Recently in Politics Category

This is one of the most disturbing things I have ever heard.


Can you believe that? The mother smothered her own child after it was born and gets away with it because it was still attached to her via its umbilical cord. That is cold, calculating murder! How hard-hearted and cruel do you have to be to commit such a crime?

In her own words ...

'When I was working at Planned Parenthood I was extremely pro-choice," [Abby] Johnson told FoxNews.com. But after seeing the internal workings of the procedure for the first time on an ultrasound monitor, "I would say there was a definite conversion in my heart ... a spiritual conversion."

Praise God! I hope that spiritual conversion to a pro-life stance has or will lead to another conversion of the "born again" variety. :)

Funding abortion with tax dollars is unconscionable.

To call this a "phony compromise" as pro-life Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) did is an understatement. What will certainly result from the Capps amendment is a huge check written from the government to the abortion clinics every month.

That was quoted from the Susan B. Anthony List. Pro-Life Democrats even recognize that abortion will be funded in the proposed healthcare reform. DFLA has already spoken out about it as well.

Make your voice heard. Go to www.stoptheabortionmandate.com.

Man, don't you love how you tell yourself you are not going to do something and then the first thing you do is do what you said you were not going to do? Drives me batty! It does. And, I have done it.

I took a hiatus from my blog because of politics. Yep. I get so frustrated reading blogs by "Christians" who idolize certain political leaders and then advocate policies that are not biblical, but claim they somehow have the lotto holdings on Christianity. And I put that in quotes because honestly, I don't think some of them are genuine follows of Christ but also because I don't know if they are or not.

I have a hard time reconciling how anyone can be against abortion and then be against the very programs that help women carry their children to term and care for them, like medicaid, food stamps, WIC, daycare assistance, subsidized housing and student loans.

I don't understand people who claim to be so patriotic and all about supporting our soldiers, but then they don't support veterans programs that help our men and women get the medical care they need. Some are disabled and need more than just medical care, like subsidized housing and other programs that help those who need help caring for themselves.

I don't understand how someone can claim to be a bible-believing Christian and then think it is totally appropriate for us to ignore that we are supposed to be caring for God's creation.

None of that makes sense to me. I can't even wrap my mind around it, it is so illogical to me. And, so I end up back in the very same conversations again and again. To me it is not about whether you are a Democrat or a Republican. Really. I vote for both pretty much equally. The issue for me is the hypocrisy of it all.

And I will just be blunt about it. This is how I feel ...

If you have a problem with some of our tax dollars going to care for the poor ... then you have a spiritual issue. Because honestly, I don't see how you can be a follower of Christ and think that it is perfectly okay for people to starve. For children to eat out of dumpsters. For the elderly to be homeless and alone with no one to care for them. For babies to be sick and hungry and no help to be found.

If you are more concerned with big business than you are God's creation, then you have your priorities messed up. If you think it is okay for businesses to pollute our water supply and rape our forests because it is all about the almighty dollar ... then you worship that money and not God.

If at anytime you are more concerned with yourself than you are others, you need to reevaluate your beliefs because nowhere in the Bible does it tell you that is okay. If you concern yourself more with patriotism and nationalism than you do what your Bible says, you have issues.

You know, I wish there was a real Christian political force in this country. Our country isn't far behind Europe and godlessness is becoming rampant. But a bunch of hypocrites screaming about welfare isn't going to change that. People hear what we say. They judge us by what comes out of our mouths and we aren't converting anyone by acting like a bunch of selfish hypocrites that talk about Jesus out the side of our mouth while we act anything but Christ-like. We tend to forget that there are a lot of unbelievers out there that know the Bible pretty well. So ... they know what it says about those things.

So, there it is. Maybe now I can talk about other things for awhile. God has been doing some amazing things in my life. Evangelism is becoming more and more important to me. I would like to spend more time on that. We will see ... I guess. :)

From the DFLA newsletter:

DFLA ENCOURAGED BY MAYO CLINICS FINDINGS

DFLA is carefully noting the findings of a physician who works for the prestigious Mayo Clinic.  Dr. W. Harms, a Mayo Clinic obstetrician and medical editor-in-chief, says abortions can cause women problems with subsequent pregnancies.

Canadian researcher Brent Rooney says the information is important for women who are considering abortions because a weak cervix can lead to premature birth in subsequent pregnancies and that can lead to problems for future unborn children, such as cerebral palsy. When the 'gate' (i.e. cervix) to a woman's womb is weak (i.e. 'incompetent cervix'), it will open too early during the pregnancy leading to a preterm birth," he explained. "Thus, when [Harms] admits that surgical abortions can weaken a women's cervix, [he] implicitly conceded that surgical abortions boost the risk of a 'preemie' having cerebral palsy." Although such a risk is rare, Rooney says it is important given that one in every 410 children born in the United States are later diagnosed with the condition.

In 2007, Rooney teamed up with Dr. Byron Calhoun and Dr. Elizabeth Shadigian to release a study that showed that 1,096 newborns under 32 weeks' gestation who had cerebral palsy, was caused by their mother's prior abortion(s). Under DFLA's Pregnant Women's Support Act, this and other valuable information could be provided to women who are considering an abortion.  The hope is that when women and families are facing an unplanned or crisis pregnancy that they will have the facts that will help more women carry their pregnancy to term.

And we need to make sure that there are programs that will help these women carry their babies to term. With growing Republican sentiment to abolish welfare programs, many women will feel more pressure to abort their babies and that is the last thing we want. We want to make sure these women have the support they need to bring their babies to term and to care for them.

Whew! The rhetoric gets pretty loud these days. Politics and faith. Politics and faith ... faith and politics. It is a subject most of us, at least those of us who are smart, try to stay away from. It can get heated. Brothers and sisters in Christ can really start behaving as if Christ did not exist at all. Especially once they figure out that who they are talking to either does not subscribe to the same party line as they do or doesn't go for all that "extremist" stuff.

It can get really nasty.

And, honestly the whole thing fascinates me and repulses me all at the same time.

It fascinates me because it is like this big brain-washing beam came down and attached itself on our Christian heads and began to pour things into our brains like all Democrats are evil, all Democrats are far-left liberals, only true Christians are Republicans, and any person or thing that is not Republican is evil.

It repulses me because I think politics divides the brethren far more than theology does and theology matters far more than politics.

It is something I am getting used to though. Sad, but true.

I have tried to not discuss politics. I know where the conversations can get you. I know how people can act. But, try as I might, I end up responding to some political statement or another on some blog or on Facebook. I usually beat myself up for it later. I know what is going to happen. I will say that I support a healthy welfare system and why it benefits our society and then next thing you know ... other "Christians" will join in and sound beyond ugly with their "let the poor starve and die" commentary that just sounds so Christ-like and leaves all the non-believers talking about how "un-Christian" they sound because Jesus said to care for the poor and they obviously don't.

Today, it was over Obama's speech. All I heard all day long was how Obama is Hitler reincarnated and how we shouldn't let him brainwash our kids and so on and so on and so on. Then John Piper posts about the speech and talks about how good it was, common grace and I am like, "Whew! I am glad I didn't fall for the Hitler stuff." Then I go read the comments to that post and I think, "Wow! Even John Piper gets it when he goes against the status quo of the 'Democrats are Evil' party line." I am not alone!

Makes me feel a little better. :)

Though, really ... I am fine with it. There have been times when I have considered going under the Independent umbrella, but you know ... there is no use. I am who I am who I am and that is a Pro-Life Democrat. I believe in caring for the poor, the disabled, the child, and the elderly. And, I believe in taking care of God's creation. I don't agree with every aspect of the party line, but that is okay too. I disagree with the other side far more it seems and on some serious issues that I just won't give on. Number One being that only Republicans are the real Christians and everyone else is just faking it.

Anywho ... I will give President Obama credit where credit is due. That was a good speech today and there are many children out there that needed to hear it. Good for him! Too bad there aren't more parents out there encouraging their children to be responsible for their own behaviors and choices. If there were, the president probably wouldn't have needed to address our children in the first place.

Addendum: I got an email reminding me that Ronald Reagan addressed the children of his day and he did! I remember that. So did George H.W. Bush. Hmmm. I don't remember everyone calling them "Hitler" for doing it though.

Can we spell H Y P O C R I S Y? 

