The United States of America–The twilight of a once great nation

There was a time when if the President of the United States spoke things to the world such as have been said recently, such a President would be tried for treason and if convicted be put to death.  Of course times such as those no longer exist in the mad dash to destroy any credibility this country had remaining after the fiascos of the past twenty years.

Every President who has taken office since George Washington recites the following oath at their inauguration:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

A President is under oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.  What does the Constitution say the President’s job involve.  Article II sections 2 and 3 lay out the authority and responsibilities of the President of the United States.  Anything a President does now that is not within the Constitution has either arisen through amendments, legislation, executive orders or tradition.  Herein lays the problem.

A President can fulfill his obligations as laid out in the oath of office and spelled out Article II of the Constitution and still be a traitor because so much of what a President now does is NOT spelled out in the document he is obliged to preserve, protect and defend.  Under the broad blanket of “Commander in Chief”, a President can do just about anything he wants.  Outside of an actual declaration of war, a President can command troops be sent to fight battles all over the world without Congressional approval.

Many years ago Presidents started putting more and more emphasis on “Executive Orders” and less on the specifics of what the Constitution says.  President Nixon was the first to more or less conduct the nation’s business via executive orders and most presidents since have done the same.  When a President feels he cannot get Congress to approve his requests, he can usually find a way around such a roadblock through orders and proclamations issued through his office.

When the President and the majorities of both Houses of Congress are of the same party there remains little, if anything to block the full and total passage into law of whatever is desired by that party.  Politicians who feel they are popular enough to withstand criticism or who do not face re-election for a number of years become very bold and outspoken in their plans.  When this happens, with either party in control, sweeping changes take place in American government.

President Franklin Roosevelt had this ability in the 1930’s, and he used it to enact more Federal programs and changes to American society than any president before him.  President Lyndon Johnson again had this same ability and he used it to launch his “Great Society” welfare state in the 1960’s.  Although he didn’t have control of the House of Representatives, President Ronald Reagan had enough of a mandate given to him through the election in 1980 as well as control of the Senate to push through a conservative agenda unequalled before or since.

As significant as these times in the past were, they pale in comparison to what has happened and is getting ready to happen in this country NOW.  Despite only winning the general election by a very modest amount of votes, President Obama is capitalizing on the huge majorities his party holds in Congress to totally change America once and for all.  Whether the changes being instituted are the “change we can believe in” that enchanted the multitudes during the campaign, they are coming fast and furious regardless of whether they were wanted or not.

The changes in foreign policy, monetary matters, business, moral issues, the environment and health care are huge.  These are not just little tweaks to the system; these represent a whole new system.  By the time the crown jewel of change (nationalized health care) is slammed through Congress this fall, pretty much the America we knew just a year ago will be gone with the wind.  What we will find starting in 2010 is State run health care, media, business and education.  Those who oppose will be in jeopardy of being traitors and national security risks.

American foreign policy will soon become one of total pacification.  Give everyone exactly what they want and they will leave us alone is the philosophy ruling American decisions abroad.  Doing everything possible to make the USA out to being the evil monster responsible for all the world’s woes is allowing ruthless dictators to arise and conquer helpless people in nation after nation.  To say that a country such as the USA has no right to be powerful or assert her influence on other countries (except Israel) would have been in the past cause for impeachment.

It is time to wake up and realize that the United States of America as it was only a few years ago is quietly slipping into oblivion.  The nation that is quickly arising is one lacking strength and resolve to be anything other than a spectator in world events.  The new USA may still win gold medals in the Olympics, but will have even fewer friends than now due to being perceived as an international weakling.  God help us all as we transition into this new World Order.

The train has left the station and the wreck in right around the corner

This slow death by strangulation is too much to bear.  I would rather simply be knocked unconscious and awakened when it is all over.  I cannot stand this Chinese water torture any longer.  Why can’t they just play their trump card and end this madness?

Anyone on the Republican or conservative side knows the end is near.  The only reason their pundits keep talking so much is to make their big bucks on talk radio before it is shut down.  Can you blame them for wanting to make a few more millions before taxes take them all away?

My guess is that the powers that be are simply waiting for the official declaration of Al Franken as winner of the Minnesota Senate race before the fireworks begin.  Once the Democratic super majority is in place, the Republicans are relegated to the status of troublemakers, whiners, obstructionists and permanent minority party.

We all know what is coming , so why drag it out?  Nationalized health care, cap and trade policies for the environment, dismantling of the military, strong arm tactics against those opposing all this stuff, fairness doctrine and countless moves to legalize sin of all kinds are on the horizen.  With no one to stop all this stuff, it will shortly become law along with the nationalization of business after business and the systematic stripping of wealth from the old rich to give to the new poor.

