Saturday, December 29, 2007
FOX Excludes Ron Paul From NH Forum
This just in. FOX News has chosen to exclude Rep. Ron Paul from the Candidate Forum to be held on Jan 6 (just two days before the NH primary) at St. Anselm College in NH. This is nothing more than blatant censorship by the Neo-Conservatives at FOX of the one candidate they truly fear. Considering that Ron Paul is now running third in some polls in Iowa, he raised over $6 million in one day, has raised more than any other candidate in the fourth quarter, and the media gets email bombed every time they talk about him, clearly shows that Ron Paul is a viable candidate, and deserves to be on that platform with the other candidates, some of whom are running behind Congressman Paul in the polls. Even if you are not a Ron Paul supporter, it should bother you that the news network that proclaims itself to be "fair and balanced" has chosen to censor the one voice that is different than all the rest. Ron Paul stands for liberty, freedom, limited government and a humble foreign policy. Please email FOX News and voice your opposition to their censorship (yourcomments@foxnews.com). Also, go to St. Anselm's website and ask their Public Relations dept. why they as the host would allow this censoring of the one candidate who has based his foreign policy on the traditional Just War Theory.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Religious Hucksters and the First Amendment
I guess freedom of religion does have its limits, as far as Senator Grassley from Iowa is concerned. Sen. Grassley is going after six Christian television ministries because their message of health, and especially wealth, has carried over to the ministers living lavish lifestyles. Well, let's think about this. If I am a televangelist and I preach that God will make you rich if you have enough faith, then what would it look like if I am driving a Yugo and live in a rented flat? Are you going to believe my message? Of course not. In the secular world, one of the mantras preached far and wide is, "don't take financial advice from someone worse off than you are". These TV evangelists are just following the code.
Now don't get me wrong, those TV evangelists are nothing but snake oil salesmen (and women), promising magical and wondrous results for just $50 (or $500 if you REALLY want to be blessed). Their message is a distortion of the truth, has led many astray, and is a blatant exploitation of the poor. They are scoundrels, and the Bible labels them as false teachers that should be avoided. But when I read the evangelists were subjects of a Congressional investigation, it raised the hairs on the back of my neck.
In case Sen. Grassley has forgotten, I would encourage him to run down to the gift shop there at the Capitol building and pick up a copy of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Now Senator, scan down the page to the First Amendment. It goes something like this: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF(emphasis mine). That means that Congress has no business in what these televangelists preach or practice, no matter how offensive it may be. Our Government is not to be the judge of good or bad religion. That is exactly what our Founding Fathers were trying to prevent when they wrote the First Amendment. These TV evangelists make no bones about their message. "Send me money, have faith, and God will richly bless you. Just look at me. I wear Armani, drive a Bentley, and fly around in a private jet to go on $100,000 shopping sprees." If I am watching a so-called minister beg me for money while wearing a Mr. T starter kit, I am pretty sure where at least part of that money is going. Let the parishioner beware.
I know, it is unfair for them to take advantage of people like they do, and I can hear you saying, "Somebody has to do something about them." I agree with you. Somebody does. It is the proper place of the Church to proclaim the truth, and mark and avoid. Follow the biblical steps of Church discipline with them. If they refuse to repent, proclaim them to be outside of the faith. "What is bound on earth is already bound in heaven". Then truly mark them as false teachers. Let the preachers of the true Gospel stand up and proclaim their doctrines of health and wealth to be the doctrines of devils. Make sure to avoid them. Write your cable and satellite TV providers to drop their networks. If they refuse, cancel your subscriptions. In the end though, we must understand that those who have "itching ears" will be carried away by these false messengers. Pray that our Lord will keep us safe from the enticements of strange doctrines.
Now don't get me wrong, those TV evangelists are nothing but snake oil salesmen (and women), promising magical and wondrous results for just $50 (or $500 if you REALLY want to be blessed). Their message is a distortion of the truth, has led many astray, and is a blatant exploitation of the poor. They are scoundrels, and the Bible labels them as false teachers that should be avoided. But when I read the evangelists were subjects of a Congressional investigation, it raised the hairs on the back of my neck.
In case Sen. Grassley has forgotten, I would encourage him to run down to the gift shop there at the Capitol building and pick up a copy of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Now Senator, scan down the page to the First Amendment. It goes something like this: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF(emphasis mine). That means that Congress has no business in what these televangelists preach or practice, no matter how offensive it may be. Our Government is not to be the judge of good or bad religion. That is exactly what our Founding Fathers were trying to prevent when they wrote the First Amendment. These TV evangelists make no bones about their message. "Send me money, have faith, and God will richly bless you. Just look at me. I wear Armani, drive a Bentley, and fly around in a private jet to go on $100,000 shopping sprees." If I am watching a so-called minister beg me for money while wearing a Mr. T starter kit, I am pretty sure where at least part of that money is going. Let the parishioner beware.
