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My people have committed a double wrong: they have rejected me (God), the fountain of life-giving water, and they have dug cisterns (water basins) for themselves, cracked cisterns which cannot even hold water." **** Jeremiah 2:13

For those that believe that Christianity is bigoted, brainless, hateful and simplistic, I would like to offer for your consideration an alternate solution for three of societies present concerns. This solution is championed by two of the brightest stars representing the godless and humanistic sector of our society.

The issues or concerns are homosexuality, the plight of the destitute/ homeless/ disenfranchised and the social looters / leaches.

The solution is represented by Charles Darwin - popularizer of the Theory of Evolution and its corollary concepts, Natural Selection and Survival of the Fittest - and Friedrich Nietzsche, an advocate of the concepts of the "Death of God", nihilism and the �bermensch (which the Nazis turned into their version of "The Superman").

The solution is elegantly simple - those who are not strong and/or capable enough to survive on their own, and who do not contribute toward the advancement of society and their species, do not continue to live or exist. They are removed by the "upward-striving life-force" for the sake of the strengthening and purification of the species !!

Is All Killing Wrong? The Bible Doesn�T Say So !!

A recent "letters to the editor" in the Times-Standard (See Following) merits, in my mind, this clarifying comment:

"Executing Boston Marathon bomber is wrong -- Who really are we?

The younger Boston Marathon bomber was found guilty of homicide (as he should have been) The jury gave their verdict and decided as punishment to give him the death penalty. Back to �an eye for an eye.� Are we really any better by doing to him what he is accused of? If we believe that taking a life is wrong (and it is), why do we think it�s OK to take his?"

The writer questions the validity of the death penalty for the �Boston Bomber,� stating that �ALL killing is wrong". My question to this writer (and others of similar persuasion) is, �WHO says so � who is the authority that made this proclamation?�

Perhaps it was the infamous �THEY� from the �They-Say Consortium.� More than likely it stems from a misinformed �religious� bias of the type used by people only when it suits THEIR need and purpose.

I mean that this notion is derived from an incorrect interpretation of the sixth commandment (you shall not kill) of God�s Word, the Bible. The problem is, however, that neither God nor the Bible condemns killing by legally instituted authorities. The sixth commandment is correctly rendered, �You shall not commit MURDER", and prohibits illegal killing by private individuals.

As a matter of fact, the Bible, in the Levitical Law given by God to the Jewish people, records MANY crimes as being punishable by DEATH (capital punishment).

Likewise, there is ZERO justification for pacifism to be found in the Bible. The Old Testament is filled with instances of God both commanding and leading His people (Israel) to war against their enemies.

Neither did Jesus in the New Testament speak ANYWHERE against either war nor judicial killing.

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Imagine no religion, only "spirituality"
By Tim Martin (Tim Martin resides in Fortuna and writes this column for the Times-Standard)

Are you there, God? It's me, Tim. I just wanted to let you know that I've had it with religion. Yep, I'm completely giving up on it. Why? Because Catholicism is nothing more than a placebo, Judaism can't save the world, and the Quran is not the word of god simply because Islam says so. The same goes for those bizarre cults like Scientology, Satanism, The Creativity Movement, Vampirism, Nuwaubianism, Mormonism, Universe People, and The Nation of Yahweh. Here's what they've all got in common: you're not allowed to reason or question anything, and punishment for non-compliance ranges from expulsion all the way up to death.

A loving and merciful god should be able to find a way to forgive without so much pain and sacrifice, wouldn't you think?

Sorry Lord, but religion is just superstition and fable. It's the shilling of spiritual Valium to the masses. Evolution didn't put us on two feet to kneel before a myth or worship a strange doctrine of salvation that depends on the shedding of innocent blood to appease a very angry god who hopes to "rescue" humanity from what would otherwise result in their eternal torment in hell.

Does that make a lick of sense to you? No? Me neither.

Maybe that's why so many of us are spiritually disconnected. We're tired of having morality and conscience dictated to us. We don't think that women and minorities are second class citizens, or that gays, lesbians and those within the transgender community are out to destroy the institution of marriage. Nor do we believe that The Deity Originally Known as Elohim is a mean, egotistical, obsessed, niggling micro-manager who follows people on Twitter and Facebook, reads their emails, and is always disappointed in them. We're still seeking spiritual enlightenment down here, but we know it won't be found in a church, a synagogue, or a mosque, or etched on gold tiles or stone tablets with bolts of lightning from heaven. That's why we're fleeing organized religion like rats from a sinking ship.

Can you feel our angst, God? I certainly hope so.

You see, we've finally woken up to the fact that wrath and anger are the temper tantrums of a small child or some sort of hectoring, worship-me-or-die drunk step-father who deals in coercion, rewards and punishment, and not a merciful, omnipotent god. When someone points a gun at your head and says, "Love and obey me or else you go to hell where you will be tortured for eternity," you are no longer making a decision out of free will.

Anyway, Lord, those of us who have given up religion no longer interpret "hope" as some future pie-in-the-sky members-only exclusive paradise in which we will frolic with others who follow our beliefs. Now we have a vision of the world wherein peace and happiness for everyone exists right here, right now; a world where people are treated equally, cared for, respected, and loved, regardless of race, color, sex, or complete absence of faith.

Modern-day religion is dogmatic, intolerant, unquestioning and uninteresting. That's why it's dying a slow and well-deserved death. It's also why many of us have turned to personal spirituality in an effort to find a belief that resembles sanity. We aren't looking for god; we're looking to make heaven a place here on earth. We want to be free to use our powers of thinking and reasoning. We believe that morals and values exist independently of religion, and that the meaning of life is found in the actuality of living it. There's a wonderful pleasure in coming to this realization, a thought that feels like a warden turning a key in your skull.

Hopefully, one day everyone will come to their senses and cast religion aside. I'm really looking forward to that day, God. How about you?

Reply by Al Jenke
Director of "Total Love In Christ Ministry"

Since "Christianity" (per se) wasn't included in Mr. Martin's denouncement of "religion", I assume that he lumps Christianity in with (Roman) Catholicism. IF this is true, then he knows NOTHING at all about BIBLICAL Christianity or about God's plan of human transformation through Jesus Christ.

YES, Mr. Martin, indeed RELIGION was NOT God's idea, but rather MAN'S attempt to do EXACTLY what your article advocates -- to decide for HIMSELF (apart from God) what is right and wrong (and BEST for himself). For those who believe that this is such an admirable objective, look about at the world around you. It is the result of MANKIND doing what HE feels is right and good for HIM !!

Secondly, despite his eloquent and "seemingly compassionate" rhetoric, Mr. Martin, IN actuality, has SAID NOTHING -- and it is the same NOTHING that mankind has been uttering since his inception. Below is ONE definition for "spirituality" (from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) -- a catch word for those who have nothing to say but nonetheless want to sound profound in saying it (like our politicians) !!

