Friday, October 12th, 2013 the United States Fiscal Debt exceeded 17 Trillion Dollars.  Just to put it into perspective if you place 17 trillion dollar bills end to end they would reach from earth to the sun over 8 and 1/2 times (8.65 times).  Or if you could live 17 trillion seconds, you would live for over 196,759,259 years.  So if we were to pay this debt off at 1 trillion dollars every 10 years it would take us 170 years to pay this off. 

Economist tell us that this is not the entire debt owed by the USA.  According to these experts the United States has somewhere between 70 trillion and 100 trillion in unfunded financial obligations.  These obligations range from Social Security to Medicare and now Obamacare.  

Families and Businesses (that are truly successful) must live within their means.  Thomas Jefferson knew that Governments must also live within their means as well.  If the people of the USA wish to remain a free nation, a prosperous nation, a nation where our children and grandchildren will have the opportunity to pursue life, liberty, and happiness, then we will demand that our Government pass a budget that is balanced!  Then we demand that the Government take steps to reduce the budget, the size of Government  and begin the long haul of paying off our debts and obligations, not tomorrow but today!!!

Mandatory Flu Shot Or You're Fired
By Dan Fastenberg Posted Nov 27th 2012
TriHealth, a Cincinnati, Ohio-based health center fired 150 of its workers the Wednesday before Thanksgiving for not complying with a mandate that every member of the 10,800-person staff get the vaccine, which was being offered for free on-site. Whatever their motivation, be it philosophical or religious opposition to getting the vaccine, the workers are facing an increasingly common workplace policy. Fourteen states and the District of Columbia have passed laws requiring health workers to get vaccinated or some form of treatment, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Just another loss of liberty.  When the country begins to mandate, require, or coerce people to do something they do not wish to do liberty is loss.  Are Flu shots a good thing?  CDC says so...the research is somewhat less sure...some research even shows that maintaining optimum (not basic) levels of vitamin D in your system is as effective as the Flu shot.

If people continue to accept this gradual move towards tyrannical solutions to common problems whether done by private institutions or govemental institutions we will live some form of Tyranny or another and Freedom and Liberty will be a thing of the past remembered only by those of us who saw its decline and death.

CAIRO — An Egyptian court convicted in absentia Wednesday seven Egyptian Coptic Christians and a Florida-based American pastor, sentencing them to death on charges linked to an anti-Islam film that had sparked riots in parts of the Muslim world.     (By SARAH EL DEEB 11/28/12)

Among Islamists...
Freedom of Speech - No
Freedom of Religion - No

What are they so concerned about...is there faith so fragile or their prophet so weak that any criticism of the Koran or islam must be dealt the death penalty?

And we are expected to be tolerant and respectful of such a religion?

Listening to our pastor this morning preaching from Hosea Pastor Don Miller made a side bar statement from his central theme  that got my attention.  He stated that he is often asked if America was facing God's Judgement for her sins.  His answer intrigued me.  He said he did not believe that God is judging America.  Based on Hosea 4:1 "Hear the word of the Lord,...because the Lord has a charge to bring against you...; 'There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgement of God in the land.'" And also Hosea 4:6 "...my people are destoyed from lack of knowledge.  Because you have rejected knowledge,...."
Here are some reasons we have yet to face God's Judgement:
1.  God prefers to be our Savior rather than our Judge.  When God Judges it is always the last resort.  God is a willing, because of His righteousness, but reluctant, because of His Mercy, Judge.  Because of God's compassion he seeks to draw us back to him as a people and as a nation. 
2.  If we acknowledge God, and love Him, and are faithful to Him, as a people and a nation we will bask in God's favor, protection, and blessings.  But if we do not acknowledge Him, love Him, and remain faithful to him we will have walked away from His favor, protection, and blessings.
3.  In order to be faithful to God we must first love Him.  In order to love God we must first acknowledge Him.  As people and as a nation we have been systematically trying to remove God from our public discourse, our public buildings, parks, arenas, and monuments.  We do not acknowledge him in our educational institutions, in our legislation, in our sciences, or in our personal daily routines.  Therefore we are unable to truly love God or be faithful to Him.
4.  We have known the knowledge of God but have rejected it in favor of other knowledge or philosophies.  God will not force our obedience and therefore if we continually choose to reject Him He will allow us to choose our own way and let us run with it to its conclusion if we refuse to heed the warnings and return to Him.  This is not judgement but releasing us to our own choices and consequences.
5.  Therefore since we seem to be determined to reject the "knowledge" of God, and refuse to acknowledge him as a nation, God has allowed us to step away from his favor, protection, and blessings as well, and he has allowed us to face the consequences of our choices, decisions, and actions (the Godly principle of "reaping what you sow").

