History Repeats Itself

Ran across something interesting, and a little scary, on Brock & Bodie Thoene's blog. Since the say to pass it on, I decided to paste it here:

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF
by
Bodie and Brock Thoene

Dear Thoene Friend,
Scripture tells us, “Woe to those who call good ‘evil,’ and who call evil, ‘good.’”

Those of you who have read The Zion Covenant have already seen and recognized in our own time that the history of tyranny is indeed repeating itself.

Over the course of 25 years we have researched and written about the destruction of the German Republic and its constitution….THROUGH LEGISLATION!

You asked us for specifics. Is there any historical precedent for the present Democrat-controlled U.S. Congress giving massive bailout loans to banks and to industry?

Back to that question in a moment.

This week the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Geitner, demanded from Congress that he be given the PERSONAL power to regulate and nationalize U.S. banks and all financial institutions. The U.S. Secretary of the Treasury also wants to have the power to decide what is a “good” business and which businesses should be taken over by the government!

President Obama agrees with this! Obama believes Geitner, the tax evader, should have this power over U.S. business!
At Obama’s demand Geitner’s power would include the authority to shut down U.S. companies at a whim! Do you own a small business? Mr. Geitner would be able to shut you down!

The magnitude of the Obama Administration’s tyrannical power-grab has never before been witnessed in American history.

Review this example:
Obama forces Wagoner out as GM CEO; 31-year career is over
by JUSTIN HYDE and TIM HIGGINS • FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITERS • March 29, 2009

President Barack Obama's rescue plan for Detroit automakers will be unveiled Monday, but one condition became clear today: the resignation of General Motors Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Rick Wagoner.

As a condition for additional government aid to GM, the Obama administration asked Wagoner to step aside, which Wagoner agreed to do today, people familiar with the plan said. Wagoner’s move, effective immediately, ends a 31-year career with GM.

Not since President Franklin Roosevelt considered taking control of Ford Motor Co. in 1943 from a failing Henry Ford has the federal government pushed for such sway in the management of Detroit’s automakers. (emphasis added)

The tack suggests a hard-nosed approach from the Obama administration toward the automakers, bondholders and the UAW, all of whom have yet to reach agreements on key concessions, despite months of talks.

Obama will unveil the new rescue plan for GM and Chrysler in a White House ceremony this morning.


And there you have it. The President of the United States is now DICTATING who will run General Motors. Obama is saying there will be NO Government FINANCIAL HELP FOR General Motors UNLESS they dump the CEO! Obama has the power to destroy the 31-year-career of a man who ran a great American company while the corrupt U.S. Congress ran the business of America into the ground.

We will say this plainly: Barak Hussein Obama has, in nine weeks, proven to us that he is a tyrant. He is now assuming dictatorial powers over our lives and businesses which NO PRESIDENT has EVER assumed in the history of our nation. BY new LAWS enacted by a Democrat Congress, Obama, son of a Kenyan Muslim, is now ignoring WE THE PEOPLE and taking over every corner of our lives. Our Constitutional rights are in shambles.

Has anything like this ever happened in another country? If so, what was the result?

We searched our historical news files and found this headline from Germany in 1935….


Wireless to THE NEW YORK TIMES.
February 22, 1935, Friday
Page 11, 598 words

HITLER AUTHORIZES HUGE FORCED LOAN; Gives Finance Minister Wide Power to Raise Up to Billion Marks to Provide Jobs.

BERLIN, Feb. 21. -- Reichsfuehrer Adolf Hitler empowered the Finance Minister, in a decree passed by the Cabinet today, to float a new loan of between 750,000,000 and 1,000,000,000 marks. [The mark was quoted here yesterday at 40.28 cents.]


It isn’t really necessary to spell out the conclusion of the comparison is it?

To sum up:
Do not be silent. You must not remain silent. Tyranny threatens your American Constitution. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin would not believe what these Democrat-agogues are doing to Freedom today!

Stand and be heard, Americans! Your nation and the world are in peril!

Blessings in The Mighty Name of Jesus!

Bodie and Brock

The Worst of Sinners

I received quite the lovely comment on my last post. My blog is set up not to take anonymous requests, but some brave soul went to the bother to create a user name called "anonymous" - I assume just to comment on my blog. Here it is:

"quite frankly, after reading some of your comments here, and seeing some of your posts on facebook - I'm quite happy that we aren't in the same family. You are the last person I would ever look for help from.
Your words speak of judgement and hate, rather than helpfulness and love.
I'll be surprised if you allow this comment. I'm sure it will also cause you to wrap your self-righteous robes around yourself, and consider yourself blessed for being "persecuted".
Maybe its something you ought to consider though."

I don't want to add fuel to the fire by commenting about anonymous comments, but I do have a few things to say in reply.

First off, I cannot think of anything hateful that I have said. I admit I am too outspoken, and I have said what I think of the people who were suing my denomination and causing trouble - and I would say it again - that may be what this person refers to. I was pretty hard on homeschooling for awhile, but am not as anti-homeschooling as I was - I still think a Christian school is the better option, but not everyone can do that, or has good reasons not to, and I am entitled to my opinion, as my friends - and enemies :-) - who homeschool are entitled to their opinion. :-)

Let's see.....I have been pretty outspoken about liberals and Obama, so that could be it too.

I think that about covers it. I am not pulling my self-righteous robes around me, nor do I feel "persecuted". I feel I am the worst of sinners, and have been pretty honest about some of my struggles to feel loved and accepted by God on here. If I have somehow given the impression that I think I am a super-Christian, I apologize. I would think any regular reader of my blog would know I do not feel that way.

Thanks to the people who read my blog and leave encouraging notes. Some I know well, some I don't know, such as Craig & Heather, who seem like the kind of people that I wish I knew.

I am just a sinner saved by grace, who has been a failure more often than not as I journey to Heaven. Again, if I have been hateful and judgemental, I apologize.

Family, or Strangers?

We have sung it for years: "You will notice we say brother and sister 'round here. It's because wer'e a family, and these folks are so dear. When has a heartache, we all shed a tear......." But do we really mean it?

John Trent & Gary Smalley related a story in their great book, "The Blessing". A Christian woman had a non-believing husband. He spent most of his spare time at the local bar until the day he finally became a Christian. Sadly, he didn't last. He missed the companionship of his fellow drinkers, and no one made a move to befriend him at the church.

A friend of mine was complaining to me about people on facebook, and people in general. He pointed out that if you post something dumb/funny on your facebook, you get tons of comments. But post you are having a rough time, or post a prayer request, and you're lucky if you get one or two comments.

I don't know if we are too busy, or what all the reasons are, but it seems that in too many churches, regardless of the size, we really aren't a family. We don't really bear each other's burdens. If someone testifies and comments they are discouraged, how many of us pray for that person, and even better, tell them we are praying for them?

I believe we are too self-absorbed in today's world. We go to church and worship and leave without making contact with many people outside of our little clique. We don't make visitors welcome. We don't really care how the people are doing outside of the clique we are in. Down deep, most of us only want people there who conform to what we want.

The church should be somewhat of a hospital. A place where people can come for help, but I' afraid that the worst among us wouldn't feel comfortable in most of our churches. You should act and look a certain way to be there, and you certainly should only have "nice" sins. None of that really bad stuff.

I came across something that echoed some of my thoughts. The article is about Ted Haggard - the minister who was caught up in acts of homosexuality. A man named Alan Chambers wrote an article on " What Ted Haggard Can Still Teach The Church" . There was a paragraph that holds oh so much truth:

"The truth is that most Christians struggle with a particular sin in their lives. It might be an uncontrolled temper. Maybe it's substance abuse or even a secret grudge harbored toward someone. Or maybe, like Ted Haggard and me, it's a struggle with lust and sexual brokenness. While there is freedom through the power of Christ, the sad truth remains that there is still something terribly wrong in many of our congregations, something that all of the marriage protection laws and constitutional amendments cannot fix. Many of our churches are not safe places for us to be vulnerable and seek help and so many continue to suffer in silence. The choice of committing sin and disobeying God has always been our personal responsibility, but we in the church desperately need each other. And yet, in many churches, people are still donning masks and ignoring the very hurts and struggles that God instructs us to be open about. If we are to make any progress in reaching a hurting world, our churches need to be a place of healing and accountability. This starts by every one of us, including our leadership admitting to our struggles and asking fellow Christians for help."

Part of the problem may be that we have set the standard so high that we leave no room for people who are struggling. Even the word "struggling" brings judgemental looks and thoughts. I almost get the idea that most Christians I know believe you come to Christ, become a Christian, and then get "sanctified" - a term my church uses that pretty much means total surrender - and then you shouldn't have any "struggle". Meanwhile, there is a world of hurting people in our churches afraid to confess their struggles & battles. They fear condemnation, judgement, even being ostracized in some cases. The best case scenario, they will be told they just need to "pray more".

I could be wrong, but I feel if the church was truly like the song said.......like Jesus wants the church to be, that no matter what issue a Christian brother or sister struggles with, they could let it be known and be met with love, concern, prayer.

A while back, some things were said that just crushed me. The people who said them had no idea how badly they hurt me, and maybe they wouldn't care, but if it were their family member, I hope they would have had a different attitude, yet is it any less wrong to treat fellow Christian brothers & sisters in ways that hurt, than we would our blood family?

