Freedom of Worship or Freedom of Religion?

Source of my comments is Mark Steyn's article in National Review this month, titled The Church of Big Government.

President Obama and Hillary have been using the phrase, "Freedom of Worship," and this is suspected to be significantly different than "Freedom of Religion" or "free exercise." Governments don't care how we worship within the four walls of the church or in our homes, particularly, but they care about what we say and do in public --and what we say about homosexuality and abortion in particular --and whether or not we proselytize, evangelize, and try to influence public policy, etc.

Notice how the media jumped on Santorum's 2008 speech about the Devil and his hold on our nation. He was right --but everybody groaned, "O no --he can't get elected with biblical beliefs like that! a literal Satan? Come on!" It was a speech to a Catholic student audience.

Big Brother is the secular god, and he wants to provide everything for everybody --being "my brother's keeper," Obama said. Only thing is, it's not Obama who provides for his brother. In fact it was noted that his brother lives in Kenya, Africa, in a shack on $12 a year with no apparent help from Obama, his real brother, most powerful man in the world--who is comparatively rich.

Steyn notes that the Catholic Church has supported Obama's healthcare plan, failing to realize that "if you agitate for state health care, the state gets to define what health care is." And in Obamacare, the state defines women's healthcare as abortion, pharmaceutical abortion, condoms and birth control. And the Obama's "compromise" states that insurance companies should provide it free since the conscience of Catholic institutions forbids them to do it.

Steyn suggests Obama thinks we are all too stupid to realize that there is nothing that is free. People need to be paid for their labors and products, and the only money the state has comes from tax-payers --not Obama, our Brother's Keeper. The state makes no money; it only spends ours. So Obama would take our money paid to gov't or insurance companies and use it for his idea of women's healthcare--against the consciences of the taxpayers. It's socialistic redistribution of money from have-mores to have-lesses. Which never seems to work. Look at Europe. According to Steyn, both the EU nurseries and churches are empty; their retirees are 50, their students are 30 (living on the gov't) and the Muslims are bursting out of their ghettos gaining all sorts of respect for their consciences (lest they riot as in Afghanistan.)

E.G. England requires booties on sniff- dogs searching for terrorists in Muslim territory, because dogs are offensively unclean to Muslims. We bend over backward to accommodate their religious sensitivities (which is kind of us) but in the U.S., we are comparatively mean to Christians, fining bakers and photographers around $20,000 for refusing to do gay weddings.

Obama admires Europe's secular, socialist government which Steyn says EU leaders happily refer to as a "post-Christian Europe" --or "future post-Christian Europe." But look what's happening there (besides their financial problems) : a man in England named David Booker worked for a church homeless shelter and said to a colleague in private conversation that he didn't believe church vicars should be allowed to marry their gay partners. The colleague didn't object to his comment, but told on him and he was suspended and the hostel announced that "action has been taken to safeguard both residents and staff" from the dangerous, insulting idea that vicars (pastors) should not have gay partners.

In Canada, Hugh Owens took out an ad in a Canadian newspaper and they were fined $9000 by the government. That case has worked up to Canada's Supreme Court this year. Meanwhile, no newspaper will ever do what this one allowed Owens to do. He posted the scripture references (not the scriptures) to the verses against same-sex relations.

In 2003, the Vatican issued a ruminative document on homosexual unions. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties warned Catholic bishops that "distributing the statement could lead to prosecution under the 1989 incitement to hatred Act, and 6 months in the slammer."

Steyn mentioned the minister Ake Green who preached against homosexuality in Sweden and was convicted of "hate crimes" because, in 2002, Sweden criminalized criticism of homosexuality.

As Steyn says, "The state is willing to intrude on core rights--rights to property, rights of association, and even rights to private conversation."

He quotes Henri de Lubac in 1944 who said concerning WWII and its causes: "It is not true, as is sometimes said, that man cannot organize the world without God. What is true, is that, without God he can only organize it against man." Steyn notes that atheistic humanism became INhumanism in the hands of the Nazis and Communism. What we have in Europe today is "dehumanism" in which a culture is amusing itself to death, he says.

And so it is today that, more and more, the state in the US bullies the churches, the conscientious objectors, the evangelists, the Bible-preachers and believers who would dare try to influence culture and thus the state along the Biblical definitions of morality and life. Even conservative Bible-believers are content to fiddle while Rome burns, buying the church/state separation ideology that squeezes our cultural foundations behind the walls of the church.


"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

You Go, Rick! He Didn't Say Women were Emotional!

Santorum's looking better every day.

Watch what even Fox news did to him on what he said about women in front lines --he never said women were too emotional but even Fox headlined it that way. He said that with women in combat, there can be emotions that would interfere with The Mission at hand. He later said he really was thinking more about men's desire to protect women --and their attraction to them--the men's emotions. Same reason gays don't belong in the military either: attraction of polar opposites. Same reason there are always shipboard romances and pregnancies when women are on board.

Sexual attraction interferes with military missions. I'm not saying women shouldn't serve, but they should never be bunked next to the men in a submarine. There is a place for regarding sexual differences (and orientation differences) in various jobs and situations --without being unfair to women.

Watch the late night comedians --always after the republicans.




"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

Pres. Obama & The Catholic Church --Women's Health Care???

I am astounded by our president's boldness in dictating new regulations, spending moneys we haven't got, bossing around the churches, insurance companies and banks! All in one week!

He meets with Catholic hierarchy, assures them they won't have to violate their consciences in his healthcare program, turns right around and caters to his ardent left-wing, extremist, feminist base by announcing that religious institutions will have to provide for their employees birth control/abortifacients --not abortion per se --but the chemicals that prevent pregnancy by abortion --and pay huge fines for non-compliance. One commentator noted that it would cost Notre Dame U. 10 million dollars for non-compliance.