The train has left the station and all the blockades in the world are not going to stop it.  They may temporarily slow it down, but this train won’t stop until it reaches its duly appointed station which is the turning of the United States of America into just another socialistic state under the control of the UN, the IMF and whatever other international agency that wants what is left of this once proud land.

Did you notice the Chinese have pretty well stopped buying Treasury Bonds?  If that isn’t a sure sign that the end of America as it has been known for the last century is near, I don’t know what is.  I hope you like train rides and ultimately train wrecks, for that is where we are heading very soon.

The short memory of the American population

Talk about short memories; I think most Americans have totally forgotten how despite ample warning signs, we were constantly being told “all is well” with the economy all the way until the bottom fell out last October. Here are a few examples. One year ago today, this was the leading headline:

FEDS SAY NO RECESSION; ECONOMY GROWS 0.6%

The Fed had just finished their meeting and announced that despite two straight quarters of growth well under 1%, there was no recession, and probably would not be one. Here is an example:

“Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, earlier this month, acknowledged for the first time that a recession this year was possible.”

Is the all wise chairman of the Fed Mr. Bernanke really so dense and uneducated that at this time a year ago he was still not sure a recession was coming? Is this really the kind of “leader” we want overseeing the entire financial realm in this country? Anyone who would believe that the recession caught the Fed off guard needs to go back to sleep and wake up again in twenty years.

Just one year ago everyone was appalled that the unemployment rate was so high. How high was it? Here is a line from a story written one year ago today:

“During the first three months of this year, job losses neared the staggering quarter-million mark. The unemployment rate has climbed to 5.1 percent and is expected to move higher in the coming months.”

Hmmm, I wonder if it did go higher. The US unemployment rate rose to a new 25-year high of 8.5 percent in March 2009. From 5.1% to 8.5% in one year; yes, I would say that it did go a little higher.

One year ago we were just starting to see the effects of the run up of oil and gasoline prices. All eyes were on inflation as the price of gasoline, milk, wheat and corn were skyrocketing. One year ago the price for crude oil was around $118. This was considered at the time to be so high it could never be sustained. Guess what, by July 4^th, the price was up to $145 and it could not be sustained at that level.

Right now, on April 30^th, 2009 oil is trading at $51 per barrel after dropping as low as $36.51 in January. If the economy is bad now, which it is, imagine what it would be like if oil was still at close $150 per barrel and gas prices were near $5 per gallon instead of under $2?

The point of all this is that somebody knew something long ago but they were not taking about it. I refuse to believe all the wild and crazy things which have taken place the past year in the economy just “happened” and all the king’s horses and all the king’s men never saw it coming.

For what it is worth, I bet very few people knew this fact. Last year the Dow closed at 8,258.13 on April 30^th. As of this moment on April 30^th, 2009, the Dow is at 8,288.79. Incredibly, despite massive lay offs and the demolition of thousands of businesses and constant bail outs of the big banks—the Dow is at the same point it was a year ago. What this means I do not know other than the clear truth that somebody somewhere knows a heck of a lot more about what has gone on, is going on and is to go on than they are letting us know about.

My four month ordeal of trying to get my heart fixed right

Back in 1997 I went from being in pretty good health to having major medical problems in a matter of a few months. Starting in early June of that year and going through December 22^nd, I was subjected to eight heart catheterizations and the placement of six stents in the right coronary artery. Additionally I developed sudden onset asthma which was not controlled by anything. Later it was determined that the asthma was an allergic reaction to the aspirin I was prescribed to take.

In March of 2008 while in Wichita, KS helping out after my dad’s stroke, I was rushed to the hospital where two days later double heart by-pass surgery was performed. Instead of solving all my problems, complications from the surgery compounded them over the course of the next few years. Two trips to Mayo Clinic in Minnesota failed to correct anything and in fact a misdiagnosis of the problems made things worse in 2000.

As suddenly as the problems appeared they pretty much disappeared by around 2002. In 2004 I had my 15^th heart catheterization and was pronounced to be in excellent shape heart wise. By 2006 my cardiologist said I was free to live without worry concerning my heart issues for they had all stabilized and presented no problems. In 2007 he gave me the green light to do whatever I felt like doing exercise wise with no fear of hurting myself.

In November of 2008 I started having chest pains for the first time in perhaps 5 years. After a stress test, the cardiologist determined that to be safe I needed a heart catheterization which took place on January 22^nd of this year. Much to the cardiologist’s dismay and surprise, instead of finding nothing wrong, he found one of the grafts from my 1998 by-pass was almost totally clogged and another major artery had two places well over 75% blocked.

Due to fears of needing surgical backup, I went to another hospital on February 11^th (with another doctor) to have a huge stent placed to fix the blockage in the graft. This was a very serious procedure and demanded the utmost of skill to be done right. Thankfully it went exactly as planned and to this day there have been no complications. Praise God.

Instead of sending me home the next day per normal protocol, the doctor was persuaded by others to keep me in the hospital and transition me to Warfarin (blood thinner). Five days later, the blood was still not sufficiently thinned so when the doctor returned from a vacation he decided to go ahead and place the other stents in the second artery instead of waiting a few months as originally planned.

The placement of the second and third stents on February 17 was a disaster. Nothing went as planned including the placement of the stents. Unlike after the first stent, the next day I felt horrible instead of better. I was abruptly discharged on February 19^th in the evening with no instructions to speak of. By February 28^th I could not breathe and felt like I had pneumonia. I went to the emergency room expecting a dose of antibiotics.

After a CT scan of the lungs, it was determined that I had a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung) from lying around the hospital for 8 days. I was immediately admitted and put on a very high dose of Heparin and Coumadin. I was finally discharged on March 4^th. The next week, March 9-13^th, I had doctor’s appointments, trips to the clinic to monitor the blood and a trip to the Emergency Room. The next week I had doctor’s appointments or procedures done 4 of the 5 days.

I saw finally saw my regular cardiologist again on March 18^th who was very concerned about my condition. He ordered various tests and upon seeing him again on April 1^st he determined yet another heart catheterization was needed, and it was scheduled for April 22^nd. He did this although he again didn’t think anything would show up. Just as it happened back in 1997, everyone assumed my chest pains and other symptoms were either in my mind or something not related to my heart. Just as in 1997-98, the doctors were wrong.

Starting April 8^th, I started having crushing pain in my chest upon walking. My entire physical condition suddenly deteriorated and by Friday, April 10^th, I was told to check into the local hospital through the ER for a heart catheterization on Monday, April 13^th. I spent Easter weekend in the miserable state of being in a hospital arguing with doctors and nurses about whether anything was wrong with me even as I had constant chest pain.

The heart catheterization on April 13^th once again shocked the cardiologist. It showed that the second and third stents placed in February had failed. One was only about 70% blocked, but the other was initially thought to be 99% blocked. The substitute cardiologist doing the procedure said he could place new stents, but with no surgical backup there was about a 20% chance of a major heart attack resulting in probable death.

Not liking the 20% odds, the only other option was to go by ambulance to another hospital in the county which was much bigger and did have surgical backup. Thankfully, my regular cardiologist was there and agreed to do heart catheterization number 20. He placed three more stents on April 13^th during the second heart catheterization on that day.

I now have one artery with 6 stents from 1997, another one with one and now a third one with 5 stents. As the cardiologists told me the next day, no more stents can be placed in that artery. If these medicated stents fail (and if they do it is usually after 8 or 9 months), I must have emergency by-pass surgery which I have been told I am not a good risk for.

Here in a nutshell is my life for the past few months: Three hospital stays of 9 days in February, 5 days in March and 5 days in April, five heart catheterizations since January, an increase in prescription medication from 8 to 16 drugs, 4 CT scans and numerous know it all doctors and nurses who either told me nothing was wrong with me or that I would die in two days if I didn’t take the medication they prescribed.

Needless to say, the constant procedures and stays in the hospital have produced unbelievable stress for both my wife and me along with our financial situation going from bad to disastrous. Just the drugs I take amount to hundreds of dollars per month. Adding in the never ending co-pays for doctor’s visits along with the $750 per visit co-pay for each stay in the hospital— the situation is not pleasant.

My wife is just now getting better from numerous stress related ailments (heart rhythm problems along with other woes) brought on by last four months. This week I finally start a prolonged round of cardiac rehabilitation. The hope is that through the various drugs, exercise and prayer we can see these last three stents work as they are supposed to and come next Thanksgiving I am enjoying the holiday and not being rushed to the hospital for emergency by-pass surgery because the medication was finished.

I thank you for your prayers and support through these most difficult of times. I am finally starting to feel better and for that I am thankful. But, the impact the past three months has had on our financial situation is another story. Any prayers for some miracles in that realm would be greatly appreciated and needed. We have a BIG God who has watched over us before and we are persuaded He will continue to provide for our needs. Thank you for listening and praying and I hope this summarizes what has happened in such a way that there remains no stone unturned.

Mercyman 53

When will the compromising ever stop?

What does it mean for the office of the President of the United States to demand that a prominent Catholic University cover and otherwise remove all references to Jesus for the President to present a policy speech there? The first question that logically arises is why chose to use a religious facility for a public policy speech? Secondly, why be so horribly ashamed of the letters IHS which are used by Catholics to signify Jesus Christ?

I understand the whole separation of church and state argument, and I also understand the ongoing debate over what are the true religious feelings of our President. But, the question still remains first and foremost; why is a Catholic University forced to for all practical purposes turn itself into a secular institution to accommodate the fears of an office that their President be looked at as a Christian?

If the President is ashamed to be associated with Jesus Christ, he should simply make his feelings known and handle the backlash, whatever it may be. When politicians start playing both ends against the middle, especially with religion, the outcome is going to be bad. The President has the right to believe whatever he chooses, the same way we all do. But, he has no right to demand a facility cover up its beliefs in Jesus so as to not “offend” non Christians who might be watching.

If the current outpouring of junk continues from this administration towards Christians, and especially conservative oriented Christians, there is going to be a backlash. For anyone displaying an anti abortion bumper sticker to be labeled a potential terrorist is scary to the say the least. To mark and label returning veterans as potential terrorists is insanity. To simply lump anyone who doesn’t believe as you do as a potential terrorist will surely split this country in half as the events yesterday displayed.

It is very doubtful that Texas will really secede from the Union but to even be talking publically about it displays a level of displeasure with government that hasn’t been around since 1860. God forbid this country disintegrates into another civil war, but at the rate things are going, that is a distinct possibility. There are still millions upon millions of God fearing unashamed Christians in this country who are not going to simply cease speaking and teaching Jesus just because the Gospel might offend a non Christian.

Situations like the one yesterday at Georgetown University make me sick to my stomach. This kind of hypocrisy on the part of both the government and the university speaks loudly that this once great Republic could be on its last legs. When is someone going to display some intestinal fortitude and just say NO when forced to compromise principle to accommodate politics? Notre Dame couldn’t muster such fortitude and now Georgetown can’t either. What is next, for the Pope to visit and be told he can’t wear his Holy attire or cross himself lest it offend someone?

For what purpose are we here on this earth?

I have not posted on this site for quite awhile due to physical problems which had to be addressed. Now, after spending ten days in a hospital waiting for my blood to thin enough to allow the three new stents placed in my heart to not clog up; I am finally ready to again post on this site.

I have had ample time to consider many things over the past few weeks, not the least of which is attempting to answer the greatest question anyone can ask, which is “why are we here?” If a survey were taken of 1,000 people asking them why they are on this earth, I am sure there would be little agreement on an answer. In other words, the true answer to this question lies in the individual views of the one answering the question.

For many people, the main reason they have to “carry on” is either financial or family oriented. Many times these two things are so intertwined that they become one and the same. Millions upon millions of people wake up every morning to go to work to earn a paycheck to pay the mortgage and provide food for their family. This goes on for 50 years or so and then they retire to go play with their grandchildren.

Is our purpose in this life really only to make money to in turn spend it on spouses, children or ourselves? Is this really the grand design and reason for our being? Does every child born into this world have nothing else to look forward to in this life than 12 years of school (or 16 or more), 50 years of work and a few years of golf before the wheels fall off physically? Is the greatest reward to be earned in this life really only a nice house and a big family?

For the vast majority of this world’s population, there is really nothing else to explain life than the daily ordeal of doing what is needed to survive. Those of us living in the superficial prosperity of the West fail to understand that billions of people wake up each day not knowing for sure where the means will come from to live another day. Truly the biggest motivation for most people to live is the will to survive. That is why in many countries and cultures those who are weak are quickly forgotten and left to die.

The great scheme currently being promoted is one of “spreading the wealth around”. Through socialism and communism, the idea is to take from the rich and give to the poor thus creating a level playing field for everyone. Of course this sounds fantastic to those at the bottom of the socio-economic pile but for those at the top, it is the worst of all scenarios.

Whether it is right to force those who have succeeded in making a lot of money to share it with those who have not is open to debate. If those with the means would simply give to those who don’t, then there would be no problem. But, those with the means many times hoard what they have and not do not share but continue to get more and more. Yet, is the answer really to tax or otherwise force those who have an abundance to subsidize those who have little?

The only fair and equitable way of collecting money to run a government of other organization is to impose the same flat rate on everyone the way sales tax does today. If everyone paid the same rate, then no one could claim they are being singled out to give more than anyone else. If everyone had to pay 8% of their income in taxes, then the playing ground would be level for all.

What difference does it make to tell the wealthy to pay 35% of their income and then allow shelters and other ways for them to hide their assets so they end up paying less than many at the 15% rate? Why not simply tell everyone they must pay a set percentage of their income and provide no shelters or credits or other silly ways to provide escape routes for those who can afford good accountants or attorneys to find them.

No one likes paying sales tax, but as long as everyone has to pay it, then one can complain that much. Those who make little buy little and pay little in tax. Those who make much, buy much and pay much in sales tax. Certainly the sales tax on a 5 million dollar yacht is just as much of a burden to the one with the means as the sales tax on a 50 dollar item is to those without.

There must obviously be something greater to account for life than just making a living. That purpose is of course, in my mind, to love God and share His love with others. Herein lies the great reason for drawing breath. All else is vanity and shortsighted to say the least.

The Last Charge of God’s Light Brigade is Mounting Up–Are You In?

It appears by all indications that 2009 is the year something of profound importance spiritually is going to take place in this world. With leaders handpicked by those in the upper echelons of power, the world reeling under the pressure of recession and more and more people feeling like finally a man is in control in the United States who can change everything for the better; it certainly looks like a classic case of the enemy getting ready to play his trump card.

If this is true and the enemy is planning to implement his longstanding plan to institute a one world government, financial system and religion; those who know the truth from the Bible better get their heads screwed on straight quickly for there will not be time once events start happening at breakneck speed.

Neither I nor anyone else knows for sure what is going on in the hallowed halls of Washington, the plush offices of New York or the stuffy enclaves of Europe; but it certainly appears that all the individual pieces of the puzzle have been put in place and now it is time to start putting the puzzle together. Never before, in modern recorded history has there been such a confluence of power brokers along with crisis after crisis in need of someone to diffuse them as the present.

Without question and with no hesitation I can say with full assurance that the man governing the United States gives every indication of being the perfect candidate for the antichrist. Up and down the line, he measures up to the criteria laid out in the Bible for this ultimate powerbroker. If he continues to succeed in what he has managed to get done the first week in power much longer, then I believe anyone who believes we are living in the “end times” must awake and honestly evaluate who this man may REALLY be.

In trying to put together the records given by Paul, Peter, John and Jesus along with the Old Testament prophets, it is very hard to develop an ironclad timeline of specific events which are to take place leading up to and during the final week of Daniel’s prophecy. There are certainly some things which are undeniable and indisputable, but there are also many other things which are very difficult to assign a specific time and place as to their occurrence.

Last March I had a dream which shook me to the very depths of my soul. I rarely receive dreams which have any spiritual significance, but this one did. The basic elements of this dream were that a cloud of darkness would overspread the United States and cause panic and fear and finally immobilize the masses and turn them into subservient subjects. I honestly thought at the time this cloud of darkness was either weather related or the effects of a nuclear attack.

I now know this dream of impending darkness dealt with the collapse of the American economy as it had been known. I now know that the darkness that is overspreading this land is that which is being caused by the deliberate dismantling of the free enterprise system (otherwise known as capitalism) and replacing it with a forced version of socialism and/or fascism. All that has gone on is going on and will go on is not by accident but by deliberate design to break down American families and businesses to the point they must abide by government dictates in order to survive.

All the trash talk about “economic stimulus” packages and the like is all a smoke screen to cover up the truth of what is really happening. All symbolic meetings such as went on yesterday in Washington are part of a cleverly conceived plan to convince the public that what is being debated and voted on in Congress is legitimate when in reality it is as contrived and illegitimate as anything promoted and developed by the devil and his human associates.

There is no doubt in my mind that we are eyewitnesses to the events which are ushering in the “last days”. There is no doubt in my mind that there is about to be a rapid fire succession of events which will appear to produce unparalleled peace and prosperity for a season in this world. There is also no doubt in my mind that those of us who wholeheartedly believe in the rapture of the church will soon be taken from this cesspool of iniquity called the world and transported to our eternal home in the heavenlies.

I am fully aware of the controversy surrounding statements such as I just made. I am fully aware that merely saying them arouses pure venom and hatred within some who vehemently deny any of these things will ever take place. I understand that others feel just as strongly that all is going to be fine and God will establish His Kingdom on earth via the hard work of His people preaching the gospel and building churches. To each they must establish what they believe and then abide by it.

