Let's Call It What It Is!

   

   

     The nation is reeling from the execution style murders of two promising young people in the news industry.  Alison Parker and Adam Ward were gunned down on live TV by a disgruntled ex-employee of the TV station at which they both worked.  Mental illness is the alleged reason behind the murders, but as to be expected, the issue of gun control is once again front and center.
     Please understand that I mean no disrespect to the victims, nor is it my intention to make their deaths appear less tragic than they are.  But in our society's need to find an explanation for such depraved actions, the combination of mental illness and guns has become the go-to source of blame.  But this premise just keeps taking us in the same circular argument, resulting in the same false justification.  Here's how the argument plays out ... guns in the hands of the mentally ill are a problem; so we need to close the "gun show" loophole of no background check; and more gun laws need to be written to make it more difficult for people to buy guns.
     As so often happens, that argument doesn't work in this instance, nor many others.  The murderer bought the gun legally, having passed a background check.  Did mental illness play a part in these murders?  From everything I've read and heard, it cannot be dismissed.  So we just keep trotting out the same old tired playbook ... a gun in the hand of a mentally ill person is the cause of two more tragic deaths.
     But what we don't talk about is what is really at the root of these senseless murders.  It's called EVIL.  It's the consequences of a wicked action or deed.  What we humans refuse to acknowledge is that a sovereign God created a universe governed by a moral order.  For some reason, we deny the existence of a real force of evil -- a darkness -- that is out to destroy what God has made.  As a nation, it is hard to ignore that we have done darn near everything we could to remove God's influence and presence from this land.  What we haven't quite realized is that when He purposely gives us what we want, and withdraws His powerful hand, there is a tangible vacuum created.  His goodness no longer pervades our relationships and we have a situation where peace, virtue, and decency no longer reside.  Evil is only too happy to fill that empty space.  That is the truth.
     That is why bad things happen to good people such as Alison and Adam.  It's not because guns are at the root of the problem.  They are just the instruments of Evil.  If not a gun, then the murderer could have used a hammer, or run them over with a car, or choked them with his own hands, or used a sword to behead them.  All of those things are equal instruments when they result in the same outcome... death.
     We need to focus on eradicating Evil in our lives, not the tool it uses to carry out its goal.  We need  to lay the blame at the feet of the real perpetrator, the Prince of Evil.  Yes, the devil can use (and often cause) mental illness to be the impetus for someone to act out in evil ways, but then we are limiting our discussion to the by-product of evil, rather than the root cause.
     While arguments for more mental health screenings and more gun control are convenient foils for the Enemy, and help him to continue his spiritual war against God's creation, we must not forget that there are very real physical ramifications for this line of reasoning as well.  If mental health becomes the alarm factor that precipitates tighter gun control and harsher laws, how will that affect our returning veterans who suffer from PTSD?  We can already see the hand-writing on the wall, can't we?  These brave men and women who have been trained to handle weapons might soon be victims themselves of over-regulation and a corrupt screening process that denies them their Second Amendment rights.
     The bottom line is that we are in danger of letting Evil win.  And the devil is certainly using everything he has at his fingertips to shout his victory.  Whether our rapid advances in technology have come from Satan and his servants is, I think, a valid argument to have.  But even if you disagree, technology surely served to spread the horror of Evil as the shooting was carried out live on air, and then re-broadcast to every cell phone that gets news feeds.  I'd say that technology is a perfect marketing tool for the devil to glorify his evil ways, wouldn't you?
    So, what are we to do?  The only way to rise up against this supernatural force is to embrace Jesus as the way to defeat it, and then to follow His advice.  How do you defeat Evil?  "You triumph over Evil with Good."  That is what happened at the Cross.  And for every evil deed that is broadcast across our land and the world, we need to use every means possible to exalt the evidence of God and His goodness, and give Him credit.  We must let God reign once again in our lives and in the heart of this nation.

Proverbs 14:22    "Will they not go astray who devise evil? But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good."

It's Called Collusion

Collusion:  conspiracy, connivance, complicity, plotting, secret understanding, collaboration, scheming.

     That's what I call it when Planned Parenthood and the Mainstream Media agree to restrict the coverage of damning videos by the Center for Medical Progress (CMP).  And that's what I call it when that same Mainstream Media decides to do over-the-top coverage of a tragic big game hunt in Africa, instead.  Let me fill you in on the details....
     According to The Blaze, the Planned Parenthood regional headquarters in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota sent letters to regional media outlets warning them not to air coverage of the controversial videos showing Planned Parenthood officials bargaining for the sale of fetal tissue obtained through abortions.  In part, PP complained that "CMP gained access to Planned Parenthood facilities under false pretenses, and filmed without securing approval from the Planned Parenthood staff being filmed or the patients whose privacy is compromised by this secret videotaping. The material should not be aired."

     So, I guess Planned Parenthood wants us to feel that they and their patients have been violated by the videos that have been released.  I wish they would have given the same consideration to those precious fetuses.
     And I'm sure I don't need to point out that there has been a conspicuous lack of coverage on the major media outlets, too.  Other than Fox News, have you seen any serious coverage on the despicable practices of PP?  Of course, you might have heard how CMP was deceitful in obtaining the video; how the videos were heavily edited; and the general unscrupulousness of the undercover project... but nothing about the convicting statements by the PP doctors and officials that fetal parts are, indeed, a valuable commodity.  The implication of the videos were obvious:  there's money to be made by selling the livers, hearts, and heads of murdered fetuses!  But here's the unspoken message: we (the media) must work together to minimize this story and move on to the next news cycle.  We need to focus the public's attention on something else until this blows over.
     It didn't take them long to find their "something else".  As Breitbart.com reports, it's all over the news ... online news outlets, MSM, and every two-bit publicity source.  And here's the story that has the world worked up into a frenzy:  Cecil, supposedly, one of "Africa's most famous lions" was mistakenly shot during a purchased big game hunt by a dentist from Minnesota.  Now, paying thousands of dollars to hunt and collect trophies is not my thing, but it is legal in Africa.  However, this dentist claims that he was unaware that the lion had been lured out of a protected area until after the hunt.  He says that he relied on the expertise of his paid guides, who allegedly were responsible for the ruse.

