Friday
MOST IMPORTANT YEAR IN U.S. HISTORY!
Friday, January 20, 2012, of our 10th year of publication
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Some thoughts about our government by the men who created it:
"If there is a form of government, then, whose principle and foundation
is virtue, will not every sober man acknowledge it better calculated
to promote the general happiness than any other form?"
John Adams, 1776
"If we can but prevent the government from wasting the labours
of the people, under the pretence of taking care of them,
they must become happy."
Thomas Jefferson, 1802
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IN THIS "MOST IMPORTANT YEAR IN U.S. HISTORY," GOOD
GOVERNMENT IS ONCE AGAIN A SUBJECT TO WHICH
WE SHOULD GIVE CAREFUL CONSIDERATION
But first, there are two topics which are dominating our news recently, and
we should probably take a moment to comment briefly on them. First, there is
the video of American Marines urinating on the bodies of some slain Taliban
fighters in Afghanistan. No civilized persons in anywhere near their right mind
would condone such behavior. Our Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, and our
Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, used terms like "total dismay" ... "outraged"
... and "utterly deplorable," and promised that "those who participated would
be held accountable and punished." NATO spokespersons joined in expressing
disapproval of the act, and Afghan President Hamid Karzai (whose rapport with
President Obama is almost non-existent) spoke of it as "completely inhumane
and condemnable in the strongest possible terms.” [That is much stronger
language than he uses in speaking of Taliban atrocities in his country.]
But isn't it strange -- one of those "imponderable questions" -- why none of them
have voiced any outrage over the elimination of all Christian churches in
Afghanistan, nor have they spoken any words of condemnation when Islamists have
beheaded Infidels (people who do not profess the Islamic faith), and have murdered
Christian pastors, raped Christian women and destroyed Christian churches in country
after country throughout the Muslim dominated world. Why do those acts not cause
the same reactions that this urinating incident has produced?
The other prominent item in our news is the ongoing series of primaries to
select a Republican candidate to oppose Mr. Obama in the November presidential
election. ANC has not made, and will not make, any endorsement of any candidate,
but we do have some thoughts on this seemingly never-ending schedule of "debates"
and primary elections. As the jockeying for top position continues, the verbiage gets
nastier, and one can easily conceive of the Obama campaign staff members making
careful note of all the attacks on one another from within the four or five GOP
candidates. Mark Alexander, publisher of Patriot Post, pointed out: "Sadly, the
Republican presidential contenders are still running plays out of an antiquated
and self-destructive political attack playbook. They do so at great cost, both
financially and to the ultimate objective of defeating Barack Hussein Obama."
And it should be noted that Iowa and New Hampshire, where the first two primary
battles have been decided, the unemployment rates are 5.7% and 5.2% respectively,
both well beneath the national average. But the next three primary elections will be
in South Carolina (Jan. 21) with a 9.9% rate; in Florida (Jan. 31) with a 10% rate,
and in Nevada, Feb. 4) with a 13% unemployment rate. The interests and concerns
of the voters in those three states will be greatly different from those in the first two
states. So, boring as it may seem, there is still much to be learned from this process.
And now concerning our announced topic: Good Government. In any research
on the history of the government of the United States, it is absolutely necessary to
go back to the positions held by leaders of this nation, and such research very clearly
discloses that the character of the nation's leader has always had a profound influence
on the government itself. Our first president, George Washington, said this in 1778
about the character of his fellow Americans who made up this new nation: "While we
are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly
ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished
character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished
character of Christian." A few years later, in 1789, President Washington said,
"The foundation of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable
principles of private morality." In similar vein, John Adams, our second president,
said in 1798, "Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.
It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
Building upon the foundation of the testimony of our Founding Fathers on the relation
of moral and Christian character to good government, now reprinted for the first time
since 1890, a new edition of Edward Giddings's American Christian Rulers, offers
biographies of nearly 200 American statesmen, and serves as a call to action, in this
election year, to restore America's integrity in this corruption burdened 21st century.
Since Giddings compiled his record of our national leadership, in 1892 the U.S.
Supreme Court issued this conclusion in a case, "This is a Christian Nation." In
1911, President Woodrow Wilson stated, “America
And in 1947, writing to the Pope, President Harry Truman said of America
is a Christian nation.”
ignorance, the height of foolishness, or an arrogant attempt to paint the U.S. as
something he would prefer it to be. Whatever his reason, he denies both history and
all relevant facts.
Some court problems we face today were foreseen by our Founding Fathers.
Consider this statement, posted earlier this week by Giacomo, writing in
Godfather Politics: "Unless we get real Christians in positions of leadership
in our nation and they appoint judges who will rule on the constitution and
not their own personal agendas, it won’t be long before Christians have no
rights and we’ll be the outlawed religion here in what once was a Christian
nation." And then consider this statement from Thomas Jefferson in 1820: "You
seem to consider the judges as the ultimate arbiters of all constitutional
questions; a very dangerous doctrine indeed, and one which would place us
under the despotism of an oligarchy. Our judges are as honest as other men,
and not more so...Their power is the more dangerous as they are in office for
life, and not responsible, as the other functionaries are, to the elective control.
