Friday, October 30, 2009

The Hypocrisy Astounds and Abounds

Yesterday's press conference with Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer was not only an invitation only event, it required invitees to RSVP to be sure that no outsiders attended. Press conferences, by definition, are usually open to all comers. But this one, held on the steps of Congress, again by definition an area open to all citizens, was limited to those who agree with Pelosi and Hoyer.

In fact, protesters were walled off by a fence and some were arrested at "the people's House" because they begged to differ. So much for caring about the little people.

Pelosi claimed that this historic legislation, ". . .is fiscally sound, will not add one dime to the deficit, as it expands coverage, implements key insurance reforms and promotes prevention and wellness across the health system."

Even the perennially incorrect (on the low side) CBO has estimated that it will cost $1,055,000,000,000. And the key insurance reforms mean that sooner or later it will be government run health care. Promoting prevention covers up the fact that rationing is inevitable. Can she point to any government run health care or insurance system, like the Veterans' Hospitals, Medicare, or Medicaid that is not already bankrupt? How can this 1990 page monstrosity be any different?

Then to cap it all off, Steny Hoyer, said, "But befitting the importance of this legislation, the process of putting it together has been deliberative, transparent and open; the most deliberative, transparent and open process I have seen for any bill in my 29-year career."

Of course the Democrats have carefully excluded Republican suggestions and amendments. In fact, hardly anyone has even heard of the six healthcare reform bills the Republicans have offered.

Someone please remind me of how this press conference differed from one held by a totalitarian ruling elite.

We Have Noted Your Complaints

And by them you have become the enemy to the current administration. Obama's latest villain is, believe it or not, Edmunds. His White House.gov blog has an article that accuses the publication of doing its research on Mars because it questioned the efficacy of the much heralded Cash for Clunkers program.

They especially disliked the claim that essentially, the program cost the American taxpayers $24,000 for every car sold above and beyond the usual car sales for the time period. Fortunately, Edmunds responded here.

I say, beware of an administration that responds immediately and drastically to political "enemies," but dithers when it comes to international enemies who attacked us without provocation and killed many innocent citizens.

Dismantling America, Part II

Dr. Sowell, who should have been our first black president, writes again about the real problems the US faces because of the missteps of the Obama administration. Read his first article by scrolling down the page, then read his latest column at Townhall. You will learn, among other things, why so many people defend the Won despite his obvious and egregious errors.

If My People, XXXVIII

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! Luke 13:34
How terribly sad to read that the God who created us and our universe loves us so much He wants to hug us and shield us from harm. Yet we are unwilling! We push Him away, fearing His love. Or perhaps, we are so arrogant that we think we do God a favor by engaging in pious acts such as praying or going to church and He should be quite content with our leftover love. Pray for the wisdom to daily return in grateful affection to the One who loves us most. Only then will we find the happiness we so desperately seek.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

I Was So Very Wrong!

I have been patiently waiting for the Congressional Hearings or the criminal trials for ACORN to be announced since they have been publicly exposed giving advice on avoiding taxes, getting fraudulent loans for houses, and smuggling Salvadorian 13 year olds into the country for prostitution.

But instead, Maxine Waters proposed an amendment that gave 5 slots in the Consumer Financial Protection Agency to representatives of "consumer protection, fair lending and civil rights, representatives of depository institutions that primarily serve underserved communities, or representatives of communities that have been significantly impacted by higher-priced mortgages." Which definition sounds a lot like 5 people from ACORN or one of its subsidiaries.

The amendment was adopted by Barney Frank's House Financial Services Committee.

To read the details go Mark Tapscott's article at The Washington Examiner.

If My People, XXXVII

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live. Deuteronomy 30:19
We individually, as a family, and as a nation are always blessed when we choose life. Although at times it appears to our darkened minds that death couched in such modern sounding terms as abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, etc. is the rational or practical thing to do, it always, always creates more harm than good. Pray that Americans would become more aware that life is a gift from God to be treasured at all costs.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Thomas Sowell : Dismantling America

No one could ever accuse Dr. Sowell of wearing a tinfoil hat. So when he writes articles like this, you need to pay attention. Please read it and pass it along. It was published this morning on Townhall's website.

Just one year ago, would you have believed that an unelected government official, not even a Cabinet member confirmed by the Senate but simply one of the many "czars" appointed by the President, could arbitrarily cut the pay of executives in private businesses by 50 percent or 90 percent?

Did you think that another "czar" would be talking about restricting talk radio? That there would be plans afloat to subsidize newspapers-- that is, to create a situation where some newspapers' survival would depend on the government liking what they publish?

