Wednesday
WE NEED TO REMEMBER THE MESSAGE!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 of our 9th year of consecutive publication
It's difficult to decide which part of his statement is the most arrogant and most
This anti-Israel attitude of the present administration flows down from the very top –
"The United States of America were no longer Colonies. They were an
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A thought for the Advent season, this year and for the years to come:
"Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind.
To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in
mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas."
President Calvin Coolidge, 1927
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NOW IN THE MIDST OF THIS YEAR'S ADVENT SEASON,
WE NEED TO REMEMBER THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST'S
FIRST COMING, AND TO ANTICIPATE HIS RETURN
AT HIS SECOND COMING, AS HE PROMISED
Well, here we are, mid-way through the month of December, some 10 days until
Christmas, and three-quarters of the way through the Advent season. By way of
a reminder, Advent is an important element of the liturgical church calendar, and
begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day (Nov. 27 this year), and ends
on Christmas Eve.
The theme of the Scripture readings during Advent (the word is from the Latin
advenio, meaning "to come to") is really three-fold in nature; first, to celebrate
the First Coming of Christ in His birth at Christmas ... second, the coming of
Christ into our lives ... and third, His Second Coming to earth as He promised.
Note these Scriptures: His first coming, "Unto you is born this day in the city
of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11) His coming into our
lives, "If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him."
(Rev. 3:20) His second coming, "If I go ... I will come again and receive you
unto myself." (John 14:3) "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your
Lord may come." (Matt. 24:42)
In these troublesome days of attacks on Christmas by atheists, anti-Christians
and the liberal left, Advent does have one advantage -- because the name "Christ"
does not appear in its title, it is not involved in the ever increasing determination to
make this event a "Christless Christmas." The battles of political correctness erupt
every year at this time, as an increasing number of public officials and organizations
strive to reduce Christmas to a secular holiday. Stories of the attacks on Christmas
are in our news, both local and national.
A couple of them have gained particular attention this year -- one in Rhode Island
where Governor Lincoln Chaffee, an Independent, has decreed that the capitol's
tree will be called a "Holiday tree." (It might be interesting to ask the Governor
what "Holiday" it is -- and he would obviously have to say the forbidden word,
"Christmas.") Meantime, Republican State Rep. Doreen Costa has erected a
"Christmas tree" in her office, and has invited anyone who believes in Christmas to
observe the holiday around her tree.
Similarly in Tulsa, OK, the city sponsored a "Holiday Parade" while Tulsa's business
community sponsored a rival "Christmas Parade." The two parades were held at
the same time last Saturday, in different sections of the city. The "Holiday" parade
had 66 units, while the "Christmas" parade had 100 -- the clear winner both in
parade size and number of spectators.
As Jeff Dunetz put it, writing in Yid with Lid: "Hey, ACLU: Give it up. America
is a Christian country. People who see December as an opportune time for
the celebration of politically correct multiculturalism have to stop!"
Bearing in mind that it was a Supreme Court decision in 1963 which banned
prayer in schools, and really launched the current-day "politically correct" attacks
on Christmas and national religious observances, Dennis Marcellino (writing in
conservativebyte.com) maintains: "When Christmas was more religious, the
social statistics were far better, and the nation was happier and more in love."
To support his position he offers this reasoning: "Had a person fallen asleep in
1960 and awaken today, this is what they’d have found strikingly different in
the United States:
• Doubled divorce rate
• Tripled teen suicide
• Quadrupled rate of reported violent crimes
• Quintupled prison population
• Sextupled percent of babies born to unmarried parents
• Sevenfold increase in cohabitations (a predictor of future divorce)
• Soaring rate of depression to ten times the pre-World War II level..."
• Doubled divorce rate
• Tripled teen suicide
• Quadrupled rate of reported violent crimes
• Quintupled prison population
• Sextupled percent of babies born to unmarried parents
• Sevenfold increase in cohabitations (a predictor of future divorce)
• Soaring rate of depression to ten times the pre-World War II level..."
