#487 (4/7) SUNDAY SPECIAL -"What Makes Men Great? (1) - The Eric Liddell Story"

[NOTE: In case you may not have noticed, I posted my latest (first in almost 5 months!) update in MY JOURNAL. journal. Please check it out  by scrolling down the right side of this blog.]          URGENT PRAYERS/PETITIONS:        Same -Sex "Marriage"- PLEASE PRAY WITH ME (every day untill the decision is revealed around mid-June) THAT THE SUPREME COURT WILL VOTE TO UPHOLD THE 2 LAWS REVIEWED SUPPORTING A TRADITIONAL DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE.. PRAY that the Court will resist any pressure to MAKE new law based on "cultural trends." PRAY as though the very future of the institution of the family is at stake because it is. PRAY! -  for the sake of possibly millions of such children, and for our country if it is to continue to be shown any more favor by our Heavenly Father, who I promise you will be very displeased if homosexual marriage is legalized; "GOD IS NOT [TO BE] MOCKED..." - (Gal. 6:7)  - Stan [Be sure to check out my brief essay at post #478.]         CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR PASTOR SAEED (Iranian-born AMERICAN pastor who just started an 8 year sentence for helping the underground churches in Iran) [See 3/25 update below!] If you have not already, please join nearly 500,000 (was recently250,000) who have signed the petition  for Pastor Saeed's release and tell your friends about it.  http://aclj.org/iran/save-american-pastor-from-iranian-prison-sentence 

As the Lord leads, please pray: *For Pastor Abedini as he endures one of Iran’s most deadly prisons, potentially beaten and abused regularly, simply because of his Christian faith. *For the pastor’s wife and family and the Holy Spirit’s comfort upon them. * For God to visit his tormenters and all in his cell with him with supernatural dreams of the risen Christ, and use the pastor's actions and words to draw them to repent and turn to Christ; that God would use the pastor's time in that prison to spark a genuine spiritual revival that will bring scores of Iranians to Christ..*For the U.S. State Department to get involved in a significant way to obtain the pastor’s release.

REMINDER: "Truth That Transforms" broadcast - (Cen. FL - Sun., 5 pm, ch. 55.1; Mon. 7 pm. ch. 52.2; www.truthinaction.org) This week includes a special video about “Government Overreach.”  "What Makes Men Great? The Eric Liddell Story," By: Eric Metaxas, Breakpoint.org; April 1, 2013 http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/breakpoint-commentaries-archive/entry/13/21821

[AS I SEE IT: If you've ever held Eric Liddell in high regard, the following synopsis of his post-Olympic activities in God's service is sure to elicit a "Wow" from you several times as it did from me. When the term "hero" is tossed around so casually these days, I for one apply it only to individuals like this. - Stan]

In the news recently, we heard the tragic story of the Olympic athlete nicknamed “the blade runner.” Oscar Pistorius, who raced on prosthetic legs, was charged with shooting his girlfriend to death. If convicted, he faces life in prison. And then of course there’s Lance Armstrong, the cyclist who, after years of denials, finally admitted to using illegal performance-enhancing drugs and was stripped of all seven of his Tour de France medals.

A lot of people admire athletes, but Pistorius and Armstrong are reminders that simply having athletic prowess does not make men heroic. So what does make men great? Like Jesus, I'm going to answer that question with a story.

Many of you have probably seen the film Chariots of Fire, about the Scottish runner Eric Liddell, and about how, in 1924, he surrendered an almost certain Olympic gold medal in the 100 meters because the heats took place on a Sunday. And Eric Liddell would not run on the Sabbath. He felt that that would not honor God. So instead, Eric began training for the 400 meters. That was not something he was expected to win a gold medal in. But to his country's delight, he did win the gold medal in that event.

In my new book, Seven Men and the Secret of Their Greatness, I write about seven men, among them Eric Liddell, who was willing to make this incredible sacrifice. He gave up not only the greatest prize in sports, but also the chance to bring honor to his beloved country—not to mention fame, fortune, and glory to himself.And then he gave up the glory and wealth that goes with being an Olympic champion when he announced his intention to serve God on the mission field in China.

Eric's heroism did not stop after he won his gold medal. In the lead-up to World War II, Eric more than once put his life in danger in an effort to bring supplies to the school where he taught. On one of these journeys, he was attacked and robbed by armed thieves; on another, he was shot at. After the war started, Eric was sent to a Japanese internment camp in China. There, he threw himself into both work and volunteer activities, teaching in the camp school and organizing softball, cricket, and tennis games for the children. Despite his growing exhaustion, and missing his family terribly, he remained cheerful for the sake of others. When he noticed that a teenager's shoes had worn out, Eric gave him his extra pair—the very shoes he had worn in the Olympic Games.

In 1945, after years in the camp, Eric began suffering terrible headaches. After he suffered a minor stoke, camp doctors believed that he had a brain tumor. On February 18, Eric finished writing one last letter to his wife and slipped into a coma. And he died that evening at the age of forty-three. When the news spread around the world, not only Scotland mourned, but many other countries, as well. The Glasgow Evening News summed up the feelings of the Scottish people regarding the man who had put God before a gold medal and then spent the remainder of his life serving others. Eric Liddell, the editors said, “did [Scotland] proud every hour of his life.” He did Scotland proud again when, sixty-three years after his death, China revealed that Eric had been included in a prisoner exchange. But rather than going free, he had given up his place to a pregnant woman.

