Monday, April 27, 2009

A Halo for a Hipster


People poured out of their office buildings and ran for cover.
Elevators, stairwells and the streets of Manhattan clogged with panicked men and women as a large plane flew close overhead.
Construction stopped. Traffic re-routed. Ambulances stalled.
And 9/11 returned to haunt those who had survived.
Fear returned to stalk those who were witness to the worst terrorist attack in American history.

An Air Force One backup and two F16 fighter jets flew low over Manhattan this morning to give the media a photo opportunity in chronicling Obama's first 100 days in office. Along with the extravaganzas planned (look for those Greek columns), they needed a great photograph representing...

what exactly?

That 9/11 wasn't that long ago?
That the threat of terrorism is never as far away as Obama would like us to believe?
That no matter what name you paste over terrorism, underneath we all know what it really looks like?

I'm being rhetorical, of course.
We all know how hard our President works to keep that halo around his head.

While our national security is being dismantled by the "righteous left", who believe that waterboarding is torture, and would rather L.A. had a hole to match the one in Manhattan rather than trickle water up the nose of the real torturers;

while dictators around the world salivate at the thought of getting their hands on the jewel that was once America;

while the President figures a golf game in the midst of a flu epidemic is a needed stress reliever;

while he leaves the CDC leaderless and rudderless;

while hollywood and politicians join forces to convince America to stop breathing and breeding, working, and worshipping a Christian God;

while the good guys are portrayed by the media as evil;

while the evil are portrayed as compassionate;

while our greatest natural resource is destroyed daily in the womb, and Obama spreads this evil even farther;

while mayhem and murder cover our southern borders;

while deposts and dictators get an apology from America's President for being...well, American;

while North Korea and Iran get nuclear;

while the viciously radical Taliban inch closer to Islamabad and control of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal...

The President of the United States wants a photo-op:
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/27/air-force-one-backup-rattles-new-york-nerve/

redink
UPDATE: The Hipster's halo slipped after this stunt; but he's counting on the masses, hypnotized by the glow of his evervescent personality and panache, to believe him when he says he found out about it the same time we did...and he's furious.
And if you do happen to believe that the President of the United States--the most protected and scheduled person on the planet-- did not know Air Force One! was being used for a flyby
...then I have some swampland and two bridges to sell in the Mojave Desert. Please call.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Venezuelan BFF

So let's get a handle on this Chavez fellow:

He took control of Venezuela in 1999.

Set himself up as a social justice Jesus...and managed to do it without the "accidental" halos from the Venezuelan media.

Quickly rewrote their constitution to give him more time in office and more power to put forth his social programs.

You know: the chicken-in-every-pot and gas-in-the-tank and pay-my-mortgage kinda socialism/communism thingy.

He replaced the elected congress with his own allies.

Called in troops to quell the protestors of his 2000 election.

In 2001, business and labor organizations in Venezuela got a little tired of Chavez's wealth re-distribution machine; so they did a "John Galt" and refused to produce.

In 2002 the oil workers did the same.

Things came to a boil and in a massive protest against Chavez's policies, 17 people were killed by Chavez's military.

Enough was enough...for a little while anyway.

Though Chavez was forced out of office, that international protest stuff started;
and lo and behold...Chavez got his crown back.
That wily Latino was still very popular with the poor.
And he promised them lotsa goodies for their support.

So in 2003, while those evil money makers called 'capitalists' worked to get a recall referendum on the dictator-to-be, Chavez raided the producer's pocketbooks and spent huge amounts for his social programs on those who were grateful not to have to work for a living.

Abracadabra...Chavez won his own referendum, which the opposition protested as fraudulent.

And once again the international observers gave Chavez a wink, a nod, and an okey-dokey from them...and he stayed.

Hey! What's a little election fraud among friends?

Moving on...

By 2007, Chavez had nationlized energy and telecomunications.
He shut down the main opposition t.v. station: Fox News...er, I mean RCTV;
and got the National Assembly to finally get rid of those pesky term limits on the presidency.

But our favorite dictator got a little trigger-happy in 2008 and replaced the secret police and intelligence agencies with the Chavez version--adding a happy little law that says anyone who does not assist said agency will enjoy some prison time.
...all in the name of national security, of course.

But, apparently even socialists have their limits and the hue and cry forced him to reverse those policies.

...does a dictator ever actually reverse policies?
hmm...worth looking into.
Based on his past performances, I'd say Chavez just tucked that little number away until a more opportune time.

Last year Chavez approved 26 new laws to increase his control in government; create a new military branch; take control of more private companies and fuel distribution; and last but certainly not least, won a referendum giving him the ability to steal...er, I mean run for re-election indefinitely.