The Constitution has erected no such single tribunal... It has more wisely made
all the departments co-equal and co-sovereign within themselves."
And some years later, another wise president, Abraham Lincoln, wrote, in 1861: "If
the policy of the government upon vital questions, affecting the whole people, is
to be irrevocably fixed by decisions of the Supreme Court, the instant they are
made, in ordinary litigation between parties, in personal actions, the people will
have ceased to be their own rulers, having to that extent practically resigned
their government into the hands of that eminent tribunal." It is obviously time to
put into positions of leadership individuals who will return to governing within the
intended bounds of our constitution. [Remember: Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012]
A word of appreciation is due to Jack Marshall, who wrote in Ethics Alarms
a criticism of George Stephanopoulos and in doing so, expressed a reason why
ANC is so important for pro-Christian, pro-American, pro-Conservative readers:
"Such is the arrogance of our news media and its 'stars.' Our needs and
interests are subordinate to their whims."
So that you don't have to be misled by the liberal, left-wing biased Main
Stream Media, we do research to bring you "What Others Are Saying"
Robert Knight (writing in Perspectives, in One News Now): "The Obama
administration's lawlessness is becoming so obvious that nearly everyone
outside the so-called mainstream media has caught on... hard-core leftists
are delighted. They regard the Constitution as a sham document...and they
do think it's great fun to misquote the Constitution's religious freedom
guarantee while going about scrubbing the public square clean of America's
Christian heritage."
John Myers (writing in Liberty Alert): "Brace yourself for at least another
year of President Barack Obama selling out America's interests to Islam,
regardless of the economic or social consequences. We are more and more at
the mercy of Islam...in case you haven't noticed, Islam is not big on mercy."
Wes Pruden (writing in Conservative Outpost): "Conservatives are fractured,
split and mad at each other, brawling like Democrats. There’s only one man
who can unify the movement. Fortunately for the Grumpy Old Party, Barack
Obama is available, ready and eager".
Michael Boldin (writing in Tenth Amendment Center): "While the
Constitution is clear that the federal government is one of limited, delegated
powers – in practice, without popular resistance, the federal government
people do whatever they please."
Chuck Colson (writing in Breakpoint): "This month marks the 39th
anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court’s hideous decision to legalize
abortion on demand in the United States. Since then, some 50 million unborn
children have lost their lives. The constant killing, with the blessing of both
the government and the media, has coarsened our national life, and deadened
the consciences of many...Adding insult to injury, the Obama administration is
seeking to increase access to abortion through...ObamaCare."
To brighten the day's news, here are some thought provoking "One Liners"
"America is experiencing heart failure. Unless the hearts of men are changed
by exposure to the truth, the heart of a nation cannot awaken."
-- Matt Barber, writing in One News Now
"Obamacare, the most sweeping government usurpation of private industry
and individual liberty in American history."
-- Andrew C. McCarthy, writing in New Media Journal
"We all have to die, so why not die the Islamic way?" -- Sami Osmakac,
immigrant who plotted a suicide terror attack in Florida:
"Our single focus must be to defeat Obama, and frankly, I would fully endorse
a turnip in order to achieve that objective."
-- Mark Alexander, writing in Patriot Post
"It’s possible that the president and his team will suddenly turn out to possess
keen political skills they have been hiding somewhere for the past three years."
--Yuval Levin, writing in National Review Online
"Relying on diplomacy, threats and sanctions alone is simply not good enough.
We must maintain all our military options." -- J. F. Kelly, Jr., writing in the San
Diego Union Tribune
Occasionally our Founding Fathers used ironic humor: “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, 1821
And there are, as always, a few "Afterthoughts" . . .
We have often cited ads for new publications, and we found -- and liked -- this
comment about The Harbinger, the new book by Jonathan Cahn: "We are at a
crossroads. Either the church will act like the church in the New Testament
or it will collapse and the U.S. will become a Third World country and we
will not fulfill our destiny."
Just a passing item in the news: Those peace loving Islamists (as so described
by President Obama) are at it again in Iraq. Fifty-three people were killed in a
suicide bombing at a security checkpoint in Iraq on last Saturday. The victims were
Shia Muslims on their way to a mosque west of Basra. The bombing occurred at
the end of Arbain, a major religious observance in the Shia calendar. And on last
Monday a car bomb exploded inside a Shiite residential complex in Mosul, killing
at least nine people and wounding five more. These outbursts have renewed fears
of wider sectarian violence -- even an outright civil war -- in the country where the
Obama administration considered their job done, and walked away from their failed
efforts toward establishing some sort of democracy in the local government.
