#4 - Americans Get TEA’d off!; The Truth About the TEA Parties on April 15th

On April 15, in about 300 cities across the United States, about a quarter of a million Americans rallied in what were called “TEA Parties,” the TEA being an acronym for “Taxed Enough Already.” Many in what is called the mainstream media criticized this as being a Republican Party led event and that most Americans, according to a few polls, say they are satisfied with their taxes. First of all, those who protested were, in essence, American citizens. Those in the Democratic leadership, including the President, have enjoyed saying that they won the last election and that settles the question of what the American people want. What they fail to mention that 47 percent of those who voted DID NOT vote for the President. In other words, 47 percent of Americans did not want the policies this President advocated and to a large extent has already put in place. Furthermore, although that 47 percent was a minority (and not an unsubstantial minority at that), we live not just a democracy but in a REPUBLIC. This means that unlike just living in a democracy, we live in a country where it’s not so much the majority that decides things, but where the voice of the minority, no matter what their size, is listened to and respected. It is for this reason that the President needs to be the President of ALL the people and not just those who share his political philosophy.

Furthermore, those who gathered to protest were not doing so about their current taxes as they were about the taxation that is very likely to come to all of us as well as for future generations of Americans. Much continues to be said about how our government needed to spend $4 trillion (money it does not have AND 3 times what was President Bush’s last budget) in order to “save the economy.” People were saying that individuals never borrow more money to spend to get themselves out of debt and neither should the government. When we do that, all that we do is to just grow our indebtedness and postpone the day when our debts will come due. The projection now is for OUR national debt to grow to be $10 TRILLION! Our debt will grow to that size just based on the interest rates with which we have borrowed money (from China, among other nations) The interest alone on what we owe is around $50 million every hour of every day into the foreseeable future. The President has also made a big point of ASKING his cabinet to reduce their budgets by $100 million. He said that that is a lot of money and it is. But, again, to put it in perspective, what his cabinet will attempt to save will only amount to 2 hours(!) of interest on our national debt.

Finally, let us not forget the $12-15 BILLION that is the cost of the estimated 10,000 pork projects that were a part of the stimulus bill that the Democrats and 2 Republicans passed into law. It remains questionable just how much of that money will create jobs and stimulate the economy. (Isn’t it ironic that one of the projects approved is to measure the effects of pig odors!) Remember how that waste was said to be insignificant in light of the total stimulus package. Ah, there is nothing like seeing things in perspective – when that perspective serves your purpose.

Next time, I plan to share with you what was called an “Economic Manifesto” that the Coral Ridge Ministries prepared and sent to our national leaders just recently (with thousands of American signatures endorsing it). It will share with you a Biblical word-view of our economic situation. I think you will find it to be a perspective you will appreciate more than what has been done so far to “stimulate” our economy.

#3 - Choosing The Better Crown

(The following commentary is by Chuck Colson and is found on his webstie: www.breakpoint.org (one of the links provided under "Links" on this blog.) Besides a daily commentary (not always by Mr. Colson), the site contains other articles under their "Worldview" link that are also great reading. I highly recommend that you especially consider reading the articles by Mr. Colson as I and millions of others regrad him as one of the most brilliant and eloquent thinkers of our day. His commentaries give great insight on the news and events of our day, views which you will rarely find presented in the mainstream media outlets. The following is a recent example of his commentaries.)

By Chuck Colson 4/23/2009 Miss First-Runner Up

Many a little girl has dreamed of being crowned Miss USA. And while this year’s first runner-up—Miss California—may not have won the beauty contest, I’d say there’s a different kind of crown in her future. Miss California’s name is Carrie Prejean. She was absolutely thrilled to make it to the top five on Sunday’s annual Miss USA contest. But when this outspoken Christian faced contest judge Perez Hilton, an openly gay gossip-blogger, the fairy tale came to an abrupt halt. Perez asked a very pointed question: “Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?” Prejean responded to the specific question with a specific answer: She thought marriage should be between a man and a woman. Even in stating her response, she apologized if the response offended anyone listening. But she stuck by her convictions.

