Tuesday
In The Hospital
Dear Christian Friends,
I am writing on behalf of our mutual friend, Dr. J.B.
He is, as of this writing, in _____ Hospital in California.
I spoke with him tonight and he is doing tolerably well
for a man his age.
His purpose is asking me to write is to inform you that this week’s
ANC will not be arriving in your inbox. He views ANC as his only
ministry opportunity and takes it extremely seriously. I’m sure
you have observed that.
My purpose in writing is to request special prayer for our friend.
He is not in any critical condition; but, at his age, everything
might well be considered on the border of “critical.” He and his wife
have some great burdens, and I am confident that the LORD is both
competent and disposed to bear them. May we bear the burden of
prayer on their behalf. God bless you for your faithfulness.
Heartily in Christ,
Gene
Wednesday
"CONFUSION" IS THE CORRECT
TERM FOR AMERICA THIS WEEK!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011, of our 9th year of publication.
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Thought for this day and this week:
"We have this day restored the Sovereign to Whom all men ought
to be obedient. He reigns in Heaven and from the rising to
the setting of the sun, let His kingdom come."
Samuel Adams, at the signing of Declaration of Independence, 1776
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LAST WEEK WE SPOKE OF "CONFUSING TIMES." CURRENT
EVENTS ARE PROVING WE WERE RIGHT. "CONFUSION"
IS THE CORRECT TERM FOR AMERICA THIS WEEK.
There will be no major commentary on the subject. Instead, we will present
various aspects of the confusing times that are so much a part of life in America
and throughout the world.
Confusion in political campaigns. How can we interpret this headline from
the San Diego Union Tribune as anything but "confusing?" "GOP CANDIDATE
ROMNEY PLANS NEW 11,000 SQUARE-FOOT HOME IN LA JOLLA."
With millions out of work ... many losing their homes, and living on the streets ...
new record numbers existing on food stamps ... this doesn't seem to be an action
that would encourage American voters to put him in the White House. But what
kind of a house did he buy for $12 million just 3 years ago, and now plans to
bull-doze into rubble? The brochure listing the $12 million property described it
as "sophisticated and understated in its decor, offering complete privacy
and unsurpassed elegance." But all of that "unsurpassed elegance" will not be
destroyed; the plans for the huge new home will keep the lap pool and the spa.
More confusion in political campaigns. While Mitt Romney is still only a
potential Republican candidate for next year's presidential election, Barack Obama
has already assumed the candidacy for the Democrats. His campaign trips -- unlike
opposing candidates -- are paid for by American tax payers, and under the guise
of visiting some of the possible "swing" states in an effort to create more jobs for
the millions of unemployed Americans. But the "confusing" aspect is in the fact that
Obama is making this "jobs" tour in a $1.1 million custom designed bus -- made in
Canada, by Quebec based Prevost bus manufacturers. The basic model is VIP
H3-45, called the company's "top of the line," and described by a company spokes-
person, as being "the more luxurious model." The Obama administration bought
two of the million-dollar busses, and supposedly will make the other one available for
the Republican party candidate. But the Republican candidate would presumably have
to pay for the campaign travel expenses, if he chose to use the extra Obama bus.
Confusion in religious matters. In less than one week, the Islam holy month of
Ramadan, will be over -- a time marked by that religion's followers fasting during the
day, and by giving more to charity and do extra righteous deeds. Those "extra
righteous deeds" by a system of belief which Mr. Obama keeps describing as being
peaceful and cultured, are what we can't stand much more of. Just last weekend, as
the close of Ramadan approached, Gaza militants launched barrages of rockets deep
into Israel early Friday during the worse spasm of terrorism against Israel all year. At
least twelve rockets were fired at Israel overnight from Gaza, on top of some 30
rockets and mortars being fired at Israel on Sunday. This brought the total to more
than 140 rockets and mortars fired at Israel since Thursday. Gunmen who appear
to have originated in Gaza, crossed into southern Israel through the Egyptian
desert to ambush civilian vehicles traveling on a remote road, killing eight people.
Six were civilians, and two were members of Israeli security forces responding to
the incursion. These attacks signaled a new danger for Israel from its border with
the Sinai Peninsula, long quiet under the rule of Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak, but
what has now been created is virtually a no-man's land in the Sinai desert. A suicide
bomber also detonated himself near the Israel-Egyptian border over the weekend.
Eight Jews were killed in Thursday's jihadist attacks on an Israeli public bus, and at
least 30 were wounded. And in other parts of the Muslim world -- in Indonesia, for
example, the largest Muslim nation -- the burning of Christian churches and the
destruction of Christian communities continues. No, Ramadan can't end too soon!
