Monthly Archives: February 2010

Financial, Politics

Do people really want income redistribution?

Our President famously said that he wanted to spread the wealth around. Do you like that idea?

If people think income redistribution is such a swell idea, why not level the playing field around the world and not just in the U.S.? Check out this Global rich list site and see where you fit in. If you make $50,000 per year you are in the richest 1% of the people in the world.

If we really want to even everything out you’ll have to give up everything except $850 per year. That would put you at the 50% mark.

If you are reading this you are highly likely to be a very blessed person financially. Get out of debt as quickly as you can, live within your means and thank God for your good fortune. Give generously and joyfully because you want to, not because you have to.

Capitalism rocks! It has its hard edges, but it blows away all the other “isms” when it comes to helping the most people in the most significant way.

Roundup

Roundup

I just switched from Internet Explorer to Google Chrome.  It is so much faster!  Why didn’t anyone tell me about this?!

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25 Ways to Use the Kindle for Bible Study — I’ve been using the ESV Study Bible on my Kindle for several months.  It is very easy to navigate between the text and the study notes, or to look up passages.  This has many other tips as well.

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Up to 1,200 Killed at One Hospital by British Version of ObamaCare

Up to 1,200 people lost their lives needlessly because Mid-Staffordshire NHS Trust put government targets and cost-cutting ahead of patient care.

But none of the doctors, nurses and managers who failed them has suffered any formal sanction. Indeed, some have either retired on lucrative pensions or have swiftly found new jobs. Former chief executive Martin Yeates, who has since left with a £1million pension pot, six months’ salary and a reported £400,000 payoff, did not even give evidence to the inquiry which detailed the scale of the scandal…

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All a-Twitter about abortion

Recently, Tampa native Angie Jackson decided to post her observations regarding her abortion on Twitter. Jackson tweeted (the use of which as a verb still disturbs me, but that is irrelevant) regular updates as the RU-486 (mifiprex) pills she took worked to terminate her pregnancy.

It is grossly apparent that Angie Jackson misses the crux of the debate.

Her appeal is largely to autonomy. The assumption that the unborn is not a human being is unmistakable.

“I am having an abortion…right now,” Jackson informs her audience.

“It’s basically like a miscarriage,” she says. She doesn’t clarify what she means, and such a claim demands clarification.  The terms “miscarriage” and “abortion” (as she is using it) exist on starkly different sides of a fence called “deliberate.”

“This is the best choice,” she says.

She’s right — if the unborn are not human.

“I just want to let everybody know that you too can have an abortion if you want one,” she says.

She’s right — if the unborn are not human.

“It’s okay.”

“It’s not shameful.”

She’s right — if the unborn are not human.

“It’s not killing a child.”

She’s right — if the unborn are not human.

Scientific fact: The unborn are human.  More here by Jill Stanek.

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U.K. Religious Schools Forced to Promote Abortion, Homosexuality under Sex-Ed Bill — it is amazing how rapidly Western culture is careening downhill.  Freedom of speech?  What’s that?

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Excerpts from the Purity Principle — great summary of the whole book by Randy Alcorn.  Highly recommended.

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McLaren’s New Kind of Christianity Is Old and False

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A good quote to keep in mind, courtesy of Above Every Name:

“To be holiest in evil times, is an indication of the truth of Grace. To profess religion when times favorite it, is no great matter. Almost all will court the Gospel Queen when she is hung with jewels. But to own the ways of God when they are decried and maligned, to love a persecuted truth – this evidences a vital principle of goodness. Dead fish swim downstream – living fish swim against it. To swim against the common stream of evil, shows grace to be alive.”

– Thomas Watson, The Great Gain of Godliness

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Can people overcome homosexuality?  The conventional wisdom is that they can’t, but that is a lie from Satan.  Pastor Foster is gathering videos of men and women who have overcome.

Roundup

Roundup

Planned Parenthood caught on video hiding statutory rape. . . . again (and again . . . )

In the video, after hearing the girl is 14 and her boyfriend is “much older,” the counselor says whether or not the situation will be reported by clinic workers “depends on the person you’re disclosing that information to.” When the girl says that her boyfriend is 31, the counselor tells her, “You don’t have to say anything” about the statutory rape and instructs her, “Just give them the information that’s needed.” The counselor also confirms that the 31-year-old “boyfriend” will be paying for the abortion.

