Tuesday
THE MESS OUR WORLD IS IN
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IN A COMMENTARY LAST WEEK, the long time left-wing
activist, Susan Estrich wrote in an essay deploring the hatred aroused
by the way the recent "Health Care Reform" bill was passed: "In a
democracy, you take your lumps. Majority rules. If you don't like
what the president and Congress are doing, vote against them."
In just those few words Ms. Estrich was right and wrong. She was
wrong when she said "Majority rules." The majority of American
voters were strongly opposed to Obamacare, and had made known
their views in every poll on the subject. But in a Democracy or not,
Obama and his leaders in Congress ignored the views of the American
people and forced the bill through to approval and enactment. Majority
does not rule when it is the majority of the American people; majority
rules when it is the Democrat majority in Congress. But Estrich was
right when she said "If you don't like what the president and
Congress are doing, vote against them." That is what we can and
will do on Nov. 2 this year's election day, with respect to Congress.
(As a reminder: that's just 216 days away!) With respect to voting
on the president, we will have to wait till 2012. But on both of those
election days we shall take Ms. Estrich's advice.
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IN THE MIDST OF THE CHRISTIAN "HOLY WEEK," LET
US REDIRECT OUR ATTENTION FROM THE MESS
OUR WORLD IS IN, AND REFOCUS ON WHAT
GOD ACCOMPLISHED IN THAT WEEK
It is important -- beyond that, it is necessary for us as Christians to be
aware of and involved in the the life of the world about us. Jesus said
we were to be the salt and light of the world. And very frankly, there
are times -- like right now -- when the only way to describe that world
is to say it is in a mess. And thinking about how to correct and clean up
that mess does occupy an inordinate amount of our time. And so, if for
no other reason, we should be grateful for the opportunity to interrupt
those concerns for a few days, and reflect on three days that changed
the world forever.
On the Sunday that opened the week -- it has come to be called "Palm
Sunday" -- Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, as described
by Zechariah, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout O daughter
of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee; he is just, and
having salvation, lowly and riding upon an ass ..." The people hailed
Him as their King, their Messiah, waving palm branches, and falling down
before Him as an act of honor and praise. Five days later He was dead.
Three days later, on another Sunday, now called Easter Sunday or
more accurately Resurrection Sunday, He was alive, out of the grave,
and walking about, ministering to His followers. This is by far the most
important event in all of history . . . this is the fact that sets Christianity
apart from all other religions -- our leader, our founder, alone of all
men who ever lived on this earth, was punished, crucified, dead and
buried, and arose from His grave as centuries of prophecy predicted
He would, and made it possible for us to attain what mankind has
sought from the beginning of creation in the Garden of Eden -
forgiveness before God for sins, and the assurance of a new life after
death in the Heaven which the Bible describes.
So for this week, at least, refocus from the mess of the world about
us, and concentrate on the ongoing power of our God, spoken of in
Hebrews 13, as "the God of peace, who brought again from the
dead the Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep ..." And
as a reminder that many people think of Easter in terms of gaily
colored candy eggs and chocolate bunnies, this ad headline is being
used across the country: "Nobody knows more about Easter than
Hersheys."
And back to that "mess" we have just spoken of, this comment
from national pollster Scot Rasmussen is an appropriate way to open
our commentary discussion for this week: "How long can Americans
hold a thought? That will be the political test for the next seven-
and-a-half months. If the majority of voters stay as angry as they
are now about the passage of the national health care plan, it
could spell real trouble for Democrats in the November elections.
But if, as Democrats hope, the anger fades, then the losses by the
president's party are likely to be more manageable." The thousands
of protestors who marched on Washington last week have already
given us a slogan: "In November, we will remember."
We have spoken often enough about voting, and the necessity
of of voting, and registering so as to be able to vote. This week we
noted this comment from Bob McEwen and John Murphy of United
in Purpose: "Lamenting a problem without providing a solution
is nothing more than whining. Only about 30 percent of
Americans vote in most elections, rendering our collective voice
just a whisper compared to what it should be. The blunt reality
is that if you don't vote, you shouldn't gripe. So please securely
register to vote ... and join the community dedicated to positively
affecting public policy by adhering to the traditional values of
our founding fathers." We have said this so often -- but it's nice to
have someone else making the same point!
President Obama probably does as well as he can when you
consider what (or whom) he has to work with. Consider this brief
comment on one of his Democrat Members of Congress, as outlined
by Washington scene observer Sammy Benoit: "Congressman
Alan Grayson, the Human embarrassment from Florida is up to
his old tricks. The Freshman Congressman who, despite being
a rookie has taken over the Village Idiot role in Congress, won
the position with really nasty comments about people. For
example, he said of former Vice President Dick Cheney: 'I have
trouble listening to what he says sometimes because of the blood
that drips from his teeth while he’s talking.' He also called Fox
News the enemy of America ... a female adviser to the Federal
Reserve chairman “a K Street whore" ... and he speculated that
gasoline would only cost a dollar per gallon if former President
George W. Bush had let Saudi Prince Abdullah 'get to second
base.'" Or consider his difficulty in finding a suitable candidate for
the important task of heading the Transportation Security
Administration. After his first nominee, Erroll Southers, withdrew
his name from consideration, now his second nominee, long time
Army General Robert Harding has also withdrawn his name over
questions involving his background. Or consider how his head of
Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, continues to match -- or
even surpass -- his embarrassing example of a Vice President,
Joe Biden, in verbal gaffes of the "foot-in-mouth-disease" variety.
And it might not have been the endorsement Obama and his
Democrat Obamacare supporters were looking for, but the Cuban
revolutionary leader Fidel Castro declared the passage of American
health care reform was "a miracle" and a major victory for Obama's
presidency. Possibly soon to come will be an equally strong
endorsement from Venezuela's Socialist President Hugo Chavez.
A news story heading on the Internet this week used these words:
"What's next for the Anointed One?" First, let us make it clear
that we not hold the view that Barack Obama is the Anti-Christ of
the Scriptures. So many have been called that in our memory --
Benito Mussolini and Nikita Kruschev are two who come to mind.
After a detailed recounting of events which shall occur as this world
ends, as recorded in Matthew, chapter 24, Jesus very clearly said:
"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass
away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the
angels of heaven, but my Father only." (Matt. 24:35-36)
But the term "Anointed One" has been applied to Mr. Obama, and
he has done little to refute it, but has actually used language which
seems to encourage the concept. Remember his comment in June,
2008 when he had gained the Democrat nomination: "This was the
moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good
jobs for the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the
oceans began to slow and the planet began to heal." Or on Oct.
31, 2008, just prior to election day when he said, "We are five days
away from fundamentally transforming the United States of
America." And still encouraging the messianic fervor, on the day he
signed Obamacare into law he said the occasion marked "a new
season for America." The choice to use the words "new season"
was not happenstance. The Scriptures often use the seasons as being
in God's hands -- for example, in Acts 1:7 Jesus said, "It is not for
you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put
in his own power." Surely it is not a normal function for an ordinary
man to announce the establishment of a new season. So the rumors
about the Anti-Christ will doubtless continue -- even in this week's
news is the account of a militant group in Michigan anticipating the
coming of the Anti-Christ with whom they plan to unite, and most
unfortunate is the report that the militants use the term "Christian" in
their name. The Liberal media is not missing the opportunity to use this
as a means to further disparage the true Christian faith.
And as we observe the significance of the Christian Holy Week, we
cannot fail to remember how at the opening of the Islamic holy month
of Ramadan last August, Mr. Obama prepared a 5 minute video of
greeting to the Muslim world, and in September celebrated Ramadan
with a dinner at the White House. By contrast, at the beginning of our
Holy Week on Palm Sunday he made a camera-op publicity visit to
Afghanistan, and made no word of greeting or even recognition of Holy
Week to the Christian world. And of course, he has said nothing about
the Jewish observance of Passover. One wonders what he may do on
Sunday to detract attention from the Christian celebration of Easter,
the largest and most observed religious event in the world.
In the words of TV commentator Glenn Beck just a few days ago: "The
fundamental transformation of America is under way." Mr. Obama
has made it clear that in his view, America is no longer a Christian
nation.
Conservative commentator Charles Krauthammer asked this question:
"Why this astonishing one-sidedness?" And he offered this possible
explanation: "Is it because Obama fancies himself the historic
redeemer whose irresistible charisma will heal the breach between
Christianity and Islam or, if you will, between the post Imperial
West and the Muslim world?"
We cannot fail to mention Obama's shameful treatment of the
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu -- which Israel considers
to have been a national insult. Obama did everything possible to
humiliate Netanyahu, and demanded that Israel freeze construction in
East Jerusalem -- a demand which Netanyahu rejected. It is obvious
that Obama's position is that Israel must surrender its right to control
its capital city, Jerusalem, and must negotiate with Palestine on terms
which Obama and his staff have established.
While it must be understood that there is a distinction between the
Israel of the Scriptures, and the modern secular Israeli nation, what
Israel of the Scriptures, and the modern secular Israeli nation, what
must never be forgotten is God's love for His chosen people, Israel,
and for His holy city of Jerusalem. Christians must remember the
Abrahamic Covenant of Genesis 12: 1-3, "Now the Lord said unto
Abram ...I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee,
and make thy name great ... and I will bless them that bless thee
and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all the nations
of the earth be blessed." Of Jerusalem, Jesus called it "the city of
the great King," (Matt. 5:35). It will one day be the capital of the
world, as in Isaiah 2: "...out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the
word of the Lord from Jerusalem." God's word and His promise
concerning Jerusalem will never be broken. And in dealing with Israel
and Jerusalem, Mr. Obama should never forget or ignore the word of
God and His covenants with Israel.
Among all the polls on "Obamacre," sooner or later there had
to be one by a Christian organization -- and now the magazine
Christianity Today has released the initial results of an ongoing
poll asking "Do you support the health care bill that President
Obama signed into law?" The responses: Do not support the bill, 58%
. . . Support most of it, 29% . . . Support some of it, 10%.
But there is an item of serious concern in a related aspect of the
feelings of Christians about President Obama. We have been
concerned -- and rightly so -- about his repeated insistence that
America is no longer a Christian nation, and his very evident support
for those of the Islamic faith, which is understandable, given his
background, heritage and upbringing. But we have always urged
that Christians pray for our nation's leaders, as instructed in I Timothy
2:1-5, and that includes our prayers for their salvation. Now, however,
the Presidential Prayer Team, a national organization which organizes
prayer for American presidents, reports that many of its members have
stopped praying for President Obama. Dave Otto, the Chairman of the
organization, says that prayer is needed more than ever with issues like
the healthcare vote dividing Americans, and with the nation's leaders
casting aside what he calls "biblical principles."
One more word -- for now -- about "Obamacare" -- at this time,
after a full year of stimulus plans, bailouts and now with nationalized
health care made into law and driving our national deficit to a level
that is difficult to comprehend, 70% of voters are angry with the
Obama administration policies. As for the health care reform bill, just
prior to the Congressional vote 54% of American voters opposed it
with only 41% favoring it. Now with the bill signed into law, 55%
favor repealing it. Looking ahead to the Nov. 2 election day, 52% say
they will vote for candidates who favor repeal.
As for what action should be taken about the bill, the majority favor
repeal -- which is probably not possible, given Obama's power of the
veto . . . state attorneys general have filed suit to have the law declared
unconstitutional . . . and supporters of the 10th Amendment favor
nullifying the law through action at the state level. So anyway it is
considered, Obamacare is going to be in the news for a long time.