Dr. Michael Evans (Jerusalem Prayer Team) reports that Fatah Foreign
Relations Director, Nabil Sha’ath, said last week about the Obama peace plan:
“The story of two states for two peoples means that there will be a Jewish
people over there, and a Palestinian people here. We will never accept this.”
Dr. Evans concludes, "There can be no peace. There will be no peace."
Jan Markel (in her Internet column, Understanding the Times):"Friends of
Israel today are treated like we have a mental disease. Even within
evangelicalism, we are scorned and marginalized. What is our crime? I guess
it's our interpretation of the Bible for we see Israel's land as God-given, not a
piece of property that can be divided up and handed over to terrorists."
Amid all the confusion, it's encouraging to recall how things used to be.
Looking back to the "Great Depression" of the 1930s, FDR's Secretary of the
Treasury, Henry Morgenthau, wrote about the failure of the "New Deal," which was
Roosevelt's plan to solve the crisis: "We have tried spending money. We are
spending more than we have ever spent before and it does not work...I say
after eight years of this Administration we have just as much unemployment as
when we started ... and an enormous debt to boot!" Now in 2011, Academic
economist, Walter Williams, notes: "The bottom line is that Roosevelt's New Deal
policies turned what would have been a three-or-four-year sharp downturn into
a 16-year affair." And he adds, "The 1930s depression was caused by and
aggravated by acts of government, and so was the current financial mess that
we're in. Do we want to repeat history by listening to those who created the
calamity? That's like calling on an arsonist to help put out a fire."
And when we note the current day restrictions on the Christian faith imposed by the
Obama military, it is encouraging to remember that President Eisenhower (who was
a Commander in Chief who actually had military experience) authorized a code of
conduct for U.S. soldiers, which stated, "I serve in the forces which guard my
country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense...I
will never forget I am an American fighting man, responsible for my actions
and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my
God and in the United States of America." Acting under similar Christian belief,
in 1962 President Lincoln ordered, "The Commander in Chief...enjoins the
observance of the Sabbath...The sacred rights of Christian soldiers and sailors,
a becoming deference to the best sentiment of a Christian people...demand that
Sunday labor in the Army and Navy be reduced to the measure of strict necessity."
(But what else should we expect; lest we forget, these presidents were Christians.)
Amid the fog of biased media opinion, here's "What Others Are Saying."
Peter Heck (opinion columnist): "Presidents own the failures that happen on
their watch. The disastrous and nationally humiliating downgrade of our
country's credit rating was not an inevitable consequence of uncontrollable
misfortune. It wasn't the result of gridlock or political wrangling between two
parties that have bickered over our national debt and credit since the days of
Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. It was a remarkable failure of
leadership by the man chosen to be the country's economic caretaker."
Frank Salvato (Mng. Ed. New Media Journal): "In one of the most galling
attempts in history to politically reposition a failing presidency... the
'Obamanation' is attempting to branding 'Congress and the 'political system'
as the culprits. Forget about hope and change. Forget about any dreams his
Father may or may not have had. This is audacity at its most egregious...
Mr. Obama is throwing his Progressive and Democrat allies to the wolves in
a transparent and insincere attempt to tack to the center."
Erick Erickson (writing in Human Events): "Obama can try to 'Barry
Goldwater Rick Perry' or 'John Kerry Mitt Romney.' But all Mitt Romney or
Rick Perry would have to do is turn Barack Obama into the 'second coming
of Jimmy Carter,' which he himself has already done for them."
Occasionally there a few "One Liners" which are too good to miss . . .
Isaac Asimov (American author and university professor): "Politically
popular speech has always been protected: even the Jews were free to say
‘Heil Hitler.’"
Adam Baldwin (actor and "small government conservative libertarian"):
"Scientifically speaking: Over time, what is the difference between Obama's
'dark cloud of tyranny' & Rick Perry's 'black cloud of debt?'"
GrasstopsUSA: "Hypocrisy and secrecy, thy name is Obama. It would
appear that Mr. Transparency, Barack Obama, doesn't believe that the rules
apply to him."
William Randolph Hearst: "A politician will do anything to keep his job,
even become a patriot."
And, as usual, selected at random, there are these few "Afterthoughts"
Our countdown of days to pray before our next Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012,
has dropped to 440 days . . . 440 days to pray for America, for our leaders,
and for God's direction as we go to the polls and vote to return America to the
kind of a nation it was always intended to be.
