“It is curious that physical courage should be so
common in the world and  moral courage so rare.” –
Mark Twain

“But choose capable men from all the people, men who fear God, men you can trust, men who hate corruption. Put them in charge of groups of 1,000, or 100, or 50, or 10 people. Exodus 18:21 (GW)

I for one would feel far better if we were able to choose men of honor and integrity this election year. With Father’s day fast approaching I thought I would take a minute and reflect on the difference integrity makes in a society. How refreshing it would be to find men who actually stood for something good and pure and noble. To be regarded as a man of integrity, truth and honesty. To not be caught in duplicity and hypocrisy. Being found faultless and upright in the community.

I fear we as a nation have thrown the babe out with the bath water. I find it very disheartening to see a total lack of concern for the character of our elected officials. Truly if this were still a nation who feared God and honored his word then we would not find such a scarcity of righteous people in elected office. God told  Moses in Exodus to appoint men who feared God, and where trustworthy and hated corruption to be in elected office.

How well we would do to follow that sound wisdom today.

Integrity guides decent people, but hypocrisy leads treacherous people to ruin. Proverbs 11:3 (GW)

Lips that lie are disgusting to the Lord, but  honest people are his delight. Proverbs 12:22 (GW)

Doing what is right and fair is more acceptable to the Lord than offering a sacrifice. Proverbs 21:3 (GW)

Better to be a poor person who has integrity than to be rich and double-dealing. Proverbs 28:6 (GW)

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When someone makes you slaves, consumes your wealth, seizes your property, orders you around, or slaps your faces, you put up with it. _{2 Corinthians 11:20 (GW)}

How better to describe the current state of our political affairs. Congress keeps enacting laws that are  enslaving the population once again and it appears we the people tolerate it.

Why is that?

Could it be that we are so fearful of self-rule that we would much rather put up with those who tell us what to do and how to do it, when we can do it, for how long we can do it, and for how much?

Are we no longer the land of the free and the home of the brave? Why is it we allow our potential political leaders to slap our faces and ridicule our way of life and make us feel guilty for living in such a great nation? They hold us up to national disgrace when they march on the world stage and belittle the American way of life. And we the people sit back and take it.

The Lord told Samuel, “Listen to everything the people are saying to you. They haven’t rejected you; they’ve rejected me. They’re doing just what they’ve done since I took them out of Egypt—leaving me and serving other gods. Listen to them now, but be sure to warn them and tell them about the rights of a king.” Then Samuel told the people who had asked him for a king everything the Lord had said. Samuel said, “These are the rights of a king: He will draft your sons, make them serve on his chariots and horses, and make them run ahead of his chariots. He will appoint them to be his officers over 1,000 or over 50 soldiers, to plow his ground and harvest his crops, and to make weapons and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters and have them make perfumes, cook, and bake. He will take the best of your fields, vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his officials. He will take a tenth of your grain and wine and give it to his aids and officials. He will take your male and female slaves, your best cattle, and your donkeys for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks. In addition, you will be his servants. “When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king whom you have chosen for yourselves. The Lord will not answer you when that day comes.” But the people refused to listen to Samuel. They said, “No, we want a king! Then we, too, will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us, lead us out {to war}, and fight our battles.” When Samuel heard everything the people had to say, he reported it privately to the Lord. The Lord told him, “Listen to them, and give them a king.” Then Samuel told the  people of Israel, “Go {back} to your own cities.” _{1 Sam 8:7-22 (GW)}

However, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear {their prayer} from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their country._{2 Chronicles 7:14 (GW)}

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. _{Psalm 33:10a (GW)}

And if it seems evil to you to be the servants of the Lord, make the decision this day whose servants you will be: _{Joshua 24:15a (BBE)}

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Jesus was getting closer to Jerusalem, and the people thought that the kingdom of God would appear suddenly. While Jesus had the people’s attention, he used this illustration.

He said, “A prince went to a distant country to be appointed king, and then he returned. {Before he left,} he called ten of his servants and gave them ten coins. He said to his servants, ‘Invest this money until I come back.’

“The citizens of his own country hated him. They sent representatives to follow him and say {to the person who was going to appoint him}, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’

“After he was appointed king, he came back. Then he said, ‘Call those servants to whom I gave money. I want to know how much each one has made by investing.’

“The first servant said, ‘Sir, the coin you gave me has earned ten times as much.’ “The king said to him, ‘Good job! You’re a good servant. You proved that you could be trusted with a little money. Take charge of ten cities.’

“The second servant said, ‘The coin you gave me, sir, has made five times as much.’ “The king said to this servant, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

“Then the other servant said, ‘Sir, look! Here’s your coin. I’ve kept it in a cloth for safekeeping because I was afraid of you. You’re a tough person to get along with. You take what isn’t yours and harvest grain you haven’t planted.’

“The king said to him, ‘I’ll judge you by what you’ve said, you evil servant! You knew that I was a tough person to get along with. You knew that I take what isn’t mine and harvest grain I haven’t planted. Then why didn’t you put my money in the bank? When I came back, I could have collected it with interest.’

The king told his men, ‘Take his coin away, and give it to the man who has ten.’ “They replied, ‘Sir, he already has ten coins.’ “‘I can guarantee that everyone who has something will be given more. But everything will be taken away from those who don’t have much.

Bring my enemies, who didn’t want me to be their king. Kill them in front of me.’” Luke 19:11-27 (GW)

One of the oldest and most enjoyable pastimes, the game of checkers, has been played by notable persons in history including presidents such as George Washington,  Abe Lincoln, and  Theodore Roosevelt; inventors such as  Ben Franklin, and  Thomas Edison; and, interesting folks such as  Edgar Allen Poe,  Harry Houdini, and Will Rogers.

Life lessons gleaned from a checker game

Checkers is played on a board made up of 64 squares. They are laid out in eight columns and eight rows with alternating light and dark squares.

Checkers is a game for two players. Each player receives twelve, flat, disk-like pieces which are placed on the dark squares making sure that a light colored square appears in the lower right hand corner of the board. The darker colored checkers are usually designated black, and the lighter color is designated white. Black always moves first and play proceeds alternately.

Initially, individual checkers may only move forward. There are two types of moves that can be made, capturing moves and non-capturing moves. Non-capturing moves are simply a diagonal move forward from one square to an adjacent square. (Note that the lighter squares are never used.) Capturing moves occur when a player “jumps” an opposing piece. This is also done on the diagonal and can only happen when the square behind (on the same diagonal) is also open. This means that you may not jump an opposing piece around a corner.

On a capturing move, a piece may make multiple jumps. If, after a jump, a player is in a position to make another jump then he may do so. This means that a player may make several jumps in succession, capturing several pieces on a single turn.

Forced Captures: When a player is in a position to make a capturing move, he must make the capturing move. When he has more than one capturing move to choose from, he may take whichever move suits him.

When a checker reaches the opponent’s edge of the board (called the “king’s row”) it is crowned with another checker. This signifies that the checker has been made a king. The king now gains an added ability to move backward. The king may now also jump in either direction or even in both directions, in one turn (if he makes multiple jumps). This makes capturing opponents pieces easier and adds significantly to your ability to win the game.

The object of the game is to eliminate all opposing checkers or to create a situation in which it is impossible for your opponent to make any move. Normally, the victory will be due to complete elimination.

Today the game is as healthy as ever, with people all around the world playing at least a version of it. It can be good training in thought, logic and strategy.

Jesus told a parable one day when the disciples were wondering when he was going to set up his kingdom. In this parable, he told the story of an ambitious prince who came from a foreign country, all the way across the board to be kinged. He hired servants to go to work on his campaign, invested money in them from which he expected to get a favorable return on his investment. He hoped that the servants would be able to garner interest on his behalf. When the one servant failed to show any return on the investment, he was stripped of what little he had and it was handed over to the one who had the most.

A valuable lesson can be learned from this. When someone gives you something, expecting a return, it is never in your best interest to accept such a “strings attached proposition”. As with most government programs, there is that “hidden string” attached, that will take what little you may have and give it to someone who has much. Thusly it is rightly stated ‘I can guarantee that everyone who has something will be given more. But everything will be taken away from those who don’t have much.’

To this day government handouts work much the same way. When money is dispensed, certain requirements are placed on that money. Those who fail to meet the requirements will have the money taken from them and it will be given to someone who has a great deal because they are producing the results the rulers wish to receive back.

Those who knew this man best, did not wish to be ruled by him because they hated him and sent a delegation after him to ask the people to not “king” Â this man. These, who opposed the king, were later killed in his presence.

The game of checkers is much like a political campaign, in that a player strategizes over each move to ascertain the best possible way to achieve success- being kinged. Jumping over opponents, stepping over people, removing any and all opposition, is in the best interest of the player who wants to be king.

In checkers no one gets hurt, but in real life that is not the case. When a politician resorts to doing whatever it takes to get elected (kinged) they sometimes will stop at nothing when opposed. Such was the case of this prince who desired to be king. All those who opposed his reign where ordered to be killed in his presence. He stood there and presided over the executions. Even his own workers were chastened if they failed to produce the desired results-gain interest for the candidate. Those who pleased the king were given choice seats in his government, they were rewarded with political favor and power. They were able to EARN their seat. They went from being ruled, to ruling, from enslavement to empowerment, from serving to being served.

Of course Jesus was using this parable to teach about the Kingdom of Heaven, and that those who oppose making Jesus, King of their lives, will suffer the punishment of being banned from his presence for eternity. Those who hated Him sought to have him killed in attempts to end his influence amongst the people. That plan failed because they failed to understand that He would indeed die, but three days later He would rise again from the grave and ascend into heaven to rule and reign forever. His kingdom has no end.

Unlike the ambitious prince who killed those who opposed him, Jesus forgave them. Instead of handing the opposition over to death, He chose to die in their place. I can get behind someone who sacrifices himself for the sake of others, I have a very hard time supporting one, who will do whatever it takes to get ahead, even the total destruction of those who oppose him.

I can work for a campaign which seeks the best interest of those whom they are seeking to rule, I can not get behind anyone who only seeks to serve himself  by enslaving those whom he seeks to rule over.

I can support a ruler who gives gifts to men for the sole purpose of enriching their lives and giving power to the powerless, so they can overcome their problems. I have a real problem supporting one who uses power and influence in order to buy votes and support, and then rewarding those who do their bidding with seats of power and control.

And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. ⁴³But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. ⁴⁵For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” _{Mark 10:42-45 (ESV)}

I do not know about you, but as far as I am concerned, I think I like the way Jesus ran his campaign for kingship far better than the way we see others running their campaigns. What say you?

The majestic eagle has been admired by many cultures down through time. The ancient Sumerians, the Romans, and Napoleon all utilized the awe-inspiring bird as a symbol of greatness. 230 years ago, the bald eagle was adopted as the official emblem of the United States. As this young nation was about to spread forth it’s wings of freedom and set its mark on the world, the eagle became a fitting symbol of freedom.

The shadow of beauty cast across the land as the bald eagle wings its way across the broad expanse of sky is a powerful symbol of strength, freedom and independence. Gently gliding on the air currents ever vigilant and watchful, undeterred by sudden storms. As the storm approaches the majestic eagle faces it head on and soars even higher.

Although at one time endangered, the bald eagle has made a dramatic return and can be seen in even greater numbers. Just like the bald eagle, we, as a nation, have faced opposition to our freedoms and way of life, and have overcome. As the symbol of our nation has returned in greater numbers we too as a nation shall long endure with the help of Almighty God.

May God Bless America again!

One thing our Founding Fathers could not foresee...was a nation governed by professional politicians who had a vested interest in getting reelected. They probably envisioned a fellow serving a couple of hitches and then looking...forward to getting back to the farm. _{Ronald Wilson Reagan}

Former California Governor Ronald Wilson Reagan and later President of the United States saw professional politicians as an enemy of the state. Today’s politicians may have never worked the farm but they sure are giving away the farm. The current climate of Washington Politics makes one wonder if the home of the brave and the land of the free is being sold out beneath our feet by the very ones who are supposed to be watching out for our interests. When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.Prov 29:2 (NKJV) The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: ’He who rules over men must be just, Ruling in the fear of God.2 Sam 23:3 (NKJV) Your princes are rebellious, And companions of thieves; Everyone loves bribes, And follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, Nor does the cause of the widow come before them.Isaiah 1:23 (NKJV)

In*au`gu*ra"tion", n. [L. inauguratio a beginning: cf. F. inauguration.]

1. The act of inuagurating, or inducting into office with solemnity; investiture by appropriate ceremonies.

2. The formal beginning or initiation of any movement, course of action, etc.; as, the inauguration of a new system, a new condition, etc.

_{Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.}

Near Sheep Gate in Jerusalem was a pool called Bethesda in Hebrew. It had five porches. Under these porches a large number of sick people—people who were blind, lame, or paralyzed—used to lie. One man, who had been sick for 38 years, was lying there. Jesus saw the man lying there and knew that he had been sick for a long time. So Jesus asked the man, “Would you like to get well?” The sick man answered Jesus, “Sir, I don’t have anyone to put me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I’m trying to get there, someone else steps into the pool ahead of me.” Jesus told the man, “Get up, pick up your cot, and walk.” The man immediately became well, picked up his cot, and walked. John 5:2-9 (GW)

The Pool of Bethesda was located on the eastern side of the city near the Fortress of Antonia. The name Bethesda means "house of mercy."

 

The water source was a nearby spring. Recent archaeological discoveries have confirmed the Biblical account, that there were five porches and the fifth one divided the rectangular pool into two separate compartments. Josephus wrote about the Pool of the Sheep-market.

http://www.bible-history.com/sketches/ancient/pool-bethesda.html

This is why I speak to them this way. They see, but they’re blind. They hear, but they don’t listen. They don’t even try to understand. _{Matthew 13:13 (GW)}

People’s hopes were rising as they all wondered whether John was the Messiah. John replied to all of them, “I baptize you with water. But the one who is more powerful than I is coming. I am not worthy to untie his sandal straps. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. _{Luke 3:15-16 (GW)}

Jesus again crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee in a boat. A large crowd gathered around him by the seashore. A synagogue leader named Jairus also arrived. When he saw Jesus, he quickly bowed down in front of him. He begged Jesus, “My little daughter is dying. Come, lay your hands on her so that she may get well and live.” Jesus went with the man. A huge crowd followed Jesus and pressed him on every side. In the crowd was a woman who had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years. Although she had been under the care of many doctors and had spent all her money, she had not been helped at all. Actually, she had become worse. Since she had heard about Jesus, she came from behind in the crowd and touched his clothes. She said, “If I can just touch his clothes, I’ll get well.” Her bleeding stopped immediately. She felt cured from her illness._{Mark 5:21-29 (GW)}

At that moment Jesus felt power had gone out of him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” His disciples said to him, “How can you ask, ‘Who touched me,’ when you see the crowd pressing you on all sides?” But he kept looking around to see the woman who had done this. The woman trembled with fear. She knew what had happened to her. So she quickly bowed in front of him and told him the whole truth. Jesus told her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace! Be cured from your illness.” _{Mark 5:30-34 (GW)}

If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land._{2 Chronicles 7:14 (AMP)}

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. _{Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)}

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Insight for your “Journey across the Sky”
A View from the Nest www.eagleviews.org

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men‘s bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” (Matthew 23:27-29)

“[When] the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men‘s hearts… What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.” (1 Corinthians 4:5b; Luke 12:31) (See Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 14:25)

Many times I have watched the “Wizard of Oz” and I still find the story enjoyable. A girl gets lost in a strange land and only desires to go home. She runs into others who are seeking something they feel is missing in their life and in the end they find out that the missing piece was inside of them all along.

It is what is inside that matters. That was the message that I took away from the film. Although our outward circumstances may appear to be less than satisfactory, if we possess a sense of self and a good moral fiber inside, then we can weather any storm that life may throw at us. We can rise above all obstacles if we possess an ‘inner man’ of character. This is what the kind man behind the curtain taught the wandering travelers in their quest for significance.

That being said, there is a scene in the “Wizard of Oz” that I have especially enjoyed—the scene where Toto reveals the man behind the curtain.

A kind elderly gentleman has gone to elaborate lengths to hide his true-self behind a projected image he wanted the world to see. He had even gone so far as to build an entire kingdom around the image of the ‘Great and Powerful Oz’ when all along he was just a kindly old gentleman behind the scenes.

We all wear masks of some sort, putting our best foot forward when we are attempting to persuade others to follow our plans or objectives. It is really evident when applying for and interviewing for a new job or position. We dust off our resumes and make every attempt to put the best face on our past failures while underlining our accomplishments. We want others to see us favorably, regardless of who we really are.

Some people hide behind masks all the time. Some who are less than ethical in their business practices or political dealings, want to keep all the ‘behind the scenes stuff’ hidden from view. They go to great lengths to keep secret the double dealing and dishonest practices they employ to promote their own agendas. It is to this type of people the bible speaks so specifically.

No matter where we go or what we do, the Lord is always watching. He knows all and sees all. There is nothing hidden that He is not able to uncover. No matter how well we hide from ourselves and others, we are unable to hide from God. When the time comes, God will reveal all hidden agendas and motives of our hearts and we will no longer be able to hide behind a mask of piety while we live a life of sin and deception.

We are currently in the last mile of a marathon political campaign and there is one candidate who has gone to great lengths to hide behind one curtain after another, in a concerted effort to hide his true self from the world. While he prances around the world’s stage pretending to be a messenger of change he is masking his true incentives and motives. He is going overboard to convince others that he is not who he would appear to be behind the scenes. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain is his cry. Look instead at this huge image I have manufactured for your adoration and praise. Look instead on the outward and not what really lies on my heart.

But just like the word reveals, when the time comes, EVERYTHING that is done in secret will be revealed from the housetops. Isn’t it interesting that in today’s high tech world there are hardly any secrets anymore? A whisper can be heard around the world in nanoseconds. What was said in California can be heard in Pennsylvania. What you attempt to keep secret can be uncovered with a few strokes of a computer keyboard.

All efforts to hide one’s self behind a curtain is futile. Just like in the ‘Wizard of Oz‘, a small dog can pull back the curtain and reveal one’s true self. Even a child can see behind a curtain. All those attempts to cover-up can easily be revealed.

Wouldn’t it be far better and a whole lot less work to just be who you are? Wouldn’t it be more profitable to be your true self rather than attempting to live a lie? It takes far less effort to just be, rather than to pretend to be. Maintaining an appearance, takes far more effort than just being true to yourself and to others.

When it comes to those who seek to lead others there is a stern warning in the ‘Word of God’ for those who wish to hide behind curtains. God will reveal to all, who we really are, and if like Dorothy, the tin man, the scarecrow or the cowardly lion, He finds goodness inside, He will reward you according to what lies inside, not on what you build around yourself.

So it is wise to pay attention to the man behind the curtain and not get caught up in all the pomp and circumstance, the smoke and the mirrors, the huge stage production with all it’s theatrical sound and lighting. It is wise to take time out to look behind the curtain and see what lies inside a man before you hitch your wagon to their leadership. After all, that is what God is going to do. Shouldn’t you do the same? I challenge all of us to spend more time working on “the man inside”, rather than the curtains we craft to hide our true selves.

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. _{Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)}

Thanks but no thanks Uncle Sam. Thanks but no thanks to your plan to saddle me with the burden of bailing out Main Street and Wall street. There is only one street I wish to see bailed out and that is Capital Street.

I can choose not to shop on Main Street, I can avoid investing in Wall Street but I really have no say in what Capital Street decides to do to me. They can pick my pocket anytime they like and I can not bail out of the program. I do have choices in where I shop and where I invest. I can even avoid borrowing money from anyone if I choose not to but I can not avoid paying taxes. This so called crisis on Wall Street has little or no effect on my personal finances but the failure of Capital Street sure does effect me adversely. Even when I do not invest in the stock market I have been forced to do so by the federal government in this bail out. Although I do not borrow money or have a sub-prime mortgage I have been forced to buy them by the federal government as well. Although I do not have personal debt my government has heaped a huge debt upon my shoulders and the shoulders of my offspring if I chose to have some.

Spare me the chatter about saving Main Street and going after the villains on Wall Street, what I much prefer you do is clean up your own house at Capital Street before you even think about trying to clean up either Main Street or Wall Street. We the people and the free market can clean up the mess on Wall Street as you can tell from the falling stock values. People are leaving Wall Street in droves. Main street too suffers when people decide they no longer wish to shop there. Now I ask you congressmen, how does one bail out of Capital Street? Sacs Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus I can avoid, but Capital Street keeps coming around taking money from me without asking.

Perhaps it is time ‘We the People’ Bail out Capital Street! Bail out all the graft and corruption! Bail out all the pork barrel spending! Bail out all the lying, thieving congressmen! Bail out the uncontrolled spending sprees these politicians love to wage with our money. I think it is time to CLEAN up the environment of the filth in Washington. I think it is time to renovate Capital Street and clean out all the old cronyism and nepotism that seems to infest the place. Perhaps it is time to clean out the moldy politicians and get a breath of fresh air on Capital Street. What say ye?

When John was in prison, he heard about the things Christ had done. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for someone else?” _{Matthew 11:2-3 (GW)}

Are you the one or should we look for someone else seems to be the big question this election year. As the Presidential candidates ponder their picks for running mates perhaps it is time we the people take stock of what choices we are presented with. Our current Presidential candidates leave many of us wondering if we should be seeking another because we are not sure exactly where these candidates stand on key issues. It is troublesome that when choosing a President this election cycle we are more interested in whom each chooses for a Vice-president than we are with the current Presidential front runner.

Whoever walks with wise people will be wise, but whoever associates with fools will suffer. _{Proverbs 13:20 (GW)}

Don't let anyone deceive you. Associating with bad people will ruin decent people. _{1 Cor 15:33 (GW)}

Choosing associations is a good indicator of a person’s leadership abilities. Therefore whoever each candidate picks as a running mate will say a great deal about who that person has decided to form allegiances with. Two people can not walk together unless they are in agreement. Two candidates must have something in common in order for them to serve together in a leadership capacity.

Many conservatives have expressed concerns about Senator John McCain in regards to where he stands on issues important to the conservative base of the Republican Party. Considering his record of voting with Democrats on legislation conservatives found distasteful, and voting against the President on several key issues, many conservative Republicans are leery to cast a vote for him. Many feel a vote for McCain is a vote for a democrat. His association with democrat leaders on major legislation adds to their sense of unease. McCain Feingold, McCain Lieberman, McCain Kennedy are just a few of the legislation sponsored by Senator McCain that many on the Right side of the aisle find bothersome.

In a similar manner many wonder who Barack Obama is and what he stands for exactly. Barack Obama's earlier associations stirred quite a bit of controversy for their non-mainstream viewpoints and opinions. Obama's 20 year association with Reverend Jeremiah Wright along with his friendship with William Ayers and the work he performed for the controversial community activist group ACORN brings into question Obama's choice of associations. These personal and professional associations cause a conservative voter to question Obama's judgment. One or two bad associations can be overlooked as just bad apples but the list continues to grow with each major appointment to Obama's political election machine. Names like Mazen Asbahi, Rashid Khalidi, Jim Johnson, indicted Chicago Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and Tony Rezko continue the long line of controversial associations plaguing Obama's campaign.

Although quoting from the gospel of Matthew on national TV the verse which states whatever you do unto the least of these you do unto me, Obama supports the killing of the very least among us in the form of abortion, even as far as supporting the withholding of medical care for a child born after a botched abortion. Doesn't the death of the innocent fall under the protection of the least of these?

Because of these questions surrounding both candidates we are now looking at their choice of a running mate to help solidify in our minds whether we can support them or look for yet another.

Any biblical scholar knows that even amongst Jesus' chosen disciples there was one bad seed -Judas Iscariot, but the other 11 choices proved to be more than adequate to carry out the work of the ministry of Christ and lead the world as ambassadors for the Kingdom of God. Can the same be said for Obama's chosen associates?

Does the voting record of John McCain support his stated position at the Saddleback Political forum broadcast on Saturday August 16th? Will his choice of a running mate solidify his position as the leader of the Republican Party platform or will it leave even more questions as to where his allegiances lie?

 Jesus answered John's disciples, “Go back, and tell John what you hear and see:   _{Matthew 11:4 (GW)}

Selecting a leader to follow should be met with serious inquiry. Even John who baptized Jesus in the river Jordan was beginning to wonder if Jesus was whom he said he was. When he heard about the things that Jesus was doing he sent his followers to check and see if Jesus was actually the Son of God or if they should be looking for another. John was there when Jesus came up out of the water and a voice from heaven declared that 'This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased' and yet John had his disciples check on the authenticity of Jesus to be sure he was who he said he was. Jesus told them to report back to John all the things that they heard and saw. He was not offended when challenged. Jesus was confident in whom he was, and the work he was doing would speak for itself.

Choice of associations and past actions can tell a great deal about a person. John heard about the things Jesus was doing and sent his followers to check them out. He was looking for proof of the character of Jesus. He wanted to be sure that he had placed his trust in the right deliverer. He wanted to be sure that when he died he was putting his hope in the true savior of his soul. He did not want to be misled into following after a false leader.

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. _{2 Cor 11:13-15 (ESV)}

Instead, test everything. Hold on to what is good. Keep away from every kind of evil. _{1 Thess 5:21-22 (GW)}

Paul warned the Corinthian Christians about false teachers and leaders who would spring up in attempts to mislead them into following after their deceitful ways. In Thessalonica Paul instructed the believers to test everything and hold onto what is good and avoid all that appears to be evil.

Let's face it-selecting a President may not be a matter of life or death, but making the wrong choice as to whom you listen too when making life altering decisions literally could be. If we, like John the baptist, doubt the validity of Jesus' claims we could be making an eternal decision with hellacious consequences. It is therefore important to ask the question, are you the one or should we seek another.

Whether we are selecting the President of the United States, a life partner, a world leader, a spiritual advisor, or a business associate, wisdom dictates that we prove each choice to see if their actions and associations measure up to their confessions. Testing the validity of any candidate vying for your affection shows sound judgment and proof that you take matters of choice seriously. Some wrong decisions could prove to be deadly while others could just cause a great deal of discomfort. Whomever you choose to support this election cycle I urge you to ask the right questions. Are you who you say you are or should we seek yet another?

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. _{Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)}

The mantra this election year is change. Change the way we do government, change the way we tax our citizenry, change the way we fight our battles, change the way we appoint leaders and judges, change the way we negotiate with enemies, change the way we protect the innocent.

Change can be good as long as the changes are for the betterment of a society. Many perhaps would feel that this year's campaign slogan for change is just that, a change for the better. Apart from any biblical foundation I guess any change could be considered good but we are warned in scripture to not associate with those who always insist upon change.

There are people who change their minds on every issue depending upon the circumstance. They change their viewpoints depending on the pressure applied by those who oppose those viewpoints. They are like ships without a rudder that change direction every time the winds of public opinion changes. They have no core values, no solid beliefs, nothing to hold them on a steady course. They are like empty clouds that blow in and bring no rain, or like the waves of the ocean tossed about by the wind. They can not be held to one position because they will change their minds if enough people oppose them. They can not be counted on to stick to a position on anything.

These people we are warned to avoid in scripture. Wishy-washy panderers make for bad leaders because you never know where they are going to lead you. One minute you could be headed toward safety and then the next minute you are being led out to sea. I for one would not feel comfortable sailing in a rudderless ship. Nor do I find much comfort in a leader who changes their mind, all the time, on everything.

What will America look like as an Obama nation?

It is hard to really tell what position Senator Barack Obama actually takes because he seems to change his positions depending on each situation he finds himself in. For an example, and this is only one of many, let us look at his most recent speech to the America Israel Public Affairs Committee Obama changed his position on Iran and sanctions to garner votes.

During this same speech Obama waxed eloguently on an undivided Jerusalem as Israel's capital city.  

OBAMA:  Any agreement with the Palestinian people must preserve Israel's identity as a Jewish state, with secure, recognized, defensible borders, and Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided.

A day later on CNN's The Situation Room Candy Crowley addressed this very issue about an undivided Jerusalem and Senator Obama answered:

Obviously it's going to be up to the parties to negotiate a range of these issues, and Jerusalem will be part of those negotiations. My belief is that, as a practical matter, it would be very difficult to execute.  And I think that it is smart for us to work through a system in which everybody has access to the extraordinary religious sites in Old Jerusalem, but that Israel has a legitimate claim on that city.

During this same speech Obama went from holding talks with Hezbollah and Iran to taking a strong stance against them. I am not sure if he is for or against these terror harboring entities but from his speech I guess we could say WHO KNOWS.

The things we do know about Obama are startling in and of themselves. His relationships, his judgments, his politics, his associations, all point toward a radical left wing liberal. Anti-Bush rhetoric is very evident in most of his "Change" speeches. It appears that all Obama has done is taken up the Liberal democrat torch of "ANTI-BUSH" all the time mantra. No matter what it is he is referring to "change" in the mind of this liberal is anything that Bush did has to be undone.

So let us look at some of the things President Bush has done shall we? First I would like to address the war on terrorism which from most established reports we are winning, yet to hear a liberal democrat speak it is still a lost cause and we need to pull out immediately. Stop sending our forces to Iraq on this 'misquided war' to quote our illustrious Presidential candidate Obama. As far as Obama is concerned he sees "no good options left in this war". What winning is not an option? As far as Obama and his left-winged cronies are concerned Iraq is a hot topic issue and they have to oppose it because Bush is for it.

Another one of Bush's favorite things was his tax cuts that are set to expire in 2011. It would appear that Obama is in favor of higher taxes on everyone of us who benefited from the Bush tax cuts, which to a liberal mind means tax cuts for the rich. Well I am not rich by any means but I got a tax cut and it made my paycheck richer, but Obama and his ilk would like to take that away from me and you.

 Obama recently told Fox News, "I would roll back the Bush tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans back to the level they were under Bill Clinton, when I don't remember rich people feeling oppressed."

A far better approach would be for  the government to stop spending so much money and allow us to keep more of it to spend ourselves. Of course to a liberal mind that is an enigma to think that the average American can handle their finances better than the federal government can.

Another policy that George W. Bush  is for is the ban of partial birth abortions. Yes you guessed it our "silver tongued devil" Obama supports the killing of innocent babies. His lovely wife Michelle penned a letter in 2004 in support of her husband and partial birth abortion as legitimate medicine. Obama stands with those who slaughter innocent life, whether they be abortionists or terrorists (Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran). He sees no difference in his defense of those who take innocent lives by force.

Here are just a few other positions Senator Barack Obama has taken:

He sponsored S.CON.RES.53: A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress that any effort to impose photo identification requirements for voting should be rejected.

In 1999 he was the only Illinois State Senator to vote against a bill barring early release for (criminal) sex offenders.

He voted against filtering pornography on school and library computers and he voted for sex education for kindergarten children through the 5th grade.

Also, in 2001, he voted “present” on a bill to keep pornographic book and video stores and strip clubs from setting up within 1,000 feet of schools and churches.

And the list goes on:

• He voted no on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions.
• Supports affirmative action in Colleges and Government.
• In 2001 he questioned harsh penalties for drug dealing.
• Says he will deal with street level drug dealing as a minimum wage affair.
• Admitted marijuana and cocaine use in high school and in college.
• He is willing to meet, unconditionally with Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Kim Jung Il and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
• Has said that one of his first goals after being elected would be to have a conference with all Muslim nations.
• Opposed the Patriot Act.
• First bill he signed that was passed was campaign finance reform.
• Voted No on prohibiting law suits against gun manufacturers.
• Supports universal health care.
• Voted Yes on providing habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees.
• Supports extending welfare to illegal immigrants.
• Voted Yes on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security.
• Wants to make the minimum wage a 'living wage'.
• Voted with Democratic Party 96 percent of 251 votes.
• Opposed to any efforts to Privatize Social Security and instead supports increasing the amount of tax paid.
• He voted No on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax.
• He voted No on repealing the Death Tax.
• He wants to raise the Capital Gains Tax.
• Has never served in the military and has never visited Afghanistan, and hasn’t bothered to visit Iraq since Jan. of 2006.

Perhaps we can gain some understanding of Barack's personal beliefs from the associations he makes for example:

Rezko and Auchi, Odinga, Ayers, The New Black Panther Party, La Raza, Farrakhan, Mr. Wright

In addition a former CIA intelligence officer maintains that Barack Obama and former Weather Underground honcho William Ayers funneled money to Professor Rashid Khalidi, a known terrorist sympathizer.  I guess being a product of Chicago style politics all this is business as usual. Is this the "change" Mr. Obama proposes for the highest office of the USA? Bring in even more shady dealers and underhanded money schemes? The bible tells us with good reason that bad company corrupts  good morals. Surely we are known by the company we keep? Except of course if you are Barack Hussein Obama.

