Way to Go, George, But There's Just One More Thing!

"Congress has sent me a bill that would overturn this policy. If this legislation became law, it would compel American taxpayers -- for the first time in our history -- to support the deliberate destruction of human embryos. I made it clear to Congress and to the American people that I will not allow our nation to cross this moral line. Last year, Congress passed a similar bill -- I kept my promise by vetoing it. And today I'm keeping my word again: I am vetoing the bill that Congress has sent."
-- George W. Bush, White House, Washington DC - June 20, 2007

President Bush has stirred up a hornet's nest by vetoing a bill which would have compelled us taxpayers to financially support the deliberate destruction of human embryos, as he described it at a special photo op on June 20th.

Those few of us who still hold to fact that when a female egg cell is united with a male sperm cell then a miracle takes place and a human being is in the process of formation for a nine month period before being born into the world.

The president has claimed to be pro-life in his position and it would seem so, in light of the his veto of a bill which, if it had been signed by him, would have resulted in mass destruction of human embryos in stem cell research.

BUT at the same time he has shown absolutely no real concern over the fact that about 100,000 unborn children (also very human) are destroyed every month of the year in this republic.

You remember, do you not, how aggressive he was in telling us that Saddam Hussein just had to go and a preemptive strike was necessary in order to bring this about -- it was a 24/7 campaign waged through the mass media and you remember what happened back in March of 2003?

Now compare how aggressive he has been in reminding us that the brutal mutilation and murders of unborn children has to be stopped at once -- how often have you heard him devote a news conference to this moral crisis? How often has his administration initiated legislation to halt the slaughter? Sure, it may get shot down by the many legislators who couldn't care less that mutilated remains of unborn children are thrown into a garbage can as casually as they throw a soda can into the garbage after swilling down its contents! But at least the guy could make an effort to give some credibility to his claim of being "pro-life!"

Sadly, it seems that the number of those who are really disturbed about the destruction of the unborn is shrinking -- there just aren't that many who are speaking up and protesting the slaughter, or sounding the warning of what will happen if it isn't stopped!

And that's where Almighty God comes into the picture -- review again some statements which indicate clearly that the unborn are known and fully identified by Him before conception in the womb:

"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 1:5

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 139:15,16

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love... --- Ephesians 1:3,4

To those who have a sensitivity to this revelation, it becomes crystal clear that God not only knows and identifies us before we have been conceived in our mother's wombs, but He also has a specific purpose for us as we live our lives on earth!

Unfortunately, most political leadership as well large numbers of church leaders have struck out on this fundamental fact of life in the United States -- the daily destruction of unborn children in a republic that has a historic document which stresses the "unalienable rights" which each human is to be granted, including "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," isn't really that important! And so they keep their mouths shut on this one -- they may spout off on a lot of other issues, but destruction of unborn children? Why that's a complex issue, didn't you know?

Guess what? It's not going to be very complex when God makes His response to the United States' "Holocaust!"

If you haven't checked lately, see some of the tally figures involving the greatest massacre in United States' history. The numbers are from different dates which involve special happenings. Go to A Quick Look At the United States' Massacre Tally!

But they mingled with the Gentiles and learned their works; they served their idols, which became a snare to them. They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons, and shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; and the land was polluted with blood. Thus they were defiled by their own works, and played the harlot by their own deeds. Therefore the wrath of the LORD was kindled against His people, so that He abhorred His own inheritance. And He gave them into the hand of the Gentiles, and those who hated them ruled over them. Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand. --- Psalm 106:35-42

Nothing But Nets and Saving Children!

"You see, malaria is a big deal. It's one of the root causes of poverty. It kills a million people a year, 75 percent of whom are children. When you think about it in those terms, it's a daunting reality. Yet, there is a simple way for everyone who reads this to participate in beating this disease -- spend $10, send a bed net and save a life. That's it! That's all it takes! Buy a net -- save a life. End of story. Better yet, end of disease........Wow! Imagine it -- a world without malaria. Millions of people given the same chance as you and I to live a long, healthy, and sustainable life." --- Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton of the Western PA Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in January 19, 2007 issue of InterLink, the conference newspaper.

Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton is deeply involved and totally committed to the "Nothing But Nets" campaign. He is the head man of the Western PA Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. This piece of real estate takes in about the western 1/3 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The conference has been saturated with information and challenge to get involved by purchasing insecticide-treated bed nets to curtail the spread of malaria in Africa.

Statistics cited by Bishop B. are that about 1 million people die a year from malaria and of that number, about 750,000 are children. Hence, the appeal to go to the rescue and start reducing the number of fatalities.

This is not intended to take away from the effort nor diminish its importance. My wife and I will be giving support to this effort. Those reading this can obtain more information and how to give support by going to U.S. Netting or www.nothingbutnets.net. [NOTE: If you go to the Nothing But Nets web site, the stats there will tell you that 1 million children a year are victims of malaria which is a quarter of a million more than quoted by Bishop B. above.]

However, it is necessary to point out a glaring inconsistency here which is quite commonplace among UMC bishops, particularly in recent decades as they have stressed the need to be in ministry to children.

Bishop Bickerton is pushing the NBN campaign and states that about 3/4 of a million children in Africa die each year from malaria. Now then, how often have you heard this bishop deplore (either in vocal statements or in his InterLink column) the fact that well over 1 million unborn children are deliberately mutilated and murdered each year in "the land of the free and the home of the brave?"

The bishop is also at the heart of the "Believe Again" strategic plan for ministry in the W. PA Annual Conference which was enthusiastically adopted last June at the annual meeting. One of the plush "perks" he will personally get in time will be a full time assistant to the tune of a few tens of thousands of dollars per year!

A part of the strategy in this "plan" is an emphasis on church congregations addressing issues of injustice and seeking to come to the assistance of those who are the victims of injustice.

I have yet to receive a reply from the bishop or any of his superintendents (there are 10 of these people) when I asked them in a personal letter addressed to each if they as leaders were going to address the issue of injustice that results in the intentional and brutal murders of over 1 million unborn children each year in this republic.

There has been this strange and very unsettling silence on the part of UMC leadership over the years when it comes to the United States' version of "holocaust." Perhaps this takes place because of the "official" statement in the denomination's Book of Discipline relative to the subject of abortion. The United Methodist Church is on record as declaring a "reluctance" to approve of abortion, but then after mentioning the reluctance thing, goes right ahead and gives a green light to the heinous practice anyway, saying that an unacceptable pregnancy may bring about hardship, stress or whatever!

In personal communication with bishops over the years, one told me that she stands by the position of the church (as cited above), so whatever the church decides at a General Conference (every 4 years) that is what she will support. Presumably if the UMC decided to jump off the highest point of the Grand Canyon into the river below, she would jump too without objection. Another bishop did go so far as to state in a response that abortion is a serious issue, but I was making too much of the issue, etc!

Unfortunately there are too many United Methodists who hold bishops in higher regard than Roman Catholics hold the Pope! When they say "Jump!" the standard response is "How high, and for how long?" And when they speak there are those who hold that every word spoken is "gospel truth," but documented evidence can prove otherwise in a number of cases! There are still a few of us that believe there is a much higher Authority than any designated church leader, UMC bishops included, and sometimes this will mean we definitly will be marching to the beat of a different Drummer!

How about rephrasing Bishop Bickerton's statement above with use of another word in this manner --

"Wow! Imagine it -- a world without abortion. Millions of people given the same chance as you and I to live a long, healthy, and sustainable life."

Do you think the bishop would be willing to make such a statement and lead the way to making that a reality with enthusiastic support from his fellow bishops?

We all know the answer to that one, do we not?

Animal Rights People & Polar Bear Cubs -- Ugggh!

His name is Knut -- cute little fellow born early in December at a zoo in Berlin, Germany. His mother rejected him and his brother with the result that the brother died, but Knut was rescued by a zoo keeper and was given round-the-clock attention. He has gotten a lot of publicity and his pictures have warmed the hearts of a lot of people with some notable exceptions!

Seems some animal rights people are up in arms about this "rescue" and are going on record that Knut should have been left to die because that's what would have happened out in the wild.

Further, according to the "animal rights" people, Knut should not be cared for by humans -- in the words of one such person, "Hand-rearing a polar bear is not appropriate and is a serious violation of animal rights."