Our Founding Fathers spoke often about the government they had created:
"Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety,
prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private
interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone
have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute
government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their
protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it." -- John Adams, 1776
And so, there it is, delayed by circumstances beyond our control . . . but after
having read this issue, please click HERE and give careful and prayerful thought to
what you can do about helping ANC to continue. We can't overly emphasize this
point: Our ability to continue publication is totally up to you.
Wednesday
THE GOAL OF GOOD GOVERNMENT!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012, in our 10th year of publication
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Some important thoughts for this week, and for the weeks just ahead of us:
"The people have a right, an indisputable, unalienable, indefeasible, divine
right to that most dreaded and envied kind of knowledge –
I mean of the character and conduct of their rulers."
John Adams, 2nd U.S. 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, 26th American president
"Character is the only secure foundation of the state."
Calvin Coolidge, 30th American president
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THE GOAL OF GOOD GOVERNMENT, AND THE CHARACTER
OF OUR NATION'S LEADERS, WERE OFTEN STRESSED BY
OUR FOUNDING FATHERS AND LATER PRESIDENTS
These two two lines in an ad for Rick Boyer's new book, Take Back the Land,
caught our attention this week: "God is calling you to greatness. No excuses. Be
ready to answer the call...If you’re a believer in Jesus Christ, your calling is to
change the world."
Note that closing thought "If you’re a believer in Jesus Christ, your calling is to
change the world." Think back to how the Scriptures describe the ministry of Paul
and Silas in the first century, when they visited Thessalonica. It was said of them,
"These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also."
(Acts 17:6) Their calling was, as ours is today, to change the world.
The promise of "change" was a fundamental element in the election campaign which
put Barack Obama in the White House. On October 30, 2008, almost on the eve
of the election, in one of his final campaign speeches he said, "We are five days
from fundamentally transforming the United States of America."
And change it he did! In just his first 3 years as president he has given us an
unemployment rate of right around 9% ... has accrued by far the largest national
debt in history ...has forced through Congress a plan to destroy the world's best
health care system, and which is now before the Supreme Court ... has encouraged
the homosexuals and is trying to repeal the federal law which prohibits same-sex
"marriage" ... has aided and abetted the Muslim take-over of countries throughout
the Middle East ... has given up on wars supposedly to establish democracy ... has
advocated the weakening of our military defense, making us vulnerable to the
growing threat of aggression by our enemies around the world ... and at the very
outset of his reign as president he declared America is no longer a Christian nation,
and has since done everything possible to honor Islam, while ignoring Christian
observances and turning our back on our long time ally, Israel Yes, Obama has
brought about change in our world.
Chris Carmouche, writing in Grasstops.USA.com, used these words to describe
Mr. Obama's ignoring of the Constitution in accomplishing his goals: "Barack
Obama declared himself de-facto dictator of the United States of America on
Wednesday, possibly signaling the end of the United States as we know it."
The United States of America has gone through difficult and dangerous times
before and has always succeeded in overcoming those threats to our freedom.
In 1775, as the fledgling nation faced its first great challenge, Thomas Jefferson left
for us these words: "With hearts fortified with these animating reflections, we
most solemnly, before God and the world, declare, that, exerting the utmost
energy of those powers, which our beneficent Creator hath graciously
bestowed upon us, the arms we have compelled by our enemies to assume,
we will, in defiance of every hazard, with unabating firmness and perseverance
employ for the preservation of our liberties; being with one mind resolved to
die as freemen rather than to live as slaves."
In today's language, Mark Alexander, publisher of The Patriot Post, wrote: "Like
many American Patriots, I get up early every morning prepared to do battle
to sustain Liberty for this and future generations. On occasion, however, I
experience battle fatigue, which can diminish my morale and stamina.
Inevitably in those moments, something occurs that restores both my drive
and my determination."
And looking back about 70 years, to 1941, Winston Churchill said, in perhaps
Britain's darkest hour, "This is the lesson: Never give in. Never give in. Never,
never, never, never -- in nothing, great or small, large or petty--never give in."
And that is exactly the attitude we must demonstrate in this time of conflict here in
our own country. We must pray for our nation and for wisdom to be given to our
leaders, and on Nov. 6 -- Election Day -- now just 300 days away, we must pray
for God's direction as we vote to put into office leaders who will fulfill the provisions
of the Constitution, and who will bring America back to being the nation past
generations have preserved it as being - in Ronald Reagan's words, "A shining city
upon a hill," or in Jesus' words, "Ye are the light of the world, a city that is set
on a hill cannot be hid."
We are called by Jesus to be both light and salt in our world. No matter how
difficult our task may seem, and no matter how strongly entrenched the opposition
may appear to be, we must always accept Winston Churchill's word as our rule:
"Never give in."
