The Brazilian Job

Remember the gulf oil spill last year? Who could forget, right? I have argued for some time now that President Obama is not as naive as he, on the surface, appears.In fact, what seems to be indecision, I believe to be calculation. The perception of  many is that he is inexperienced or incompetent, when in truth, I hold that we are assuming he has the best interest of America in mind. That is not his aim, his aim is to reduce America's prominence to that equal to other nations. Look no further than the military action against Libya.
As to the oil spill, he waited a very long time to get involved in the crisis. About a month after it began, the president started to show signs of life. As it became an apparent environmental disaster, it was extremely easy for him to ban off shore drilling. This, of course, was the opportunity he needed to further reduce America's wealth and independence.
Forgive me for being conspiratorial here. I don't normally see a boogie man behind every event. There are, however, forces at work that we must be aware. I also don't see George Soros as the center of the evil universe. But he is a big part of what is going on in the world, by his own admission. It has been confirmed that Mr. Soros was and is behind the turmoil in the Middle East and as a result, the subsequent rise in oil prices.
It also appears that he has interests in the Brazilian oil industry. Is it then an accident that during the gulf crisis last year that very act of setting up the drilling moratorium freed up the drilling platforms now bringing in the oil for Brazil to sell to us at a premium, that the president is now negotiating for us. The President of the United States is achieving his goal of reducing America's role on the world stage in all areas. Before long the left will realize its hope of eliminating the only remaining super power. Thus setting the stage...

Wars and rumors of wars

Being a news "addict", I was listening to the news on the drive from Magdalena to Socorro. It struck me that the news I was hearing fell in line with Matthew 24 starting in verse 4; And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

What I heard on the news was this; wars in Libya and the middle east and Africa, Athens and many rumors such as Saudi Arabia. Earthquakes in New Zealand and Cocoa shortages and oil shortages just to name a few. I looked at the Albuquerque Journal, their headlines were much less upsetting. They were concerned that baseball fans were getting beer, but that basketball fans were left out. Going to Drudge, the wars and rumors of wars were there, along with excitement about oil prices. I was very tempted to read the article about the 400lb woman who attacked someone for taking her cookie. I refrained. There was also a report that the obesity problem has spread to over half our pets. I hope the first lady is on top of that one, so to speak.

I find that our hearts can grow cold all too easily. We do need some humor and light-hearted stories to keep from going as daffy as Gaddafi. So, I return once again to the gospel. Jesus stated in this same set of verses quoted above, that this gospel must be preached to all the earth. That brings a lightness to my heart, a ray of sunshine in a time of great darkness. There is a plan for good and the Lord is waiting until all who will receive Him, do so. 

Are you prepared to shine the light?

As turmoil engulfs the middle east and many totalitarian dictatorships come to an end, we should not be taken by surprise by such event or the forces at work behind the scenes.

Currently, Libya, is the main focus of news reports and leaders attentions. While their is no love lost for the old dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, many countries, such as Russia, are worried about the long term future of the region. We can see the hands of many like minded parties at work in these countries and here at home. There are individuals, companies and political parties determined to create change. I am certainly not a fan of Gaddafi, but we are trading for something much more sinister.

None of this should be a surprise to the christian. The bible plainly warns that a one world government supported if not integrated by a religious system contrary to the Lord would arise in the last days. We are also warned not allow these events to take us unaware. In the New Testament we are given the parable of the ten virgins and the thief in the night as a picture of how we should be ready for the Lord's return.

It is tempting to get caught up in the day to day events, but we will called to be light in this time of darkness. The Word of God is clear when it talks of the last days. We should live lives that are holy and obedient to the Lord. Paul warned us that we should not be ignorant that we should be overtaken as a thief in the night, and Jesus warned that we should be able to discern the signs of the times. Why? To be ready of course. We must be ready to give a reason for the hope that lies within us. We must be ready to share the gospel and the lifestyle of the narrow way. The forces of anti-christ are at work all around us. But, do not be afraid. God has called us to be the light in spite of what the enemy is up to. There is hope as long as God extends His grace.

Gotta Love PC (not personal computers)

Political correctness (PC) has once again reared its ugly head. In the last week, we have learned that it was not muslims who attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, but more specifically muslim extremists (or muslim radicals) (or muslim fundamentalists). Anyway, it was certainly not muslims. In fact, I don't think we are even able to insinuate that males of middle eastern decent were in any way involved.
I have had the privilege of knowing many people of various religions and ethnic backgrounds. I agree with the PC crowd that as a religion, not all muslims should be lumped together. Yet, all Christians bear the blame of the Crusades according to these same people. Should not islam, like Christianity, be held accountable for it's more radical elements? If the tables were turned, would not the Pope be called upon to disavow a destructive sect of Christianity? My point is that we are splitting hairs when we come down on people for using the term muslim or muslim extremist.
That brings us to the current uproar created by Bill O'Reilly, the View and now Juan Williams. Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar walked out on O'Reilly during the View last week, because he was unwilling to qualify his remarks when referring to the attackers. The PC police now view as bigotry the classification of our attackers as muslim. The fact that they were muslim is beside the point. And now Juan Williams is being fired from NPR because he feel uncomfortable if he encounters people wearing middle eastern clothing.
I have a simple observation. If we are made uncomfortable by a person's dress or religion, should the members of said group go to greater efforts to improve their standing in the eyes of the public? If we react negatively to a specific group of people, maybe there is a reason. Maybe said group has caused fear. The term terrorist comes to mind. These groups identify themselves as muslim and as terrorists. That is why we now view them in this fashion. 
Before Whoopi and Joy walk off next time, maybe they should consider that many people in the muslim world are working quite hard to create fear and intimidation among Americans. While they do not represent all muslims, they are not shouted down either. If the so-called moderates are unwilling to oppose the fundamentalists in any significant way, it signals to the world that they do not oppose them after all. If they do not oppose the radicals it tells us that they are not perceived as radicals and therefore part of mainstream islam.
 