As for me and my household, I look at the unrelenting trials and tribulations which have befallen so many good and honest believers recently as the final testing by God to establish who is worthy to be considered the remnant which will participate in the marriage supper soon to start. Those whose trust and confidence is in this world and/or their church or themselves will never receive the call to appear before the Lord in the air to be taken to the place where we will enjoy the wedding feast.

While the overwhelming majority of Christians will be somewhat aware that a few “freaks” have vanished from their company, they will go on living the same as before assuming their own abilities or the power of their government will save them from any horrible things that might arise. They will rejoice as they see apparent peace in the Middle East, harmony among nations and the restoration of prosperity again. To them, all will indicate they were right all along.

But, just when they say “peace and safety” sudden destruction will come upon them as labor upon a woman with child. Seemingly from out of the blue, peace will turn to war, harmony to discord and prosperity to poverty. As the world collapses around them, they will only then remember the words of those “freaks” who warned such a thing would happen. But, alas, it is too late and they must come to grips with the realization the great tribulation is upon them.

It is not too late to get your heart right with God and totally commit yourself to Him. It is not too late to once and for all break away from the systems of this world and find the freedom that comes to those who fully and totally trust in the Lord and not in man. It is not too late to bow down before the Lord and repent once and for all of everything that has prevented you from living in the presence of the Lord. It is not too late to fully turn your heart, soul and life over to Him who saved you and called you with a holy calling.

I beseech you to consider these words carefully and weigh them in your heart against the sense knowledge “hope” that somehow things are going to get better in this world through the works of men and women sold out to those who control this world. What takes place in this world in the days and weeks ahead is exactly what God will allow to happen which in turn will lead to the most dramatic seven years in the history of mankind.

As for me and my household, we are committed to doing whatever it takes to speak the truth in love so others can hear of what is coming. We are committed to no longer compromising with the world on matters of heart and loyalty. We are committed to placing our faith totally in God and with full confidence yielding to His sovereign will. We are committed to never turning back to the weak and worthless elements of this world. We are committed to serving Him with all our hearts until He calls us home.

I pray you take stock of your situation and make sure your heart is right before God and that the affairs of this life have not so beaten you down that you have unconsciously compromised your faith by yielding to the demands of this world. I pray you return to your first love and allow your heart to rest in the everlasting loving arms of your Savior and Lord. I pray you lay aside every weight and the sin which does so easily distract us and weigh us down.

I pray that in these final hours of these final days that each and every one of us neglect not the gift God has placed within us and instead stir up that gift into the flame of compassionate outreach to others who are falling away faster and faster each day. I pray that no matter what the enemy does to tear down, distract or apply pressure; we all stand fast in the faith, unswerving and unashamed of the Gospel of Christ Jesus which is our very life.

We only have a little time to put on the armor of light and raise the standard of Jesus Christ one last time to this dying world. Soon, and very soon, that light will be gone as those bearing it will be taken out of the way so the son of perdition may have “his day”. Soon, and very soon, those who remain will face the full force of a world gone totally mad for a season. The hour of our message being needed is NOW and so is the hour of our decision to rise above our personal woes and move out as God’s last brigade of light and hope to a world who desperately needs us.

Oink, Oink–The upcoming Pork invasion in the economic stimulus package

If there were such a thing a “truth detector”, the readings would be setting off all sorts of alarms based on the insanity flowing from our nation’s capital. Things being said and promoted are so far off the chart of logic that I wonder if there are really any people who believe them. We truly live in a time when most ideas and decisions are literally upside down from the way they should be, and far removed from what the majority of people really want.

I would tend to agree with some who have stated that the rash of executive decisions announced the past week are nothing more than “pay back” to special interest groups whose help was needed to get the current crop of politicians elected. The same thing happened in reverse eight years ago which reversed what happened back sixteen years ago. Each new administration seems to feel it has the right to abruptly change those policies it doesn’t agree with and that can be done via Executive Order, as quickly as possible.

Where this policy is to be expected, some of the other moves by the new administration should be raising eyebrows and sending warning signals to those seeking rational and objective leadership. Of course many think it is a good thing that one by one the agenda of the “right” is dismantled and replaced with a radical agenda that is predominantly “leftward leaning”. I really don’t see why this should surprise anyone and I don’t know how different things would have been if the November election results would have been reversed.

The point is that in many different categories, things will be radically different than they were before as Congress starts the process of pushing through key elements of the new administration’s plans for “change”. Whether desired or not, these elements are on the way and will start showing up soon in areas affecting all of us. Whether we like these changes or not makes little difference for once laws are written, they are laws and must be obeyed.

