The 7th Day of Christmas, our wedding day! December 31st....31 years!

Josephine Butler

Josephine Elizabeth Grey was born in Northumberland in 1828. She was schooled at home, where she read English and Italian literature, and translations of the Church Fathers. When 24 years old, she married George Butler, then a tutor at Oxford. She was an early advocate of better provisions for university education for women (see her contributions to Woman's Work and Woman's Culture, 1869). Later, she focused her energies on the plight of women on the fringes of society. Having settled in Liverpool in 1866, she helped to establish homes and refuges for friendless women, housing large numbers of them in her own home. The Contagious Disease Acts of 1864, 1866, and 1869 in effect established government brothels for soldiers and sailors. They placed prostitutes under police supervision while essentially making it impossible for them to leave their line of work. The Acts applied to seaports and garrison towns (although it was proposed eventually to extend them to the rest of the country), and they were defended on the grounds that it was inevitable that soldier and sailors would have sex, and that it was better that they do so under government supervision, so as to control the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (safe sex), and so that men, having an ample supply of prostitutes at their disposal, would leave nice girls alone. Mrs Butler led the campaign for the repeal of these Acts, which finally succeeded in 1886. This included the abolition of similar arrangements in British India. Meanwhile, Mrs Butler extended her concerns to the continent of Europe. She was able to show that in Brussels a number of under-age English girls were being involuntarily held as prostitutes with the connivance of the police, and the Police Chief and his second in command were accordingly dismissed. It was largely through her influence that the laws for the state regulation of vice were reformed to prevent the enslavement of prostitutes in Switzerland, Holland, Norway, France, and Italy. In 1886 her husband (who had given his full support to her work) fell seriously ill, and she retired from public life to care for him. She died on 30 December 1906. Her writings include a Life of St. Catherine of Siena (1898), a Life of Pastor Oberlin (1882), The Hour Before The Dawn (a tract on the campaign to repeal the Acts; 1876), Personal Reminiscences of a Great Crusade (1896), and Native Races and The War (a defense of British action in the Boer War; 1900). written by James Kiefer Prayer Let your continual mercy, O Lord, kindle in your Church the never-failing gift of love, that, following the example of your servant Josephine Butler, we may have grace to defend the poor, and maintain the cause of those who have no helper; for the sake of him who gave his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Remember The Holy Innocents...the 5th Day of Christmas

We read in Matthew 2 that when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, King Herod, fearing for his throne, ordered that all the male infants of Bethlehem be killed. These children are regarded as martyrs for the Gospel -- "martyrs in fact though not in will." Augustine called them "buds, killed by the frost of persecution the moment they showed themselves." written by James Kiefer Prayer We remember today, O God, the slaughter of the holy innocents of Bethlehem by King Herod. Receive, we pray, into the arms of your mercy all innocent victims; and by your great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and establish your rule of justice, love, and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Happy 3rd Day....the day of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist

John, son of Zebedee, was one of the twelve apostles of Our Lord. Together with his brother James and with Simon Peter, he formed a kind of inner circle of Three among the Twelve, in that those three were privileged to behold the miracle of the Great Catch of Fish (L 5:10), the healing of Peter's mother-in-law (P 1:29), the raising of the daughter of Jairus (P 5:37 = L 8:51), the Transfiguration (M 17:1 = P 9:2 = L 9:28), and the Agony in Gethsemane (M 26:37 = P 14:33). He expressed a willingness to undergo martyrdom (M 20:22 = P 10:39) -- as did the other apostles (M 26:35 = P 14:31) -- and is accordingly called a martyr in intention. However, we have ancient testimony that, although imprisoned and exiled for his testimony to the Gospel, he was eventually released and died a natural death in Ephesus: "a martyr in will but not in deed." John is credited with the authorship of three epistles and one Gospel, although many scholars believe that the final editing of the Gospel was done by others shortly after his death. He is also supposed by many to be the author of the book of Revelation, also called the Apocalypse, although this identification is less certain. written by James Kiefer Prayer Shed upon your Church, O Lord, the brightness of your light; that we, being illumined by the teaching of your apostle and evangelist John, may so walk in the light of your truth, that at length we may attain to the fullness of eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Happy Feast of Stephen Day....2nd Day of Christmas

All that we know about Stephen the Protomartyr (that is, the first martyr of the Christian Church) is found in chapters 6 and 7 of the Book of Acts. The early Christian congregations, like the Jewish synagogues, had a program of assistance for needy widows, and some of the Greek-speaking Jews in the Jerusalem congregation complained that their widows were being neglected. The apostles replied: "We cannot both preach and administer financial matters. Choose seven men from among yourselves, respected, Spirit-filled, and of sound judgement, and let them be in charge of the accounts, and we will devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word." The people accordingly chose seven men, including Stephen, and the apostles laid their hands on them. They are traditionally considered to be the first deacons, although the Scriptures do not use the word to describe them. (The Scriptures do refer to officials called deacons in the local congregations, without being very specific about their duties; and a century or more later, we find the organized charities of each local congregation in the hands of its deacons.) Stephen was an eloquent and fiery speaker, and a provocative one. (Some readers have speculated that some of his fellow Christians wanted to put him in charge of alms in the hope that he would administer more and talk less.) His blunt declarations that the Temple service was no longer the means by which penitent sinners should seek reconciliation with God enraged the Temple leaders, who caused him to be stoned to death. As he died, he said, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." One of those who saw the stoning and approved of it was Saul (or Paul) of Tarsus, who took an active part in the general persecution of Christians that followed the death of Stephen, but who was later led to become a Christian himself. We remember Stephen on December 26, the day after Christmas. Hence the song Good King Wenceslas looked out On the feast of Stephen, describes an action of the king on the day after Christmas Day. The tune used with this song is older than the words and was previously used with a hymn often sung on the feasts of Stephen and other martyrs. It begins: Christian friends, your voices raise. Wake the day with gladness. God himself to joy and praise turns our human sadness: Joy that martyrs won their crown, opened heaven's bright portal, when they laid the mortal down for the life immortal. written by James Kiefer Prayer We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed for his persecutors to your Son Jesus Christ, who stands at your right hand: where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Happy 1st Day of Christmas!

Good food and family...some blessings of Christmas!

O come, O come, Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Child of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel! O come, you Wisdom from on high, who orders all things mightily; to us the way of knowledge show, and teach us in her ways to go. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel! O come, O come, You God of might, who to Your tribes on Zi on's height in ancient times did give the law, in cloud, and majesty, and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel! O come, Desire of nations, bind in one the hearts of all our kind; now bid our sad divisions cease, and bring to us the wonder of your peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel! Music: Veni Emmanuel (15th C) Words: Andrew of Milan (4th C) Sequence: Martha Decker http:deckernet.comshedxmasmidi.htm

John's Birthday!

John is 23 years old today! Praise the Lord for his many blessings to us. This photo was taken the morning he left to drive to Quantico, Virginia where he is presently stationed. Happy Birthday, John!

TPC Christmas Party at the Woods' house....

Good pee-ee-eeple, rejoice!

I just have to copy this Holiday song published in the Dec -08' issue of Touchstone Magazine. :-). Winter Holiday Song I To the tune of "Good Christian Men, Rejoice" Good pe-ee-eeple, rejoice- With ev'ry diverse voice; Give you heed to joyous news: We have all-inclusive pews! Now you need not fear the church; Friendly to each seeker's search- Broad is our pathway-- Broad is our pathway! Good pee-ee-eeple, rejoice! In ev'ry human cho-oi-oice; Lifestyles are so fun to live ('Specially when Alternative), Each respected equally And all at risk for HIV- So please use one of these... Please use one of these!) Good pe-ee-eeple, be free-ee-ee, From thinking narrow-lee-ee; Leave the old Book on the shelf- Find your own way to Godself! We've no more rock of offense- Come bask in our tolerance! Broad is our pathway- Broad is our pathway! ---Joe Long

Some Sweet Ladies!

My 2008 Advent Wreath

Celebrating Saint Andrew

St. Andrew's Day is the Sunday nearest the feast of Saint Andrews and begins the church season of Advent. Gilbert and I donned our Scottish regalia and attended this year's event that marked the forty-first celebration of Saint Andrew's Day by the St. Andrew's Society of the Middle South. Gilbert is a past president of the society. This year he had the honor of marching in behind the piper to bring the traditional haggis for its blessing, followed by the reading of the poem by Robert Burns "Ode to the Haggis". It is said that the fisherman Andrew was the first to recognize and follow Jesus and upon doing so, he immediately went and brought his brother, Simon Peter to Jesus. May we all follow his example and be "fishers of men". Posted below is more detail on Andrew for you:

Andrew the Apostle, 30 November NT

Most references to Andrew in the New Testament simply include him on a list of the Twelve Apostles, or group him with his brother, Simon Peter. But he appears acting as an individual three times in the Gospel of John. When a number of Greeks (perhaps simply Greek-speeking Jews) wish to speak with Jesus, they approach Philip, who tells Andrew, and the two of them tell Jesus (Jn 12:20-22). (It may be relevant here that both "Philip" and "Andrew" are Greek names.) Before Jesus feeds the Five Thousand, it is Andrew who says, "Here is a lad with five barley loaves and two fish." (Jn 6:8f) And the first two disciples whom John reports as attaching themselves to Jesus (Jn 1:35-42) are Andrew and another disciple (whom John does not name, but who is commonly supposed to be John himself -- John never mentions himself by name, a widespread literary convention). Having met Jesus, Andrew then finds his brother Simon and brings him to Jesus. Thus, on each occasion when he is mentioned as an individual, it is because he is instrumental in bringing others to meet the Saviour. In the Episcopal Church, the Fellowship of Saint Andrew is devoted to encouraging personal evangelism, and the bringing of one's friends and colleagues to a knowledge of the Gospel of Christ.

Just as Andrew was the first of the Apostles, so his feast is taken to be the beginning of the Church Year. The First Sunday of Advent is defined to be the Sunday on or nearest his feast (although it could equivalently be defined as the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day).

Several centuries after the death of Andrew, some of his relics were brought by a missionary named Rule to Scotland, to a place then known as Fife, but now known as St. Andrew's, and best known as the site of a world-famous golf course and club. For this reason, Andrew is the patron of Scotland.

When the Emperor Constantine established the city of Byzantium, or Constantinople, as the new capital of the Roman Empire, replacing Rome, the bishop of Byzantium became very prominent. Five sees (bishoprics) came to be known as patriarchates: Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Byzantium. Now, the congregation at Rome claimed the two most famous apostles, Peter and Paul, as founders. Antioch could also claim both Peter and Paul, on the explicit testimony of Scripture, and of course Jerusalem had all the apostles. Alexandria claimed that Mark, who had been Peter's "interpreter" and assistant, and had written down the Gospel of Mark on the basis of what he had heard from Peter, had after Peter's death gone to Alexandria and founded the church there. Byzantium was scorned by the other patriarchates as a new-comer, a church with the political prestige of being located at the capital of the Empire, but with no apostles in its history. Byzantium responded with the claim that its founder and first bishop had been Andrew the brother of Peter. They pointed out that Andrew had been the first of all the apostles to follow Jesus (John 1:40-41), and that he had brought his brother to Jesus. Andrew was thus, in the words of John Chrysostom, "the Peter before Peter." As Russia was Christianized by missionaries from Byzantium, Andrew became the patron not only of Byzantium but also of Russia.

Andrew is the national saint of Scotland and of Russia. George is the national saint of England, Patrick of Ireland, and Dewi (David) of Wales. Patrick and David were among the first to preach the Gospel in their respective countries, and George was declared patron of England by King Richard I ("the Lion-Heart") after he appeared to Richard in a vision while Richard was fighting the First Crusade around 1200. George, who was a soldier, is customarily pictured as a knight with a shield that bears a red cross on a white background. This design is therefore the national flag of England. It is said that Andrew was crucified on a Cross Saltire -- an 'X' -shaped cross. His symbol is a Cross Saltire, white on a blue background. This is accordingly the national flag of Scotland. A symbol of Patrick is a red cross saltire on a white background. The crosses of George and Andrew were combined to form the Union Jack, or flag of Great Britain, and later the cross of Patrick was added to form the present Union Jack. Wales did not appear as such (sorry!). Whether there is a design known as the cross of David, I have no idea.

written by James Kiefer

ALMIGHTY God, who didst give such grace unto thy holy Apostle Saint Andrew, that he readily obeyed the calling of thy Son Jesus Christ, and followed him without delay; Grant unto us all, that we, being called by thy holy Word, may forthwith give up ourselves obediently to fulfil thy holy commandments; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The End of Advent

Thanks to John Bankson for calling attention to this article....I agree. Everyone really really really needs to read this one. John says: "If you don’t have time right now, come back when you have time. Read it. Digest it. It’s really, really good, and really, really needed." REALLY!

Room Temperature or Freezer....don't refrigerate your bread!

My friend, Chris Jeffreys, came to visit and brought a book to me. It is titled: Home Comforts....the Art and Science of Keeping House. I've been married for almost 31 years....I wish I'd read this book earlier. Here's a tip I just learned about keeping bread fresh. "Bread becomes stale quickly at temperatures just above freezing and extremely slowly at temperatures just below freezing. So while freezing is a good way to keep bread fresh, refrigerating isn't. One investigation showed that at a refrigerated temperature of 46 degrees bread stales as much in one day as it would in six days at 86 degrees F. Moreover, the faster the bread is frozen, the less time it spends in the temperature near and above 32 degrees F and the less readily it goes stale." SO, you should either store your bread at room temperature or freeze it as quickly as you can....don't refrigerate your bread!

Festival of NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS

please join TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH for our annual FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS at Berney Points Baptist Church facility 2250 Blue Ridge Boulevard (I65 exit 254/Alford Avenue) Monday evening, December 22, 2008 6:30 PM refreshments afterwards The Lessons and Carols program intertwines Bible readings with traditional Advent and Christmas music, helping us enter more fully, liturgically and experientially, into the story of the coming of the Son of God into human history in human flesh to redeem us from the curse of sin and death. It evolved out of historic pre-Christmas celebrations and was first celebrated in its present format in the late nineteenth century at King’s College Chapel in Cambridge. www.trinity-pres.net

Obama's faith............ from Leithart.com

Obama's faith [Politics | Link | Print] In the December issue of The Atlantic, Andrew Sullivan describes Barak Obama's conversion. In an interview with Sullivan, Obama said, "I didn't have an epiphany. What I really did was to take a set of values or ideals that were first instilled in my from my mother, who was, as I called her in my book, the last of the secular humanists - you know, belief in kindness and empathy and discipline, responsibility - those kinds of values. And I found in the Church a vessel or a repository for those values and a way to connect those values to a larger community and a belief in God and a belief in redemption and mercy and justice. . . . I guess the point is, it continues to be both a spiritual, but also an intellectual, journey for me, this issue of faith." Sullivan also quotes a June 2007 speech in Connecticut, where Obama gave a testimony: "One Sunday, I put on one of the few clean jackets I had, and went over to Trinity United Church of Christ on 95th Street on the South Side of Chicago. And I heard Reverend Jeremiah A Weight deliver a sermon called 'The Audacity of Hope' [which Obama later used as a title for one of his books]. And during the course of that sermon, he introduced me to someone named Jesus Christ. I learned that my sins could be redeemed. I learned that those things I was too weak to accomplish myself, he would accomplish with me if I placed my trust in him. And in time, I came to see faith as more than just a comfort to the weary or a hedge against death, but rather as an active, palpable agent in the world and in my own life." Later, he walked the aisle to "affirm my Christian faith." His skepticism and questions remain, but "kneeling beneath the cross on the South Side, I heard God's spirit beckoning me. I submitted myself to his will, and dedicated myself to discovering his truth and carrying out his works." In another article in the same issue of The Atlantic Marc Ambinder says that his run for President is a response to that same call: "Obama's friends speak of this process as his 'calling.'" And the realization that he might be president goes back to a December 2006 visit to Rick Warren's Saddleback Church, where Obama reportedly received a standing ovation for a talk about AIDS in Africa. posted by Peter J. Leithart on Saturday, November 17, 2007 at 07:12 AM

... a giant leap forward for the entire medical community, some of whom have been pressured to compromise their convictions on the job.

On Conscience, HHS Rules! He may technically be a "lame duck," but President Bush is going out with guns blazing. With just two months left in office, the administration dealt a crippling blow to online gambling and is prepared to do the same to the pro-abortion movement on conscience exemptions. Despite an uproar from the usual liberal suspects, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is putting the finishing touches on a rule that would create a hedge of protection around health care providers who object to abortion or other procedures on moral grounds. The regulations, which HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt has promoted for months, would bar anyone who receives federal funds from discriminating against pro-life doctors, nurses, or other medical workers because of their beliefs. Pharmacists would also be exempt from dispensing drugs that could end an innocent life -- like the abortifacient RU-486. If approved before the President leaves office, the rules would be a giant leap forward for the entire medical community, some of whom have been pressured to compromise their convictions on the job. Of course, there is some danger that President-elect Obama would undo HHS's hard work, but it would be a long and arduous task. Like much of the radical abortion camp, he says these rules would create a hurdle in "women's health care." However, his argument is severely flawed, considering that abortion is not -- nor will it ever be -- true health care. While Obama says he wants to "reduce abortions," his promise to sign the Freedom of Choice Act means he's not opposed to forcing people to perform them. Thanks to Secretary Leavitt, more Americans understand that the people who oppose these rules, including President-elect Obama, are the ones imposing their beliefs-not the men and women of faith. As Leavitt said on his blog, "Our nation was built on a foundation of free speech. The first principle of free speech is protected conscience. This proposed rule is a fundamental protection for medical providers to follow theirs." Please let the administration know how much you appreciate their perseverance on conscience protections. Log on to secretarysblog.hhs.gov/my_weblog and leave Secretary Leavitt a comment expressing your gratitude.

Tom Daschle

Tom Daschle is another pro-choice Catholic. But, not only will he be a member of the new administration, but he will LEAD the post which will articulate executive policy on health care and the life questions. Bad news is on the horizon.

Remedy for Conservatives

Here’s a good practical remedy for us conservatives………pasted from a post by Andrew Sandlin. I think it will help us articulate our message in layman’s language. What specifically to do? Here’s a laundry list: Trumpet individual responsibility. The postmodern age is a communitarian age, hostile to the rugged individualism on which the nation was founded. The political dimension of this communitarianism is collectivism. Its economic expression is socialism. Its radical form is Marxism. Its mild form is the European social welfare state. But postmodernity is not a permanent cultural phase, and alternative options are readily available. True, amid economic chaos, a large sector of the population will trade individualism for security (think Germany, 1933). But as the economic woes inevitably recede, firing the electorate with a renewed sense of self-reliance and opposition to the nanny state and its onerous regulation and taxation may just be a winning message, especially among voters who can recall good economic times. In ordinary times, most Americans are less inclined to surrender their individual liberties without at least a fight. Like November 1932, November 2008 was not an ordinary time. November 2012 likely will be. Spread a modified populism. Liberals are committed essentially to global ideals. Conservatives are devoted to American ideals. Liberals don’t deem themselves unpatriotic — they just define patriotism in global terms (the fact that this definition is self-contradictory doesn’t seem to bother them). Bi-coastal, Ivy-League trained elites — that is, politicos like Barak Obama — wield great power in American society, but his coterie is a vast minority of the population, and the alliance between elites and non-elites in America is usually tenuous and temporary (not all elites are leftist, of course). Elites tend to be politically successful when they can persuade their perceived inferiors that they are looking out for their best interests (“Big Brother loves you and knows best”). This is an age-old liberal strategy, and one that opportunistic conservative non-elites should exploit. Conservatives need not capitulate to raw populism (which creates its own set of problems) to plan a “revolt of the masses” against entrenched political elitism on the Left. Conservatives must, however, show Wal-Mart moms and the rest of the suburban middle class that liberal elites who happen to run Washington D. C. are condescending, power-hungry and dangerous (notably in foreign policy). This message worked for Ronald Reagan, and it will continue to work for conservatives as long as a majority of Americans shop at Wal-Mart, eat at Dennys, enjoy entertainment like NASCAR, and are put off by Prius-driving, latte-sipping, caviar-consuming elites. This is not a form of class warfare, for which leftist populists are famous; after all, lots of rich people deplore political elitism (business elites they may be; political elites they are not). It is a form of cultural warfare against the folks who deem themselves The Anointed, entitled to dictate how the rest of us live our lives. Champion economic liberty. Yes, indeed, there are Wall Street elites, but Americans in ordinary times don’t want to penalize the rich; they want to be rich. When they’re frightened economically, they can be enticed by elitist Robin Hoods like Barak Obama and Barney Frank, but, generally, they want their own burgeoning mutual funds and 401k’s. Conservatives need to show that interventionist economics aren’t just bad for America in the abstract (true enough) but bad also for every American in the concrete: do you trust the state to spend your money more wisely than you can? If not, then vote for the people that want you to keep — and spend — your own money. Cultivate pro-family ethics. In the various states, same-sex marriage proposals mostly fail and traditional marriage proposals mostly win. Whatever the sentiment in presidential races, most of the country is not ready to throw the traditional family under the bus. Moreover, abortion (except in deep-blue states like California) is becoming less popular. In this way especially, conservatives should reach out to the growing Black and Hispanic population, who are proportionately more pro-family than Whites. Conservatives need — and can attract — these voters. A coalition of rugged individualists, Middle America anti-elitists, market libertarians and pro-family fans covers a wide swath of American society — wide enough to garner a majority of votes in ordinary times. This four-fold appeal is not just a tactic or a strategy. It creates a deep resonance with the human condition that, particularly in ordinary times, rings true to many Americans. Conservatives need to get cracking.

Grandma-Mommy

This presents a lot of complicated ethical choices!

This is good news from First Things

Posted by Stefan McDaniel on November 10, 2008, 3:35 PM First Things board member (and frequent contributor) Prof. Robert P. George has just been appointed to the U.N.’s World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST). In this capacity he will “advise the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on the ethics of its endeavors in the fields of science and technology.” Prof. George, one of the United States’ most influential public intellectuals, has spent much of his career vigorously advancing powerful pro-life arguments in the public square, including as a member of the President’s Council on Bioethics. The pro-life cause could have no abler champion at the U.N.

...over 50 million people voted against Obama. Are they all bigots?

In his blog, Peter Leithart quotes Alan Wolfe and gives a few remarks (pasted below) worth reading. Even though Alan Wolfe is considered among the most often cited “public intellectuals,” his remarks show amazing ignorance of just what it is that the majority of southerners really value….... our stand with the Republicans has more to do with the sacred value of one’s skin rather than its color. SM Hutchens writes: Discrimination based on the color of one’s skin is not now the burning issue of our time, however. It’s that we’ve forgotten the value of human skin in the first place. The human skin of the baby in the womb, the human skin of the severely disabled (candidates for “selective” abortion), the human flesh and blood of the elderly, and the bodies of those near death, from whom we cut organs while they are, yes, still, alive—this human flesh is abused and sacrificed on various altars. Resting on the hard-earned laurels of enlightened colorblindness, many have forgotten, or deny, the sanctity of the very flesh about which we say we are so indifferent as to its color. While it is true that Scripture gives clear admonitions for people with means to help the poor, there is a big difference between the morality of government tax policy, welfare programs, etc and the immorality of promoting abortion, infanticide and euthanasia as the law-of-the-land. Does President-elect Obama really want to change our culture where the most helpless are the victims of the most severe type of discrimination? It seems he wants to perpetuate and encourage this type of discrimination which has become so culturally accepted since Roe v. Wade, Doe v. Bolton and other rulings by judicial activists which have imposed this immorality on the land. (He said his first act upon taking office would be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act.) Fie on him for that. Whatever the Republican Party shortcomings, I will continue to work hard for the Republican Party and her candidates as long as she makes a public stand for the sanctity of human life and works to reverse that which has been created by such shameful twisting of our Constitution. Let’s all do our part. ORA ET LABORA …..for cultural change promoting the protection of life and liberty and a return to first principles of our Constitutional Republic here is the post from www.leithart.com Alan Wolfe, announcing the end of the culture wars with the election of Obama, accuses the South of voting against Obama because Southerners are racists: “The single most disturbing aspect of last night’s election is the transformation of the Republican Party into the party of the Confederacy. Yes, Republicans remain strong in states such as Wyoming and Idaho, and Obama won Virginia and is leading in North Carolina. But both these latter two states flipped to the Democrats because they contain large numbers of white professionals who moved there from other parts of the country and because blacks came out to vote in such force. Long-time Southern whites, by contrast, opposed Obama–those in the Deep South most of all. Despite having lost the Civil War and having been instructed by the laws of the land to treat members of both races equally, large parts of the South resisted–and they continue to resist.” Alan Wolfe, announcing the end of the culture wars, advises Obama to ignore a significant swath of the country: “Perhaps they will be able to control the Republican Party for the next electoral cycle or two, but the white South has finally lost its privileged position in American political life; Jesse Helms’s Senate seat is now held by Kay Hagan. Like all those who lose their privileges, especially those who never earned them in the first place, they are unlikely to show much grace, despite the effort by John McCain, in his concession speech, to point the way. Obama would do well not to try to win them over but to ignore them. They have for too long been a malignant force in American political life, and we should not miss their passing.” Alan Wolfe, announcing the end of the culture wars, ignores the fact that over 50 million people voted against Obama - are they all bigots? Alan Wolfe, announcing the end of the culture wars, does his best to reignite them and to stoke up the flames. posted by Peter J. Leithart on Sunday, November 9, 2008 at 8:00 am FYI: Alan Wolfe is a political scientist and a sociologist and is currently on the faculty of Boston College and serves as director of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Future of American Democracy Foundation Earlier in his career, Wolfe was a member of the collective that put out the Marxist-oriented journal, Kapitalistate, whose pages featured articles by such writers as Poulantzas, Claus Offe, Ralph Miliband, and Bob Jessop. By the early 1980s, Wolfe's politics had become more centrist. A contributing editor of The New Republic, The Wilson Quarterly, Commonwealth Magazine, and In Character, Wolfe writes often for those publications as well as for Commonweal, The New York Times, Harper's, The Atlantic Monthly, The Washington Post, and other magazines and newspapers. He served as an advisor to President Bill Clinton in preparation for his 1995 State of the Union Address and has lectured widely at American and European universities. He was ranked #98 in the list of the 500 most cited intellectuals in the 2001 book by Richard Posner titled Public Intellectuals.

FYI, a little background on Rahm Emanuel

Posted by Keith Pavlischek on November 7, 2008, 3:49 PM President-Elect Obama has named Rahm Emanuel to be his Chief of Staff, perhaps the most important single figure in his inner circle. In January 2005 Representative Emanuel was interviewed by the late Tim Russert, and asked about the Iraq war. MR. RUSSERT: You voted–you said you would have voted for the war if you had been in Congress. REP. EMANUEL: Right. MR. RUSSERT: Now, knowing that are no weapons of mass destruction, would you still have cast that vote? REP. EMANUEL: Yes. Well, you could have done–well, as you know, I didn’t vote for it. I still believe that getting rid of Saddam Hussein was the right thing to do, OK? But how you go about it and how you execute that war is the problems we face today. MR. RUSSERT: So even knowing there are no weapons of mass destruction, you would still vote to go into Iraq? REP. EMANUEL: You can make–you could have made a case that Saddam Hussein was a threat, and what you could have done also, Tim, is worked with other countries, go through the U.N., take the time to do it. Again, the problems with our troops and the country today faces in Iraq isn’t about whether we should or should not have gone to war, whether we should or should not have removed Saddam Hussein, it’s how they have pursued this war, the lack of planning, the lack of processing, thinking about there was no plan, as you know, for after we removed Saddam Hussein, what would you do. There was no plan for–as you know, before war, you had to have an exit strategy. One has not even been annunciated. There’s been a presumption that we were going to be greeted as liberators. There was a presumption this would be quick and easy, and then we can turn the country over. None of that has been laid out, and that has to do with the competency and the planning that goes in, and they did not have a plan for the day after “hostilities ended.” MR. RUSSERT: This is the way Democrats are talking in 2005. But back when they were voting for the war, and three-fourths of both houses of Congress voted to authorize the president to go to war, as a candidate you said you would. And in March of 2003, Congressman Emanuel, your tone was strikingly different. This is what you said. “I had the fortunate experience of serving in the White House; I knew firsthand what a solitary and difficult decision it is for a President to send our Armed Forces into harm’s way. I will remember some of the members of this body, in the midst of conflict, attacking the President–the commander-in-chief– even even as he worked day-and-night to complete that mission and bring our servicemen and women home safely. It was wrong then. It would be wrong now. I, for one, will not do that to our President … to our commander-in-chief. I want him to succeed. We should all want him to succeed. So as long as our troops [are] engaged, we should suspend the debate over how and why, focus on the mission, unite as a country, in prayer and resolve, hope for a speedy resolution of this war with a minimum of loss. God bless America.” So, while the new Chief of Staff for the Obama administration had reservations about the conduct of the war, he nevertheless whole-heartedly defended the invasion of Iraq. As late as January 2005, Emmanuel would have no part of the “Bush lied, soldiers died” mantra of the anti-war left. Nor did he trot out the mantra of the anti-war religious left that the Iraq war was an unjust and unnecessary war. It seems as though the Iraq war for Emmanuel was just and justified, although the planning for peace and stability operations was flawed. I’ve personally been called a “warmonger” for holding precisely that opinion. I’m willing to let bygones be bygones, but I do so very much look forward to the howls of protest, the outrage at this early act of betrayal from the anti-war religious left. So, to Jim Wallis, Tony Campolo, Ron Sider and others on the anti-war religious left, I have to ask: Where’s the outrage?

Today is Rosemary's Birthday!

Praise the Lord for a wonderful daughter of 25 years . We have been blessed!

Frankincense Extract Fights Arthritis Pain

Tuft's University Health and Nutrition newsletter reports that an extract from frankincense--one of the gifts of the magi---might help ease arthritis symptoms. The first randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the extract, trade named 5-loxin, in osteoarthritis of the knee found significant pain relief plus reduced levels of a marker of joint pathology........my knees have been creaking lately. I might try this!

Do the next thing....

From an old English parsonage down by the sea There came in the twilight a message to me; Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven, Hath, it seems to me, teaching from Heaven. And on through the doors the quiet words ring Like a low inspiration: “DOE THE NEXTE THYNGE.” Many a questioning, many a fear, Many a doubt, hath its quieting here. Moment by moment, let down from Heaven, Time, opportunity, and guidance are given. Fear not tomorrows, child of the King, Thrust them with Jesus, doe the nexte thynge. Do it immediately, do it with prayer; Do it reliantly, casting all care; Do it with reverence, tracing His hand Who placed it before thee with earnest command. Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing, Leave all results, doe the nexte thynge Looking for Jesus, ever serener, Working or suffering, be thy demeanor; In His dear presence, the rest of His calm, The light of His countenance be thy psalm, Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing. Then, as He beckons thee, doe the nexte thynge. Anonymous

a paragraph from S. M. Hutchens' editorial on moral equivalencies of Democrat and Republican Party....I guess that should be moral inequivalencies

One of the most common defenses for Democratic loyalties is to assert the moral equivalence of the two parties, to claim that their respective errors leave the Christian to vote for the one he thinks most Christian, or least unchristian. If the Democrats endorse abortion, sodomy, and the like, Republicans cut social programs for the poor. This is a plausible and attractive argument except for one thing. We know with certainty that abortion and sodomy are evil, but we do not know with any certainty whether any particular disbursement of funds for the poor is good or bad or mixed. Our faith directs us to give alms, quietly and generously, and to bless and care for the widows and the fatherless, but also tells that those who will not work shall not eat. Distinctions, often difficult ones, must be made in our policies between who should be marked as poor and who should not, and on how collective monies should be spent or not spent for their relief, the kind of distinctions that have historically marked differing party philosophies, and upon which Christians have historically had differences of opinion. A Christian may think the Democrats’ social and economic programs are superior to the Republicans’, but he knows that the Democrats’ moral policies are aggressively ungodly. read the full post here

Douglas Wilson/Christopher Hitchens; on the circuit, debating,discussing their book..

Blog and Mablog Common Ground Topic: Shameless Appeals Doug Wilson posts: Well, I met Christopher Hitchens today, and we got on quite well. As I have mentioned before, we have a very competent camera crew pursuing us to document all this stuff, so you can see a bunch of this for yourself later on. In this space, I will start pounding the drum for this film just as soon as it gets a name. We met at Christopher's hotel, walked up the street a bit to a very fine coffee joint, and had a good get-acquainted visit. From there we went to Christopher's next hotel, and headed over to The King's College from that hotel. We had a town hall style meeting at the college, with Marvin Olasky moderating. They have a fine operation going on there, with lively, intelligent students, and a lot of back and forth between Christopher and me in response to the questions. Quite invigorating stuff. Afterwards, we signed books, and went upstairs to a great lunch hosted by the college. The highlight of lunch was a good fifteen minutes or so where our shared appreciation of P.G. Wodehouse came out, along with a great deal of hilarity, as we quoted favorite passages and metaphors back and forth to each other. Ah, common ground. After that, we headed over to the Barnes & Noble at Union Square to do a rogue signing of our book, and then we were returned to our respective hotels, where I now sit ensconced in mine, typing. But you knew that. Christopher is going off this evening to a ginormous synagogue to debate with a rabbi, while I am headed over to Columbia University to visit with the atheist and agnostic club there. Tomorrow we head off to Philadelpia, and the event at Westminister Seminary. I will, Lord willing, post more tomorrow.

....Here I Stand

Here's an excellent response to the PCA's GA statement on the federal vision.

Why should all Christians be involved in the political process?

The purpose of Civil Government is to serve as a righteous administrator of justice. It is to defend the people and it has the power of the sword to stop evil inside and outside our country. It is to protect the innocent and punish the evil doers. Proverbs 21:1-3…….The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord………. Leaders or elected officials are held accountable as ministers of God. Those who serve as elected officers are there by the hand of God whether they recognize Him or not. Therefore, government is established and allowed by our Sovereign God! Micah 6:8 ……what does the Lord require of you……but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with Him It is the responsibility of citizens to exercise our freedom to vote! This determines our future freedom to worship, to raise our children as we believe best, and to live our lives as we choose, without fear. We are to submit to those who have been elected. Romans 13:1…….. pay taxes, etc. Here's a prayer for our upcoming election: Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of the United States in the election of our next President, our officials and all our representatives; that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Political Program for Christians

1. Self-discipline under God's revealed law 2. Avoiding the centralization of power (localism) 3. Service as the principle of dominion 4. Personal responsibility for one's actions 5. The family as the primary agency of welfare 6. Salvation by grace--not knowledge, or power or law (State legislation) 7. Compound growth over long periods of time (anti-revolution) 8 Neither individualism nor collectivism is the way---covenantalism instead Whenever a Christian begins to think about various specific social, military, political, educational, or economic problems, he has to think through these fundamentals, and then apply them to the specific field of study. This is as true of monetary theory as it is in the other fields. from p. 37 Honest Money: biblical Principles of Money and Banking, Gary North

Honest Money

I just took off the shelf a book printed in 1986 by Dr. Gary North, Honest Money: Biblical Principles of Money and Banking. Truly honest money is market-produced monies coupled with 100% reserve banking. "So when the money failed in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, "give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the money has failed." Gen 47:15 He says: "In Egypt, the money failed because everyone wanted the same thing, grain, and nobody was willing to give up any grain except the Pharaoh. Trade either ceased or slowed down drastically. Money ceased to serve as a means of trade. The famine made people poor, and as trade was reduced, they became even poorer. The division of labor collapsed. This means that the specialization of production collapsed." The principles governing the value of money are these: 1. Economic action begins with an ordered set of wants (first, second, third, etc.). 2. A world of scarcity doesn't permit us to achieve all of our desires at the same time. 3. To increase output, we need capital (tools). 4. We have to sacrifice present income in order to obtain capital. 5. The value of the tool to each person is dependent on the expected value (to him) of the futher output of the tool 6. Value is imputed by a person to goods and services; it is therefore subjective. 7. Past costs are economically irrelevant; present and future income are all that matter. He predicted a time of "international financial crisis of historically unprecendented proportions." Maybe it is now upon us??? He says the Christian's job is to begin obeying God's laws in advance, to show good faith. A man deeply in debt can be only half-hearted in his commitment to honest, debt-free money. Now is the good time to begin getting out of debt, so that you can in good conscience and full devotion proclaim the Biblical principles of honest money.

Let's have stained glass church windows....for our health :-)

from First Things blog: The Medieval Art of Solar-Powered Nanotech Air-Purification Posted by Ryan Sayre Patrico on October 10, 2008, 11:10 AM It turns out that medieval church windows made for the glory of God were also good for your health: The glaziers who created gold-painted stained glass windows for medieval churches in Europe inadvertently developed a solar-powered nanotech air-purification system. According to Zhu Huai Yong, an associate professor at Queensland University of Technology in Australia, the gold paint used in medieval-era stained glass windows purified the air when heated by sunlight. “For centuries people appreciated only the beautiful works of art, and long life of the colors, but little did they realize that these works of art are also, in modern language, photocatalytic air purifier with nanostructured gold catalyst,” said Zhu in a statement.

AUL Action Responds to Presidential Candidate Debate

Washington, DC -- After calling on Bob Schieffer to address the issue of abortion in tonight's debate, AUL Action was very pleased to hear Schieffer ask Senators Obama and McCain about the critical issue of appointments to the Supreme Court. There was no disagreement that this election will result in important changes on the Court. In many ways, this is one of the most significant issues for our country that has received the least amount of attention in this campaign. Schieffer is to be commended for bringing Court appointments into the debate. Senator Obama made it clear that his approach to judicial appointments -- which goes beyond the Supreme Court -- involves a pro-Roe, pro-abortion litmus test. And Obama continued his habit of twisting the facts when he responded to Senator McCain's statements about his past votes against protecting babies born alive after a failed abortion: Barack Obama is on record voting four times against offering protections to such children while in the Illinois Senate. "I hope the American people notice that while Barack Obama misled them about his past record on abortion, he also refused to mention what he promised Planned Parenthood in July 2007 -- that the first thing he would do as President is sign the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA)," said Charmaine Yoest, President of AUL Action. "FOCA is a bill pending before the US Senate that would eliminate every abortion regulation in the country including popular laws such as parental notification, informed consent, and bans on partial birth abortion. FOCA means abortion on demand, in all nine months of pregnancy, for any reason, nationwide and paid for by your tax dollars. The American people deserve to know the real truth about Barack Obama's record and position on abortion." AUL Action is the legislative arm of Americans United for Life (AUL). The first national pro-life organization in America, AUL has been committed to defending human life through vigorous judicial, legislative, and educational efforts at both the federal and state levels since 1971. In addition, AUL has been involved in every pro-life case before the Supreme Court since Roe v. Wade.

Here'a a contrast between the Democratic and Republican Party Platforms......

Contrasting the Party Platforms Democratic Platform * "support the full inclusion of all families, including same-sex couples, in the life of our nation, and support equal responsibility, benefits, and protections." * "oppose the Defense of Marriage Act" * "reproductive health care" * "reaffirm our support for the Equal Rights Amendment, recommit to enforcing Title IX, and urge passage of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women." * universal "comprehensive healthcare" * "vigorously oppose 'Right-to-Work' Laws and 'paycheck protection' efforts" * "expand the Family and Medical Leave Act . . . and make leave paid." * "an economy-wide cap and trade program" * "a world-class education, from early childhood through college" * "early childhood care and education available to every American child from the day he or she is born" * "bilingual education" * "the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans" * "lift the current Administration's ban on using federal funding for embryonic stem cells" * "need stronger international institutions" * "a free, quality, basic education for every child in the world." * "reduce oil consumption by at least 35 percent, or ten million barrels per day, by 2030." * "defeat the epochal, man-made threat to the planet: climate change." * "comprehensive immigration reform, not just piecemeal efforts." * "Global climate change is the planet's greatest threat" * "increase funding to domestic violence and sexual assault prevention programs." * "support the Violence Against Women Act" * "support affirmative action" * "oppose laws that require identification in order to vote or register to vote" . . . "oppose tactics which purge eligible voters from voter rolls." * "support congressional representation for the citizens of our nation's capital." Republican Platform * "uphold the rule of law" . . . "completing the border fence quickly" . . . "enforcement at the workplace against illegal workers and lawbreaking employers" . . . "use the E-Verify system" . . . "denial of federal funds for sanctuary cities" . . . "oppose amnesty" * "reject UN convention on women's rights . . . UN convention on the rights of the child . . . Law of the Sea Treaty" * "not accept the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court over Americans" * "not lead to a North American union or a unified currency" * "ensure that China fulfills its WTO obligations, especially those related to protecting intellectual property rights, elimination of subsidies, and repeal of import restrictions." * "Judicial activism is a grave threat to the rule of law because unaccountable federal judges are usurping democracy, ignoring the Constitution . . . This must stop." * "condemn the Supreme Court's disregard of homeowners' property rights in its Kelo decision" * "insist on the appointment of constitutionalist judges, men and women who will not distort our founding documents to deny the people's right to self-government . . . or inject foreign law into American jurisprudence" * "support the right of states to require an official government-issued photo identification for voting" * "support tax credits for health care and medical expenses" * "a secret ballot in union referenda" * "a truly level playing field will mean more American jobs, higher wages, and a better standard of living" * "trade rules [must] make sure that free trade is indeed a two-way street" * "more American oil from American soil . . . support accelerated exploration , drilling and development in America" * "caution against the doomsday climate change scenarios peddled by the aficionados of centralized command-and-control government" * "address the risk of climate change based on sound science without succumbing to no-growth radicalism" * "All Americans should receive the same tax benefit as those who are insured through work" * "support parental rights to consent to medical treatment for their children including mental health treatment, drug treatment, alcohol treatment, and treatment involving pregnancy, contraceptives and abortion" * "education is a parental right" * "support the law prohibiting gambling over the Internet" * "call for a constitutional amendment that fully protects marriage as a union of a man and a woman, so that judges cannot make other arrangements equivalent to it." * "urge Congress to use its Article III, Section 2 power to prevent activist federal judges from imposing upon the rest of the nation the judicial activism in Massachusetts and California" * "the public display of the Ten Commandments" * "the First Amendment right of freedom of association of the Boy Scouts of America"

Saint Cornelius

The PriestMartyr Cornelius the Centurion: Soon after the sufferings on the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ and after His Ascension into Heaven, there settled at Caesarea in Palestine a centurion by the name of Cornelius, who earlier had lived in Thracian Italy. Although he was a pagan, he distinguished himself by deep piety and good deeds, as the holy Evangelist Luke testifies about him (Acts 10:1). The Lord did not disdain his virtuous life and led him to the understanding of truth through the enlightening light of faith in Christ. One time Cornelius was at prayer in his home. An Angel of God appeared to him and said, that his prayer had been heard and accepted by God, and commanded him to send people to Joppa to Simon, called Peter. Cornelius immediately fulfilled the command. While those dispatched were on their way to Joppa, the Apostle Peter was at prayer, during which time he had a vision: thrice were lowered down vessels in visage of great plenitude, filled with meats and fowl. From Heaven he heard a voice, commanding him to eat of everything. At the refusal of the apostle there followed a reply: "What God hath purified, regard not as unclean" (Acts 10:15). By means of this vision the Lord commanded the Apostle Peter to go at preaching the Word of God to the pagans. When the Apostle Peter in the company of those sent to meet him arrived at the house of Cornelius, he was received with great joy and respect by the host together with his kinsmen and comrades. Cornelius on his knees bowed down to the apostle and requested to be taught the way of salvation. The apostle began to preach about the earthly life of Jesus Christ, about the miracles and signs worked by the Saviour, about His sufferings, the teachings about the Kingdom of Heaven, the death on the Cross, the Resurrection and Ascent into Heaven. By grace under the influence of the Holy Spirit, Cornelius believed in Christ and was baptised together with all his kinsfolk. He was the first pagan to receive Baptism. He retired from the world and went preaching the Gospel together with the Apostle Peter, who made him a bishop. When the Apostle Peter, together with his helpers Saints Timothy and Cornelius, was in the city of Ephesus, he learned of a particularly vigorous idol-worship in the city of Skepsis. Lots were drawn as to whom that would go there, falling upon Saint Cornelius. In the city lived a prince by the name of Demetrios, learned in the ancient Greek philosophy, hating Christianity and venerating the pagan gods, in particular Apollo and Theos/Deus (Zeus). Learning about the arrival of Saint Cornelius in the city, he immediately summoned him and asked him the reason for his coming. Saint Cornelius answered that he came to free him from the darkness of ignorance and lead him to knowledge of the True Light. The prince, not comprehending the meaning of what was said, became angry and demanded him to answer each of his questions. When Saint Cornelius explained, that he serves the Lord and that the reason for his coming consists in an announcement of the Truth, the prince became enraged and demanded from Cornelius an offering of sacrifice to the idols. The saint asked to be shewn the gods. When he entered the pagan temple, Cornelius turned towards the East and bending down on his knees, he uttered a prayer to the Lord. There began an earthquake, and the temple of Zeus and the idols situated in it were destroyed. All the populace, seeing what had happened, were terrified. The prince was even more vexed and began to take counsel together with those approaching him, about how to destroy Cornelius. They bound the saint and took him to prison for the night. At this point one of his servants informed the prince the grievous news that his wife and child had perished beneath the rubble of the destroyed temple. But a certain while later one of the pagan-priests, by the name of Barbates, reported that he heard the voice of the wife and son somewhere in the ruins and that they were praising the God of the Christians. The pagan-priest asked to free the imprisoned one, as gratitude for the miracle worked by Saint Cornelius, in that the wife and son of the prince remained alive. The joyous prince in the company of those about him hastened to the prison, declaring that he believed in Christ and asking him to lead out his wife and son from somewhere in the ruins of the temple. Saint Cornelius set off to the destroyed idol-temple, and through prayer the suffering were freed. After this the prince Demetrios, and all his kinsmen and comrades accepted holy Baptism. Saint Cornelius lived for a long time in this city, converted to Christ all the pagan inhabitants, and made Eunomios a presbyter for service to the Lord. Saint Cornelius died in old age and was buried not far from the pagan temple destroyed by him.

Obama's Marxism Pieced Together

Barack Obama and the Strategy of Manufactured Crisis by James Simpson

The Financial Meltdown and Barack Obama

It is beyond me why anyone really believes it is the Republicans of the past 8 years who are responsible for the current financial meltdown...The financial crisis didn't just begin in the past 8 years; the shaky economic foundations were laid long ago by spendthrifts from both parties. I believe I heard today that Barack Obama outspent John McCain 9 to 1 with the votes he has cast during his short term as a senator. The Democrats need to own up to the "lion's share" of the cause of or economic debacle. Our actions really do have consequences.....and they'll catch up with us sooner or later! Read about these entangling alliances, courses of action and what they have sown: from Planting Seeds of Disaster ACORN, Barack Obama and the Democratic Party by Stanley Kurtz of the Ethics and Public Policy Institute Up to now, conventional wisdom on the financial meltdown has relegated ACORN and the CRA to bit parts. The real problem, we’ve been told, lay with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In fact, however, ACORN is at the base of the whole mess. ACORN used CRA and Democratic sympathizers to entangle Fannie and Freddie and the entire financial system in a disastrous disregard of the most basic financial standards. And Barack Obama cut his teeth as an organizer and politician backing up ACORN’s economic madness every step of the way.

Peter Leithart is Exonerated by his Presbytery

This is such good news...I had to copy and paste from Jeff Meyers' blog....for those of you interested in the "Federal Vision" and the PCA, here's some big news: Letters were written. Accusations were made on blogs and in print. Peter Leithart was condemned as theologically heterodox in these letters, blogs, and articles. A few years ago (2004-5) the Pacific Northwest Presbytery (PCA) appointed a committee to look into Peter's theology. Peter is a member of that presbytery. They exonerated him. You can download and read that April 2005 document here. The accusations, however, did not cease. They kept coming. This year his presbytery appointed yet another committee to exam his theology. That committee produced a majority report that concluded that Dr. Leithart was within the bounds of Reformed orthodoxy and a minority report that claimed the opposite. The reports were discussed and debated on the floor of the presbytery last week. The presbytery overwhelmingly voted for the majority report. You can read the majority report, the minority report, and Peter's response here. Make sure you read Peter's careful response at the end. It's worth your time. I'm afraid that this presbytery action will not end the accusations.

McCain's spiritual journeys....

THIS is a link to an informative article in Christianity Today about John McCain's spirituality.

David M. Smolin holds Harwell G. Davis Chair of Constitutional Law

Cumberland School of Law at Samford University is pleased to announce the establishment of the Harwell G. Davis Chair of Constitutional Law. Elizabeth Davis Eshleman '64 has endowed the chair in honor of her father, Harwell Goodwin Davis. Harwell Davis is a former Alabama Attorney General, a former president of Samford University and a person respected for his competence, ethics and devotion to the law. The inaugural holder of the Harwell G. Davis Chair of Constitutional Law is Professor David M. Smolin, Director of Cumberland's Center for Biotechnology, Law and Ethics. The investiture ceremony took place on Thursday, October 2, 2008 at 11:00 AM in the Moot Court Room.

Alabama Symphony Orchestra MasterWorks series.....

Gilbert and I have been enjoying the MasterWorks Series at Alabama Symphony Orchestra. The next one will be on Nov 7th and will feature a flautist and two Symphonies in C. Here are more details about the upcoming program: Symphonies in C Major anchor this program of master composers: Sibelius dramatic one-movement Symphony No. 7 and Schumann's uplifting Symphony No. 2. Celebrated for her "flawless technical command" and "profound interpretive instincts," flutist Marina Piccinini makes her ASO debut in Nielsen's witty Flute Concerto. Conductor and Performers Marina Piccinini, Flute Justin Brown, Conductor Time & Location November 7 & 8 Alys Stephens Center Jemison Hall 8 PM Highland Associates Concert Comments Reynolds Kirshbaum Hall 7PM Repertoire Sibelius Symphony No. 7 in C Major Nielsen Flute Concerto Schumann Symphony No. 2 in C Major

TPC looking into buying facility...

Well, we are excited that our church, Trinity Presbyterian is considering the possibility of purchasing this church facility and land in Cahaba Heights. The Crosshaven Commuity Church stopped meeting last November and the building and property have been on the market since then. We're in the due diligence period on a contract to purchase...these are exciting times! We'll hope to be able to renovate it and use the existing building for a combination worship/fellowship space until a later time when we are able to build a new sanctuary. I'll keep you posted!

...from The Meal Jesus Gave Us by N.T.Wright

"...God is taking the world somewhere. He's got plans. Apparently he's promised to do for all of us what he did for Jesus after he died. And for the whole world too. Yes, that really blows me away. This God really does love the whole world, and wants to make it all alive in a new way, like he did with Jesus on the first day of the week....And when he does that we'll meet Jesus himself! He'll be there. He'll come back to us--or maybe I should say, we'll be there with him.....this is the point: when we take the bread and break it and eat it, when we take the wine and share it around, it isn't only that we seem to be there with him at his last supper. We are there with him in his new world. What we do seems to bring all the past--all the story of Jesus--and all the future--the time when he comes back again, when God makes the whole world new--all together into one moment." p.27 "Some people think of the Christian's 'promised land' as simply 'heaven'. Some even think that this could be rather boring. How wrong they are. In Paul's writings, the Christian's 'promised land' is the entire renewed world. If we die before the time, we will go to 'heaven', that is, into God's dimension of existence. But the long-term hope is that all those in 'heaven' and presently on earth will be transformed, re-embodied, to join in the new life when (as Revelation 21 says, echoing an old Jewish theme) God will make new heavens and a new earth. Within this transformation of reality, Jesus himself will be personally present. Every longing of our hearts will be satisfied in our meeting with him and being nourished by his presence and his love. Sometimes the New Testament talks of this event as Jesus' 'coming'; sometimes of his 'royal presence'. These are different ways of saying something for which we don't have the right language at the moment, but which will be real, solid and lovely when it happens." p. 56-57

Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist 21 Sept NT

One day Jesus was walking and saw a tax collector named Matthew sitting at a tax collection post, and said to him, "Follow me." And Matthew stood up and followed Him, and became one of His twelve apostles. (See Matthew 9:9-13 = Mark 2:13-17 = Luke 5:27-32) Tax collectors in those days were social outcasts. Devout Jews avoided them because they were usually dishonest (the job carried no salary, and they were expected to make their profits by cheating the people from whom they collected taxes). Patriotic and nationalistic Jews hated them because they were agents of the Roman government, the conquerors, and hated them with a double hatred if (like Matthew) they were Jews, because they had gone over to the enemy, had betrayed their own people for money. Thus, throughout the Gospels, we find tax collectors (publicans) mentioned as a standard type of sinful and despised outcast. Matthew brought many of his former associates to meet Jesus, and social outcasts in general were shown that the love of Jesus extended even to them. Jesus numbered among his disciples persons of widely different backgrounds. They included not only Matthew, a former agent of the Roman government, but Simon the Zealot [not to be confused with Simon Peter]. Josephus tells us that the Zealots were fanatical nationalists, determined to drive out the Romans by guerrilla tactics, ambushes, assassinations, terrorist methods, or whatever worked. Their motto was, "No king but Messiah, no tax but the Temple, no friend but the Zealot." It is not clear that Simon was, or had been, a member of the group that Josephus describes, but it seems clear that he would have regarded himself as at the opposite end of the political spectrum from Matthew. The name "Matthew" means "gift of the LORD." Mark and Luke, in the story of his calling, name him "Levi." Perhaps this was his original name, and he received a new name from Jesus when he became a disciple. (It has also been suggested that he was simply a member of the tribe of Levi.) Of Matthew's life after Pentecost the Scriptures tell us nothing. Later accounts of his life vary, some reporting that he was martyred, others that he died a natural death. The Christian community since early times has commemorated him as a martyr. Whether the Apostle Matthew is also the Evangelist Matthew -- that is, whether the Apostle Matthew wrote the Gospel that bears his name -- is disputed. The Gospel itself does not say who wrote it, but the designation "according to Matthew" is very old. In favor of his authorship it may be noted that (1) while Mark and Luke give the fourth pair of Apostles as "Matthew and Thomas," the Gospel of Matthew gives them as "Thomas and Matthew"; and (2) while Luke 5:29 explicitly states, and Mark 2:15 suggests, that Matthew gave a banquet for Jesus, Matthew 9:10 in describing the same banquet does not indicate who the host was. Both of these variations would be routine touches of modesty if Matthew was the author. On the other hand, the gospel (1) does not have the manner of an eyewitness, and (2) is thought by many scholars to contain material borrowed from Mark, whereas one would not expect someone who had been an eyewitness to borrow from someone who had not. ( Note: The view that Mark is an older Gospel than Matthew is widespread and not long ago many scholars regarded the matter as settled. However, there is respectable opinion holding that Matthew is the earliest Gospel after all. See, for example, the comments in the MATTHEW volume of The Anchor Bible [check your local library].) Perhaps the Gospel was written by some early Christian, not an apostle, whose name was Matthew, and about whom nothing else is known. Early Christian readers, hearing the Gospel ascribed to "Matthew," would naturally associate it with the Apostle of that name, and so the ascribing of the work to the Apostle Matthew becomes common at an early date, by a perfectly natural misunderstanding. Papias of Hierapolis, writing in the late first or early second century, says that Matthew compiled the sayings (Logia) of Jesus in Hebrew. Now the material common to Matthew and Luke, but not to Mark, includes sayings of Jesus but almost no narrative. It has therefore been conjectured that there was once a document (usually called Q), now lost, that is basically a collection of speeches by Jesus, and that Matthew (the evangelist) and Luke, had access to it while Mark did not. It has been suggested that Matthew (the apostle) is the author of this document Q, which may well have been first written in Hebrew (or Aramaic). The Scripture readings associated with the day bear the themes of Matthew as a Gospel-writer (hence readings that speak of the Scriptures), Matthew as an Apostle, and Matthew as a sinner called by God's grace. written by James Kiefer

