Friday
ONE YEAR OF BARACK OBAMA AS PRESIDENT
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* * * * * * * * * IMPORTANT NOTE * * * * * * * * *
A major word of thanks: On Jan. 6 in announcing the
issue of "Vol. 14, No. 1," and the beginning of 7 years of
weekly publication, these words also were noted: "We may
be forced to cease publication soon." The reason behind
that statement was purely financial. From day one we have
never charged any subscription fee . . . have never asked
for any financial support . . . and we do not sell books or
any other product. But there are obviously costs incurred
-- and one of those costs involves adequate functioning
computer equipment. Our computer equipment is simply
worn out due to heavy over use . . . and we do not have
the funds to replace it. Rather than stand by and watch
ANC cease publication, one of our long time readers who
also serves (at no charge) as a senior consulting advisor,
decided to share this need with just a very few readers.
The response was very encouraging! Not in the multi-million
dollar range which a prominent mega-church pastor has
been bragging about recently, but in an amount promised
by several friends which, when received, will enable us to
either purchase a new computer with adequate capacity or
have our present computer repaired and updated so we can
continue to publish ANC every week -- for as long as the
Lord leads, and indicates He wants us to continue. We are
using the best professional advisors and will be doing what
is the best way to solve our problem. Our thanks to those
who responded . . . and our thanks to our Lord who has
given this assurance of approval and encouragement.
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IN JUST A FEW DAYS WE WILL HAVE HAD ONE
YEAR OF BARACK OBAMA AS PRESIDENT;
WHAT WILL THE NEXT YEAR BRING?
The opening line of Shakespeare's "King Richard III"
is a very familiar one -- and particularly appropriate for
American citizens at this moment in our history: "Now
is the winter of our discontent..." A "winter of discontent"
seems to be an accurate description of American public
opinion at this point in time.
At the end of his first year President Obama has watched
his performance approval rating plummet to a lower level
than for any president in several decades at the end of one
year in office, and sinking to a new low just this past week.
And despite his over exposure on TV, utilizing his ever
present teleprompter, the people just don't like him, and
more serious than that -- they don't trust him. That feeling
was expressed by Congressman Joe Wilson of South
Carolina, in September when, during Obama's speech to
Congress, Wilson shouted "You Lie." An unfortunate
remark at an inappropriate moment, but it seemed to
capture a widely held public opinion, which the president
has done little to overcome. A contributing factor is his
failure to have any press conference since last July --
that's 6 months without any open exposure the the nation's
media. Not exactly a procedure to inspire confidence.
And all that negative public opinion has been reinforced
by Obama's cohorts in the Congress. Against his own
performance approval rating of below 50%, the Congress
has a public approval rating of +27%. Nancy Pelosi has
a public approval rating of +33%, with Harry Reid at +25%.
The lack of confidence and trust in this administration by
the American public has been highlighted recently by the
way the "Obamacare" health reform proposal has been
conducted. We have all seen on TV the 8 times where
he promised that all health care reform issues would
be debated and disclosed to the American people via
C-Span TV coverage. It was part of his pledge to make
openness and transparency a priority of his administration.
Instead, all negotiations are being carried on in secret,
behind closed doors with only Democrat members of the
Senate and House meeting with representatives of the
president's staff. Joe Wilson's shouted comment seems
totally justified.
Nancy Pelosi promised "the most honest, most open and
most ethical Congress in history," and concerning the way
the health reform proposals are being handled, declared,
"There has never been a more open process for any piece
of legislation." All this despite the CEO of C-Span formally
offering Obama and the heads of Congress the opportunity
to allow C-Span to cover the negotiations. Secrecy prevails.
So it is clear that President Obama begins his second year
in office with performance approval ratings hitting new
lows, and with both houses of Congress earning even less
public confidence and trust in their procedures.
As Christians, what should our concerns be? There
are many developments to concern us in the Obama
plans to transform America. He has promised to revoke
the federal DOMA, (Defense of Marriage Act) signed
into law by Bill Clinton. Already a trial is going on in
California before a Federal judge on this very issue --
its decision will almost certainly be appealed to the US
Supreme Court. The trial's implications for marriage are
tremendous. If U.S. District Court Chief Judge Vaughn
Walker declares that Proposition 8 violates the constitution,
not only will same-sex marriage become law in California,
but traditional marriage laws in every state will be open to
federal legal challenges. Obama has promised to enact
FOCA (Freedom of Choice Act) which will greatly enhance
the use of abortions to kill more babies. Tucked away --
almost hidden in the huge defense spending bill authorization
-- was a federal "hate crimes" act, signed into law by Mr.
Obama in October. Many observers of the religious scene
in America are concerned that this law can be used to
make criminal acts out of preaching on Conservative and
Evangelical principles like abortion and homosexuality.
And there is ENDA (Employment Non Discrimination Act)
which when made law will mandate that no Christian
organization can refuse to employ homosexuals, bisexuals,
transvestites, etc. Former President George W. Bush had
threatened to veto a similar measure, but President Obama
has brought a reversal of that policy to the White House.
Those are just a few concerns which we as Christians face
with respect to the present administration.
A reflection on the First Century Christian Church.
"In order for the church to be relevant in 2010 it must
find its identity in Jesus and become scripturally literate.
As it returns to its original mission the focus will not be
on self but on others. Not on wealth but on worship and
the worth of the soul. The early church was known as
being composed of those who turned the world upside
down. In other words, they challenged the status quo.
They effected change by focusing on the person of Jesus.
