Tuesday
THE CHOSEN ENVOY ARRIVES
`
"THE SPEECH" IS OVER; THE CHOSEN
ENVOY ARRIVES; NOW JERUSALEM
AWAITS ACTION FROM AMERICA
It is not difficult to find fault with and to criticize
many of the decisions and programs being issued
almost daily by President Obama, who has been
described by some commentators as an "apprentice
president." But there is at least one major area of
his activities which is of major concern to American
Christians. That is his attitude toward Israel which
has now taken about a 180 degree turn from the
traditional American policy with respect to our long
time staunch ally in the Middle East.
Among his actions and proposals which might seem
questionable to Americans are the billions -- or even
trillions -- of dollars designated to be spent in what he
calls "stimulus" plans to solve our serious economic
problems -- but of which only a small amount has
actually been used, so his claims of benefits already
achieved seem to be a political spin with no basis in
statistical facts to support them. Then there are his
diplomatic gaffes including insults to other long time
allies, Great Britain and France. And there is the
looming dread of a nationalized health insurance
program costing undetermined costs, and with the
possibility of putting our medical services on
what has been called a "rationing" basis, as our
existing programs like Medicare are stripped to
pay for providing health service to illegal immigrants
-- an aspect of the proposal opposed by 80% of
our nation's people.
But our relationship with Israel becomes the main
focal point for Christian concern. A few weeks ago
our president declared to a Muslim audience that
we are no longer a Christian nation. Now just last
week former President Clinton told a Muslim group
that America is no longer a country dominated by
Christians and a powerful Jewish minority, and said
that given the growing numbers of Muslims, America
should be mindful of the changing demographics,
which led to Obama's election as president. Both
Obama and Clinton are apparently unmindful of the
facts that the most recent polls report that America's
Christian majority is 82%, with Muslims and Jews
combined amounting to about 5% of our population.
Meanwhile, Israel sits and awaits the decision of the
American powers-that-be concerning the ongoing
conflict between Israel and Palestine The Obama
envoy, former Senator George Mitchell, just spent
time in both Israel and Palestine, and left the same
reassuring message with both that "America will
not turn its back on Israel" and "America will
not turn its back on Palestine."
Even Hillary Clinton, now Secretary of State, has
done an abrupt turn-about from her position while
campaigning for president, when she said that if
Iran should attack Israel, the US would "totally
obliterate them." Last week she said “I don’t
think there is any doubt in anyone’s mind that,
were Israel to suffer a nuclear attack by Iran,
there would be retaliation.” But when asked if
that retaliation would be from America, she said.
“Well, I think there would be retaliation.”
Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu has been told
by the US to adopt a two-state program, with Israel
and Palestine existing side-by-side, with Jerusalem
divided so that part of the city becomes the Palestine
capital. Mr. Netanyahu has offered to enter into a
program to solve the conflict, with Israel existing as
a recognized state alongside a demilitarized Palestine,
and with Jerusalem remaining a unified city as the
capital of Israel, under Israeli control. But as one
editorial writer explained the impasse: "It's always
pretty much the same: Israel makes concessions,
and Palestinian groups respond with suicide
bombings and rockets."
And it is with respect to America's treatment
of Jerusalem that American Christians must have
great concern, given God's often expressed love for
His chosen city. “But I have chosen Jerusalem,
that My name might be there.” (II Chron. 6:6)
The heart of Israel is Jerusalem. As a city with no
great importance in manufacturing, commerce or
political power, the eyes of the whole world are
clearly focused on the city of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is God’s city and the Lord speaks often
about His city: "This is my resting place for ever
and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have
desired it." (Psalm 132:14) In Ezekiel 43:7 God
says of Jerusalem, "This is where I will dwell in
the midst of the children of Israel forever."
And we are instructed, "Pray for the Peace of
Jerusalem. They shall prosper that love thee."
(Psalm 122:6) Remember God's promise to
Abraham, "I will make of thee a great nation ...
and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse
them that curseth thee." (Genesis 12:2-3) And
God spoke through the Prophet Zechariah, saying,
"I will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and
Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth ... I will
save my people ... and they shall dwell in the
midst of Jerusalem, and they shall be my people,
and I will be their God in truth and in
righteousness." (Zechariah 8:3,8)
And, of course, Jerusalem is important to Christians
because Jesus' birth, life, ministry, death and
resurrection all took place there. Mr. Obama (as
does Mr. Clinton) has much to learn about the
Biblical view of Jerusalem and Israel, and about
America's heritage as a Christian nation.
