The Climate Change Scam: Corruption and Cash

     An interesting article from the London offices of Breitbart.com caught my eye.  They are reporting that the American Physical Society (APS) has signaled a dramatic turnabout in its position on "climate change" by appointing three notorious climate skeptics to its panel on public affairs (POPA).
     The APS is no slouch when it comes to credentials -- it is the world's second largest organization of physicists, behind the German Physical Society.  In fact, the Society publishes more than a dozen scientific journals, organizes more than 20 science meetings each year, and bestows 10 very prestigious prizes and awards that recognize outstanding contributions and achievements in the field of Science.
     All this is to say that this "change in the wind" is actually quite stunning, considering that in 2007, the APS released this official statement on global warming:

•  Emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities are changing the atmosphere in ways that affect the Earth's climate. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide as well as methane, nitrous oxide and other gases. They are emitted from fossil fuel combustion and a range of industrial and agricultural processes.
•  The evidence is incontrovertible: Global warming is occurring.
•  If no mitigating actions are taken, significant disruptions in the Earth’s physical and ecological systems, social systems, security and human health are likely to occur. We must reduce emissions of greenhouse gases beginning now.
•  Because the complexity of the climate makes accurate prediction difficult, the APS urges an enhanced effort to understand the effects of human activity on the Earth’s climate, and to provide the technological options for meeting the climate challenge in the near and longer terms. The APS also urges governments, universities, national laboratories and its membership to support policies and actions that will reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.
   

     Although this statement was objected to by 80 present and past members of the APS, their petition was rejected, and the position was reaffirmed with commentary offering further support of the reality of global warming.
     But we've seen holes in that argument; most notably with the leaked emails during the 2009 "Climategate" controversy, in which servers at the Climate Research Unit in England were hacked.  The saboteurs revealed emails which seemed to suggest that global warming was a scientific conspiracy, and they alleged that scientists manipulated climate data and attempted to suppress critics.
     Now, we have three very distinguished Professors who are shedding new light on what many of us have long suspected.  There is Professor Richard Lindzen, formerly Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Meteorology at Massachussetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a highly regarded physicist who once described climate change alarmism on The Larry King Show as "mainly just like little kids locking themselves in dark closets to see how much they can scare each other and themselves."
     The second panel member is John Christy, Professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, who has written: "I'm sure the majority (but not all) of my IPCC colleagues cringe when I say this, but I see neither the developing catastrophe nor the smoking gun proving that human activity is to blame for most of the warming we see." (The IPCC is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a scientific intergovernmental body under the auspices of the United Nations, set up at the request of member governments.  You can imagine that they were none too happy with his comments!)
     But perhaps the most interesting addition to the APS panel is Judith Curry, Chair of the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Georgia Tech, a former Warmist (and still a self-described "luke warmer") who has infuriated many of her more extremist colleagues by defending skeptics and by testifying to the US House Subcommittee on the Environment that the uncertainties in forecasting climate science are much greater than the alarmists will admit.
     It will be interesting to see if the curtain is pulled back on the politics of global warming that we have been subjected to over the last decade or so.  Certainly, we saw cracks in that armor with the 2010 resignation from APS by Hal Lewis, an Emeritus Professor of Physics and former department chairman at the University of California, Santa Barbara.  After 67 years of membership in the APS, Lewis resigned, writing in a letter about the "corruption" from "the money flood" of government grants.
     Here is a summation of the good Professor's theory as to why so many esteemed scientists and institutions have succumbed to the lucrative scam:  "There are indeed trillions of dollars involved, to say nothing of the fame and glory (and frequent trips to exotic islands) that go with being a member of the club. Your own Physics Department (of which you are chairman) would lose millions a year if the global warming bubble burst."

     You see, if the fraudulent scheme begins to unravel, there are some very influential and powerful people who stand to lose a lot.  Take for instance Al Gore, who has made billions off the myth of global warming, and stands to make more by pushing legislation such as Cap and Trade.  While money is at the root of this false notion, there are a couple of other components that we can't ignore ... power and control.  We need to be asking ourselves this question: Who stands to gain from the "Green Energy" industry and the inevitable global wealth redistribution?  
     Perhaps with this realignment within the American Physical Society, we can at least begin the process of dispelling the fake science.  With any luck, we will be able to shed light on the extent of the false information and get back to reality.  I, for one, would be happy to never have to hear Al Gore make any more ridiculous statements, such as this:  “We ought to approach this challenge [of global warming] with a sense of profound joy and gratitude: that we are the generation about which, a thousand years from now, philharmonic orchestras and poets and singers will celebrate by saying, they were the ones that found it within themselves to solve this crisis and lay the basis for a bright and optimistic human future.”
     From my perspective, all that Al and his cronies have accomplished is bankrupt green energy companies that the American taxpayer has financed; more regulations that control our lives; and lining their own pockets.... And the planet is still here.