These are not isolated occurrences.  They have been well documented across the country on audio and video for years.  What is the solution of our political leaders?  Give Planned Parenthood lots more money! There is something horribly wrong with these people (Planned Parenthood and the politicians).  Even pro-choicers should oppose statutory rape.

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Question: Does the Left’s hatred manifest differently when aimed at a man versus a woman? — Interesting analysis from Hillbuzz.

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Did the White House commit a federal crime by offering jobs in exchange for political favors? — One more from Hillbuzz.  Is anyone bothered by the White House bribing people not to run for office?

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NRLC says that new version of Obamacare is even more pro-abortion — I’ll say it again: The Democrats could have had health care sewn up months ago if they hadn’t insisted on taxpayer-funded abortions.  They want increased abortions and to pay back Planned Parenthood and the like more than they want to help the uninsured.

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Nap ‘boosts’ brain learning power — far be it for me to disagree with the BBC.  I’m a big fan of short naps.

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This says it all about the media’s reaction to the guy who flew the plane into the building in Austin.   They immediately and erroneously classified the eunuchbomber as a “lone wolf,” and he turned out to be from Al Qaeda.  Yet they acted as if Joe Clack was representative of tea-partiers.  Why the rush to judgment, especially when his profile was far more Left than Right?

Hat tip: Red State

Politics

MSNBC: anti-black and anti-Hispanic?

Yes, according to their standards.  They are apparently anti-logic and consistency as well, but pro-hypocrisy. 

Note to Keith and Co.: You are pro-abortion, including advocating taxpayer funded abortions.  Those already destroy black human beings at a rate three times that of whites, and Obama’s plan to require taxpayer funded abortions (despite his repeated lies about the topic) will increase that. 

Even if you aren’t racist, your policies drive the ultimate racism.  Margaret Sanger, the found of Planned Parenthood, would be proud.  She worked very hard to limit the creation of blacks and others she deemed as undesirable. 

If you want to play the race card, I’ll trump you with this every time.  Abortions are way more racist than pickup trucks.

Hat tip: Hillbuzz

Roundup

Roundup

Roxanne asks on FaceBook:

If nearly 75% of tea party activists attended college, compared to 54% of Americans, how is it that we are the uneducated rubes that the liberal media keeps telling us that we are?

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Why don’t pro-choicers support school choice?

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Check out Stand to Reason’s new teen site — great stuff.

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Quote of the year, so far:

If I could create one job in the private sector by helping to grow a business, that’s one more than Congress has created in the last six months. Sen. Evan Bayh (D)

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Caught on Video: Obama Brazenly Lying About Relationship With ACORN — surprised?

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Unholy Trinity Guns for Toyota — good analysis on the overreaction of the government to Toyota as compared to similar safety issues with GM.

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Pro-Lifer Faces Knife, Saves Life of Unborn Child — did you catch that on the mainstream media?  Not likely.

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Christian worldview

Church (non-) growth

From Wesley Report: The Mormons Haven’t Passed Us Yet… — many mainline denominations continue to lose members.  Unsurprisingly, the more worldly the churches the steeper the decline.  Who needs / wants to join a church that disagrees with the Bible and agrees with the world?  Don’t non-believers do that already?

Methodists were down 1%.

Episcopalians down almost 3%.

United Church of Christ down 3% (must be the ejector seats).

Ephesians

Ephesians 6

ep6.jpgGreetings!  This is one of my favorite books of the Bible. 

Children and Parents

6     Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

My youngest daughter likes to remind me of verse 4.  It is our jobs to teach them about Jesus and his message.  Sunday School classes and youth groups have a role but not the primary one. 

We must discipline and guide our children but not crush their spirits.  And we must live consistently with our professed beliefs.  We’ll all slip at times, but consistently acting one way at church and another at home will lead our kids into cynicism and away from faith. 

Do your children see you acting one way at church and another outside it?

Slaves and Masters

5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

That is very similar advice to what Paul gave in Colossians 3.  We should strive to be outstanding employees no matter who we work for.

We often think that some people are the enemy, but ultimately the real enemy is Satan.  Some think he isn’t real but the Bible couldn’t be more clear.  He is not some cartoon character in red tights.  Neither is he behind every wrong thing we do.  But he exists and is doing everything he can to keep non-believers from Jesus and believers from being effective ambassadors for Christ.