     If it is proven that the dentist and/or his guides were unethical in their actions, and broke Zimbabwe's laws, then they should be prosecuted to the fullest extent.  But, frankly, I am astonished at the outcry of those who are encouraging death threats against the dentist.  Piers Morgan, writing for Britain's Daily Mail said he would pay for someone to help him track down the dentist, "skin him alive, cut his head from his neck, and take a bunch of photos of us all grinning inanely at his quivering flesh."
     Late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel actually cried on camera over the death of the famed lion, and wondered out loud if the dentist needed to kill a lion "to get an erection".  E! Online actually  called for the death of the dentist, in this thinly disguised threat: "if it were possible, we’d revoke his status as an actual human being…", while a fading actress tweeted that she would revoke his citizenship.  Actually, it's interesting what people will tweet about... I guess killing an unsuspecting lion in the wilds of Africa is a greater tragedy than killing an innocent young woman on a pier in San Francisco.  There were certainly no tweets about Kate Steinle's death from this same actress.
     But I think it was PETA's statement (People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals) that has upset me the most.  They stated that if it is proven that the dentist committed a crime, he should be "extradited, charged and, preferably, hanged... To get a thrill at the cost of a life, this man gunned down a beloved lion, Cecil with a high-powered weapon. All wild animals are beloved by their own mates and infants, but to hunters like this overblown, over-privileged little man, who lack empathy, understanding and respect for living creatures, they are merely targets to kill, decapitate and hang up on a wall as a trophy. The photograph of this dentist, smiling over the corpse of another animal, who, like Cecil, wanted only to be left in peace, will disgust every caring soul in the world."
     Well, here is what I would like to say to all these woefully foolish and deceived people:  I might give some credence to your words if only you showed the same outrage against Planned Parenthood.  I would like to restate PETA's charge against the choices made by the dentist and his hunting guides, and issue my own angry response towards those who support PP's activities.  By substituting Planned Parenthood's name in the diatribe, it would read something like this ... "To make money at the cost of a life, PP has encouraged the murder of millions of God's beloved creations, oftentimes in cruel and sadistic manners (think Kermit Gosnell).  All decent people love their mates and babies, but to immoral, unethical and shameless organizations and doctors like yourself, who lack empathy, understanding and respect for living creatures (which include fetuses), they are merely targets to kill, decapitate and make money off of.  The videos of Planned Parenthood, haggling over fetal body parts, who were once part of a living, growing, baby, should disgust every caring soul in the world."
     Do you think it's possible that any of these misled people in the media and Hollywood will recognize the similarity in these two statements?  Sadly, I doubt it.  They will remain silent regarding the atrocities against unborn babies and the profiteering that goes on behind the scenes; at the same time they will become enraged over the dishonorable death of an animal a continent away.  We can expect that the full force of the media and a loud and lengthy social outcry will be exercised against this dentist -- while unborn fetuses will continue to be killed and sold without nary a glance at the wicked practice.  Does anyone else feel like we've crossed over into the Twilight Zone?

Ecclesiastes 12:14:       "For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil."

 

What Are We Afraid Of?

     After nearly a month without Fox News, due to their feud with Dish Network, I must admit that it was kind of nice to take my eyes off scripted news reports and discern my own perceptions of world events.  So, as I cautiously returned to Fox's version of the news yesterday morning, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to see the same old reluctance to tell the truth.

    The anchor, Bill Hemmer, was informing the audience that ISIS in Iraq had released a new round of propaganda photos, and he warned us that, not only were they graphic, but that Fox had made the decision not to show the most disturbing ones.  He then followed his advisory with three photos:  two men who had been crucified after being convicted of a theft; a woman being stoned on the grounds that she committed adultery; and an image of a hooded man being thrown from a roof for being gay.  The faces were all blurred or blocked out.  I guess these images were deemed "acceptable" by the media giant.

     But PLW and I were both disgusted by what we saw as the cowardice of Fox News -- and all media, for that matter -- for refusing to present the truth.  ALL of these sentences were carried out as a result of Sharia Law.  That part of the story was never told.  I guess the narrative they wanted to present was "This is the action of a radicalized version of Islam".  But I have a real problem with that rendition of "the news"... it is not the complete truth.  These actions by ISIS are the implementation of Sharia Law, which is a primary tenet of the faith of Islam.  It is the moral code and religious law of that ancient religion.  That begs the following questions:  "Has Sharia Law been corrupted?"; "Do all followers of Islamic faith adhere to Sharia Law?"; and "Will Muslims denounce these actions being perpetrated in the name of Sharia Law?"  Don't you think this is part of the discussion we should be having to help determine the true nature of the threat against us?