There is no single, widely-agreed definition of "spirituality". Surveys of the definition of the term, as used in scholarly research, show a broad range of definitions, with a very limited similitude.

According to Waaijman, the traditional meaning of spirituality is a process of reformation which "aims to recover the original shape of man, the image of God. To accomplish this, the reformation is oriented at a mold, which represents the original shape: in Judaism the Torah, in Christianity Christ, in Buddhism Buddha, in the Islam Mohammed."

In modern times, the emphasis is on subjective experience. It may denote almost any kind of meaningful activity or blissful experience. It still denotes a process of transformation, but in a context separate from organized religious institutions, termed "spiritual but not religious". Houtman and Aupers suggest that modern spirituality is a blend of humanistic psychology, mystical and esoteric traditions and eastern religions.

Waaijman points out that "spirituality" is only one term of a range of words which denote the praxis of spirituality. Some other terms are "Hasidism, contemplation, kabbala, asceticism, mysticism, perfection, devotion and piety".

Throughout the ENTIRE history of man, there have been those who advocated "Pantheism" as THEIR mode of "spirituality". It basically advocates a non-personal "god", defused throughout and contained in as a part of the ENTIRE creation. This "god" is blindly moving "onward ??" through the evolution of the universe toward "increasing perfection ??". The advantage of THIS type of "god" (as opposed to the moral, purposeful God of Judaism and Christianity) is that, IF you feel inspired to believe in something greater than yourself, you can do so in perfect safety. The so-called "god" of Pantheism will place NO restraints, restrictions or requirements upon you, nor will you ever need to "answer to him" for your life or conduct. You can get all of the "sweet juice" and none of the seeds !!!!

The second name for Mr. Martin's form of "utopia" is plain old vanilla "Humanism", the belief (the religion) that says that mankind can be "his OWN little god", deciding for himself what is right and wrong, and pulling himself up the evolutionary scale by his own bootstraps !! Hence his assertion, "We aren't looking for god; we're looking to make heaven a place here on earth. We want to be free to use our powers of thinking and reasoning."

Back at the very advent of mankind, the Liar and Tempter told them, "Even God knows that on the day you eat from it (the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil - Right and Wrong), your eyes will be opened and you will become like God, knowing good and evil."

So they believed him then -- so they STILL believe him today -- and serve evil by blindly continuing to propagate this same worn out LIE. If you would but open your eyes and LOOK at the history of mankind, you would plainly see exactly WHAT his "wisdom" has wrought upon this miserable world. Man is so quick to blame God for his misery and destruction - take a closer look at by WHOSE hand it has been wrought !!

God offered Mankind TRUE "Spirituality" -- the opportunity to live in continual and intimate communion and fellowship with Himself !! True as Mr. Martin states, Mankind choose instead RELIGION, the religion whereby man says, "I will be as god" -- the "religion" that Mr. Martin and those of like mind continue to advocate.

In reference to "Tim Martin's latest a home run", Times Standard, 06/12/2014, Timothy Crlenjak states that, "Some intelligent omnipotent spirit may exist but seems not to care about the horror, suffering, and terror that is mixed with all the joy, love, and pleasure in this world."

The central premise of the Christian faith is that God DOES indeed care, He cares VERY MUCH -- so much that He was willing to allow the murder of His most precious Son in order to implement a plan to remedy this situation that MAN (by his own FREE choices) has produced.

If you are looking for a culprit in the world situation, it is MAN and NOT God.

There are two simple solutions that God COULD have implemented to solve the problem of rampant evil in this world:

One - He could turn everyone into programed automatons WITHOUT choice or will, who would do EXACTLY as He prescribes.
Two - He could destroy the entire human race and start over again with perhaps a new, improved species.

Would anybody vote "YES" for one of these options ???

The fact that he has NOT chosen to do EITHER of these SHOULD satisfy Mr. Crlenjak's complaint, "I hope they are right about the loving, forgiving God. Wish I could see what they see, but I do not".

In accordance with the prophecies of Ayn Rand in "Atlas Shrugged", I offer to you the following brief observation:

It is an increasing Social Symptom that those who contribute least to the functioning and support of society take most, and those who contribute NOTHING at all want, require and seek to take most of all !!! "The leach cries 'Give, give' and yet its appetite is never satisfied." Those who scream most about their RIGHTS never seem to utter a word about their DUTIES and OBLIGATIONS.

The burden of the "Takers" upon our society continues to grow. In part it takes the form of :
1.) "Social Relief" (SSI, welfare and all of the other government handouts and subsidies)
2.) Medical and hospitable care for those whose ONLY goal in life is to destroy THEIR life with drugs (of whatever form) and a TOTALLY unhealthy and death-inducing lifestyle
3.) A moral understanding (or LACK thereof) that continues to propagate society with more and more children from individuals who are either unfit or unable (or BOTH) to provide the needed parenting
4.) This results in the burden of care for these children (and their "parents??") again falling upon society as a whole. Many of the children, coming from a drug addicted mother, are BORN as addicts themselves. Some never even see the light of life, again with society having born the cost of their murder (abortion)
5.) An increasing number of mentally disturbed individuals, caused either by drug use or inflicted by a deranged society, filling our streets and institutions
6.) An increasing judicial system and police force to deal with the massive overload of crime, perpetrated by drug and violence crazed individuals whose only "god" is hate and destruction

This is certainly not an exhaustive list, but it should be sufficient to cause even the most devoted follower of the Ostrich, "head-in-the-sand mentality" to take a moment to consider. As Ayn Rand noted -- when those who ARE supporting society get sick enough of holding up those whose ONLY contribution is their attempt to tear it down, what THEN will the "Takers and the Looters" do ???

The problem is exasperated by the muddle-headed sentimentality of BOTH the humanistic AND the religious ("christian") do-gooders. Motivated by guilt, a need to "do something" in order to feel needed and important, a sentimental concept of "love" and the REAL message of Jesus Christ, and/or their OWN (selfish) personal agenda - they have managed to create and entrench within society an entire subculture of PERMANENT mental, emotional and psychological leaches, invalids and cripples !! Instead of restoration -- which is the TRUE and ONLY "Gospel" (good news) of Jesus Christ -- they have, for the most part, inflicted dependency, lack of self respect, lack of motivation, and lack of self worth and significance upon their charges - and a massive, crippling burden upon society !!

Refuse to accept those SSI checks, college education subsidies, FREE medical and dental care, FREE food banks, and FREE housing supplements. While you are standing on the streets, refuse to accept those FREE handouts that passersby had to WORK for. Turn those "Give Me — I Need" signs into signs of Recovered Personhood!

Politicians and Bureaucrats — start becoming pathways to "The Solution" instead of being "The Problem." Devise methods to increase our GNP instead of being a continuous drain into an infinite cesspool of corruption, inefficiency and waste !!

