ConservativeChristianRepublican-Report - 20090202

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"Daily Motivations"

Without a road map and a clear understanding of the "rules of the road," it can be much harder for employees to get to where they need to go. -- Eric Harvey



"The Patriot Post"

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." -- Declaration of Independence

"[The President] is the dignified, but accountable magistrate of a free and great people. The tenure of his office, it is true, is not hereditary; nor is it for life: but still it is a tenure of the noblest kind: by being the man of the people, he is invested; by continuing to be the man of the people, his investiture will be voluntarily, and cheerfully, and honourably renewed." -- James Wilson



"The Web"

Called the Bible: “The book of God’s word.” -- Francis Bacon, English statesman and writer, 1597

I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this year's fashions. – Lillian Hellman (1905 - 1984), letter to Committee on Un-American Activities of the House of Representatives, May 19, 1952

Civilization is the art of living in towns of such size the everyone does not know everyone else. -- Julian Jaynes, "The Origin of Consciousness"



Backing Away from Pelosi, White House Says Birth Control Funding in Stimulus Bill Was Not Obama's Idea

By Fred Lucas, Staff Writer

http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=42546

(CNSNews.com) - The Obama White House on Monday backed away from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s support for increased federal funding of contraception in the $825-billion stimulus bill now under consideration by Congress.

That was not President Obama’s idea, a White House spokesman told CNSNews.com.

“The principles of what he thought should be in the package--that wasn’t part of that,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton told CNSNews.com. “They’re working on what the final bill should look like.”

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) was among the first to criticize the Democratic plan, specifically the provisions funding contraception.

The provision in the draft legislation would expand federal funding for contraception through Medicaid, allowing those not poor enough to be currently eligible for Medicaid to nonetheless qualify for the contraception aid.

A program created during the Clinton administration allows states to seek a waiver to offer Medicaid “family planning” services to those who are otherwise not qualified for Medicaid. When states get a waiver, the federal government matches state Medicaid family planning funds with $9 in federal money for every $1 the state spends.

Under the provision in the stimulus package supported by Speaker Pelosi, states would no longer need to apply for a waiver. All 50 states would be given 9-1 federal matching funds for their Medicaid-funded contraceptives.

Pelosi defended the funding during an interview Sunday on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos.”

“We also heard from Congressman Boehner coming out of the meeting today that again a lot of that spending doesn’t even meet the same test you just talked about right now,” Stephanopoulos said. “Hundreds of millions of dollars to expand family planning services. How is that stimulus?”

“Well, the family planning services reduce cost. They reduce cost,” Pelosi responded. “The states are in terrible fiscal budget crises now and part of what we do for children’s health, education and some of those elements are to help the states meet their financial needs. One of those--one of the initiatives you mentioned, the contraception, will reduce costs to the states and to the federal government.”

“So no apologies for that?” Stephanopoulos asked.

“No apologies. No,” the speaker responded. “We have to deal with the consequences of the downturn in our economy. Food stamps, unemployment insurance, some of the initiatives you just mentioned. What the economists have told us from right to left. There is more bang for the buck, a term they use, by investing in food stamps and in unemployment insurance than in any tax cut.”

Obama will be meeting with House and Senate Republican leaders on Capitol Hill Tuesday at noon, in what White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said is a serious attempt to get ideas from the opposing party.

Obama has consistently said he wants his stimulus bill to pass with bi-partisan support. However, many Republicans--including his rival in the presidential race, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), said they would vote against the bill in its current form.



PROTECT OUR ORIGINAL WALL OF SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

Message to so-called "atheists" regarding belief in God: No one is born atheist. Everyone believes in God, but some are not honest enough (too skeptical) to admit it.

By: Chuck Sproull

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I have done a lot of research into Jefferson's intended meaning of the "wall of separation of church and state" that he wrote to the Danbury Baptists, and it's relation to our 1st Amendment rights. It agrees with what Thomas Paine wrote to the Quakers in "Common Sense." Both said that religious organizations in America should not be political organizations like the Catholics were in Europe. That "wall of separation" was supposed to:

(1) Separate the administration of government and religion;

(2) Protect American citizens from tyrannical government-controlled religion

and from religion-controlled government;

(3) Allow all American citizens freedom to express their Bible-based religious convictions (whether public employees, in uniform, or private citizens, regardless of Protestant sect) while on government property as well as their own private property.