But there is an element of hope: Rep. Randy
Forbes (R-Va.) believes that the United States is a
nation founded on Judeo-Christian principles, and
has introduced a bill (H.R. 397) -- the "Spiritual
Heritage" bill, designating the first week in May as
“America’s Spiritual Heritage Week.” Forbes said
his introduction of such a bill was brought about by
Obama's speech in Turkey, when he said that this
is no longer a Christian nation.
We have never done this before. But there is
much to be said for the idea of sharing with our
readers some "mini-editorials" on a variety of
important current events. So here are a few we
noted this week, presented on the basis of being
"fair and balanced" -- we report, you decide.
On the importance of good governance to the
Christian cause, by Rev. Phil Ashey, American
Anglican Council: "Good governance serves the
spread of the Gospel. Good governance enables
people to exercise their spiritual gifts to the
glory of God and for the expansion of God's
Kingdom. Good governance brings healing to
divisions and unity to the church. Good
governance raises up new people for mission
and multiplies ministries. Good governance
sets apostles and evangelists and intercessors
free to pray, lead people to Jesus Christ, plant
churches, and teach them everything that Christ
has commanded us."
On the meaning of marriage, by Rev. J. Lee
Grady, Charisma Magazine: "Marriage is a holy
institution, and the church should keep it that
way regardless of where our culture ends up
drifting on this issue. God preached the first
wedding sermon. The Scripture says: "For this
reason a man shall leave his father and his
mother, and be joined to his wife; and they
shall become one flesh." (Gen. 2:24, NASB).
A slight spelling error, by Ted Nugent, hard rock
guitarist and conservative political commentator:
"In an effort to deflect criticism of their
ongoing program to bankrupt the entire nation,
the Democratic leadership has labeled the
Congressional Republicans as the 'party of no.'
The Democrats would have been correct had
they checked their spelling. It is not 'no' that
defines the Congressional Republicans but
rather 'know.'"
On Supreme Court nominee Sotomayor by Pat
Buchanan writing in in Human Events: "No one has
brought forth the slightest evidence she has the
intellectual candlepower to sit on the Roberts
court... the Obama media have been ballyhooing
her brilliance -- No. 1 in high school, No. 1 at
Princeton, editor of Yale Law Review... Two
weeks ago, The New York Times reported that,
to get up to speed on her English skills at
Princeton, Sotomayor was advised to read
children's classics and study basic grammar
books during her summers. How do you
graduate first in your class at Princeton if your
summer reading consists of 'Chicken Little' and
'The Troll Under the Bridge'"?
And this Note on President Obama, by
Pat Boone, legendary entertainer: "'We're no
longer a Christian nation' ...'America has been
arrogant' ... 'After 9/11, America didn't always
live up to her ideals' ... 'You might say that
America is a Muslim nation.' Thinking about
these and other statements made by the man
who wears the title of president ... I keep
wondering what country he believes he's
president of..." (Good question!)
As American Christians, what do we need in
this troublesome hour? Our prayers must be two-
fold, first, asking for God's guidance for our new
president, and second, asking God to provide us
with new leaders in Conservative principles, both
from a political and religious (Christian) viewpoint.
At the moment no such leaders seem to be in
sight, but God knows who they are and where
they are. We grow impatient, but we must trust
God to answer our prayers, in His time.
Not from a Founding Father, but from a very
wise former president, "I do not believe there is
a problem in this country or the world today
which could not be settled if approached
through the teaching of the Sermon on the
Mount... I had faith in Israel before it was
established, I have in it now. I believe it has a
glorious future before it - not just another
sovereign nation, but as an embodiment of
the great ideals of our civilization." President
Harry S. Truman
Some Random Afterthoughts . . .
Some of our readers seem to enjoy the "one
liners" we have been sharing from week to week.