Prejean said later that she knew her response would cost her the win because, in her words, “I’d spoken from my heart, for my beliefs, and for my God.” There’s no way of knowing for sure, but as pageant organizer Donald Trump said, “It probably did cost her the crown.” In an interview with the Today Show, another judge Claudia Jordan said, “A few of the judges were really against her. They were really bothered by her answer.” Jordan went on to add, “In pageants as in politics it is probably best to give a neutral answer if you want to win.” What a sad commentary on our society that speaking from conviction is an offense. An even sadder reflection on our society is judge Perez Hilton’s response to the entire situation. On his blog, he used an expletive to describe Miss California and said that if she had won, he would have gone up on stage and ripped the tiara off her head. Now that would have been a true triumph of tolerance!

In a calmer moment, Perez told interviewer Matt Lauer, “I would have appreciated it if she had left her politics and her religion out, because Miss USA represents all Americans.” He went on to say, “Miss USA is not a person that is alienating . . . Miss USA is someone who represents me and represents all America, is someone who is inclusive.” How Perez can’t see the contradiction in what he is saying is beyond me. Apparently, when asked a personal question with political and religious ramifications, it’s taboo to give a personal answer with political and religious ramifications. And apparently, to represent America, you must represent only one part of America. To Prejean’s credit, she’s taken the loss in stride and says she has no regrets. And she’s excited about the new platform the experience will give her. “I know that I have a purpose,” she said calmly. “I know now that I can go out and speak to young people about standing up for what they believe in and never compromising for anyone or anything—even if it’s the crown of Miss USA.” Now there’s a first-place role model every little girl can truly look up to.


For Further Reading and Information
Robert Kahn, "Miss California: Gay Marriage Answer Cost Me Miss USA Crown," Newsday, 21 April 2009. Michael Inbar, "Miss California: I Stand By Gay Marriage Remark," Today Show, 21 April 2009. "Exclusive: Carrie Prejean Says 'God Was Testing My Faith' With Gay Marriage Question," Fox News, 20 April 2009.
Catherine Larson, "Miss Runner-Up: A Better Crown Is Coming," The Point, 21 April 2009.
"The Whisper Zone," BreakPoint Commentary, 1 May 2008.
"Fears and Fallacies," BreakPoint Commentary, 12 August 2005.

#2 - Action Alert: House Committee to Vote on Hate Crimes Bill

The U.S. House Judiciary Committee will vote on a controversial legislation on either Wednesday (April 22) or Thursday (April 23) and is expected to be fast-tracted to the full House very soon thereafter. It seeks to add homosexual and transgender people to the list of classes federally protected from hate crimes.
+ + Urgent Action Needed: Please consider emailing or phoning your congressman about this. With silence, we forfeit/surrender more of our values to those who are hostile to them. What we lose in these battles we lose for future generations of Americans – our children and our children’s children.

Fri, Apr. 17, 2009 Posted: 12:30 PM EDT
The U.S. House Judiciary Committee will vote on a controversial legislation next week seeks to add homosexual and transgender people to the list of classes federally protected from hate crimes. H.R. 1913, named the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Act of 2009, is expected to be passed by the committee next week and come to the House floor for a vote in the spring, announced Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), the original co-sponsor of the bill and an openly gay member of Congress, on his website.

An identical legislation (H.R. 1592) was passed by the U.S. House in 2007. The Senate later attached the hate crimes legislation to a high-priority defense spending bill, which included funding for the Iraq War, in a political maneuver to pressure former president George W. Bush to pass the amendment. But Bush said the spending bill and the hate crime legislation were two separate issues and vetoed the bill including the legislation. The hate crimes measure seeks to add violence against individuals based on sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability to the list of federal hate crimes. Current federal law covers crimes committed on the basis of race, religion, color or national origin. If passed, the federal government would be more involved and have greater power to investigate alleged hate crimes. Critics of the hate crimes legislation fear that if passed, the legislation would inhibit pastors from speaking about homosexuality as a biblical sin and be interpreted in a way that bars speech against the lifestyle.