Genesis 8:22    "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease."

     

Prayer Needed For One Of Our Own

     When I received the prompting to begin writing this blog, the purpose was two-fold: to let those who found their way to this site know they were not alone in their apprehensions about the world; and to glorify our Sovereign God, who sustains us in these times of trouble.

     It has been my extreme blessing to have come to know many of you; whether through your continuous comments on my posts, or your decision to contact me on a more personal level through the email link on the site.  It has been my privilege to get to know you intimately; some of you by real names, others by pseudonyms -- either way, there has been a connection made that is real and genuine.  And you are all indeed true friends.  But there is one person who has come to represent you all, because God made it possible for us to meet in person, and to exhibit His will that we are all one in relation to each other and His body.  By arranging our union, He sealed us all together.
     From the beginning, the Green-Eyed Jinn confirmed that this blog was meant to be; that God had a purpose for it.  His erudite comments added to the substance of my words, and his loyalty and encouragement made me want to write my best.  He was the first among many of you that have become  active in contributing to the message that this blog is meant to convey.  And he joins a special group of you that have shown me God's presence in our correspondence.
     So I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when he "just happened" to be visiting my part of the country on a work assignment.  My husband and I agreed to travel the two hours to have dinner with him, and it was at that first meeting that I realized that all of you are not just "virtual", computer-generated contacts, but real flesh and blood.  And we are making real relationships, and getting beyond mere formalities.  We know each other, we care about each other, and there are real connections being made.  And it is no coincidence that we have found each other.
     And now one of our "family" needs us to pray for him.  Joe (that's his real name) emailed me several weeks ago with some serious concerns about his wife, Debbie's health.  She had unexplained pain in her back that was debilitating and increasing to the point that they sought a medical opinion.  Through a series of tests, they thought they were dealing with one form of cancer, only to be told the tests were wrong and new tests would be needed.  There was a ray of hope that perhaps it wasn't as serious as they thought.
     But a few days ago I received an email from Joe that broke my heart.  The latest news from the oncologist was about as bad as it could be.  I won't go into the details, because I don't want to betray Joe's confidence, but suffice it say that he is overcome with worry.  He confided that "normal" no longer exists in their household.  He is carrying a huge burden in caring for his wife and sheltering three children from the pain of the diagnosis.  He asked me for continued prayers for his wife, but also revealed that he needs them, too.  His words, "I am devastated", tell it all.
     So that's why I am turning to you.  Joe asked me to pray for his family and I promised him that not only would I be praying, but that I would call upon all who believe in the power of our Lord to heal to join me.  I have reached out to my local Prayer Warriors, who I know will be faithful to my request.  But I will admit that I have felt inadequate in my words of comfort to Joe.
     Today, I found myself awake in the early hours before dawn; tossing and turning with Joe and Debbie on my mind and searching for ways to reassure them.  I asked God to help me find the words; to show me how I am to lift them up.  That's when the Holy Spirit said, "Take this to my Body", and I knew that all of you were the ones who could help Joe shoulder this burden.
     At times I have been overwhelmed with the number of readers of my simple blog.  And I have been astounded at the places you call home.  Just this week, you have logged in from China, Ukraine, France, Canada, Germany, Iran, the United Kingdom, Poland and Indonesia.  And at this very moment, you are reading this post from Austria, Australia and Romania.  I am not egotistical enough to think it is because of my own abilities that you have found your way to this site.  But, in my spirit, I know that it is God using this blog for His will and purpose and to glorify Himself.
     So I truly believe that if you read this blog, we are all one in the Body of Christ; we are a family of Believers.  I want to make good on my promise to Joe that he and his family will be lifted up in prayer; so will you join me, from every corner of God's world, in praying for a miracle for Debbie?  It doesn't matter that you don't have all the details, or know their last names.  God will know on whose behalf we are all interceding.  Let's astound the doctors with a miraculous healing, and show Joe that he is not alone.  And that, after all, will accomplish everything this blog is meant to be and fulfill His purpose for it.  God Bless you all!

Psalm 116:1-2    "I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live."