There was such an outcry (in conservative media outlets) that he held another press conference and said the insurance companies, nor religious institutions, would have to provide these things --free --to the Catholic institution employee. Again, against the conscience of the employer/the church. As though the insurance company won't raise rates or get it back some way. As though the employee and church employer weren't paying for the insurance. Does he think we're stupid --or is he --that he doesn't know that all his give-away money comes from US and indebts our grandchildren?

Seems he takes on way more authority than he should --even failing to have his justice dep't. defend DOMA, the 1996 federal law in defense of marriage. Since he doesn't agree with the law (he has said both that he does believe marriage is between a man and a woman and that he thinks gays should have "equal rights" --code word for marriage.)

Who is the president to boss around churches and private business? It's all part of his big brother take-over of the health care industry, banking, insurance companies --creating new entitlements and relief programs daily with money we don't have!!!

It's clear he's buying constituents to vote for him with every give-away program, every expansion of entitlements. It's going to take voter fraud, however, and a Democratic turn-out of everyone on the public dole, to get him elected --so irritated are those who know what's going on.














"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

Obama Speaks Out of Both Sides of Mouth

I saw the prayer breakfast in D.C. and heard Obama say great things about faith and prayer.

Then we get this in email from Tony Perkins of Family Research Council:

It's happened again.

In a move that's reflective of the Obama Administration's continuing track-record of hostility toward Christianity, Lt. Gen. William Boykin (USA, Ret.), was recently pressured to withdraw from speaking at the United States Military Academy at West Point. General Boykin had been preparing to speak at the West Point Prayer Breakfast about the importance of prayer in a leader's life. The Academy moved Boykin to pull out of the event when a handful of atheist and Muslim cadets complained about Boykin's beliefs. The message to this elite, three-star warrior was obvious: You and your faith aren't welcome.

General Boykin is an American hero. There are few who would be more qualified to speak at a West Point prayer event. A former Delta Force leader who has faced danger for his country on missions in places like Iran, Somalia, and Grenada, General Boykin is also a man of deep Christian conviction. It is his outspoken faith that has made him a target of groups like the Council on American Islamic Relations, who lodged a complaint with West Point, which led to Boykin not speaking at the event.

This isn't the first time that an outspoken Christian has been booted from military events. Just over a year ago, I was disinvited from an event at Andrews Air Force base because of my biblical views. Before that, evangelist Franklin Graham's invitation to a Pentagon prayer service was rescinded because he too spoke the truth about his faith. These high-profile snubbings of religious expression are only the tip of the iceberg. The Obama Administration is advancing an environment of religious disarmament among the military -- and it must be stopped quickly for the sake of our soldiers' spiritual lives.

You can help the brave men and women of our military. Please join with me in signing our petition that calls on Congress and the Obama Administration to take action to ensure that America's brave warriors have access to free and full expression of their faith.

If Obama is not responsible for military actions above, as FRC believes he is, he should intervene.

"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

IS WHITE AMERICA COMING APART? Read Charles Murray's New Book

Ron Haskins wrote a review titled The Virtue Deficit for Natl Review. Feb. 6, 2012. He was reviewing the book Coming Apart --by Charles Murray (author of The Bell Curve.)

Murray says there are 4 “founding virtues: –marriage, industriousness, honesty and religiousness.” And these are dividing America as the lower socio-economic class declines in commitment to these virtues. He says the lower class has doubled since 1960, “changing national life.” He might've added that the entitlement roles increased accordingly.

This is obvious to me –and it started with removing prayer from classrooms causing a hostile gulf between religion & education–and then the hippies parented the white Americans between age 30 and 49 today -whom Murray analyzes in the book.

By 2010, more than 1/3 of marriages of this age group in the lower class (lower by occupation and education) end in divorce compared to 5 % for the upper class.

By 2010 more than 1/4 of white babies are born out of wedlock –but for college grads, the percentage is 5%. For h.s. drop-outs, unwed births are 60 per cent.

Combine unwed births and divorce rates and the result is that 6 or 7 times as many lower-class children as upper, live with single parent. And more go to jail. (don’t know if he’s still talking only about whites here, or not.) The result is a continually widening gulf between upper and lower classes --as more and more children in the lower classes follow their parents' pattern.

Finally, he refers to upper class (elites) as wimps in the fact that they walk the walk –but don’t talk it. i.e. Elites or upper classes don’t stand up for these "founding virtues" in their own traditions that make for success in life — despite all the evidence in support.

I say that’s because the elite leaders need votes and are afraid of offending or seeming judgmental. And also because they don’t BELIEVE in traditional morality even if they live it publically. They are more committed to moral neutrality and values relativity –just as the education elites taught them in all those values clarification classes of 70's-90's: “No one but you can decide what is right for you –blah blah blah.”

Santorum said recently in debate that 98 % of Americans who do these 3 things are not in poverty; only 2 % are. The 3 things : marriage before child-bearing, h.s. graduation, and work. This is consistent with Murray's findings and theory.

He also noted that Obama administration discouraged ed. programs that promote marriage before sex. The Obama administration took offense and defended their refusal to advocate abstinence in sex education HERE. They say they advocate marriage --but is that the same as "waiting for marriage" --as in the abstinence model of sex ed? I doubt it. It's "Latex and Abortion before Marriage." And many aren't listening to that message either, but do interpret it as adults condoning pre-marital sex as inevitable bio-drive.

Religion still has the best chance of producing life-long marriage --whether or not the couple gets the cart before the horse.

"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

What about Newt?

A Leftist Blogger:

It seems to me that the Right was all about saying the affair made Clinton unfit because he lied about it, while we were extremely disappointed in him but didn’t see a sex scandal as a deal breaker, but now the Right willfully ignores what they once denounced (Newt won in SC), while we merely point it out and laugh at you all.