There are no exception clauses in the 1st Amendment that state or imply freedom of expression, except if it: (a) offends non-believers, or (b) disagrees with beliefs of personnel in higher positions.

Also, that wall has a door that:

(4) Allows God's righteous influence (honesty, unselfishness, morality) into our Government legislation-writing, decision-making and money-spending process; and

(5) Allows outward expressions of their faith in God, not just as their religion, but as principles of the high quality of life.

In fact, this “Wall” actually protects us from the very things subversive groups like ACLU are trying to do - separate our Government leaders and Public School students from God’s good influences (wisdom and morality).

For example, The Ten Commandments were originally given by God to Israel (Exodus 20:3-17), and later summarized as two Commandments by Jesus for all mankind (Matt 22:37,39). Commandments 1-4 protect our relationship with God from pagan influences; and 5-10 protect relationships between normal marriage partners, family members, and neighbors in communities, and they protect possessions, private property and life from destruction by selfish, dishonest people.

As long as we have a 1st Amendment to protect our freedoms, who needs the ACLU? Regarding real American “Civil Rights,” they haven’t a-clue).

No one in America has a Constitutional Right to be offended by respectful expression of our faith, nor to get Government involved (turning their feelings into political and legal issues) to restrict our freedom of expression, nor to justify their false logic. Any legal “wall of separation,” should divide expressions that are respectful, true, important and beneficial from expressions and actions that are selfish, dishonest, profane or immoral.

When taken correctly, in its original context, that “Wall of Separation” actually prevents anyone, whether Government official, Corporate Leader, or private citizen or group, from limiting our freedom to respectfully express religious beliefs. In America, this is how people can learn from each other about the good concepts in each other’s religions, and overcome the false concepts.

Freedom for religious and non-religious Americans is enhanced by Government staying uninvolved, without positive or negative regulations; and allowing God’s influence into our schools through the voluntary efforts of students groups, parents, teachers and “qualified” preachers.

As long as Congress does not make laws to support a particular religion (in violation of the 1st Amendment Establishment clause), and does not prohibit prayer, singing hymns of praise and devotion, and Bible study in public schools (in violation of the Free Exercise clause), these should not be considered as Government (or Corporate) endorsement of a particular religion. HRC, ACLU and atheists welcome to our Bible studies, if you are willing to learn more about God’s love, joy, peace and holiness.

Therefore, atheists don’t have a Constitutional right to be offended by expression of our beliefs or to get Government involved in limiting our Rights. And Religious organizations don’t have the right to get Government involved in funding or supporting their religious agenda. Government should just stay uninvolved with religion, and allow everyone to express their religious beliefs any where and time, as long as it doesn’t interfere with work.. The only time Government should get involved is (Legislative) to prevent or (Judicial) punish and correct all immoral actions and behavior that result from non-Biblical beliefs.

Ten Commandments are not a Religion:

When non-believers refer to the "Ten Commandments" as the "Ten Suggestions" (as Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, did), or oppose their display on Courthouse lawns, they are really missing the point. These Commandments were given by God our Creator for everyone's benefit, including non-believers.

The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17) were originally given by God to Israel, to set them apart with higher quality life from the pagan nations all around them. Later they were summarized as two Commandments (Matt 22:37, 39) by Jesus for His followers, and are still good standards for all mankind.

Commandments 1-4 protect our relation with God from pagan influences. Commandments 5-10 protect relationships between normal (1 man + 1 woman) marriage partners, family members, and neighbors in communities. And they protect our possessions, private property and lives from being stolen or destroyed selfish, dishonest people. They are precious golden nuggets of wisdom, practical guidelines and standards that can be used by leaders all over the world to regulate their societies.

About 300 years before God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, Hammurabi developed a complex set of hundreds of laws to regulate the Babylonian society. Most can be summarized by Commandments 5-10.

Then over 900 years later, Buddha prayed and fasted and he received a revelation called "The 8-Fold Path to Perfection." Step 4,”Right Behavior,” includes Commandments 5-10.