From the DFLA newsletter:

FACTCHECK.ORG AGREES WITH DFLA'S ASSERTIONS - ABORTION INCLUDED IN HEALTHCARE REFORM

A nonpartisan web site that routinely serves as a watchdog for public officials, the media and political groups says Congressional Democrats have it wrong when they say abortion funding is not authorized in the new health care reform bill.

FactCheck.org says the current health care plans pending in Congress do authorize abortion funding, contrary to some Congressional Democrat's claims otherwise.

The FactCheck web site, run by staff at the University of Pennsylvania, says "it's true that House and Senate legislation would allow a new 'public' insurance plan to cover abortions." FactCheck also verifies assertions recently made by DFLA when it noted in a past update that the public plan will pay for abortions "so long as the plans took in enough private money in the form of premiums paid by individuals or their employers.

FactCheck.org concluded "As for the House bill as it stands now, it's a matter of fact that it would allow both a 'public plan' and newly subsidized private plans to cover all abortions."

This must be stopped. I am all for healthcare reform, but funding abortion with tax dollars is unconscionable. I wouldn't give someone money for an abortion and I do not want the government using my money to pay for them either.

You know sometimes when I am reading through the blogs I have in Bloglines or in my Google Reader, I realize that the enemy has declared a mighty victory against us. All you have to do is read blogs by Christians that have politics as a primary focus and you soon see that he has us so busy being ugly about partisan politics that there is no way we are doing what we are actually called to do ... which is spread the Gospel.

No where in the Bible are we called to be political commentators.

You can't bring anyone to Christ spending the majority of your time talking smack about every politician who doesn't subscribe to your personal political movement of choice. I am not saying that Christians should never discuss politics or blog about it, but it should be obvious you are a follower of Christ and not your latest political crush.

A lot of things have been said today about Prop 8 being upheld. Some of it has been real ugly ... on both sides. I think the best comment I have heard and read came from Tony Miano ...

While I am glad the California Supreme Court has upheld Prop 8, I do NOT believe a single heart will be turned to God through legislation. And to any professing Christian who plans to take to the streets today to celebrate a political victory, remember this. God has commanded you to fight FOR the souls of people and to LOVE your enemies. Evangelize the lost. Don't politicize them. Preach the gospel!

Amen! Gloating and acting ugly does not become anyone nor does it endear you to those you are supposed to be reaching for Christ.

Today has been something else. All day I have listened as Conservatives have cried that President Obama was ignoring the National Day Of Prayer. I even found a link about how the National Day of Prayer is in danger and it asks you to sign a petition asking the President to acknowledge the importance of it. Then I find out that not only did Obama sign the proclamation for the NDOP but White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said he would do so on Tuesday.

So, why all the fuss?

Well, it appears President Obama went back to the days before President Bush and just signed the proclamation instead of having a big public ceremony ... so that makes him a bad, bad man.

I guess it doesn't matter that not only has the President asked the judge to dismiss the lawsuit filed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which claims the day violates the separation of church and state ... but that his administration has also argued that the group doesn't even have legal standing to sue since the tradition dates back to 1775 and that most presidents have invoked faith in God. No, that isn't enough. They wanted him to have numerous ceremonies costing even more money to show he cared about the day.

See ... it is all about priorities. Spending money to care for the poor is encouraging laziness, stealing money from taxpayers, and evil socialism. But, taking your money to spend on ceremonies showing how religious he and you are is just plain good stewardship.

I am glad we cleared that up. 

From Feeding America:

With one in eight Americans not getting enough to eat, hunger is a serious issue in our country.

On Wednesday, April 29, First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden, and the spouses of 150 Members of Congress helped raise hunger awareness by spending the day packing lunches for hungry children at the Capital Area Food Bank.

This is a critical time to spread the word about hunger in America. Both American families and the food banks that help them are struggling with the economic downturn. In this tough time, Feeding America is working with those committed to ending hunger--like Mrs. Obama--to help those who are in need.

Feeding America greatly appreciates the First Lady's ongoing commitment to fighting hunger, and the President's commitment to ending childhood hunger by 2015. Will you join President and Mrs. Obama in this fight? To become a Feeding America Hunger Advocate, please visit our Hunger Action Center today!

Ending hunger, regardless of where it is found, is a worthy cause. Prayerfully consider partnering with an organization like Feeding America in this endeavor.

Don't feel bad, Shane ... I have been a terrorist since 2004. Don't believe me? I have the post to prove it. :)