Ta-da!

Now, I think I could ignore a tin-pot dictator foolishly stuffing his country into the dust bin of communism--if he was only interested in his own country.

But, alas...the tower of Babel mindset has never really left us; and Chavez has reached out to dictators large and small all over the world to join hands in building the new world order, just like the old world order after the Flood...but, um...newer.

Of course Chavez's best chance at gathering a dictator club-of-the-month is to first: denounce Israel and the U.S.
Let me give a few examples:

In 2006 alone Chavez gave a strange little speech at the U.N. in which he called Bush the 'devil' and said he could 'smell the sulfur' coming from America.

Next he went to China and accused Israel of genocide.

Then a stop to his new BFF's in Tehran where he called Israel terrorists and fascists.

Then on Obama's favorite news network, Al Jazeera, Chavez likened Israel to Hitler (huh?) and declared the U.S. the worst menace to humanity, with Israel as our instrument.

...dittos in Qatar and everywhere anti-American, anti-semitism reigns.

Chavez has quite an audience.

And he hasn't even gotten started.

Three weeks ago, Chavez went to Iran and in Tehran sat down with his buddy, Ahmadinejad, and agreed to a joint bank between Iran and Venezeula. At the same time he said "Tehran for us is like arriving at our home."

Okay....I guess that means Chavez has given Roman Catholisim the heave-ho.

And in ridiculing the G20 summit Chavez said:
"Capitalism has to end."
"We must take a transitional road to a new model that we call 'socialism'."

Pssst....Chavez, dude, I hate to rain on your socialist parade, but that new model you're so excited about...well, it's been around for awhile now and the engine is shot.

Of course, we who take the time to find out about history already know this.
And it's a good bet Chavez and Obama know it too
...which is why they're shaking hands.

redink

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

I Heart Susan Boyle

She appeared as a contestant on the show "Britain's Got Talent" last week, and suddenly her voice has spread over the internet like a wildfire.

There are to date: 10 million, 150 thousand hits on YouTube for Susan Boyle's performance.

I wanted to know why.

Why did she touch so many people?

Why did her appearance inspire millions to watch her over and over?
Her voice surprised everyone, certainly.
I say surprised because it came from a homely, kind and rather frumpy old maid in her late forties.

Her silliness was large enough to cover her insecurities; but her sweetness shone through nonetheless.

...and she sang with the voice of the angels.

I watched as one of the girls in the audience rolled her eyes.
The girl was young, heavy make-up and lots of arrogance...but that is because she is a Susan Boyle.
Another older woman, frowning as she listens to Susan express her dream of being a famous singer; she was another Susan Boyle.
The audience of scoffers and laughers were all Susan Boyles; angry that someone like them would dare to dream; dare to get on that stage and entertain them with her plain face and dumpy figure...she couldn't possibly meet their expectations.

She was average...like them!

In fact, she was less than average!

She was the weak and foolish one that Jesus had singled out.
She was the jar of clay that Jesus filled with a voice too beautiful to forget.
She was all heart and no sense; taking the dreams that Jesus would not let die, and walking out onto that stage to show us that we are Susan Boyles too.

And when she let that first note come out...we all knew it.

We knew what she really was.

We saw God's thumbprint in her eyes, and heard His creation in her voice.

And we knew what we could be.

Those 10 million, 150 thousand visits were from every Susan Boyle on this earth; and are a witness to what God can do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

redink

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

A Dangerous Man

"There is a danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with the power to endanger the public liberty."
John Adams

A new report from the Department of Homeland Security is titled:
"Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment."

From Michelle Malkin's blog the incredible facts unfold.

For all the Bush-bashers out there who thought they had lost their freedom when the DHS actually did its job smoking out terrorists...er, the bad guys...sorry, I don't know the current Orwellian newsspeak for terrorists.

CAIR Bears, perhaps?
(HT: Ldotter)

Does that mean this blog is in the DHS file?
According to the report:

"Rightwing extremism in the United States can be broadly divided into those groups, movements, and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups), and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration."

So, let me see...
If I'm a Christian speaking out against gay marriage and terrorism--I'm a hate-oriented extremist.

If I support the Constitution and its premise of a government run by the people; and I'm opposed to federal power-grabs and taxation without representation--I'm an anti-government extremist.

If I speak out against abortion or illegal immigration--I'm a rightwing extremist

According to this report: I'm extreme.
Funny, I've been all those things since 1994.
They weren't extreme then.
But, in the Spring of 2009, I am considered a threat to America.
Who is more dangerous:
The man who wants to keep his freedom, or the man who wants to keep freedom silent?

redink

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Prestobama and His Sorcerer's Pen


Come One! Come All!