Did you imagine that anyone would even be talking about having a panel of so-called "experts" deciding who could and could not get life-saving medical treatments?

Scary as that is from a medical standpoint, it is also chilling from the standpoint of freedom. If you have a mother who needs a heart operation or a child with some dire medical condition, how free would you feel to speak out against an administration that has the power to make life and death decisions about your loved ones?

Does any of this sound like America?

How about a federal agency giving school children material to enlist them on the side of the president? Merely being assigned to sing his praises in class is apparently not enough.

How much of America would be left if the federal government continued on this path? President Obama has already floated the idea of a national police force, something we have done without for more than two centuries.

We already have local police forces all across the country and military forces for national defense, as well as the FBI for federal crimes and the National Guard for local emergencies. What would be the role of a national police force created by Barack Obama, with all its leaders appointed by him? It would seem more like the brown shirts of dictators than like anything American.

How far the President will go depends of course on how much resistance he meets. But the direction in which he is trying to go tells us more than all his rhetoric or media spin.

Barack Obama has not only said that he is out to "change the United States of America," the people he has been associated with for years have expressed in words and deeds their hostility to the values, the principles and the people of this country.

Jeremiah Wright said it with words: "God damn America!" Bill Ayers said it with bombs that he planted. Community activist goons have said it with their contempt for the rights of other people.

Among the people appointed as czars by President Obama have been people who have praised enemy dictators like Mao, who have seen the public schools as places to promote sexual practices contrary to the values of most Americans, to a captive audience of children.

Those who say that the Obama administration should have investigated those people more thoroughly before appointing them are missing the point completely. Why should we assume that Barack Obama didn't know what such people were like, when he has been associating with precisely these kinds of people for decades before he reached the White House?

Nothing is more consistent with his lifelong patterns than putting such people in government-- people who reject American values, resent Americans in general and successful Americans in particular, as well as resenting America's influence in the world.

Any miscalculation on his part would be in not thinking that others would discover what these stealth appointees were like. Had it not been for the Fox News Channel, these stealth appointees might have remained unexposed for what they are. Fox News is now high on the administration's enemies list.

Nothing so epitomizes President Obama's own contempt for American values and traditions like trying to ram two bills through Congress in his first year-- each bill more than a thousand pages long-- too fast for either of them to be read, much less discussed. That he succeeded only the first time says that some people are starting to wake up. Whether enough people will wake up in time to keep America from being dismantled, piece by piece, is another question-- and the biggest question for this generation.



Thomas Sowell : Dismantling America - Townhall.com

If My People, XXXVI

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. I Timothy 2:1-2
Only when the general populace is allowed to live peaceably without interference by regulations or excessive taxation will creativity and innovation flourish, as the US witnessed during the Twentieth Century. Those conditions also allow the good news of God's mercy to spread easily, enriching all people: those in authority and those under authority. Pray that our political leaders will again allow Americans to live in the freedom that is our heritage.

Shamelessly Stolen Cartoon


I stole this from Lucianne.com this morning. It was just way too good not to share. I hope there is no legal challenge if you give full attribution and link to that site.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Just in Case You Missed It Last Time


I posted this great explanation of the debt and deficit earlier, but it's so good, it's worth repeating. Also it amplifies this morning's post. Embed and send to your friends and neighbors who need the fiscal education.

The Dollar Is Falling!



And our leaders are encouraging it because it preserves their power momentarily. Just look at the chart above left. We've already heard about this year's new trillion dollar plus deficit; it's 3.5 times the unconscionable debt we had under Bush in 2008. And which debt Obama strongly attacked when he was just a candidate; however, when he gained power, he suddenly forgot the danger. When added to recent deficits, the sum totals $11.8 trillion.

Because nothing drastic has happened yet, and because the Obama administration has been so terribly busy trying to change our country, most Americans have become numb to the implication of the facts before them.

However, other countries have not been so complacent. They are shifting out of dollar denominated investments and debts because they clearly see the (almost) inevitable decline in the dollar's value.

Perhaps they are paying attention to our unfunded debt such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Veteran's Benefits, and government pensions. These are not even listed on the balance sheet, but they amount to almost $104,000,000,000,000 in the foreseeable future.

If Obama passes a Health Care Reform bill, inevitably more will be added to the deficit.

And yet our leaders loudly whistle past the graveyard while they busily print more money to pay back our debts with less valuable dollars. No wonder there is a growing demand for a new international currency.