And that 17 day Obama Christmas vacation in Hawaii? After we --and
other commentators on both sides of the public opinion divide -- had questioned
the Obama family's plans to spend Christmas on a vacation in Hawaii, Mr. Obama
has now announced that Mrs. Obama and the children (and presumably her mother)
will go to Hawaii, and he will stay in the White House and be President, as he was
hired to be. But there goes any attempt to portray the Obamas as the typical
American family . . . the wife and children observing Christmas on a beach in
Hawaii, while the husband/father spends Christmas alone in Washington.
The rash of presidential candidate debates reminds us that the national
election on Nov. 6, 2012 is now just 328 days away ... 328 days to pray for
our nation, for wisdom for our leaders, and for God's direction as we go to the
polls to vote. And we should pray for the nation Israel, under threat of being
attacked and destroyed by the Muslim nations which surround it. And for our
fellow believers throughout the world who are facing persecution and death
from the Islamic terrorists -- even though the Obama administration has made
it clear that in their opinion such does not exist.
Because of the liberal bias of the "Main Line Media," it is always helpful
to read "What Others Are Saying." Here are a few examples . . .
Investors Business Daily: "The Postal Service said it will shut almost half
its mail processing centers and largely eliminate next-day delivery for
first-class mail. That's on top of a 1-cent postage stamp hike that goes into
effect next month. It's all part of an effort to cut $20 billion in annual costs,
staunch the flood of red ink and avoid bankruptcy. Still, it's hard to see how
charging more for worse service is a credible plan for success."
The American Dream: "The control freaks that run the U.S. government are
busy imposing their values on all the rest of us, and most Americans have
absolutely no idea what is happening... they are trying to reshape America so
that it conforms to their own twisted vision of "morality". Instead of focusing
on fixing the economy and administering the government, these sick control
freaks actually want to fundamentally alter what Americans believe to be
right and wrong... At a time when this nation is drowning in debt, it seems
quite foolish to be spending so much money on radical social engineering
programs. ...But no matter how much money they spend, I am never going to
be convinced that touching the private parts of women and children at U.S.
airports is necessary for national security."
Senator Joe Lieberman (I, CT): “The American service member is
increasingly in the terrorists’ scope and not just overseas in a traditional war
setting... the military has become a direct target of violent Islamist extremism
within the United States." [Editor's note: Homegrown Islamic terrorism has
become a serious threat to American troops. Since September 11, 2001 there have
been at least 54 homegrown Islamic terrorist plots with more than 30 targeting our
military bases and troops. See comments by Senator Collins in "Afterthoughts."]
We must never forget or ignore our longtime friend and ally, Israel . . .
Dr. Mike Evans (Jerusalem Prayer Team): "Violence against the Jewish
people continues to escalate as Gaza terrorists have fired at least ten rockets
into Israel over the past two days... It is so ironic to read the news reports of
attacks on Israel from Gaza—the land Israel gave up in exchange for empty
promises of peace—side by side with reports of politicians like President
Obama urging Israel to give up even more land for peace. There will never
be peace until the Palestinians give up their dream of destroying Israel and
killing the Jews... They will never rest until their evil goal is accomplished —
or until they are stopped. The threat to Israel will not disappear because a
meaningless piece of paper is signed."
One man's view of the economy: it's all Bush's fault:
Barack Hussein Obama (Memphis TV, Dec.9, 2011):“The reason they still
support me is because they understand what an incredible mess had been
made as I was coming into office and we’ve been spending the last three
years cleaning it up."
Alex Frazier (Personal Liberty Digest): "Anyone who's anyone knows that
economics is the name of the game this voting season. Our issues of
sustained military action in the Middle East, unemployment, currency
devaluation, inflated prices, reduced production and a dozen other problems
are all directly related. If the powers that be refuse to correct our economy
with wise and educated direction, our Nation will be lost."
We found just a few "One Liners" this week -- all quite interesting.
Robert Ringer: "Watching Republicans and Democrats battle over extension
of the payroll tax cut is like watching two bald men fight over a comb."
Rod Blagojevich (former Governor of Illinois at his sentencing): "I caused
it all. I'm not blaming anyone. I was the governor, and I should have known
better." (He'll be a federal penitentiary guest for 14 years.)
Alan Sears (Pres. Alliance Defense Fund): "The Three R's Stand for
"Rescinding the Rights of the Religious"
And here's one the media won't mention: "It's good to be back in Texas,"
And there are these "Afterthoughts" from this week's research . . .
We are often reminded of the "Newspeak" in George Orwell's 1984 in the
"politically correct" terminology Mr. Obama decrees for American use. Senator
Susan Collins (R, ME) has reacted strongly against Obama's Defense Department
classifying the Fort Hood massacre by an Ismalic terrorist as "workplace violence."
The Senator suggests that "political correctness" is supplanting the security of the
nation's Armed Forces at home. Since 9/11 there have been at least 33 terror
plots targeting the U.S. military; 70% have occurred since mid-2009. The DOD
now considers America itself as the most dangerous place for members of our
armed forces, outside of foreign war zones.
Always enjoyable: James Delingpole's 365 Ways to Drive a Liberal Crazy:
"According to NASA administrator Charles Bolden, Obama now thinks it is
more appropriate for America's space program to tout the alleged scientific
contributions of Islam than it is to push the frontiers of space exploration.
Forget about exploring Mars, the purpose of NASA is to raise Muslim
self-esteem. Or, as Obama might put it: 'Ask not what NASA can do for
America's space program, ask what it can do for Islam!'"
Vice President Biden edged Obama out of top spot in the polls. For the
first time Joe Biden has earned a higher unfavorable rating than the president
as 52% regard him unfavorably. The latest Gallup poll puts Obama's approval
rating at 41%, and his disapproval rating at 51%. Those numbers represent
the widest gap in the president's approval/disapproval ratings in the Gallup
polls in recent weeks.
Homosexual activists are again boycotting the Salvation Army's red kettle
fundraising campaign, alleging discrimination. Groups supporting special rights for
homosexuals are urging people to boycott the campaign. Homosexual activists have
long had a history of taking on the Salvation Army because of its biblical view on
the homosexual life. Peter LaBarbera, who heads "Americans for Truth about
Homosexuality," commented: "The homosexual lobby is at war with religion."
In a pre-election campaign speech, Mr. Obama told a Jewish audience: "I
try not to pat myself too much on the back, but this administration has done
more for the security of the state of Israel than any previous administration."
It's difficult to decide which part of his statement is the most arrogant and most
laughable. Arrogance and ridiculousness run hand-in-hand. The reality is, as seen
in the Horowitz Freedom Center's new video, "Obama: The Anti-Israel
President," that no administration has ever done less to secure Israel from
Muslim aggression. Has he done more for Israel than recent U.S. Presidents
Truman, Nixon and Reagan? Those presidents offered deeds, while Mr. Obama
offers only words, and, as one observer commented, "usually the wrong ones."
This anti-Israel attitude of the present administration flows down from the very top –
Obama himself. From his first day in office, Obama distinguished himself by his
hostility towards the Jewish state. During the first few months of his presidency he
found time to visit two Muslim countries in the Middle East -- Egypt and Turkey.
Yet to date, as a much traveled president, he has not found time to visit Israel, our
friend and dependable ally. Since their first meeting in May, 2009, Obama has
treated Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to a series of humiliating snubs
on a scale not often seen in Washington. And just last month Obama was caught
disparaging the Prime Minister on a live microphone with French President Nicolas
Sarkozy: "You're fed up with him, but I have to deal with him every day."
Barack Obama seems to have a different mindset than any other president in the
history of the United States, doubtless due to his background in the Muslim world.
He has never represented America as a Bible-believing nation under God, but has
repeatedly assured Muslim audiences that this is not a Christian nation..
Our Founding Fathers often spoke of our nation's Christian heritage . . .
"May the father of all mercies scatter light, and not darkness, upon our
paths, and make us in all our several vocations useful here, and in His own
due time and way everlastingly happy." --George Washington, 1790
"That holy and happy period when the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ may be everywhere established, and all people everywhere
willingly bow to the sceptre of Him who is Prince of Peace."
-- Samuel Adams, 1797
"The United States of America were no longer Colonies. They were an
independent nation of Christians." - John Quincy Adams, 1837
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