Interesting: two columnists with opposite political views sound remarkably
alike as they look back at 2011 and ahead to 2012. From the Conservative side,
Ann Coulter: "America will begin its ineluctable descent into becoming a
worthless Western European country, with rotten health care, no money for
defense and ever-increasing federal taxes to support the nanny state." And
from the Liberal side, Arianna Huffington: "Again and again in 2011, as the
country sat mired in crises and the long-term effects of joblessness, declining
wages, and downward mobility, the response by the governing class could not
have been more disproportionate to the problems."
Do you remember this statistic from last week's issue? In brief, we
pointed out that in the first 19 centuries of Christian history, an estimated 25
million believers died for their faith. In the 20th century alone, 45 million were
killed for professing their faith. Amid all the other problems facing us in today's
world, surely this must be a prime subject for our concern.
The Open Doors 2012 Watch List, released this past week, reports that
North Korea is at the top of the list of countries where Christians face the
most severe persecution. Muslim dominated countries hold 9 of the top 10
spots, and 38 out of the 50 worst countries in the annual report. But perhaps
there have been some signs of improvement in Muslim treatment of those of
other faiths. The traditional punishment for "infidels" (non-Islamic believers)
has been beheading, but in Indonesia Muslims decapitated a statue of the Virgin
Mary. And in Uganda Muslims threw acid on the face and head of a Christian
pastor on Christmas Eve. (Those are slightly more refined punishments.) The point
is that the Christian church is under severe attack throughout the world. As we pray
for our own country, and all its ills, we must never forget to pray for our fellow
believers who are daily facing persecution and death for their faith.
Former Middle East peace negotiator, Aaron Miller, writing in the Jerusalem
Post, described the deteriorating relationship between the heads of Israel and the
U.S. in stark terms. He expects tensions to continue to rise as President Obama
focuses on his re-election campaign and Prime Minister Netanyahu focuses on the
existential threat from Iran. Regarding the President’s attitude toward the Prime
Minister, Miller writes: “Obama doesn't like him, doesn’t trust him, and views
him as a con man.” Mike Evans, of the Jerusalem Prayer Team, adds: "It is a
tragedy for the United States of America, so long Israel’s best friend and ally
in all the world, to be turning against the Jewish state. It would be a disaster
at any time, but now as Israel stands almost alone, it is especially dangerous.
Israel is on the brink of suffering a catastrophic attack. The U.S. is on the
brink of suffering God’s curse and judgment for turning against His Chosen
People." God's Word can be ignored only at great risk.
We frequently find interesting statements in ads for new releases. Here are
two more that we noticed this week. First, in an ad for Donald Trump's new book,
Time To Get Tough, this comment: "President Obama has been a disaster for
America. In four short years, he's wrecked our economy, saddled our children
with an obscene amount of debt, and gone around the world apologizing for
our country. Now, America looks like a broken country -- stripped of jobs,
wealth, and respect. This can't go on." And the other, from an ad for a new
video, The Biblical Principles of the United States Constitution, narrated by
John Eidsmoe: "Now over 220 years old, the U.S. Constitution of 1787 is still
the highest law in the land, and has outlived the constitutions of all other
countries ... The Founders forged into the America's legal documents and
civil institutions biblical principles that have stood the test of time even to
this day."
And we have often cited excerpts from James Delingpole's book, 365 Ways to
Drive a Liberal Crazy. His advice: "Give your small children toy guns, and
tell your liberal friend, Yeah, I think this is the best way to break them in so
they can handle the real thing when they're six or seven." (That should do it!)
So that you can read beyond the opinions of the Liberal, Left-wing media,
we do hours of research to bring you "What Others Are Saying" . . .
Erick Erickson (in Conservative Outpost): "It’s the year most of the country
has been waiting for. Ever since it realized it had elected a monster president...
It’s highly probable that 2012 will be one of those ‘pivotal’ years that
historians glory over… The world is an increasingly dangerous place and,
under President Barack Hussein Obama, even more so for America. This is a
man who identifies more with the stated enemies of this Republic than with
American citizens."
Jim Emerson (writing in The Daily Coach): "At the Pentagon this week the
liberals’ biggest fantasy has now become reality. Barack Obama is cutting
the military budget and using the 'savings' to fund social programs."
Michael Milton (in ChristianNewsWire): "The most important question of
the coming year is not 'who will be the next occupant of the White House?'
The single most important matter before us all is a monumental question of
value...'Will the Western world embrace the very thing that holds it together.
Or will it continue the denial of the obvious and seal its inevitable decline?'”
Matt Barber (V.P Liberty Counsel): "As the political season heats up it
occurs to me that, as important as elections are, unless the hearts of men are
changed, the heart of a nation cannot awaken. Our nation is experiencing
heart failure. It needs an awakening – a spiritual awakening. Desperately."