For the next six Mondays leading up to Father's Day, BreakPoint will look at truly heroic men—the men I write about in my new book, Seven Men and the Secret of their Greatness.(http://www.colsoncenterstore.org/product.asp?sku=9781595554697) .. I hope you'll share these stories with young people who too often admire the wrong people for the wrong reasons. They'll learn that greatness lies not in stellar achievements, but in selfless sacrifice. [I plan to present Eric's rmaining stories the next 6 Sunday Specials. If you enjoyed this one, I hope you'll make a point of not missing the stories coming up. AND you might consider going to the link above and ordering a copy of the book for your favorite Dad for Father's Day.- Stan]

[bold and italics emphasis mine]

#486 (4/6) North Korea, Iraq > 2 Of World's Worst Christian Persecutors

URGENT PRAYERS/PETITIONS:

Same -Sex "Marriage"- PLEASE PRAY WITH ME (every day untill the decision is revealed around mid-June) THAT THE SUPREME COURT WILL VOTE TO UPHOLD THE 2 LAWS REVIEWED SUPPORTING A TRADITIONAL DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE.. PRAY that the Court will resist any pressure to MAKE new law based on "cultural trends." PRAY as though the very future of the institution of the family is at stake because it is. PRAY! -  for the sake of possibly millions of such children, and for our country if it is to continue to be shown any more favor by our Heavenly Father, who I promise you will be very displeased if homosexual marriage is legalized; "GOD IS NOT [TO BE] MOCKED..." - (Gal. 6:7)  - Stan [Be sure to check out my brief essay at post #478.]

CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR PASTOR SAEED (Iranian-born AMERICAN pastor who just started an 8 year sentence for helping the underground churches in Iran) [See 3/25 update below!] If you have not already, please join nearly 500,000 (was recently250,000) who have signed the petition  for Pastor Saeed's release and tell your friends about it.  http://aclj.org/iran/save-american-pastor-from-iranian-prison-sentence 

As the Lord leads, please pray: *For Pastor Abedini as he endures one of Iran’s most deadly prisons, potentially beaten and abused regularly, simply because of his Christian faith. *For the pastor’s wife and family and the Holy Spirit’s comfort upon them. * For God to visit his tormenters and all in his cell with him with supernatural dreams of the risen Christ, and use the pastor's actions and words to draw them to repent and turn to Christ; that God would use the pastor's time in that prison to spark a genuine spiritual revival that will bring scores of Iranians to Christ..*For the U.S. State Department to get involved in a significant way to obtain the pastor’s release.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[NOTE: The following is information provided by Open Doors ministry. You can learn about them, prayer guides, stories of persecuted Christians, ways to give, and other information at www.OpenDoorsUSA.org]

North Korea   (Ranked #1 among nations perscuting Christians)

Leader: Kim Jong-Un

Government: Communist dictatorship

Religion: Atheism/traditional beliefs
Population: 24.5 million (400,000 Christians; about 1/4 est. to be in labor prisons)

For the eleventh year running, this is the most difficult place on earth to be a Christian. One of the remaining Communist states, it is vehemently opposed to religion of any kind. Christians are classified as hostile and face arrest, detention, torture, even public execution. There is a system of labour camps including the renowned prison No. 15, which reportedly houses 6,000 Christians alone. But despite severe oppression, there is a growing underground church movement of an estimated 400,000 Christians.

PRAY: 1) For real political and economic change under the leadership of Kim Jong-Un

2) Spies have reportedly been sent to China to expose networks. Ask God to protect refugees and those helping them

3) Give thanks that Open Doors is able to deliver emergency aid into the country.

[MY additional prayers: 1) Just as God used dreams and visions to reveal truth and in effect Himself to the King of Babylon in Daniel\'s time, pray that he would do the same to Kim Jon Un of North Korea, that he (and those of his leadership team) might be caused to repent and trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior  and Lord. 2) That American and South Korean forces will always be more than sufficient to defend against any threat from North Korea.

Auschwitz, Dachau, Auschwitz, Dachau, Bergen-Belsen and Sobibor.

Four names of four Nazi concentration camps that were infamous for holding many political prisoners captive, but most for the systematic torture and killing of Jews, gypsies and others that were seen as impure.We know the names and have images in our memories that we associate with them.

But how many of us are familiar with names as Yodok, Bukchang, Kaechon and Chongori? Neglected by a large part of the international community, several hundred thousand people languish in these Nazi-like death camps, where they are stripped of all humanity.Christians are kept in isolation from other people in the total control zone. What we know specifically about them are only bits and pieces. But Lee Soon-Ok, who was imprisoned in prison facility No. 1 Kaechon, wrote in her book 'Eyes of the tailless animals' about several hundred Christians who were kept there.

"They received less food and were punished harder than others. Once or twice a month all the 6,000 prisoners needed to gather on a Saturday or Sunday and one or two Christians were publicly asked to denounce their faith. If not, they were beaten or stabbed with a sharp bamboo stick. I was amazed the Christians choose to suffer and did not betray their God. Often they just sang songs or said 'Amen'. The guards became furious and frequently killed Christians. The Christians also had to do the most dangerous and hardest work, like working in the rubbery factory. If a guard managed to force a Christian to denounce God, he or she would receive a promotion. Sometimes we had to walk over the Christian until he died."

Iraq [It is tragic that Christians in this country actually face more persecution and hardship today than they did before America first bgan giving so much in aid and livs lost a decade ago.]

2013 Rank: 4; 2012 Rank: 9

Leader: Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki
Government: Parliamentary Democracy

Religion: Islam
Population: 33.7 million (330,000 Christians)

Christians in Iraq are on the verge of extinction. Large numbers have fled abroad or to the (until recently) safer Kurdish region, where they face unemployment and inadequate schooling, medical care and housing. The church faces many challenges – members being killed or abducted, and a lack of capable leaders. In central and southern Iraq, traditional Christians suffer as much as Muslim-background believers, as a result of their visibility. In May 2012, 20 Christian families in Mosul received threats, and the house of another Christian was set on fire.

