Mello Dramatic at the DNC

 

April 25, 2017

Nebraska isn’t usually a pin on the map of political hotspots, but that all changed this week with Omaha’s candidates for mayor. Thanks to Heath Mello’s (D) pro-life views, a race that would have been a footnote in the national news has exploded into a front-page headline about the DNC’s hard ideological line on abortion.

After years of squeezing out socially conservative Democrats, the party is struggling to win back seats in the heartland, where voters might lean Left on economic issues, but pro-life, pro-faith roots run deep. New DNC chairman Tom Perez tried to walk that line with an endorsement for Mello, only to face fire from the abortion militants in his own camp. Without pulling the DNC’s support, he sent a chilling message to all Democratic candidates that nothing less than unconditional surrender on life would be tolerated. “Every Democrat, like every American, should support a woman’s right to make her own choices about her body and her health,” Perez said. “That is not negotiable and should not change city by city or state by state… At a time when women’s rights are under assault from the White House, the Republican Congress, and in states across the country,” he added, “we must speak up for this principle as loudly as ever and with one voice.”

Telling pro-lifers to drop dead isn’t exactly the smartest political strategy, Dave Freddoso points out. In his op-ed, “Democrats Unlearn Their Own Election History,” he — like a lot of voters — couldn’t believe his ears. “It is puzzling that the head of a political party, whose job is to win elections, would send such a clearly exclusionary message to officeholders and candidates without whose victory his party would probably remain a minority forever.”

Obviously, Perez seems intent on following Hillary Clinton into some of the most radical terrain on abortion ever broached. From her shameless support of taxpayer-funded abortion to her elevation of groups that illegally sell baby body parts, the former First Lady was determined to make November’s election about an extreme social agenda that’s increasingly out of touch with women. And she paid dearly for it. With Planned Parenthood cheering her on, Clinton rushed to embrace the “abortion-ization” of the Democratic Party without any regard to the political consequences. Which, on November 8, were many.

Ignoring thousands of pro-life Democrats, the DNC’s platform was a case study in over-the-top extremism. For the first time in history, it called for overturning the Hyde and Helms amendments, demanding that federal taxpayers fund abortion-on-demand at home and abroad. (Not only did DNC leaders want abortion to be a routine medical procedure, they wanted Americans to pay for the entire world’s!) That in itself was a crystalizing moment for the country, which could only marvel at the sharp contrasts between the two parties.

Under the GOP platform, Republicans reiterated their support for the walls between taxpayers and the dark world of abortion, calling on Congress to make the Hyde amendment permanent in all walks of government funding — including health care. They also insisted on defending the First Amendment rights of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and organizations when it comes to issues like abortion funding, procedures, drugs, and health insurance. The Democrats supported Planned Parenthood by name. The Republicans, for the first time, called for the defunding it. In every possible way, the parties confirmed what everyone already knew: they are polar opposites.

It’s those growing ideological differences that set the stage for inner-party squabbles like Mello’s. If anyone needed proof that the mushy middle is shrinking, it’s the drama playing out in Omaha. Hopefully, the GOP will learn from Nebraska (and from last November) that being a social squish doesn’t work. Donald Trump won the election by appealing to his base, not bowing to moderates. In a political arena with fewer gray areas, what wins elections is taking a strong stance — which, in the GOP’s case, also happens to be the popular one.

While the DNC continues to shamelessly promote abortion right up to the moment of birth, polling shows that it’s a far cry from voters’ position on the issue. Almost eight in 10 Americans (78 percent) would limit abortion to the first trimester — including 62 percent who call themselves “pro-choice.” Voters let the DNC know what it thought about its extreme social agenda last November. I hope the GOP was listening!

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Tony Perkins’ Washington Update is written with the aid of FRC senior writers.

Received the above article in my email. I thought that it showed how so entrenched in death – especially death for unborn babies – the Democratic party leaders and their followers truly are!

I shake my head in disbelief that someone so rabid as Tom Perez would be chosen as DNC chair. His predecessors were bad enough, but this guy appears to be possessed by the enemy of our souls.

In John 10:10, Jesus describes the enemy of our souls as a “thief.”

Jhn 10:10

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

What could be worse than killing and destroying a helpless human being in the womb?

In David Guzik’s commentary, he writes:

c. All who ever came before Me [meaning, before Jesus] are thieves and robbers: Thief implies deception and trickery; robber implies violence and destruction. These take away life but Jesus gives life and He gives it abundantly.

Democratic “leaders” such as Perez fit the description of thief and robber.  He is directly involved in deception, trickery, violence and destruction!

Those who would agree with and follow such an evil person are complicit for their own individual sins.

It’s so awful…

More blog posts on this issue:

“I’ve Noticed Everyone for Abortion Has Already Been Born.”

January 31, 2017

Abortion Industry – Nothing But a House of Horrors!

July 23, 2015

Many women abandoned HilLIARy in the 2016 election.  There were probably many reasons, but I’m sure that the pro-life voters realized how extreme she is regarding death-to-babies in the womb.

I previously wrote in October, 2016:

Hillary’s views are very vile!  One huge example (and there are many!) causes me to be a NEVER HILLARY voter!  Her belief shared last night [October 20, 2016] that partial birth abortion is necessary to “save the life of the mother” is not only murderous, horrid and despicable, but is totally evil and deceitful!  If the baby is killed at the back of the neck in the womb when the rest of the baby’s body is out, THAT’S INFANTICIDE!

When she used the term “mother,” it showed the egregiously evil and total hypocrisy of her beliefs!  If that baby is being killed while partially in the birth canal, then the women ends up being the “mother???” of a dead baby!!!

The pro-life view makes moral sense.  Choose LIFE – YOUR MOTHER DID!

Hat tip: Family Research Council

Also see many articles on this topic:

Family Research Council: Abortion

Peace In Fearful Times

Ever since the very contentious election of 2016, I have found that many people are still so angry because their candidate of choice didn’t win. Also, they tend to be very vicious against those who voted for the candidate that won the election. It has come to the point where I don’t even want to try to discuss politics with anyone! Personally, I thought that the vitriol would have calmed down by now, but it seems to be getting worse every day.  How very sad…

No matter which side of the political spectrum you are on, dear readers, many believe that we are living in fearful times.  What’s more, the enemies of the United States and Her allies (enemies that include worldwide spread of Radical Islamist Terrorists, Iran, Syria, North Korea, and yes…Russia) stand ready to attack at any time.  Some are doing a lot of sabre rattling, others are terrorists who continue to attack in Europe and elsewhere; while others are downright determined to destroy the West from within our borders and are patiently planning and plotting our ultimate demise.

Personally, I thank God that we have a strong military (and, a friend in the White House who allow our military to do its job!) which stands ready to do whatever it may take to keep our enemies in check and/or do what is necessary to protect our beloved United States of America and Her allies.  “Peace through strength” used to be our motto, and I’m hopeful that it is back again.

With that brief synopsis written, the real purpose of this post is to share how we, as Christians, can have peace in fearful times.

Pastor Doug at NewLife Christian Fellowship in San Diego had this to say back in March, 2017:

Today we will be talking about “Peace.”  If we read the New Testament letters looking to find Bible verses about peace, we find a specific greeting used sixteen time:  “Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”  Yet, there is more to “Grace and Peace” than a simple greeting.  Peace, like creation is not an accident.  it is not a condition invented by psychology.  God designed it, understands it, and gives it to those He calls. True peace comes from a saving knowledge of Jesus.  Peace was designed by God, and comes through the blood of Jesus.

Peace is listed in the top three characteristics of the fruit of the spirit.  Without love, joy, and peace, there is little hope of accomplishing forbearance (longsuffering), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control.  All of those characteristics are predicated on the love, joy, and peace of God.  The peace of God must be evident in us.  Others need to see what we have and desire to have it.  Then we can be peacemakers, able to share the love of God with a troubled world.  All too often we lose our peace in the midst of tragedy and the circumstances of life.  When we do that, we have nothing to offer a watching world.  If a neighbor comes to us distraught over tragedy and finds us just as undone, what testimony have we given about the peace of Christ, which He promised?  It is the Christians in a community who should be able to offer a word of encouragement and comfort during difficult times.  But we can only do that if we possess the peace of Christ – that peace which He purchased for us at the price of His own blood.”

There is nothing more blessed than sewing peace into the lives of those around you.  They need Jesus, the only source of peace, and you have what they need.  Be a peacemaker!

~ Pastor Doug

The Book of Acts 18:1 – 22:29 helps us to discover the answer to peace in fearful times.

How can we have peace in such a time as this?

1.  Learn to fear (meaning, “be in awe”) of God.  See Hebrews 12:28-29; Ephesians 6:5; Philippians 2:12; Proverbs 3:7; 14:27; Matthew 10:28; Psalms 56:11
2. Tell God.  Philippians 4:4-7; Matthew 23:37
3. Trust God.  Acts 22; 2 Corinthians 1:9-10; 2 Timothy 1:12
4. Obey God.  We need to know what God wants us to be like in order to obey Him!  We find this in His Word, the Bible, and in the Living Word, Jesus Christ!  See Acts 18; 19:11, 20

What is the single most common command in the Bible?

Answer:  “Fear not.”

The terms “fear” and “not” appear 129 times in the NKJV and 11 exact phrases shown first at this link.

In my notes at the end of the sermon, I wrote:

Trust in spite of appearances. Fear makes things worse than they are. When we obey God in spite of our fear – that is when we are equipped by God.

Tucker Carlson Tonight

My husband and I both like Tucker Carlson’s show on the Fox News Channel. Tucker often interviews individuals who disagree with him on an issue, then he unleashes a question that often makes his guests squirm. The guest will then resort to his/her own talking points while ignoring the question that Tucker just asked them. The guest may think that he or she is “home free” through bloviating about their particular “cause,” but then Tucker brings them right back to the original question. It is often funny to see the guest try, once again, to drift away from the original question, but Tucker keeps on at it until he runs out of time during the segment.

Last night, Tucker interviewed a woman named Julissa Arce who admitted coming to the U.S. illegally at the young age of 13. Years later, in order to get a job, she made up a “fake” social security number.

WATCH: Tucker Battles Ex-Goldman Sachs Exec Who Came to US Illegally.

Excerpt:

Carlson asked if Arce committed identity theft to get her job, but she said she simply made up the numbers. He noted that falsifying social security documentation is a felony.

Did you read that?  Falsifying social security documentation is a felony!  Why wasn’t this woman held accountable for that?

Excerpt:

She said she did not want to use a fake social security number but said it was one of the only ways for her to get ahead in the business world.

Notice that she completely ignored the fact that she had committed a felony!

Hmmm…I wonder what would have happened to me, a natural-born citizen of the United States of America, if I had “faked a social security number in order to get ahead in the business world?”

Now on to Tucker’s original question that she tried to ignore during  most of the interview.

Excerpt:

Arce said she was fortunate to marry an American and become a citizen, but said Trump’s border wall is a “symbol of hate” toward immigrants and Mexican-Americans.

She said that as a citizen she has the right to speak out against her government’s actions.

Carlson asked if she meant America has no right to protect its borders: “I think I have a right to ask you what you’re talking about,” he said.

He repeatedly asked Arce to what extent the country should secure its borders if the wall is such a ‘hateful’ idea.

Oh yes!  The ole’ “hate card” rears its ugly head once again!  The use of that term is for the purpose of disarming the target of the so-called “hate,” stopping the conversation, and thus side-stepping the real issue.

Here’s another good one.

‘Practice What You Preach’: Tucker Battles Prof Who Wants Higher Taxes For Rich

This one is rich! (no pun intended!) It seems that this so-called professor wants a “true for thee but not for me” scenario when it comes to high income individuals paying 80% of their earnings in taxes!

That is lunacy!

Excerpt:

She said that returning to these high tax rates would ensure a proper social safety net and education system. Tucker Carlson countered that Americans already pay more than most other countries in the world for social programs and schooling.

“Rich people aren’t held to the same standards,” Heldman said. “Taxes are the price we pay for civilization.”

Carlson asked whether the San Diego professor voluntarily paid more in taxes to reach the goal she set for the rich.

When she responded that she instead donates to charities and Planned Parenthood, Carlson asked why she didn’t “practice what you preach.”

Heldman repeated that she was not in the “one-percent” and just an “upper-income” American.

Ah!  I see!  She’s just an “upper-income” American so since she isn’t in the “one-percent” she doesn’t have to give up 80% of her income to taxes!

Sheesh!

People who advocate for higher taxes upon others, but refuse to pay higher taxes themselves are HYPOCRITES!

I highly recommend Tucker’s show. He ends each episode saying, “we are the show that is the sworn enemy of lying, pomposity, smugness and groupthink.”

Love that!

 

Watch past video clips HERE

Hat tips to all links.

Destroy This Temple

Someone had a question about what Jesus meant when he said:

Jhn 2:19

Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

David Guzik has a great commentary on John 2.

I believe that it is often best to read the entire chapter (as well a commentary in link above) in order to understand John 2:19.

Note that the chapter begins with the wedding at Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine.

Guzik writes:

This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

f. This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee: This beginning of signs in the Gospel of John is a miracle of conversion, from the old ways of law, ceremony and purification to the new life of Jesus.

It is interesting to note that the money-changers, where Gentiles were selling wares, was on the outer court of the Temple. This was the only place where Gentiles could enter.

Guzik excerpt:

B. The temple cleansed.

1. (Jhn 2:13-17) Jesus drives out the moneychangers and sellers of expensive “approved” sacrificial animals.

a. The Passover of the Jews was at hand: Jerusalem would be crowded with thousands of visitors coming at Passover. The temple mount would be particularly crowded, and Jesus saw many doing business in the outer courts of the temple.

b. When He had made a whip of cords: When Jesus drove those doing business out of the temple courts, He did not do it in a flash of anger. He carefully took the time to make a whip of cords, and thought carefully about what He would do.

c. He drove them all out … poured out the changers’ money and overturned tables: Why did this offend Jesus so much? The outer courts of the temple were the only place where Gentiles could come and worship. This area (the court of the Gentiles) was made into house of merchandise.

i. Matthew, Mark, and Luke each describe another cleansing of the temple Jesus performed, towards the end of His earthly ministry. In both cases, the presence of these merchants in the temple courts spoiled the only place Gentiles could pray. In addition, their dishonesty made their presence all the worse.

d. John began with a miracle of conversion (changing water into wine). Then he shows Jesus with a work of cleansing (the cleansing of the temple). This is always how Jesus works in His people: conversion, then cleansing. [bold mine]

2. (Jhn 2:18-22) Jesus speaks of a new temple, and its destiny. [bold and italics mine]

So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. ” Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.

a. What sign do You show to us, since You do these things? This wasn’t necessarily a bad question. Anyone who drove out the merchants from the temple courts claimed the authority to do it. The Jews wanted to know if Jesus really had this authority. The problem is that they demanded a sign from Jesus to prove it.

b. Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up: Jesus speaks here of the temple of His body. He probably even gestured to Himself as He said this. Jesus knew that these religious leaders would attempt to destroy His body, but He also knew that they would not succeed.

i. The body of Jesus is still a temple (Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:5).

c. I will raise it up: Who raised Jesus from the dead? Jesus says that He will raise Himself, despite the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses and others. This was a claim no mere man could make, a claim repeated dramatically in John 10:18.

Hat tip:

Blue Letter Bible – David Guzik Commentary on John 2

Church, Family, Lucy and Pasta! Happy Times!

There was so much to love about this past weekend, so I thought I would share part of it in a personal story here at my blog.

On Easter Sunday, my husband and I attended a fairly new church (almost 3 years old) up in Studio City, LA [Legacy City Church] with our daughter, her husband and their 17 month old daughter, Lucy.

Since our son and daughter-in-law were out-of-town, we decided to spend Resurrection Sunday up in LA this year.  Our son had attended this church last year with his sister’s family because I was laid up for 2 weeks with a slow healing pulled muscle in my back, unable to attend church last Easter.  Our son said that the message was very good and biblically based, so we thought we would attend for this year’s Easter message.

Well, we weren’t disappointed! Pastor Josh Thompson delivered an awesome message [See them here: Legacy Church Sermons], the worship music was contemporary and beautiful (two of my favorites):

1. Forever by Kari Jobe

2. What a Beautiful Name it is – The Name of Jesus.

We all sat in the last row so that one of us could take Lucy outside in case she got fussy and wanted to walk around.

When the song “Forever” came on, she was given to me.

As I worshipped Jesus through that song with my sweet granddaughter in my arms, the tears just flowed from my eyes! It was a “first” for me – the first opportunity to sing that worship song with her! She was so good! It was like she loved the song and enjoyed hearing me sing along to it while I was standing, rocking back and forth with her in my arms!

My son-in-law Tyler asked if she was getting heavy and if he should hold her for a while. I said no…I’m fine!  Actually, she didn’t even feel heavy.   That special moment of time will remain with me forever!

Near the end of the service, Tyler took Lucy out again to walk around. After the service was over, I asked my daughter Jenna what time our reservations were at a certain restaurant nearby. She said, “half an hour ago.” Uh oh…we were already a half hour late! Well, we found out that Tyler had taken Lucy to the car and he called the restaurant to tell them that we would be late. They had already given our reservation away! Personally, I was glad. That particular restaurant had a salmonella problem (which Tyler and Jenna didn’t know about)  in recent months and I really didn’t want to go there! Fortunately, an Italian restaurant in the same area had tables open! A prayer answered! I REALLY didn’t want to go to the other place!   I’ve experienced food poisoning before and it took days to recover! We went to the Italian restaurant and we all were so glad we did! The limited menu was reasonably priced and everything was so delicious!

