The End of Christian America?

The End of Christian America?

It was a small detail, a point of comparison buried in the fifth paragraph on the 17th page of a 24-page summary of the 2009 American Religious Identification Survey. But as R. Albert Mohler Jr.—president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, one of the largest on earth—read over the document after its release in March, he was struck by a single sentence. For a believer like Mohler—a starched, unflinchingly conservative Christian, steeped in the theology of his particular province of the faith, devoted to producing ministers who will preach the inerrancy of the Bible and the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the only means to eternal life—the central news of the survey was troubling enough: the number of Americans who claim no religious affiliation has nearly doubled since 1990, rising from 8 to 15 percent. Then came the point he could not get out of his mind: while the unaffiliated have historically ...

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Senator Cornyn - Where is President Obama headed?

Update from U.S. Senator John Cornyn
Monday, March 30, 2009

In Washington, Congress continues to focus on President Obama’s proposed budget. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office released an alarming report indicating that the President’s budget will create deficits averaging nearly $1 trillion a year for the next decade, and it would double the national debt in five years and nearly triple it in 10 years.

Not only does this budget spend too much and tax our nation’s hard-working families and small businesses, it borrows far too much from future generations of Texans. I spoke on the Senate floor about the implications of this budget for students. Under the President’s budget, students who start college this year will see their share of the national debt grow from $19,000 per student to more than $36,000 per student after graduation from a four-year program. That is a tremendous burden to place on college graduates as they enter the workforce and begin their careers.

Despite my concerns with the Democrats’ budget and its reckless spending and misguided priorities, I was encouraged that my amendment to bring a little Texas sunshine to Washington unanimously passed the Budget Committee. My measure, based on the successful Texas model, which has led to the elimination of more than 50 agencies and saved Texans more than $700 million, lays the groundwork for the establishment of a Federal Sunset Commission to review federal programs. It will determine their efficiency, and make recommendations on whether they need reform or should be eliminated all together. This bipartisan commission is critical because it will shed light on unnecessary government spending and eliminate ineffective and unnecessary programs.

I was happy to get out of Washington and head back home to Texas this last weekend. Many of the best ideas and solutions I hear stem from the local level – from Texas men and women who are on the front lines dealing with our nation’s challenges every day. I am always encouraged after meeting with Texans, and renewed by what I’ve learned from them as I return to Washington.

Lastly, I wanted to remind you that this month is Red Cross Month. We Texans know firsthand the vital role the Red Cross plays in rebuilding lives and communities disrupted by natural disasters. Whether it’s donating blood or volunteering your time, I encourage everyone to give something back to this crucial organization. More information on what you can do to help is available on the Red Cross website.

For more information on these and other topics, go directly to my Web site. To view floor speeches, interviews and other video messages from me, please visit my YouTube Channel. To receive additional updates, please select the issues that interest you listed on the right. It’s an honor to serve you in the United States Senate.

Sincerely,

U.S. Senator John Cornyn

More News

Sen. Cornyn: Budget Committee Should Have Used Red Ink The Right Way- To Slash Through Reckless Spending - 03/26/2009
Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, today participated in the committee’s markup of the fiscal year 2010 budget. Sen. Cornyn offered several amendments to improve the budget, two of which were aimed at significantly reducing the insurmountable amount of spending and consequential debt the budget would incur. These two amendments were ultimately defeated by Democrat members of the committee. ... [more]

Sunshine On A Cloudy Day: Senate Budget Committee Unanimously Passes Cornyn Measure To Establish Federal Sunset Commission - 03/26/2009
John Cornyn, R-Texas, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, today announced the Senate Budget Committee unanimously passed his amendment to the Fiscal Year 2010 budget that would establish a Federal Sunset Commission, based on the successful Texas model: "With Congressional Democrats poised to pass a budget that spends, taxes, and borrows at historically high levels, passage of my amendment to establish a Federal Sunset Commission is one bit of sunny news on an otherwise cloudy day. Since June 2007, I have been seeking the support of my colleagues in the Senate to establish this commission, based on the successful Texas model. This bipartisan commission would be tasked with reviewing federal programs, determining their efficiency, and making recommendations on whether they need reform or should be eliminated all together. Establishing a Federal Sunset Commission would send a loud and clear message to the American people that Congress is serious about reforming reckless Washington spending habits. As the Democrat-led Congress prepares to pass a budget that will bury future generations in debt, the Federal Sunset Commission is needed more than ever to shed sunlight on wasteful government spending." Sen. Cornyn first introduced the United States Authorization and Sunset Commission Act, S.1731, in June 2007... [more]

