Pray for our president to have wisdom from God. His decisions are likely to result in America being cursed if you believe the Bible's words: "May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed. " (Genesis 27:29).
from: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1241719494789&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Arctic winds are blowing into Jerusalem from Washington these days. As Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's May 18 visit to Washington fast approaches, the Obama administration is ratcheting up its anti-Israel rhetoric and working feverishly to force Israel into a corner.
Using the annual AIPAC conference as a backdrop, this week the Obama administration launched its harshest onslaught against Israel to date. It began with media reports that National Security Adviser James Jones told a European foreign minister that the US is planning to build an anti-Israel coalition with the Arabs and Europe to compel Israel to surrender Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem to the Palestinians.
According to Haaretz, Jones was quoted in a classified foreign ministry cable as having told his European interlocutor, "The new administration will convince Israel to compromise on the Palestinian question. We will not push Israel under the wheels of a bus, but we will be more forceful toward Israel than we have been under Bush."
Showing posts with label Bush. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bush. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Have we as Americans really forgotten the Moral Issues because of the Economic threat?
from: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/26/pub-obamas-social-policy-shift/
From the conscience clause to stem cell research, President Obama has shifted social policy to the left in his first 100 days in the White House. But the reversal of several of his predecessor's regulations has garnered hardly a whimper -- leaving many to wonder how much social issues matter to Americans amid two wars and an economic crisis.
-- Obama overturned George W. Bush's restriction on embryonic stem cell research last month when he signed an executive order authorizing expanded federal funding -- a decision he described as moral because it pursues research that will "ease human suffering."
-- Obama has proposed reversing additions to the "conscience clause" enacted by the Bush administration that allow physicians and other health care providers to refuse to provide medical services that conflict with their faith or conscience.
-- On Feb. 25, Attorney General Eric Holder said the Obama administration will reinstate the federal ban on assault weapons and impose additional restrictions.
-- And although Obama has said he opposes gay marriage, he has made clear that he supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples.
"It's cultural aggression," former Bush adviser Karl Rove told FOXNews.com, adding that policy changes that "inject government" into moral matters -- like the conscience clause -- will have "enormous consequences."
But conservatives like Rove acknowledge that little attention has been given to Obama's agenda shift since he took office -- largely because lawmakers are more concerned with the economic downturn and national security.
"They're not getting attention because the defenders of these policies haven't grabbed the stage," Rove said.
Sen. Kit Bond of Missouri, the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said matters of national and international security -- like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and North Korea's recent missile launch -- have taken precedence in the first 100 days.
"That trumps the social issues," Bond told FOXNews.com.
The financial crisis, which mushroomed one month before Obama won election in November, determined the government's chief focus, lawmakers say.
"The focus of the president's first 100 days has been the economy and getting it turned around," said Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. "As a result, people are more focused on the pocketbook issues at the moment".
Sad as it is, I think, to a certain extent, this is correct; many Americans no longer care about these moral issues. In the hierarchy of needs, money and war trump moral issues in the minds of many of our friends and neighbors. What I am seeing as a pastor is that many people who once went to church semi-regularly and kind of half-heartedly followed the Christian crowd are dropping out like crazy. It's no longer the "in thing" to do to be a Christian. But, what this exodus leaves is a totally on-fire, uncompromising, dedicated bunch who are determined to love as Christ loved and be a sub-culture to themselves.
From the conscience clause to stem cell research, President Obama has shifted social policy to the left in his first 100 days in the White House. But the reversal of several of his predecessor's regulations has garnered hardly a whimper -- leaving many to wonder how much social issues matter to Americans amid two wars and an economic crisis.
-- Obama overturned George W. Bush's restriction on embryonic stem cell research last month when he signed an executive order authorizing expanded federal funding -- a decision he described as moral because it pursues research that will "ease human suffering."
-- Obama has proposed reversing additions to the "conscience clause" enacted by the Bush administration that allow physicians and other health care providers to refuse to provide medical services that conflict with their faith or conscience.