Pray: 

 ·      [For God to visit the leaders with dreams and visions, signs and wonders, to cause them to turn from Islam and to Jesus to be their Savior and Lord.]

·       [For the government to grant religious freedoms to minorities, esp. the Christians.] ·          For the many Christians displaced from their homes by threats of murder or abduction

·

      Ask God to raise up godly, wise leaders to shepherd the church

·

    For Open Doors trauma counsellors working with children and families affected by persecution.

#485 (4/5) Is America Ready Should North Korea Attack ....

URGENT PRAYERS/PETITIONS:

Same -Sex "Marriage"- PLEASE PRAY WITH ME (every day untill the decision is revealed around mid-June) THAT THE SUPREME COURT WILL VOTE TO UPHOLD THE 2 LAWS REVIEWED SUPPORTING A TRADITIONAL DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE.. PRAY that the Court will resist any pressure to MAKE new law based on "cultural trends." PRAY as though the very future of the institution of the family is at stake because it is. PRAY! -  for the sake of possibly millions of such children, and for our country if it is to continue to be shown any more favor by our Heavenly Father, who I promise you will be very displeased if homosexual marriage is legalized; "GOD IS NOT [TO BE] MOCKED..." - (Gal. 6:7)  - Stan [Be sure to check out my brief essay at post #478.]

CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR PASTOR SAEED (Iranian-born AMERICAN pastor who just started an 8 year sentence for helping the underground churches in Iran) [See 3/25 update below!] If you have not already, please join nearly 500,000 (was recently250,000) who have signed the petition  for Pastor Saeed's release and tell your friends about it.  http://aclj.org/iran/save-american-pastor-from-iranian-prison-sentence 

As the Lord leads, please pray: *For Pastor Abedini as he endures one of Iran’s most deadly prisons, potentially beaten and abused regularly, simply because of his Christian faith.

*For the pastor’s wife and family and the Holy Spirit’s comfort upon them.

* For God to visit his tormenters and all in his cell with him with supernatural dreams of the risen Christ, and use the pastor's actions and words to draw them to repent and turn to Christ; that God would use the pastor's time in that prison to spark a genuine spiritual revival that will bring scores of Iranians to Christ..

*For the U.S. State Department to get involved in a significant way to obtain the pastor’s release.

-----------------------------------------------

[ PRAY; 1) Just as God used dreams and visions to reveal truth and in effect Himself to the King of Babylon in Daniel\'s time, pray that he would do the same to Kim Jon Un of North Korea, that he might be caused to turn his life over to Jesus Christ. 2) That American and South Korean forces will always be more than sufficient to defend against any threat from North Korea. (Be sure to visit tomorrow's post for more information about how to pray for North Korea, declared to be the #1 state of Christian persecution in the world -again.)]

"The Danger of Defense Cuts: North Korea Just a Reminder," Nick Zahn, April 1, 2013; http://blog.heritage.org/2013/04/01/the-danger-of-defense-cuts-north-korea-just-a-reminder/

Amidst increased sequestration cuts and North Korean threats of hostility, U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel expressed deep concern on Thursday over the increased danger that North Korea now poses requiring the U.S. to be prepared for “any eventuality.”

Hagel’s concern is in agreement with Heritage Foundation expert Bruce Klingner, who the previous evening wrote that “[t]he danger of North Korean miscalculation has increased further with new North Korean leader Kim Jong-un emboldened by recent nuclear and missile test successes and the knowledge that Seoul and Washington have never struck back in any significant way after previous deadly attacks.” Klingner capped off his 20-year career at the CIA as Korea Deputy Division Chief, where part of his responsibility was to monitor the tenuous armistice on the peninsula and provide early warning to senior U.S. government officials of impending danger on the peninsula.

And while it is unknown exactly when the next North Korean attack will occur, South Korea has justly declared that they no longer are willing to keep taking it on the chin. South Korean rules of engagement have changed, and President Park Geun-hye and her senior military leadership have pledged to respond strongly to the next attack from the North. Further, the March 22 U.S.–South Korea Combined Counter-Provocation Plan is an affirmation that when responding to an attack from the North, the U.S. and South Korea militaries will remain true to the motto “katchi kapasida” ["we go together"] and fight together.

The increased danger unfolds amid defense cuts that sapped U.S. readiness even before sequestration took effect on March 1. Klingner points out that, although Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter during his mid-March travel in Asia attempted to assure allies of a continued strong U.S. military presence in spite of cuts, Carter and senior defense officials, including the Secretary of Defense, had earlier objected to sequestration on the grounds that it would mean a disastrous decrease in military capability. The product of the Obama Administration’s backtracking is uncertainty in the minds of friends and foes alike on the question of whether the U.S. has the ability to live up to its commitments.

But not all reversals have to ring hollow.Two weeks ago the Administration rightly reversed its previous decision to cut 14 ground-based interceptors from missile defense based in Alaska. These defenses provide a margin of protection against the ever-increasing missile threat that North Korea poses to the continental United States. As Secretary Hagel said in support of the move, “[Y]ou only need to be wrong once.” But missile defense isn’t the only military capability that the Obama Administration has wrongly shorted. It is of urgent necessity that additional reversals be made to provide substance to what has become clear to many is an otherwise empty “pivot” to Asia. As threats to regional stability increase, U.S. capability at the least must stay on par. But instead we are falling behind.