Most seem to be surprised how much truth can be
expressed in just a few words. Consider these, for
example, from this week: "Muslims in Pakistan
expressed their appreciation for President
Barack Obama's speech by bombing a fancy
hotel in Peshawar... Obama's 'I'm OK, You're
OK' speech would be hilarious, if it weren't so
terrifying. (Ann Coulter)
"More than 1.6 million jobs have disappeared
since the stimulus package was signed in
February. Government can't create jobs, only
dependency." (IBD editorial)
"People are being scammed already," said VP
Joe Biden, explaining that waste is inevitable with
so much stimulus money at stake.
And in line with today's theme, "According to
Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman
of the Conference of Presidents of Major
American Jewish Organizations, many
American Jews are beginning to have buyer's
remorse and are regretting their support for
Barack Obama." (Ronald Kessler)
Rev. Jeremiah Wright is at it again: President
Obama's former spiritual mentor (for more than 20
years) who expressed his feelings about America
with a profane curse, said last week about the
former member of his church in Chicago: "Them
Jews ain't going to let him talk to me. I told my
baby daughter that he'll talk to me in five years
when he's a lame duck, or in eight years when
he's out of office." Small wonder that President
Obama has such a poor grasp of the meaning of
the Christian faith.
A follow-up on a previous item: Last week we
expressed some aspects of our concern over the
Cairo speech. Now here is strong evidence that
our concern was justified: UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon strongly endorsed the speech, saying
that he "hopes that President Obama's message
will herald the opening of a new chapter in
relations between the United States and the
Islamic World," and that he "strongly welcomes
its message of peace, understanding and
reconciliation." Enough said. No comment.
The latest poll on Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme
Court nominee: Last week's Rasmussen poll shows
that Americans by a huge majority -- 83% --
prefer "equal justice" under the law, rather than the
Obama standard of "empathetic justice." The
poll disclosed that those 83% of American voters
say the courts should apply the law equally to all
Americans, rather than using the law to help those
who have less power and influence. The majority
view was shared by Republicans, Democrats and
non-affiliated voters.
Thoughtful quotes from a great president:
"Patriotism means to stand by the country. It
does not mean to stand by the president.... To
announce that there must be no criticism of the
president, or that we are to stand by the
president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic
and servile, but is morally treasonable to the
American public." -- Theodore Roosevelt, 1918
- - - - - - - - - -
"THE SPEECH" IS OVER; THE CHOSEN
ENVOY ARRIVES; NOW JERUSALEM
AWAITS ACTION FROM AMERICA
It is not difficult to find fault with and to criticize
many of the decisions and programs being issued
almost daily by President Obama, who has been
described by some commentators as an "apprentice
president." But there is at least one major area of
his activities which is of major concern to American
Christians. That is his attitude toward Israel which
has now taken about a 180 degree turn from the
traditional American policy with respect to our long
time staunch ally in the Middle East.
Among his actions and proposals which might seem
questionable to Americans are the billions -- or even
trillions -- of dollars designated to be spent in what he
calls "stimulus" plans to solve our serious economic
problems -- but of which only a small amount has
actually been used, so his claims of benefits already
achieved seem to be a political spin with no basis in
statistical facts to support them. Then there are his
diplomatic gaffes including insults to other long time
allies, Great Britain and France. And there is the
looming dread of a nationalized health insurance
program costing undetermined costs, and with the
possibility of putting our medical services on
what has been called a "rationing" basis, as our
existing programs like Medicare are stripped to
pay for providing health service to illegal immigrants
-- an aspect of the proposal opposed by 80% of
our nation's people.
But our relationship with Israel becomes the main
focal point for Christian concern. A few weeks ago
our president declared to a Muslim audience that
we are no longer a Christian nation. Now just last
week former President Clinton told a Muslim group
that America is no longer a country dominated by
Christians and a powerful Jewish minority, and said
that given the growing numbers of Muslims, America
should be mindful of the changing demographics,
which led to Obama's election as president. Both
Obama and Clinton are apparently unmindful of the
facts that the most recent polls report that America's
Christian majority is 82%, with Muslims and Jews
combined amounting to about 5% of our population.
Meanwhile, Israel sits and awaits the decision of the
American powers-that-be concerning the ongoing
conflict between Israel and Palestine The Obama
envoy, former Senator George Mitchell, just spent
time in both Israel and Palestine, and left the same
reassuring message with both that "America will
not turn its back on Israel" and "America will
not turn its back on Palestine."