-- On Feb. 25, Attorney General Eric Holder said the Obama administration will reinstate the federal ban on assault weapons and impose additional restrictions.
-- And although Obama has said he opposes gay marriage, he has made clear that he supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples.
"It's cultural aggression," former Bush adviser Karl Rove told FOXNews.com, adding that policy changes that "inject government" into moral matters -- like the conscience clause -- will have "enormous consequences."
But conservatives like Rove acknowledge that little attention has been given to Obama's agenda shift since he took office -- largely because lawmakers are more concerned with the economic downturn and national security.
"They're not getting attention because the defenders of these policies haven't grabbed the stage," Rove said.
Sen. Kit Bond of Missouri, the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said matters of national and international security -- like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and North Korea's recent missile launch -- have taken precedence in the first 100 days.
"That trumps the social issues," Bond told FOXNews.com.
The financial crisis, which mushroomed one month before Obama won election in November, determined the government's chief focus, lawmakers say.
"The focus of the president's first 100 days has been the economy and getting it turned around," said Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. "As a result, people are more focused on the pocketbook issues at the moment".
Sad as it is, I think, to a certain extent, this is correct; many Americans no longer care about these moral issues. In the hierarchy of needs, money and war trump moral issues in the minds of many of our friends and neighbors. What I am seeing as a pastor is that many people who once went to church semi-regularly and kind of half-heartedly followed the Christian crowd are dropping out like crazy. It's no longer the "in thing" to do to be a Christian. But, what this exodus leaves is a totally on-fire, uncompromising, dedicated bunch who are determined to love as Christ loved and be a sub-culture to themselves.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Embryonic Stem Cell Research: a question of worldview
from: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/09/obama-lift-restrictions-stem-cell-research-funding/
President Obama on Monday signed an order to lift restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, a move he said rejects the "false choice" between science and morality.
The order would not fund the creation of new stem cell lines, but would allow federally funded scientists to conduct research on existing embryonic stem cells that under the Bush administration were off limits.
Obama said the full promise of such research "remains unknown" but that it should be explored because of the potential for scientists to find better treatments for ailments ranging from diabetes to Parkinson's disease to cancer.
"That potential will not reveal itself on its own. Medical miracles do not happen simply by accident. They result from painstaking and costly research," Obama said.
I adamently disagree with President Obama on embryonic stem-cell research. We disagree because I presume he and I have very different worldviews--ways in which we view reality around us. I come at reality believing that the Bible is the inerrant word of the God who created all reality. And this God says in the Bible that He knew us before we were ever conceived. So, to kill an embryo, even for the sake of research, is to kill someone for whom God had purposes and plans. So, to a Christian, this is not a false choice between science and morality. In a Biblical worldview, the ends never justify the means. Jesus said, "Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness"--in other words what has God's approval--"and all these things will be given to you as well."
President Obama on Monday signed an order to lift restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, a move he said rejects the "false choice" between science and morality.
The order would not fund the creation of new stem cell lines, but would allow federally funded scientists to conduct research on existing embryonic stem cells that under the Bush administration were off limits.
Obama said the full promise of such research "remains unknown" but that it should be explored because of the potential for scientists to find better treatments for ailments ranging from diabetes to Parkinson's disease to cancer.
"That potential will not reveal itself on its own. Medical miracles do not happen simply by accident. They result from painstaking and costly research," Obama said.
I adamently disagree with President Obama on embryonic stem-cell research. We disagree because I presume he and I have very different worldviews--ways in which we view reality around us. I come at reality believing that the Bible is the inerrant word of the God who created all reality. And this God says in the Bible that He knew us before we were ever conceived. So, to kill an embryo, even for the sake of research, is to kill someone for whom God had purposes and plans. So, to a Christian, this is not a false choice between science and morality. In a Biblical worldview, the ends never justify the means. Jesus said, "Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness"--in other words what has God's approval--"and all these things will be given to you as well."
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