Another Founding Father, not often quoted: James Wilson was one of the
6 Founding Fathers who signed both the Declaration of Independence and the
Constitution. He was a Justice of the Supreme Court, and the first Law Professor
at the University of Pennsylvania. In his "Lectures on Law," written in the years
1789-1791, he explained the basis of our system of law: "Law...communicated
to us by reason and conscience...has been called natural; as promulgated by
the holy scriptures, it has been called revealed...But it should always be
remembered, that this law, natural or revealed...flows from the same divine
source; it is the law of God." And he continued, "Human law must rest its
authority, ultimately, upon the authority of that law, which is divine." We
tend to forget these principles upon which our nation was founded.
Who can you believe? On his recent campaign tour, at a Town Hall Meeting
in Illinois, President Obama said: "The economy has gotten better than it was
when I took office." Let's see: one of his first actions was a $787 billion
"stimulus" bill to keep unemployment below 8%. Since then unemployment has
averaged over 9% and another 1.3 million jobs have been lost. Our national debt
was at about $10.7 trillion in December, 2008. Today it stands at almost $14.6
trillion. And the U.S. credit rating was downgraded for the first time in history. If
that is better -- one shudders to think what it would be if things had gotten worse!
As always, there are great truths to learn from our Founding Fathers.
"Can the liberties of a nation be sure when we remove their only firm basis,
a conviction in the minds of the people, that these liberties are a gift from
God?" -- Thomas Jefferson, 1774
"The propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that
disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has
ordained." -- George Washington, 1789
"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with
human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition,
revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution
as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral
and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
-- John Adams, 1798
IT IS A CONFUSING TIME!
Theme thought for the week:
"Let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help,
but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own."
John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, Jan. 20, 1961
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WE HAVE USED DICKENS' LINES BEFORE: "IT WAS THE
BEST OF TIMES; IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES." BUT
THAT WAS IN 1859. TODAY ANOTHER WORD COULD
BE INCLUDED: "IT IS A CONFUSING TIME."
We all so often recall those words from Dickens' great story, but we don't very
often recall his other descriptions of the times of which he wrote. They provide
an amazingly accurate description of the times in which we are living today: "It
was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom,
it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch
of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness,
it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything
before us, we had nothing before us..."
England? 1859? He could have been describing America, 2011.
We'll have more to share with you in our regular "What Others Are Saying"
feature, but first there are these remarkably similar evaluations from widely
different sources; first, from Scott Rasmussen, national pollster, "There's a
feeling that the ship is heading in the wrong direction, and there's nobody
in charge." And from New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, who is
considered by many to be the Liberals' answer to Ann Coulter, "Fears have
garroted hope, as America reels from the latest humiliating blows on
the economy and in Afghanistan. The president has been spectacularly
unable to fill the leadership void in Washington."
But Dickens' descriptions do not relate only to government. They can
also relate to the present state of moral values in America -- those important
aspects of life that our Founding Fathers spoke of as "virtues." As Christians,
we must also feel serious concern for the Christian church in America.
Dr. Jon Zens, admittedly a "New Covenant" theologian, recently gave his
frank -- and critical -- assessment of the church in America, using these
terms: "... the modern institution is a spectator church" . . . and
"... popular conceptions of 'church' are dangerously limited to coming
to a building, singing, putting some money in a plate, hearing a sermon,
and going home." This is not the Church that Jesus said He was building
(Matt. 16:18), where He spoke of an active, aggressive movement whose
power the gates of hell could not withstand.
Our Founding Fathers constantly stressed the importance of the nation's
leaders demonstrating what they called "virtues" -- which we have come to
call "moral values." Today, as immigrants have come to America, with many
bringing their native religions with them, the Christian portion of our population
has shrunk to 80% -- and yet Mr. Obama, in his first few months in office,
went before a Muslim audience, and assured them that America was no longer
a Christian nation.
He has continued to pander to the Islamists, every year sponsoring a gala
White House celebration of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan -- something
he has never done for America's majority faith. Last week, at his 3rd annual
Itfar dinner, he offered a strange combination of remarks, including the
assertion, "Islam has always been part of our American family, and
Muslim Americans have long contributed to the strength and character
of our country, in all walks of life . . ." For some strange reason (perhaps
a teleprompter mix-up), he then spoke of the 9/11 attack on this country by
Muslims, "In one month, we will mark the 10th anniversary of those awful
attacks that brought so much pain to our hearts." And in that same context
he said, "Make no mistake, Muslim Americans help to keep us safe."