     Here are some of my further thoughts:  First of all, by refusing to show the untouched versions of ALL the horrific images, the media is attempting to sanitize the images; and in so doing, they diminish the full impact of ISIS's demonic actions.  While the media hesitantly declares these acts evil, and the need to defeat these enemies of the West, I want to shout at the TV, How do you defeat something you are not allowed to see or watch?  Ignoring these images, will not make them go away!
     But before we can defeat this enemy, we also need to come to terms with the fact that this battle is spiritual in nature, as well.  The army of ISIS is very real ... don't get me wrong!  And Sharia Law is their goal; their methods of forcing their ideology on the world are physical and brutal.  They are flesh and blood.  But we cannot deny, nor ignore, that this is a battle that wages in Heaven, as well.  Satan is simply repeating his age-old system of destruction.  As long as he can continue to deceive man, and influence groups like ISIS, his plan is working.  I guess I'm naive to think that the media could recognize that.

     So, it all plays nicely into the hands of those who wish to destroy us.  ISIS's propaganda message then becomes:  There's no place to hide; you might as well submit (to Sharia Law), or else this is coming to a neighborhood near you.  They've certainly made those threats clear.  We saw it in Paris, last week.  And there's no counterpoint from the media!  Every terrorist attack seems to be reported as an isolated event; and if a connection is made between ISIS and Islam and their presence in the West, there is a reluctance to call them the Enemy, or a rush to reduce the significance of their recruitment success.  And the merits of faith and corrupted religion are never mentioned.  Why are they afraid to portray the truth?  I can't help but believe that it is all orchestrated -- the mainstream media invent the truth, and leave social media to distort the truth, creating a muddled mess of flawed reporting and distorted discussions -- resulting in a populace that is unable to effectively organize or coordinate a defense against its earthly -- or spiritual -- enemy. 

     I could go into a long discussion of the spiritual warfare in which we find ourselves engaged; of the spiritual wickedness found in the powers and principalities that rule earthly leaders from the supernatural (heavenly) sphere.  But the American people don't want to hear that.  They haven't even been diligent in demanding the truth about what's going on before their very eyes!  I would submit that we've been waiting since 9/11 for the world to get on the same page and admit who our enemy is; but Satan has been successful in disguising his players and dissuading us from any spiritual discernment.  And look what we have reaped from allowing ourselves to be so deceived.  

     Unless the people of the earth throw off the shackles of fear and the false mantra of tolerance, Evil will not be abated.  It is growing; spreading and becoming more virulent.  How do we counter it? We must first see it for what it is, and remove the veil from our eyes.  And we are not to repay evil with evil.  (I know that is difficult for a lot of people).  But we must shower the throne room of God with prayers for our enemies; as Paul says, "in so doing, we will heap coals of fire upon their heads" -- not in an act of vengeance, but as an instrument of God's will to melt the hardness of their hearts.  Can we possibly turn this tide of obvious wickedness?  Only with God's help.  Even in the midst of such horrors, God will use this Evil for His purpose; to bring us to our knees, and to shine His light into the midst of the Darkness.  Seek the Truth and stay focused on Him!

1 John 1:6    "If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth."

Suspicious Activity?

     Yesterday afternoon I tried to make a phone call and kept getting a busy signal.  When it happened on several other numbers I tried to call, I started paying attention to exactly what was happening.  Before I finished dialing, the busy signal went into effect, so then I knew something must be wrong with AT&T's system.  No calls in, no calls out.  Great!
     I called on my cell to report the incident and, of course, only got the robo-call, which said it would be the end of the week before it was repaired.  Unbelievable!  There wasn't much I could do about it.  I at least had my cell phone ... at least I thought I did.  Before long, I was unable to get cell coverage unless I walked across my acreage to the old barn, the highest point on the property.  Now I really started wondering what was going on!

     Fortunately, our wifi service is not through AT&T, so at least we had internet access.  I decided to check and see if there was any kind of notification on the web.  The only thing I found was a detection map on a remote AT&T page that showed significant outage in several areas... first signs seemed to show it extended across Texas, across California, Atlanta and Chicago.  One site was flooded with unhappy AT&T customers.  They had been given conflicting excuses by phone reps, and they were angry.  Apparently, one customer got ahold of a rep with a conscience, who told them that it was nationwide, but AT&T was keeping it hush-hush.
     But does anyone find it just a little suspicious that it only seems to be Houston, Dallas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta and New York that are out, including areas that range out from these hubs -- and there is no mention of it from the major news sources or anywhere on the web, except for comments and discussions in chat rooms?
     Is it a glitch in their system, or is it a major computer hack?  Is it a solar flare, or something more sinister?  All I know is it is highly suspect and I'm wondering if we will be told the truth.  This was no ordinary outage!

UPDATE:  Phone service came back on at 9:36 pm.  Let's see if there is any mention from any creditable news source.  It will be interesting to see if there is an attempt to explain this incident, or if it is merely ignored.  Inquiring minds want to know!

Proverbs 18:17   "The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him."


   

This Is What Journalism Is Meant To Be!

     I never thought I would say it, but I have to give proper accolades to the CBS News program, 60 Minutes.  This show is usually just another mouthpiece for whatever the "powers to be" want disseminated.  But Sunday evening, reporter Lara Logan delivered the first of what I hope will be a torrent of information on the Benghazi debacle.
     Ms. Logan is a South African television and radio journalist, and war correspondent. She is the chief foreign affairs correspondent for CBS News, and an occasional correspondent for 60 Minutes.  And she is fast becoming known for her character and unwillingness to back down from a story.  In other words, she has journalistic integrity; something that, in my opinion, is missing from a large segment of journalists.
     In late January 2007, Logan filed a report of fighting along Haifa Street in Baghdad, but the CBS Evening News did not run the report; deeming it "a bit strong". To reverse the decision, Logan enlisted public support; requesting them to watch the story and pass the link to as many of their friends and acquaintances as possible, saying "It should be seen". Logan later used the Haifa Street material for a 60 Minutes' report on Baghdad during the surge.  She is also known for speaking out on the prevalence of sexual assault in Egypt, and the sexual violence women reporters are reluctant to report in case it prevents them from doing their jobs.  She, herself, was the victim of sexual assault while covering the Egyptian Revolution.  Now she has turned her attention to Benghazi.