Once the economic stimulus package is ever finished and the endless changes and amendments are added, there are few who really think it will end up under a trillion dollars. The unfortunate reality is that once that bill reaches the President’s desk to be signed, it will have more pork in it than most slaughterhouses. Cozy little earmarks and little spending measures will be buried in the bill in such fine print no one will catch them until after the bill passes.

It is an absolute given in Washington politics that the most powerful members of Congress make sure they somehow bring home the most pork each session. If they don’t, they don’t stay long in Washington. States with long serving Senators and Representatives manage to squeeze money out of even basic bills for their state or district. Then, when re-election time comes, they make sure they remind everyone how much “good” they did the preceding term.

I sometimes pity some of the small states or those who have only brand new Senators or Representatives. It is a foregone conclusion these places will get very little pork the first few years. I guess this is why there are so many extremely elderly Senators. The states keep re-electing them due to how much money they send back home instead of their positions on major issues.

Since no one seems to care how much money is spent to stimulate the American economy, look for more and more additions to the spending bill when it reaches the Senate. For the life of me, I don’t understand why they don’t just make it a ten trillion dollar bill and give each Senator a few hundred billion to “play with” for their states. Of course they could just send us all a million dollars and we could in turn tell Washington we don’t need a Congress anymore for we have enough money to run things ourselves.

44th President–Greatest ever or worse than any–Let God and time be the judge

For the multitudes trying to transform President Obama into the reincarnation of John F. Kennedy; the only words I feel appropriate are the famous words spoken in 1988 during the Vice Presidential debate. At the time, Sen. Lloyd Bentsen had this to say to Sen. Dan Quayle and his comparing himself to Jack Kennedy. “Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy: I knew Jack Kennedy; Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you’re no Jack Kennedy.” President Obama is not John Kennedy, even if he succeeds in pushing the Governor of New York to appoint JFK’s daughter to the United States Senate.

For the multitudes trying to transform President Obama into the reincarnation of the Rev. Martin Luther King; the only words I feel appropriate cannot be written in a public blog post. This comparison is even more revolting than that to JFK. What Martin Luther King did was so unique and phenomenal due to the times in which he lived, to compare what Mr. Obama has done to what Martin Luther King did is to diminish the historical significance of Rev. King’s accomplishments.

For the multitudes trying to transform President Obama into the reincarnation of Abraham Lincoln; the only word I feel appropriate is “huh?” Other than being from Illinois, I fail to see why there should be any comparison between these two men. Any attempts to do so are in my mind comical.

For the multitudes trying to transform President Obama into the reincarnation of Franklin Roosevelt; the only words I feel appropriate are that this is the one comparison that is worth considering. The similarities dealing with the economy are eerily similar as is the general condition of the nation. With a solid majority backing his decisions in Congress, the similarities become even more matched. But, even with a somewhat similar financial mess on his hands, the challenges awaiting our 44^th President are similar in outward appearance only to those faced by FDR 76 years ago.

Why not let President Obama be his own man instead of squeezing him into the mold of those who lived and served years or even centuries ago? Why must everyone feel the need to always compare one person with another? Is it not possible that a person can end up being uniquely different than anyone who preceded him?

I wish only the best for our new President. Why shouldn’t I? If negatives happen, they will end up directly impacting me and my family. If positives happen, not only will my life be better, but President Obama will make his own history as someone capable of pooling the collective resources of great people and dealing with the worst financial crisis since the depression FDR had to deal with.

I refuse to participate in the constant negative, sarcastic and unprofitable rhetoric being propounded by conservative talk show hosts. They relentless attack every move Obama makes like there is an election coming up next month. Hey folks, the election was two months ago and you lost. Get over it. Don’t do what the Democrats did after Al Gore’s humiliating defeat in 2000. They never let go of the bitterness and anger.

Unless someone in authority comes up with a better plan than the ridiculous excuse for a stimulus package being rammed through Congress at this time; this country is going to fall, no matter who is leading it. The very idea of throwing trillions of dollars at the economic problems facing this country is shortsighted and historically not a good example.

Any honest historian knows that it was World War II that brought the world out of The Great Depression and not the money FDR and Congress threw at the problems. Once this country HAD to start making everything from tanks to ships to airplanes and bullets, the economy was jumpstarted faster than through all the stimulus packages attempted for the preceding eight years.

President Jimmy Carter deliberately drew down the United States military by starving it of funds during the horrible economic times in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Once Ronald Reagan took office, he immediately sought to cut taxes and up the amount of money spent on the nation’s defense in a huge way. Those two moves, more than any other, prompted the economy to throw off its lethargy and within a year or two embark on nearly two decades of amazing growth.