Troy Senik (writing in Center for Individual Freedom): "2011 was Barack
Obama’s year of living dangerously... the president’s standard operating
procedure was to wait until the eleventh hour, then hope that the resultant
chaos in Congress would be sufficient to get the legislative branch to bend
to his will. If a contempt for Congress was the hallmark of Obama’s
lawmaking strategy in 2011, however, the president looks to be taking it
one step further in 2012: ignoring the legislative branch outright."
Chris Carmouche (writing in Conservative News Alerts): "In what can
only be described as a blatant, totalitarian and authoritarian abuse of
power, Barack Obama, decreed that Richard Cordray would be the head
of his so-called Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and he made his
declaration without the advice and consent of the Senate, and, by doing so,
he clearly violated Article 2, Section 2 of the United States Constitution."
For some reason, this week we found more "One Liners" than usual . . .
Jonah Goldberg, in The New Media Journal: "The term 'RINO' (Republican
In Name Only) has become an epithet of ideological enforcement, spit out in
much the same way Mao cursed 'running dog capitalists.'"
From The American Dream: "Both Romney and Gingrich are absolutely
horrible candidates and nobody should ever vote for either of them. Both of
them are virtual clones of Barack Obama."
Ann Coulter: "It's been a mixed week for Mitt Romney's campaign. On one
hand, Romney won Iowa, but on the other, he was endorsed by John McCain."
Jim Treacher, (in the Daily Call): "Out with the Constitution, in with the
Obamastitution."
Michelle Malkin, in One News Now: "Our demander-in-chief continues to
issue daily edicts from on high, echoing this administration's operating motto:
'So let it be written, so let it be done!'"
Ben Crystal, in Personal Liberty Digest: "It’s the Constitution. Mr. Obama!"
And, as always, there are a few "Afterthoughts" . . .
About that "encouraging" employment report, Liberal columnist, Arianna
Huffington, reminded us that there were 1.9 million out of work for 99 weeks or
longer (as of this December report), a 500,000 increase from the 1.4 million of a
year ago, and warned the Obama administration's enthusiasts to stay away from
the "Unemployment Rate Truthers," who claim to have the REAL unemployment
rate. And concerning the manipulation of the report's figures, she suggested that by
"extending this lunacy, America will officially have no unemployed, when
the Labor Force Participation rate hits 58.5%, which should be just before
the presidential election."
And amid all the discussion about the current unemployment rate. whatever it may
be, one element of America's working population is not often mentioned: the
nation's pastors. According to figures available from the National Council of
Churches, there are some 608,000 ordained clergy in America, and only about
372,000 are actively serving parishes. That does not mean that the remaining
236,000 are all unemployed, because many serve in other related occupations.
But there are thousands out of work -- while at the same time there are vacancies
in many small churches and in rural areas where adequate salaries are just not
available, in many instances due in part to the present economic recession. This
is an unemployment factor we tend to overlook, but one which has serious
implications for America's moral and spiritual standards.
Not that there's anything particularly wrong about being wealthy, but
according to an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics, the members of
the House Tea Party Caucus are especially wealthy. The median average net
worth of a member of the House Tea Party Caucus was $1.8 million in 2010.
That's significantly higher than the comparable number for the median House
member at $755,000. It's also more than 130% above the $774,280 average
net worth of the median, non-Tea Party Caucus House Republican.
Another one of those "imponderable questions" -- If we are in recovery,
why have American’s incomes dropped more during the recovery than they did
during the recession? According to a report from Sentier Research, based on
statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, these are the facts: Personal incomes fell
during the recent recession by 3.2%. However, during the "recovery" (since July,
2009) those incomes have fallen an additional 6.7%. The explanation has doubtless
already been entered into Mr. Obama's teleprompter, and will be read to the
American voters at a timed deemed strategically appropriate.
Our Founding Fathers, who established this nation, had strong views as
to what constituted "good government." We should never forget them.
"The aim of every political constitution is, or ought to be, first to obtain
for rulers men who possess most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to
pursue, the common good of the society; and in the next place, to take the
most effectual precautions for keeping them virtuous whilst they continue
to hold their public trust." -- James Madison, 1788
"A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring
one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own
pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth
of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government."
-- Thomas Jefferson, 1801
"A good government implies two things; first, fidelity to the objects of the
government; secondly, a knowledge of the means, by which those objects
can be best attained." -- Joseph Story, 1833
And at the end of another weekly issue of ANC -- now in our 10th year of
publication as the Internet's pro-Christian, pro-American, pro-Conservative voice,
we don't know how to say this any clearer: our resources which permitted us to
start ANC, and keep it going with no subscription fee, are exhausted. We can
continue only as our readers contribute to make this publication possible. Please
click HERE and do your part to help keep ANC going. Thank you!
AS WE ENTER INTO A NEW YEAR!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012 -- the first issue of our 10th year of publication
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A thought as we begin this new year - and for the new years yet to come:
"If this is to be a Happy New Year, a year of usefulness, a year in
which we shall live to make this earth better, it is because
God will direct our pathway. How important then,
to feel our dependence upon Him!"