Ladies and Gentlemen!
Boys and Girls!
Step right up and see the show!

For only one thin dime and three trillion dollars, witness the Astounding, the Amazing, the Magical and the Mystical as we enter the first 100 days of the Prestobama Presidency!

Experience the thrills and chills as 200...count 'em-200! executive orders from the Bush administration disappear right before your very eyes!
Yes, friends, with a stroke of his Sorcerer's Pen, Prestobama has made Gitmo a distant memory!
No more must America cringe in embarrassment before Europe's elite.
No more will the terrorist's cries of pain haunt our dreams as they are subjected to three meals a day; a bed to sleep on, and forced sanitation.
No more will they sputter out the names of their terrorist masters; or spit out the next target for an attack as water trickles up their noses.

But wait! That's not all, Folks!
Watch with wide eyes and bated breath as Prestobama performs an illusion of such preposterous proportions, few magicians in our lifetime have attempted it!
With a flick of his wrist and a bam-o change-0! Terrorism will vanish!
All you will see is a flock of doves crying out "man-caused disaster" as they fly into the sunset!
And he doesn't stop there! Hang onto your hats kiddos! 'Cause in an amazing two-fer, Prestobama will aslo change the Global War on Terror into...

"Overseas Contingency Operation"!

Friends, you just won't believe your eyes!
*warning:
These illusions are extremely frightening. Only the heavily medicated or galactically stupid will be allowed into this portion of the performance.

Now Neighbors, Comrades and Community Organizers,
for only a few trillion more--a mere pittance--you can watch as Prestobama transforms capitalism into communism to thundering applause!
And as a special treat, Prestobama will saw a CEO in half!

Can he put him back together?
Sure! But why ruin a great performance?
So many undeserving rich...so little time.

Nevermind! On with the show!

With another stroke of his Sorcerer's Pen, Prestobama will turn Wall Street into Stall Street and America's economy will drop to one knee faster than America's President in front of a Saudi King.

And while the world watches (and laughs behind their hands), Prestobama will wave his Sorcerer's Pen and turn oil, gas and coal--all at once, mind you--into pretty wind farms and useless solar panels! Restoring the horse-drawn carriage to its rightful place as America's mode of transportation!

Yes! You too can join the fun of facism!
Just hop onto the stage during the Spread-the-Wealth portion of the show; hand over all your money, and you will receive a brownshirt with the Prestobama logo on the lapel.

All you have to do is volunteer 40 hours of your time each week in the Magical, Mystery Tour (also known as the Civilian National Security Force).
Spy on your neighbors!
Rummage through their recycling bins!
It's an experience you won't want to miss!

Now...Dim the lights!
Drum roll, please!

Here we enter the most dangerous part of the performance:
Prestobama will light his Sorcerer's Pen...on fire!
gasp!
And while the flames shoot high into the air...Prestobama the Great! The Magnificent!...will overturn not one--but two of the most terrifying measures put forth by the Bush administration:

The ban on federally funded embryonic stem cell research, and...hold onto your socks!
The ban on federally funded abortions overseas!
Can he do it?
Yes he can!

Phew! Now you can all breathe a collective sigh of relief, knowing that your tax dollars will provide the freedom to destroy life here and abroad.

And if you hold onto your tickets folks, they'll be good for the next show in which Prestobama uses his flaming pen to sign the Freedom of Choice Act!
*Adults with tickets will get in free...but your children will have to pay.

Coming Soon!
Prestobama's jaw-dropping, adrenaline-pumping attempt to nationalize healthcare!

*Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Please show your ID and all your medical records at the door.
No wheelchair access.
Latecomers will be euthanized.



redink

Friday, April 10, 2009

Death...


For most of us, death is confined to television and the internet. The blood, the gore and the smell of death are safely imbedded in pixel.
Even then some of us can't see death on a screen without fearing it will punch a skeletal finger through to touch us. So we turn the channel, or surf away at first sight of the monster.
Some of us stare in fascination, trying to unlock death's code. And still others crave death in the dark places of their hearts...and we are all afraid.

"...those who through fear of death were all their lives subject to bondage."
Hebrews 2:15

Sometimes death brushes close by us, and we remember it for the rest of our lives.
I can't smell antiseptic without being pulled, resisting, back to the moment when I stared at my infant son's lifeless body in his hospital bassinet.
But death lost its grip on my child.
God said no...not yet.

And there are nights when I lie in my bed and look at the ceiling, remembering death whisper my name in the emergency room seven years ago. I lay on a gurney, staring up at the ceiling, dying from undiagnosed pancreatitis.
Death sat close to me.
Yes, Death sits. It sits because it waits.
It waits because its prey may be snatched from its hand at the last second.
Death left me with a terrible sigh.
God said no...not yet.