Even though Hammurabi and Buddha worshipped many pagan gods and goddesses, they were still created by God and had a conscience. In other words, there really is nothing religious about the Ten Commandments; they (especially 5-10) are part of the moral code God has placed in the conscience of all mankind (part of "the light" mentioned in John 1:4 & 9 which was supposed to lead us into the “marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9) which began to shine in our hearts in Acts 2).

Our Founders, with strong Bible-based convictions, separated themselves from England and Europe by 3,000 miles of water to settle in the second and final “Promised Land,” and included these Commandments in the foundation of our

Executive, Legislative and Judicial system to regulate American society. It worked for them, and it can work for us.

Let's not change anything nor allow lower European Standards to weaken us.

God bless you, and have a wonderful, free, American day.

Message to so-called "atheists" regarding belief in God: No one is born atheist. Everyone believes in God, but some are not honest enough (too skeptical) to admit it. Can light exist for those open their eyes and see, and at the same time not exist for those who close their eyes? The greatest darkness in this world is behind closed eyelids. Can God exist for believers (who have received objective evidence of His spiritual reality by trusting His word and actually receiving the new birth described in Acts 2, 10, 19, miraculous healings and deliverances) and at the same time not exist for nonbelievers? What advantages do non-believers have over believers? What long-term benefits are there in not believing

God's wonderful promises?



"The Comedy Corner"

Never Lie to your Mother

John invited his mother over for dinner. During the meal, his mother couldn't help noticing how beautiful John's roommate was. She had long been suspicious of a relationship between John and his roommate and this only made her more curious.

Over the course of the evening, while watching the two interact, she started to wonder if there was more between John and the roommate than met the eye.

Reading his mom's thoughts, John volunteered, "I know what you must be thinking, but I assure you, Julie and I are just roommates." About a week later, Julie came to John and said, "Ever since your mother came to dinner, I've been unable to find the beautiful silver gravy ladle. "You don't suppose she took it, do you?" Julie said, "Well, I doubt it, but I'll write her a letter just to be sure."

So he sat down and wrote: "Dear Mother, I'm not saying you 'did' take a gravy ladle from my house, and I'm not saying you 'did not' take a gravy ladle. But the fact remains that one has been missing ever since you were here for dinner."

Several days later, John received a letter from his mother which read: "Dear Son, I'm not saying that you 'do' sleep with Julie, and I'm not saying that you 'do not' sleep with Julie. But the fact remains that if she was sleeping in her own bed, she would have found the gravy ladle by now. Love, Mom"



"The email Bag"

TO MEET SUCH A MAN

I sat, with two friends, in the picture window of a quaint restaurant just off the corner of the town-square. The food and the company were both especially good that day.

As we talked, my attention was drawn outside, across the street. There, walking into town, was a man who appeared to be carrying all his worldly goods on his back. He was carrying, a well-worn sign that read, "I will work for food." My heart sank.

I brought him to the attention of my friends and noticed that others around us had stopped eating to focus on him. Heads moved in a mixture of sadness and disbelief. We continued with our meal, but his image lingered in my mind. We finished our meal and went our separate ways. I had errands to do and quickly set out to accomplish them.

I glanced toward the town square, looking somewhat halfheartedly for the strange visitor. I was fearful, knowing that seeing again could call for some response. I drove through town and saw nothing of him. I made some purchases at a store and got back in the car.

Deep within me, the Spirit of God kept speaking to me: "Don't go back to the office until you've at least driven once more around the square." Then with some hesitancy, I headed back into town. As I turned the square's third corner, I saw him. He was standing on the steps of the storefront church, going through his sack.

I stopped and looked; feeling both compelled to speak to him, yet wanting to drive on. The empty parking space on the corner seemed to be a sign from God: an invitation to park. I pulled in, got out and approached the town's newest visitor.

"Looking for the pastor?" I asked.
"Not really," he replied, "Just resting."
"Have you eaten today?"
"Oh, I ate something early this morning."
"Would you like to have lunch with me?"
"Do you have some work I could do for you?"
"No work," I replied. "I commute here to work from the city, but I would like to take you to lunch."

"Sure," he replied with a smile.
As he began to gather his things, I asked some surface questions.
"Where you headed?"
"St. Louis."
"Where you from?"
"Oh, all over; mostly Florida."
"How long you been walking?"
"Fourteen years," came the reply.