Matthew Simpson
Matthew Simpson
19th Century American Episcopal Bishop
Close, personal and trusted friend of President Lincoln
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AS WE ENTER INTO A NEW YEAR, SOME THOUGHTS ON WHAT
IT MEANS FOR US, AS CHRISTIANS AND AS AMERICANS,
AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR OUR WORLD
To begin talking about or commenting on a new year, one has to pause and look
back on the old year . . . and on Dec. 31, the opening line on the front page of the
San Diego Union Tribune, our local newspaper, summarized 2011 in these words:
"It was a year of triumph and continued malaise. A year of disaster,
misconduct and celebration." Brief and to the point; we couldn't say it better.
But now here we are, already half a week into 2012. It is the one time in each year
when we look back at the year just past, and reflect on our failures and successes,
but more importantly, look forward to the opportunities and challenges which the
new year will offer. This two-directional look doubtless comes from the concept of
the ancient Roman god, Janus, who is portrayed as two-faced, looking both to the
past and to the future. More and more we have become accustomed to dismissing
the past as dead and buried, and directing our attention to the future.
From a Christian standpoint, the Bible has little to say about facing a new year.
Probably one of the best and most applicable portions of Scripture is Psalm 31:15,
"Thou art my God; my times are in thy hand."
The image of a "clean slate" upon which to write the happenings of the new year has
become almost a rule. Wayne Dyer, a self-help advocate put it this way: "A New
Year brings with it a clean, unwritten slate, ready to be written on." Or Debra
Bruce, a legal profession development coach, says, "It's a clean slate, unwritten
upon. Don't drag your old baggage into the new year." But probably the most
quoted is the English born poet, Edith Lovejoy Pierce: "We will open the book. Its
pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is
called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."
And along with all those prospects come the traditional "New Year's Resolutions" --
quit smoking ... quit drinking ... lose weight .. learn to control my temper ... read a
new book every month ... read through the Bible this year ... etc.
But for 2012, more important resolutions are needed. In last week's issue we
spoke of 2012 as "The most important year in American history." The quote
from our local paper, as cited above, summarizes our present national condition;
morally, economically, politically, diplomatically or by any other standard, we are
in a colossal mess. Never before in our nation's history of more than two centuries
have we begun a new year in worse shape than we find ourselves today. It has
become a widely accepted conclusion that in the upcoming election, Nov. 6, if we
are going to restore America to the nation our Founding Fathers intended it to be,
we are going to have to replace Barack Hussein Obama as president. Here at
ANC we are solidly pro-Christian, pro-American and pro-Conservative. Given
his record of 3 years as president, we have to conclude that Mr. Obama fails to
meet any of those standards. We have not -- nor will we -- endorse a particular
candidate to oppose the president, but we have, and will continue to stress the
importance of prayer for God's guidance on Election Day, 2012. That is what we
see as the most important responsibility before us as American Christians.
And that brings us to our "Prayer Count-down" to Election Day, 2012.
As of today, there are 307 days till Election Day ... 307 days to pray for our
nation, for wisdom to be given to our leaders, and for Go's direction as we go
to the polling places and vote to restore our country to being the nation our
Founding Fathers intended it to be. And let us not fail to pray for our fellow
believers all over the world as they face persecution because of their faith ...
and we must never forget Israel, and the new threat of the Muslim Brotherhood
which is gradually taking control of Egypt. This week their Deputy Leader, Rashaf
Bayoumi said: "Whatever the circumstances, we do not recognize Israel at all.
It's [Israel] an occupying criminal enemy.”
The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life has recently released a report
on the size and distribution of the world's Christian population. The report provides
some interesting, and perhaps surprising, facts about Christianity, worldwide. In
1910, 66.3% of the world's Christians lived in Europe. In 2010, that number had
dropped to 25.9%. But the surprising fact is that in Sub-Saharan Africa and the
Asia-Pacific regions, the 5.9% of the world's Christians in 1910 has grown to
36.7% in 2010. For example, 5 of the 10 largest churches in the world are in
South Korea. It is estimated that worldwide, 76,000 persons become Christians
every day, but only 6,000 of them are in Europe and North America, combined.
By contrast, Brazil has twice as many Roman Catholics as Italy, while Nigeria has
twice as many Protestants as Germany. But despite the geographic shifts in the
world's Christian population, Christianity remains the dominant world religion,
with 2.2 billion followers. Islam is the world's second largest religion, with 1.6
billion followers. And that is where we begin a new year of fulfilling the charge of
Jesus Christ that we are to be both light and salt in this world.