The bottom line is that as U.S. capability erodes, warfighters will be unable to provide the necessary credible deterrence to maintain peace—not just on the Korean peninsula, but elsewhere in the world where the U.S. has critical national interests. Nor in a conflict will they be assured victory with the least possible U.S. and allied casualties.

Secretary Hagel is right to be concerned about the reality of the situation in Northeast Asia. As he contemplates the imminence of “any eventuality” of conflict on the Korean peninsula or around the globe, a realistic assessment must recognize the consequences of the deterioration of U.S. capabilities and needed reversals to the dangerous budgetary path the Administration has set upon. The American people, our friends, and most importantly our foes should never doubt that we have the capacity to fulfill our commitments.

[bold and italics emphasis mine; go to the link of this article (given above) to find the information  indicated by the underlined portions above.]

"Increasing Risk of North Korean Tactical Attack on South Korea: What U.S. Needs to Do," By Bruce Klingner, March 27, 2013; http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/03/north-korean-threat-to-attack-south-korea-what-us-needs-to-do
"Blueprint for a Sustainable and Strong Department of Defense," James Carafano, Steven Bucci, Baker Spring, Michaela Dodge, Rebeccah Heinrichs and Brian Slattery; April 4, 2013; http://blog.heritage.org/2013/04/04/heritages-response-blueprint-for-a-sustainable-and-strong-department-of-defense/

#484 (4/4) "Why Health Care Spending Will Explode Under ObamaCare," Many Doctors Retiring Early

URGENT PRAYERS/PETITIONS:

Same -Sex "Marriage"- PLEASE PRAY WITH ME (every day untill the decision is revealed around mid-June) THAT THE SUPREME COURT WILL VOTE TO UPHOLD THE 2 LAWS REVIEWED SUPPORTING A TRADITIONAL DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE.. PRAY that the Court will resist any pressure to MAKE new law based on "cultural trends." PRAY as though the very future of the institution of the family is at stake because it is. PRAY! -  for the sake of possibly millions of such children, and for our country if it is to continue to be shown any more favor by our Heavenly Father, who I promise you will be very displeased if homosexual marriage is legalized; "GOD IS NOT [TO BE] MOCKED..." - (Gal. 6:7)  - Stan [Be sure to check out my brief essay at post #478.]

CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR PASTOR SAEED (Iranian-born AMERICAN pastor who just started an 8 year sentence for helping the underground churches in Iran) [See 3/25 update below!] - "As Iran continues to abuse imprisoned American Pastor Saeed Abedini, its goal is now clear -- force Pastor Saeed to deny Christ.We've obtained a new letter from Pastor Saeed detailing his continued mistreatment in the deadly Evin Prison, including Iran's efforts to force him to convert from Christianity back to Islam. Pastor Saeed writes: "[A]fter all of these pressures, after all of the nails they have pressed against my hands and 'feet, they are only waiting for one thing…for me to deny Christ.' Yet he is standing strong, declaring '"they will never get this from me.' (Read of the inspiring  letter he has written from prison at http://aclj.org/iran/pastor-saeed-writes-psychological-warfare-physical-violence-death-threats-iranian-prison) UPDATE of 3/25 - 1) Those in support of Pastor Saeed have testified at the UN meetings in Geneva for several weekst to the Human Rights Commission; 2) The American Center for Law and Justice testified before a committee of the House of Rep. on Friday about Pastor Saeed and other persecuted Christians in the Middle East  PRAISE GOD, over the weekend the Secretary of State finally spoke out clearly for the release of Pastor Saeed (though they've known of his plight since last JULY!) as did the UN Human Rights Commission! If you have not already, please join nearly 500,000 (was recently250,000) who have signed the petition  for Pastor Saeed's release and tell your friends about it.  http://aclj.org/iran/save-american-pastor-from-iranian-prison-sentence 

As the Lord leads, please pray: *For Pastor Abedini as he endures one of Iran’s most deadly prisons, potentially beaten and abused regularly, simply because of his Christian faith.

• For the pastor’s wife and family and the Holy Spirit’s comfort upon them.
• For God to visit his tormenters and all in his cell with him with supernatural dreams of the risen Christ, and use the pastor's actions and words to draw them to repent and turn to Christ; that God would use the pastor's time in that prison to spark a genuine spiritual revival that will bring scores of Iranians to Christ..
• For the U.S. State Department to get involved in a significant way to obtain the pastor’s release.

[NOTE: Following are two articles that explain the dangers of the President's Health Care plan and the consequences America will have to endure because of it. PRAY that efforts in Congress to reduce the negative impact of this very ill-advised legislation will gain sufficient support in time.

]"Why Health Care Spending Will Explode Under ObamaCare," April 2, 2013  http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=23016&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DPD

#483 (4/3) "Obama Ignores 85,933 Ideas to Save Money"

URGENT PRAYERS/PETITIONS:

Same -Sex "Marriage"- PLEASE PRAY WITH ME (every day untill the decision is revealed around mid-June) THAT THE SUPREME COURT WILL VOTE TO UPHOLD THE 2 LAWS REVIEWED SUPPORTING A TRADITIONAL DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE.. PRAY that the Court will resist any pressure to MAKE new law based on "cultural trends." PRAY as though the very future of the institution of the family is at stake because it is. PRAY! -  for the sake of possibly millions of such children, and for our country if it is to continue to be shown any more favor by our Heavenly Father, who I promise you will be very displeased if homosexual marriage is legalized; "GOD IS NOT [TO BE] MOCKED..." - (Gal. 6:7)  - Stan [Be sure to check out my brief essay at post #478.]

CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR PASTOR SAEED (Iranian-born AMERICAN pastor who just started an 8 year sentence for helping the underground churches in Iran) [See 3/25 update below!] - (Read of the inspiring  letter he has written from prison at http://aclj.org/iran/pastor-saeed-writes-psychological-warfare-physical-violence-death-threats-iranian-prison) If you have not already, please join nearly 500,000 (was recently250,000) who have signed the petition  for Pastor Saeed's release and tell your friends about it.  http://aclj.org/iran/save-american-pastor-from-iranian-prison-sentence 

As the Lord leads, please pray:

• For Pastor Abedini as he endures one of Iran’s most deadly prisons, potentially beaten and abused regularly, simply because of his Christian faith.
• For the pastor’s wife and family and the Holy Spirit’s comfort upon them.
• For the continuing meetings at the UN meetings in Geneva about Pastor Saeed.
• For the U.S. State Department to get involved in a significant way to obtain the pastor’s release.

PLEASE Continue to PRAY: "Libya Arrests Suspected Christian Missionaries ," February 16, 2013; "Four foreigners were arrested in Libya on suspicion of distributing books about Christianity and proselytizing, a Libyan police spokesman said on Saturday. Spreading Christianity is a crime in the predominantly Muslim North African county. As the Lord leads, PLEASE PRAY:  * For the timely release of the arrested missionaries. * For God to use them while in jail to be witnesses of the gospel  * For all who share God’s loving salvation in Muslim countries.  

"Obama Ignores 85,933 Ideas to Save Money," T. Elliot Gaiser, March 28, 2013 http://blog.heritage.org/2013/03/28/obama-ignores-85933-ideas-to-save-money/   

[AS I SEE IT: Does anyone really believe this President seriously seeks ways to save money?  -  Stan]

President Obama asked federal workers to suggest ways for the federal government to save money, and American citizens responded – with 86,000 suggestions. But his administration picked only 67 of those ideas, most of which are either minute or simply take credit for savings that have already been implemented, according to Washington Post reporter David A. Fahrenthold.

The Obama administration created the online comment box in 2009. Sixteen ideas have been given a presidential SAVE award, and 51 ideas have been included in past Obama budget proposals.

Not one savings idea has been included this year, because Obama’s 2013 budget is still late.
The Post found that 20 – nearly a third – of the 67 ideas were actually old savings plans that were already being acted upon by the government.
For instance, Obama claimed the SAVE award program reduced drug costs at the National Institutes of Health. “But that actually started in 2008, under President George W. Bush,” writes Fahrenthold. “The White House also cited the SAVE program for an effort to digitize the X-rays of federal prisoners. That began in 2004, during Bush’s first term.”

In all, these are the results of Obama’s budget crowd source:

• 86,000 ideas submitted since 2009.
• 67 ideas chosen by the Obama administration.
• 20 of these ideas had already been implemented in some form before 2009.
• 15 ideas have not been implemented or had no details available.
• Four ideas have been implemented but were watered down to generate less savings.
• 28 actual savings ideas have implemented since 2009.

Looking for ways to save tax dollars is always worthwhile. Heritage has highlighted ways that the Department of Education, Transportation Security Administration, and Environmental Protection Agency can save taxpayers’ money. Heritage also outlined, in detail, $150 billion in cuts Congress should enact.

But in the end, the President should reform the main drivers of spending: entitlements. Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security together drain 44 percent of the budget each year, and that share will grow. There are six bipartisan proposals that would achieve substantial savings through entitlement reform – if they were championed with presidential leadership.

[bold and italics emphasis mine]

#412 (4/2) For the 'You've Got To Be Kidding' File(2)

URGENT PRAYERS/PETITIONS:

Same -Sex "Marriage"- PLEASE PRAY WITH ME (every day untill the decision is revealed around mid-June) THAT THE SUPREME COURT WILL VOTE TO UPHOLD THE 2 LAWS REVIEWED SUPPORTING A TRADITIONAL DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE.. PRAY that the Court will resist any pressure to MAKE new law based on "cultural trends." PRAY as though the very future of the institution of the family is at stake because it is. PRAY! -  for the sake of possibly millions of such children, and for our country if it is to continue to be shown any more favor by our Heavenly Father, who I promise you will be very displeased if homosexual marriage is legalized; "GOD IS NOT [TO BE] MOCKED..." - (Gal. 6:7)  - Stan [Be sure to check out my brief essay at post #478.]

CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR PASTOR SAEED (Iranian-born AMERICAN pastor who just started an 8 year sentence for helping the underground churches in Iran) [See 3/25 update below!] - "As Iran continues to abuse imprisoned American Pastor Saeed Abedini, its goal is now clear -- force Pastor Saeed to deny Christ.We've obtained a new letter from Pastor Saeed detailing his continued mistreatment in the deadly Evin Prison, including Iran's efforts to force him to convert from Christianity back to Islam. Pastor Saeed writes: "[A]fter all of these pressures, after all of the nails they have pressed against my hands and 'feet, they are only waiting for one thing…for me to deny Christ.' Yet he is standing strong, declaring '"they will never get this from me.' (Read of the inspiring  letter he has written from prison at http://aclj.org/iran/pastor-saeed-writes-psychological-warfare-physical-violence-death-threats-iranian-prison) UPDATE of 3/25 - 1) Those in support of Pastor Saeed have testified at the UN meetings in Geneva for several weekst to the Human Rights Commission; 2) The American Center for Law and Justice testified before a committee of the House of Rep. on Friday about Pastor Saeed and other persecuted Christians in the Middle East  PRAISE GOD, over the weekend the Secretary of State finally spoke out clearly for the release of Pastor Saeed (though they've known of his plight since last JULY!) as did the UN Human Rights Commission! If you have not already, please join nearly 500,000 (was recently250,000) who have signed the petition  for Pastor Saeed's release and tell your friends about it.  http://aclj.org/iran/save-american-pastor-from-iranian-prison-sentence 

As the Lord leads, please pray:

• For Pastor Abedini as he endures one of Iran’s most deadly prisons, potentially beaten and abused regularly, simply because of his Christian faith.
• For the pastor’s wife and family and the Holy Spirit’s comfort upon them.
• For the continuing meetings at the UN meetings in Geneva about Pastor Saeed.
• For the U.S. State Department to get involved in a significant way to obtain the pastor’s release.