A few further words about the Christian church in America: From overseas,
Sarah Posner, writing in the British Guardian.co.uk:: "What happened to
American Christianity? It is constantly reimagined, manipulated and
exploited." And in Prophecy News Watch: "Today's new brand of Christianity
has a different gospel and is targeting thousands of the younger generation
with a so-called hip, cool, experiential spirituality." And our long time friend,
and solid, Scripture-focused mega-church minister, Dr. Michael Youssef, warns of
the danger that “Christian” ministers, Jewish Rabbis, and Muslim Imams would
co-lead a service in “Christian” churches around America using a multi-faith liturgy.
And he points out that 70 churches across America have agreed to conduct such a
service, designed to promote “religious tolerance.” And Dr. Youssef adds, "Has
anyone noticed that none of these events are ever held in a Mosque? It is an
anathema to have a Christian minister speak in a Mosque, but they are happy
to occupy the pulpits of hapless Christians in American Christian churches.
Indeed, it is considered a triumph of Islam over the infidels when they occupy
Christian pulpits without opening their Mosques to Christian preachers."
(Note: read Dr. Youssef's blog at: MichaelYoussef.com)
As usual, to offset the liberal media, here is "What Others Are Saying"
Eugene Delgaudio (Pres. Public Advocate of the United States): "The
Homosexual Lobby has always had as its primary target the most basic
building block of our society: The Family. They cannot tolerate traditional
and time-tested Family Values because they know it leaves no room for
their sexual perversion. The Family has always been America’s greatest
asset, our greatest strength. Any attack on it is an assault on the very
foundation of our nation."
Dr. Michael Evans (Jerusalem Prayer Team): "President Obama has
repeatedly called for Israel to return to the '1967 borders,' but that is a
falsehood -- there are no 1967 borders. What the President's plan would do
in reality is return Israel to the 1949 Armistice lines...The so-called 1967
borders are simply where the armies halted at the end of the previous
attempt by Arabs to commit genocide against Israel ... The City of David
belongs to Israel by every possible right -- historic, military, and most
importantly -- prophetic. Yet now after forty-four years of a united city,
President Obama is pushing as hard as he can to once again divide
Jerusalem and hand it over to Israel's most bitter enemies."
Tony Rubolotto (writing in New Media Journal): "To secure the blessings
of liberty to ourselves and our posterity wasn't a little buzz phrase tacked
into the Constitution for good looks. It's about us and our children."
Jack Marshall (in Ethics Alarms): "Facts are stubborn things, as John
Adams said, and the fact is that the electorate, for good and understandable
reasons, elected an untested young man with great campaigning skills who
had shown no talent for leadership, and, as it turned out, possesses none."
Colbert King (Washington Post columnist): “Is there anyone in the White
House with nerve enough to tell Barack Obama that Martha’s Vineyard is
the last place on earth that the president of the United States should find
himself next week? Don’t get me wrong. I don’t begrudge the chief executive
a little time off from the Oval Office. But to be leaving town to spend 10 days
luxuriating in an affluent, New England summer town when millions of
Americans can’t find work? To fly off to the Vineyard when the public is
losing faith in Washington’s ability to fix the nation’s economic problems,
and with people anxious about their futures? What is he thinking?”
And, of course, there are a few random "Afterthoughts" . . .
First, don't forget there are 447 days until Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012; 447
days to pray for our country and for God's direction as we vote to reclaim it!
Sometimes you almost feel sorry for President Obama. He goes out on a
cross-country re-election campaign bus tour with a Gallup poll showing his national
performance approval rating at its lowest ever -- below 40% at 39% -- and the
daily Rasmussen tracking rating at -23 -- which is the lowest rating he has ever
scored -- a drop from +30, the day after his inauguration. Plus, a new Washington
Post poll finds that 70% of Americans either believe that Obama has "tried but
failed" to solve the country's major problems, or has actually made them worse.
A Rasmussen poll finds 54% of the public want Obamacare to be repealed, with
46% believing it will be. The decision of the 11th Circuit appeals court that the
mandated personal coverage requirement is unconstitutional didn't offer any
endorsement for the Obama premiere legislative accomplishment. And by way of
summary, Rasmussen Reports offered this thumb-nail sketch: "We lack confidence
in the economy, government, elections, the president, Congress, both political
parties, even our military missions abroad, with little hope in sight."
Addressing the riots raging across England, Prime Minister David Cameron
pledged to deliver a raft of new policies by October aimed at reversing the "slow-
motion moral collapse" which he blames for fostering the disorder. In announcing
his new program, the Prime Minister used these terms in describing the nation's
moral breakdown: "Children without fathers. Schools without discipline.