Well, you rightly can mock us if we end up with Newt as our candidate –Nevertheless, in that case, I would vote for him for competence over Obama who I believe is only a speech contest performer and “community organizer.”

I believe Obama has proven that he knows nothing about business and how to get this country moving. He’s failed at that. His policies and proposals are socialistic --how Big Gov't can solve problems with the workers' money --instead of letting the private sector and the market work. Consequently, more and more people depend on gov't to support them and will vote for such socialism. FDR set us up for this with the doomed Social Security System. Now we even have alcoholics and addicts getting 700 a month in SSI --Supplemental Security Income. Even in our protectorates like Puerto Rico. World magazine told about a family that had its 4 members on SSI and wanted to get the four-yr. old pre-schooler on it --so gave her their meds and she died!

I do think Newt is a genuine conservative, very smart and a good communicator –and wouldn’t have trouble besting Obama in debate –but he’s not a warm and fuzzy, likable guy despite his ability to get women –and sad to say, tv charisma is important. I don’t know that Newt can keep his arrogant airs and obnoxiousness in check –especially when he takes offense when we criticize his past –much as we’ve liked his debate performance.

He would be really smart to be humble about past sins and not bristle when they are brought up. We want to hear that he HAS changed –and that spiritual change is what all philanderers need! And that he knows he sinned against past wives. To tell the public it is irrelevant –well, that’s not for him to do. And the GOP should say it was wrong for King David and Bill Clinton and Newt Gingerich –and that we hope that Newt, like David, could sincerely practice the repentance of Psalm 51 in the blog thread below.

Then and only then can Newt be a family values candidate. According to scripture, repentance can make us clean and useful again –qualified to fill the “bully pulpit” of the presidency. Of course, he has appealed to the religious right with his “God in America” book/DVD. He "gets us" on that issue.

We surely need overhaul of family and spiritual values to save American economy. We are SOOOO dependent on the money of workers other than ourselves now, and family breakdown is the reason. High gas prices aren't helping and I do wish the fat cats of that industry would have compassion and less greed. I also think the gov't should develop sources in Alaska, etc.

This is not the time for the Left to make the clamor for gay marriage and abortion the biggest issues --when we, the people, should instead be saving the economy via:

• shoring up families by publically condemning shacking up, abandoning wives and children
• showing the Courageous film
  
• promoting marriage, fidelity, Golden Rule and Grace attitudes to couples
  
• promoting abstinence until marriage to our youth,
  
• chaperoning youth and providing more youth leadership and activities that teach good Biblical morals and promote school achievement –private and church activities like Bush’s “points of light.” Volunteerism with youth is so needed.

(While Obama presents the facade of a good family–any truth to the Rev. Wright’s murdered choir director and Obama rumors?) Barb

"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

Re: Clinton vs. Gingerich

I've been blogging where they are talking about Gingerich and the GOP hypocrisy if they nominate him --considering their stance on Clinton.

The not guilty verdict for Clinton indicated three things: a Democratic majority in the Senate who exonerated their leader 2. Democratic short-sightedness; they could've kept majority with Gore in office possibly if they had made the change then. 3. Democrats' disregard for morality, truth, and law re: perjury and work place ethics.

That God should punish a nation with such atrocious disregard for righteousness at the highest levels is nothing new, judging from the Old Testament. For us, some key events were the prayer ban in public ed, then Roe vs. Wade, 53 million abortions and as many shacked up couples and irresponsible fathers and women and children on the dole-- and now new sinful definition of marriage pending. If He spares us and restores our prosperity and security as a people, it will be because of God's mercy for the praying people, and/or real repentance and commitment to His ideals on the part of leaders and laity--or some plan for the world where He still needs us to be strong --like in protection for Israel.

Here is the attitude we need from the Clintons and Gingeriches and other leaders --as well as charitable generosity from the super-rich toward the poor.

We also really need to get ahold of the hearts of young people before they start bed-hopping --hard to do, given our culture's influences and their parents' examples and the lack of chaperoning as kids get older.

King David's remorseful prayer needs to be ours as a nation, leaders and laity:

Psalm 51: 1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest....

... 9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Only then can America continue to be the shining city on the hill --the beacon of liberty --rather than the mud pit of licentiousness (for which the Muslims call us "the Great Satan.") The West West is a temptor with our declining religious faith, our disregard for morality in entertainment, law, leaders, and ethically challenged education philosophy, and in our waffling churches --who don't think the Word of God really is "The very Word of God!" )







"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

Wood County Area 9/11 Remembrance with Elmwood Schools

Yesterday, after our own church service which memorialized the 9/11 event, we attended a wonderful BG-Area /Wood Co. community service --a collaboration of local fire/EMS, law enforcement and Elmwood Schools -- to honor the local first responders and to memorialize and sympathize with all who’ve lost people in the event and its war aftermath. We attended because our daughter, the Elmwood director, planned it with the police/fire departments of her university county.

Both police speakers alluded to the prophet Isaiah, quoting him from the Bible –and one to Christ.

A joke told by the police chief: God made firemen for children to look up to; God made policemen for firemen to look up to.

One of them said, “You might think that we think of family first when charging into a building –but no, our mind is on the task at hand –more like, “O poop –look at all the steps!!” (I think "poop" was the sanitized word for the children present!)