Their goal was not self advancement but the advancement
of the Kingdom of God." -- Bill Shuler, pastor of Capital
Life Church in Arlington, VA
Once again we remind our readers: On Election Day,
Nov. 2, 2010, we can replace enough of the members of
the House and Senate to weaken the power of Mr. Obama,
and begin the reclaiming of this nation for God and the
Judeo-Christian principles upon which it was founded.
We can, as did the New Testament Christians, turn the
world upside down.
Remember this feature of ANC in the past?
Some random afterthoughts . . .is back
again, as we try to touch on other events of concern to
us in the current news.
How times (and perceptions) change! After the collapse
of the Soviet Union, Russians took down their statues of
Josef Stalin, the mass murderer who killed millions of
people, including millions of Orthodox Christians who
were also exterminated or put into concentration camps
by Stalin because of their faith. Now it is hard to believe
that the National D-Day Memorial will be honoring Stalin
by placing his bust on a pedestal at its museum in Bedford,
VA, displayed alongside those honoring Franklin Roosevelt
and Winston Churchill. Stalin's killing machine murdered
more people than the Nazis under Adolph Hitler, yet here
in America we have fallen to the point of honoring him.
The Obama administration's turn-about on Israel.
Last week Obama's Envoy to the Middle East, former
Senator George Mitchell, threatened to end US financial
support for Israel unless Israel acts in violation of God's
word, and yields to the demands of the Islamic terrorists
who are committed to Israel's complete destruction. This
new US demand is ironic, since Palestine has refused to
share in any peace process unless Israel unilaterally turns
over to the Islamists land that God promised to Israel
forever. Mr. Obama and Senator Mitchell should reflect
upon the fact that Jerusalem is the only city God claims
as His own: "In the Temple and in Jerusalem which
I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel. I will put my
Name forever." (I Chron. 37:7)
A sobering thought for President Obama: California
has one of the harshest laws in the U.S., mandating 25
years to life in prison for a defendant convicted of any
third felony offense if he or she has two previous "strikes"
on his or her record. In this instance a "strike" is any
criminal offense that is a violent or serious felony. Consider
putting California's "3rd strike" law into effect on a nation
wide basis. We have just had at least 2 serious felonies --
in Nov. Major Nidal Hasan walked into a crowded area at
Fort Hood, TX, shouting the Muslim rallying cry, "Allah
is Great," and murdered more than a dozen military and
civilians. Then on Christmas Day Umar Abdulmutallab,
acting under instructions from Al Qaeda, attempted to
blow up a US passenger plane in Detroit. And even more:
on New Years Eve, a suicide bomber killed 8 US civilians
in our CIA headquarters in Pakistan. Anyway you look at
it -- we have had the background of at least "2 strikes" --
and California's mandated most severe penalty applies.
But are we ready, and will we do anything to punish those
offenders? And, of course, these may not even be considered
as serious felonies.
As long as you tell us you enjoy them, we will keep
finding "One Liners" to bring to you . . .
"Socialism’s greatest lie is that it promises the people
something for nothing." (Daniel Greenfield)
"President Obama's foreign policy agenda and efforts
have proven to be a series of failures as he jets around
the world bowing to foreign leaders and apologizing
for America." (Townhall Magazine)
"When you elect a 'community organizer,' you end up
with a 'national disaster.'" (Gene Jeffries)
"If loose lips sink ships, Vice President Joe Biden and
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid could take down a
carrier division." (Doug Patton)
And a "one liner" from responses to the poll question:
"Why the angry reaction to Brit Hume's comment that Tiger
Woods will find forgiveness in the Christian faith?" An
overwhelming 87.73% of more than 12,000 responders
chose this answer: "The so-called tolerant are displaying
their intolerance."
A few examples of what "Others are Saying:"You may
find they may express your opinions on what is happening.
John Hawkins: "When Barack Obama was on the campaign
trail, he promised Americans hope, change, and unity.
Whatever else may be said about the man, you at least
have to give him credit for delivering on all counts. After
all, as the year has progressed, more and more Americans
have united against his agenda. As for the change, well,
just look at the unemployment rate, the economy, and the
national debt. We've seen quite a bit of change in those
areas under Obama's watch. Then, of course, there's the
prevalence of the word 'hope' when people talk about our
president. 'Gosh, I really hope he knows what he's doing.
I hope Obama's weakness doesn't encourage the terrorists.
I hope we can undo all the damage Obama is doing to the
country right now. I hope our children will forgive us one
day for electing this guy.' So we're in the midst of an historic
presidency..."
Tony Perkins (On the "don't ask - don't tell" policy in the
military): "Our servicemen are sacrificing their lives to
wipe out global terrorism, and their commander-in-chief's
biggest worry is throwing a coming out party for gays
and lesbians. The top brass in Iraq and Afghanistan are
juggling two wars with limited troops and supplies, and
Washington is focused on social engineering."
The Founding Fathers had much to say about debt
and corruption in government on the part of this new
nation they were forming.
"The essence of Government is power; and power,
lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be
liable to abuse." (James Madison, 1788)
"But with respect to future debt; would it not be wise
and just for that nation to declare in the constitution
they are forming that neither the legislature, nor the
nation itself can validly contract more debt, than they
may pay within their own age, or within the term of
19 years." (Thomas Jefferson, letter, 1789)
"The principle of spending money to be paid by posterity,
under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a
large scale." (Thomas Jefferson, letter, 1816)
"The multiplication of public offices, increase of expense
beyond income, growth and entailment of a public debt,
are indications soliciting the employment of the pruning
knife." (Thomas Jefferson, letter, 1821)
"Public affairs go on pretty much as usual: perpetual
chicanery and rather more personal abuse than there
used to be..." (John Adams, 1776)
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