     On Sunday night, her segment of the news program delivered a powerful blow to the ridiculous Administration rendition of the Benghazi events on the night of September 11th, 2012; the version of the story that was propagated by the White House Press Secretary, the U.S. National Security Advisor, the Secretary of State, and even the President himself at a U.N. appearance.  In one fifteen-minute presentation, Lara Logan shattered the pretense that a video incited a rabble of random protestors into a murderous mob that killed our Ambassador and three others.  She helped the truth to finally emerge.
     We heard from a British military defense contractor, who realized from the start of his assignment that the Libyan security forces were inadequate and would not stand and fight to defend the Americans.  He was on the ground that night, and actually talked by phone to one of the personnel in Ambassador Stevens' compound --- during the attack!  He raced to the compound to find it ablaze, and then snuck in to the hospital to try to find the Ambassador.  He saw him lying dead in a room.
    Green Beret Commander, Lt. Col. Andy Wood, recounted his numerous dispatches to the State Department and Department of Defense, warning them an attack was imminent.  They had the information from Al Qaeda internet warnings that the Red Cross, the British Consulate and the American compound would be attacked.  This information was passed on up the line to the highest offices of our government.  When the terrorist organization made good on the first two of their targets, it was only a matter of time before they came for the third; the Americans.  Warnings that security was inadequate came from all those involved-- the British military contractor, Lt. Col. Woods and even the Ambassador himself.  The message was clear:  they were being targeted.  All such warnings were ignored.
     Lt. Col Wood went on to say that there is no doubt this was a well-coordinated and staged attack.  The accuracy with which the mortar rounds that killed Navy Seals Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods were launched was equivalent to "getting a basketball through the hoop, over your shoulder."  When asked what it took to pull off such an attack, he was clear:  "Coordination, planning, training, experience of personnel and practicing those things; they knew what they were doing.  That was a well-executed attack." Kind of dispels the whole lame "Video" scenario spewed by the White House, doesn't it?

     Ms. Logan also interviewed Greg Hicks.  You might remember him from his emotional testimony before Congress on the events surrounding Benghazi.  While the testimony was riveting and very informative, it has resulted in no further investigation, to my knowledge.  That's why I was encouraged by his appearance in Ms. Logan's piece.  If Congress won't do it's job, then perhaps the Media will come to its senses and do what it is supposed to do... give the American people the truth.
     As the brave Deputy Chief of Mission in Tripoli, Libya, Mr. Hicks tried desperately to get military aid to those under attack in Benghazi.  He was actually on the phone with Ambassador Stevens, during the attack, when the line was cut.  "The sound of his voice is indelibly imprinted on my mind.  He sounded frightened."  He didn't flinch when she asked him what his thoughts were about being told no help was coming.  His reply was chilling and direct.  "For the people that go out, and onto the edge to represent our country... we believe that if we get into trouble, they're coming to get us; that our back is covered.  To hear that it's not, is a terrible, terrible experience."
     So now that Lara Logan and CBS News has shined the spotlight on the Benghazi prevarication that is coming from the Administration, perhaps other responsible members of the media will follow suit and the whole truth will emerge.  And we can hope that those who made the decision to lie to the American people will be exposed and held responsible, and the families of those who died while in service to our country will finally receive the truth about the failure to render aid to their loved ones.  This is the first trickle of such truth; may it turn into a flood.  Ambassador Christopher Stevens, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty and Ty Woods deserve nothing less for their sacrifice.

Proverbs 12:22     "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight."

Beware of "Best-Sellers" on Jesus

     I very rarely repeat another author's article verbatim, but I have heard a growing concern over this popular new book, and feel that Pastor John S. Dickerson's explanations for his unease mirror my own perfectly.  Rather than imitating his superior exposé, I feel you should read his commentary in his own words:

Liberal Media Love New Jesus Book 'Zealot', Fail to Mention Author is Muslim

by John S. Dickerson

     Reza Aslan, author of the new book, “Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth” has been interviewed on a host of media outlets in the last week. Riding a publicity wave, the book has surged to #2 on Amazon's list.  Media reports have introduced Aslan as a “religion scholar”, but have failed to mention that he is a devout Muslim.

     His book is not a historian’s report on Jesus. It is an educated Muslim’s opinion about Jesus -- yet the book is being peddled as objective history on national TV and radio.

     Aslan is not a trained historian. Like tens of thousands of us he has been formally educated in theology and New Testament Greek.  He is a bright man with every right to hold his own opinion about Jesus—and to proselytize his opinion.

     As a sincere man, Aslan’s Muslim beliefs affect his entire life, including his conclusions about Jesus. But this is not being disclosed.  Zealot is being presented as objective and scholarly history, not as it actually is—an educated Muslim’s opinions about Jesus and the ancient Near East.

     Its conclusions are long-held Islamic claims—namely, that Jesus was a zealous prophet type who didn’t claim to be God, that Christians have misunderstood him, and that the Christian Gospels are not the actual words or life of Jesus but “myth.”