The music was prepared in only 2 weeks of school with a few show choir kids coming in 2 weeks early. Sacred piano pieces were played in prelude by a school administrator followed by the high school girls singing Heavenly Voices –an absolutely beautiful piece of collegiate difficulty with ethereal effect of repeated Alleluias. The National Anthem was well-done by a student duet, a Latino boy and caucasian girl.
Police and fire officials opened and closed with prayer. All the firemen and police in their uniforms recessed in and processed out with a big, talented, Scottish-clad bagpiper leading them –who also did a rendition of Amazing Grace. Highschoolers did a flawless trumpet duet of Taps with echoes at the end.
The 6th grade sang tunefully and stoutly from memory (learned in 2 weeks!) “There’s a Hero on the Way” (available on the internet --see the video used accompanied by the song) --so honoring to all the police and firemen seated in the front rows. It showed rescuers in action and looking battle-weary in various situations typical of their work.
The high school choir did 3 beautiful numbers and got a thunderous standing ovation: Salute to our Heroes –incorporating narration and America, the Beautiful. They sang an arrangment of God Bless America by Irving Berlin (Jewish) –and In Remembrance –by Jeffery Ames –a college-level piece sung in Latin and English with Fr. horn and amazing vocal harmonies.
In Remembrance included The Lord’s Prayer (as taught by Christ.) The director reminded the audience that this prayer was recited by Todd Beamer –on the phone with an operator –from the plane of United Flight 93. (According to this account, other passengers also joined Beamer in reciting “The 23rd Psalm” together before he said the famous “Let’s Roll.”)
There was a Moment of Silence –the tolling of the Bell.

Mayor Bloomberg’s secular idea of a memorial service couldn’t compare to this one.

ACLU and terrorists –too bad for you. Let freedom ring! Barb(Quote)

"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

Where was I on 9/11? A Mattress Methodist

I admit I was still in bed when my grad student daughter came up to turn on the tv in my room–“Mom, you gotta see this –the Trade Center was attacked!” My husband had taken the kids up in the buildings on a previous NYC school trip –probably 8 years earlier. And then we saw the 2nd tower hit and both of them fall to the ground. People jumping out to escape the fumes and flames –preferring a different death –and people running, running, running.... we were stunned –what would some unnamed enemy do next? what other buildings and planes? What more was coming? Who had it in for us?

I was touched by Great Britain’s official service for us afterward –and all prayers, remarks of brotherhood with America –and the great old hymns of English/European Christendom they sang. As with the royal wedding, I thought, “God isn’t dead yet in Europe –in the important times, they acknowledge the Book and the Judeo-Christian God and Christ of their fathers.”

Many Americans also looked to God and church for comfort in the aftermath of 9/11.

"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

We Should Learn from Fiddler on the Roof --and Father Swans!

A Blogger: I would advise no young man to get married. If the milk is free, why buy the cow? Especially if she’ll destroy your life anytime she pleases.

The big problem in our Am. culture today IS that the milk is too often free. And that has led to our general marital misery –poor marital choices of people who don’t have a lot in common –and beauty fades –and sex and intimacy can only improve in a good marriage. We need Yenta the match-maker and the commitment that comes from faith, tradition, and community. We need to revive our faith communities and live by Tevye’s “good book!” seeing marriage as the foundation of family and community–which it is.

I just watched again the film based on the Broadway musical, Fiddler on the Roof –look at the “papas” and the “mamas” in the story –all having their sense of duty and their “place in the community.” Even the beggar had “his place.” They all know who they are and what they are supposed to do. Golde and Tevye don’t have a good marriage by Christian standards (fruits of the Spirit/Golden Rule standards) but there is no question they know their roles and responsibilities and have no intentions of straying or divorcing.

Not so anymore. We are exploring gender transition and rejecting our traditional gender roles –which are so important to the well-being of children. We don’t wait for marriage to have sex –but sleep with multiple partners –and then wonder why the bonding glue which sex and parenting are to marriage don’t stick anymore!!! Free milk –sex without marriage –ruins the Perma-bond-ability of so many. We are like tape that has lost its adhesion capability. We’re living like animals –i.e. the worst examples in nature instead of the best.

There are good examples in nature –like the Daddy swan who chased me and my little girl guests on our seadoo –He protects his family–puffs up his wings and starts to move menacingly and purposefully toward my seadoo –and then if I start to speed away–he goes faster and faster and rises up out of the water and takes flight with beak aimed to bomb! I didn’t know swans could fly like that. Gave the little girls a thrill and a lesson to remember for a long time –that is, the importance of finding a man with such commitment to his family–and courage to fend off outside evils.

Of course, I don’t mean a man should be hostile –ready to do battle with an encroaching Seadoo driver!

"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

Frick & Frack, Dumb & Dumber, 3x over, Made up the Casey Anthony Jury

How could a jury buy Jose Baez's alternative theory of an accidental drowning as cause for reasonable doubt about Casey Anthony's guilt??? Just because the prosecution had some hypotheses about chloroform, one hair, duct tape, and a smelly car which they couldn't prove forensically in the manner in which tv audiences are now accustomed, thanks to tv dramas, didn't mean the circumstantial evidence should not have removed all doubt that Casey killed her daughter.

The accidental drowning scenario was used to generate doubt that a murder had been committed --but there was no evidence for an accidental drowning. Only a theory. There WAS evidence that Casey's daughter was brutally murdered with duct tape --even though the defense disputed that evidence unconvincingly -- trying to suggest the child's grandfather did the taping because it was in his garage?? or what? I didn't hear all those details.... Duct tape is ubiquitous --hard to prove where it came from, I should think.

The REAL evidence is that a child disappeared and was last seen with her mother --that the mother went partying and never reported her child missing --that she lied to her parents and police about the whereabouts of the daughter and a host of other things, including false allegations of others. The REAL evidence included that the child was subsequently found dead near the home in a wooded swamp with the duct tape as a likely weapon.