We Are Playing God

     BreakingDeception.com has revealed that scientific work being conducted at Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, has now successfully created living tissue, using 3-D printers.  They may be "inspired", but I fear it is not by anything with which I wish to be associated.
     Scientists will tell you it's all for the good of mankind; that one day surgeons might feed detailed CT scans of human body parts into a 3-D printer, manipulate them with design software, and produce healthy replacements for diseased or injured tissues or organs.  But it is this statement that scares me to death:  Their work represents a significant advance toward producing living medical models upon which drugs could be tested for safety and effectiveness.  And what's to keep them from engineering complete humans, instead of just "replacement parts"?
     Does anyone else think this sounds as if we are playing God?  As if we are mimicking God's creation?  The article lays out how this living tissue is constructed:  The scientific team produces three “bio-inks” that are laid down by separate printer heads. One ink contains extracellular matrix, a complex mixture of water, proteins and carbohydrates that connects individual cells together to form tissues. Another contains extracellular matrix and living cells. A third used to make the vessels unusually melts as it cools so that researchers could chill the sample and suck out the ink to leave behind hollow tubes.  The team then "seeds" the hollow tubes with endothelial cells, which grow into blood-vessel lining.  Sounds like manipulation of God's unique creation to me!
     This sounds eerily like what Satan promised Eve in the garden ... just take a bite out of this apple and you can know what God knows!  Why should mankind be limited to the whims of its Creator when it can re-create itself?!?
     Because does anyone sincerely believe that man, in all his egotistical self-absorption, will not exploit  this new invention to make himself more perfect and eliminate the eventual decay of the body?  And in doing so, will this not eliminate his desire for, and his need for, God?
     It seems to me that we have forgotten that we were created to glorify God; made in His image and for His pleasure.  He didn't create us because He needed us.  And He didn't create us to be equal to Him.  And that is my concern about the advancement of this technology.  If man can make himself physically perfect by grafting in new tissue and body parts, so that there is no possibility of dying, he can live forever.  That leads us to this question: Why would he ever have the need to know His original Creator?
     I realize that everything is under God's control, and perhaps it will be His will that this technology can serve mankind without corrupting his soul.  But I also know that the Enemy will use everything in his power to convince us that this technology will make us equal in power, intelligence, and perfection to God.  That will not happen; God will not allow it.  So, I just feel as if we are playing with fire, and I wonder if we have the discernment (or the desire) to know when we've gone too far.  None of us want to suffer illness or die, but I want nothing to do with science that will deny me eternal life God's way.

Deuteronomy 4:35      "To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides Him."
   

Blasphemy Unbridled!

     I've had enough!  I've suffered long enough through Bill Maher's intolerable and arrogant tirades against those of us who believe in conservative values and religious morality.  But now he's crossed a line that I didn't think he could even stoop to.  The Washington Post quoted Mr. Maher -- by the way, why is he labeled "Comedian" Bill Maher?  There is nothing the least bit witty or funny about the man -- in a despicable and profane diatribe against my God.  I cannot let it go unanswered.
     It all centers around the story of Noah's Ark and the upcoming movie of the same name, starring Russell Crowe.  First of all, this self-important little man deems to call this country "Stupid, when 60% of the adults living in it think the Noah's Ark story is literally true."  He then manages to insult the three major religions in the world (Christianity, Judaism and Islam) in one sentence.  I'm sure he's proud of himself!
     He then proceeds to educate his audience that we are four centuries past the "Scientific Revolution", (and after the advent of his god Capernicus), and humans, through science, realized that they can get a real answer to almost every question about our world, like "Where does the Sun go at night?" Maybe a better question, Bill, would be this ... Can you explain how the Sun has followed the same route day in and day out, through the centuries ... and yes, far longer than before your precious Scientific Revolution?
    He smiles his evil little smile as he tells the camera that not only is the Noah story "childish" and "made up" and "silly", but that it is immoral.  And here is where he utters the words that he will one day soon regret ... "It is a story about a psychotic mass murderer who gets away with it, and his name is  God.  Genesis says God was so angry with himself for screwing up when he made mankind so flawed (picture Maher making a screwed up face and growling "Rrrrr") that he sent the flood to kill everyone ... everyone ... men, women, children, babies!  What kind of tyrant punishes everyone just to get back at the few he's mad at?"  [I could think of a few that run our government, can't you?]
     But back to Bill's irreverent rant, and this is difficult for me to even repeat, but I will not protect him from taking responsibility for his profanity:  "Hey, God, you're kind of a (expletive) when you're in a movie with Russell Crowe and you're the one with anger issues."  The audience thinks that's just hilarious.
     He goes on:  "You know, Conservatives are always going on about how Americans are losing their values and their morality, well maybe it’s because you worship a guy who drowns babies."  [Of course, he finds no problem with Liberals who kill babies in the womb; and they can't even blame it on being angry -- it's just an inconvenience.]
     His next brilliant statement:  "And then its God's genius plan to repopulate the world with a new crop of (expletives) who pissed him off the first time.  And then he kills millions more!  Why are we getting our morals out of this book?  Why do people follow any of it?"  
     And then he thought he'd be culturally relevant and mention the Lenten season:  “I’m reminded as we’ve just started lent, that Conservatives are always complaining about too much restraining regulation and how they love freedom, but they’re the religious ones who voluntarily invent restrictions for themselves.  Jews wear black wool on a hot summer day; Mormons can't drink hot chocolate on a cold winter night ... isn't life hard enough without making rules up to (expletive) with yourselves?  Don't we have enough rules and (expletives) to kiss, without making up new ones?"
     It was painful to sit through the five minutes of the video and watch and hear this soulless man vilify my God and spew such hateful language.  It's painful because this man's sick humor is tolerated and even applauded by millions who do not have a clue Whom they are offending.  And they do not understand that they can denigrate this story as silly and fabricated all they want, but it was people just like them that received the judgment of the Flood.  I imagine that those who were wiped from the face of the earth were just as smug and complacent as Bill Maher and his devotees; enjoying living without all those "moral rules" that Bill thinks are too restrictive.
     But Mr. Maher should take into account that Genesis is not the only place in the Bible that Noah's story is referenced.  Because you see, we Christians believe there is ....gasp ... a Son of God!  And He tells us in Matthew 24:38-39:  "For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.…".
     So, Mr. Comedian, you might not understand why I choose to get my morals out of the Bible or why I try to follow all of it, but I don't expect you to.  As long as you are your own little "g" god, there is no hope that you will comprehend how, or why, I have come to the understanding that I need a Savior to keep from becoming like you.  As different as we are, we share one thing in common ... there will be a day when each of our bodies will die, and we will each have to stand before the One you have blasphemed with such foul and disgusting names.  When it is your turn to stand before the One that created you, I have a feeling you won't be getting many laughs from that audience!  So go ahead and get them now, while you can; because unless you change your heart, [where you're going] is going to be a real tough crowd.