John Galt would be proud ! Beware, Atlas IS shrugging!

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Click [ Here ] to read an excerpt from Atlas Shrugged -- "An Ode to Money")

Click [ Here ] to read another excerpt from Atlas Shrugged -- "The Looters, Leaches, and Moochers Utopia")

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This letter is a response to Allan Powell in the Sunday, 01/23/05 Editorial Page of the Herald-Mail Newspaper. First, I would be interested to know from what PERSONAL Perspective Mr. Powell writes. What are his OWN convictions? Does he find Fundamental Christianity TRULY offensive, or ONLY offensive to HIS beliefs?? I am a Nondenominational, Charismatic Christian. I, too, am alarmed at the lack of rational reason and intelligence exercised by many "Fundamentalist Christians" -- but not nearly as alarmed as I am by the total lack of these same facilities exercised by the majority of the secular, humanist portion of society. There are some issues of Faith which do not lend themselves to the "towering intellect of humans". It was the Apostle Paul who wrote, "They became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man". The secular world bases its acceptance of the origin of the universe (Big Bang) and of life (Evolution) upon at least as much "Faith" as is exercised by any Fundamentalist !!

I, for one, would be glad to see the demise of ALL government supported, tax sheltered institutions, be they secular OR religious. The Federal Government's business is NOT subsidizing private enterprise. Without government support, much of it would cease to exist. As this applies to "The Church", I believe that there would then be much less "Business" and much more "Faith". Mr. Powell criticizes the exclusive attitude of the Fundamentalists. It is in reality the exclusive attitude of the Christian Faith!! If he understood at all Who and What Jesus is, he would not question His statement, "No man comes to the Father except through Me". Jesus did NOT say that any would be excluded - ONLY that they must come HIS way !! Of course this would enrage the Humanists, who are dedicated to the proposition that, "Man's Mind, Perception and Opinion are the ultimate measure of all Reality". To them, there are NO absolutes - only Relativism based upon expedience !!

Mr. Powell writes, "The great mass of humanity needs Religion". NO, there is FAR too much "Religion" in the world already. What the great mass of humanity needs is a personal, living relationship with its Creator and God!! Again Mr. Powell writes, "All that humanists really desire is that dominant religions work for the good of society". Here is where the "Humanists - Religionists" and the Christians part company. Jesus did not come to "improve society". He came to reestablish that link which was broken between His and our Father (God) and humankind, and to prepare us for our future life after we pass on through this phase of it.

IF that should also "benefit society", well and good. If, on the other hand, it should destroy society (as it ultimately did the Roman Empire), so be it. Perhaps the form of said society is in need of realignment. I believe that our present society is in great need of realignment!! It is lost, filled with self-centered self-love, and corrupt - much as the Roman Empire was in its day. Perhaps to many, Christianity as a whole might be viewed as "a harmful social movement" - NOT just Fundamentalism. It is not unusual for that which would challenge the established Status Quo to be viewed with suspicion, alarm, fear and hatred by those who rely upon it for their power, position and livelihood. It was, after all, the Jewish leaders -- the Scribes and the Pharisees -- who conspired to have Jesus murdered because His teachings threatened THEIR little "Religious Kingdom".

1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness, 1:19 because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 1:20 For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes�his eternal power and divine nature�have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse. 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened. 1:22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 1:23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles. 1:24 Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor their bodies among themselves. 1:25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 1:26 For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged the natural sexual relations for unnatural ones, 1:27 and likewise the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed in their passions for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. 1:28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done. 1:29 They are filled with every kind of unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, malice. They are rife with envy, murder, strife, deceit, hostility. They are gossips, 1:30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, contrivers of all sorts of evil, disobedient to parents, 1:31 senseless, covenant-breakers, heartless, ruthless. 1:32 Although they fully know God�s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but also approve of those who practice them. ** Romans

You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. I advise you to buy gold from me-gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. And also buy white garments so you will not be shamed by your nakedness. And buy ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. Revelations 3:17-18

When we were children in school, name calling and ridicule seemed like the way to contend with those who might disagree with you. Some, it seems, never outgrow this mode of response. We have become a nation of spoilt children -- taunting, ridiculing, insulting, intimidating and name calling those who disagree with us, from the presidential candidates to the common brawlers in the streets.

There is no "one size fits all" answer regarding the homosexual issue. There are not even any "good" answers. It is primarily a "religious question", NOT a civil nor social issue. According to our Constitution, ALL men (and woman) are entitled to equal civil and social rights in the public arena. This most certainly means that NO group should be singled out for ridicule, discrimination, or persecution for ANY reason. However, religion, as our judicial system has gone to tremendous lengths in the last two decades to establish, does NOT fall into the public arena. It is a personal and private matter, outside the jurisdiction of government.

Those who place their faith in the Holy Bible as God's Revealed Word have ample grounds to contend that homosexuality is a moral abomination (both Old AND New Testament). It IS NOT "hate", it is NOT "name calling", it is NOT "homophobia". It is a part of Biblical teaching. Those who reject the Bible, to the contrary, have NO grounds for the contention that homosexuality is a "normal" part of nature. Those opposed to the Biblical Perspective usually embrace a Darwinian Evolution to explain the development of life. Darwin certainly COULD NOT embrace homosexuality as a "normal development". He stressed "survival of the fittest" as nature's tool to strengthen and evolve life. Carried to its extreme, homosexuality would destroy human existence by eliminating procreation.

All that can be said in conclusion is that people DO NOT need a reason to hate -- they can always manufacture one out of the hatred in their own heart. As Christians, we are commanded NOT to hate, but rather to Love. There is Love, acceptance AND healing for ALL in Jesus Christ. As Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery, "You are forgiven. Go and SIN NO MORE !"

There were also sodomites in the land: [and] they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. 1Kings 14;24

Jesus, then said, "If you should be remaining in My word, then you are truly My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will be making you free." They answered Him, "We have never been slaves of anyone. How are you saying that we shall be becoming free?" Jesus answered them, "I am saying to you that everyone who is doing sin, is a slave of sin."
John 8:31-34

As those people were deceived in Jesus' day, so are we even MORE deceived today! The truth is that the Jewish crowd to whom Jesus spoke were at that very time little more than slaves to the Roman Empire. They had, over the years, been captured by many nations. We today believe that because our forefathers fought to free this nation, that freedom will somehow be a perpetual FREE gift. NOT SO !! It must be continually guarded and protected. We may not be enslaved (yet) by another nation, but make NO mistake, we are indeed today slaves!

First, we are enslaved by the oil, fuel, and energy interests (including the automobile industry). We continually hear of oil and energy shortages, we battle foreign nations over oil interests, prices continue to skyrocket. Yet what do we as a people do? We buy bigger gas guzzlers and continue to become greater energy consumers because the Capitalist mind benders have convinced us that our Ego NEEDS them. For a few years we made a token concession to fuel-saving vehicles. NO MORE !! Now the cry is get a "Power Vehicle", get a pickup truck, get an SUV, and the ultimate madness -- get a 5 mpg "Hummer" (I need a big vehicle because I am a big person)!!