If Casey's behavior during her daughter's disappearance doesn't prove Casey Anthony killed her daughter, what would? a confession, maybe? An eye witness? Remember the case of Laci and Scott Peterson? I don't think the evidence was any less conclusive in this case than in that one. People's behaviors --like blatant, unnecessary lies --unnecessary for the innocent -- surrounding murder are evidence just as good as DNA (especially if it's true now as in a Law and Order story that DNA can be tampered with and faked.)

I wondered if too many jurors and the delighted defense team approved abortion and had been parties to abortion --believing in the right of a mother to rid herself of an inconvenient child.

I wasn't eager to see Casey's mouth and nose covered with duct tape --but it would be justice. Saving Casey from the death penalty should never have been Jose Baez's primary motivation as it so clearly was, judging from his comments. He actually said he had "mixed feelings" after the judgment. Duh! I'd have mixed feelings, too, if I knew I had just helped someone get away with murder.

I wish defense attorneys were all committed to JUSTICE instead of winning. Committed to getting MERCY for their clients, not committed to twisting a dumb jury into believing a scenario for which there was no evidence --compared to the prosecution's case --which should've been a slam-dunk.

Too bad for the prosecution, that their main prosecutor acted overly confident --and disdainful of the competition. Too bad for them that the jury was part of the new generation of Americans who can't tell truth from fiction, who also call good evil, and evil, good.

A BAD ERA FOR CHILDREN –BESIDES THAT WE ABORT SO MANY OF THEM….

On the same day, Oprah tells of parents who only had to serve one year in jail for keeping their little 7 year old daughter in a cage in a dark basement –and for kicking their sons outdoors in the winter without adequate clothes. The son went to the police, and the horror ended for these children –after 2 previous visits to the home by authorities who didn’t find anything wrong.

Then, ALSO on the same day, Oprah introduces a couple who deliberately raised their child in a gender neutral home –such that their 7-year-old boy thinks he’s a girl –and the mother explained to him that some girls have anatomy like their fathers and some like their mothers. Of all the stupidity and evil in the world –to let this boy grow up thinking he is a girl if he wants to be. Next, we’ll all be asked to pay for the mutilation of his perfectly healthy little body when he’s a teen --via gov’t or insurance healthcare. They were pleased to announce that there are many families like theirs, raising children to trans-gender by giving them NO help with gender identity –NO guidance on how to be a boy or a girl consistent with their bodies. Poor kids!

"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

The Right of Churches to Marry Same-Sex Couples

A blogger: Of course, some churches have same-sex matrimony, as well, and I’m sure, deep down certain in fact, that you would respect their religious right to have it, no?

I am more tolerant of the RIGHT of liberal churches to marry people to their same-sex friends, their pets or their motorcycles –if that’s their goofy man-made religion –more tolerant of that than I am of same-sex civil unions being sanctified by the state.

Marriage has ALWAYS, in nearly EVERY culture, every generation, been the union of a man and wife (or even wives in some cases.) It is by DEFINITION the union of opposite sex persons who then give us children (or role model the procreative units who give us children.) That definition shouldn’t change just because some people have been mentally damaged in their orientation and gender identity and don’t want to be with persons of the opposite sex.

Homosexual couples do not conceive and procreate together –they try to simulate marriage –and in doing so confuse any children exposed to them. The school and the popular media contribute to the confusion, telling children and teens that it’s ok to “marry” and do sexual things with their same-sex best friends. That’s what redefinition of marriage becomes: a teaching of youth that any 2 persons can enter into sex and also redefine marriage.

But marriage is the right of every person–to marry one of the opposite sex. That’s it. There is no other definition of “marriage” for which we are bio-designed. Our bodies aren’t made solely for orgasmic pleasures –but also for procreation and role-modeling the romantic/procreative/male-female unions –who become PARENTS and grandparents and role models of 2 genders to their offspring.

Each parent brings different qualities to the home –both of which are advantageous to children. And two moms and two dads can’t replace the opposite sex parent missing from the home.

All we do by the great marriage debate of the 21st Century is cause more kids to experiment and mis-identify their sexuality and get addicted to swinging both ways –sexploration and sexperimentation.

Sorry if this is too repetitive for you all — but I keep hoping someone will eventually GET IT!!!! Barb(Quote)

"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

Is Gay Marriage about Equality? Progress in Civil Rights? And What about Polygamy?

A blogger; Marriage is not just about procreation, both for individuals and the state, and it never was. Marriage is even more so not about “the” [sic?] these days. The varied state interests apply no matter the sexual alignment of the couple. Inequality is unjustified.

So you say. I disagree. And so do most all the states. See Map. There is no inequality in marriage being limited to heterosexual couples with the potential for procreation, who role-model the pro-creative unit to future generations, even if they are childless for any reason. Every man and woman has freedom and EQUAL RIGHT to become a hetero couple –if they can find a willing partner. But marriage, by definition, has ALWAYS, historically, everywhere –been the union of man with wife (or wives (plural) in some unequal, unenlightened instances.)

The creation model is Adam and Eve, The Jewish model is Abraham and Sarah (and what a mess they started by letting the wife give the maid to him, bearing Ishmael, claimed by Muslims as their ancestor.) Also Noah and sons and their wives. The OT also says a man should “stay with the wife of his youth.” Then there was John and Elizabeth, parents of John the Baptist, and Mary and Joseph, parents of JEsus –and finally Christ’s words saying a man should leave parents and cleave to his wife and never divorce–cleave to EVE, not STeve. And the NT also says the exemplary leaders of the Church should have only one wife.

As for polygamy, the two religions that permit polygamy happen to have both been started by “angel” communications to one founder each –Mormonism and Islam. Lucifer appears as an angel of light.

II Corinthians 11:13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. [Some Mullahs and Imams, fomenting terrorism –all of them propagating untruth of Islam.] Their end will be what their actions deserve.