Hebrews 10:29    "How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?"

As The Internet Goes, So Goes Our Freedom

   
     I'm more than a little perplexed over our government giving up its authority over the internet.  Perhaps I view it from a typical Western perspective ... the nation that was founded on the unique principle of individual freedoms seems the best qualified to oversee the technical management of the world wide web; especially since we are the ones who invented it.
     Granted, our reputation for freedom and privacy has become a little tarnished lately -- Edward Snowden's revelations about U.S. surveillance techniques have contributed to that.  We may no longer be the nation that our Founders envisioned, but I don't think that I want to see a "global entity" in charge of domain addresses and content.  For the moment, there is a free exchange of ideas and opinions, and one can almost always find the truth because it is still available on the net if you are discerning and vigilant.
     But what happens when China, Russia, Iran, or dozens of other countries gain more control?  By the way, these very nations are already pushing for more authority over the Internet through the International Telecommunications Union, a United Nations agency.  China, Russia, Iran and the United Nations ... now that's a combination that conjures up a vision of freedom, doesn't it?  I'm sure individuals will be allowed to speak freely and openly, right?  And I'm positive that the leaders of these authoritarian countries will gladly allow criticism of their regimes, and there's no need to worry about domains being shut down or voices being silenced.
     Which leads me to this thought ... Is it just me, or does the world seem to have gone mad?  Malaysian airliners disappear amid a wide array of conspiracy theories that can't be dismissed outright.  Voices in Russia and the U.S. trade taunting threats of nuclear annihilation, against a backdrop of political machinations in which we don't know who is to blame.  Advocates for Transhumanism promise eternal life as a cyborg, and genetic modification is the new "miracle cure".  The world's economy is teetering on collapse and we seem to be one "event" away from a total cataclysm.  Parents are discovering that they no longer have control over their children's health care, education or discipline; your children are the property of the State.  And last, but not least, the truth about God is being removed from everything -- from our military to our national discourse, and sadly, even in our churches.
     But do you know how I can even make these statements?  Because there is a free dissemination of information on the internet!  As broken as our governmental system is, do you think we would know about the genocides in Rwanda and Darfur, if it were not for the internet?  Would we be able to continue to uncover what happened in Benghazi without the internet?  Would we know how Iran's nuclear program is growing, or the increasing threats against Israel?  Would we know about the growing assaults on our First and Second Amendment rights without the internet?  And without the web, would we have the opportunity to research what's really in the Bill - whether it's before or after Nancy Pelosi has signed it?  
     You see, no matter how much of the information on the net is compromised or propagandized, the truth is out there, and it's free and limitless.  Once the Global authorities get there hands on regulating it, or some dictator decides to assume control, you can bet that they will not allow an unrestricted flow of information to be available to the masses.
     Perhaps this circumstance is simply one more nail in the coffin of mankind's right to speak, act, or think as he wants; the power of self-determination and free will that God granted us.  While the U.S. government assures us they will watch the transfer of power "carefully", do any of us think we will ever see the innovation. the explosive growth of commerce, or the free flow and diversity of ideas that have been the essence of this internet age?  It will be interesting to see how this plays out, and who lines up as the winners and losers.  Don't count on it being us.

Proverbs 4:7    "The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight."

What's In The Air That We Breathe?