Secondly, and worse perhaps, we are enslaved by the "Media Lords" who have paralyzed our minds and intellects with a continual "musical and entertainment" diet of inane drivel, immoral rubbish, and outright pornographic filth. They further degrade our intelligence with the lie of, "What harm does it do ? It's only "Entertainment". I ask you to consider this question, "If the continual saturation of the mind with a repetitive message has NO effect, why then does the advertising industry spend billions of dollars a year in order to brainwash you with THEIR advertising messages ??"

Third, and worst of all -- we are enslaved to our own Pride, Lust and Greed. No, do not be deceived -- There is a program underway to make us slaves indeed -- Slaves to the Money Makers and the Social Shakers, that we might be so much fodder to feed their "Money Machine". They would turn us from beings "Made in the Image of God" to zombies "Made according to the image of the social manipulators". Bear in mind, "That which we idolize will eventually turn us into it's slaves".

Download and Read "The Abolition Of Man" by C.S. Lewis

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I recommend that you read the books, "The Greening of America" and "Opposing the System" , by Charles A. Reich in order to obtain a fuller and more complete understanding of the forces and dynamics at work in this nation and the world at large. They were originally published in 1970 and 1995 respectively.

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Certainly the Christian Message and the death of Jesus Christ IS NOT to be a source of racism, bigotry, hatred or discrimination. By His own will, and as the ultimate display of His Love, God decreed the Death and Crucifixion of His Only Begotten Son so that the sin of ALL men may be dealt with. In reality, ALL of humanity is responsible for the Death and Crucifixion, in that we are ALL those sinners that He died for.

However, have we as a society become such moral cowards and hypocrites that we can no longer face TRUTH ?? Have we become so warped as to believe that TRUTH should be subject to intimidation by name calling and labeling ?? The truth is that the ONLY source of information that we have on the matter states VERY clearly in MANY places that it was indeed the Jews, and ESPECIALLY their rulers (the priesthood), that were the human instruments of His death (or murder would be a more correct word, for they knew that they sought to put him to death without cause, hence sought to do it at night that it might not cause a riot). Their specific words were: "Answering (at the instigation of the priesthood), the entire people (primarily Jewish crowd) said, "His blood be on us and on our children" Matthew 27:25.

It is unfortunate that the Roman Church has somehow seen fit to attempt to alter biblical history by proclaiming that this account is NOT true. The truth may be read for yourself in Matthew 26:3.4 and 27:20-25. Also, Mark 14:53-64 and 15:1-15. Also, Luke 22:2-6.

It is VERY ironic that the Jewish people DO NOT seem to object to the fact that God used them in Old Testament times as His instrument to completely annihilate the entire population (men, women, and children) of the land of the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Girgashite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite (Deut 20:16-18) -- "the promised land" -- the land that He gave to them as their inheritance.

It is even more unfortunate that the human race contains such morally stunted creatures as would use and relish ANY excuse to hate and even kill (murder) those who might somehow be different from themselves. It matters not to them whether they be differences in race, color, religion, intellectual beliefs, or personality. What is most ironic of all is that they can find a way to turn even the ultimate act of love and reconciliation into a source of division and hatred.

It is no profound mystery, and does not require long volumes of scholarly dissertation to discover why the "Christ Haters" should also hate those who follow, serve, and seek to bring honor and glory to Him. Jesus himself plainly told us, "If the world is hating you, know that it has hated Me first before you. They have hated Me as well as My Father." (John 15:18,24).

Who and Why are these "Haters"? Again - no mystery. It is not a matter of nationality or Religious Creed. They need not be Jewish or Islamic -- Atheist or Humanist -- ANYONE may qualify !! "All have sinned and are wanting of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 "Through one man sin entered into the world, and through sin death, and thus death passed through into all mankind" (Romans 5:12). He DID NOT come with some "Ecumenical Message". He came with "Absolute Truth" - another reason that He is hated in this humanistic society of relativism and compromise. Jesus informs us, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one is coming to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also." (John 14:6,7).

Jesus tells us that He came to expose and deliver humanity from our pride, hypocrisy, self-centeredness, and rebellion against Him. Those who would be their OWN "god" certainly can not allow Him to claim that place !! "God does not send His Son into the world that He should be judging the world, but that the world may be saved through Him. He who is believing in Him is not being judged; yet he who is not believing has been judged already, for he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. Now this is the judging: that the Light has come into the world, and men love the darkness rather than the Light, for their acts are wicked. Everyone who is committing bad things is hating the Light and is not coming to the Light, lest his acts may be exposed." (John 3:17-20).

The Gospel, or "Good News", is very simple. "For thus God loves the world, so that He gives His only-begotten Son, that everyone who is believing in Him should not be perishing, but may be having eternal life. He who is believing in the Son has eternal life. He who is stubborn as to the Son shall not be seeing life, but the anger of God is remaining on him." (John 3:16,36). All that is necessary for "rightness with God" has already been provided to those who will receive it freely.

The way of the self righteous or "Christ Hater" is also very simple. "You search the scriptures, for in them you are supposing you have eternal life, yet you will NOT come to Me of whom these writings are testifying, that in Me you may have life indeed." (John 5:39,40).

They would find THEIR righteous in and of and by THEMSELVES.

So April is a time set aside to remember or "honor the Confederacy". WHY ?? It would seem to me that Germany might just as well set aside a month to "honor the Nazi Holocaust". Both were an attempt by a nation to deprive a portion of its populace of its "God given rights of - Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." Both sought to declare that the respective group (blacks and Jews) were NOT fully human, that it was God's decree that they SHOULD be inferior, that they should be treated like "things", and in the case of at least the blacks, that they were "happier and more contented" to be kept in slavery and treated like "incompetent little children". Isn't it amazing what we can convince ourselves of to justify our greed, injustice, and selfishness. It reminds me of the babbling of the "pro-choice" faction -- that the "unborn" are NOT really human, just so much "fetal tissue" to be disposed of like butchered meat.

Before we bring up the Bogy that the Civil War was NOT Really about slavery -- at least NOT in the beginning -- but was REALLY about some Holy Grail called "States Rights", I am going to admit straight out that, "YES - this IS true". States Rights WAS a very large issue. However, exactly WHAT "States Right" did the South wish so ardently to preserve -- You guessed it -- The RIGHT to keep slaves. So much for profound noble motives !!

If you doubt my word, look at the following excerpt from the MS Encarta Encyclopedia, "The chief and immediate cause of the war was slavery. Southern states, including the 11 states that formed the Confederacy, depended on slavery to support their economy. Southerners used slave labor to produce crops, especially cotton. The main debate between the North and the South on the eve of the war was whether slavery should be permitted in the Western territories recently acquired during the Mexican War (1846-1848). The slavery question overshadowed all others in the presidential election year of 1860. During the campaign, many Southerners had threatened that their states would secede from the Union if Lincoln was elected because they feared that a Lincoln administration would threaten slavery."

True, Lincoln's MAIN intent was to preserve the solidarity of the American Union. The southern as well as the northern states had sworn to do so when they signed the Declaration of Independence, establishing ONE NATION, not a separate collection of independent states. You can sugarcoat it anyway you want, but those southern states that threatened to or did secede wanted slavery and their OWN "rights" more than they wanted a United States. One might say that it was their desire that, "Each man might do that which seemed right in HIS own eyes". No nation can long endure with this mentality, as we are now finding out.

YES, there were noble men and great leaders on BOTH sides of the "Mason-Dixon Line". General Lee WAS a giant - beloved and respected by ALL. So was Erwin Rommel, a brilliant German Field Marshal during WWII, who took part in an attempt to assassinate Hitler. Brave men, however, CAN NOT glorify a wicked and perverse cause !! I have often reflected that it is the most piteous of facts that brave, noble men and woman must continually be slaughtered so that the greed, lust, and inhumanity of mankind may slither onward !!

If you feel a need to "Remember" - REMEMBER THIS, "The Civil War took more than 600,000 lives, destroyed property valued at $5 billion, and opened wounds that have not yet completely healed more than 140 years later". Six million Jews were exterminated in the German Death Camps. Today, madmen still glory in the Swastika, while others glory in the Confederate Flag.The civil war was NOT a noble expression of freedom -- it was an act of man's insanity and inhumanity. It DOES NOT need to be remembered, but rather regretted.

You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. I advise you to buy gold from me-gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. And also buy white garments so you will not be shamed by your nakedness. And buy ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. Revelations 3:17-18

It seems as was the case over 2,000 years ago, it is again today, that for Him whose birthday we celebrate, there is still, "No Room In the Inn" !! How many remember, or know, or even care that this is the birthday of Jesus Christ - come to give TO US the gift of life. I hear the radios in the stores playing so called, "Christmas Songs". I hear songs of Santa Claus, of reindeer with red noses, of fireplaces and coming home, of trees and snow and sleigh bells. What I DON'T hear are any songs about "Happy Birthday Jesus -- We Love You" !! I see great spectacles of decorated trees, of gaudy light displays, of red robed fat men, and strange flying deer pulling a sleigh through the air. I see mammoth alters to the gods of greed and consumption in the department stores. I see the grudging expenditure of massive amounts of money and material sending little pieces of paper saying, "Have A Happy Season". What I DON'T see is anything that says, "Happy Birthday Jesus -- We Love You" !!

C.S. Lewis wrote (1) a short essay about a "strange land" that observed a very peculiar yearly celebration called "Exmas", and the sending of little pieces of paper called "Exmas Cards", at a tremendous cost in postage, paper and patience. This ritual is preceded by the "Exmas Rush", the object of which seemed to be the selling and buying of VERY much useless and ridiculous foolishness such as no sane person would ever buy for himself or another at any other time of year. This, despite their claims of great poverty and hunger among many of the citizens, and a supposed concern for the depletion of their natural resources !! This "Exmas", it is told, is supposed to be a time of great joy and love, yet the people are so pale and weary and frustrated because of the crowds, the "Rush", and the great expense, that a visitor would be more likely to think that a great calamity had befallen these people.

An even stranger fact seemed to be that there was another great celebration during this same period, called "Christmas". This "Christmas" seemed to represent the very opposite of "Exmas", proclaiming a simple time of peace, joy, love, and a forgetting about "The Rush". It revolved around a new born baby and a spiritual story about which I will not now speak. A visitor, upon inquiring of one of their Holy Men about the meaning of these things , was told that yes, "Christmas" and "Exmas" WERE, in fact, a celebration of the same event. However, he wished by the Gods, that "Exmas" would be celebrated at some other time, or better yet - NOT AT ALL. "Christmas" was to be a time of great joy, happiness and merriment, but in the weariness of "Exmas", there was NO joy, happiness or merriment left. He continued to say that "Exmas" was, in fact, something called, "A Racket". The visitor did not understand this, since to him a racket was something used to play tennis.

(1) - C.S. Lewis, God In the Dock, p. 301, Xmas and Christmas

The United States rests traumatized in the wake of the terrorist attack on the Pentagon and World Trade Center. Yet the REAL enemy lies NOT without our boarders, but rather - WITHIN them!!

In ancient Israel, when the nation was faithful to her God (Jehovah), He prospered and protected Israel. When the nation abandoned her God, and went whoring after heathen idols, God gave the nation up into the hands of her enemies.

Hitler is judged an "insane, psychotic fiend" (and rightly so) because he and his SS murdered millions of innocent Jews on account of his (Hitler's) ideology - i.e.: the supremacy of the Aryan race. Yet where was the outcry of the German people ???

Today, millions of innocent and helpless victims have been and continue to be murdered - WITH IMPUNITY - in the name of another ideology - i.e.: the supremacy of the "rights" of the woman over those of her unborn child. This destruction of the procreative power of our society is aggravated by an abnormal, obsessive interference with the opposite end of the spectrum - those whom God has determined are ready to leave this world. With a diminishing influx of new, strong life, our society grows weaker and more feeble - unable to sustain itself and prosper.

Was Hitler anymore deserving of HIS judgment than are the perpetrators of THIS "Holocaust"? Yet where is the outcry of the American people ??? Abraham Lincoln said, in reference to the Civil War, that he believed, "The war will continue until the measure of the spilled blood (of the black slaves) has been recompensed by BOTH sides".

However, behind the scenes, an even LARGER and more deadly "Holocaust" is taking place - unknown and unsuspected by the majority of the American people. This "Mass Murder" is nothing less than the attempted destruction and abolition of the Judeo-Christian home, family, morality, and society. I am NOT here referring to some "Religious Way of Life, Church System, or Religious Convictions." I am speaking of an attempt - and so far a frighteningly SUCESSFUL attempt - to alter the values, structure and psychological makeup of the individual human elements of our society.

Karl Marx spoke of the "Authentic vs. the Inauthentic Man". Today's social engineers have in their blueprint the "UN-Man". They would seek to destroy critical thought; eradicate Judeo-Christian ethics, morality and male-female distinctiveness; and eliminate mercy, compassion, tenderness, and self-sacrifice as human attributes. They would take that which was created in the "Image of God" and remake it as a "Technological Zombie", controlled by its NEW Master.

Just WHO are these "New World Puppeteers" ?? They are the "Social Mind-benders" and the rulers of the multi-billion dollar "Media-Estate". They have enlisted the "gods" of lust, sex, hate, violence, murder, greed, rebellion, idolatry, and self gratification to mold our minds and those of our children though "worship" of them at their alter of Media, Movies, Music, TV, and Society in general.

Download and Read "The Abolition Of Man" by C.S. Lewis

You say that you are not convinced!! Carefully analyze the bulk of TV commercials and "entertainment" content. Do the same to the offerings presented through the theater, movies, art, popular "music", video games, and much of the circulated printed matter. Through continuous assimilation, it is designed to gradually degrade our critical thinking capacity to that of a subhuman moron, and our morality and conduct to that of a violent beast. Add to this the world wide drug epidemic, which renders man into less than a beast. What more could be needed to destroy the fabric of humanity as we know it ?? Hitler even observed this program at work in prewar Germany, undermining the fabric of the German people, especially the youth.

If an individual or a corporation were to deliberately poison the municipal drinking water or the local atmosphere, or to deliberately distribute contaminated food or medical products in an attempt to kill, maim, or otherwise do bodily harm to the citizenry, it would be a criminal offense. If they were proven guilty of introducing substances into these media which could be proven to so alter the psychology and physiology of those exposed to such a substance that the individual would become a virtual slave to those controlling the substance, compelled to respond to their will and command, they would be equally punished for their offenses.

Why then are those guilty of MUCH WORSE crimes against our society, ESPECIALLY against our children, not only allowed to go unindicted and unpunished, but are encouraged by us to become powerful and wealthy beyond average imagination through the wielding of their treachery ??

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I recommend that you read the books, "The Greening of America" and "Opposing the System" , by Charles A. Reich in order to obtain a fuller and more complete understanding of the forces and dynamics at work in this nation and the world at large. They were originally published in 1970 and 1995 respectively.

Buy your INEXPENSIVE books at one of these sites: Amazon, Alibris, Abebooks.

[2] Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth! This is what the Lord says: "The children I raised and cared for have turned against me. [4] Oh, what a sinful nation they are! They are loaded down with a burden of guilt. They are evil and corrupt children who have turned away from the Lord. They have despised the Holy One of Israel, cutting themselves off from his help. [5] Why do you continue to invite punishment? Must you rebel forever? Your head is injured, and your heart is sick. [7] Your country lies in ruins, and your cities are burned. As you watch, foreigners plunder your fields and destroy everything they see. [10] Listen to the Lord, you leaders of Israel! Listen to the law of our God, people of Israel. You act just like the rulers and people of Sodom and Gomorrah. [12] Why do you keep parading through my courts with your worthless sacrifices? [13] The incense you bring me is a stench in my nostrils! Your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath day, and your special days for fasting-even your most pious meetings-are all sinful and false. I want nothing more to do with them. [14] I hate all your festivals and sacrifices. I cannot stand the sight of them! [15] From now on, when you lift up your hands in prayer, I will refuse to look. Even though you offer many prayers, I will not listen. For your hands are covered with the blood of your innocent victims. [16] Wash yourselves and be clean! Let me no longer see your evil deeds. Give up your wicked ways. [17] Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the orphan. Fight for the rights of widows. [18] "Come now, let us argue this out," says the Lord. "No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you as white as wool. [19] If you will only obey me and let me help you, then you will have plenty to eat. [20] But if you keep turning away and refusing to listen, you will be destroyed by your enemies. I, the Lord, have spoken!" [21] See how Jerusalem, once so faithful, has become a prostitute. Once the home of justice and righteousness, she is now filled with murderers. [23] Your leaders are rebels, the companions of thieves. All of them take bribes and refuse to defend the orphans and the widows. [24] Therefore, the Lord, the Lord Almighty, the Mighty One of Israel, says, "I will pour out my fury on you, MY ENEMIES" ! Isaiah 1:2-24

Today we live in a era when mindless terrorists murder people by the thousands for NO SANE reason, and likewise school children take guns into their schools to murder their classmates and teachers. We wring our hands in distress and plead with some "unknown deity" to explain to us, "What has gone wrong with our society - and WHY ??"

We REALLY don't want an answer, though, for we would prefer that the "deity" should indeed remain, "UNKNOWN", least He or She should interfere with OUR plans. We would prefer a "deity" separated from our State - separated from our schools - separated from our daily lives - as a matter of fact, separated from ALL real life in general. We would prefer a "deity" relegated ONLY to an obscure corner of some antiquated religious shrine - hidden, useless, and impotent. After all, there is really only room for ONE deity, and we would prefer that it should be "MAN"!!

However, Napoleon Hill, in his book, "Think and Grow Rich" knew the answer, as do all of the motivational psychologists and "Media Mind-benders" of our day, not to mention God in His Holy Word. They ALL know that whatever a person is surrounded by and immersed in day after day, whatever he/she continually feed their mind with, think about, and set their heart upon - whatever they elavate as their "god" - will mold and shape them into what they will become.

We have allowed the "gods" of lust, sex, hate, violence, murder, greed, rebellion, idolatry, and self gratification to mold our minds and those of our children though "worship" of them at their alter of Media, Movies, Music, TV, and Society in general.

Thus do the disciples of the "god of this age" serve their Master!!

If we as Christians would like to know why it is that non-Christians so disparages our faith, perhaps we should take a look at what "Holy Mother Church" has spawned during the last 2.000 years. Notable amongst her prodigy we find the "Papal Harlot", filled with popery, pageantry, and paganism - the "Puritanical Prison" of pride, prudery and prejudice - the "Charismatic Circus" - and the "Garden of Greed".

It is interesting to note that unbelievers DID NOT ridicule, mock, or disparage Jesus when He walked in the flesh. Rather, they followed hard after Him as one offering Peace, Hope and Light in a Dark and Dying World. His words were: "Come to me, all you that labor and are weighted down with the worries and burdens of this world, and I will give you rest. Submit to me, and learn of me; for I am meek and simple in heart: and you shall find rest for your whole being. What I ask of you is easy, and my burden for you is light." It was the Religious Hypocrites that were His enemies !!

Jesus was (and is) a simple man, with a simple message, offering a simple way for lost humanity to return back to our (and His Father). When asked by His "Works" obsessed Jewish followers, what "Good Works" must a man do to please God, He replied simply, "Believe in and follow ME!" When asked by a group of Pharisees, "What commandments must we keep to please God", He again replied simply, "Love God with ALL of your being, and love your associate as you do yourself."

He warned His followers to beware on the one hand of the "Power Hungry"; the Proud; the Arrogant; the Self-serving; the Greedy; the ones who loved great Pomp, Show, Extravagance, and Public Spectacle; the ones who wanted to Control and "Lord it over" their fellow men. He said that NO man should be called "Lord, or Master, or Father", to be bowed down to, but that we ALL (Him included) have ONE Father in Heaven !!

On the other hand, He also spoke against those who were always calling for Sacrifice, Self-denial, and Outlawing the enjoyment of simple human good.

So I challenge you -- LOOK at the bulk of the organized, mainline "Christian Church" today. When the outside world looks in at it and at us - Christians - do they see Jesus and The WAY that He expounded, or do they see rather something that looks very much like the "Corrupt Religious System" of His day that He so Violently and Vigorously denounced and opposed ??

28 "They said, then, to Him, "What may we be doing that we may be working the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you may be believing in that One Whom He commissions." John 6:28,29

4 For they bind heavy loads, heavy and hard to bear, and are placing them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 All their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 They love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8 But be not you called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all you are brothers. 9 Call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father , which is in heaven. 10 Neither be you called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11 He that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. Matthew 23:4-12

See Below for Loving God and Your associate:
Luke 10:25-37 Matthew 5:43-48

There is a group mentality that exists within this nation -- claiming to be both American AND Christian -- yet denying the fundamental precepts of BOTH !! It says that they hate Blacks - they hate Jews -- they hate Homosexuals - they hate Catholics - they hate "Foreigners" - they hate the Disabled and Deformed. In fact, it seems that the main thing that they do is HATE !! According to them, this land should be cleansed for Pure, Perfect, White, Native-born Protestants ONLY (them, of course) !!

They love to wave the American flag in patriotic fervor, neglecting the fact that the founders of this nation bled and died for the premise that, "ALL men are created Equal, and endowed by their CREATOR with certain Natural Rights, among them Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."

They claim to be Christian, discounting the truth that The Master, Jesus, the preeminent JEW, commanded them (and US) to do THIS which sums up ALL of God's requirements for man, "You shall love God with ALL of your being, and you shall love your associate as you love yourself." Later, some hypocrites who sought to weasle out of His command by nit-picking over exactly WHO was their "associate", were met by Him with this answer, "Your associate is ANYONE that you chance to encounter during your day's activities." He then goes even one step further with the command, "You hear that it was said, 'Love your associate and hate your enemy.' Yet I am saying to you -- Love your enemies and do GOOD to them."

I believe that Abe Lincoln put it VERY well in 1855 when he said, "Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be pretty rapid. As a nation, we began by declaring that 'all men are created equal.' We now practically read it, 'all men are created equal except Negroes.' (When the ... get control, it will read. 'all men are created equal except Negroes, foreigners, Christians, Jews, and homosexuals'. NOTE: added by editor) When it comes to this, I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty --- to Russia, for instance --- where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy."

43 "You hear that it was declared, `You shall be loving your associate' and you shall be hating your enemy. 44 Yet I am saying to you, Love your enemies, and pray for those who are persecuting you, 45 so that you may become sons of your Father Who is in the heavens, for He causes His sun to rise on the wicked and the good, and makes it rain on the just and the unjust. 46 For if ever you should love those who are loving you, what wages have you? Are not the tribute collectors also doing the same? 47 And if ever you should greet your brothers only, what are you doing that is excessive? Are not those of the nations also doing the same? 48 You, then, shall be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48

As a great tree has one Tap Root, which supports and feeds all of the other branches, so today are ALL of the multifarious ills, problems, and failures fed from ONE Common Source. That source may be characterized by the mentality, "I Demand MY Rights!"

The average individual (and thus society as a whole) thinks ONLY in terms of "I", "Me", and "Mine" - MY Rights, MY Feelings, MY Space, MY Convenience, MY Future!! Whereas the essence of REAL Love is to GIVE, the Spirit of THIS Age thinks only of TAKING. Is there any wonder that Families, Marriages, Friendships -- ALL relationships -- are decaying. They can not flourish in this poisonous atmosphere of Self-Centeredness.

Is our society producing Conscienceless and Heartless Monsters instead of Human Children ?? What WOULD grow from the seeds of Self-Indulgence and Self-Preoccupation that we as a society have sown ?? If they have NOT learned what it means to Give, then ALL they will know is to TAKE !! If a new life would hinder MY Freedom, murder it in the name of "Woman's Rights". If an Old Life would jeopardize MY Happiness, murder it in the name of euthanasia. If a marriage partner would hinder MY SELF-Realization, murder the Sacred Union by Divorce.

Our Psychologists and Psycho-Therapists have created a society of "Victims" -- "Poor me!!! I have been unfairly taken advantage of and traumatized by a lost and wicked society." The problem is, however, are we not ALL "Victims" of having been born into a fallen world ?? This being the case, let us embrace an Ancient Wisdom that says, "If you would seek to FIND your Life, step down from your Little Throne, look outward, embrace and give of that Love that is Life Indeed!"

By ALL means (granting the benifit of the doubt that he IS sincere), let us accept President Clinton's apology. Most certainly let him seek God's forgiveness (he DEFINITELY needs it) through his "Spiritual Advisors". What, however, have these to do with his fitness to continue as President of the US ?? He has shown himself to be a man totally bereft of ANY sense of Morality or Human Decency - a Liar, a Cheat, a Deceiver, who will use ANYONE to forward HIS OWN agenda !!

He has contributed BIG TIME to making this nation the laughing stock of the world, has multiplied many times the 'Sleaze Factor" of politics and government, and has taken a "giant step for mankind" toward totally destroying the credibility of elected officials (IF they had any left).

King David of Israel committed adultury with Bathsheba, then had her husband murdered to cover up his crime. When confronted with HIS sin, he openly acknowledged it and God forgave him. Yet HE suffered loss of three children - revolt, sedition, incest, and murder in his own home - and finally revolt within the nation on account of HIS actions.

Esau, son of Isaac, ruler-to-be of Israel, despised his birthright, and allowed his younger brother to cheat him out of it. When Esau realized what had happened, he begged his father to do something. Isaac told him, "I love you, I accept your apology, but what is done IS DONE. It CAN NOT be changed." !!

So Mr. Clinton, "You are SORRY" ?? ------- Guess what, so is the NATION !!!

"Do not be deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap." Galatians 6:7

"Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau. He traded his birthright as the oldest son for a single meal. And afterward, when he wanted his father's blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he wept bitter tears." Hebrews 12:16-17

Why all of the furor over one innocent teenager acting upon her conviction not to partake of the current vogue of hypocrisy so prevalent among our "Educrats", Politicians, Bureaucrats, and Libertines? They all want to join the crucifixion because she refuses to utter some empty tribute to some legendary nation that has become nothing more than an empty shell of what it once was.

"I pledge allegiance ..." How can anyone with a clear conscience pledge allegiance to this seething mass of greed, self-seeking, hypocrisy, and deceit that today we must shamefully call, "Our Nation"??

"One Nation .... under GOD." What a blow these words must be to that Libertine Sword so intent on exorcising all morality and allegiance to the Creator Deity from this Nation with their fabricated doctrine of, "Separation of Church and State". I believe that it is even printed on our currency, "In GOD we (as a Nation) trust".