There is no biological justification for recognizing gay unions same as hetero. Any benefits in the law are for procreative couples and those who model procreative units before the children. Children don’t need the confusion about sex and sexuality which is generated by homosexuals.

Homosexuals (as well as promiscuous straights) lure people into non-procreative sex addiction. The more we affirm homosexuality, and the more we are dysfunctional as hetero couples with divorce, etc. –the more homosexuals we will produce. We already see where non-gay men “on the downlow” –i.e. men who have sex with men –see homosexual acts as legitimate, non-relational, impersonal sexual recreation –like prisoners and congressmen in airport bathrooms.

Homosexual orientation is something to study and prevent and attempt to fix — it is not to be accommodated as “the same as –or equal to” heterosexuality. Homosexuality is simply counter to our bodily design and purpose. You can’t dignify it with “marriage.” It will always seem both unfortunate and bizarre to those who have the blessing of good heterosexual role modeling in their families and culture.

Good ploy to try to say homosexuality is genetic, inborn, a race, or a disability –and thus we should help homosexuals find one another for happiness together. We should be kind without creating new definitions and examples of “marriage” and “family” which will only be hard on their children and confusing to all children about the issues of sex and sexuality, gender identity and orientation. Gay marriage gives license to something that we should teach and help our children to avoid. Because however orgasms are first experienced with others, they are addictive and affecting the self-image as male or female, gay or straight.

"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

How Can Christians Justify the Killing of Osama?

Someone asked me how Christians could justify his killing.

Easy. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

Osama was not merciful; hence, no mercy for him.

Matthew 7:

“1Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

or in modern English:

1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Osama judged the west harshly–not his place –so he murdered and led young men to do suicide bombings with false and ungodly promises of free sex to come.

Therefore, with what judgment Osama judged the West, he was properly judged –and sentenced.

Christian mercy and forgiveness of others is not to be foolishness whereby we let tyrants oppress and murder if we can prevent it. There is justification for “just wars” to liberate people from tyrants –and our own vulnerable ones from future acts of terror. There is rightly a war being waged by good against evil. Barb(Quote)

There is still mercy for the repentant sinner who changes his way--or one who sincerely repents on his deathbed. I would hold out hope for all bereaved people, that their loved ones encountered Christ's mercy before their deaths. But those who "live by the sword die by the sword." I don't think that refers to those on the right side of just wars or peace-keepers. Our military's purpose IS peace-keeping in a world frought with evil-doers.

I was just reading in Time about Mueller, head of FBI --and 2 terrorists they recently captured. There are people bent on the destruction of others. We need our peace-keepers. God bless them all!

"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

National Day of Prayer --Obama's Proclamation --Let us Pray!

THE WHITE HOUSE
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, 2011
- – – – – – -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

2011 NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER PROCLAMATION

From the President of the United States

2011 NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER PROCLAMATION

Throughout our history, Americans have turned to prayer for strength, inspiration, and solidarity.

Prayer has played an important role in the American story and in shaping our Nation’s leaders. President Abraham Lincoln once said, “I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for the day.” The late Coretta Scott King recounted a particularly difficult night, during the Montgomery bus boycott, when her husband, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., received a threatening phone call and prayed at the kitchen table, saying, “Lord, I have nothing left. I have nothing left. I have come to the point where I can’t face it alone.” Dr. King said, in that moment of prayer, he was filled with a sense of comfort and resolve, which his wife credited as a turning point in the civil rights movement.

It is thus fitting that, from the earliest years of our country’s history, Congress and Presidents have set aside days to recognize the role prayer has played in so many definitive moments in our history. On this National Day of Prayer, let us follow the example of President Lincoln and Dr. King. Let us be thankful for the liberty that allows people of all faiths to worship or not worship according to the dictates of their conscience, and let us be thankful for the many other freedoms and blessings that we often take for granted.

Let us pray for the men and women of our Armed Forces and the many selfless sacrifices they and their families make on behalf of our Nation. Let us pray for the police officers, firefighters, and other first responders who put themselves in harm’s way every day to protect their fellow citizens. And let us ask God for the sustenance and guidance for all of us to meet the great challenges we face as a Nation.

Let us remember in our thoughts and prayers those who have been affected by natural disasters at home and abroad in recent months, as well as those working tirelessly to render assistance. And, at a time when many around the world face uncertainty and unrest, but also hold resurgent hope for freedom and justice, let our prayers be with men and women everywhere who seek peace, human dignity, and the same rights we treasure here in America.

The Congress, by Public Law 100-307, as amended, has called on the President to issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a “National Day of Prayer.”

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 5, 2011, as a National Day of Prayer. I invite all citizens of our Nation, as their own faith or conscience directs them, to join me in giving thanks for the many blessings we enjoy, and I ask all people of faith to join me in asking God for guidance, mercy, and protection for our Nation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

BARACK OBAMA

"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

Why Not Gay Marriage Anyway?

A Blogger: To say that this [gay marriage and/or domestic partnership] would not help in sustaining relationships does not seem credible. Even if interest in monogamy is less in the gay community, the burden of canceling a legal agreement is much higher than when one would just be shacking up. More monogamy would be a plus for the gay community. Second, you seemed to ignore the impact on the children that gay people are going to create or adopt. Civil unions would undoubtedly be better as two parents are generally better than one.

Again, there are other contractual ways for gays to get most of what they want from each other in the event of separation, hospitalization, death, inheritance, etc. If they don’t get certain tax breaks, too bad and why should they? They can’t create children together and they don't role-model to youth the potentially pro-creative couple (man with woman.) They usually have a higher income than average. They have chosen their unnatural lifestyle –we shouldn’t have to subsidize or legalize it–even if they are victims of external influences on their gender identity and orientation.