     I just spent the entire weekend getting my vegetable garden and my flower beds planted.  And I have to tell you that I'm more than a little concerned about how healthy my harvest will be this year... especially after reading this headline on Truthstream Media:  Gov't Study:  75% of Air and Rain Samples Tested Positive For Monsanto's RoundUp.
     You read that correctly.  According to the article, a study conducted by the US Geological Survey comparing figures for air and rain samples from 1995 and 2007 in Mississippi concluded that 75% of all 2007 samples tested positive for glyphosate — the active ingredient in Monsanto’s best-selling herbicide Roundup.

    And according to another article on the Global Research website, "Consequences [of glyphosate] are most of the diseases and conditions associated with a Western diet, which include gastrointestinal disorders, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depression, autism, infertility, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease."  Of course, Monsanto and others in the industry assert that glyphosate is nearly nontoxic to mammals, and therefore it is not a problem if glyphosate is ingested in food sources.  But while there are short-term studies involving rodents that have shown no apparent toxicity, studies involving life-long exposure in rodents have demonstrated liver and kidney dysfunction and a greatly increased risk of cancer, with shortened lifespan.  So, if given a choice, do you really want to take that chance?
     But that's the problem -- we don't have a choice!  Apparently this toxic chemical is in the very air that we breathe, and the rain that nurtures our food supply.  Does anybody want to take a guess as to how this is happening?  Think it has anything to do with all the reported sightings of chemtrails?  Or the conspiracy theories that the military's HAARP program (High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program) actually has the capabilities to control weather, and therefore, the rain?
     At the moment, how this potentially toxic chemical is falling from the sky doesn't concern me as much as how do I protect my health and the food I eat?  I know I can't control the distribution of glyphosate, but can I limit my exposure and keep my organic food from being tainted?  And I don't know if there is any connection, but I have witnessed an unprecedented number of bronchitis cases this crazy winter -- and all among healthy individuals who have not experienced this respiratory problem in the last decade.  Maybe it has something to do with 80 degree temps one day and in the 30s less than 24 hours later; but that brings us back to ... is this weather natural?  Is anything natural anymore?!?
     My husband and I try really hard to stay away from processed foods, and have spent a lot of time teaching ourselves how to garden, how to dehydrate food, and how to pressure can the produce that our garden yields.  I love the idea that we aren't eating all the additives that are included in food off the grocery store shelf.  But now we have to wonder ... rainwater is always preferable to hand watering our garden; but do we need to worry that what has always been considered "pure" is now contaminated?
     And have you noticed that there seems to be an epidemic of "gluten intolerance" and celiac disease among the population?  I used to be a skeptic, thinking that the food industry had to develop the latest fad disease so they could create a new market for "gluten-free" products.  But guess what a recent study by Anthony Samsel (a retired science consultant) and Stephanie Seneff (a research scientist at MIT) revealed?
     Their study showed that both gluten intolerance and celiac disease are on the rise as a result of ... you guessed it ... glyphosate.  They point out that this rise in celiac disease parallels the increase in the use of Roundup, and the effects of glyphosate are those listed for celiac disease... namely nausea, diarrhea, skin rashes, macrocytic anemia and depression.  "We propose that glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide, Roundup®, is the most important causal factor in this epidemic."
     So, even if we have the time and the space to grow our own organic gardens, and can avoid the GMO food being sold over the counter, we are still being assailed on all sides by unnatural chemicals that affect our food supply.  How can we escape it when air, rain and soil samples prove otherwise?
     I can't help but sense how displeased God is at evil men messing with His creation.  When they begin intentionally polluting what He has made pure and perfect, then Judgment cannot be far behind.  So, I will leave that up to Him and try to protect His ground that I plant, and be thankful for the natural bounty I receive from His sun and rain.  And I will pray that I harvest only life-giving nourishment.

1 Corinthians 3:7     "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth."
     

Matthew 5:3

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, 

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

     How many times have you heard this familiar Scripture?  Have you ever contemplated --- I mean really meditated on what Jesus was telling those who surrounded him on the Mount of Olives?  I can tell you that in all my years in Church, I never had it adequately explained to me.  It was always condensed to a simple interpretation; something like this:  "God blesses the humble and opposes the proud."  But in these last few years, as God, through the Holy Spirit, has been responding to my desire to know more of Him, I have grown in my understanding of this most important verse.

     First of all, what has become known as The Sermon on the Mount, or The Olivet Discourse, was in all likelihood, a time of instruction from Jesus to His disciples.  And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated, His disciples came to Him... It is thought that Jesus moved away from the multitudes, up on the mountain, in order to teach His disciples.  And it was normal for a rabbi or teacher to be seated when he instructed his students.  The crowds simply followed Him and gathered round as He taught the disciples.

    Now, we get to the meat of our Scripture ... Blessed are the poor in spirit ... At the center of Man's sinful nature is the desire to possess "things".  In fact, the human heart longs to possess all the things we think will make us rich by the world's standards.  Remember all the parables Jesus told about possessing wealth?  Remember the Rich Young Ruler who asked what he needed to do to obtain eternal life?  Jesus told him to sell all his goods and he would have treasure in heaven.

     Then there was the Rich Fool who was so preoccupied with storing up his wealth; accumulating more and building bigger barns to store it, that he got lax in restoring his soul.  The lesson was clear:  he may have been rich in worldly terms, but he was poor in heavenly terms.

     In essence, this simple verse of Matthew 5:3 is turning man's human understanding on its ear!  Jesus is turning their understanding of what constitutes wealth inside out!  For theirs is the kingdom of heaven ... He is teaching His disciples, and telling the multitudes who have come to hear His wisdom, that real treasure is not measured by earthly benchmarks, which are fleeting and meaningless when you die; but true treasure is measured by your spiritual possessions and is forever eternal.  How much richer than all the billionaires on earth, are we, who possess the knowledge of a Faithful, Merciful and Loving Father?  Without the knowledge of God, those billionaires have everything their hearts desire ... yet they possess nothing.  

     I may be poor (in the world's eyes), possessing nothing but spiritual blessings.  But what my heart covets cannot be bought here on earth.  It was paid for on the Cross, and one day, I will receive the treasure I long for --- to worship at the throne of my Living Savior!

     

Has This Nation Lost Its Virtue?

     VIRTUE .... such an old-fashioned word.  My online dictionary defines it as: a quality considered morally good or desirable in a person.  I think we can all accept that a "virtuous" person is one who has the power and ability to be a morally upright human being; one who seeks to do the right thing in conformity to a standard.  But the real question is, do we still desire this human characteristic in our country?  And why might it be important to a nation?
     Well, I can tell you that nearly a quarter of a century ago, Virtue was deemed the very foundation of our country.  Read what our Founding Fathers had to say about it:
• George Washington:  "Human rights can only be assured among a virtuous people.  The general government... can never be in danger of degenerating into a monarchy, an oligarch, an aristocracy, or any despotic or oppressive form [of government] as long as there is any virtue in the body of the people."
• Ben Franklin:  "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.  As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters."
• John Adams:  "The only foundation of a free Constitution is pure virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our people in a greater measure than they have it now, they may change their rulers and the forms of government, but they will not obtain a lasting liberty.  They will only exchange tyrants and tyrannies."

     So by these standards, what do you think?  Do we show evidence of being "a virtuous people"?  Do our schools speak of Virtue in the classroom, and do our Churches praise it from the pulpit?  Sadly, I believe that this word has nearly vanished from our national lexicon.  And if we no longer speak of Virtue, then it's pretty safe to assume that it is on the wane in our culture.  To that point, is there a knowledge today of the distinct difference between right and wrong ... or is it all relative?  And by whose standards do we judge something virtuous, or right?
     Because I can tell you, if your standard is God's, there is no question if something falls outside the bounds of "rightness"; His standard has been the same since the beginning of time.  But if you are judging according to man's standards in today's world, then what is "right" depends on who is making the most noise; who can play "the victim"; who is in power; who can control the media; or any other number of manipulative strategies.  Without agreement on what Virtue is, then the definition is subject to great distortion.
     When a nation cannot agree on moral absolutes, then it will suffer the turmoil and upheaval that our Founding Fathers predicted ... loss of human and individual rights; a loss of freedoms and true liberty.  Without a virtuous people, they forecast an oppressive form of government; a desire for a welfare state; and tyrants instead of champions of the people.
     John Adams said we need to inspire "into" our nation's people, the love of Virtue.  We should be clamoring for it; indeed, demanding it!  I, for one, am tired of the viciousness of our leaders -- towards each other and this nation's citizens.  I am sick of the corruption -- and the excuses for its existence.  I am angry at seeing the commandments of my God attacked and reviled -- and the lovers of evil ways defended.  I know in my heart, that Washington, Franklin and Adams were correct in anticipating our demise if we don't return to our Judeo-Christian roots!
     It's not that I'm advocating the exclusion of other faiths that promote the active pursuit of moral and spiritual goodness -- you can't have too much true spiritual Virtue!  I'm just saying that there is a direct correlation between the purposeful elimination of the influence of the God of the Bible's standards and our national decline.  We could stand a little old-fashioned Virtue, wouldn't you say?

My thanks to Marvin J.Rosenthal, Executive Director of Zion's Hope, for the inspiration for this post.

Proverbs 14:34     "Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people."
   

Have We Learned Anything From Fukashima?