     “Zealot” is a fast-paced demolition of the core beliefs that Christianity has taught about Jesus for 2,000 years.

     These claims are not new or unique. They are hundreds of years old among Muslims. Sadly, readers who have listened to interviews on NPR, "The Daily Show," Huffington Post or MSNBC may pick up the book expecting an unbiased and historic report on Jesus and first century Jewish culture. (I will let my Jewish friends address Aslan’s statement on MSNBC that, “there were certainly a lot of Jewish terrorists in first century Palestine.”)

     As a journalist and author who is Christian, I cannot imagine penning a so-called objective biography of Muhammad and then concealing my conflict of interest in national media interviews.

     In world history there are no religions more violently and anciently opposed than the crusading, fighting, at times blood-shedding rivals of historic Islam and historic Christianity. Even non-violent Muslims and Christians, like Aslan and myself, understand that we hold aggressively oppositional views—particularly about Jesus. National news coverage of Zealot has ignored this conflict of interest.

     Zealot is written with the self-assumed authority of groundbreaking revelation from a historian. In reality, it is a religious person’s opinion about Jesus—from an adherent to the religion that has been in violent opposition to Christ for 1,400 years. 

     Aslan informs us that we cannot trust the Gospel of Mark--because it was written 40 years after Jesus’ death. He then chides us to trust his new book, written almost 2,000 years later.

     I believe in Aslan’s right to hold and propagate any opinion. It’s a right that, ironically, Christians do not have in many Muslim countries. 

     My concern is that national media coverage be smart and forthright about this conflict of interest, just as it would be if I—a Christian author and pastor—wrote a book about Muhammad.   Pouring praise onto Zealot as new information about Jesus, without explaining its author’s devotion to a combatting religion, is blatant bias. This same bias would be unthinkable if the Christian and Muslim roles were reversed.

     With its riveting demolition of Jesus, Zealot will continue to attract interviews—some from reporters who want to see Jesus deconstructed. Many more interviews will come from reporters who simply don’t understand that Reza Aslan has a horse in this race. He is not an objective observer, but, to use his own word, "a zealot," with religious motivation to destroy what Western culture has believed about its central figure for hundreds of years. 

     In many ways, this conflict is larger than Christianity and Islam. It is a conflict of Western and Middle Eastern foundations. These are great and important debates that we should welcome, but let’s be honest about our motivations, positions and conflicts of interest as we dialogue.

     Let’s hope reporters in future interviews will, being informed, mention the glaring conflict of interest in this Islamic opinion of Jesus. It is no more objective than my educated views about Muhammad, as a Christian. 

     Zealot is not new work from a historian. It is a sophisticated presentation of views that Muslims have held about Jesus for more than 1,000 years.

My final thought:  "Zealot" is just the kind of book that the Enemy will use to spread his deception about the returning Messiah.  Wouldn't it be a master stroke of genius to use the words of a Muslim to fool Christians  into believing they have misunderstood Christ for the last 2,000 years?  Be on your guard, and do not become foolish!  Compare "Zealot" to our real authority, the Word of God!

1 John 4:1     "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world."

Why Keep Asking "Why"? ... Or At Least Ask the RIGHT Questions!

     Boy, I don't even know where to start today!  In the aftermath of the arrest of the surviving Tsarnaev brother, my mind is racing in so many directions; and with no concrete answers!  I guess I first want to address the incessant and idiotic (at least to me) questioning by the MSM as to what could possibly have made these two young men take part in such a heinous act?  Let's put all of our political correctness aside once and for all, can we?  It's time to quit hiding behind "tolerance" and say it loud and clear.  No more being afraid to offend someone; the reason these two brothers carried out this bombing is .... RADICAL ISLAM!  There .... I've said it.  We shouldn't be apologizing when the facts are right before us.
     All the wishing and hoping by the Progressive Left could not make their dreams come true.  There was no way they could make the culprits redneck, Tea Party, or white right-wing extremists.  Not that they didn't try to convince their sheeple that it was so.  But it is time that the American people realize that the agenda of our government has been to lead us away from what we've instinctively known all along .... there is a war going on between two radically different ideologies.  The religion of Islam has been hijacked by fundamentalist extremists who have declared jihad on Christianity and Judaism; it is their goal to kill and destroy us "infidels".  We have been lulled into a false sense of security by leaders who have not only placated this ideology, but supported it in clandestine ways.  And now the facade is falling apart.
     Because, you see, this latest "terror attack" has uncovered more questions than it has answers for.  And I reminded PLW of a spiritual axiom that popped into my head this morning.  You have heard me say that this whole "internet age" and new technology has been an instrument of Satan (pornography; introducing the occult to our children through Dungeons and Dragons and the like; and desensitizing our youth through violent video games --- just for starters).  But the Holy Spirit reminded me this morning that what the Devil means for evil, God can use for His own good purposes.  And I believe we are seeing that in the wake of the Boston bombings.
     For you see, the technology that is available through cell phone cameras means that the public can catch our authorities in lies and misconceptions.  The "official" story is now harder to substantiate when there is more conclusive evidence that shows a different narrative.  So at this stage of the "story" there are actually more questions than our various branches of the government and national security departments ever anticipated being asked.
     I am trying not to get caught up any way-out conspiratorial theories, but there are some legitimate questions that have been raised by multiple sources and agencies that, at this early stage in the investigation, deserve at least a cursory consideration.  So let me just throw some of these out there and let's see where the next weeks and months take us.  Here are just a few questions and thoughts swirling around in my head:

•  Why have we not heard anything more about the initial suspect in the attacks (the Saudi National who was hospitalized)?
•  Did you know that he is allegedly here in the States on a Student Visa and is supposed to be a student attending school in Findley, Ohio?  So what was he doing living in an apartment in Boston?
•  Did you know that he allegedly attended the same Muslim Brotherhood mosque as the Tsarnaev brothers?
•  Did you know that on January 14, 2013, our president met with the Saudi Minister of the Interior, and two days later, Janet Napolitano signed an agreement with this same Minister giving Saudi Nationals "Trusted Travelers" Status?  Did you know that this status is only shared by citizens of Canada and Mexico; that not even our "trusted" allies in Germany or France share this status?  Israel is still waiting to receive this important status!  Did you know that with this status, if Saudi Nationals come into our country on Student Visas, that it doesn't even show up?  They are virtually incognito?
•  What is all the confusion about this Saudi student's deportation?  Does it have anything to do with the 140 Saudi's that were flown out of the U.S. shortly after September 11, 2001?  What are the real connections between our government and the Saudi government?
•  What about the rumors that the Tsarnaev brothers (at least the older one) were actually double agents that were supposed to infiltrate the extremist Chechyan movement, but then became radicalized themselves? (Read Israel's DebkaFile report for more on this theory).  Is Russia "the foreign government" who allegedly alerted the U.S. about the older brother's trip to Russia?  And why did the FBI not continue to observe him?
     There are too many rabbit holes to go down, with no clear answers.  And we may never know the real truth.  Is there a slight chance that the parents could be on to something when they declare that their sons were "set up"?  Even the circumstances of the older brother's death have changed.  Did he have a suicide vest on, or didn't he?  Who actually ran over him?  The younger brother supposedly tried to self-inflict a gunshot wound to his head, resulting in his inability to speak.  Yet new sources say there was no gun found on his person when he was arrested.  There are too many inconsistencies!

     Then we can go a whole different direction and take a look at the civil liberties issue.  Why were no Miranda Rights read to the youngest brother?  Why was an entire section of Boston shut down; people subjected to warrantless home searches; armored vehicles in the streets? .... yet the suspect was found outside that perimeter?  Are precedents being set for Martial Law?  According to the website, SHTFPlan, under the Patriot Act and the National Defense Authorization Act, anyone deemed to be acting in a manner that seeks to subvert the laws of the United States can be declared a terrorist... hence no Miranda rights are necessary.  That will be convenient if we ever have "real" Americans involved in a terror plot, won't it?
     Then there are the really crazy effects of this whole tragedy ... I actually heard someone call in to a talk radio program and suggest that these poor boys were a product of "bullying" by arrogant and unsympathetic Americans!  That's right, blame it on us Americans again.  And then there is New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg who just can't "let a good crisis go to waste" and decides that this is the perfect time to introduce legislation that would restrict the use of gunpowder in order to "reduce terrorism".  Can't forget the gun control agenda, now can we?
     Finally, there is the enlightening article on WorldNetDaily.com that "Americans are 'snapping' by the millions."  Apparently we are suffering chronic debilitating stress, our suicide rates are up, and we are depressed beyond comprehension.  The article goes on to tell us that all this is part of the plan.  Just reading a few pages into Saul Alinsky’s notorious “Rules for Radicals,” one encounters repeated confirmation that the very key to radical “change” is keeping the populace angry, encouraging their grievances, stoking their resentments and making sure they are continually upset.  So just how does this latest tragedy feed into that strategy and how much is manufactured to accomplish this goal?
     As you can see, I have asked lots of questions and have no real answers.  But I guess my whole point to this post is that we MUST ask the questions!  No more acceptance of the picture "presented" to us; we must seek our own truth and rely on our own instincts; always being vigilant to preserve our rights and our God-given liberties.  It will be interesting to see how far the tentacles of Evil reach, and if the American people can hang on to the freedoms that are slipping away.  God be with us!

Proverbs 16:4     "The LORD has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster."

Really -- What's The Difference?

     Since before Christmas, we have seen the images and heard the tragic details about the shooting at Newtown, Connecticut, in which 20 children and 6 adults were murdered by a madman.  I don't think there is a day goes by that the MSM doesn't give us another glimpse into the heartbreak of that awful day.  We are constantly reminded that innocent children lost their lives that day to an evil force.  Those precious children will never live to fulfill their potential, and we are often asked to think about the pain and fear they must have been subjected to.
     We are also aware that our Federal Government has not let us forget this tragedy either.  Anguished parents become expert witnesses in front of Congress for the purpose of furthering an agenda of expanded gun control.  Parents are even promoted to speak for the White House; one of the President's weekly addresses to the nation was given by a shattered Newtown parent.  Each day our TVs bring us a fresh reminder that families will never be the same; and there are children who will not be experiencing the joys of growing up.
     I want to make it clear that, in no way, am I diminishing the evil that occurred that day or the very real pain and heartbreak that these families are faced with.  And the loss of these beautiful children ... it is hard to comprehend.
     But now I want to ask a controversial question .... why has the media not covered the horrific murder trial of the Philadelphia abortion doctor with the same reaction and passion?  The numbers may not be as great; only eight children and one adult.  But Dr. Kermit Gosnell is no less a monster than Adam Lanza, and the deaths of these innocent children are no less tragic.