I need to choose my words carefully here, but there are issues that I struggle with that a handful of people in my church - and out of the church know. I have been back close to a year now from living in Indiana for 2 years, and not one of those people have pulled me aside and asked how I am doing. Part of me knows I cannot depend on others, and whether I walk this journey completely alone, or have tons of help, it is ultimately up to me whether I stay on the right path - not others. Yet, I have to wonder, if it was their biological brother or sister, would they do differently?

We all need each other. I have been to a couple of places lately to eat and play games, and really enjoyed myself. Back in the days of the early church, they lived with each other, took care of each other. We need more of that - and no, I am not seeking invites - we all, myself included, need to reach out more not to just the visitors and sinners who come through our church doors, but to the ones who are there every service.

We shouldn't just pray for our loved ones, but for those we attend church with, and their loved ones. If someone is going through a rough time, we should help in any way we can, even if it is by encouraging words and prayer.

We need to love each other, and somehow make the church a place where our hurting brothers and sisters can step up, admit their need, and receive help, not judgement.

Family Of God (Bill & Gloria Gaither)

You will notice we say "brother and sister" 'round here,
It's because we're a family and these are so near;
When one has a heartache, we all share the tears,
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.


Chorus
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God

From the door of an orphanage to the house of the King,
No longer an outcast, a new song I sing;
From rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong,
I'm not worthy to be here, but PRAISE GOD! I belong!

Going Through The Motions

Came on another one of those songs that make you think.....

The Motions (Matthew West)

This might hurt, it's not safe
But I know that I've gotta make a change
I don't care if I break,
At least I'll be feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

No regrets, not this time
I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love make me whole
I think I'm finally feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of this life
'Cause I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything
instead of going through the motions?"

take me all the way (take me all the way)
take me all the way ('cause I don't wanna go through the motions)
take me all the way (I know I'm finally feeling something real)
take me all the way

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

Boundaries

Ran onto this article written by Melissa Brady, wife of Jim Brady of the Booth Brothers. Thought it was worth sharing:

"Television, music, movies, magazines and the Internet are continually bombarding us with glamorized immorality. Where there used to be boundaries, there are none and what was once uncommon, is now “the norm” on the social scene. Romance is portrayed as physical attraction only and it seems those involved in physical relationships are getting younger every day.

Jim and I often have young people come to us for advice. Sometimes about music, sometimes to ask what kind of movies they should watch and many times, how they should handle themselves with the opposite sex. Knowing, of course, that their parents have probably already given them the answers to these questions, we encourage them to make decisions as their parents would have them do. In addition, we encourage them to set boundaries for themselves.

We live in a “boundary-less” society and having someone advise you to set boundaries may sound foreign to you. But, as the old saying goes, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything!”

A friend of mine had set boundaries for herself as far as what she would do with her boyfriend. Then they got engaged, and because they were planning to get married, she thought it would be OK to cross some of those boundaries, tearing down her own walls of conviction. After crossing those boundaries, she and her fiance broke up and she found herself unable to take back what she had done. Not keeping that promise to herself was something she would take into her next relationship and eventually into her marriage.

Society doesn’t tell you stories like that of my friend. The consequences of romance without boundaries are hidden. The shiny, outside exterior of “fun” is just a costume that hides teen pregnancy, disease and emotional heartache.

I encourage you all, married and single alike, to set boundaries for yourselves. Put blocks on your Internet access. When something questionable comes on the TV, turn the channel.

Set goals for yourself and don’t put yourself in a vulnerable situation. Most importantly, surround yourself with godly friends who will encourage you in your endeavors. My dad used to quote Psalms 1 to me and remind me that if I didn’t run with “the ungodly”, I wouldn’t get into their trouble. I HATE getting into trouble, so I’ve always thought that was a pretty good philosophy to live by.

If you’ve already crossed boundaries you never intended to cross, you can begin again. We are NOT slaves to our culture. We are NOT hopeless. And we were NOT created to live in defeat. As Romans 8:37 tells us, we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us!

Living a godly life is a minute by minute journey with many obstacles along the way, but we have the power to prevail. We ARE more than conquerors, and although society tells us purity is impossible, remember, with God ALL things are possible!"

Wikipedia Guilty of Partisanship and Censorship

Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia where users can add information, as long as they back it up with facts. The exception is the page for Barrack Obama. References to doubts about his citizenship, his relationship to Wright & Ayars, and things like that, are removed, and the poster is banned for 3 days. It should be no surprise that the page for President George W Bush is the opposite - people can post all the critical stuff about him they want.

Story here: http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=91114

Slow Fade

Most of the music I listen to falls into the Southern/Gospel Country style, but ran onto this CCM song recently, and the words pack a punch. The song could apply to any area of life. I am putting the lyrics here, and the video below it - if you like CCM, give a listen.

Slow Fade (Casting Crowns)

Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

Oh be careful little eyes what you see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see