Sen. Cornyn Renews Effort To Deliver Veterans Hospital To South Texas - 03/25/2009
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, today re-introduced legislation to build a top-notch VA hospital for veterans in the Rio Grande Valley. Veterans there are currently forced to drive hours and travel up to hundreds of miles for access to inpatient health care, and Sen. Cornyn’s Far South Texas Veterans Medical Center Act of 2009 helps close the gap by authorizing construction of a full VA hospital in Far South Texas to give these veterans more proximate access to inpatient medical care. Sen. Cornyn’s new legislation goes a step farther than his bill from the previous Congress by using stronger language to bring a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital to South Texas... [more]

Sen. Cornyn On President Obama’s Desire To Rename The Global War On Terror? - 03/25/2009
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, made the following statement today regarding the Obama Administration’s plan to rename the "Global War On Terror" the "Overseas Contingency Operation." "President Obama’s desire to re-name the Global War On Terror will not make terrorism any less of a threat to America. Choosing to focus on semantics, instead of a strategy for victory, reveals a lack of seriousness and sends mixed messages to our allies in this fight. Like the Administration’s efforts to re-name terrorist acts as ‘man-caused disasters,’ this change in rhetoric will not change the fact that radical Islamic fundamentalists seek to destroy our way of life and spend every waking moment devising new ways to spread their hate-filled ideology. It is my hope that President Obama would instead see the Global War On Terror for what it truly is – a critical effort to protect Americans and ensure that future generations will be able to live in freedom as well. Many of our military leaders refer to the effort as ‘the Long War,’ recognizing that it will not be won overnight, much like the Cold War took decades to win... [more]

Sen. Cornyn Leads Effort To Advocate For Robust Defense Budget & Critical Equipment For Troops - 03/25/2009
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, today sent a letter along with his Senate colleagues to Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressing serious concerns about the administration’s defense budget for fiscal year 2010 and beyond, which appears to considerably reduce overall defense spending. The administration’s plan could potentially require the cancellation or delay of numerous high-priority weapon systems and may indicate a decreased emphasis on national security as a priority. At a time when our nation is fighting the Global War on Terror on two major fronts overseas, Sen. Cornyn and his colleagues point to major expenses on the horizon for the Defense Department, including a substantial troop increase in Afghanistan and a withdrawal of combat forces from Iraq, and ask for an explanation of how these missions will be paid for since supplemental requests will apparently be significantly reduced. They also warn against embarking on a 1990s-style military "procurement holiday," which could leave our Armed Forces without the necessary tools and capabilities to defend our nation against the full range of potential threats... [more]

Sen. Cornyn: President Obama’s Budget Racks Up Trillions In Debt - 03/24/2009
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, made the following statement in advance of tomorrow’s release of the fiscal year 2010 budget by the Senate Budget Committee. Sen. Cornyn, who will be participating in the Committee’s markup, further outlined concerns he has regarding the President’s budget, including the insurmountable amount of money it borrows and the debt it passes on to future generations, as demonstrated by the Congressional Budget Office’s recent report. "The President’s budget outline represents a series of missed opportunities and misguided priorities, which includes new taxes on hard-working, middle-class families and small businesses. It also proposes new spending at a time when taxpayers are being forced to make tough decisions... [more]

Cornyn Applauds President’s Border Security Announcement As Important First Step To Protect & Secure Texas Border Communities - 03/24/2009
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee’s Immigration, Refugees and Border Security Subcommittee, today issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s announcement to strengthen security measures along the Southwest border and assist the Mexican president in the battle against drug cartels: "I commend President Obama for taking this important first step to strengthen and reinforce important security measures in place to help protect and secure Texas communities along the border. His plan will lend continued assistance to President Calderon who is engaged in a crucial struggle against narcoterrorism and deadly drug cartels intent on using brutal violence to gain power. I have written to President Obama and Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano urging them to give high priority to the issue of border violence. Today’s announcement shows they not only heard my concerns but also understood the urgency needed to address this critical national security issue. "Engaging and assisting our local and state officials must be a fundamental component of any comprehensive border security strategy and I believe the President’s plan is a step in the right direction... [more]
Cornyn: CBO Report Confirms President's Budget Would Bury Future Generations In Insurmountable Debt - 03/20/2009
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, today issued the following statement regarding the release of the Congressional Budget Office’s analysis of the President’s Fiscal Year 2010 budget, which indicates that the President’s plan will raise our national debt to unsustainable levels: "Today’s report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office is further evidence that this Administration needs to get its priorities straight. The report confirms that the President’s budget would double the public debt in five years and nearly triple it in ten years. President Obama’s policies will bury future generations under an insurmountable mountain of debt. President Obama hopes to borrow-and-spend-and-borrow some more our way to prosperity, but this report proves that this not only won’t work, it will make matters worse. Our nation needs leaders that will make the tough choices necessary to severely reduce wasteful Washington spending and reduce deficits... [more]

Sen. Cornyn Invites Homeland Security Chief Napolitano To Visit Texas-Mexico Border - 03/19/2009
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee’s Immigration, Refugees and Border Security Subcommittee, today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. In the letter, he asked her to visit the Texas-Mexico border and meet directly with local Border Patrol, FBI, ATF, law enforcement officials and city leaders to address the escalating levels of drug-related violence along the border. This follows Sen. Cornyn’s recent letter to President Barack Obama, also urging him to visit the border and give high priority to the issue of rising border violence... [more]

Sen. Cornyn: We Need Better Safeguards In Place To Prevent Future Suicides Both Within The Houston Recruiting Battalion And Across Our Armed Forces - 03/18/2009
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, today testified as a witness and then questioned senior military officials and experts during the Senate Armed Services Committee Personnel Subcommittee’s hearing to examine the rising number of suicides among U.S. military service members, including the string of recruiter suicides in the Houston Recruiting Battalion since 2005. Sen. Cornyn also discussed suicide prevention efforts and other related mental health issues, along with additional steps the military can be taking to prevent future suicides within the Houston Recruiting Battalion and our military as a whole. "Combat-related mental health conditions have emerged as a significant health issue for our troops, resulting in an alarming and unacceptable number of suicides... [more]

Sen. Cornyn & Colleagues Lead Health Reform Working Group To Tackle & Brainstorm On Solutions For Our Nation’s Pressing Health Care Challenges - 03/18/2009
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is helping to lead a Senate Republican Health Reform Working Group that meets regularly to discuss the most pressing areas for reform in our nation’s health care system and brainstorms for solutions. Today, the Health Reform Working Group hosted the President and CEO of Safeway Inc., Steven A. Burd, who discussed successful reforms he has implemented at Safeway to improve employee-focused health care options while reducing their out-of-pocket costs. Among these reforms, Burd developed a plan that pays 100% of employees’ preventive care, rewards good behavior and allows employees to take more control of their health care decisions. "Whether insured or uninsured health care costs are rising rapidly, families are foregoing important preventive health care services, and physicians across the state and country are closing their doors because of a broken system... [more]

Sen. Cornyn Statement On Mayor Ron Kirk’s Senate Confirmation As U.S. Trade Representative - 03/18/2009
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, today submitted a statement for the record in support of former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk’s nomination to be the next United States Trade Representative. Kirk was overwhelmingly confirmed by the Senate today in a bipartisan 92-5 vote. Below is the complete statement:... [more]

Sens. Cornyn, Leahy Celebrate Sunshine Week With FOIA Legislation - 03/17/2009
Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., on Tuesday partnered again to introduce legislation to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act, the nation’s foremost federal law that protects the public’s right to know what their government is doing. This week marks the fifth annual Sunshine Week, a national observance of the importance of open government and the freedom of information. The OPEN FOIA Act introduced by Sens. Cornyn and Leahy would require Congress to openly and clearly state its intention to provide for statutory exemptions to FOIA in proposed legislation. The Senate first passed similar legislation unanimously in 2006, and Cornyn and Leahy introduced the bill in the last Congress... [more]

Sen. Cornyn: Budget Taxes All Texans Too Much - 03/17/2009
Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Budget and Finance Committees, made the following comments regarding President Obama’s proposed $3.6 trillion Budget during an appearance on The Joe Pags Show on WOAI radio in San Antonio. "In politics and particularly here in Washington, it’s always important not just to listen to what people say, but it’s especially important to see what they do. And this budget that the President has introduced will raise taxes on everybody. "First of all, there’ll be an energy tax. Some have called it a light switch tax – in other words turning on your lights, your electricity, is going to be a lot more expensive, as will your gasoline and all energy being produced because of this cap-and-trade program, that’s going to allow the federal government to be command and control center for all energy use all across the country, and be a huge source of revenue... [more]
Texas Times Weekly Column

A Bluebonnet By Any Other Name?: Crockett’s compliment, it’s our state flower, the bluebonnet. Every spring, the bluebonnet covers miles of Texas countryside in a sea of blue. As it is always said, in Texas we do things bigger and better. Our state flower is no exception. Having just one state flower, as other states do, was not good enough for the State of Texas. In fact, Texas has five different species of the bluebonnet as our official state flower...

Healing The Invisible Wounds Of War: Every year, thousands of Texans train, deploy, and serve their nation in the Armed Forces. In Texas, our pride in our men and women in uniform runs deep. We value their contribution and we know how critical the sacrifices they make are to our greater good and our national security. It’s no wonder we say "Texas defends America." With more than 1.7 million veterans also calling Texas home, Texas knows better than any other state what military service is all about. There are scores of organizations and individuals across our state who lend their support to military families, returning troops, and veterans. Our medical professionals at VA hospitals and clinics treat our wounded warriors and help them return to service or transition to civilian life...


Note: To read previous Texas Times weekly columns, click here. To receive it in your inbox each week, click here.

Texas Tuesday Coffees

Come By and Say Hello: If you travel to Washington for business or pleasure, please consider visiting my U.S. Senate office. Each Tuesday when the Senate is in session, I host an open house at 9:15 a.m. Please contact my office at 202-224-2934 and ask for the Texas Tuesday Coffee coordinator to let us know you’ll be coming and to get the best directions.

What is the "Weimar Solution"?

"The best way to destroy the capitalist system is to debauch the currency," said Lord Keynes.

Ben Bernanke disagrees. A student of the Depression, the Fed chair appears far more fearful of deflation -- a vicious cycle of falling prices, debt defaults, home foreclosures and rising unemployment.

Deflation is what America underwent in the 1930s. A Fed-created bubble burst, causing margin calls to go out to stockholders, who ran to their banks that, besieged, collapsed, wiping out a third of our money. As Milton Friedman, who won a Nobel for his thesis that the Federal Reserve caused the Great Depression, told PBS in 2000:

"For every $100 in paper money, in deposits, in cash, in currency, in existence in 1929, by the time you got to 1933 there was only about $65, $66 left. And that extraordinary collapse in the banking system, with about a third of the banks failing ... with millions of people having their savings essentially washed out, that decline was utterly unnecessary.

"(T)he Federal Reserve had the power and the knowledge to have stopped that. And there were people at the time who were ... urging them to do that. So it was ... clearly a mistake of policy that led to the Great Depression."

Is Bernanke fighting the war of 1929 in 2009? Surely, today, with the explosion in M1, the basic money supply, there is no shortage of dollars out there, even if they are not circulating fast enough.

To end our recession, Bernanke may be running an even greater risk: hyper-inflation. This has destroyed more nations than deflation or even depression.

Recall: It was French military intervention in the Ruhr in 1923, to force payment of war reparations, and Weimar's decision to let the currency fall and pay the French in cheap marks that led to the wipeout of the German middle class, the discrediting of that democratic republic and the Munich beer-hall putsch of Adolf Hitler.

"The first panacea for a mismanaged nation," said Ernest Hemingway, "is inflation of the currency; the second is war. Both bring a temporary prosperity; both bring a permanent ruin. But both are the refuge of political and economic opportunists."

Which brings us to last week's shocker.

The Fed will buy up $300 billion in long-term Treasury bonds and spend $750 billion more buying sub-prime mortgages to remove them from the balance sheets of ailing big banks, to get the banks lending again.

Bernanke is printing money to buy U.S. bonds.

This new gusher from the Fed, after the $700 billion TARP bailout, comes on top of a Congressional Budget Office estimate that this year's deficit will be $1.85 trillion, 13.1 percent of gross domestic product, more than twice the share of the U.S. economy of the largest previous postwar deficit.

Concluding the dollar is being abandoned in a frantic Fed effort to stop the recession, markets reacted instantly. The dollar plunge was the steepest since the Plaza Agreement of 1985. Gold shot up to $950 an ounce. Silver had a 12 percent run-up, the sharpest ever. Oil prices surged above $50 a barrel. Commodity markets advanced.

The Fed seems to have confirmed the fears of Premier Wen Jiabao, who said that China is "definitely a little worried" about the value of the U.S. bonds Beijing has purchased with the dollars piled up from her trade surpluses with the United States.

Can one blame the Chinese? They have already been burned on their U.S. investments. And if the defense of the dollar against its ancient enemy inflation is being abandoned, and protecting the dollar is to take a back seat to the Fed's fight to avoid deflation, than it is indeed time to get out of the dollar and dollar-denominated assets.

For inflation is theft. It make liars and cheats of governments. By eroding the value of a currency, inflation punishes savers and creditors and rewards debtors. And what nation is the biggest debtor of them all? The United States of America.

Insidiously, inflation consumes the value of cash, savings, municipal bonds, corporate bonds, Treasury bonds and T-bills. Friends who lent America money, who bought our debt in good faith, are robbed and made fools of, while speculators who bet against America by shorting the dollar in the currency markets are vastly rewarded.

Given the $3.6 trillion budget Obama plans, the $1.8 trillion in red ink he will run by Oct. 1 and the trillions the Fed is pumping into the economy, gross domestic product should spike, as it did after the far smaller stimulus package of 2008

We will feel a healthy glow, and folks will begin to sing, "Happy Days Are Here Again."

Yet, one senses that we are doing again exactly what we have done before in this generation. Rather than endure the pain and accept the sacrifices to cure us of our addiction, we are going back to the heroin. And this time, with Dr. Bernanke handling the needle, we may just overdose. ( http://bit.ly/B7Lka)

Info on Diabetes - Living With High Blood Sugar (Part I)

What is High Blood Sugar (a/k/a "hperglycemia")?

Hyperglycemia is a condition when blood glucose levels become very high.

Insulin helps to ease the transportation of glucose through the body. When insulin levels are low, glucose transportation becomes less efficient and the result is higher levels of glucose in your blood.

Blood glucose levels are measured in either milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or Millimoles per liter (mmol/L). Measuring by milligrams per deciliter is the standard measure in most countries, including the United States of America, Japan, Colombia, Egypt and many others.

Most scientific journals now use mmol/L as the primary unit for measurement of blood sugar levels but they also quote mg/dl in brackets.

Blood glucose levels vary between individuals.

The normal range of glucose levels for adults is 80 to 120 mg/dL or 4 to 7 mmol/L when fasting.

If your blood sugar level consistently records above 126 mg/dL or 7 mmol/L, you probably have hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia is said to be in place when the patient’s blood glucose levels are 180 mg/dL.

But you may not notice the hyperglycemia symptoms until blood glucose levels are in the range of 270-360 mg/dL.

Hyperglycemia is common in diabetic people due to low levels of insulin in their bodies. Diabetic people might register chronic hyperglycemia even when in a fasting state.

Hyperglycemia in diabetic people may be either of two types; fasting hyperglycemia or postprandial hyperglycemia.

If your blood sugar is more than 130 mg/dL after fasting for at least 8 hours, it is referred to as fasting hyperglycemia.