It apparently has not dawned on such people that all living creatures which are residents of a large number of zoos all over the world are "hand-reared" in that they are fed by humans, provided living quarters by humans, and treated by humans when they are ill!

A couple of questions here -- do these people show an equal concern for the "rights" of unborn children -- or is their position one in which you just let them die by mutilation and murder by the thousands each week since that is "nature's way?"

And the real critical question is this -- is it true that to be an animal activist, such as the one who made the above quoted statement, the basic requirement is that you are not permitted to have an IQ level which measures above 47?

How Long Do You Have to Fight a War, Anyway?

It is with a measure of fear that I venture into this highly controversial arena and with the understanding that more likely than not my purpose will be misunderstood. In spite of that, here we go, taking the plunge into the pool of "politics & war" ------>

The 4th anniversary of our "war" in Iraq will take place on March 19, 2007. We also have a pot still simmering in a place called Afghanistan. Loss of military personnel in the Iraq mess is now approaching 3,200. And in that other place we still lose military people from time to time as well.

Now consider this: we really got involved in WW II with the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. We were involved in wars on two fronts. The Normandy invasion took place in June of 1944, although we were carrying out bombing raids before that, and there had been fighting in Africa, Italy, and Sicily. But it was all wrapped up with defeat of Germany in May of 1945 and Japan in August of 1945. Terms were unconditional surrender -- no sitting at a table and negotiating for weeks! It was the last time the United States had such a decisive military victory in war.

Then came Korea -- the Chinese got involved, so MacArthur as much as said, "If you're getting into this, then we'll go after your hide too!" Truman fired him and we "negotiated" a settlement. And so North Korea is more than a kind of "thorn in the flesh" today.

Then there was something called Viet Nam --- I guess you know we didn't come out too well in that one either, did we?

And then a thing called Desert Storm under the first Bush (no pun intended) and a tent was set up in the desert and we talked and signed papers and that kind of stuff and a guy named Hussein remained in power.

In between all these events were skirmishes of one kind or another with the prevailing idea now that military commanders are mere puppets on strings pulled by politicians and their appointees. Be careful where you aim your weapon and fire in spite of the fact that you are getting shot at from all directions! Now we're supposed to fight "clean" or "sanitized" wars -- is there really such an animal?

George Patton, highly controversial general of WW II era, expressed the desire that he wanted just Field Marshall Rommel (brilliant German armored commander) and he to take a tank and do battle with each other -- whoever won, that would settle it -- no more fighting after that. Forget about getting thousands of troops involved!

Perhaps the war business would slow down considerably if somehow the rule would be that only the leaders of nations who feel they must engage in conflict would be the only ones permitted to do battle and include their families -- just immediate families, not far out relatives -- just dad, mom, and the kids, and let them fight it out instead of sending other dads' and moms' kids into deadly conflicts! Maybe we can petition that one to be on the ballot for the next election, huh????

Back in 2003 we were repeatedly told (like some guy beating on a drum 24 hours a day) that Saddam Hussein and Co. were a massive threat to world peace -- he was a brutal dictator and had ruthlessly killed a lot of people during his vicious reign in Iraq -- he just had to be eliminated. So we got him taken out of power, but we're still bogged down and we are still in what some agree to be "war!" The number of victims as best can be estimated under Hussein's "reign of terror" is somewhere in the range of 1 million.

But brutality and murder weren't limited to Hussein and his sons -- since we invaded Iraq 4 years ago the victims of brutality, mutilation and murder in this country now number well over 5.1 million! They are persons who never had the chance to be born -- they were mutilated and murdered while still in their mothers' wombs in the "land of the free and the home of the brave!"

Is it any wonder that the blessing of God Almighty has been withdrawn from this nation and now we are strictly on our own -- and real victory eludes us as does the proverbial "pot of gold" at the end of a rainbow? And this means that never again will we be in a position to demand "unconditional surrender!"

Furthermore, it is nothing short of hypocrisy of the first magnitude to expect God to bless this nation as we intentionally destroy on average about 100,000 of our own each month of the year!

Just something to think about and then sleep on as you lay your head on the pillow tonight.