     I ask you, have you considered the impact of Fukashima on the U.S. homeland?  Or do you think it is so far away that it doesn't really concern us?  Are you willing to trust "government officials" with their "everything is OK" rhetoric?  Because I can promise you that for every assurance over the last three years that Fukashima has had no effect on sea life in the Pacific Ocean or on our Western coastline, I can produce a credible source warning us that the ramifications are serious and alarming.  I don't know about you, but if it is the government telling me that it's safe, then I'm probably going to rely on my own gut instinct, and every fiber of my being tells me something is fishy (pardon the pun).
     If it is true, as reported by TruNews, that city officials in towns near Fukashima have warned parents not to allow children up to two years old to spend more than 15 minutes outside each day, or those aged 3 to 5 should limit their outdoor time to 30 minutes or less, then I'm going to assume that radiation levels are still extremely high in Japan and that the disabled plant is far from secure or nontoxic.  And are we really expected to believe that this radiation has been contained?
     Of course, you will hear all kinds of denials from accredited "government" scientists that say the warnings of Fukashima-related fallout are patently false and the result of fear-mongering.  But how can we discount all of the following reports recently listed on Freedomoutpost.com?  Here are just a few that caught my attention, and I urge you to read the entire article and make up your own mind.
Sailors affected - U.S. Navy sailors on the USS Ronald Reagan responded to the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan for four days, and many returned to the U.S. with thyroid cancer, Leukemia, brain tumors and more.  As Ecowatch.com pointed out, at least 71 sailors—many in their 20s—reported radiation sickness and will file a lawsuit against Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), which operates the Fukushima Daiichi energy plant.  The ship's water supply was contaminated, which led to crew members drinking, washing their bodies and brushing their teeth with contaminated water. Paul Garner, an attorney representing 51 sailors, said at least half of the 70-plus sailors have some form of cancer.
Starfish are dying - Something is causing starfish all along the west coast of the United States to literally disintegrate into piles of “white goo“… Dr. Peter Raimondi of the University of Santa Cruz says something is making starfish susceptible to what is believed to be a bacteria coined “Wasting Disease.” It essentially disintegrates the marine invertebrates into a white goo after the starfish loses its legs, and Dr. Raimondi believes that radiation from Fukashima could be partially to blame.
Bald eagles are dying -  More than 20 majestic bald eagles have died in Utah in the past few weeks alone — and nobody can figure out why.  Normally the birds are skittish and restive, but farmers across northern and central Utah have found them lying listless on the ground. Many suffered from seizures, head tremors and paralysis in the legs, feet and wings.
Alaska is suffering - The coastlines of Alaska have been awash with dead birds that are “broken open and bleeding”; seals and walruses who are losing their hair and oozing "open sores", as well as polar bears suffering fur loss and open sores;  the population of sockeye salmon along the coastlines of Alaska is at a “historic low”, and Pacific herring are bleeding from their gills, bellies and eyelids.
Warnings from others - Everyone from newspapers like The Vancouver Sun (Canada) to the deputy chairman of Russia’s State Duma Committee for Natural Resources, to a senior researcher of marine chemistry at the Japan Meteorological Agency’s Meteorological Research Institute say that the Pacific Ocean is being ruined by radioactive material that is a direct result of Fukashima.
     But perhaps the most heartbreaking analysis comes from a seasoned Australian mariner who, as he journeyed from Japan to San Francisco, stated that he felt as though "the ocean itself was dead."  Here are his exact words:  “We hardly saw any living things. We saw one whale, sort of rolling helplessly on the surface with what looked like a big tumour on its head. It was pretty sickening.  I’ve done a lot of miles on the ocean in my life and I’m used to seeing turtles, dolphins, sharks and big flurries of feeding birds. But this time, for 3000 nautical miles there was nothing alive to be seen... ".
     Do you honestly think that all this is made up? If even a modicum of it is true, we have much to be concerned about.  And if you carry this situation out to its logical conclusion, it should make you worry (at least a little bit) about the safety of our own nuclear plants.
     The website, Mashable, introduced a nerve-shattering scenario -- at least from my perspective.  After the Fukashima disaster, it seems obvious that we, here in the U.S., have to be concerned about damage to our nuclear power plants due to hurricanes and storm surge flooding.  But they propose another scenario that, according to U.S. geologists, is "inevitable and only a matter of time."  That event is a major earthquake along the New Madrid fault, which lies in the heart of the Midwest United States.
     When -- not if -- this major quake hits, here are the projections:   it kills or injures 60,000 people in Tennessee. A quarter of a million people are homeless. The Memphis airport — the country’s biggest air terminal for packages — goes off-line. Major oil and gas pipelines across Tennessee rupture, causing shortages in the Northeast. In Missouri, another 15,000 people are hurt or dead. Cities and towns throughout the central U.S. lose power and water for months. Losses stack up to hundreds of billions of dollars.
     BUT here is the one fact that rarely crosses anyone's mind ... there are 15 Nuclear Reactors on that New Madrid fault line -- three reactors in Alabama -- that are of the same or similar design as the site in Japan experiencing problems!  Geologists have been warning us for years now, that the New Madrid earthquake is "imminent".  In the wake of Japan's catastrophe, shouldn't we be preparing for something similar?
     So what does that look like?  FEMA's disaster planning coordinators are worried about 750,000 buildings that would be damaged; 3,000 bridges that would potentially collapse; 400,000 breaks and leaks to local pipelines; and 7.2 million people that would be displaced.  Is anyone concerned about the damage from radiation?
     It has been three long and harrowing years since Fukashima came onto our radar.  I, for one, feel that the radiation of seas, plant/animal life, environment and humans is worthy of concern, and yes, even a rational amount of fear.  While I understand that these things are totally within God's control, I am also aware that, unfortunately, it is man's lack of using the brain the Good Lord gave him that often spells the difference between success and disaster.  And based on the response to Fukashima, I don't have a whole lot of confidence that we are in safe hands.