Christian leaders have pointed to hate crime laws in England, Sweden and Canada, where Christians have been prosecuted for breaking these laws. In the United States, 11 Christians in Pennsylvania were prosecuted under the state’s hate crimes law shortly after “sexual orientation” was added as a victim category several years ago. According to reports, the ten adults and one teenager were singing hymns and carrying signs at a homosexual celebration in Philadelphia when they were arrested. But Rep. Frank assured that the new bill would only apply to violent crimes and “does not infringe on free speech in any way.” President Obama has expressed support for the hate crime legislation in the past and is expected to sign the bill if passed. Christian leaders who have spoken against the 2007 hate crimes legislation include Dr. James C. Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family Action; Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council; Richard Land, president of The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention; and Bishop Harry Jackson, senior pastor of Hope Christian Church and chairman of High Impact Leadership Coalition.

Jennifer Riley Christian Post Reporter

P.S. - Also, this bill grants special "rights" to people based on "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" without even defining these terms! The American Psychiatric Association has identified 30 "sexual orientations" that could be protected by this bill -- many of which are extremely depraved and/or illegal!

#1 - Susan Boyle - Why Her Performance Touches Us

As she walked onto the stage (on Good Friday, April 10), you could hear snickering from the large audience of the popular British television talent show “Britain’s Got Talent.” She had anything but a svelte and glamorous figure. In fact, she looked like a downright frumpy middle-aged woman who appeared to have no business vying to win the competition. Even the judges appeared ready to launch into the woman who was undoubtedly going to be the evening’s singular laughingstock. Or was she?

Susan Boyle had forgone pursuing a music career (ha-ha?) to care for her ailing mother .She said that she dreamed to be a great singer and hoped that this would be her opportunity. As one judge remarked later, “Everyone was against her.” But he moment Susan began to sing, the snickering instantly stopped and after just a few seconds the entire place seemed to shake with thunderous applause with people standing and cheering. The supposed ugly duckling was actually a very beautiful swan after all. Over 25 million hits (!) and counting have been recorded on You Tube on the sight that records this incredible moment. Many have said (including your truly) that they actually have come to tears listening to her sing.

What happened? Well, first of all the obvious. Amidst a time of severe worldwide economic downturn, growing joblessness, home foreclosures, a killer earthquake in Italy, severe tornados ripping through the American south, and ships being attacked by pirates, the world has become a more cynical place and gloom seems to be the order of the day. Susan Boyle’s incredible voice seems to cut through all of that and succeeds in lifting the spirits of all who feel downtrodden. Her voice is like the sound of hope in the midst of incredible and seemingly unending darkness. And oh, does the world need that desperately.

Another obvious point goes back to that spirit of cynicism. As we listen to Susan, we become aware of the ugliness of spirit in almost all of us that almost enjoys looking down on others whom we determine do not measure up to our standard of what is beautiful and of worth. We also realize that, as with her, we have all been injured in some way by being prematurely judged and dismissed by others and that each of us longs to be accepted for who we are. Somewhere deep within us, we each have a sense that we are more than what others have come to see, that there is even “a divine spark,” if you will, that makes us special and we long to experience it.

The Bible – and thus Christianity alone – teaches us that that “divine spark” is rooted in the truth that we are each made in the image of God. And though that image has been marred by the sins of commission and omission we are ALL responsible for (Romans 3:23), God wants us to come into a personal relationship with him so that He can enable us to live the full and abundant life we were destined to live. (John 10:10) And, as we look at Susan Boyle it also tells us that: “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7) Furthermore, He tells us: “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” (I Corinthians 1:27)

Hurrah for Susan Boyle! May she inspire each of us to dare to dream big dreams, and to pursue those dreams with humble but determined confidence, no matter what or how many may stand against us.

You can see the video of Susan at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk