jeffreymark

CHRISTIAN THINKING ABOUT POLITICS

As an evangelical dedicated to the Bible's absolute authority I understand the benevolent social conscientious of Christians. No doubt Biblical exhortations such as "dress, till, and keep the earth," and "...if you have done it unto the least of these you have done it unto me [Jesus]," compel us to seek civil redemption in the face of selfish ambition which destroys both the environment and poverty ridden lives. 

And, liberal visionaries espouse claims that sound Christian on their face. Feed the hungry, cut ambitious CEO salaries, put disadvantaged little Johny on a level playing field, cap those oil wells to save our environment, and give health care to each citizen-it sounds so promising, feels so compassionately Christ-like. Yet, without a spiritual impetus behind any social endeavor, the abuse of power only changes addresses. CEO evolves into centralized authoritarianism officer (CAO), better know as tyranny. Evangelicals need to encourage Christian solutions within the context of a free market. Perhaps more boycotts of products, name taking, and of course intentional discipleship in the area of church/government relations may help redeem our broken materialistic society. But, passionately placing the responsibility on big brother government's shoulders only invites stifling oppression over that which we are desperately trying to keep free.  

 Godfather blogger Hugh Hewitt may offer some thought provoking solutions in his new book The Good and Faithful Servant. Here is an editorial synopsis of the book:

Hugh Hewitt is the host of a nationally syndicated radio show, a professor at Chapman University Law School and the author of a dozen previous books on the subjects of politics, law and Christianity. In this book, Hewitt lays out a 26 week course of study and conversation for small groups on the variety of subjects that Christians interested in politics must consider as they contemplate their lives as citizens in a free society. Christians in America have been accused of unthinking support of both major parties at various times in the country's history. What is crucial for any follower of Christ is not only that they be able to give an account of why they believe in the Gospel, but also of how the Gospel informs every aspect of their lives, including their decisions as citizens and voters. This book provides the millions of small groups that meet weekly or monthly with a series of readings and questions to guide those decisions. Hewitt is a graduate of Harvard College and the University of Michigan Law School. Among his previous books are The Embarrassed Believer and In But Not Of: A Guide to Christian Ambition. He blogs daily at HughHewitt.com.

ELECTIONS SPELL TAX R-E-L-I-E-F

Last night's elections do matter according to historical context. And, they also sent a message: "No new taxes." This from long time political analyst Michael Barone:

The odd-year elections -- held in the first year of a presidency -- have been meaningful over the last two decades. In 1993 New Jersey voters rejected tax-raising Democratic Gov. James Florio, despite the best efforts of Bill Clinton's consultant James Carville -- a harbinger of the losses congressional Democrats suffered the next year after they raised taxes and supported, unavailingly, massive health care proposals.

In Virginia, McDonnell has done considerably more than that. He has advanced substantive, detailed positions on transportation, jobs and education -- issues that affect voters' everyday lives. He has also weighed in against national Democrats' health care, card check and cap-and-trade bills, while Deeds has dodged them -- a clear sign those stands are unpopular in a state that voted 53 percent for Barack Obama.

Continue reading Barone's experienced analysis here.

COOKING THE BUREAUCRATIC BOOKS

Hey, my wife and I both got raises this year. Does that count as an Obama saved job?

RACE BLACKMAIL

This past election I marveled at the American people whose infatuation with prospects of a black president, swept otherwise calculating people overboard into a sea of unbridled emotion. A more leftist slanted individual recently told me, "We pretty much had to vote for Obama." Say what? No one held a gun to my head. I saw no leftist thugs at my voting booth. A legion of voters allowed frontier politics to impel their sense of guilt and appeal to their pioneering spirit. The first black president. ( actually Bill Clinton beat him to the punch) Let the party begin. Never mind facts; forget about Obama's ideological associates. Hear no evil, see no evil and thus no evil exists. 

Star Parker, black syndicated journalist for Sripps Howard News Service, calls out such people in her latest commentary:

What is pathetic is the gutless, ill informed, and misguided businessmen and businesswomen, from all walks of American life, who are ready to cave to race blackmail at the drop of a hat. Like racists of the past who bought bigoted claims about blacks to rationalize their racism, so NFL team owners showed zero interest in investigating claims and allegations made about Limbaugh. There was zero interest in the fact that Limbaugh never made most of the provocative statements attributed to him. Zero interest in investigating if the few remarks that Rush did indeed make that might be construed, as incendiary was indicative that he is racist. And no interest to see if Limbaugh actually ever did anything that might be considered discriminatory.

This pathological society needs bold prophets in the spirit of Martin Luther King to stand up and ask both liberals and moderates (liberals in sheep's clothing) questions concerning values and core beliefs. Have business owners sold their soul for a mess of temporal pottage? Do we shape our beliefs and actions according to any sort of historical framework? Perhaps Ms. Parker may set the tone for such prophets.

NEOPURITANS OUST LIMBAUGH FROM NFL

As a kid I fearfully watched historical documentaries my teachers showed in class concerning the 1692 Salem Witch trials. This poor helpless little fourth grader sometimes sat trembling at the reenactments of little Puritan girls swooning helplessly. The hypnotizing click click click of the old projector failed to sooth me in the face of such a harrowing drama. Following the movie our teacher laughed at the irrational nature of these dumb, uneducated little winches who keeled over in Elvis Presleyesque style while reluctantly facing certain individuals perceived to be witches. No trial, no factual evidence, just simple emotion was enough to burn the supposed ghouls at the stake. Then we thanked God we no longer live in a frontier nation eager to lynch the first unsuspecting little soul who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

Fast forward to 21st century America-the place where intellectualism and well rounded cultural manners prevail. Or, so we dispassionately resign ourselves to believe until we read about the latest brouhaha over Rush Limbaugh buying an NFL team. Today we learn that Limbaugh is out. And the very false bigotry that despicable liberals accuse him of engaging in pale in comparison the out right evil bigotry that forced Limbaugh out. Mind numbed media types who make a mockery of the Salem witch trials burned Limbaugh and conservatives at the stake by refusing to fact check false statements attributed to Limbaugh concerning slavery and James Earl Ray. Like the foolish mob of old the liberal media drank the cool-aid and based their verdict on preconceived fantasies they made up because of their dark desire for making those fantasies a reality. Have they no shame? In the good old land of liberty do we dare utter the notion that wide spread corruption runs through liberal blood? Liberal institutions such as the mainstream media are beyond redemption. They no longer seek truth, but instead believe any lie that promises to prop up the institution. A grand old movement that once rooted itself in compassion, equality, and hope now destroys the very human nature it ardently sought to save. People no longer matter except when they empower the institution. This institutionalism possesses a chilling nature that appears good, yet deep down at its core it has no soul. 

I've listened to Rush Limbaugh since approximately 1989. Never have I once heard him utter or even hint at a racist remark. And if he ever said anything resembling such it got taken out of context. Rush is a good and decent man. Like he insists, most of his listeners habitually tune in because he says what we already believe. Instead of continuing to defend Rush, however, I will relinquish the rest of this post to his own monologue which provides a more compelling defense of his work. Listen below:(via Breitbart) 

GLENN BECK MAN ON FIRE

Glenn Beck gets a little out there for me sometimes. And, he sure loves displaying his multi thousand $$$ Panerai watch before the cameras( I have no problem with one wearing a Panerai, but I do have a problem with hammy showoffs). Yet, Beck is a zealous man on a mission. Indeed, he seems to do a yeoman's's job in holding Obama accountable to the public. For that I applaud him. Beck recently, in his own showboat manner, gave the White House "what for" as a result of their targeting Fox News public enemy number 1. Watch Beck below.

MORE AMERICAN TYRANNY

One defines tyranny as "the government or rule of a tyrant or absolute ruler." A free market system which debates ideas in a public square, and invites all who will to participate, constitutes America's seminal vision of liberty. Over the course of history, however, our baneful sense of personal entitlement to the exclusion of sacrifice has led to increased government intervention. The battle cry of the day has evolved into "I what I am entitled to possess," which in today's language certainly means, "I look at my neighbor's apparent prosperity and I deserve a piece of his ill-gotten-gains." Self-centered individuals view other's success through skeptical eyes. Those who desire goodness for all allow successful people to both motivate and challenge them to rise a little higher. Judging by this last round of elections one apprehensively concludes that tyranny knocks at the door because malcontents won the day. And each day brings news of another move toward government absolutism. The latest involves this news concerning Fox News:

The upcoming 2020 Census comes with a mega-budget for advertising to media companies to encourage citizens to participate – but some media companies may be banned if the Obama-run Census Bureau has its way. The Census Bureau’s web site details its planned media offensive “in order to inform everyone about the 2010 Census and its importance, the U.S. Census Bureau has developed an integrated communications campaign (ICC) that includes paid media, earned media, a national partnership program and the Census in Schools program.” But the Census Bureau also makes clear that media with “controversial talk” formats will be banned from getting any ad deals, as will other media that don’t fit the Census Bureau criteria. According to the Census, prejudice and bigotry are the biggest moral crimes and saying something bad about an imam can get you blacklisted. The Census Bureau website even provides a ”Questionaire” that media applicants are required to fill out to see if they are up to snuff, as the Bureau sees it. On the online form, question number one asks media vendors if they adhere to the Bureau’s “Content Appropriateness guidelines” and “identifies restricted environments for all Census paid media and value added opportunities.” The Bureau then lists the criteria that will put a media company their blacklist: Excessive sex or violence Anti-U.S. government sentiments or supporting any violent acts toward the government or the American people, including but not limited to terrorism Questionable moral or ethical values, particularly dealing with bigotry or prejudice Denigration of any cultural group or faith-based communities (imams, ministers, nuns, priests, rabbis, etc.) Anticipated controversial programming that cannot be pre-screened (i.e. reality programming) Controversial talk formats The Census Bureau hasn’t weighed in yet, but we’re wondering if they think Fox’s O’Reilly, Hannity and Beck fit into their “controversial talk” category.

How quickly liberals forget the much despised Nixonian politics. Some of us old timers remember Nixon blacklisting certain news outlets for their vigorous debates with the President. Helen Thomas remembers and severely reprimanded the Obama administration a while back:

Following a testy exchange during Wednesday’s briefing with White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas told CNSNews.com that not even Richard Nixon tried to control the press the way President Obama is trying to control the press. “Nixon didn’t try to do that,” Thomas said. “They couldn’t control (the media). They didn’t try. “What the hell do they think we are, puppets?” Thomas said. “They’re supposed to stay out of our business. They are our public servants. We pay them.” Thomas said she was especially concerned about the arrangement between the Obama Administration and a writer from the liberal Huffington Post Web site. The writer was invited by the White House to President Obama’s press conference last week on the understanding that he would ask Obama a question about Iran from among questions that had been sent to him by people in Iran. “When you call the reporter the night before you know damn well what they are going to ask to control you,” Thomas said. “I’m not saying there has never been managed news before, but this is carried to fare-thee-well--for the town halls, for the press conferences,” she said. “It’s blatant. They don’t give a damn if you know it or not. They ought to be hanging their heads in shame.”

Chris Wallace of Fox News offers his assessment of the Obama administration. Wallace's view hints at the larger picture which indicts our culture as a whiners. Perhaps get what we deserve:

MR. TELEPROMPTER WINS THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

Michael Ramirez, in his own compelling way, reminds us that Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize for the empty rhetoric Mr. Teleprompter provided him. (Click on picture)

NOBEL WINNERS AND LOSERS

Neocon Express offers a glimpse at the winners and losers of the Nobel Peace Prize down through the ages. Interestingly, the only consistency appears to be that Western leaders in particular who believe in peace through a strong defense lose out. For those of us with a spiritual bent, I believe perhaps leaders who offer personal spiritual peace ought to receive notable consideration. After all, a warring soul leads to war between people and nations. 

The prolific evangelist Billy Graham deserves consideration for his tireless efforts to bring spiritual peace. He once penned a book entitled Peace With God The Secret Happiness in which he challenged nations to find peace through God in Christ. My experience as a minister confirms Graham's efforts. Those who discover peace with God through the Savior find both personal and relational healing.

Graham offered a unique twist to his ministry separating him from the Elmer Gantry types who preceded him. First he formed an association entitled Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. The organization paid him a set salary and held his evangelistic team fiscally accountable. Second, he always cooperated with the local pastors where he preached. The Billy Graham archives located at Wheaton College explains:

After 1957 Graham generally held three to five crusades a year, while the number of meetings held by the associate evangelists varied more widely. Usually the associates led crusades in smaller cities and towns or even in single churches. Some specialized in different parts of the world. Akbar Haqq and Robert Cunville, for example, regularly held meetings in India and Howard Jones in Africa. All the associates, however, also held meetings in the United States and other countries. From 1964 to 1976, the crusade staff, known as the team, was based in Atlanta, Georgia. Before and after that they were at the main office in Minneapolis. The name of this department was changed from "Team Office" to "Field Ministries " in the late 1980s. Reports on all of Graham's crusades and some of the associates' regularly appeared in Decision and hour long versions of several services from a major crusade would be broadcast on television usually a few months after the crusade close. In major crusades in large cities, both in the United States and other countries, Graham would preach to hundreds of thousands or even millions of people. The BGEA only held crusades in places where they had been invited by a large number of local pastors and laypersons, although the organization received so many such invitations that the evangelists could virtually pick the place they wanted to go. Staff would investigate each invitation to see if there was wide support for the meeting and then a decision would be made whether to accept the offer or not. For many months ahead of time, a crusade director and other staff people from the BGEA would be working with the local executive committee (incorporated as a separate entity), setting up subordinate committees; recruiting choir members, ushers, counselors, and others; making arrangements for the auditorium or stadium; overseeing publicity; etc. In general, local volunteers prepared for the meetings under the guidance of BGEA staff who followed a procedure developed in hundreds of such crusades. The services themselves consisted of singing by the volunteer choir, a testimony from some well known person, the offering, solos by George Beverly Shea and/or other singers, and the sermon. People who came forward at the evangelist's invitation at the end of services to become Christians or to renew their commitment or to get more information were referred to volunteer counselors who would later refer them to a cooperating pastor in their community. They also received a workbook through the mail to help them as they began Bible study.

Hat's off to a marvelous peacemaker whose peace prize awaits him in the life to come.

TYRANTS RULE NOBEL

Should we care what European tyrants think of America? The same leftist mentality that impelled the Nobel committee to give out their worthless award to our leftist president rules much of the world. Yet, these same cowards beat down the American political doors whenever threatened or in need of cash in order to save their rotten infantile butts. Even our own tyrannical liberals appear shocked at yesterday's bizarre news. The folks at Newsweek's Gaggle offer a synopsis of reactions:

While liberal pundits won’t necessarily be lining up behind all of Limbaugh’s views, there is equal parts astonishment in the left blogosphere as there is in the right. Daily Beast blogger Peter Beinart calls it “Obama’s Nobel Farce”: “Perhaps next they’ll start giving Oscars not to the people who have made the best movies of last year, but to the people who have the best chance of making the best movies next year.” He says he likes Obama as much as the next liberal blogger, but by giving the award to Obama, the Nobel Committee is just proving that they’ve fallen in love with celebrity and that giving Obama the prize as an 'atta boy' they are only feeding the gap that conservatives are working to widen—“between Obamamania as global hype and Obama’s actual accomplishments.” The basic line: Obama won the prize not for being himself as much as for not being George W. Politics Daily Melinda Hennenberger points out, “It's not exactly like giving an Academy Award to a Vince Vaughn movie, but "surprising'' doesn't begin to cover it. No word yet on whether Glenn Beck's head has exploded.” Ezra Kleinadded a tweet: "Obama also awarded Nobel Prize in chemistry. 'He's just got great chemistry,' says Nobel Committee." Ana Marie Cox wrote: "Apparently Nobel prizes now being awarded to anyone who is not George Bush."