I don’t think marriage and written agreement will incline the homosexuals toward monogamy OR long-lasting relationships –because it IS possible to have these without marriage ceremony and contract, and they don’t. The ceremony doesn’t keep the promiscuous together. These are not “natural” couplings, i.e. “according to biological nature.” They typically lack the glues of life-time commitment: child-making, child-rearing, grandparenting, better mental and economic stability. (Granted, science steps forward --more and more at our expense--to help them do the unnatural.)

At some point, even before they are really “old,” the males may find anal sex injurious and impossible in old age. Hence, the 50% rate of single gays (males) between ages 50–70. After all, without sex, who needs to live with some aging, crotchety partner in a lifestyle that is born of idolizing youth and beauty?

Proponents of homosexuality like to point out other methods of reproduction in the bio-world and the occasional confused animals who may partner homosexually (very, very rare, I believe) — but it is clear in our human bio-design, that we are to have sex with the opposite sex only –we are designed for it and this is the way we make babies and perpetuate the human race. These are the couples that can truly experience “perma-bond-ability.”

Heterosexuals are the ones who role model both masculinity and femininity to children –giving them what they deserve and need for their OWN normal sexual identity and orientation.

• The daughters of single teen mothers are over 90 percent likely to follow mom’s pattern.
  
• The children of divorce are over 90 percent likely to follow parental pattern.
  
• The unmarried baby-daddy/baby mama phenomenon in black community is epidemic.
• The children of functional hetero-parented homes who make life-time marriage and family life enjoyable tend to see their children follow in their footsteps.
• It’s logical, therefore, to expect that homosexual homes will produce more bisexuals, homosexuals, sexually experimental, gender insecure youth.

And it’s also true that dysfunctional married heteros reproduce their dysfunctions in their kids –and disillusion youth about marriage. The increase in numbers of homosexuals can be attributed in part (not always) to the breakdown of heterosexual marriages, the poor examples set by hetero couples whose homes were full of quarrels, temper, apparent lack of love on a daily basis.

Homosexuals want to do “it” differently and start out with idolatry toward the beautiful of their own sex and fantasizing about really close relations with the admired (this latter is also a typical stage of child development) — they also typically manifest some gender identification confusion –usually influenced unconsciously by parents –often (not always) by a lack of functional normal loving parents of both sexes –and then by peers –and sometimes by older molesters who seek out the fatherless males. If the kids get into sexual activities with their own sex, they can get fixated there –arrested development and a gay self-image. Especially with schools, media and law saying gay marriage is as good as straight and that “some of you are inevitably born gay.” It also doesn’t help late bloomers or effeminate boys or tomboy girls to be bullied and forced to wonder if they are abnormal –that just reinforces their gender insecurity.

Parents are role models. If they started to have sex promiscuously with their own sex, where is their moral authority to raise kids who are straight, abstinent and then married and monogamous? No moral authority –zip –nada. Because one doesn’t usually decide he is gay by living a celibate life abstaining until marriage. Instead, a typical homosexual has risked all sorts of diseases –especially males–and has a lot of mental disarray on the way to “partnership” because (I think) one probably can’t feel really good about crossing God’s design as they do.

Peace, joy, contentment don’t come to those in bed with people of the same sex –nor other people’s spouses, nor with bio– members of one’s own family, nor to pedophiles — And not to anyone, straight or gay, who is out of sync with their Creator in general. Hence, so much depression, dissatisfaction, misery, addiction, dysfunction and divorce in the world.

In the recent UCLA Center for Health Policy and Research report on health of older homosexuals, there is high self-reporting of poor health, both physically and mentally, among older homosexuals. They are more apt to be alone in ages 50-70, lacking both partners and children to care for them. We really don't have any reason to think that gay marriage can change the essential nature of this condition.

As for the impact on the children in gay-parented homes –I surely do not ignore that, as charged in the above blogger quote.
1. Homosexuals should not be allowed to adopt –considering straight couples abound who want children.
2. those who oppose gay marriage do not want their children to see gay coupling as normal and as an equally happy life-partner choice –because it isn’t. Who would desire this for their own children?
3. Children deserve to have both mother and father when possible.

Consider the case of one Rosie O’Donell–whose little boy, according to her, said, “I want a Daddy!” And she unsympathetically explained to him that he wasn’t going to have a daddy since his mommies were lesbians. How sad for a boy trying to become a man with a house full of ladies! And yes, single parenting happens in a high percentage of straight homes, too -–but the bio-dad will at least have a better chance to visit and influence his son–and get custody of him in case something does happen to the single or married birth mother. Pity the boy left with his usually mannish, lesbian, non-birth mommy and never having access to his bio-father –except by expensive legal arrangements benefiting only the attorneys.

Unfortunately, Rosie and her partner adopted that little boy–and he was denied a daddy because of their selfishness and the fact that they DECIDED a father wasn’t important to a child. And now the 2 women are “divorced.”

There is an additional complication for the children in gay-parented homes — they are already children of divorce or the unmarried. The birth parent in the couple was either divorced or abandoned by the other party. The male couples typically would adopt if they wanted children, not able to get custody of their bio-children (I'm assuming courts favor the mother when her husband decides to divorce because he’s gay. If the children are at troublesome ages (when aren't they?) I suspect most gay men prefer the mothers, their ex-wives, to have the custody, and it is surely better for the children, than to ponder and find out what their two dads do together in the bedroom.)

When the lesbian couple has children, one parent is usually the birth mother divorced or never married to the child’s father. This makes a mess for a father who wants to stay involved in his child’s life when that child is in a lesbian home. It will be harder to protect his son from homosexuality and gender insecurity/confusion.