PLEASE Continue to PRAY: "Libya Arrests Suspected Christian Missionaries ," February 16, 2013; "Four foreigners were arrested in Libya on suspicion of distributing books about Christianity and proselytizing, a Libyan police spokesman said on Saturday. Spreading Christianity is a crime in the predominantly Muslim North African county. The four were arrested in the eastern city of Benghazi on Tuesday and are under investigation for printing and distributing books that proselytize Christianity. Police said they found 45,000 books in their possession and that another 25,000 have already been distributed. The suspects are from South Africa, Egypt, South Korea, and one holds both Swedish and U.S. Nationality. The U.S. Embassy in Libya has declined comment. "(Sources: CBS News, USA Today, Associated Press) [So much for the so-called "Arab Spring." - Stan]As the Lord leads, PLEASE PRAY:  * For the timely release of the arrested missionaries. * For God to use them while in jail to be witnesses of the gospel  * For all who share God’s loving salvation in Muslim countries.  

[NOTE: I meant to post the following months ago but mistakenly did not. However, they still serve as a great representative of the tens of thousands of regulations that are imposed by  governmemnt agencies that most Americans never hear of until it negatively impacts them, which too many do. May God enable our leaders to reign in and put a check on out of control regulation. Stan]

"'The 10 Worst Regulations of 2012," - By James Gattuso On December 28, 2012

It seems that no aspect of American life can escape government regulation. In the past year, regulators drafted rules that addressed everything from caloric intake to dishwasher efficiency.

Most of these rules increase the cost of living, others hinder job creation, and many erode freedom.

Not all regulations are unwarranted, of course, but increasingly, the rules imposed by the government have less to do with health and safety and more to do with whether government or individuals get to make basic pocketbook and lifestyle decisions that affect them. And it is not just the regulators who are to blame. Congress writes laws that give unelected bureaucrats the broad powers they wield. [bold and italics emphasis here mine

Today we bring you 10 of the worst regulations from 2012:

1. HHS’s Contraception Mandate
The Department of Health and Human Services on February 15 finalized its mandate that all health insurance plans include coverage for abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization procedures, and contraceptives ^[1]. To date, 42 cases with more than 110 plaintiffs ^[2] are challenging this restriction on religious liberty.

2. EPA Emissions Standards
The EPA in February finalized strict new emissions standards for coal- and oil-fired electric utilities ^[3]. The benefits are highly questionable, with the vast majority being unrelated to the emissions targeted by the regulation. The costs, however, are certain: an estimated $9.6 billion annually.

3. Fuel Efficiency Standards
In August, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in tandem with the Environmental Protection Agency, finalized fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks ^[4] for model years 2017–2025. The rules require a whopping average fuel economy of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. Sticker prices will jump by hundreds of dollars. [I would think it would be more like thousands of dollars. - Stan]

4. New York’s 16-Ounce Soda Limit
Not all regulations come from Washington. On September 13, at the behest of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the New York City Board of Health banned the sale of soda and other sweetened drinks ^[5] in containers larger than 16 ounces. [A judge has since rescinded this regulation!]

5. Dishwasher Efficiency Standards
Regulators admit that these Department of Energy rules will do little to improve the environment. Rather, proponents claim they will save consumers money. But they will also increase the price of dishwashers, and only about one in six consumers will keep his or her dishwasher long enough to recoup the cost ^[6].

6. School Lunch Standards
The U.S. Department of Agriculture in January published stringent nutrition standards for school lunch and breakfast programs ^[7]. More than 98,000 elementary and secondary schools are affected—at a cost exceeding $3.4 billion over the next four years.

7. Quickie Union Election Rule
In April, the National Labor Relations Board issued new rules that shorten the time allowed for union-organizing elections to between 10 and 21 days. This leaves little time for employees to make a fully informed choice ^[8] on unionizing, threatening to leave workers and management alike under unwanted union regimes.

8. Essential Benefits Rule
Under Obamacare, insurers in the individual and small group markets will be forced to cover services that the government deems to be essential ^[9]. Published on November 26, the HHS list of very broad benefits has created enormous uncertainty about the extent of essential treatment.

9. Electronic Data Recorder Mandate
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on December 13 issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to mandate installation of electronic data recorders, popularly known as “black boxes,” in most light vehicles starting in 2014. The government mandate understandably spooks privacy advocates.

10. “Simplified” Mortgage Disclosure and Servicing Rules
In July, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released its proposal for a more “consumer friendly” mortgage process, with a stated goal of simplifying home loans. The rules run an astonishing 1,099 pages ^[10]. Then, one month later, the bureau proposed more than 560 pages of rules for mortgage servicing.

No End in Sight -As busy as regulators were in 2012, do not look for them to slow down in the new year. We’ll continue to document the real-life impact with our ongoing Tales of the Red Tape ^[11] series on The Foundry.