Reward without effort. Crime without punishment. Rights without
responsibilities. Communities without control." (Sounds like he has been
closely observing America.)
An interesting "religious" view of President Obama's performance. A newly
released survey conducted by the Abu Dhabi Gallup Center, revealed that 80% of
Muslim Americans approve of the way Barack Obama is performing as president.
The other religious opinions follow: 65% of Jewish Americans approve; 60% of
atheists and agnostics; 50% of Catholics; 37% of Protestants and 25% of Mormons
also approve.
We are always willing to correct errors if and when we make them. In last
week's issue we used the word "baffling" to describe the Obama foreign policy.
That word was, at best, too mild a term. A far more appropriate term would be
"disastrous." After Mr. Obama's capitulating relationship with Russia's leaders,
their recent harsh words about us have not resonated well in Washington. Prime
Minister Putin called the United States a "parasite on the body of the global
economy," and Dmitry Rogozin, Russia's missile defense representative at NATO,
claimed that U.S. Senators had told him our missile defense is aimed at Russia. But
this situation has gone past mere words; Russia is now threatening to cease any
cooperation with us over Afghanistan, Iran, Libya and North Korea.
So often our Founding Fathers' quotes are applicable to the present time.
Tony Rubolotto (whom we quoted earlier) commented on the wisdom of our
Founding Fathers: "No nation, save ancient Israel, has been so gifted by the
scholarship, experience, morality and wisdom of our Founders."
"History by apprising citizens of the past will enable them to judge of the
future; it will avail them of the experience of other times and other nations;
it will qualify them as judges of the actions and designs of men; it will enable
them to know ambition under every disguise it may assume; and knowing it,
to defeat its views." --Thomas Jefferson, 1781
" It is too early for politicians to presume on our forgetting that the public
good, the real welfare of the great body of the people, is the supreme object
to be pursued; and that no form of government whatever has any other
value than as it may be fitted for the attainment of this object."
--James Madison, 1788
WHERE COULD I GO BUT TO THE LORD?
Wednesday, August 10, 2011, of our 9th year of publication
IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES -- LITERALLY "TIMES OF CRISIS" --
WE ARE REMINDED OF A SONG MADE POPULAR BY ELVIS
PRESLEY: "WHERE COULD I GO BUT TO THE LORD?"
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Thought for the day, or for the week:
"Who can take his place? ... Such leaders cannot be predicted, cannot
be created, and cannot be demanded; they can only
be recognized when God sends them."
Archbishop Peter Jensen
Sydney, Australia, Memorial Service for John Stott
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The Evangelical Christian world lost another of its most influential long-time leaders
this past week in the death of John Stott of London and the world. The list of the
scheduled memorial services reads like a world atlas of the Christian church. Of all
the tributes -- and we have read dozens of them -- our friend Chuck Colson (as he
so often does) offered some very meaningful thoughts.
Chuck referred to John Stott's 1967 book, Our Guilty Silence, which "made the
case that because the Gospel is 'Good News' we are under an obligation to
share it with others ... in 1967 this kind of witness ... was the last thing many
Christians wanted to do. They much preferred their comfortable worship and
cultural isolation ... This isolation didn’t require them to think too much,
especially when it came to matters of faith." And he recalls that Stott criticized
the "spirit of anti-intellectualism" that was so prevalent among Christians,
producing "zeal without knowledge which was mistaken for Christian maturity
... True Christian maturity is impossible without understanding what it is we
believe and how it applies to our lives." Colson concludes with an expression
of concern that for many, faith has become a matter of feeling in which how we feel
takes precedence over what we know, and concludes with the question: "Have we
learned from John Stott or do Christians prefer silence?"
To follow our headline, above, Dr. Foley Beach, Rector and Pastor of an Anglican
Church in Loganville, GA, after recounting some of the problems and crises we are
facing here in America, concludes with this indisputable admonition: "These are times
when we need to turn to the Lord; turn our hearts and minds to Him ... When is
the time to turn to the Lord? Now. Right now." We have placed our confidence in
government and politicians, and our national situation, as well as the international
situation, deteriorates by the day . . . almost by the hour. We concur with such widely
disparate voices as Elvis Presley and Dr. Beach -- there is nowhere to turn but to the
Lord . . . and the time is now.
The expression of "Now" in the lives of American voters, may be Election Day, Nov.
6, 2012, as of today, 454 days away . . . 454 days to pray and seek God's leading as
we go to the polls and vote to restore America to the kind of nation our Founding
Fathers planned for it to be.
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