To WHAT God do these words refer -- to some impotent deity relegated only to dark, empty corners of religious shrines -- Or do they not rather refer to the Living God who Governs and Disposes Nations??

If we would STILL have men (and woman) of integrity pledge their allegiance to the Flag of this Nation, then let this Nation fulfill that pledge. Get rid of the hypocrites who would gut this land to fulfill their OWN agenda. Either that, or get rid of the lie that this is in ANY way a, "Nation under God!!"

I offer you a riddle: What do John Lennon of "Beatles" fame, US President Clinton, Chinese President Jiang, and myself all have in common. Give up ?? According to Clinton, Jiang, "Has a good imagination. He can imagine a future that is different from the present." I am sure that we will all agree that, concerning his financial and "personal" life, Clinton has a GREAT imagination. John Lennon wrote a famous song entitled, "Imagine". I, TOO, can imagine a different future. In keeping with that song, I offer this sequel in tribute to "Our Nation and its' President???"

Imagine there's a nation, whose leaders speak the Truth. Imagine there are no lawyers, milking this nation out of billions of dollars, and crippling the courts with trumped up and exaggerated lawsuits, in the noble name of "Justice". Imagine there are no "Media Moguls", stirring their cauldrons of strife, bias, distention, hatred, and lust for violence in the name of "Journalism" and "Free Speech", while lining their multi-billionair pockets from the blood and suffering of the masses. Imagine there are no "Educrats", Bureaucrats or Politicians, each sitting upon their petty little thrones, ruling over their pitiful, warring little kingdoms, built out of the rubble of this once Great Nation that THEY were empowered to govern, care for, and protect. Imagine there is no "Liberal Left" or "Religious Right" --- No self-pitying victims or self-righteous bigots -- only "ONE Nation under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for ALL!!" Yes .......... can you imagine????

"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." Romans 1:21

A Frightful Phenomenon is presently taking place in the United States. It is either the Flagrant Lies and/or MisLeading Statements of the Media, or the Fearful Lack of Concern that is voiced by the Majority of American People (so say said Media) with having a man totally lacking in Humility, Honesty, Judgment, Morality, and Human Decency as President of the United States.

Reports by said Media credit the American Populus with an attitude that basically says, "As long as MY Belly is Full and MY Bank Account is Fat - WHO cares about Morality, Justice, and other such intangible ideals??"

I would like to point to two references that embrace this mentality, and their consequent outcome, for our consideration:

The First Reference comes to us from the Past, out of the Life of Adolph Hitler. I quote from the 1996 MS Encarta Encyclopedia:

When the Great Depression struck in 1929, he explained it as a Jewish-Communist (Christian) plot, an explanation accepted by many Germans (Americans). Promising a strong Germany (United States), jobs, and national glory, he attracted millions of voters. The economy, the media, and all cultural activities were brought under Nazi authority by making an individual's livelihood dependent on his or her political loyalty (Political Correctness) . Hitler successfully appealed to a Germany that was humiliated by defeat in World War I and the Treaty of Versailles of 1919.

Many Germans (Americans) supported him enthusiastically. His armament drive wiped out unemployment, an ambitious recreational program attracted workers and employees, and his foreign policy successes impressed the nation. He thus managed to build support among the German (American) people; he needed their support to establish German (American) rule over Europe and other parts of the world. Discrediting the churches with charges of corruption and immorality, he imposed his own brutal moral code. He derided the concept of human equality and claimed racial superiority for the Aryans, of which he said the Germans were the highest form. As the master race, they were told, they had the right to dominate all nations they subjected. The increasingly ruthless persecution of the Jews (Christians) was to inure the Germans (Americans) to this task.

Hitler had a forceful, charismatic personality. An amoral (immoral) man, ruthless and incapable of personal friendships, he looked upon his fellow humans as mere bricks in the world structure he wished to erect. He knew how to appeal to people's baser instincts and made use of their fears and insecurities. He was successful, however, only because many Germans (Americans) were willing to be led.

The Second Reference is future, and it comes from the Holy Bible, God's Word, in:

Second Thessalonians 2:3-12
"[3] Don't be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed - the one who brings destruction. [4] He will exalt himself and defy every god there is and tear down every object of adoration and worship. He will position himself in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God. [5] Don't you remember that I told you this when I was with you? [6] And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. [7] For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. [8] Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will consume with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.<<B> [9] This evil man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. [10] He will use every kind of wicked deception to fool those who are on their way to destruction because they refuse to believe the truth that would save them. [11] So God will send great deception upon them, and they will believe all these lies. [12] Then they will be condemned for not believing the truth and for enjoying the evil they do."

Again, I prevail upon us as a Nation to seriously ponder deeply the Question -----  "Do we REALLY want Prosperity at ANY price??"

A few hundred years ago, Hans Christian Anderson wrote a child's fable called, "The Emperor's New Clothes". Though written for "Children", and a "Fable??", as is often the case, it contains more truth and wisdom than many of today's "Official Proclamations"!!

The story centers on a fabled Emperor -- a very pompous, vain, "Jackass" of an Emperor. Being much into himself, his clothes and the "Elegance of his Countenance", he was to have a new Suite of Clothes made for himself, the Splendor of which had never before been seen by mortal eyes (or so said his tailor). Not only that, but they would be a constant test of those who served under him. It seems (so said the tailor, again), that these clothes were to be made of such an extraordinary cloth, that it could ONLY be seen by the wisest and most astute of men (and woman). Fools, and those unfit for their position, would NOT be able to see anything.

Now this delighted the Emperor to NO END, for HE considered himself a VERY Wise and Astute man indeed!! Price was to be of NO concern (as is USUALLY the case with Emperors and other political figures)!! Now the tailor (who REALLY WAS quite wise and astute, and quite a con man) labored over this suite for many months. All who saw it, including the Emperor, raved to each other that they had never before in all of their lives seen anything to compare with this Suit. It was a Wonder to Behold, and so VERY Politically Correct !!

Finally, the much awaited day arrived!! Encouraged by the massive Press and Media Coverage, ALL in the land, from the Smallest to the Greatest turned out, and a great parade and press conference were held in the Emperor's honor. As he paraded down Main Street in full sight of all of his subjects, everyone -- young and old, man and woman -- screamed, cheered and shouted. Truly, never before had such a sight been seen!!

Suddenly, the voice of a Small, Innocent, Politically INcorrect Little Child arose above the din of the crowd, "Mommy, the Emperor doesn't have ANY clothes on!!" The Emperor turned VERY Red, and no doubt MANY Politically Correct Heads were lost that day.

By the way, rumor has it that the tailor was spotted many years later as the Master of a great Villa in Southern California.

"In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard and the goat will be at peace. Calves and yearlings will be safe among lions, and a little child will lead them all". Isaiah 11:6