     The details seem tailor made for a horror movie .... According to District Attorney Seth Williams, Gosnell “induced labor, forced the live birth of viable babies in the sixth, seventh, eighth month of pregnancy and then killed those babies by cutting into the back of the neck with scissors and severing their spinal cord."  It is hard to even type those words! This is Evil incarnate!
     Yet have you heard about any of this with the same enthusiasm that the MSM repeated the tragedy at Newtown?  Are these not murders of innocent children?  Further research details even more horrific practices and atrocities against live babies, but it is not my intention to shock you with the butchery. You can read it at your own discretion.   I just want you to consider the possible reasons this "headline-grabbing" story is being ignored, while Newtown is still so front-and-center.
     Could it be that there is a disparity between these two events and the abortion story just doesn't fit the Progressive agenda?  I know that this sounds like I'm drinking the conspiracy kool-aid again, but it's hard for me to imagine that Gosnell's murder trial isn't the lead story on every major news network.  It has all the elements of a "hot" story and one that offers the media weeks of coverage:  ill-treated minority patients; underage and improperly trained employees; sickening actions taken against defenseless children, both before and after they were born.  Yet, the media is strangely silent.
     I just can't imagine that network executives don't see the similarities .... innocent children lost their lives to an evil force ....  precious children who will never live to fulfill their potential .... and the pain and fear these children must have been subjected to (the fetuses were responsive to the despicable actions at the abortion clinic).  The results of the tragedy are the same.  The only difference is the method with which death was administered.  Is it too much of an exaggeration to say that the MSM appears to want to avoid spotlighting the issue of abortion in Philadelphia, while eager to exploit their own gun control agenda from the Newtown tragedy?
     According to TheBlaze, ten Congressmen took to the floor of the U.S. House to shed some light on Gosnell's murder trial.  Among them was New Jersey Representative Chris Smith, who said, “If Dr. Gosnell had walked into a nursery and shot seven infants with an AR-15, it would be national news and the subject of presidential hand-wringing."  Representative Smith went on to intimate that if Gosnell had used a so-called "assault weapon", CNN's Piers Morgan would have been all over the story.  I join him in asking, "Will the decades-long major national news media cover-up of the brutality—and violence—of abortion methods ever end?  Will Americans ever be told the horrifying details as to how — and how often — abortionists dismember, decapitate, and chemically poison innocent babies?”
     Perhaps for the first time, the shocking details will be forced into the spotlight.  It's time the American public realize that abortion involves the murder of innocent children; both unborn and those who have taken the breath of life.  As a nation, it is time to end this abomination and repent of our sins.

Proverbs 6:16-17     "These six things doth the Lord hate ... and hands that shed innocent blood."
   

How Does Al Gore Sleep At Night?

     Al Jazeera America?  Really?  Why would anyone think that this controversial broadcasting company has anything legitimate to offer American audiences?  Praised by its supporters as editorially independent, Al Jazeera is believed by its detractors to be funded and manipulated by the government of Qatar, and to be an instigator of international unrest.

     But according to Al Gore and his partner, Joel Hyatt, they sold their Current TV network to Al Jazeera because it “was founded with the same goals we had for Current.” Among those goals were “to give voice to those whose voices are not typically heard” and “to speak truth to power.”  I guess it doesn't matter to them that those "voices" have been some of the world's foremost jihad terrorists.  And I guess it didn't bother Gore and Hyatt that Al Jazeera is known for such anti-American videos as those featuring the late Osama bin Laden, Zawahiri, and American traitor Adam Gadahn.  And I guess they didn't take into account the opinion of Judea Pearl, father of the journalist Daniel Pearl who was murdered by jihadists in Pakistan.  Mr. Pearl has dubbed Al Jazeera “the most powerful voice of the Muslim Brotherhood."
     And when one talks about "speaking truth to power", my first thought is whose truth?  As we have seen with our own MSM, "truth" is very often in the control of the broadcaster.  Beliefs and ideologies are presented as Facts; and those Facts can be misconstrued and exploited to further an agenda.  As a case in point, the Columbia Journalism Review has asserted that Al Jazeera has considerable clout as an opinion-maker:  The channel's tremendous popularity has also, for better or worse, made it a shaper of public opinion. Its coverage often determines what becomes a story and what does not, as well as how Arab viewers think about issues. Whether in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, or Syria, the stories highlighted and the criticisms aired by guests on Al Jazeera's news programs have often significantly affected the course of events in the region.

     In Palestine, the station's influence is particularly strong. Recent polling indicates that in the West Bank and Gaza, Al Jazeera is the primary news source for an astounding 53.4 percent of Palestinian viewers. The second and third most watched channels, Palestine TV and Al Arabiya, poll a distant 12.8 percent and 10 percent, respectively. The result of Al Jazeera's market dominance is that it has itself become a mover and shaker in Palestinian politics, helping to craft public perceptions and influence the debate. This has obvious implications for the peace process: how Al Jazeera covers the deliberations and the outcome of any negotiated agreement with Israel will fundamentally shape how it is viewed—and, more importantly, whether it is accepted—by the Palestinian public.
     Because of this market dominance, the network was widely seen as having a tremendous influence on the Arab Spring.  But the Middle East is not the only region in which Al Jazeera seeks influence.  It has greatly increased its visibility through its internet-based broadcasting division and is also seeking to launch news channels in Turkey, Spain, Latin America, China and Russia --- all in the native languages of these countries.
    The Lefties in this country hail the arrival of Al Jazeera in America.  In their view, the network is responsible for reporting widely dissenting news that put the lie to the sycophantic broadcasts of the state-owned radio and television monopolies in the Middle East.  According to one writer for The Daily Beast, he thought " that the first Arab network to spread democratic principles and free speech would be accepted with open arms in the U.S."
     What The Daily Beast and Al Gore have missed (or perhaps they actually embrace) is the hatred for America and traditional American values that Al Jazeera seems to overwhelmingly promote through its broadcasting content.  Do they not take notice that America is consistently seen as the Imperialist Enemy and our ally, Israel, as worthy of extermination?  I shudder to think of the influence this network might have upon the millions of "useful idiots" that think Jon Stewart is the paragon of news sources!
     It further disturbs me that Time Warner Cable is leaving the door open to the possibility of carrying Al Jazeera America.  Is anyone willing to challenge this playbook from the Devil?  Obviously, Al Gore is willing to sell America's airwaves to a network that consistently presents a favorable view of jihad terrorists who are sworn enemies of the United States.  And he has the nerve to call them "ideologically in line" with his own views.  I will repeat my initial reaction to this whole incident .... How does Al Gore sleep at night?
     Then again, I guess a reported $100 million payout and a seat on the Board of Directors is enough to assuage any guilt that Mr. Gore might feel.  One day he will have to answer for this immoral and dishonorable decision.