BTW, just in case you are trying to figure out my "politics" by what I have just said -- forget it! I'm neither Democrat or Republican -- neither party has anything of significant value to offer the citizens of this republic at this point in time! Elected officials are too occupied with themselves and what grandstanding they can do to always be center-stage, while at the same time devising new ways to fatten the wallets in their pockets or the purses which hang from their shoulders! I am a non-affiliated registered voter in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, and yes, I do vote -- frustrating as that experience is each time I enter the ballot booth. :-(

"But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:....... the LORD will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke in all that you set your hand to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the wickedness of your doings in which you have forsaken Me........ The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them; and you shall become troublesome to all the kingdoms of the earth."
--- Deuteronomy 28:15,20,25

I'm a Serial Killer, But I Quit Doing That -- Am I Off the Hook?

"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. And I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria and the plummet of the house of Ahab; I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. So I will forsake the remnant of My inheritance and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become victims of plunder to all their enemies, because they have done evil in My sight, and have provoked Me to anger since the day their fathers came out of Egypt, even to this day.'" Moreover Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides his sin with which he made Judah sin, in doing evil in the sight of the LORD. --- 2 Kings 21:11-16

As you know, once in a while we have these people who go on a killing spree over months or even years in some cases. What do you suppose would happen if one of these is not actually apprehended -- he just walks into a police station and says he has killed a lot of people, but he has "turned over a new leaf" in life and he isn't going to do it anymore. Does that mean that he is completely off the hook so far as society is concerned? Will the police simply say, "That's fine -- we're glad to hear that, and now we can close the books on your case. Just go on home and be about your business."

For some reason there would be an universal cry of protest -- this guy has to be brought to justice -- put on trial -- evidence presented -- and if found guilty, then given a sentence in keeping with the crimes committed -- he has to pay for all that killing of innocent victims!

The February issue of whistleblower magazine (yes, there are no capital letters in the name) by WorldNetDaily.com is devoted to the subject of ending abortion. There is a high note of optimism expressed that abortion will be ended, not so much by decrees and legislation changes, but more due to the fact that fewer doctors are willing to kill unborn children and bear the brunt of a stigma associated with such a practice -- after all, our basic view of doctors and the philosophy which undergirds their work is that they train and use skills to enhance and preserve life, not destroy it!

So, project ahead in time -- suppose it really does happen some way -- abortion is ended in the U.S. of A. Pro-life people shout and maybe even dance in the streets as they celebrate the ending of the U. S. version of "holocaust" -- pro-abortion people hold a mock funeral or some such ritual, and have buckets sitting around to collect tears rather than mangled remains of unborn children as had been the policy in this nation for decades!

Now back to our serial killer -- even though he claims he has "turned over a new leaf" and will no longer go about killing, is he off the hook? A majority at least would say he must stand trial and pay for his crimes.

So, what do you say about a nation which has deliberately mutilated and murdered millions of unborn children for decades? Are we off the hook because we finally got to the place where we don't do abortions any longer? Better think again on that -- and don't celebrate if it should happen in your lifetime and abortion is no longer practiced anywhere in the United States.

There is a pay day to face -- the "reaping" time will come due to the seed of "shedding innocent blood" which has been sown for decades! It's a guarantee because the Creator of this great universe has said so -- as you sow, so shall you reap -- and it applies to individuals and ALSO to nations as well.

So it's not a question as to whether God will call this nation to account for its slaughter of the innocent ones in the womb, but WHEN it will happen! It was years later after King Manasseh had died that God brought disaster on the ancient kingdom of Judah, but reference is made to Manasseh as to why it happened:

And the LORD sent against him raiding bands of Chaldeans, bands of S yrians, bands of Moabites, and bands of the people of Ammon; He sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD which He had spoken by His servants the prophets. Surely at the commandment of the LORD this came upon Judah, to remove them from His sight because of the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done, and also because of the innocent blood that he had shed; for he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, which the LORD would not pardon. --- 2 Kings 24:2-4

Now what objections can you raise that the God Who brought this universe into existence by spoken command should not deal with this United States as He did with that ancient kingdom of Judah due to an issue referred to as the "shedding of innocent blood?"

Will we really be home free if we stop the slaughter of the innocents even now? Stop and think about it -- this unique kind of "serial killing" has been going on for over 3 decades and tens of millions have been the victims!