Wednesday
THE SOURCES OF THOSE PROBLEMS!
The American News Commentary
"Pro-Christian -- Pro-American -- Pro-Conservative"
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Vol. 18, No. 18 May 9, 2012 © 2012
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A challenge from the past, but applicable to us today:
"Each and everyone of us has a solemn obligation under God
to serve this nation in its most critical hour
-- to keep this nation great --
to make this nation greater in a better world."
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1944
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LAST WEEK WE DISCUSSED SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT
WE FACE AS CHRISTIANS. NOW WE CONSIDER THE SIZE
OF SOME OF THE SOURCES OF THOSE PROBLEMS
A very applicable verse of Scripture comes to mind -- James 3:5: "The
tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold how great a
matter a little fire kindleth."
It is very difficult to get an accurate, current update on the sizes of the various
religious groups in America. Probably as accurate as any is the recent survey
by the Pew Forum on Religion in Public Life. That survey records that 78.4%
of Americans profess to be Christian. That is, by any standard, in any country, a
very large percentage of the population. It doesn't track with Mr. Obama's often
repeated boast that America is no longer a Christian nation.
But equally significant are the percentages reported by Pew for other religious
and secular groups in American life. Consider them, one by one, mentioned in no
particular order: Mormons: 1.7%; Jewish: 1.7%; Muslims (Islam) 0.6%; atheists:
1.6%; and the largest, labeled by Pew "Nothing in particular:" 12.1%. Then the
secular groups whom Obama favors so highly, Gay & Lesbian: 1.7%, Bi-sexual:
1.8% and Trans-sexual: 0.3% (Making up the LGBT group).
It is strange -- even shocking -- that such small groups can wield such strong
influence on the traditional American way of life, founded as it was on Judeo-
Christian principles.
It is obvious that we, as Christians, are large enough and should be active enough
and powerful enough to restore America to being the nation it was founded to be.
But be warned: Michael Snyder, writing in the American Dream, points out that
Islam is the fastest growing religion in America, at 66.7%, followed by Mormons
at 45.5%, while Evangelical Protestants show only a 1.7% gain, with Catholics at
a 5% loss and Main Line Protestants at -12.8%. Let us urge: WAKE UP,
American Christians!
Echoes of the National Day of Prayer, from Cong. J. Randy Forbes (R, VA):
"The success of preserving prayer and freedom of faith belongs to
individuals from around the country, and I ask that they continue to stand
up for what is right. In 2005 Congressman Mike McIntyre of North Carolina
and I formed the Congressional Prayer Caucus to preserve the presence of
religion, faith, and morality in our country. The CPC meets regularly to pray
for America and to work on legislative policies that will protect religious
freedom in America. Today, the CPC has grown into a bipartisan group with
105 members."
And a reminder of ANC's ongoing Prayer Countdown leading to Election Day,
Nov. 6, 2012 -- as of today there are 181 days to pray about that important
election . . . and 181 days to pray also for our fellow Christian believers all over
the world who are daily facing persecution -- and often death -- from the Islam
jihadists in so many countries . . . and particularly for our staunch ally, Israel, which
faces the threat of extinction from its Muslim neighboring countries. Never forget
God's promise to Abraham: "I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him
that curseth thee ..." (Gen. 12:3) And remember also His promise, "I am the
Lord, I change not." (Malachi 3:6)
By the way, if you read Obama's proclamation of the National Day of Prayer, as
required by the law signed by Presidents Truman and Reagan, not once did he
mention "God" -- but, of course, in all fairness it should be said that he didn't
mention "Allah," either.
An important voice on spiritual matters that we don't hear often enough,
from Billy Graham, just this past weekend: “Watching the moral decline of our
country causes me great concern. I believe the home and marriage is the
foundation of our society and must be protected... At 93, I never thought
we would have to debate the definition of marriage. The Bible is clear --
God’s definition of marriage is between a man and a woman." And we
rejoice in the results of yesterday's vote in Graham's North Carolina.
As we so often point out -- with the Main Stream Media leaning so heavily
toward the liberal viewpoint, it helps to know: What Others Are Saying.
Faith and Freedom Coalition: "It is difficult, as Christians to know exactly
how to react with what we see going on in our nation, both in the culture
and in politics. The verbal attacks on Christianity and the loss of religious
freedoms are at an all time high and seem to be escalating rather than
decreasing...In 2012, Americans will make the most important political
decision they've made in decades. We will decide whether to accept or
reject the principles upon which this country was founded."
Franklin Graham (in Decision Magazine): "There is no place for
compromise on straightforward moral issues such as abortion and same-
sex marriage. God has given us clear, Biblical direction that we must
follow and obey."
The Patriot Post: "The Obama campaign has announced its new slogan --
'Forward.' Despite the fact that his 'change' has nearly crushed 'hope,' he
arrogantly decided to double down and press forward, bitterly clinging to
failed policies. Sadly, too many voters remain under the delusion that
Obama is 'winning the future.'"
Khaled Abu Toameh (in Gatestone Institute): "The Palestinians want the
US to endorse all their demands and force Israel to give them everything...
US aid should be conditioned not only on transparency and accountability,
but also on an end to the campaign of hatred and incitement, as officially
agreed in the Oslo accords, but never implemented."
Adam Tragone (in Human Events Daily): on last week's report from the
Obama Labor Department: "This morning we learned that U.S. hiring
slowed in April to just 115,000 jobs, but the unemployment rate dropped
to 8.1 percent. And as the Wall Street Journal points out, the rate fell
because many of the people searching for employment, have dropped out
of the workforce. More great news from the Hope and Change folks at
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue..."
And just a few "One Liners" we came across in our research this week:
Jamie Weinstein (Sr. Editor, the Daily Caller):: "Holder is a great holder
of documents."
Brad Plumer (in the Washington Post): "The incredible shrinking labor force."
Mohamed A. El-Erian (in the Washington Post, Opinions): "America's fiscal
cliff cometh."
George Will (Nationally syndicated commentator): "If you strike first person,
pronouns from Obama's vocabulary, he would fall silent."
From Godfather Politics: "You can't multiply wealth by dividing it."
From Conservative byte: "Obama Has Succeeded At Delivering Change
For The Worse"
Joe Biden, Vice President of the United States: “I am absolutely comfortable
with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and
heterosexual men and women marrying another are entitled to the same
exact rights." [But the president's view is still "evolving."]
Hillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State: “I certainly think President Obama
has sent a very clear message of respect and appreciation of all religions,
and in particular of Islam.” [Yes, Hillary -- we've noticed.]
As always, there are a few "Afterthoughts" to share with you . . .
How good is your memory? How about this from Barack Obama's speech
on the floor of the Senate on Mar. 20, 2006, on increasing the debt limit (under
George W. Bush, of course): "The fact that we are here today to debate
raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. America has a
debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better. I,
therefore, intend to oppose the effort to increase America's debt." [But it's
not a failure of leadership today -- not under Barack Hussein Obama.]
Some views on a nationally sponsored welfare state from some of our
Founding Fathers -- from Ben Franklin in 1766: "I am for doing good to the
poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way of doing
good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or
driving them out of it "... and from James Madison in 1794: "Charity is no
part of the legislative duty of the government." [How things have changed!]
A few thoughts from random items in the current news: (1) From Mr.
Obama's 14,000 mile trip for a campaign speech in Afghanistan, where he
said: “This time of war began in Afghanistan, and this is where it will end.”
As William Kristol, Editor of the Weekly Standard pointed out, "Unfortunately,
the war in which we are engaged won’t end with peace in, or withdrawal
from, Afghanistan." And in that entire speech, he never once used the word that
could make his surges and all those sacrifices seem more worthwhile: "victory."
(2) From Osama bin Laden's letters which were found after he was killed, he had
written that he wanted to assassinate President Barack Obama, but directed the
al-Qaida fighters to leave Vice President Joe Biden alone, describing him as
"totally unprepared" to take over the U.S. government. (3) Mrs. Obama
demonstrated that she suffers from her husband's credibility problem, when she
told fellow Democrats at a fund raiser last week, “My family, we lived in a little
bitty apartment on the South Side of Chicago over my aunt’s house, and my
mom still lives in that house to this day.” However, her mother, Marian
Robinson, has lived in the White House since March, 2009. (4) And a morsel of
good news -- in their annual conference, the United Methodist church voted to
maintain their denomination's stance that homosexual acts are "incompatible with
Christian teaching."
And speaking of Mrs. Obama -- remember her lavish visit to Spain? The
White House assured American taxpayers that the Obamas would bear most of
the cost of the getaway. But now Judicial Watch has revealed that government
records indicate that her trip cost us $467,585, including the cost of flying her
there, car rental, food, the Secret Service, and lodging for one dog. Tom Fitton,
president of Judicial Watch commented, "The American people can ill afford
to keep sending the First Family on vacations around the globe... It is
hypocritical for President Obama to fire GSA officials for wasteful
conference spending, while his family went on a luxury vacation in the
Costa del Sol, Spain, that cost taxpayers nearly half a million dollars. No
wonder it took two years and a lawsuit to get these documents out of the
Obama administration."
Week after week, we can always learn from our Founding Fathers . . .
"He therefore is the truest friend to the liberty of this country who
tries most to promote its virtue, and who, so far as his power and
influence extend, will not suffer a man to be chosen into any office of
power and trust who is not a wise and virtuous man."
-- Samuel Adams, 1750
"The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for, among old
parchments, or musty records. They are written, as with a sun beam,
in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself;
and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power."
-- Alexander Hamilton, 1775
And now just this brief closing comment: there is so much in the current
news which merits comment -- but the limitations of time and space make
total coverage impossible. If you value this pro-Christian, pro-American, pro-
Conservative view of current events, you may want to help make it possible
for it to continue. ANC will continue, only so long as readers make it possible
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