Lucy was getting restless.  When that happens, it’s time to put “Elmie” (what she calls Elmo from Sesame Street!) on the cell phone.  She absolutely loves her Elmie!  Of course, my daughter limits the TV time with her, but it is a life saver while in an elegant restaurant!

As we enjoyed our meals, Tyler took some pasta and cut it up on the table for Lucy. The look on Jenna’s face was one of disbelief as she tried to quietly tell him, “Tyler!!! You are cutting up the food on a cloth tablecloth!” There was red pasta sauce all over Lucy’s spot at the table! When Tyler realized that the usual disposable plastic mat wasn’t put down, he grabbed a plate and put the food on it! We all laughed so hard! It was so funny! Afterwards, he tried to cover the spot with his beige cloth napkin.

When the waitress came over to check on us, she just shrugged it off.  She was so sweet.

We had such a great time all weekend! Spending special holidays with family is the best! And, as our granddaughter grows up, learns more words (“No” is a big one! LOL!) and as she becomes more aware of things, laughs with us, cuddles with us, and interacts with us in new ways, it is just such an absolute joy!

The Message of the Cross

Last evening, my husband and I decided to watch a movie by Martin Scorsese entitled, “Silence.”  It is very long (almost 3 hours) so we didn’t finish watching it.  Perhaps we will finish it tonight.

My first impression was that although this was a movie about Catholic Christian missionaries in 17th century Japan (where Christianity was outlawed and Christians hunted, rounded up, tortured, and then killed in several awful ways), there was something about it that lacked much redeeming value and in fact, proved to be deeply disturbing.  My husband and I hoped that the last portion of the movie would provide more redeeming value, but my sneak preview of the end of the movie proved to be a disappointment.

The following movie review (spoiler alert!) over at The Christian Post asks the question Why Are Christians Praising Scorsese’s ‘Silence’?

Excerpt:

Certainly the notion that Christ would condone apostasy to end someone else’s suffering is deeply problematic.

Jesus left very clear instructions about renouncing Him, saying: “(W)hoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” (Matt. 10:33)

As believers, we know this verse, so the moral Catch-22 in Silence creates a great deal of inner emotional turmoil. We cannot accept the decision Rodrigues made, yet how can we not? This is what makes Silence so potentially treacherous.

Catholic author and editor of Aletia, Daniel McInerny, suggests that Silence raises “the sinister possibility that Christian faith and love are internally conflicted, making a lack of integrity, at least in extreme circumstances, inevitable.”

I agree with McInerny. The movie actually reminded me of a quiz my son was given by a public school teacher, which presented numerous no-win moral dilemmas and then required him to choose. The only purpose I could imagine for the quiz was to undermine a Judeo-Christian ethic, especially since it was given as part of a unit on the Salem Witch Trials.

Silence has this same disastrous potential. It raises a serious theological dilemma, but offers no solution — at least not a biblically viable one.

Read entire review HERE.

I can’t be sure, of course, what went on in the mind of writer of the book that Scorsese adapted into this film. However, my own knowledge of the differences between Roman Catholicism vs. Biblical Christianity give me a hint. Catholicism’s traditions include the concept of “Purgatory,” which is not a biblical belief.  Perhaps this answers the question of the Post writer who asked:

Silence also suggests that one can maintain his faith in complete private, and still be saved. Again, I say suggest because the film doesn’t settle issues; it merely raises them. But what is the viewer supposed to conclude about Rodrigues [Note:  one of the Jesuit priests who denounced his faith later in the movie] clutching a cross at the end?

As we solemnly remember Good Friday, we are reminded that Jesus laid down his life for his friends willingly.  He could have called legions of angels to “rescue” Him from the cross.  If He did that, He would have re-entered heaven alone.   Instead He stayed there to rescue all who would believe in Him from the penalty of their sins.  His sacrificial death was accomplished to defeat eternal death and hell for all human beings who would place their trust in Jesus Christ.

In a comment thread on one of my previous posts, I made the claim that Jesus Christ has fulfilled over 300 Bible prophecies.  There are several yet to be fulfilled at His second coming.  I found a site that lists 353 prophecies fulfilled by Christ!

According to the Scriptures: 353 Prophecies Fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Even with all of this evidence, hardened hearts will still refuse to believe in Jesus!  Amazing…isn’t it?

Why is that?

 1Co 1:18

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Even with proof of fulfilled prophecies by Christ, there are those who will continue to refuse the message of the cross.  So, what exactly is missing in those who refuse being saved by the power of God?

No wonder the Holy Spirit guided Paul to write in Hebrews 11:6 the answer to that question.

Heb 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.