Having given this much thought today I agree with Pastor Don Miller's conclusion that we as a nation are not under God's Judgement, but are being allowed to reap what we have sowed and are sowing.  All this so that in time we may turn from our rejection of God to an acknowledgement of HIm as a nation and learn once again to love Him, and to be faithful to Him.

I have seen this quote being thrown around facebook, twitter, and other internet venues lately.  This is a trueism and it must be followed by that infamous word...but.

Education is a powerful "weapon" and yes it can "change the world."  But, youmust consider the foundation that underlies the education being taught. 

Hitler used education to convince a generation of Germans that the Jews were the lowest form of human life (if even human at all according to nazi doctrine) and that the Germanic Arian race was the evolutionary elite and was destined to rule the world. This led to the bloodiest world war in history, and decimated that generation of Germans.

Islamists educate their people especially children and young men and women that it is their religious obligation to wage Jihad against Western Civilization, America, England, Europe, and of course Israel.  Including the use of suicide bombing, beheading, true torture, in other words by any means necessary, because it is Allahs will.

Just two examples of how important the foundation that undelies  the education being taught is.  Education is not Value free.  Education has a foundation built upon the Worldview of the Educator.  So once you determine the Worldview you want to instill and the change you want to produce then you have a curriculumn which will be taught.  Be very careful of the outcome you want of your education.

If it is based on anything other than the Judeo-Christian value system as taught by Jesus and the Bible it will ultimately lead to evil results.  Misinterpretation of God's word led to slavery and other discriminatory practices among the wester world.  Ignoring God's word on the value of human life has led to the death of milions of innocent children through abortion. (The key phrase here is "innocent children", so don't go off on the capital punishment argument to derail the "right to life" platform)  Education taught upon the foundation of Judeo-Christian values would change the U.S. and the world into Civil Society where the right to personal property existed, their would be little theft by criminals or the state (You shall not steal); murder would be nearly non-existant (Love you brother, You shall not murder);  the generation gap would be a thing of the past (Honor your father and mother, children obey your parents);  there would be no need for a welfare state because we would be taught to help those in need (feed the hungry, clothe the poor, help the sick).  I could go on and on and on about the benefits of a Judeo-Christian worldview that should underly education, but you get the point.

A correct, Godly, Biblical, foundation to education would have positive results.  A different Worldview underlying education will ultimately fail...History seems to point that out over and over and over.

A Digital Leash For Women: SMS Tracking Of Wives In Saudi  Arabia

by Gregory Ferenstein Friday, November 23rd, 2012

Saudi men can now be alerted via text message if women try to escape from
the country. The new technology has reportedly been in place since last week, and was
discovered after a husband was alerted by immigration authorities while traveling with his wife. While “the right of exit” has been generally recognized as a fundamental human right, Saudi Arabia remains a deeply conservative country and denies women the
right to travel without the consent of their male guardian.

And here in America we want to extend Sharia Law to these people in the name of diversity and tolerance.  The laws that deny women the freedom to travel, to leave their homes, requiring them to be subservient to men "thier male guardian," are no different than laws which condone slavery.  These women are legal slaves to their husbands, fathers, brothers, who ever is considered thier legal guardian.

Slavery was wrong when Europeans imposed it on black Africans and it is wrong when Islamic men impose it on women!

A Senate proposal touted as protecting Americans' e-mail privacy has been quietly rewritten, giving government agencies
more surveillance power than they possess under current law.
Senator Leahy's rewritten bill would allow more than 22 agencies -- including the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Communications Commission -- to access Americans' e-mail, Google Docs files, Facebook wall posts, and Twitter direct messages without a search warrant. (By Declan McCullagh | CNET.com)

Step by step, inch by inch, day by day, year by year our freedoms are infringed upon by those intent on controlling us under the guise of protecting us.  The right to privacy takes another blow...it may not be long and we will be living a "1984" by George Orwell
 

As a Christian I find it offensive that anti-atheist individuals defaced the atheists signs in a Santa Monica park.  That will definitely convince them that their is a God, and that God is Love and loves them. 