Ancient Rome, the Byzantine Empire, and Post WWI Germany all tried to use the same method when national obligations became too great to ever pay back.* After all inflation is a silent tax and many hardly even notice when politicians do it. But inevitably, it leads to the ruin of the country. In the fourth century AD, the Roman denarius fell to 1/50 of its value in a mere 13 years. The Bezant took longer, but by the 14th century it had virtually ceased to exist despite the fact it had once been the international currency. The Reich mark plunged from 4.2 to the dollar before WWI to 1,000,000 to the dollar by August 1923.

The chart below illustrates the dollar's loss of value in recent years -- 36% when compared to other currencies and a whopping 75% compared to gold. Without a drastic change in Washington, the dollar will decline even more precipitously.

*One economic writer, Larry Edelson, believes that if the US government started paying off its debts at the rate of $100,000,000 every single day, it would take 3,446 years before the debt is paid off. The statistics above came from the Uncommon Wisdom website.

If My People, XXXV

It is because of the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness. The Lord is my portion or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him. The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him [inquire of and for Him and require Him by right of necessity and on the authority of God's word]. Lamentations 3:21-24 Amplified Bible
If you ever feel overwhelmed with problems, read Jeremiah and Lamentations. In those two books you get the story of a faithful follower of God who experienced unbelievable persecution and some of his prayers to God about it. The Cliff notes version is the first half of the third chapter of Lamentations. In spite of a lifetime of hardship and being misunderstood, he exclaims that God's mercies are new every morning and that He is faithful at all times.

Take courage. God is faithful even when everyone else persecutes you. Each morning He lavishes new graces to get you through the problems of that day. Praise and thank Him for His tender compassion.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Is This The Care We Want?

The Obama Administration has been quite eager to take over the Health Care System. They also jumped at the chance to declare the Swine Flu a national emergency and insist that everyone get vaccinated against it.

So, the delivery of the vaccine was promised in September, then October, and now November. HHS Secretary has been out in the media simultaneously urging compliance and explaining why compliance was impossible.

They failed their first test. Do we dare trust this system with our heart attacks, cancer treatments, premature babies, and other medical emergencies? When will the bureacrats allow the time, money, and creativity for continuing the medical innovations that now place the US at the forefront of medical care in the world?

We need to scrap all attempts to take over health care by the government and substitute no cost, free market type solutions.

If My People, XXXIV

After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
"Give thanks to the LORD,
for his love endures forever."
As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 2 Chronicles 20:21-22
This is one of my favorite stories because I get so tickled thinking about a battle plan that sends the choir out in front of the actual warriors. It also illustrates the truth that we too easily substitute fretting for praying. Prayer is not a recitation of the problem since God already knows more about the problem than we do. It is reactivating and realigning our relationship with God. Our own level of faith, trust, obedience, and love is renewed as we praise God and acknowledge that He is the giver of all good gifts.

Continue to pray for our country and its leaders.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Yes, Nancy, We're Serious

When Cybercast News Service asked Nancy Pelosi whether the health care bills in the House were in line with the Constitution, she was incredulous. "Are you serious? Are you serious?" she asked rhetorically before going on to the next reporter.

Her press secretary, Nadeam Elshami, later told CNS that asking the Speaker of the House where the Constitution authorized Congress to force American to buy health insurance was "not a serious question." Later she sent an email press release that argued it was part and parcel of the Commerce clause, according to Cybercast.

Many conservatives beg to differ. For example, Judge Andrew Napolitano wrote about the Constitutional questions recently in the Wall Street Journal. Others have joined in the fray, wondering how on earth the US Constitution can force any citizen to buy any thing.

So, the question remains for you, Speaker Pelosi. Where does the Constitution authorize Congress to create a health care bill? And how exactly, do you interpret the Commerce clause to create that authority out of thin air? As someone who has sworn to protect the Constitution and the country from enemies at home and abroad, surely you can give a cogent answer instead of denigrating the innocent question and hapless questioner.

If My People, XXXI

Destroy [their schemes], O Lord, confuse their tongues, for I have seen violence and strife in the city. Day and night they go about on its walls; iniquity and mischief are in its midst. Violence and ruin are within it; fraud and guile do not depart from its streets and marketplaces. Psalm 55:9-11
We pray today that those who would incite physical, financial, or spiritual ruin in our dear country would be confused. Pray for their plans to be destroyed. Pray for an end to the fraud and guile exhibited openly, but without rebuke. And pray that each one of us would be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

If My People, XXX

Then said Jesus, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. Luke 23: 34-35

Pray today for the grace to forgive, the most difficult part of the Christian life. Mother Angelica of EWTN pointed out some time ago that we haven't forgiven until, like Jesus, we make excuses for those who hurt us, even when they don't desire or deserve it. When we do, the fog in our own head clears, our own personalities heal, and we give the other person/people a chance to change for the better. Let us not imprison our enemies in their misguided deeds. Set them free to experience God's love also.