Psalm 10:7       "His mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness."
   

Our Military Is Facing Threats From Within ... But Is It Being Reported Accurately?

     I'm probably going to be excoriated for this blog post, and I want to make it clear that I am in no way condoning the actions of any hate group, whether in the military or the general society.  But I believe what I have witnessed in the last couple of days is another case of Political Correctness run amok.
     I'm sure you've seen the headlines over the last few weeks .... there are new concerns over White Supremacists and Neo-Nazis in the U.S. military since Wade Michael Page murdered six innocent people in a Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin at the beginning of the month.  Although he was discharged from the military in 1998 (that's 14 years ago), and was known for his Neo-Nazi connections and affiliations, he has become the new poster boy for what the media would like everyone to think .... our branches of the military are full of white supremacists and skinheads who are preparing to wage a racial holy war.

     Reuters, an international news agency out of London, wrote a pretty condemning article this week, titled U.S. Military Battling White Supremacists, Neo-Nazis In Its Own Ranks.  To hear them tell it, every military veteran who sports a Confederate Flag or barbed wire as a tattoo, is a potential right wing extremist, and a threat to national security.  But when you actually analyze the article, they provide very little data to substantiate their bold claim.  In fact, the few instances they site are more than 10 years old.  And to quote the article, "No one knows how many white supremacists have served since then. A 2008 report commissioned by the Justice Department found half of all right-wing extremists in the United States had military experience." (My emphasis).  In addition, a spokesman for Fort Bragg, Colonel Kevin Arata, stated "We don't really think this is a huge problem, at Bragg, and across the Army.  In my 26 years in the Army, I've never seen it."  Now, I find that a little naive, and I am in no way, saying that White Supremacists don't exist in the military.  My complaint is that they used a military veteran like Page to support a shoddy argument and push their own opinion and agenda.
     So why the rush to paint a broad brush across all the military?  Because you have some Neo-Nazi nutcase, who happened to serve in the military over a decade ago?  For their evidence of White Supremacists, they use Timothy McVey (1995), and a member of the Hammerskin Nation, a skinhead group, who served from 1988-1991.  This same vet, T.J. Leyden, has since renounced the white power movement and works to eradicate it.
     So, pardon me, if I'm just a little suspicious.  After reading this article that was heavily promoted in other media outlets, I'm questioning the accuracy of the report and the motives.  Are they trying to create a bigger problem than really exists?   They go out of their way to state that the Pentagon has "launched three major pushes in recent decades to crack down on racist extremists."  Yet, the only racists they mention are White racists.  
     Why didn't they cite the report, Gang Activity in the U.S. Armed Forces Increasing, dated January 12, 2010?  That certainly has more relevance than reporting on white supremacists that served nearly 14-20 years ago!  A much more verifiable article was written, quoting FBI statistics on gang-related activities by virtually every street gang in the country, and on multiple military installations over the last few years.  This report names them all, including the Bloods, Crips, Black Disciples, Gangster Disciples, Hells Angels, Latin Kings, The 18th Street Gang, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), Mexican Mafia, Nortenos, Surenos, Vice Lords, and various white supremacist groups.  Yet, Reuters chooses to focus on only one threat ... White Supremacists.

     And of course, there is no mention, ever, of Muslim extremists in the military.  Why that would be "Islamophobic"!  Oh, I forgot ..... Nidal Hasan was just a disgruntled employee!  Another article I read reported that the FBI is investigating over 100 suspected Islamic jihadists in the U.S. Military.  And the article goes on to state that "Since 2001, law enforcement officials have foiled and prosecuted more than 30 plots or attacks against military targets within the United States." --- all by Islamic jihadists.
     With all this information out there, I just find it odd that the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), another civil rights monitor, seem to only want to point out that the military is ignoring the White Supremacist groups.  Like I said at the beginning of this post, there is no room for any hate group in the military, or anywhere in society.  Are there extremists in the military? Yes.  Does racism still exist in this country?  Unfortunately, yes.  It has existed from the beginning of time, and I'm afraid it will continue to exist until Jesus sets foot on the Mount of Olives.  I'm not making excuses for any particular race, religion, or ethnicity -- anywhere racism exists, it lessens our humanity.  But I guess I'm just getting a little tired of the PC attitude in the media.  I think we can all agree that racism is wrong .... but that includes ALL racism.  Let's be honest with the facts and shine the light of Truth in all the corners.  Electing to point the finger at one group, while avoiding the mention of others, serves only to keep all of us in the dark.

Psalm 101:4      "I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it.  The perverse of heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with what is evil."