There surely were straight couples willing to adopt Rosie’s little boy to give him both a daddy and mommy–as it is very hard for the straight couples to find infants in the US to adopt and foreign countries don’t make adoption easy, either. And now the gays are competing for those children on an equal basis with straight couples –as in England and one of our US states (if memory serves me) where Catholic adoption closed down rather than be forced by law to give children to gay couples.

The work for attorneys will never end, dealing with homosexual couples, their adoptions and divorces and custody battles. Because homosexual couples are INHERENTLY less stable, less capable of perma-bond, than straights –and this will affect all their children adversely –and a higher percentage of their kids will sex-periment with bisexuality and homosexuality. Their parents will give them the same license to sex-periment which they gave themselves.

I have no sympathy whatsoever for lesbian and gay parents who want to be favored in custody over the other bio-parent.

This whole national issue is one big can of worms. Polygamists will have no reason to be denied legal marriage–even though most men can’t afford multiple families without the help of the gov’t.

See my blog report about Andrew Solomon's modern family: http://thebarbwire.blogspot.com/2011/02/andrew-solomons-modern-family.html

His is an example of the educated, “enlightened” MODERN family –the most complicated family tree ever. It will be interesting, and probably sad, to see how these children do in adulthood. I’m predicting, sadly, that they are just as “at risk” for various problems as the financially disadvantaged children born to the single moms –who make up most of the jail population, incidentally.

"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

Why Not Domestic Partner Status at Least, if not Gay Marriage?

a blogger: I could understand creating some legal scheme for same-sex partners given that they are de facto couples with property, shared income and expenses, and children.

In my city, to register as a "domestic partner," you can't be just 2 people sharing a place, family life, apartment, etc. in order to share expenses and have the same perks (whatever they are) as married couples --you have to say that you have a sexual relationship with each other. Why should gov't be recognizing homosexual couplings for legal purposes anyway???

What’s the need? Other contracts can suffice. As for the children, they belong to their bio-parents –and should never be given to gay parents via adoption or contrived “gay marriage.”

Mother’s house-mate ought not be in her room in the first place –and ought not be considered a parent –just Mommy’s friend. Or the lady friend “with whom we share life and expenses.” The other parent is the child’s father –by rights. If he’s a loser, join the club of other single mothers. There IS nothing inherently wrong with two women living together to pool resources and raise children and give the non-bio-parent-friend the comfort of family life --but today that suggests to outsiders that it is a lesbian arrangement --and in fact the gov't and employee benefits are only for those in a sexual "union." Too bad that sharing expenses and charitably taking in a same sex friend can look that way.

But 2 mommies? Even the step-mother/step-father situation has been problematic for kids, though sometimes the lesser of other evils. Two lesbian mommies and 2 gay daddies is not something to role model to kids –especially when we need kids to grow up able to form and stay in nuclear families –mom with dad and their children.

The functional nuclear family with a mother and father is a “mental health center” and “financial aid center” for families. We need more of those –not fewer.

See the post above for more on this topic.





"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

Attorney Paul Clement leaves King & Spalding to Keep the Firm's Former Commitment to DOMA

I’m glad to hear that DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act) which defines marriage as between a man and a woman will continue to have good representation by Paul Clement against Obama and his so-called Department of Justice who are trying to kill DOMA in the courts --even though elected federal legislators passed the law --along with many states.

I am sorry to hear about the political pressure causing Paul Clement's law firm to cave. Clement said he believed attorneys should defend to the finish the cases they accept and not yield to political pressure --as King and Spalding yielded to the gay activists. So he left them.

If ever we needed a defense of marriage and an emphasis on it by gov’t, it is now –with the bloated entitlements necessitated by all the baby daddies of every race failing to marry and support their baby-mamas and babies.

What we don’t need is more men and women turning to their own sex for comfort –guaranteeing confused and sexually experimental (and thus promiscuous and disease-risked) children. We don’t need polygamous men either, who put their families on food stamps --because most men can’t afford more than one wife and her children. With gay marriage will come legalized polygamy and a proliferation of both.

We need to once again teach and role model to children that sex is for the married couples –that boys and girls are different from each other so they may grow up to get married and become mommies and daddies. And we need to chaperone and limit dating access of our teens still at home –and TV broadcasters should voluntarily clean up their garbage --with a little help of public pressure on, and responsibility of, sponsors.

Fact: college freshmen girls come to college free of STD’s –and over 90 percent leave college with HPV infection because there is no deterrent to sexual activity of students on campus which permit copulating in the dorms --and look the other way at binge drinking and sex at frat parties, etc.

Smart parents still look for campuses that have curfews, dorm deans and frat house moms and rules which operate in loco parentis (In place of parents.) Some of the Christian schools still do have a voluntary atmosphere of morality in dorms and disallow any drinking. There is positive peer pressure at least in Christian colleges --in spite of the unchaperoned freedoms most all college kids have these days.

Of course, gay sex for the men, especially, is high risk sex fraught with STD's --thus, a public health hazard whether or not they marry.

A recent UCLA study was reported in the Blade on April 18, finding that the health of older homosexuals was worse than that of their straight counterparts --and that half of older gay and bisexual men lived alone and lacked either partners or children to help care for them.

"The gay culture tends to be youth-driven," the researcher, Steven P. Wallace, said. I have said that before myself --and listened to gays deny it. I likened the gay youth preference to that of promiscuous straights --the inability of shallow, youth and beauty-oriented folks to maintain loving fidelity with mates into old age. I have said that the preference for homosexuality IS either gender identity disorder or arrested development (arrested during the same-sex hero identification and worship of youngsters) --failure to move on to more mature interests and goals.

Our economy cannot withstand such an immoral culture which not only raises boys who sleep around and won't support their kids --but blurs the distinction between the sexes.


"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible