Clinton and Religion

I love it when our terrible choices for President of the United States clearly reveal themselves.  Hillary Clinton recently made clear her views on religion.  She said:

 “Rights have to exist in practice — not just on paper.” “Laws have to be backed up with resources and political will. And deep-seated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases have to be changed.”

Religious beliefs have to be changed? Who will do the changing and by what authority? How will such changes be enforced? Who will do the enforcing?

Christian beliefs are not chosen. “Political will” does not determine what we believe and practice.  Christians are folks who have surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is now the boss of all that we do, say and believe.  We model our conduct after His conduct.

Changing our beliefs to fit in with changing cultures is totally against the will of God. We are counter cultural. We stand against ungodly parts of any culture. We will never agree to compromise our faith simply because someone doesn’t like it.

And, by the way, we will continue to proclaim that the way of Jesus is the only way that makes sense.  It is the only way to salvation and eternal life (heaven).  It is the only way there will ever be peace in our divided, war torn, inhumane, racist, greedy, corrupt, immoral and cruel world.

Nothing will change until hearts are changed. People will continue to kill babies and accommodate behavior God considers abominable until hearts are transformed and turned to the One who made us.

Questions:

1. Is there really such a thing and right and wrong?
2. What about “gray areas?”

3. How does one determine what is right and what is wrong?
4. Is right and wrong determined by the Supreme Court or an act of Congress?
5. Should the dictates and decisions of the Congress or SCOTUS be accepted and obeyed by all citizens? Why? Why not?
6. Do you agree or disagree with this article? Tell me why.

WHO DIED AND MADE THEM BOSS?

There’s a lot going on in these dark days that is infuriating.  For me the actions of the so-called “Supreme Court” are most infuriating.  Here we have five justices who are appointed by the current regime (not voted on) who have overarching power over us.  Their job is to “interpret” the constitution for us.  Any thing the majority of justices deem “unconstitutional” (whether it really is or not) is declared unlawful.

For years I have believed the Supreme Court is one of the major problems in our democracy.  It ranks second to giving everyone an equal vote when electing the members of congress and the president. (This assumes that everyone except convicted felons has the best interests of all the people in mind when voting).  Unfortunately, in this increasingly “nanny state,” the recipients of federal aid tend to vote for who can give them the most entitlements. I fear these problems will prove to be seeds of our demise

SCOTUS has made some decisions I applaud. I rejoice when they rein in a president who uses his telephone and pen to make his own laws by executive decision.  But, as a resident of the great state of Texas, I was particularly rankled when SCOTUS struck down our law that provided the safest care possible for women who sought abortions. As a consequence many substandard abortion facilities closed their doors. How, in the name of common sense, was that deemed unconstitutional? Previously, these un-elected and fallible lawyers had forced all Americans to accept marriage between same sex men and women as lawful. It didn’t seem to matter that most religious Americans found this to be morally unacceptable and repugnant.

I for one am fed up with stuff like this…fed up to the eyeballs. You say you don’t like such antics and you want to get out from under such high-handedness?  Tough. There’s nothing you can do.  You can write your blogs, send letters to the editor, petition the congress…but…it will be for naught for the Supreme Court has spoken.  This isn’t government of the people…it is government by a few of the people. It is government in spite of the people. It is government by a board of dictators who answer to no one. I never liked dictatorships and I certainly don’t like this one.

Mystery Solved

For months I have been puzzled about the meteoric rise of Donald Trump in the polls. I have also been puzzled by the staying power of Hillary Clinton as the choice of Democrats for president of our once-great nation.
For the life of me, I just could not figure out how both Democrats and Republicans could choose candidates who have perfected the dark art of lying. This is not even considering the narcissism of Clinton and the uber-narcissim of Trump.
How is it possible that the electorate can continually be informed of these shenanigans and keep supporting the perpetrators? I was stumped!
Finally, I think I have solved the mystery. As a nation, we no longer consider moral transgressions to be all that important. It should not be a surprise to those of us who have witnessed the moral decline of our nation.
I am not going to rehearse the indicators of moral decline. Most readers (those not living under a rock somewhere) don’t need to be reminded of the symptoms. Suffice it to say, some people are getting by with behavior that once in our history would have spelled the end of their public careers. Without moral restraints, anything goes!
So, Donald Trump keeps rising in the polls in spite of lies, insulting comments about women and Mexicans and anybody else who gets in his way. Are we actually willing to see this creature inhabit the oval office with no reason to expect a change in his behavior?
So, Hillary Clinton remains the Democratic candidate of choice regardless of her all-to-obvious penchant for bending and breaking the truth…once again without expecting her to become honest and trustworthy as president.
Really? Are these our choices? Have we really come to this? Two candidates who have both chosen the dark side? Can’t we do better? Have honesty, integrity, humility, dignity, honor, equality and justice become unimportant moral tenets?

     Did you hear about the guy who walked into a Jewish delicatessen and ordered a ham sandwich? When the proprietors told him that they didn’t carry ham or any pork products, the customer asked why. When told it was against their religion, the man became irate and said, “We’ll see you in court!

     In the ensuing trial, the judge found the owners of the delicatessen were guilty of discrimination and forbade them from refusing orders from those who disagreed with their religious principles. The fine imposed by the court was so heavy; they had to close up shop. Oy vey!
Yes, this is a fictional account; but not an impossible account. No one in their right mind would expect ham from a Hebrew. Yet somehow, according to the Supreme Court, Christians cannot refuse to accept customer orders because of religious principles that have guided them for two thousand years. Already, we have seen our brothers and sisters slugged by the heavy hand of the law to the point of going out of business and being jailed. What kind of religious liberty is that?
The Supreme Court is supremely wrong. It is not their prerogative to make laws – that’s the job of congress. Does not the first amendment to the constitution guarantee our right to the free exercise of our religion? Who gave our highest court permission to reject the highest of our freedoms? “I call on Congress to make sure deeply held religious views are respected and protected,” Dr. Ben Carson said in a statement at the time. “The government must never force Christians to violate their religious beliefs.”
I fear this is only the first shot in a coming period of intense persecution. Are you ready?

Rethinking Donald Trump

In your mind, feature Donald Trump as President of these United States. Like what you see? In my view, electing Trump as president would be a disaster. I cannot envision a president who would speak on important issues before he thinks then justifies his foolishness with telling us how wonderful he is. If he wins, how many world leaders will he offend? Consider his unsubstantiated comments about illegal Mexican immigrants:

“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending the best. They’re not sending you, they’re sending people that have lots of problems and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. … And some, I assume, are good people.”

I wonder what the leaders of Mexico and China think about being called “stupid”?

Is he the “family man” he has boasted about? Well, he has been married three times. He explains that by admitting that his two failed marriages were because he loves his business so much. Wow! some advocate for traditional marriage!

No doubt he is successful financially but how many voters know about the bankruptcies he has been in involved in? He boasts about never being personally bankrupt but admits to “using the laws of this country” to shut out creditors to his own advantage. We don’t need a president to further mess up our economy. And, since when has economic prowess become a prerequisite for presidents?

“The Donald” never admits being mistaken. In his eyes he seems unable to do wrong. He is always right. He can’t even admit his sins (by the way, we all sin). In an interview with moderator Frank Luntz at the Family Leadership Summit in Ames, Iowa, Luntz asked Trump whether he has ever asked God for forgiveness for his actions. Hear his amazing answer, “I am not sure I have. I just go on and try to do a better job from there. I don’t think so,” he said. “I think if I do something wrong, I think, I just try and make it right. I don’t bring God into that picture. I don’t.” That pretty well settles it for me. I can’t speak for you but I want a president who has a better understanding of the meaning of the gospel and his relationship to our Creator.

His morals are betrayed by his speech. “You know, it really doesn’t matter what the media write as long as you’ve got a young and beautiful piece of axx.”

Add to that his disrespectful way of viewing women he doesn’t like. “If I were running ‘The View,’ I’d fire Rosie [O’Donnell]. I mean, I’d look her right in that fat, ugly face of hers, I’d say, ‘Rosie, you’re fired.’” “Rosie O’Donnell’s disgusting both inside and out. You take a look at her, she’s a slob. She talks like a truck driver, she doesn’t have her facts, she’ll say anything that comes to her mind.” Oops! Did he really say that last part?

Concerning Arianna Huff he tweets: “@ariannahuff is unattractive both inside and out. I fully understand why her former husband left her for a man- he made a good decision.”
Concerning Bette Midler he tweets: “While @BetteMidler is an extremely unattractive woman, I refuse to say that because I always insist on being politically correct.” Really?

“All the women on The Apprentice flirted with me — consciously or unconsciously. That’s to be expected.”

“I think the only difference between me and the other candidates is that I’m more honest and my women are more beautiful.”

So, if blatant, sexist disrespect for women is what you want, vote Trump.

“The beauty of me is that I’m very rich .“  “Braggart” is not a necessary quality for presidential hopefuls. Yes, many are adept at bragging. But, they need to simply point us to their accomplishments. Narcissism, however, has no place in anybody’s resume. Notice his statement when he announced his candidacy.

“I will build a great wall — and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me —and I’ll build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words.” “The wall will go up and Mexico will start behaving.”

And in a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black: ‘One of the key problems today is that politics is such a disgrace. Good people don’t go into government.” Is that so Donald?

He doesn’t stop there unloading on politicians: “If you can’t get rich dealing with politicians, there’s something wrong with you.” He also tweeted: “I laugh when I see Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush pretending to “love” each other, with each talking of their great friendship. Typical phony pols.”

“Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people [in office].”

Here he takes a shot at Jews: “The only kind of people I want counting my money are little short guys that wear yamakas (sic) every day.”

Concerning John McCain he blurts: “He’s not a war hero. He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren’t captured, OK, I hate to tell you.”

As one writer put it: “While McCain was a POW in Vietnam, Trump was living the lavish lifestyle of dining and clubbing with beautiful women. To quote the Washington Post: “As Trump was preparing to take Manhattan, McCain was trying to relearn how to walk.”

To hear more of Trump, especially his comments about the debate, see relevant articles at NEWSMAX.
If you want to know what intelligent persons have to say look at what Carly Fiorina had to say in the first debate go to CNN POLITICS.
Long ago, Jesus set the standard by which we determine the character of a person. He said: “For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. 45 The good man out of the good [a]treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from [b]that which fills his heart.” (Luke 6:44-46) See also Matthew 12:34
We can know about the heart of Mr. Trump by listening to his words.

The Time is NOW

  I’m about to write something that is probably apparent, even though, at this stage, I haven’t read anything that comes right out and says so. So here goes my attempt to fill the vacuum: the time has come to do something about ISIS at the source. While their evil plots against Americans at home have been foiled so far, some will eventually be successful. If we continue to turn a blind eye to ISIS expansion in the Middle East, their successful recruiting efforts, their beheadings, burnings and torture will only increase there and ultimately here. These monsters are even prepared to employ chemical warfare. Julie Bishop, Australia’s foreign minister, in a recent speech said Australia has no doubt The Islamic State group has shown it is prepared to use chemical weapons and is likely to have among its recruits the technical expertise to develop them. Bishop also agrees that the rise of global terror groups such as the Islamic state is one of the gravest security threats faced by the world. Karl Vic, writing in TIME magazine said, “…terrorism experts warn that it (ISIS) will inevitably train its fire on Western targets.”
We are in much the same situation as Britain as Nazi power increased prior to WWII. Britain was still reeling from the huge loss of life in WWI and the people were extremely war weary. They didn’t want to hear anything about another conflict and, consequently, ignored the problem. Soon enough, they could no longer put their head in the sand and had to respond. The result was the nightmare of another war against evil. In the same way, our leaders have refused to face the truth about the growing nightmare of ISIS.
Who wants to go back to war in an area where so many of our youth have given their lives? Who wants to return to a place where the blood of brave Americans stains the desert soil? Who wants to retake the same battlefields won at such a high cost and so recently.
For a long time I’ve taken the position that since the Middle East will likely always be in constant upheaval, so let’s back off and let them fight their own battles. No more blood and treasure for a region that has always been awash in sectarian and political violence. I wish I could say that today but the repercussions would endanger us. Furthermore, the longer we delay the harder and more costly to do what’s needed. The time is NOW!

Is There Any Hope?

Some have called the American voter “stupid.” I believe a better term would be “ignorant.” Ignorance of available essential matters, in my experience, is a result of apathy. The run-of-the-mill person on the street turns out to be incredibly and willfully ill-informed. Many don’t know the most basic facts about our elected officials – who they are, what their views and philosophies may be and what they have or have not done.
These are the individuals who, if they vote at all, vote for those who can give them what they feel entitled to – regardless of what their domestic and foreign policies may be. The ultimate outcome of such sloth doesn’t concern them. Sometimes their preference may be based upon such questionable standards as race and culture. Others give-in to peer-pressure or simply follow the way their family has always voted. Tragically they let others do the thinking for them.
Ominously, this group grows larger year by year. As they grow more numerous, we can expect our representatives, senators and administration (whose ultimate goal is reelection), to reflect these values (or lack of them). Consequently the ethical and moral decline of our nation continues accelerating toward her ultimate demise. Yes, we have met the enemy (you know the rest).
So, is there any hope for the health and state of the union to improve? If you thought I was going to supply the answer to this dilemma I hate to disappoint you. Voter education is the obvious remedy but it is in vain if the students refuse to listen and learn. You can lead a horse to water (you know the rest).
Actually, I do have some suggestions that have the same chance of being accepted or being considered as that famous snowball in hell.
Any thoughts?

Geller in Garland

I assume everyone now knows about the incident in Garland Texas where two terrorists tried to kill the participants in a contest to see who could draw the best cartoon depicting Muhammad, the prophet of Islam.
Islam prohibits any depiction of Muhammad in any form. To do so draws the ire of Muslims, whether militant or not.
Ms. Geller’s stunt seems to have divided people into two camps. One camp says that since we have a right as Americans to express ourselves in free speech, no one can lawfully prohibit us from speaking our mind even if it is hateful and inflammatory. Some seem determined to prove it.
The other camp thinks Ms. Geller was deliberately looking for trouble and she got it. She has been criticized for putting the Garland police in harm’s way as well the group of cartoonists who attended her “contest.”
But there is a third group with no patience with the savages engaged in Jihad. This camp agrees that their cruelty must be stopped and innocent lives saved by military force if necessary (and are amazed that it has not happened yet!). Yet they are also sensitive to the feelings of Muslims in general. They know that to take what is holy to them and drag it through the mud is counterproductive. No, we don’t agree with their prophet or their theology — but we know that their souls are precious and that God wants them to be saved (1 Timothy 2:3-4). If we close any door on hearts that might have eventually been open to the gospel we shoot ourselves in the foot. Instead of baiting them, why not use our energy and resources to show them the Christ that draws all humans to Him? (John 12:32).
How do we do this? We do it by letting our light be seen by everyone (including Muslims) resulting in open hearts and glory for God (Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:15). One can’t make fun of their prophet in one breath and win them in the next (Colossians 4:6).
Do you agree? Let me know.

Dictatorship Danger

Am I mistaken to think that governing by proclamation is similar to totalitarianism, especially if it seems to be a habitual way of getting things done? When such a form of “ruling” becomes the accepted norm (with no consequences) can dictatorship be far away?

So What Can I Do?

I have finally come to grips that I will not be a “mover and a shaker.”  The world, alas, is not clamoring for my opinions, my advice, my counsel, my pontifications.  The President and members of congress no longer call (man, could I give them an earful if they did!).  It has been some time since some anchor person contacted me to get my take on foreign or domestic events and developments.  Celebrities fail to call me for my thoughts on the directions their careers should take.  No one sends me scripts for potential movies or plays anymore.  Congress persists in passing bills without my input.

So what can I do to make the world a better place?  Jesus said we can do this by serving; by letting our light shine through our good works (Matthew 5:13,14).  Consider:

Think of your fellow man
lend him a helping hand
put a little love in your heart.
You see it’s getting late
oh please don’t hesitate
put a little love in your heart.
And the world will be a better place
and the world will be a better place
for you and me
you just wait and see.

–Jackie Deshannon