For President Barack Obama, 2011 began with a bang, and with a bold
pronouncement that his green dream for America would bring forth an explosion
in jobs, and a new economy fueled by alternative energy.... Unfortunately, what
the President predicted is much different than what the rest of the country has
experienced in the ensuing year. The jobs that the President promised didn't
materialize, and his green energy investments are careening into the ground...
That news was affirmed in the Washington Post during the holidays by a story
in which The Post reported that politics, has been largely behind the president's
green jobs program: "Meant to create jobs and cut reliance on foreign oil,
Obama's green-technology program was infused with politics at every level...
Political considerations were raised repeatedly by company investors,
Energy Department bureaucrats and White House officials."
And how has this development -- with others -- figured in the public's perception
of Mr. Obama's performance? The Rasmussen Report's "Daily Presidential
Approval Index" provides a day-to-day updating on that perception. On Jan. 22,
2009 -- the day after his inauguration, Mr. Obama's approval index score was
+30. Within weeks it began to decline, and in June, 2009 it dropped into negative
range and has never since achieved a positive rating. Since Feb., 2011 that rating
has never moved out of a double digit negative range, and closed the year 2011
at -17. On an overall basis, at year end, Dec. 31, the public's approval of his
performance stood at 46%, with 52% registering disapproval. And that is where
he starts 2012 -- the year in which he will be campaigning for re-election.
In our usual selection of "What Others Are Saying" we found thoughtful
views on current events which you will not find in the Main Stream Media
Ben Crystal (writing in Personal Living Digest ): "What a gaffe machine
Biden has turned out to be... Biden appears incapable of leaving his office
without tripping over his own tongue... However, none of his previous
rhetorical missteps could have prepared us for last week’s gallop to
goofy-town. Speaking to the liberal glossy Newsweek, Biden blurted out this
blooper: 'Look, the Taliban per se is not our enemy. That’s critical…There
is not a single statement that the president has ever made in any of our
policy assertions that the Taliban is our enemy.'"
Robert Ringer: "Many argue that having the lives of thousands of young
adults destroyed - or lost - is the price of preserving our freedom... But in
today's corrupt, semi-socialist America, the biggest threat to our freedom
comes not from abroad, but from the criminal class in Washington - and,
unfortunately, no one is talking about invading the nation's capital."
Jack Marshall (writing in Ethics Alarms): "How can journalists decry
the influence of Super-PACs and big money in elections when the news
media, the most powerful communications factor of all (because it has--still
--the remains of a reputation for being objective, fair and accurate) is
consistently biased? Not only is that a bigger problem, it is one journalists
themselves have the power to fix...if they wanted to, if they cared."
Barry Rubin (writing in The Lid): "It has often been remarked that Obama
is a narcissist, but what we see here is even worse, a man so closed and
arrogant that he cannot take criticism into account. Any democratic
leader needs to heed criticism and adjust policies based on experience,
the weaknesses pointed out by others, and changing conditions. Obama
is incapable of doing so."
Jim Denison (writing in The Denison Forum): "As a result of the Arab
Spring, Islamic political parties are gaining strength across the region. The
Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party led all groups in Egypt's
elections... The future of democracy in Egypt is uncertain. Meanwhile, no
one seems to know who's running Libya, or on whose behalf. And in Iraq,
with U.S. troops gone, the nation could descend into a Sunni-Shia civil war,
as recent attacks demonstrate... How will Christians fare in this new era?...
In the first 19 centuries of Christian history, 25 million believers died for
their faith. In the 20th century, 45 million Christians were killed for
following Jesus. Some 300 million Christians around the world are either
threatened with violence or legally discriminated against because of their
faith. Radical Muslims are convinced that the Qur'an requires such attacks
on believers."
Rep. Paul Ryan (R, WI): "The election is a referendum on the American
idea, not on Barack Obama and his handling of the economy. It is, 'Do you
want to reclaim the founding principles that made us exceptional and
great? Or do you want the cradle-to-grave welfare state?... It's really a
choice of two futures...This is the most important election in our lifetime,
no matter what generation you come from."
Mat Staver (Liberty Counsel): "All across our nation there have been
waves of intolerance directed at Christians because of their faith...Is this
really America? This is a world unimaginable to our Founders. The very
words they wrote to protect us from religious persecution are being twisted
into condemnation against our religious expression."
John Ransom (finance editor, Townhall Finance): "Do you feel much
safer now that the US doesn’t have 250,000 troops stationed in Iraq, just
a few hours from the Iranian and Syrian border? You shouldn’t. And if you
thought war was expensive, wait until you’re asked to foot the bill for the
peace."
Brian Darling (at The Heritage Foundation): on Obama's request for an extra
$1.2 trillion spending allowance --"Washington can't control spending. When we
have $15.1 trillion in national debt that we've racked up over the years, it's
pretty clear that the president's intending on spending us into the poor house."
Ryan Mauro (National Security Analyst): "The year ahead seems to have
greater risks than others in the past few years, and certain areas are so
volatile they could erupt and eclipse all worries about the economy...Voters
must remember that national security can claim the top spot in one instant."