As for polls concerning the president, 44% consider Obama's
leadership skills as good, but 43% rate his leadership as poor -- the
highest that rating has been since his inauguration, when 64% gave the
president good grades for his leadership, with just 16% viewing his
leadership as poor. That was a Rasmussen poll -- a new USA Today/
Gallup poll put his disapproval rating at 50%.
You should pay attention to "What Others Are Saying" --
you probably won't find these comments in the main line media:
Howard Rich: "Lost amid the partisan sniping and procedural
jousting over the passage of “Obamacare” is a fundamental,
unavoidable hypocrisy - one that’s worth unmasking as
Washington politicians continue to ignore the will of the
American people and plunge our nation deeper into full-blown
socialism. President Barack Obama and his Congressional
allies are spending money that they know we don’t have on a
program that they know isn’t going to work – all in an effort
to expand government’s control over the private sector and
its reach into the private lives of American citizens."
Jonathan Rosenblum: "Obamacare marks a transformative
moment in the relationship of Americans to their government.
It will vastly expand the federal bureaucracy and limit the
freedom of choice of every "private" actor in the health care
system — patients, doctors, and insurers."
Editorial, San Diego Union-Tribune: "The Democrats who
control Congress made a bad and costly decision in approving
an overhaul of the health are insurance system with flawed
ideas about how to pay for it ... While we vehemently disagree
with what they did, and we're aghast at the process by which
they went about doing it, we still found it remarkable that they
could throw caution to the wind and do something that was so
unpopular because they thought it was the right thing to do."
Skip MacLure: "Though most of Congress and the country at
large are strong supporters of the State of Israel, Obama, his
administration and his State Department must be considered to
be antithetical to the best interests of Israel, Korea, and our own
country for that matter. It’s a sad and frightening circumstance
when the supposed leader of the free world is behaving like
anything but."
Matthew Staver: "What a difference 235 years makes in
American history! The threat to life and liberty has come full
circle. Like then, the American people love life and liberty and
hate arbitrary abuse of power. Then, like now, powerful leaders
stirred up the people to realize they must be vigilant to defend
their freedom. There has not been a day in the presidency of
Barack Obama in which the people have been free of strife and
discord. The Declaration of Independence says that the people
are willing to suffer many abuses, but there comes a time when
it is their right – it is their duty – to push back. The people must
channel their anger through nonviolent means to change the
leadership and the direction of America."
We keep looking for the "One Liners" our readers like ...
"If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see
what it costs when it's free." -- P. J. O'Rourke
"The only ones happy about this bill are progressive
Democrats, Michael Moore and Fidel Castro - which really
makes the bill feel all the more American." -- Glenn Beck
"The Jewish people were building Jerusalem 3,000 years ago,
and the Jewish people are building Jerusalem today. Jerusalem
is not a settlement. It is our capital." -- Israeli Prime Minister,
Benjamin Netanyahu
"Last Sunday night, pro-life Democrats sold the birthright of
millions of unborn children for a mess of pottage."
-- Chuck Colson
Some Random Afterthoughts . . .
Ms.Glasspool has been with her partner since 1988, and will be the
second openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church, after Bishop
Vicki Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, who was elected in 2003.
Robinson called Glasspool's confirmation "a great day for the
church," and added, "Suddenly, and gratefully, I don't feel so
alone." Glasspool will be consecrated a suffragan (assistant) bishop
in Los Angeles on May 15.
In a somewhat related news story, as part of last week's First Day
of Spring -- Members of Mother Grove Goddess Temple will celebrate
a Ritual in Celebration of the Spring Equinox in the parish hall of the
Episcopal Cathedral of All Souls in Biltmore Village, Asheville, NC,
the neighboring community to Montreat, the home of Billy Graham.
Byron Ballard, wiccan priestess and a member of the temple, explained
that Mother Grove "isn't a wiccan group, though some of us are
wiccans," she said. "Its goal is to create a permanent sanctuary,
where people of all faith traditions may openly and safely celebrate
the divine feminine, the goddess," and added, "Wiccans may also
refer to themselves as witches."
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