[italics and some bold emphasis mine]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Article printed from The Foundry: Conservative Policy News Blog from The Heritage Foundation: http://blog.heritage.org; URL to article: http://blog.heritage.org/2012/12/28/morning-bell-the-10-worst-regulations-of-2012/

URLs in this post:

[1] abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization procedures, and contraceptives: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2012/03/obamacares-preventive-services-mandate-and-religious-liberty

[2] 42 cases with more than 110 plaintiffs: http://www.becketfund.org/hhsinformationcentral/

[3] emissions standards for coal- and oil-fired electric utilities: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2012/07/the-assault-on-coal-and-american-consumers

[4] fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2012/12/cap-and-trade-for-cars-means-higher-prices-and-less-choice-for-car-buyers

[5] banned the sale of soda and other sweetened drinks: http://blog.heritage.org/2012/06/01/the-ban-on-big-drinks-new-york-supersizes-the-nanny-state/

[6] recoup the cost: http://regulatorystudies.gwu.edu/images/pdf/doe_eere_2011_bt_std_0060.pdf

[7] stringent nutrition standards for school lunch and breakfast programs: http://blog.heritage.org/2012/02/21/washington-takes-over-school-lunches-and-curriculum/

[8] little time for employees to make a fully informed choice: http://blog.heritage.org/2011/06/21/obamas-nlrb-pushes-snap-elections-for-union-gain/

[9] government deems to be essential: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2011/01/obamacare-and-insurance-benefit-mandates-raising-premiums-and-reducing-patient-choice

[10] astonishing 1,099 pages: http://blog.heritage.org/2012/07/23/tales-of-the-red-tape-35-reams-of-simplicity-from-cfpb/

[11] Tales of the Red Tape: http://blog.heritage.org/tag/tales-of-the-red-tape/

Copyright © 2012 The Heritage Foundation. All rights reserved.

#482 (4/1) APRIL FOOL'S DAY - For the "You Gotta Be Kidding'" File (1)

 URGENT PRAYERS/PETITIONS: 

Same -Sex "Marriage"- PLEASE PRAY WITH ME (every day untill the decision is revealed around mid-June) THAT THE SUPREME COURT WILL VOTE TO UPHOLD THE 2 LAWS REVIEWED SUPPORTING A TRADITIONAL DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE.. PRAY that the Court will resist any pressure to MAKE new law based on "cultural trends." PRAY as though the very future of the institution of the family is at stake because it is. PRAY! -  for the sake of possibly millions of such children, and for our country if it is to continue to be shown any more favor by our Heavenly Father, who I promise you will be very displeased if homosexual marriage is legalized; "GOD IS NOT [TO BE] MOCKED..." - (Gal. 6:7)  - Stan [Be sure to check out my brief essay at post #478.]

CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR PASTOR SAEED (Iranian-born AMERICAN pastor who just started an 8 year sentence for helping the underground churches in Iran) [See 3/25 update below!] - "As Iran continues to abuse imprisoned American Pastor Saeed Abedini, its goal is now clear -- force Pastor Saeed to deny Christ.We've obtained a new letter from Pastor Saeed detailing his continued mistreatment in the deadly Evin Prison, including Iran's efforts to force him to convert from Christianity back to Islam. Pastor Saeed writes: "[A]fter all of these pressures, after all of the nails they have pressed against my hands and 'feet, they are only waiting for one thing…for me to deny Christ.' Yet he is standing strong, declaring '"they will never get this from me.' (Read of the inspiring  letter he has written from prison at http://aclj.org/iran/pastor-saeed-writes-psychological-warfare-physical-violence-death-threats-iranian-prison) UPDATE of 3/25 - 1) Those in support of Pastor Saeed have testified at the UN meetings in Geneva for several weekst to the Human Rights Commission; 2) The American Center for Law and Justice testified before a committee of the House of Rep. on Friday about Pastor Saeed and other persecuted Christians in the Middle East  PRAISE GOD, over the weekend the Secretary of State finally spoke out clearly for the release of Pastor Saeed (though they've known of his plight since last JULY!) as did the UN Human Rights Commission! If you have not already, please join nearly 500,000 (was recently250,000) who have signed the petition  for Pastor Saeed's release and tell your friends about it.  http://aclj.org/iran/save-american-pastor-from-iranian-prison-sentence 

As the Lord leads, please pray:

• For Pastor Abedini as he endures one of Iran’s most deadly prisons, potentially beaten and abused regularly, simply because of his Christian faith.
• For the pastor’s wife and family and the Holy Spirit’s comfort upon them.
• For the continuing meetings at the UN meetings in Geneva about Pastor Saeed.
• For the U.S. State Department to get involved in a significant way to obtain the pastor’s release.

PLEASE Continue to PRAY: "Libya Arrests Suspected Christian Missionaries ," February 16, 2013; "Four foreigners were arrested in Libya on suspicion of distributing books about Christianity and proselytizing, a Libyan police spokesman said on Saturday. Spreading Christianity is a crime in the predominantly Muslim North African county. The four were arrested in the eastern city of Benghazi on Tuesday and are under investigation for printing and distributing books that proselytize Christianity. Police said they found 45,000 books in their possession and that another 25,000 have already been distributed. The suspects are from South Africa, Egypt, South Korea, and one holds both Swedish and U.S. Nationality. The U.S. Embassy in Libya has declined comment. "(Sources: CBS News, USA Today, Associated Press) [So much for the so-called "Arab Spring." - Stan]As the Lord leads, PLEASE PRAY:  * For the timely release of the arrested missionaries. * For God to use them while in jail to be witnesses of the gospel  * For all who share God’s loving salvation in Muslim countries.  