   

Is Socialism a Christian Idea?

It is a legitimate question, is socialism a Christian idea? On the surface a case could be made that the teachings of Jesus and the examples of the bible lend themselves to the socialist ideal. What should be understood is that Christianity, at its core, is far removed from the teachings of Karl Marx.

Christianity holds that individuals are personally responsible for their actions. The bible teaches that if a man will not work, he should not eat. The Word also teaches that a man should not steal but work with his hands so that he will have his own money to give and use for the glory of God. 

Socialism, on the other hand, holds that those who own or operate businesses and corporations are exploiting the working class and should have their wealth taken and given to others. This Star Trek reality sounds great, but denies the reality of the sin nature.

Often the book of Acts is quoted as biblical support for communism. Again, on the surface, the account in Acts appears to sanction the redistribution of wealth, but upon closer examination we find that it was not the Roman or Israeli governments that took the possessions of  new believers. It was a personal choice made by the individual to give and even sacrifice to God the things they had been blessed with to the poor. The apostles plainly explain that the property still belonged to the people who gave it.

In stark contrast, when the government takes the property of the people it enriches the government not the poor. It also gives the government greater power and influence over the people it claims to help. This creates the opportunity for tyrants and dictators to seize such power. Of course, this allows a system to be in place for the ultimate dictator, the anti-christ.

Jesus taught that we would always have the poor. If we adhere to the Word of God, we find that we are to provide for those with less. We must set aside from our blessings, blessings for others. We should not consume all the Lord has given us, but rather give from our abundance. It is by God's grace we are able to work hard and give well. Abundance comes from these qualities not from taking. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy, but God gives all that He has that we might live.
 

To promote and support death

It is apparent that progressive (liberal, communist, socialist) mindset is founded on the principle that life hold little intrinsic value (unless of course, it is your life we are talking about). We have many in our country who profess a christian worldview but actually hold to a humanist worldview. Their source of inspiration is not the Word of God, but rather the teachings of men like Karl Marx, Nietzsche, Charles Darwin and others.
Population control is a big part of the equation. Humanism, evolution and global warming are combined into a deadly pseudo- religion that requires that only the fittest and most valuable should be allow to live. At the core of this thought is abortion. The evil that is abortion is encouraged and promoted at every turn. I have pointed this out before. The goal is to control the human population because most of the populace is mere cattle anyway.
This is why it is unimportant for the president to keep his word regarding the public funding of abortion. The backtracking we see now is, of course, an effort to retain power until it can be fully taken.
The president and his minions are promoting abortion worldwide, even to his home country of Kenya. When we take a closer look at his agenda in Kenya, it becomes clear what his agenda is in the US and worldwide. He is influencing changes to the constitution of Kenya to allow leniency in abortion law and to give place to islamic sharia law.
It is plainly obvious that forces are at work even here in the US to give place to islamic radicals. From parades to plans to build near the site of ground zero, we are under attack and so are our children. Be careful, if we are lulled to sleep again, we will find that euthanasia has become common place. There are promotions under way for assisted suicide, encouraging the aged and infirmed (and their caretakers) to end the drain of our society. This is what Germany chose before the chancellor fired up the death camps.        

Privite vs Public, Will Freedom Win?

, We have arrived at a crossroads of sorts. In the era of big government and the new new deal there is a small state with a larger than life conservative swimming against the mainstream. Governor Christie is moving his state away from conventional thought and proposing the privatization of many government strongholds.

The national leadership would have us believe that increase spending would bring us into true recovery. History teaches us, however, that increased taxes and larger government combined with deficit spending puts the beaks on a possible recovery. FDR's economic policy allowed the Great Depression to continue years beyond the what the rest of the world experienced.
My state, like many others, has chosen not to reduce spending or taxes to encourage small business and rebuild the economy. Instead, the progressive (or liberal or as I prefer the spirit of anti-christ) leadership is more interested in promoting their agenda of enslavement to government. State and local governments are unwilling to make the cuts needed to bring things under control. As we have heard many times now, government employees make on average 40%-60% greater income than their civilian counterparts. But instead of cutting bloated salaries, they threaten the elimination of teachers, police and firefighters to make the cutbacks emotional.
Liberty comes at a cost. Jesus paid the ultimate cost for our liberty and freedom. If we wish to see a resurgence of American liberty we must count the cost. We must be willing to do without government running so much of our lives.
We must begin to make the stand of saying no to larger government. Just as Gov. Christie has been willing to take a stand against what is expedient in favor of what is needed. At what cost is our freedom? Does it mean enough to us to allow it to win?