By the way Freedom of Religion is for all Religions not just for Christians.  The "Establishment of Religion Clause" was included in the Constitution to prohibit our Government from establishing a State religion and to prohibit the persecution of any religion.  Those who seek to rid America of the open displays of worship such as the Nativity scene are actually doing what the "establishment os religion clause" and Freedom of Religion tradition has attempted ot abolish...religious persecution.

By the way these also protect the rights of our Atheist friends since the Supreme Court has defined them as a religion as well.  Their God?  Reason, Intellect, Humanity, sounds like the makings of a Trinity to me.

A FINAL THOUGHT:  If Atheists believe that Religions are based on Mythology and that there is no God why do they spend so much time and money trying to eliminate a fairy tale from our culture?  Especially when our society is enraptured by fables and fantasies such as Harry Potter, and

The self-flagulation, hand wringing, and second guessing by the Republican party has begun.  Here are some quotes:

"Some of the early prescriptions offered by officials and operatives to rebuild after devastating elections:  retool the party message to appeal to Latinos, women and working-class people; upgrade antiquated get-out-the-vote systems with the latest technology. Teach candidates how to handle the new media landscape.

Republicans say that arguably the most urgent task facing the party is changing its attitude about immigration as it looks to woo Hispanics.

Republicans said they also have work to do with single women and younger voters, many of whom tend to be more liberal on social issues than the current Republican Party.

Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, who describes himself as a "pro-choice moderate Republican," echoed Republicans across the spectrum when he said last  week: "We need to be a larger-tent party." '

(By KASIE HUNT and STEVE PEOPLES | Associated Press – Sat, Nov 17, 2012)

While it is incredibly necessary to examine what the GOP did to lose what should have been a strong win given the economic statistics, national debt load. etc., The Republican Party is concerned that if it doesn't change it will be marginalized to a permanent minority party.  But if it isn't careful in its assesmant and in the ways that it attempts to become more "relavant" it could produce and outcome much worse than being marginalized.  Let me explain by examining some of the statements in the above quotes.

Quote #1:  "Teach candidates how to handle the new media landscape." Translation - Teach candidates how to deal with an antagonistic, biased, liberal media, who is determined to transform America into a Statist, Liberal, Socialist country.  Teach candidates that there is no safe place during an election to voice private thoughts (i.e. Romney's 47% comment).  This is definintely a necessary change the GOP needs. 

Quote #2:  "...upgrade antiquated get-out-the-vote systems with the latest technology."  Duh, this is a no brainer, if you want to reach anyone under 50 you must use modern media technology.

Quote #3:  "...retool the party message to appeal to Latinos..."  "the most urgent task facing the party is changing its attitude about immigration..."  If the Republicans are not careful with their message they could become the party who rewards illegal immigration just as the Democrat Party does.  A conservative principle of the Republican Party has always been an unwavering adherence to the Rule of Law.  A softening on illegal immigration would be a wavering adherence to the Rule of Law.

Quote #4:  "Republicans said they also have work to do with single women and younger voters, many of whom tend to be more liberal on social issues than the current Republican Party."  I am afraid in their attempt to woo the more socially liberal youth will result in a liberal Republican party no different than the liberal Democrat Party.  This attempt to soften the presentation of party platform staples of being pro-life, and a traditional (not to mention biblical) view of marriage, etc. may well gain the party some voters, but will lose the party others.  "Sen. Scott Brown echoed Republicans across the spectrum when he said last  week: "We need to be a larger-tent party."  In order to produce a "larger-tent" the problem could become a watering down of conservative principles which could cause many Tea Party Patriots, Conservative Evangelical Christians, and other Constitutional Conservatives to vacate the Republican party and possibly form a viable third party (possibly in coalition with the Libertarian party) that could desimate the Republican Party and actually cause the GOP to become permanently marginalized to a minority, if not non-existant, party.  This is exactly what they fear already, and unless they are wise in their attempt to become more relavent, they may just create exactly the result they fear.

A word to the GOP:  If you do not stand for Conservative Judeo-Christian principles you will lose the back bone of the party and we will lose the country.  Do we need to find a way to communicate these principles so the greater masses understand that true conservatism, as well as judeo-christian values, are the compassionate conservatism.  In fact it is more compassionate than a liberal, socialist, statist culture envisioned by the Liberal Democrats.