Postprandial hyperglycemia does not normally cause your blood sugar to exceed 140 mg/dL after meals except in rare cases which usually involve a particularly heavy meal. If your postprandial hyperglycemia is consistently high, it could indicate the onset of Type II diabetes.

Hyperglycemia in non-diabetic people is primarily due to eating disorders, high stress levels, medications and lack of regular physical exercise.

If you consume too many calories from simple and complex carbohydrates at a single meal, your blood sugar levels may increase.

Certain medications, like corticosteroids, antipsychotic agents, beta-blockers, protease inhibitors, pentamidine, L-asparaginase, thiazide diuretics and niacin can disrupt blood sugar levels.

If your stress levels are very high, you might develop hyperglycemia. When your body is stressed, endogenous catecholamines are released. These tend to increase blood sugar levels.

Physical stress, caused by ailments like flu, colds or other illnesses may start to make your blood sugar levels to increase.

Mental stress, like misunderstandings and emotional upsets at home, school, workplace or between partners may be a factor when blood sugar levels increase.
Common symptoms of hyperglycemia include:

-frequent hunger
-poor healing of wounds
-excessive thirst
-repeated urination
-fatigue
-blurred vision
-excessive weight gain
-regular vaginal infection
-impotence in men
-dry mouth
-drying up of your skin
-groin rash
-itchy skin
-chronic constipation or diarrhea, etc.

If your hyperglycemia condition deteriorates, you could develop other complaints which might include:

-ketoacidosis
-dehydration due to osmotic diuresis (increased urination)
-glycosuria (an excess of sugar in the urine)
-extreme thirst or hunger
-lowered consciousness, and
-an increase in anxiety levels.

www.Click here for more information.

Introduction to Evangelism - Reaching the world for Christ one "tweet" at a time using Twitter

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Introduction to Evangelism - Reaching the world for Christ one "tweet" at a time using Twitter

View more presentations from Tom Rhudy. (tags: introduction to)

Introduction to Evangelism - Reaching the world for Christ one "tweet" at a time using Twitter

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Introduction to Evangelism - Reaching the world for Christ one "tweet" at a time using Twitter

View more presentations from Tom Rhudy. (tags: introduction to)

Introduction to Evangelism - Reaching the World for Christ One "Tweet" at a Time - Twitter

Introduction to Evangelism - Using Twitter to Reach the World

If you are a Christian, and are open to learning a new way to reach people, you will greatly enjoy this e Book. I would argue that Jesus Christ was the greatest networker in history. I truly believe that if he were walking the earth today, he would include the Internet in his plans to share his message of redemption. As Christians, we tend to be the last group of individuals to take advantage of new technologies. While the Internet is certainly used for evil purposes, it can also be used for good. Just as believers use the technology of radio and television to share our faith, we should consider the Internet the newest and most powerful means to deliver our message.

A few short months ago, I had not even heard of Twitter. Furthermore, upon hearing of it, I didn’t like the name, assuming that those who participated in such nonsense were undoubtedly twits!

It finally dawned on me that Twitter, if utilized properly, could me a marvelous medium by which to share the love of Christ with people around the World!

Please join me in sharing Christ with the World one “Tweet” at a time.

Social Networking? You may be saying to yourself, “I don't get Social Networking. I know it is surging in popularity, especially with young people, but should I pay attention to it?”
J.A. Barnes coined the term “Social Networking” to describe patterns of relationships within society in 1954. Social networks have subsequently been used by sociologists and social psychologists to study ways in which society functions and interacts.

Anthropologist Robin Dunbar theorized that in order for a social structure to remain cohesive and active it must maintain at least 150 members. Today, Social Networking websites have emerged to tighten this relationship and further develop a web of social ties.

The number of members of Social Networking websites today far exceed Dunbar's 150. Myspace alone, for example, has 168,112,249 members with more joining every day.

I urge you – don’t pass up this opportunity to reach the world for Christ! The secular-world is employing this phenomenon to its great benefit. Why not the Church?

Too often, we Christians conclude that we need to avoid, like the plague, any practice with which we are either unfamiliar or uncomfortable. Where would be today if our Church Fathers refused to do that which they found uncomfortable?