Oh by the way did you know that one of the first appointees to vet vice presidential candidates is Eric Holder, former Clinton  deputy attorney general responsible for the Clinton pardon of Marc Rich a fugitive from justice? Check this out if you still believe a vote for Obama is a vote for change.

I do not know about you but the kind of change I want to see in Washington is less corruption not more, less government intervention in business and free enterprise not more, less taxation not more, less pork barrel spending and special interest pandering and government earmarks not more. That is the "change" I am voting for and it is not Barack Obama.

Image from WikipediaWhat can you buy with a billion dollars? How about the presidency of the United States? Would you consider running for president if you had a spare billion dollars lying around? It would appear from a report on NPR that today’s presidential race is slated to topple the billion dollar mark for the first time in U.S. history. They reported that with more states striving for early primaries candidates are forced to be in more places in much of the same time frame. What once took a whole year to accomplish has now been pushed back to a few months. Having to purchase expensive television advertising in more places requires the candidates to raise larger sums of money than ever before. This year, as previously stated, the amount of money raised in the entire presidential campaign may top $1 billion dollars.

“Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—I cannot bear your evil assemblies” (Isaiah 1:13).

There is no want of church services throughout the land. In every town in every city there are churches of every persuasion and size and structure. There are old church houses as well as newer modern worship centers. There are churches with gymnasiums and auditoriums that would rival a college or university campus. There are churches big and small, rich and poor.

One would think with all the church services going on in the United States of America we would have a solid biblical foundation in which we are building our futures upon.

Yet with all these church houses, and all the church services there seems to be a lack of a Godly fire within. Society crumbles around us and the church remains silent on the injustices that transpire each and every day. The moral decay inside the church house is second only to that which we find outside the church house.

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The long-suffering of God has finally reached its tipping point in our scripture passage today. God has had enough of all the pretense and religious practice going on. Even that which He ordained and commanded has become a stench and reproach. The congregations have grown cold toward the things of God and are only going through the motions when it comes time to worship God.

They have replaced worship of God with a religious routine. The passion of serving God has been replaced with empty ritual and routine. The people have grown cold toward the things of God. They are only going through the motions as they gather in their assemblies. It is out of obligation or religious duty that they perform these functions and not out of sheer reverence to the One who formed them and made them who they are.

Israel had forgotten the God who brought them out of slavery and established them as a great nation. They have returned to worship like the nations around them would worship idols. They had rejected the ways of God for some other way.

Had not God formed them and founded them perhaps He would look the other way on this idolatry but because He calls them His own it is not acceptable for those who call themselves children of God to behave and worship in such a manner.

A new attitude had to take place in the hearts of the people in order for God to once again approve of their worship. They needed to wholeheartedly return to God and His ways. They needed to repent of their idolatry and return to the God of their fathers. This was no small matter for their future existence required a change of heart.

We take a lot for granted in America. We have been blessed beyond measure with the abundance of good things but all that is about to change if we too do not have a change of heart toward the things of God. No nation can long endure if they reject the providence of God upon them. Our nation like all those who have gone before shall too be judged by the righteous judge and we must give an account of our actions before Him.

Let us as a nation once again return to God as our source and strength. Let us  teach to our children the importance of worshiping God with our whole hearts and with the right attitude. God should not be an after thought He deserves to be foremost in our thoughts and on our minds.

All this must start in the church house the exact representation of Christ in the earth today. Each and every congregation needs to seek God wholeheartedly and with true humility and reverence. God is not impressed with the buildings and monuments we have constructed unto ourselves. He takes no delight in our assemblies for we have gathered together for all the wrong reasons. Our motives are not pure. We have forsaken the Lord who called us out of darkness into the Kingdom of His son Jesus.

Repentance is required. A change of heart is needed. A new direction must be sought after. The church is in dire need of an overhaul and not a make-over. Let us get back to our roots and remember it is God we are to be pleasing and not man. 

^{Isa 1:19 (GW)} If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land. ²⁰ But if you refuse and rebel, you will be destroyed by swords.” The Lord has spoken.

{Like} a city broken into {and} left without a wall,
{so} is a person who lacks self-control.
Prov 25:28 (GW)

Today's youth are surrounded by a vast wasteland of open spaces with no fences or boundaries. Our society has been trying to remove all barriers to one's "self awareness" and "self expression" that we have rendered our children lost in a maze of choices. Each choice is held as equal to the other, none holding any merit as a better choice because having the right to choose is more important than choosing right.

We would never send a toddler out in the deep forest without a guide yet we are leaving our young people wander around in this vast wasteland of open borders with no boundaries.

The current influx of illegal immigration has awaken me from the slumber of live and let live to a more thoughtful and purposeful train of reasoning.

If anyone can do whatever they want to do whenever they want to do it wherever they desire to do it then we as a society have lost our moorings and like a ship without a rudder we are adrift on life's seas.

One must have a anchor point, a boundary, a place where there is no trespassing allowed. But as with the first humans that have ever graced this planet we too have been overtaken in our lawlessness from our unbridled greed and lust for more.

When there is no one to say no then we never learn the value of restraint. We never learn to appreciate that which does not belong to us. We never learn to appreciate the need to ask before taking or respecting the limits set by others.

A casual observer may scratch their collective heads wondering what in the world we are thinking or which course of action we choose to be the right course. In our day of relativeness and no absolutes than anything anyone wants to do is acceptable as long as they can justify their actions with themselves.

Rules like 'thou shalt not covet' or 'thou shalt not steal' are completely ignored because we reason if we can acquire it then it belongs to us.

Crashing the borders to get to where we want to be without regard to the occupants of that said place is just plan selfish and self serving.

A society nor a people can long survive if they do not limit themselves from their shameful lust for more and coveting what others have. We need to learn to be thankful for what we have and thank God for his provision. 

Matthew 15:14 (KJV) Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

The Bible often refers to human beings as sheep (Ps. 100:3; Isa. 53:6; Matt. 9:36). Easily distracted and susceptible to group influence, we would rather follow the crowd than the wisdom of the Shepherd.

Mass media merchants long have held the notion that public opinion can be shaped and manipulated through the power of the press. Say something often enough and loud enough and sooner or later people will start to believe it. Advertisers spend big money on ad campaigns in attempts to persuade people to buy what they are offering. Political leaders spend huge sums of money on marketing in order for their messages to be heard.

Sunday, October 30, 1938, will forever be remembered as a seminal event in the history of American mass media and their potential impact on our collective consciousness.

Just one day before Halloweeern, an utterly unanticipated event occurred on the radio, then the primary medium of information and entertainment.

An audacious and brilliant artist by the name of Orson Welles broadcast a radio dramatization of H. G. Wells’ famous fantasy, “The War of the Worlds.”

Produced by Welles’ Mercury Theatre, the program was broadcast over WABC and the Columbia Broadcasting System Network.

A wave of mass hysteria seized thousands of listeners who were led to believe that an interplanetary conflict had started with invading Martians spreading wide death and destruction in New Jersey and New York. The broadcast disrupted households, interrupted religious services, created traffic jams, and clogged communications systems.

Thousands of telephone calls reached CBS stations, city authorities, newspaper offices, and police headquarters in various cities testified to the mistaken belief. The broadcast became a rumor that spread throughout the country, with many people standing on street corners, hoping for a sight of the “battle” in the skies.

Despite the fantasy nature of the reported “occurrences,” the program, coming after the recent war scare in Europe and a period in which the radio frequently had interrupted regularly scheduled programs to report developments in Czechoslovakia, caused fright and panic throughout the area of the broadcast.

Though only a work of dramatization The War of the Worlds broadcast demonstrated the power of radio to influence the public. Radio had an authority and immediacy that made even the bizarre believable.

John 12:12-13 (KJV) ¹² On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, ¹³ Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Each year Bridgeport, Connecticut holds their annual Barnum Festival. An upbeat civic event celebrating the life of P. T. Barnum (1810-1891). Barnum was the nineteenth-century circus king and was once the city’s mayor. Barnum was called “The Prince of Humbug.” He enjoyed playing hoaxes on people, all in the spirit of creative capitalism.

Barnum saw his sideshows as harmless ways of fooling people while giving them their money’s worth in good, clean fun. His “Cardiff Giant,” his “161-year-old nanny to George Washington,” and his “Fejee Mermaid” are legendary. He even wrote a book entitled Humbugs of the World (see www.ptbarnum.org).

The Barnum Festival is a 30-day-long Fourth of July celebration. A time to kick back, lighten up, block out all of the distractions in your life and embrace a mega-celebration of parades, concerts, parties, drum corps and the fireworks extravaganza.

The Barnum Festival was created to make people feel good about celebrating the life and times of P.T. Barnum who was known for putting on the “greatest show on earth”

With no apologies to Mr Barnum, those of us who have been redeemed from death to life through the work of Jesus Christ have a far greater celebration to partake of each year. The 40 days of Lent should be a celebration leading up to the grand parade of Palm Sunday where Jesus makes His entrance into Jerusalem to set up for the real ‘greatest show on earth and in heaven’.

Much like a circus parade that drew crowds to Barnum’s sideshows Jesus’s triumphant ride into Jerusalem was met with great crowds and enthusiasm. Unlike Barnum, Jesus was not setting up a sideshow.

John 19:15-18 (KJV) ¹⁵ But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. ¹⁶ Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. ¹⁷ And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: ¹⁸ Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

Orson Welles produced and narrated the retelling of H.G. Wells’ “The War of the Worlds” and it caused quite a stir in the streets around the world. God wrote and produced the real “War of the Worlds” (Jesus’s crucifixion) which caused quite a stir in heaven and hell when it played out on the world’s stage. The battle between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness was being fought while the crowds stood around in stunned silence.

There were no cameras no radio show, no three ring circus, just three crosses on a hill outside Jerusalem where the Prince of Glory was sacrificed for our sins.

One wayward sheep led many to their slaughter in Eastern Turkey and one Lamb of God will lead many to eternal salvation from a hill called Mount Calvary.

Who has the power of persuasion over your life? Are you following the humanist thinking that dismisses God as a hoax? Are you being led around by the trickster of all tricksters Satan as he leads you from one sideshow act to another? Are you being led to your demise by a wayward sheep rushing over the cliff of self destruction because they have left the way of the Good Shepherd?

Who is leading your parade? Are you being led by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords or being misled by some other minstrel or piped piper? Are you in the crowd crying Hosanna Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord or are you one that is shouting Crucify Him?

We are all affected by our surroundings. What we see and hear affects our thoughts and actions. What are you filling your ears and eyes with? Are they focused on the truths of God’s word or are they fixed upon things of this world?

When the end comes will you hear APRIL FOOLS or well done thou good and faithful servant enter now into the joy of the Lord?

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