And, not unexpectedly, we came across a few interesting "One Liners" . . .
"Barack Obama brings added definition to the word disaster, as his presidency
has overseen more people trapped below the poverty line than ever in modern
history." -- Jason Mattera, in Daily Events
"I'm amazed at the stubborn persistence of the chroniclers of Barack Obama's
presidency, who blindly state: "See no scandal, hear no scandal, speak no
scandal." -- Michelle Malkin, in One News Now
"Obama is politically desperate and historically illiterate." -- Ben Johnson,
writing in The White House Watch
And for a touch of humor; from John Ransom's predictions for 2012: "Obama
and the GOP nominee for president will hold an historic first-ever summit to
craft a compromise on healthcare reform. It will be the first time a sitting
African American, Left-Handed president and a standing Right-Handed
Mormon GOP presidential nominee will meet face-to-face at halftime in the
bathroom of an NCAA basketball tournament game ... both candidates will
agree to refer to healthcare reform as Obamneycare- or alternately, at their
option, Robamneycare- from now on."
And to wrap up this New Year Commentary, just a few "Afterthoughts."
First: be prepared for some new laws. David Martosko, Executive Editor of
The Daily Call, reminds us that as we begin 2012, there are some 40,000 new
laws taking effect this year . . . which works out to one new law every 13 minutes.
And he quotes Tacitus, a first century Roman historian and Senator, as writing:
“Corruptisima republica plurimae leges.” (The more corrupt the state, the
more plentiful its laws.) Amazing foresight, 2,000 years into the future!
A few "Imponderables" from our research this week: First, from Rasmussen
Reports: "Most voters don't believe government spending will go down if
Republicans control both the White House and Congress, and they're sure
spending will go up if Democrats are in charge of both branches of
government." And there is always this oft repeated one: "All Muslims may not
be terrorists, but every terrorist attack on America has been by Muslims."
And a puzzling one: whatever happened to the "Governator," Arnold Swarzenegger.
One moment he is constantly in the news . . . then it is disclosed he fathered a child
with their housekeeper . . . he and his wife, Maria Shriver, divorced, and since then:
nothing. And there is one more "Whatever happened to ..." with respect to the
Obamas and the $4 million vacation in Hawaii we gave them. We never heard
from them. Seems like they could have at least sent the traditional vacation post
card message: "Having a great time ... wish you were here."
Be ready for some more "End of the world" predictions. Remember last
year, when Harold Camping went all out in support of his perceived day for
Christ's return, May 21, 2011? Well, now Tom Horn, supposedly a Bible
believing Christian, has authored a book in which he goes back to an ancient
Mayan calendar, and brings in also prognostications from Jewish mystics, as well
as the ancient Hindus, Cherokee Indians, Aztecs and even the Chinese book of
I-Ching -- all of which find the world ceasing to exist as of Dec. 21, 2012 -- but
not just ending, rather stopping and starting over. We shall doubtless learn more
about that December date -- 4 or 5 other recent books hold similar viewpoints.
And in Afghanistan, where we have invested so much, in money, materiel and
lives of our military, the Afghan government has signed its first oil deal -- but with
China. Just last week the China National Petroleum Corp. won the first oil deal in
Afghanistan earlier this week, signing a contract with the Afghan government to
develop an oil field in the northern part of the country. Maybe he shouldn't have
gone on that golfing vacation in Hawaii.
And finally, in Gallup's "Most Admired" survey, when asked which man
living in the world today they admire most, 32 % of Americans surveyed this month
could not name anyone, thus falling into a category that Gallup describes as "None/
No opinion." President Obama came in second to "None/No opinion" with 17 %
of respondents saying he was their choice for their most admired man. Similarly,
29 % of Americans did not name anyone when asked their choice for their most
admired woman. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton came in second to "None/No
opinion" with 17 % saying she was their most admired woman.
We can always learn something from the words of our Founding Fathers,
and it is well worth the time it takes to read them; here are a few . . .
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin, 1759
deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin, 1759
"The pyramid of government-and a republican government may well receive
that beautiful and solid form-should be raised to a dignified altitude: but its
foundations must, of consequence, be broad, and strong, and deep. The
authority, the interests, and the affections of the people at large are the only
foundation, on which a superstructure proposed to be at once durable and
magnificent, can be rationally erected." --James Wilson, 1804
"The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first
and only legitimate object of good government." --Thomas Jefferson, 1809
And that is the first issue of our 10th year of publication. As we indicated
last week, we hoped and planned to complete this issue. And as we also indicated
last week, our future publication is up to you. We need your help if we are to
continue. Please click HERE to open the "Support" page, and send your donation,
by credit card or by mailing a check. We haven't asked for large gifts, but have
suggested a modest amount of $12. Thanks, in advance, for what you are going to do.
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