I knew I had met someone unusual. We sat across from each other in the same restaurant I had left earlier. His face was weathered slightly beyond his 38 years. His eyes were dark yet clear, and he spoke with an eloquence and articulation that was startling. He removed his jacket to reveal a bright red T-shirt that said, "Jesus is The Never Ending Story."

Then Daniel's story began to unfold. He had seen rough times early in life. He'd made some wrong choices and reaped the consequences. Fourteen years earlier, while back-packing across the country, he had stopped on the beach in Daytona. He tried to hire on with some men who were putting up a large tent and some equipment. A concert, he thought.

He was hired, but the tent would not house a concert, but revival services, and in those services he saw life more clearly. He gave his life over to God. "Nothing's been the same since," he said, "I felt the Lord telling me to keep walking, and so I did, some 14 years now."

"Ever think of stopping?" I asked.
"Oh, once in a while, when it seems to get the best of me. But God has given me this calling. I give out Bibles. That's what's in my sack. I work to buy food and Bibles, and I give them out when His Spirit leads."

I sat amazed. My homeless friend was not homeless. He was on a mission and lived this way by choice. The question burned inside for a moment and then I asked: "What's it like?"
"What?"
"To walk into a town carrying all your things on your back and to show your sign?"

"Oh, it was humiliating at first. People would stare and make comments. Once someone tossed a piece of half-eaten bread and made a gesture that certainly didn't make me feel welcome. But then it became humbling to realize that God was using me to touch lives and change people's concepts of other folks like me."

My concept was changing, too. We finished our dessert and gathered his things. Just outside the door, he paused. He turned to me and said, "Come, you blessed of my Father and inherit the kingdom I've prepared for you. For when I was hungry you gave me food, when I was thirsty you gave me drink, a stranger and you took me in."

I felt as if we were on holy ground. "Could you use another Bible?" I asked. He said he preferred a certain translation. It traveled well and was not too heavy. It was also his personal favorite. "I've read through it 14 times," he said.

"I'm not sure we've got one of those, but let's stop by our church and see." I was able to find my new friend a Bible that would do well, and he seemed very grateful. "Where are you headed from here?"

"Well, I found this little map on the back of this amusement park coupon."
"Are you hoping to hire on there for awhile?"
"No, I just figure I should go there. I figure someone under that star right there needs a Bible, so that's where I'm going next."

He smiled, and the warmth of his spirit radiated the sincerity of his mission. I drove him back to the town-square where we'd met two hours earlier, and as we drove, it started raining. We parked and unloaded his things.

"Would you sign my autograph book?" he asked. "I like to keep messages from folks I meet." I wrote in his little book that his commitment to his calling had touched my life. I encouraged him to stay strong. And I left him with a verse of scripture from Jeremiah, "I know the plans I have for you," declared the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a future and a hope."

"Thanks, man," he said. "I know we just met and we're really just strangers, but I love you."
"I know," I said, "I love you, too."
"The Lord is good!"
"Yes, He is. How long has it been since someone hugged you?" I asked.
"A long time," he replied.

And so on the busy street corner in the drizzling rain, my new friend and I embraced, and I felt deep inside that I had been changed. He put his things on his back, smiled his winning smile and said, "See you in the New Jerusalem."

"I'll be there!" was my reply. He began his journey again. He headed away with his sign dangling from his bedroll and pack of Bibles. He stopped, turned and said, "When you see something that makes you think of me, will you pray for me?"

"You bet," I shouted back, "God bless."
"God bless." And that was the last I saw of him.

Late that evening as I left my office, the wind blew strong. The cold front had settled hard upon the town. I bundled up and hurried to my car. As I sat back and reached for the emergency brake, I saw them... a pair of well-worn brown work gloves neatly laid over the length of the handle. I picked them up and thought of my friend and wondered if his hands would stay warm that night without them.

Then I remembered his words: "If you see something that makes you think of me, will you pray for me?"

Today his gloves lie on my desk in my office. They help me to see the world and its people in a new way, and they help me remember those two hours with my unique friend and to pray for his ministry.

"See you in the New Jerusalem," he said. Yes, Daniel, I know I will...