Isaiah 24:19-20    "The earth is utterly broken, the earth is split apart, the earth is violently shaken. The earth staggers like a drunken man; it sways like a hut; its transgression lies heavy upon it, and it falls, and will not rise again."
     

Common Core and the SAT: The Next Step in the Nationalization of American Education

     By now, you know that I am not a fan of Common Core, the federally backed national education “standards” that are supposedly designed to balance the quality of education from pre-K through high school.  From everything I've read, the effects of this education initiative serve only to dumb down our kids to the lowest denominator, while promulgating a steady diet of state propaganda.

     The New American reports that almost every state has sacrificed their individual rights to legislate education in favor of massive grants to the states that comply with this "nationalization" agenda.  Not only are education standards lowered, but students (and, in essence, their families) will be monitored and tracked in unprecedented ways from early childhood into the workforce.

     Believe me, proponents of nationalized education are good at using all the catchwords and phrases that sound good; such as “excellence” in education, “raising the bar,” and getting America’s children “ready for the workforce”.  But teachers have pointed out that the curricula for Math and English have actually been a step backwards in preparing our children to compete in the world marketplace.  As the inadequacy of these standards comes out of the shadows, critics are becoming more vocal in their opposition.

     That's why the latest efforts of the Common Core schemers to affect the implementation of the SAT college preparatory testing has come under fire.  The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is one of two main standardized exams generally used by colleges for admissions.  (The ACT, or American College Testing, is the other.)  As The New American points out, among the main revisions proposed by the architects of Common Core are the removal of the essay requirement and an end to penalties for incorrect answers aimed at discouraging guessing. Also sparking alarm among experts concerned about the ongoing dumbing down of American education is the fact that the SAT will be drastically scaling back and simplifying the vocabulary and math requirements.

     The proponents of these changes claim that the new SAT will contribute to “fairness,” reducing “inequality,” and “providing opportunity”.  They have long claimed that financially better-off students are able to do better on the exam because they can pay for tutors or preparation lessons.  Common Core advocates want to offer free preparation for test-takers in the hopes of reducing that alleged unfairness.  Of course that preparation will only be offered to states that align with the Common Core initiative.  

     But how are students really helped when their scores are artificially boosted by removing harder vocabulary words and math problems on the SAT in order make the tests "fair"?  How does this help advance America's future workforce in the competitive global marketplace?  With the SAT aligned with the Common Core Standards, even homeschooling families and students at private schools will be under heavy pressure to submit to this inferior curricula.

    I urge you to read this insightful article.  I think you will be amazed, as I was, to find out that by 2011, SAT reading scores had reached their lowest point in almost 40 years, according to the College Board.  The fact is that despite soaring costs paid by taxpayers, students are learning less and less, with tens of millions now functionally illiterate. The trends have actually been accelerating, with critical thinking skills and reading abilities plunging fastest.  We can no longer deny that the quality of our education in this country is declining at a rapid rate.  Nor should we fail to comprehend the results of a lack of critical thinking among our children.  

     And in case you are wondering just how important critical thinking is to the future of our nation's children, consider this:  Critical thinking, as defined by the National Council for Excellence in Critical Thinking, is "the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action."

     So, if you wanted to gain control over a population of people, would you want to teach the next generation to have the ability to think clearly and rationally?  Or have the ability to engage in reflective and independent thinking?  Why, they just might be able to understand the logical connections between ideas, and actually begin to (gasp!) question your motives or policies! 

     While outrage over this dumbing down of our youth is growing, there are still far too many parents and state officials who are unaware of this encroaching menace.  I urge you, once again, to research your own school district and root it out before this cancer takes hold and spreads.  Education is the key to our children's success, but it must propel them to greater heights; not subject them to a lowering of quality or knowledge to promote a political ideology.  Get in the fight --- your children and grandchildren's future depends on it!

Proverbs 4:13     "Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life."