Even Hillary Clinton, now Secretary of State, has
done an abrupt turn-about from her position while
campaigning for president, when she said that if
Iran should attack Israel, the US would "totally
obliterate them." Last week she said “I don’t
think there is any doubt in anyone’s mind that,
were Israel to suffer a nuclear attack by Iran,
there would be retaliation.” But when asked if
that retaliation would be from America, she said.
“Well, I think there would be retaliation.”
Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu has been told
by the US to adopt a two-state program, with Israel
and Palestine existing side-by-side, with Jerusalem
divided so that part of the city becomes the Palestine
capital. Mr. Netanyahu has offered to enter into a
program to solve the conflict, with Israel existing as
a recognized state alongside a demilitarized Palestine,
and with Jerusalem remaining a unified city as the
capital of Israel, under Israeli control. But as one
editorial writer explained the impasse: "It's always
pretty much the same: Israel makes concessions,
and Palestinian groups respond with suicide
bombings and rockets."
And it is with respect to America's treatment
of Jerusalem that American Christians must have
great concern, given God's often expressed love for
His chosen city. “But I have chosen Jerusalem,
that My name might be there.” (II Chron. 6:6)
The heart of Israel is Jerusalem. As a city with no
great importance in manufacturing, commerce or
political power, the eyes of the whole world are
clearly focused on the city of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is God’s city and the Lord speaks often
about His city: "This is my resting place for ever
and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have
desired it." (Psalm 132:14) In Ezekiel 43:7 God
says of Jerusalem, "This is where I will dwell in
the midst of the children of Israel forever."
And we are instructed, "Pray for the Peace of
Jerusalem. They shall prosper that love thee."
(Psalm 122:6) Remember God's promise to
Abraham, "I will make of thee a great nation ...
and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse
them that curseth thee." (Genesis 12:2-3) And
God spoke through the Prophet Zechariah, saying,
"I will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and
Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth ... I will
save my people ... and they shall dwell in the
midst of Jerusalem, and they shall be my people,
and I will be their God in truth and in
righteousness." (Zechariah 8:3,8)
And, of course, Jerusalem is important to Christians
because Jesus' birth, life, ministry, death and
resurrection all took place there. Mr. Obama (as
does Mr. Clinton) has much to learn about the
Biblical view of Jerusalem and Israel, and about
America's heritage as a Christian nation.
But there is an element of hope: Rep. Randy
Forbes (R-Va.) believes that the United States is a
nation founded on Judeo-Christian principles, and
has introduced a bill (H.R. 397) -- the "Spiritual
Heritage" bill, designating the first week in May as
“America’s Spiritual Heritage Week.” Forbes said
his introduction of such a bill was brought about by
Obama's speech in Turkey, when he said that this
is no longer a Christian nation.
We have never done this before. But there is
much to be said for the idea of sharing with our
readers some "mini-editorials" on a variety of
important current events. So here are a few we
noted this week, presented on the basis of being
"fair and balanced" -- we report, you decide.
On the importance of good governance to the
Christian cause, by Rev. Phil Ashey, American
Anglican Council: "Good governance serves the
spread of the Gospel. Good governance enables
people to exercise their spiritual gifts to the
glory of God and for the expansion of God's
Kingdom. Good governance brings healing to
divisions and unity to the church. Good
governance raises up new people for mission
and multiplies ministries. Good governance
sets apostles and evangelists and intercessors
free to pray, lead people to Jesus Christ, plant
churches, and teach them everything that Christ
has commanded us."
On the meaning of marriage, by Rev. J. Lee
Grady, Charisma Magazine: "Marriage is a holy
institution, and the church should keep it that
way regardless of where our culture ends up
drifting on this issue. God preached the first
wedding sermon. The Scripture says: "For this
reason a man shall leave his father and his
mother, and be joined to his wife; and they
shall become one flesh." (Gen. 2:24, NASB).
A slight spelling error, by Ted Nugent, hard rock
guitarist and conservative political commentator:
"In an effort to deflect criticism of their
ongoing program to bankrupt the entire nation,
the Democratic leadership has labeled the
Congressional Republicans as the 'party of no.'
The Democrats would have been correct had
they checked their spelling. It is not 'no' that
defines the Congressional Republicans but
rather 'know.'"