The Recession Is Over?

Then why have Google searches for "collapse of the dollar" and "price of gold" doubled since 2008?

How's Our Banking System Now?

Now that we have far fewer but far bigger banks than just one year ago, are we better off? Not according to the Inspector General of the TARP Fund, Neil Barofsky. He says, "I think we may be in a far more dangerous place today than we were a year ago."

He monitors several bailout-related programs and has launched about three dozen investigations since December 2008. He has said since last July that he intended to demand transparency from everyone, including the US Treasury.

According to The Huffington Post, Barofsky claims:

1. Hundreds of banks can track their use of the TARP money, no matter what the U.S. Treasury claims.
2. The TARP rescue, intended to increase lending by banks, has failed in that respect.
3. The U.S. financial system is shakier than ever.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

If My People, XXVIX

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:12
The United States is suffering from a lack of truth. Daily there are public examples of liars "getting away with it" because no one has the courage to speak out against their lies. We are afraid to express our real thoughts for fear of being politically incorrect. We accept fraud and corruption because we don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. Our journalists have become public relations flacks because they can't handle truth and keep their jobs. And, worst of all, we have begun to lie to ourselves (i.e. rationalize) about our own actions. Please pray for the truth to reign in your personal life and pray for your countrymen to face and embrace the truth at all levels.

The New United States of Goldman Sachs

If you're not angry about the role Goldman Sachs is playing in our country, then you just don't know all the facts yet. On Monday, we covered the "magical" 2009 third quarter earnings for GS of $3,400,000,000 after they had received $70,000,000,000 from the taxpayers just a year ago.

Amazingly, no one has demanded anything be done about this "windfall" profit. There have been no screaming headlines or news specials about making a record $3.4 billion in one quarter. Their executives are not hounded by protestors around their homes nor do they face sarcastic reporters yelling questions as they try to leave their offices.

Today, we discovered that the government and Goldman Sachs have been too close for comfort at least since the Bush administration. His Treasury Secretary, Hank Paulson, held a secret meeting with the board of Goldman Sachs in a Moscow hotel in 2008 between the demise of Bear Stearns and the fall of Lehman Brothers (former competitor with GS). It was supposed to be a purely social occasion for the former Goldman Sachs CEO. But he ended up telling his old friends all about his upcoming big speech and the gathering storm at Treasury -- quite a conflict of interest. For the whole story of the meeting, see the Business Insider article below.
This week Adam Storch, VP of Goldman Sachs Business Intelligence Group, was named the SEC as the Chief Operating Officer for enforcement. So we began researching other Obama administration executives with ties to Goldman Sachs. The list so far includes:

* Pete Coneway, Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein

* Diana Farrell, Deputy director of Obama's National Economic Council

* Michael Froman, Obama adviser and former assistant to Robert Rubin

* Jason Furman, Obama Campaign Economic Policy Director

* Tim Geithner, Current Treasury Secretary

* Gary Gensler, Chairman of Commodity Futures Trading Commission

* Bob Hormats, Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Agricultural Affairs

* James A Johnson, Fannie Mae

* Reuben Jeffery III, Undersecretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Agriculture

* Neel Kashkari, Treasury official in charge of TARP

* James C Langdon Jr., Treasury, US Mint, Department of Public Debt

* Philip D Murphy, Ambassador to Germany-Designate

* Mark Patterson, Chief of Staff to Tim Geithner

* Karthik Ramanathan, Acting Assistant Secretary for Financial Markets

* Robert E Rubin, Former Treasury Secretary, Transition Advisory Board

* Faryar Shirzad, Global Head of Government Affairs

* Robert K Steel, Under Secretary of Treasury

* Larry Summers, Director of the National Economic Council

* John Whitehead, Advisor

* Robert Zoellick, US Trade Representative and World Bank president

Why isn't someone calling for a thorough investigation of the penetration of Goldman Sachs into Obama's administration, especially at Treasury? What about the Federal Reserve? Is it not unfair for this privileged bank to be making record profits without repaying their creditors (the US taxpayers)? This does not sound like free market capitalism to me.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

The Scariest Jobs Chart Ever

The Scariest Jobs Chart Ever

(Posted using ShareThis)

Please click on the job chart link to see for yourself an unemployment chart from last July. It is frightening to see how bad the job situation was then and terrifying to know that it's worse now. And the only good news/spin the mass media can give is that the decline last month was not as bad as expected - whatever that means.

