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Politics and Theology from Reuel K. Sample

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Having Something To Say

Where Have I Been

Where Have I Been?

A very long-term and very dear friend messaged me a few days ago on Facebook, asking if I had anything to say myself – or am I just a trumpet for other people’s thoughts and ideas.   She said I had so much to say in high school (whatever THAT means) but seemingly nothing to say for myself now.  That hit me hard.

It is true, I have not written in quite a long time.  It seems that the only people who attend to my blog have been the Russians and Chinese – in other words spammers.

The reasons that I have not written:

  • I hate writing without facts.  It takes a great deal of time to research some of these articles – time which (I thought) would best be spent on developing my business, spending time with family, etc.  What I should have done is just manage my time better.
  • I was getting angry.  I love this country, have served in the military, and think we are the best nation on the planet.  I am amazed that I have not developed an ulcer from watching President Obama and his regime ruin the US, and am equally saddened by the blind and/or greedy masses of voters that seem ready to allow him to do just that.  So I stopped.  Upon reflection – that is exactly what those on the left want people like me to do.  However small and insignificant – any well thought discussions of the present power structure is good.
  • Frankly – I did not think I could contribute much.  I am surrounded by powerhouse thinkers such as T. M. Moore, Chuck Colson, Matt Guirno, Jimmy Davis and others.  What can I say that they cannot say better?  Well – recently I have been motivated to try.

So, I am back.  I have a lot of things going on – and a lot of challenges to face.  But, I am going to be faithful in maintaining this blog.  The Russians and the Chinese might be the only ones who read it – which might not be a bad thing.   But, I will be on here regularly.

And my old friend?  Well – who knew that dentists could be so smart!

Musings

Kill ‘em in public, save ‘em in private

According to the Associated Press, President Obama later today will be signing the executive order that prohibits federal funding for abortion.  Rep. Stupak and other “pro-life” democrats will be invited.  It will be a private signing. (AP)

What a contrast  to the almost college-party atmosphere that surrounded the signing of the health care reform bill.  Festivity surrounds the enactment of a rotten bill that among other things provides for abortion.  Closed doors and no ceremonies accompany an act that saves babies.

Does Rep. Stupak know that he already has been lied to?  He insisted on a public signing of such an order.  In a recent interview with Fox News, Rep. Stupak fully admitted nothing is stopping President Obama from rescinding his order the very next day.  Yet – instead of voting no so that some sort of law could be codified about abortions – he instead put his trust in a president that has no ideological reason to stop abortions, and who has consistently broken campaign promises in order to get things done.

Abortion is not a private matter.  A study done by Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health shows that 93% of all abortions are done for purely social reasons.  These reasons include:

  • Feels unready for child/responsibility 25%
  • Feels she can’t afford baby 23%
  • Has all children she wants/other family responsibilities 19%
  • Relationship problem/single motherhood 8%
  • Feels she isn’t mature enough 7%
  • Interference with education/career plans 4%
  • Parents/partner wants abortion >1%

Less then 7% are for hard cases like rape, incest, or the health of the mother. (Fact sheet, PDF Download)

What do these numbers say about a society that allows for the routine murder of a baby for such trivial reasons?  What does this say about a President who has done everything to ensure that a woman can kill her baby and has done nothing to protect that baby itself?  What does this say about the foolishness of Rep. Stupak who have now allowed a bill to go into law that does nothing whatsoever to protect the unborn?

Mr. Stupak and others will find that they will have to answer for their foolishness.  And it won’t be done in private.

Political Thoughts , , ,

All down in writing

From Politico:

Today after almost a century of trying, today after over a year of debate, today after all the votes have been tallied, health insurance reform becomes law in the United States of America.

Yep – we have immortalized the corruption and cowardice of Senators and Congressman. This law puts in writing how Nelson, Stupak and other pro-life democrats sold out their values.  It records the embarrassment of ignoring due process – and will forever herald a worldview that puts the self above all the rest.

