoing some “luxuries” we may have been used to – such as running those gas guzzling SUV’s!

His attempt at some humor would earn him a –F grade, or if the grading system has been revised to go all the way to Z, then he would get a -Z. He mentioned that his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel (who has a big foul mouth reputation), was teaching profanity to underprivileged children! This one got howls of laughter indicating the amused ones are plagued with an ignorance that defies description. First, they (including the president) are extremely ignorant of how Almighty God views profanity and a filthy mouth that spews out the same! Second, there obviously is no desire to set a noble example in conduct and speech for children and youth. These people who are supposed to be leaders fulfill the definition of profanity by one wise observer who declared that “profanity is the effort of a feeble mind trying to express itself forcibly!”

The president took an ample amount of time to further compliment Democratic leaders for their work. He especially praised Nancy Pelosi for her work in the House of Representatives and help with the gigantic stimulus bill being proposed. Queen Nancy, you remember, is Speaker of the House and the one who just recently made the statement about 500 million Americans losing their jobs – yes, that’s what she said – it’s on video. But not to be too hard on the Queen of the House – perhaps she was also including a few generations not yet born – that is, those who manage to survive the abortion binge the country is on at the present time. The United States only has about 305 million population in this year of 2009!


And the president had to take a shot at some cable networks though he did not specifically name any – but he used the term, “cable chatter,” different times, failing to realize he was on some cable channels himself as he stumped for that stimulus bill – was that not a bit of “cable chatter?” At least some citizens would prefer the other kind of “chatter” – it’s easier to stomach than is the Obama brand!

A confession – watching and listening to the antics presently taking place in Washington DC can be a very depressing experience – especially when you see no evidence produced by those elected officials that they are willing to do some sacrificing while piously calling upon us citizens to tighten our belts and do the sacrificing until things improve!

So I say again as I have often said previously – hang on, keep the faith and remember that it will not always be like this and we will not always be saddled with such leadership as presently exists at both state and federal levels – God is going to do a big change one of these days throughout this world – a change that is far beyond our limited ability to begin to comprehend. The below statement says it all!

Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" --- Revelation 11:15

B. O. Says No More SUV's!

"We can't drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times ... and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK..." --- Remarks by Senator Barack Obama while campaigning in Oregon

B. O. is determined that SUV's and other products and practices which consume tons and tons of energy in the United States will be eliminated when he takes over the presidency in January 2009! Along with the tirade about the SUV's B. O. also stressed that the United States has to lead by example!

You thought the day of miracles is no more? Well it is nothing short of a miracle that B. O. didn't bite his tongue in half with those remarks!

Let's see now -- he is practically demanding that U. S. citizens give up their SUV's among other things (and no, I don't own one myself) -- as president, will he give up that gas hog of a limousine? Aren't presidents supposed to set an example for the citizens of this republic? All he has to do is trade that gas guzzler in and settle for one of those little hybrids now being built by most manufacturers!

And then there's that monstrosity named Air Force One in which it is guaranteed that he just won't be able to resist taking flights all over the place -- that thing gulps fuel like there's no tomorrow, and costs thousands of dollars for each minute it is in the air!

So, B. O. -- how about setting a noble example for the citizens by putting Air Force One into mothballs and using a small fuel efficient Cessna or Beechcraft instead?

OK, OK -- I already know -- once he moves into the White House (if he gets elected) in January 2009, he likely will tell us what to do about saving energy and "going green" but will in no way set any kind of a noteworthy example himself!

Main problem? Once one tastes the power, control and prestige of that office, all rhetoric used to hoodwink the public to get elected is long forgotten!

On the other hand, God sometimes gives a people exactly what they deserve when it comes to the process of government! A people long ago wanted things which were not good for them, in spite of God warning them of the consequences. So what was the result? We are told that He gave them the desires of their hearts, but sent leaness to their souls! If you want to check up on that, it's in the book of Psalms. I could give you the specific location, chapter and verse, but the exercise of looking it up does one good -- just like a brisk walk in the morning as the day begins!

So, if you have one those SUV's which B. O. railed against, hang on to it -- put a sign on it which says, "I'll give up my SUV when B. O. gives up his limousine and Air Force One!"

"The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, like the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain.'" --- 2 Samuel 23:2-4