The Dragon of Choice

To see and to live is better than to choose; to ride the adventure of faith and hope and love is better than to plot your course to the Fortunate Isles, those illusions. Only an ingrate will not accept a gift, and if I decide what you are to give me, I am just such an ingrate. Heaven itself is God’s choice and not mine, and for that I am grateful. Quite a fit place for myself in the hereafter could I design, with features all of my own choosing. A tight and fit little place would it be, but it would have that unmistakable tang of char breathed out from a reptilian belly. Beware of Choice, the Dragon, and be wise. This is a great article....from Touchstone Magazine

Christian Community...being a part of the one, holy, catholic Christian Church

"Human love lives by uncontrolled and uncontrollable dark desires; spiritual love lives in the clear light of service ordered by the truth. Human love produces human subjection, dependence, constraint; spiritual love creates freedom of the brethren under the Word. Human love breeds hothouse flowers; spiritual love creates the fruits that grow healthily in accord with God's good will in the rain and storm and sunshine of God's outdoors. The existence of any Christian life together depends on whether it succeeds at the right time in bringing out the ability to distinguish between a human ideal and God's reality, between spiritual and human community. The life or death of a Christian community is determined by whether it achieves sober wisdom on this point as soon as possible. In other words, life together under the Word will remain sound and healthy only where it does not form itself into a movement, an order, a society, a collegium pietatis, but rather where it understands itself a being a part of the one, holy, catholic, Christian Church, where it shares actively and passively in the sufferings and struggles and promise of the whole Church. Every principle of selection and every separation connected with it that is not necessitated quite objectively by common work, local conditions, or family connections is of the greatest danger to a Christian community. When the way of intellectual or spiritual selection is taken the human element always insinuates itself and robs the fellowship of its spiritual power and effectiveness for the Church, drives it into sectarianism." Dietrich Bonhoeffer p.37 Life Together

The Way of the Cross...exhortation from PJL

Jesus told Peter, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself.” Self-denial is a basic demand of discipleship. We can’t follow Jesus if we don’t do it. Jesus is not talking about afflicting our bodies with fasting and flagellation, but about something more fundamental. Self-denial means giving up our will and submitting ourselves to the will of another. Self-denial means bending our plans, hopes, dreams, actions to Jesus and to His Father. Practically, that often means submission to those who speak for Jesus. Jesus doesn’t talk to us directly, but exercises His authority through elders and pastors, through parents and professors, through our boss at work and through a husband at home. Submitting to Jesus means submitting to them. In our culture, getting your own way and doing your own thing and following your dream are the only absolute imperatives. To us, self-denial looks pretty grim. This looks more like a way of death than a way of life. Yet Jesus promises life: “whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.” What does it profit if a man gains everything he desires but loses his own soul? Self-denial is the way of life because it is the way of God’s life. Jesus, the Incarnate God, shows us how it’s done. He submits to His Father’s will, even to the point of excruciating death, and is transfigured to glorious life. Self-denial is the way to the life of God, because God’s own way is the way of self-denial. posted by Peter J. Leithart on Sunday, September 14, 2008 at 5:33 am

Being Culturally Savvy

Our Pastor gave a wonderful sermon last Sunday on being culturally savvy. God expects us to be IN the world but not of it and we can do this by practicing selective enculturation. Christians are to be engaged with non-Christians. He said that through the years Christian's attitudes have tended to polarize between being strict separationist from the world or by being totally permissive. Today Christians tend to lean more toward permissiveness. Sometimes the answer to this problem is to make rules, rules, and more rules. He said there is really only one rule we are to live by: LOVE GOD and do what you want. The key is in what it means to love God….in loving God we will always want to honor Him and love our neighbor….not exploit them, because our neighbors also bear his image. All people are created in his image. He said if we persist in choosing sin, patterns develop and we become callous, losing any distinction between godliness and ungodliness and we wind up only keeping half of that one rule…...the half that is about doing what WE want and we become totally selfish people….then we wind up dishonoring God and exploiting our neighbors. God wants us to be salt and light, faithful Christians (Christ bearers) IN the culture in which we live.

If You're Going the Wrong Way.........

I picked up this anecdotal book in the Cokesbury bookstore recently. Written by James W. Moore, senior pastor of St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Houston, TX. Here are a few notes: Life is meant to be a journey in which we draw closer to God. At any given moment we are either moving toward God or away from God. Jesus said, "I want you to take up my cross and live in the spirit of unconditional love, unwavering forgiveness, amazing grace, unflinching commitment and sacrificial service." We may like to sing about the cross, but we're not sure we want to live like that! When you are going a dangerous way, a destructive way, a potentially deadly way--there is only one thing to do: Turn around as fast as you can! With God turnarounds are allowed! God enables and empowers turnarounds.

News from the London Times....

News: Misunderestimating the opposition Gerard Baker says in the London Times: “It never ceases to amaze me how the Left falls again and again into the old trap of underestimating politicians whom they don’t understand. From Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher to George Bush and Mrs Palin, they do it every time. Because these characters talk a bit funny and have ridiculously antiquated views about faith, family and nation, because they haven’t spent time bending the knee to the intellectual metropolitan elites, they can’t be taken seriously.” posted by Peter J. Leithart on Friday, September 5, 2008 at 10:44 am

40 Days for Life begins...

UAB abortion protest

The Osama Bin Laden I Know by Peter Bergen

I started listening to this book on CD yesterday in the car on our way home from Mama's house. It gives accounts from interviews with more than 50 people who knew Osama Bin Laden personally. The interviews paint a picture of Bin Laden from a young age as being shy, pious, and "different." I am only into chapter 2 but the stories tell of his transformation into a mujahideen committed to offensive jihad (terrorism.) The Egyptian writer Sayyid Qutub, is credited with presenting the ideological underpinning of the "Islamic Awakening" which aroused many young people to embrace jihad not only defensively, but offensively. He founded the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood which was a movement of the young against an ossified establishment of middle eastern regimes. His books were very popular Islamic worldview "bibles" but were very controversial. He was executed in the 60's by the Nasser government and this propelled him into being seen as a martyr by his followers. His writings became the philosophical framework for al-Qaida and influenced Osama Bin Laden greatly. I hope I get to finish the book/CD's....John actually checked it out. The stories are very enlightening about arabs, muslims and their culture. TTYL

Governor Sarah Palin

Governor Sarah Palin is a tough executive who has demonstrated during her time in office that she is ready to be president. She has brought Republicans and Democrats together within her Administration and has seen approval ratings of over 80 percent. · She has challenged the influence of the big oil companies while fighting for the development of new energy resources. · She leads a state that matters to every one of us -- Alaska has significant energy resources and she has been a leader in the fight to make America energy independent. · She has actually used her veto and cut budgetary spending. And she put a stop to the bridge to nowhere that would have cost taxpayers $400 million dollars. · In Alaska, she challenged a corrupt system and passed a landmark ethics reform bill. · As the head of Alaska's National Guard and as the mother of a soldier herself, Governor Palin understands what it takes to lead our nation and she understands the importance of supporting our troops. Her experience in shaking up the status quo is exactly what is needed in Washington. In choosing Governor Sarah Palin, John McCain put Washington on notice that he is serious about shaking up the status quo. What we're seeing is a maverick who has shaken up Washington picking as his teammate a maverick governor who has shaken up her own state. What it's going to take to change Washington is a team of Mavericks who have a record of accomplishment in shaking up the status quo.