As Christians, we often feel a burning-desire within us to do something to reach the world with the blessed hope that is within us. However, we frequently struggle, thinking, “What can I, a single individual, do to reach those to whom I’ve been called? Furthermore, to whom am I called?”

I contend that one of the most phenomenal opportunities to do just that has come about! That opportunity is Social Networking. The most popular and fastest-growing social networking sites in the world is Twitter!

Click here to learn how to reach the world for Christ one "tweet" at a time, using Twitter. This is truly your Introduction to Evangelism. Let's reach the world!

Is the Second Amendment Under Attack?

Are "They" Coming For Our Guns & Ammo?

Blair Holt Firearm Licensing & Record of Sale Act 2-16-9

Bill HR 45 as introduced into the House.

Blair Holt Firearm Licensing & Record of
Sale Act of 2009.

Email received

We just learned yesterday about this on the Peter Boyles radio program.

Even gun shop owners didn't know about this because it is flying under the radar.

To find out about this - go to any government website and type in HR 45 or Google HR 45 Blair Holt Firearm Licensing & Record of Sales Act of 2009. You will get all the
information.

Basically this [Bill] would make it illegal to own a firearm - any rifle with a clip or ANY pistol unless:

·It is registered
·You are fingerprinted
·You supply a current Driver's License
·You supply your Social Security #
·You will submit to a physical & mental evaluation at any time of their choosing
·Each update - change or ownership through private or public sale must be reported ·Each registration costs $25 -

Failure to [register -]you automatically lose the right to own a firearm and are
subject up to a year in jail.

N.B.

There is a child provision clause on page 16, Section 305 identifing a child-access provision (i.e., the gun must be locked and inaccessible to any child under 18).

They would have the right to come and inspect that you are storing your gun safely away from accessibility to children and fine is punishable for up to 5 yrs. in prison.

If you think this is a joke - go to the website and take your pick of many options to read this. It is long and lengthy. But, more and more people are becoming aware of this.

Peter Boyles is on this and having guests Listen to him on K.H.O.W. 6:30 a.m. in the morning. He suggests the best way to fight this is to tell all your friends about it and "spring into action". Also he suggests we all join a pro-gun group like the Colorado Rifle Association, hunting associations, gun clubs and especially the NRA.

This is just a "termite" approach to complete confiscation of guns and disarming of our society to the point we have no defense - chip away a little here and there
until the goal is accompli shed before anyone realizes it.

This is one to act on whether you own a gun or not.

If you take my gun, only the criminal will have one to use against me. HR 4520only makes me/us less safe.

After working with convicts for 26 years I know this bill, if passed,would make them happy and in less danger from their victims

What is a "friend"?

Customarily, I dislike emails that are merely forwarded to me, with no personal note from the one who sent it. However, the following email that I received is truly an exception.

Email received

One day, when I was a freshman in high school,

I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school.

His name was Kyle.

It looked like he was carrying all of his books.

I thought to myself, 'Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday?

He must really be a nerd.'

I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.

As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running towa rd him.

They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt.

His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him.

He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes

My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye.

As I handed him his glasses, I said, 'Those guys are jerks.
'

They really should get lives.

' He looked at me and said, 'Hey thanks!'

The re was a big smile on his face.

It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.

I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.

As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before.

He said he had gone to private school before now.

I would have never hung out with a private school kid before.

We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books.

He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.

I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends

He said yes...

We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him.

Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again.

I stopped him and said, 'Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!

' He just laughed and handed me half the books.

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends...

When we were seniors we began to think about college.

Kyle decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke.

I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem.

He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on a football scholarship.

Kyle was valedictorian of our class.

I teased him all the time about being a nerd.

He had to prepare a speech for graduation.

I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak

Graduation day, I saw Kyle.

He looked great.

He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school.

He filled out and actually looked good in glasses.

He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him.

Boy, sometimes I was jealous! Today was one of those days.

I could see that he was nervous about his speech.

So, I smacked him on the back and said, 'Hey, big guy, you'll be great!'

He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled.

' Thanks,' he said.

As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began

'Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years.

Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach....but mostly your friends...

I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is th e best gift you can give them.

I am going to tell you a story.'