Most experts are comparing the current recession to that of 1980-82. That inflation driven recession was not overcome by throwing money at banks and other insane moves. It was overcome by giving American citizens and businesses such a huge tax break, they gladly spent which got the economy moving again. At the same time, huge contracts were given to major defense contractors who in turn hired unemployed workers in droves.

The biggest question which will determine whether President Obama will be viewed as a success or failure is whether he and his friends in Congress turn the United States into either a socialist state or worse—a fascist one by having the government take over everything; or whether he stands up to his friends and fights to rejuvenate American businesses and families through tax cuts and policies designed to promote growth not just a safety net.

I most certainly pray not only the “experts” but the United States and the world for that matter wait until well after the first glorious 100 days before erecting statues, naming highways and otherwise christening President Obama the greatest President ever in this country. Perhaps he may end up being such, but it would take history many generations to make that call accurately. One cannot be judged by the immediate results one produces.

Whether President Obama leads us to the Promised Land or to ruin; as Christian our role is to pray, pay honest taxes and follow the laws of the land. I will do those things with a pure heart and nothing more. I will allow the judgment of the new administration to be made by the Great Judge God and the time needed to see if short-term fixes indeed produce long-term positive results. By these long term results we will indeed be able to know what commenced today with the swearing in of our 44^th President.

Misplaced and dilusional optimism running rampant in D.C. this week

In most respects, I want to crawl into a hole and come out in next week. I look forward to what is happening this week in Washington about as much as sleeping naked on my frozen pond. There is nothing happening this week that I believe is anything other than the reflection of a nation who about to reach the end of its glory. All the talk of “hope” and “change”, which will fuel exorbitant optimism that all the woes that drug this country down this past year are over, will never happen.

No one man, no matter how handsome, skilled in giving speeches and popular is able to turn the United States of America around. Many think FDR did, but his policies (if they really did any good) took years to take effect and the changes took even longer. Just because everyone is down in the dumps doesn’t make it right for them to suddenly lose all sense of rational thought and get stuck on stupid.

Surveys allegedly show that well over 70% of Americans think that somehow their new President is going to wave a magic wand and solve all the problems of the country AND all their personal ones too. What this means is that well over 70% of Americans have lost their collective minds. There are no magic wands and no President is able to talk or spend America or Americans out of their problems. Why and how so many people believe this is troubling and frightening.

Back in 2001, after the horrible tragedy of 9/11 surveys showed 90% of Americans believed their President would lead them to victory over the forces of evil which caused the disaster. Within a very small amount of time the percentage of those who believed that dropped to 60% and by the time the man leaves office Tuesday, barely 30% believe he did any good in eight years. The point is that Americans are notoriously fickle in their optimism and loyalty to their leader.

In 1991 at this time, President Bush the elder had just launched “Operation Desert Storm”. Almost the entire country was solidly behind the effort, helped along by songs like Lee Greenwood’s “Proud to be an American” and others. To most Americans at the time, the whole thing was equal to watching the Olympics. Their “team” was beating the daylights out of the Iraq team. At the time, Americans thought George Bush Sr. was the greatest President who ever lived in the White House. By November of 1992 they had voted him out of office in a humiliating defeat.

I wish President Obama all the best. I pray for him because my Bible says to. I pray he makes the right decisions and leads this country the best he can. But, he is still just a man. He is not a god and does not possess some type of supernatural ability to instantly solve all the nation’s problems or mine. Perhaps he will enter office with a 70% or greater approval rating. Perhaps the economy will turn around with all the spending and by next year he will have a 90% approval rating. If it happens, it happens.

All I know, is that realistically speaking, the odds do not favor a sudden and abrupt change in anything other than the National Debt. Things fall apart far quicker than it takes to rebuild them. Anything short of a National debt forgiveness program is bound to take months, if not years to produce the desired results. Problems which took years to develop cannot be solved overnight, no matter how much “hope” the people have.

My problems lie with the mentality of the American population and their misguided belief that their self pronounced “savior” can lead them to the promised land of financial prosperity and wealth without having to work or save for it. This entitlement and welfare state way of thinking is doing nothing but setting Americans up for an even greater disaster than the one which has taken place the past few months.

Wisdom, patience, hard work and prayer will pull this country out of the cesspool of depravity it has sunk into. Realistically speaking, I don’t think there is any more chance of these things being operated by the incoming President and Congress than the outgoing. All I see for this country is years of falling deeper and deeper in debt and only deferring to the next generation the horrible end game catastrophe such debt is bound to produce. For now, America, enjoy your misplaced and delusional “optimism” for that is all it is.