[NOTE: While this may be April Fool's Day, the following stories are unfortunately no joke. However, it does seem it points out how much we Americans are fools for allowing such foolishness to take place. - Stan]

"Biden Stays at London, Paris Hotels; Two Nights, $1 Million," March 22; http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/biden-one-million-hotels/2013/03/22/id/495985?s=al&promo_code=12E7A-1

Vice President Joe Biden’s one-day trips to Paris and London in February cost American taxpayers more than $1 million, according to multiple reports. Biden and his security detail rung up a $585,000.50 tab for a single night on Feb. 4 at the Hotel Intercontinental Paris Le Grand, a luxurious five-star hotel near the Louvre Museum, The Weekly Standard reports.

Meanwhile, The Daily Mail in London reports that Biden’s group spent $459,388.65 for one night on Feb. 5 at the Hyatt Regency in London, where the vice president met with Prime Minister David Cameron. The contract for the London trip specified that Biden’s crew required 136 hotel rooms for that one-night stay, The Daily Mail reports.

Biden’s wife, Dr. Jill Biden, accompanied him to Paris on his European trip, which also included a stop in Germany. The Mail reports that Biden’s entourage required more than 100 rooms at Le Grand. One night in the presidential suite there costs more than $3,800. Here’s how the Intercontinental Paris Le Grand is described on its website: “With floodlit views of the Opera House, this superbly renovated luxury hotel is at the heart of Parisian society. Opened in 1862, it defines historical grandeur, from Café de la Paix to La Verriere Restaurant, set in an 800 square metre winter garden. Elegantly appointed, the hotel’s boutique-style suites overlook stunning landmarks. Located … close to the Louvre Museum, shopping, theatre and banking districts, this luxury Paris hotel is an icon in the City of Light.” .... © 2013 Newsmax. All rights reserved. [AS I SEE IT: 1) Let's remember that it's the Vice President's Democratic Party has run up record defecits but continues to insist America doesn't have a spending problem but just needs more revenue - ie, taxes on those "greedy" rich people. What hypocrisy when THEY use OUR money (after all, they don't just spend the "rich" peoples' tax revenue) to live like those same rich people, who at least earned the money they spend! 2) Of course, when they find a way to spend trillions of dollars a year, a million dollars must seem like pocket change. But for which average tax payer is that true? And maybe some of that money could have gone to pay for those small airport air traffic controllers or those White House tours that they've made a point of  cutting from the federal budget as their way of saving money. Sheesh!, 3) Their defenders might say, "Well, administrations have always spent that much money; it's just necessary for them to do their jobs." Oh, really? Did you hear anything - anything! - about the extravagent spending habits of previous conservative administrations? Do you really think if there was any such spending the mainstream press would have been reporting that just as much as they have been silent about this administration? Can you say 'evident media bias?' Once again, sheesh!, and 4) In fairness to the Vice-President, the President and esp. the First Lady spend many times more tax money just on their vacations. Yes, our President does know how to lead - we can only wish it wasn't in how to personally spend tax money.[

"Florida University Under Fire Over 'Jesus' Classroom Exercise," March 27; http://www.newsmax.com/US/fau-jesus-stomping-exercise/2013/03/27/id/496658?s=al&promo_code=12F70-1

A Florida university has come under fire over a professor's controversial classroom assignment that asked his students to write "Jesus" on a sheet of paper and then to step on it.

The incident earlier this month at the Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida, has prompted the school to issue an apology and led to a call from Florida's Republican Governor Rick Scott for an investigation. "I am deeply disappointed in the recent actions of Florida Atlantic University faculty that raises significant questions over students' rights and the lessons being taught in our classrooms," Scott wrote in a letter to the head of Florida's state university board on Tuesday. The classroom exercise was conducted as part of a course on intercultural communication at the public university.

It called for students to write the words "Jesus" in big letters on a piece of paper, place it on the floor and then to step on the paper. Students were then asked to describe how they felt.
School officials said the instructor told students they could choose whether to participate in the exercise, which was based on an example in a study guide to a course textbook and intended to provoke a discussion of cultural symbols.

In a recent statement, Florida Atlantic University said it will no longer use the exercise after it sparked criticism from some students. "It was insensitive and unacceptable. Based on the offensive nature of the exercise, we will not use it again and have issued an apology to the community," the statement said. In his letter, Scott said he wanted more than just an apology from the school. "The professor's lesson was offensive, and even intolerant, to Christians and those of all faiths who deserve to be respected as Americans entitled to religious freedom," he wrote.
"I'm requesting a report of the incident, how it was handled and a statement of the university's policies to ensure this type of 'lesson' will not occur again," Scott added. © 2013 Thomson/Reuters. All rights reserved. [AS I SEE IT: THIS is what is called "higher" education in America today AND what students pay increasing tuition to be educated about. THEY should be asking for a refund! Unbelievable! THANK YOU, Governor Scott.]

' Latest Target for Political Correctness?"; CBNews.com, ttp://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2013/March/Easter-Latest-Target-for-Political-Correctness/ Friday, March 29, 2013

"Easter is the newest victim in the war for political correctness. Schools in Long Island, N.Y., are now banning the word "Easter" from ever being used. Instead, students are allowed to substitute the word with "spring," allowing only "spring break," the "spring bunny," and "spring eggs." One elementary school in Alabama is taking it a step further and hosting an "academic egg" hunt. The principal said it's all in the interest of religious diversity..." [AS I SEE IT: It's always bothered me that schools are so intent on making their environs "religious free zones" (as though secularism and atheism are not today's true "religion") And so, the first part of the following news item is not new. But the last part (that  I've highlighted) is ABSOLUTE insanity! And this is a school in the traditionally "religious South." My question is - Why do the Christians and other people of good sense in our communities just surrender to the new "religion" that is taught in our public schools? Why are their values allowed to dominate? ]