Good News!

After years of innuendo and rumor, the Vatican has announced:
“In this Apostolic Constitution the Holy Father has introduced a canonical structure that provides for such corporate reunion by establishing Personal Ordinariates which will allow former Anglicans to enter full communion with the Catholic Church while preserving elements of the distinctive Anglican spiritual and liturgical patrimony.”
More details will emerge in time, but this long awaited announcement will encourage thousands of Episcopalians in the US and Anglicans in England and Africa to become Roman Catholics.

The Anchoress, Atonement Online, and Standing On My Head have more information. The last two blogs are written by former priests in the Anglican communion who have become Catholic priests.

If My People, XXVIII

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matt.28:19-20

The straggly band of nobodies to whom Jesus spoke were hardly a publicist's dream team. They had no cell phones, YouTube, Facebook, or Twitter. Both overland and sea travel were expensive, slow, and dangerous. Yet within one generation, they had begun to transform the Middle East and within 300 years converted the Roman Empire.

How do you get new members when your group is outlawed, so you can't even announce the next meeting or advertise a big rally? Simple. You live a life so full of love that people on the street stop and ask, "What is your secret?" and "Why are you so happy?"

The rancor, divisiveness, crime, and political unrest in our country will only heal when its people are healed spiritually. How is your life going? Has anyone stopped you lately to ask how can you be so loving? Pray for your neighbors and pray to be asked.

Monday, October 19, 2009

We All Knew The Bailout Was Wrong, Wrong, Wrong

Now we know a little more about what happened to OUR MONEY. Just one year ago, Goldman Sachs was bankrupt, but after being given $70,000,000,000 of taxpayer money, they made the biggest profit ever during the third quarter. In fact, their earnings were $3,400,000,000 for three months. Let's demand our money back with interest! Goldman Sachs deserves honest profits, but not on the backs of our children and grandchildren.


Please embed this video clip and send it to everyone on your email list. Nothing will happen until Washington hears more outrage from the voters.

Obama Continues to Vote Present

After proclaiming last March that he had perfected a plan for Afghanistan, Obama is now making his chosen Commanding General, McChrystal, wait while he confers with endless non military advisors and devises a new plan. Meanwhile the rest of the world, especially our enemies, discern that he is much more comfortable making speeches than making decisions and that he is reluctant to fight to win. And after getting the Nobel Peace Prize, he may even be trying to find a way to save face while quitting the fight altogether.

If My People, XXVII

Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" John 18:10-11
Most of us react to problems and enemies just like Peter did. We attack them directly, we try to destroy them, and we attempt to move them away. It's easy to imagine some of the thoughts going through Peter's mind, as the events of the night played out after His arrest. By the time, the servant girl tempted him to deny Jesus, he was probably wondering if he had lost his mind or if Jesus had somehow led him astray.

And we tend to harbor similar doubts when trouble overtakes us.

Yet after 2000 years of Christendom, we know that the kingdom of God is about achieving larger goals than we can even imagine. And so we pray with renewed faith for our enemies and for our country. And again we ask God to use each one of us to bring about the results that He wants, done in the way He wants.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Now We Know

Now we know why Charles Rangel continues to hold his position in the House of Representatives and why all the revelations of his wrong doing have produced no censure by his colleagues in Congress. As Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, apparently he has certified that HR3200 has met the requirements to become part of the "budget reconciliation process." That means the House can easily pass their version of Obamacare with only 51% majority.

Will You Sell Your Vote for $250?

President Obama thinks that most Senior Citizens will happily support and vote for him now that he's rushed to give them an unexpected $250 each because they won't get a cost of living adjustment in Social Security this year or next. Apparently he also believes $250 will make them eager to give up the possibility of any serious medical care during their senior years even though Seniors have been the most forceful opponents of Obamacare in recent weeks.

Surely, no one will fall for such blatant pandering.

And speaking of cost of living adjustments, isn't it interesting that officially there has been no increase in the cost of living for Social Security recipients. Yet, there has been such an increase in the cost of living for Medicare that all users will have larger medicare payments deducted from their S.S. checks. Washington accounting procedures are so interesting, especially when they bend the law that says Social Security recipients will never receive smaller monthly allocations.