Conservatives, though, are not out of this fight.  If anything, we are now more ready for an election revolution.  From the Heritage Foundation:

Obamacare is today’s Intolerable Act. And just as the colonists banded together to enact change after those acts were passed, so should America respond to Obamacare. This law must be repealed.

November cannot come soon enough.

Political Thoughts , , ,

It is all about distrust

Pundits and politicians lately have been harping on the growing distrust between the Senate and the House. One blog commenter even said “If the House and the Senate do not trust each other, how can the American people trust the government.” He is correct, and it is one sign that the Founding Fathers really knew what they were doing.

John Feehery

John Feehery

John Feehery has an excellent article over at CNN entitled “Can the House trust the Senate?” His opening two paragraphs just about say it all:

When the Founding Fathers decided to create a bicameral legislative branch, they were trying to make things difficult for the federal government to grab power from the people.

What the Founding Fathers may not have foreseen was how much the House and the Senate would grow to dislike and distrust each other. Why is this important now? Democrats in the House may have to take the political risk of voting to pass the health care bill based on assurances from the Senate that the upper chamber will eventually modify the law to change some things House Democrats don’t want.

The Founding Fathers set up a Congress that had two competing interests – the House that represented the people, and the Senate that represented the states. These two houses of Congress were always meant to be at odds with each other – in order to protect the people it was meant to serve. James Wilson (1791):

…a single legislature is calculated to unite in it all the pernicious qualities of the different extremes of bad government. It produces general weakness, inactivity, and confusion; and these are intermixed with sudden and violent fits of despotism, injustice and cruelty. (Of Government, The Legislative Department, Lectures on Law)

Add to this bicameral house an entire government with branches that share different powers equally. The entire government is meant to be at odds with itself – with a certain amount of distrust and perhaps hostility –in order to protect the Republic which it serves. The Founding Fathers built in this level of distrust within the government, because they had a healthy distrust of government itself. Thomas Jefferson: “That government is best which governs the least, because its people discipline themselves.” They slowed down the government – making it difficult to govern and pass laws – precisely because they wanted a limited government in the first place.

In this insane push towards a Health Care Reform – we can take comfort that the distrust that is going on is entirely healthy.

Political Thoughts , , ,

Praying the Lord’s Prayer

For many Christians, the Lord’s Prayer is almost a standard part of weekly worship.  Many of us never really had to memorize it – it just became part of our memory from sheer repetition.  However, as I strive to increase my own prayer life -  by adding these words to my personal prayer time I have found a renewed sense of order and spirituality.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen

I have been blessed by including this prayer in a variety of ways.

  1. Because I include it at the beginning of my prayer time, the Lord’s prayer takes me from the happenings of the world around me, the drive into work (I do my devotions in my office), and the messages that await me and focuses me on the task of prayer.  Divers know that rapidly surfacing from deep depths causes damage.  In much the same way I cannot concentrate on my prayers if I dive in too quickly.
  2. This prayer reminds me first and last that my conversations with God are about praise.  I am reminded – and convicted – that no matter what my circumstances  – I must approach the throne of God in praise, in blessings, and humility.  My prayer life is not – and cannot – be about me.
  3. The Lord’s Prayer puts my laundry list in order.  “Give me this day my daily bread.”  Whatever I need, whatever my family needs, whatever is on my heart about my circle of friends or colleagues – I must trust that God will provide according to His sovereignty and grace.  “Thy will be done” – in all things.
  4. Finally, this prayer reminds me that I am able to lay hold of the promises of the Gospel only because of the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  “Forgive me my debts” – and there are many so many that daily choke up my soul.  Along with this forgiveness, though, comes a call to also be forgiving.  I am reminded that my experience of grace is highly dependent upon the amount of grace that I show others.

If you are wrestling with your prayer life – and finding that things just get muddled as you sit down to prayer – I would encourage you to add this routine to your devotions.

For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory forever.  Amen!

Theology , ,
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