Death is an insect. It stings
Death is a reptile. It suffocates.
Death is hungry; yet never satisfied.

Some people say death is natural. I disagree.
I believe death is unnatural and should be eliminated.

"He will swallow up death forever."
Isaiah 25:8

Jesus hanging on the cross. His blood which anchored Him to this earth, pouring out upon it.
Satan watches carefully before releasing his pet to feast on the mightiest of all: God.
Death will finally be satisfied.
...or will it?

"Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood. he himself likewise shared the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is the devil,"
Hebrews 2:14

God on the cross.

"And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross."
Philippians 2:8

Why would You do that, God?

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8


You died for me?
Yes.
But death is...awful!
Not anymore. I have removed its sting.
Is there nothing I can do?
Nothing. IT IS FINISHED!



In the Year of Our Lord, 33
Good Friday

redink


Thursday, April 9, 2009

All the News that's Printed to Fit


" A tyrant must put on the appearance on uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious."
Aristotle

Is Obama a Christian?
He says he is. He was a member of Chicago's United Trinity Church for almost two decades.

But, once we confess Jesus Christ as Lord, the Bible tells us there are characteristics of a Believer which not only give us assurance, but witnesses to the world what a Christian truly is.
Among them:
Blameless and harmless (Philippians 2:15)
Devout (Acts 8:2)
Faithful (Revelation17:14)
Follow Christ (John 10:4)
Godly (Ps.4:3)
Without deceit (John 1:47)
Humble (Ps.34:2)
Holy (Deut. &:6)
Hunger for righteousness (Matthew 5:6)
Just and Merciful (Luke 2:25, Ps. 37:26)
Pure in heart (Matthew (5:8)
Righteous (Luke 1:6)
True (2 Corinthians 6:8)
Upright ( (1 Kings 3:6)

Now granted we could argue all day about Obama possessing any and all of these characteristics, and allowing for grace, we know that most of us don't meet that criteria on a daily basis...I know I don't. But, inherently our nature changes when we accept Christ and we desire to be those things because He desires it for us.
Obama's radical abortion position alone disqualifies him for that list right off the bat.
Why?
Not because of his past views on abortion, but because he is unrepentant in his present view on abortion and actively works to devalue life as President of our country.
On the matter of Obama's church. Well, Reverend Wright's hate-preach is now so well-documented as to give a true indication of what kind of "Christian teachings" Obama has been exposed to for the last twenty years.

But, that's old news, isn't it? The wheels of the bus go 'round and 'round.

If Obama's stance on abortion isn't enough to convince you his intentions toward life in America are at best, malignant and at worst, well...what is the worst you could think of?
I have a good idea already given this video of the first President of the United States bowing before a muslim king.
Now, search that list again, but do not ask:
"Would an American President bow in subservience to a muslim King?"
Instead ask: "Would a Christian?"

But, if that is too much to take in, an anonymous aide to Obama assures us that:
"It wasn't a bow. He grasped his hands with two hands and he's taller than King Abdullah."
(never mind the photo which shows Obama's left hand hanging down at his side).

From the White House: all the news that's printed to fit.
redink

The Study of Logic

"...no lie is of the Truth." 1 John 2:21

When I first began homeschooling my children, I was almost
incapcitated by doubt. But, I was also determined to find out how it
all worked, because the alternative was a government education...and I was beginning to wake up to the way government was running things.

What is logic?
Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines it as:
"The art of thinking and reasoning justly"

ART! I love art.
To think and reason justly is considered an art.
I can do that...I think.

After homeschooling in fits and starts for a few years, I found a
a great book about how logic fits into education:
"Teaching the Trivium" by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn
Two important points stood out to me:
#1. What affects the mind affects the spirit.
#2. Logic is discernment.

Put simply-learning logic helps us in our search for the truth. Without it there is no searching and there is no truth. Now granted we may stumble upon the truth like a broken clock is right twice a day. But is that the "art of thinking"?
...er, let me think.
No.

I'm not saying I'm always going to use logic in my posts.
What I am saying is I'm going to try.
Just as I tried to homeschool...I didn't always get it right.
Just as I try to draw and paint...it takes practice.
But, I'm determined to find out how it all works.
Because the alternative is to blindly follow the media-endorsed government now operating with so much malicious intent, that it takes my breath away.

I will try not to use tin-foil in my posts. Y'all are welcome to point out any shiny objects atop my head.
But, I can't promise my beliefs, opinions or logical assumptions won't make some teeth grind.
We are a country of diverse opinions on top of opinions. But, we are still free to voice them.

...and that's what counts.

redink