Such machinations prove that Social Security was a bad program from the beginning and it will only get worse as it gets closer to bankruptcy.

If My People, XXV

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.
Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:17-22
No matter how worrysome the political news is, God remains our bulwark and refuge from evil. Continue to pray for our country in this time of political unrest that God will bless America and that we will deserve His blessing.

Friday, October 16, 2009

If My People, XXIV

In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:78, 79
Catholics read this every day as the concluding passage of morning prayer and every morning, I revel in the term "tender compassion." How marvelous to be reminded as the day begins that God Himself has more than compassion for us; He has tender compassion. And certainly, all of us here on earth in the church militant dwell in the midst of spiritual darkness and need guidance to find peace personally, with our family, and in our country. Please continue to pray for our country.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Everybody Is Cheering

After all the Dow topped $10,000 yesterday. But what does it mean? With Treasury printing presses running at top speed, it doesn’t carry the same financial euphoria it used to.

For example, ten years ago the Dow was $11,497 and it would have taken 40.6 ounces of gold to equal that value. But yesterday’s Dow would only require 9.44 ounces of gold to “buy” that amount.

Inflation has plagued the US all through the 20th Century and threatens to become worse in the 21st because our Federal government insists on spending more money than we can reasonably pay back. Like the Banana Republics we recently disdained, we keep printing more fiat money to avoid raising taxes and to hide the growing reluctance of other countries to buy our treasuries.

"By a continuous process of inflation, governments can confiscate, secretly and unobserved, an important part of the wealth of their citizens. By this method, they not only confiscate, but they confiscate arbitrarily; and while the process impoverishes many, it actually enriches some. The process engages all of the hidden forces of economic law on the side of destruction, and does it in a manner that not one man in a million can diagnose."
- John Maynard Keynes, 1920

If My People, XXIII

What is impossible for human beings is possible for God. Luke 18:27


Sometimes, when things look really bad, we need to remind ourselves of God's power. As someone once told me, we should not tell God how big our problems are, instead we should tell our problems how big God is. Pray again for your family and your country. God is mightier than any adversary we face. He may not rescue us precisely the way we want to be rescued, but He will rescue us.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Why Did We Elect Obama?

Robin of Berkely has a thought provoking article about race relations and the Obama election at American Thinker this morning. A younger recovering liberal, she has had experiences and insights that I, an adult who didn't face forced school integration, had no knowledge of.

One quote from the article:
It wasn't the black or the white kids' fault. High minded liberals were culpable for hatching up grand plans without an iota of thought about how it would play out in real time: that if you create a nightmare situation for black children by removing them from their neighborhood and their friends, you traumatize them. And if you then turn them loose and give them carte blanche, some will be out for blood.
Forced busing ended years ago in most places. But over the decades, liberals have concocted new plans, and subjected later generations to fresh trauma.

Beware of All Health Care Bills

"The fact is, this proposal will never come before the Senate. But what we do know is that the bill written behind closed doors here in the Capitol will be another 1,000-page, trillion-dollar Washington takeover. We know it will slash a half-trillion dollars from seniors’ Medicare, add new taxes and raise premiums. That’s not reform.” said Mitch McConnell after the Health Care Reform vote by the Senate Finance committee yesterday.

The bottom line is that none of the five bills under consideration in the House and Senate will be good for Americans. None of them reform current problems. All of them will extend federal meddling in everyday affairs of individuals, all will kill the health insurance industry sooner or later, all will cost at least five times what the proponents are admitting now, and all will add a huge new layer of bureaucrats between the citizen and his physician. None of them will "save" money and none of them even pretends to cover all of the people currently uninsured.

So they're insisting we pay more money for less medical care, while they craft sections and paragraphs of legalese that will exempt them from having to abide by the law they're trying to cram down our throats.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

If My People, XXII

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'

"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "

And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:1-8
No matter how discouraging the times and events are, we must keep faith. God will see that we get justice if we continue to pray for our country despite the politicians who insist on messing it up.

Monday, October 12, 2009

American Revolution or American Renaissance?

Gerald Celente from Trends Research Institute explains his views of America's future in this video clip that is well worth watching. He believes that we are near a turning point that could lead to either revolution or renaissance. Pray that it will be a renewal of freedom and American ideals, not a socialist coup.

Please scroll down to stop the video by Robert Kiyosaki manually before watching this video. I've tried to change it to play manually, but the silly things insists on doing it automatically. As a former boss used to say, "Technology teaches you patience."

If you want to follow up with more info, this video came from Wall Street Survivor.