I know, it is unfair for them to take advantage of people like they do, and I can hear you saying, "Somebody has to do something about them." I agree with you. Somebody does. It is the proper place of the Church to proclaim the truth, and mark and avoid. Follow the biblical steps of Church discipline with them. If they refuse to repent, proclaim them to be outside of the faith. "What is bound on earth is already bound in heaven". Then truly mark them as false teachers. Let the preachers of the true Gospel stand up and proclaim their doctrines of health and wealth to be the doctrines of devils. Make sure to avoid them. Write your cable and satellite TV providers to drop their networks. If they refuse, cancel your subscriptions. In the end though, we must understand that those who have "itching ears" will be carried away by these false messengers. Pray that our Lord will keep us safe from the enticements of strange doctrines.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Give Me Liberty...
I have pondered these words (and the following statement) lately, and I wonder. Would I have the courage of Patrick Henry to choose death over tyranny? I think today most Americans would be willing to trade liberty for a couple gallons of gas for their SUV. OK, maybe that is an exaggeration, but there definitely is a trend to trade freedom for a false sense of security. Why do our lawmakers try to ban guns? They tell us it is for our own good. Less guns = less crime. Why, you don't want to return to the days of the Old West, do you? If no one had guns, our children would be safer.
And speaking of safety, the national ID card is being promoted in the interests of safety and national security. If all people in the U.S. were required to carry ID issued (or categorized) by the Federal Government, then it would be easier to spot the terrorists when they try to sneak in. By the way, did they stop putting that statement on your Social Security card that your SS number is NOT to be used for identification other than for SSI benefits? I guess the Patriot Act officially sounded the death knell for that assurance, since all banks are required to have a Federal ID number tied to every account. But remember, it keeps drug cartels and terrorists from laundering money.
And speaking of laundering money, did you know that you can't just walk around with large amounts of (gasp!) cash? If you get stopped with a large amount of money, there is a good chance you could have it seized by law enforcement. And what law are they enforcing? Well, that law that says that people that walk (or drive) around with large amounts of cash are probably criminals. Oh, but it is OK, because if you can prove you have a good reason for having so much cash, they may give it back to you in a couple of years after the hearing. Besides, you should have put all that cash in your bank account. Of course, if it was REALLY a lot of money ($10,000 or more), your bank would have been required to notify the IRS immediately that you deposited all that cash in your account. You know, that account that has your Federal ID number attached to it. Am I noticing a trend here?
Can you imagine if Patrick Henry were alive today and you tried to explain all this to him? I am sure he would find it quite ironic that Congress passed a bill called the Patriot Act that tramples on the very freedoms his generation fought to protect. Now, throw in Eminent Domain, government regulation of private property, and the infringement on the First Amendment regarding religious speech, and I would be willing to wager Mr. Henry would be dusting off his "assault musket" and be pushing for the reissue of the Declaration of Independence.
And speaking of safety, the national ID card is being promoted in the interests of safety and national security. If all people in the U.S. were required to carry ID issued (or categorized) by the Federal Government, then it would be easier to spot the terrorists when they try to sneak in. By the way, did they stop putting that statement on your Social Security card that your SS number is NOT to be used for identification other than for SSI benefits? I guess the Patriot Act officially sounded the death knell for that assurance, since all banks are required to have a Federal ID number tied to every account. But remember, it keeps drug cartels and terrorists from laundering money.
And speaking of laundering money, did you know that you can't just walk around with large amounts of (gasp!) cash? If you get stopped with a large amount of money, there is a good chance you could have it seized by law enforcement. And what law are they enforcing? Well, that law that says that people that walk (or drive) around with large amounts of cash are probably criminals. Oh, but it is OK, because if you can prove you have a good reason for having so much cash, they may give it back to you in a couple of years after the hearing. Besides, you should have put all that cash in your bank account. Of course, if it was REALLY a lot of money ($10,000 or more), your bank would have been required to notify the IRS immediately that you deposited all that cash in your account. You know, that account that has your Federal ID number attached to it. Am I noticing a trend here?
Can you imagine if Patrick Henry were alive today and you tried to explain all this to him? I am sure he would find it quite ironic that Congress passed a bill called the Patriot Act that tramples on the very freedoms his generation fought to protect. Now, throw in Eminent Domain, government regulation of private property, and the infringement on the First Amendment regarding religious speech, and I would be willing to wager Mr. Henry would be dusting off his "assault musket" and be pushing for the reissue of the Declaration of Independence.
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