On Supreme Court nominee Sotomayor by Pat
Buchanan writing in in Human Events: "No one has
brought forth the slightest evidence she has the
intellectual candlepower to sit on the Roberts
court... the Obama media have been ballyhooing
her brilliance -- No. 1 in high school, No. 1 at
Princeton, editor of Yale Law Review... Two
weeks ago, The New York Times reported that,
to get up to speed on her English skills at
Princeton, Sotomayor was advised to read
children's classics and study basic grammar
books during her summers. How do you
graduate first in your class at Princeton if your
summer reading consists of 'Chicken Little' and
'The Troll Under the Bridge'"?
And this Note on President Obama, by
Pat Boone, legendary entertainer: "'We're no
longer a Christian nation' ...'America has been
arrogant' ... 'After 9/11, America didn't always
live up to her ideals' ... 'You might say that
America is a Muslim nation.' Thinking about
these and other statements made by the man
who wears the title of president ... I keep
wondering what country he believes he's
president of..." (Good question!)
As American Christians, what do we need in
this troublesome hour? Our prayers must be two-
fold, first, asking for God's guidance for our new
president, and second, asking God to provide us
with new leaders in Conservative principles, both
from a political and religious (Christian) viewpoint.
At the moment no such leaders seem to be in
sight, but God knows who they are and where
they are. We grow impatient, but we must trust
God to answer our prayers, in His time.
Not from a Founding Father, but from a very
wise former president, "I do not believe there is
a problem in this country or the world today
which could not be settled if approached
through the teaching of the Sermon on the
Mount... I had faith in Israel before it was
established, I have in it now. I believe it has a
glorious future before it - not just another
sovereign nation, but as an embodiment of
the great ideals of our civilization." President
Harry S. Truman
Some Random Afterthoughts . . .
Some of our readers seem to enjoy the "one
liners" we have been sharing from week to week.
Most seem to be surprised how much truth can be
expressed in just a few words. Consider these, for
example, from this week: "Muslims in Pakistan
expressed their appreciation for President
Barack Obama's speech by bombing a fancy
hotel in Peshawar... Obama's 'I'm OK, You're
OK' speech would be hilarious, if it weren't so
terrifying. (Ann Coulter)
"More than 1.6 million jobs have disappeared
since the stimulus package was signed in
February. Government can't create jobs, only
dependency." (IBD editorial)
"People are being scammed already," said VP
Joe Biden, explaining that waste is inevitable with
so much stimulus money at stake.
And in line with today's theme, "According to
Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman
of the Conference of Presidents of Major
American Jewish Organizations, many
American Jews are beginning to have buyer's
remorse and are regretting their support for
Barack Obama." (Ronald Kessler)
Rev. Jeremiah Wright is at it again: President
Obama's former spiritual mentor (for more than 20
years) who expressed his feelings about America
with a profane curse, said last week about the
former member of his church in Chicago: "Them
Jews ain't going to let him talk to me. I told my
baby daughter that he'll talk to me in five years
when he's a lame duck, or in eight years when
he's out of office." Small wonder that President
Obama has such a poor grasp of the meaning of
the Christian faith.
A follow-up on a previous item: Last week we
expressed some aspects of our concern over the
Cairo speech. Now here is strong evidence that
our concern was justified: UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon strongly endorsed the speech, saying
that he "hopes that President Obama's message
will herald the opening of a new chapter in
relations between the United States and the
Islamic World," and that he "strongly welcomes
its message of peace, understanding and
reconciliation." Enough said. No comment.
The latest poll on Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme
Court nominee: Last week's Rasmussen poll shows
that Americans by a huge majority -- 83% --
prefer "equal justice" under the law, rather than the
Obama standard of "empathetic justice." The
poll disclosed that those 83% of American voters
say the courts should apply the law equally to all
Americans, rather than using the law to help those
who have less power and influence. The majority
view was shared by Republicans, Democrats and
non-affiliated voters.
Thoughtful quotes from a great president:
"Patriotism means to stand by the country. It
does not mean to stand by the president.... To
announce that there must be no criticism of the
president, or that we are to stand by the
president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic
and servile, but is morally treasonable to the
American public." -- Theodore Roosevelt, 1918
- - - - - - - - - -
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