If My People, XX

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; I Timothy 2:1-3

I find it interesting that when Timothy was written, the desire of men was to lead quiet and peaceable lives without a lot of government interference. Today, that is the heart cry of millions of Americans. Spend at least as much time praying for our elected leaders as you do griping about them.

So Sorry

I haven't posted anything for the last three days. I attended to my grandmothering duties with Dean on Friday and Saturday and used Sunday to rest. Keeping up with an active 19 month-old while his mother was in the hospital with a new baby sister reminded me of that old adage about why God gave babies to the young.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Gold Price Is No Surprise

First, "they" devalued your carefully saved investments with the great financial crisis and stock market crash last year, then "they" started spending money as fast as it could be printed, setting the stage for inflation to wipe out the value of what little you had left. The dollar that was recently (2002) valued at $1.24 in the international market is now worth $0.74. So people are running to any investment that will rise higher than inflation. Many people believe that it's gold which closed today at $1,055. It still hasn't reached the inflation adjusted high of $2,275.99 from 1980 when the country was mired in stagflation, but it's headed in that direction.

In times like these, you need to exercise all the creativity you have to protect your assets and provide for your family. I suggest you get started by watching this interview with Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad. He may not have the exact plan for your situation, but he will help you to start thinking outside the box.

Have You No Shame? Have You No Decency?

We have borrowed the phrase "Have you no shame? Have you no decency?" from Netanyahu's UN speech to become the title of an ongoing series noting some of the mind numbing hypocrisy and stupidity coming from the clowns we have employed (i.e., politicians). These will be posted at irregular intervals and in an irregular order, as they come to mind. We will review them in October 2010 to remind ourselves not to reelect anybody.

1. Congress, prodded by the White House, is rushing to pass a health care bill that will not take effect until 2013. They want to nail down their power now, during the political honeymoon, but wait until Obama's supposed reelection before it takes effect and we all understand how bad the bill really is.

2. Obama campaigned by insisting that all future bills would be on the Internet for a full five days so every citizen would have a chance to read and discuss them before voting. But, in his first month of office, he demanded that a stimulus bill be passed before even the Clowns had read it, much less the citizens. Once they passed the unknown bill on Friday, he dithered around until the following Wednesday to sign it. Then we found out that most of the so called rush stimulus projects would not be funded for months or years.

3. A full 85% of Americans are satisfied with the status of their health care and their insurance. Yet yesterday, all the progressive politicians were delighted that the CBO promised that the Senate/Baucus bill would cover 94% of the population within five to ten years. So they insist on ruining the best health care system in the world to cover 9% more of the population, or an additional 27,000,000 people within five to ten years. Probably just buying those twenty-seven million people a decent health insurance policy would be cheaper and easier on everyone concerned. In fact, they're practically destroying 16% of the economy for 9% of the people.

4. The Congressional Clowns have steadfastly refused to accept the same health care regulations they are forcing on the citizens. Such legislation is tyranny and should be illegal in the US. But they want us to pay for their "Cadillac" version health care while we will be forced to accept rationing and "death panels."

5. The chief executive for the Internal Revenue Service is an admitted tax cheat, but got approved by the Clowns in the Senate.

6. The Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, who is responsible for writing the tax laws is an admitted tax cheat. Charles Rangel continues to serve and his colleagues in the House refuse to investigate despite the fact he has avoided paying taxes on extra income for the last 20 years by his own admission.

7. Wolf Blitzer had his staff fact check a comedy routine on SNL about Obama. Yet, he has no apology for not fact checking any of the routines about Sarah Palin. Nor did he or anyone with his network ever correct those who actually quoted Tina Fey when they said they were quoting Palin.

If My People, XVI

He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. Psalm 18:17-19

We must use our own intellect, resources, and energy in combating the evil in our own life and in our country. However, the Lord G_d is the multiplier that gives our work the success we crave. Pray today for you, your family, and your country.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

If My People, XV

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. . . Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Ephesians 6:12,18

This verse explains why we understand that prayer is the ultimate weapon, not the last resort. It also shows why we do not hate the people who do us harm because we know that our real enemy is the spirit of wickedness that tries to destroy every good thing, including the USA. Pray for our country; pray for your enemies; pray for yourself. Bring good down from heaven into our world that everyone may enjoy the benefits.

Welcome to Our World!


Our family welcomes little Fara, daughter of Jaudon and Cynthia and sister to Dean.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

If My People, XIV

The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the Lord are true,
all of them just.
The are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 19:9-11

Obeying God brings happiness to you, your family, and your community. It's not a matter of cajoling a Sunday School teacher into giving you a gold star for the week, but a matter of bringing heaven to earth while enjoying life more than ever. Pray for all Americans to really return to God and to His ordinances.

If He Had Only Cheated on His Taxes

But, instead Mr. George Norris, a 66 year old retiree, made a clerical error in filling out forms for his home business. So an armed, six man SWAT team from the Fish and Wildlife Service invaded his house and threw files and books on the floor as they searched for something they would not reveal to either Mr. or Mrs. Norris. Eventually the Wildlife Service sent Mr. Norris to prison because some of his paperwork on importing, buying, and selling orchids was incomplete. The aging diabetic was released at age 71. This nightmare started for the long time resident of Spring, Texas in 2003, not a resident of Zima, Russia in 1951.

On the other hand, had he just cheated on his taxes, he might be offered a position in the Obama administration.

To read the whole story of federal criminal laws that criminalize everyone, go to today's Washington Times. Then protest to your Congressional Clowns because it's way past time to scale back the reach and grasp of the federal government.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Acorn Is The Tip of The Iceberg

Yesterday's Washington Examiner had an excellent editorial calling on Congress to investigate ACORN because of the video tapes, numerous criminal and civil suits in several states, and newly discovered evidence of corruption in Louisiana and Oklahoma. Although I have little faith in our current crop of Congressional Clowns, I suppose they might possibly have the courage to at least cut off all federal funding of their projects and cancel all federal contracts with them.

The problem lies in ACORN tentacles that extend into around 300 allied groups. If one group disbands, the officers and projects just move over to another group to pursue the same goals. We need a mighty and virtuous Hercules to finally annihilate this Lernaean Hydra that grows two heads every time one is cut off.

If My People, XIII

Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them. God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God. Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work. Psalm 62:10-12
On this thirteenth day of united prayer for our country, we once again affirm that true renewal begins with individual renewal.

At American Thinker, Selwyn Duke has explained America's problem more openly and more completely than I ever dared. I suggest you read Do Not Blame Barack and find out why 107 out of 109 comments highly praised his work. Here's a teaser:
But if we want to have any chance of winning the war, we must move on to graduate work and fight it on the deepest levels, the spiritual and cultural. We must scrutinize ourselves and evaluate how we have been complicit in empowering the culture that spawns Barack Obamas. We must remember that those of us who are engaged are a minority weighed against an apathetic majority. A few stones however, can be substantial enough to tip the scales against a million pebbles. But this can only happen if we so greatly increase the weight of our virtue that it outweighs the vice that is everywhere.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Abortion and Breast Cancer


This one minutes video illustrates a basic truth from the book, Breast Cancer: Its Link to Abortion and the Birth Control Pill, namely that "induced abortion and oral contraceptive use, especially at a young age, markedly increase a woman's risk for developing breast cancer" (p. 257). Chris Kahlenbornm, MD meticulously researched and wrote the book in 2000. It's still available for sale, but both the book and its politically incorrect conclusions have been studiously ignored by the media and the medical establishment.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Slow Learners

This is an email message from my brother this morning. It's time for both voters and politicians learn the lesson.

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance."
- Cicero - 55 BC

So what have we learned in 2,064 years?
Evidently nothing...

If My People, XI

You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
Say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."
For He will rescue you from the snare of the fowler,
from the destroying pestilence.
With His pinions He will cover you,
and under His wings you shall take refuge. Psalm 91:1-4

On the eleventh day of prayer for our country, pray for all of those people who have lost jobs in the last year. Ask God to encourage them and help them to be creative in finding ways to support themselves and their families. As Americans take stock of our current situation, may we all examine our lives and change those areas where we fall short of God's best.

Friday, October 2, 2009

If My People, X

Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. Psalm 35:4

This is day ten of forty days of concerted prayer for America. Today we pray that anyone with evil intentions for our country and its people would be brought to confusion and thus unable to execute their oppressive plans. That our prayer would be more than just words, each of us will also deny ourselves some legitimate pleasure, such as cream in our coffee, dessert, or eating meat.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

If My People, IX

In God is my safety and glory,
the rock of my strength.
Take refuge in God all you people.
Trust Him at all times.
Pour out your hearts before Him
for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8,9

As the daily news grows ever more bizarre, as corruption grows more flagrant, and as leaders grow more openly and obviously hypocritical, our only hope lies in God, our refuge. Pray for our couny and our leaders. May sanity return to our families, our communities, and our nation.