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Notice how there is no covering for your back.  Never turn away from Satan and get complacent.  Neither do we attack him.  He is smarter and more powerful than we are and we are no match for him, unless we use the word of God as our sword.  Then we can stand up to him. We can resist him and he will flee from us (James 4:7).

19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Paul prayed for boldness to preach the Gospel, and we should do the same.  How often do you pray for boldness to share the Gospel? 

Final Greetings

21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.

23 Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

 The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Uncategorized

The real racists.

Chuck Currie finds one (1) offensive comment on Facebook and draws this conclusion: Is Racism Alive In Oregon? Just Look At Facebook.

Sure, Chuck.  One person makes one stupid comment and you draw that conclusion?  The other people were venting over a fake pastor poverty pimp coming to grandstand.  Who can blame them?

Jackson and Sharpton are about as authentic as “reverends” as Chuck is (which is to say, not at all).

The real racists are Jackson, Sharpton, Currie and the like who advocate unrestricted abortion, which targets blacks just as Planned Parenthood’s founder did.  Abortion destroys black human beings at a rate three times that of whites.  It is the ultimate racism, killing more blacks in a day than the KKK did since their inception.

And all with the blessing of “reverends” like these three!

While protecting “choice” (that is, the choice to kill innocent human beings), they oppose the choice that would really help blacks: School choice.

They want to keep the blacks people poor and dependent, and it is working.  Shame on them.

This should be a central concern of the church as we are called by God to be a people of reconciliation and justice.

Sure, Chuck.  Then why do you spread lies about people and falsely accuse them of racist comments and more?

Chuck complains about “institutional racism,” but that is exactly what Liberal politics is about.  Go read Detroit: The petri dish of Liberal politics, education and unions.

Roundup

Roundup

If I were an Olympic ice skating judge there would be automatic 10 point deductions for pink tassels and 25 point deductions for clown costumes.  Or perhaps disqualifications.  Seriously, people.  That’s just wrong.

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A Reformed Evanjellybean Reconsiders Lent — by Marie

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That insane pilot sounds kind of like a tea partier, huh? — Only if you ignore his closing comments and the other Bush-bashing, as the Washington Post did:

The communist creed: From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.

The capitalist creed: From each according to his gullibility, to each according to his greed.

Doesn’t sound tea-partier-ish to me.

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19 points that undermine the claims of global warming alarmists — only 19?

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Iran is a nuclear power, just as predicated by President Bush in 2007.  Olbermann et al mocked him and supported Iran’s leader.  I’m sure they’ll be apologizing any time now . . .

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Roundup

Roundup

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Voddie Baucham on why Calvinists evangelize and pray

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See Mark’s review on Tactics – A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions

This book was not only extremely informative about defending the Christian worldview by utilizing a sound and skillful argument, but it was quite convicting to me personally. . . . If you get frustrated or angry at those who argue for irrational conclusions, built around an argument entrenched in poor logic and indefensible conclusions disguised as science or secular philosophy, this book will change your entire approach. Paul reasoned and argued with anyone he could find at the synagogues, he did not call them names or dismiss them as simply “morons” – my favorite name calling tactic . . . Koukl’s book reminded me, I as a believer – must be obedient to God and that calls us to be ambassadors for Christ, not ambassadors of our own personal likes and dislikes. We must remember, our arguments and positions are not built on a foundation of personal opinions, but rather God’s eternal word. Science, reason, and logic are all on God’s side.

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The chances of getting a functional protein by chance — for you non-math types, we have another name for “1 in 10^125.  We call it zero. 

Oh, and that’s just for one protein, and it still doesn’t explain where the source materials came from. 

The final probability of getting a functional protein composed of 100 amino acids is 1 in 10^125. Even if you fill the universe with pre-biotic soup, and react amino acids at Planck time (very fast!) for 14 billion years, you are probably not going to get even 1 such protein. And you need at least 100 of them for minimal life functions, plus DNA and RNA.

Watch the video at the link.

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New pro-abortion website — “45 Million Voices” — supposedly it will document the positive stories of women who have aborted.  Try not to drown in the irony of what a site with the same name could document from the perspective of the human beings destroyed in those abortions.