I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met.

He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.

He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home.

He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.

'Thankfully, I was saved.

My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable.'

I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment.

I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile.

Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.

Never underestimate the power of your actions.

With one small gesture you can change a person's life.

For better or for worse.

God puts us all in each others lives to impact one another in some way.

Look for God in others.

You now have two choices, you can:

1) Pass this on to your friends or

2) Delete it and act like it didn't touch your heart.

As you can see, I took choice number 1.

Are we friends? The likelihood is good that I don't even know you and may never meet you. However, I cared enough about you, yes you, to take the time to share this with you! What will you do for those you do know?

'Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly...'

There is no beginning or end.. Yesterday is history.

Tomorrow is a mystery.

Today is a gift.

When do we get "the rest of the story"?

The world recently lost a tremendous gift. Paul Harvey was always such a reassuring voice of sanity in this "salad-tossed" environment in which most of us live out our lives. He will certainly be missed. May God comfort those in his immdiate family.

When I received an email from one of my sisters recently, I could not help but think that Paul Harvey would have fleshed-out the rest of the story that Amerca's mainstream media shamefully hides from us.

The email follows. Judge for yourselves.

Email received

INTERESTING READING!!!!! Too bad we in USA don't get the big picture on the news.........

What do you bet that when our troops all get sent home that our new President is going to take all the credit???? Ready for a shock?

Below is an article from the London Times about our military. Interesting, isn't it?

Our media coverage is shameful!

Winning Isn't News!!

INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY

( Iraq: What would happen if the U.S. Won a war but the media didn't tell the American public? Apparently, we have to rely on a British newspaper for the news that we've defeated the last remnants of al-Qaida in Iraq.

London's Sunday Times called it 'the culmination of one of the most spectacular victories of the war on terror.' A terrorist force that once numbered more than 12,000, with strongholds in the west and central regions of Iraq, has in over two years been reduced to a mere 1,200 fighters, backed against the wall in the northern city of Mosul ..The destruction of al-Qaida in Iraq (AQI) is one of the most unlikely and unforeseen events in the long history of American warfare.

We can thank President Bush's surge-strategy, in which he bucked both Republican and Democratic leaders in Washington by increasing our forces there instead of surrendering.

We can also thank the leadership of the new general he placed in charge there, David Petraeus, who may be the foremost expert in the world on counter-insurgency warfare.

And we can thank those serving in our military in Iraq who engaged local Iraqi tribal leaders and convinced them America was their friend and AQI their enemy.

Al-Qaida's loss of the hearts and minds of ordinary Iraqis began in Anbar Province, which had been written off as a basket case, and spread out from there. Now, in Operation Lion's Roar the Iraqi army and the U.S. 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment are destroying the factions of terrorists who are left. More than 1,000AQI operatives have already been apprehended.

Sunday Times ( London ) reporter Marie Colvin, traveling with Iraqi forces in Mosul , found! Little AQI presence even in bullet-ridden residential areas that were once insurgency strongholds, and reported that the terrorists have lost control of its Mosul urban base, with what is left of the organization having fled south into the countryside.

Meanwhile, the State Department reports that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government has achieved 'satisfactory' progress on 15 of the 18 political benchmarks 'a big change for the better from a year ago.'

Things are going so well that Maliki has even for the first time floated the idea of a timetable for withdrawal of American forces. He did so while visiting the United Arab Emirates , which over the weekend announced that it was forgiving almost $7 billion of debt owed by Baghdad, an impressive vote of confidence from a fellow Arab state in thefuture of a free Iraq .

But where are the headlines and the front-page stories about all this good news? As the Media Research Center pointed out last week, 'the CBS Evening News,NBC Nightly News and CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 were silent Tuesday night about the benchmarks 'that signaled political progress.'

The war in Iraq has been turned around 180 degrees both militarily and politically because President Bush stuck to his guns. Yet apart from IBD, Fox News Channel and parts of the foreign press, the media don't seem to consider this historic event a big story.

Copyright 2008 Investor's Business Daily. All Rights Reserved.

Addendum: The reason you haven't seen this on American television or read about it in the American press is simple--journalism is 'dead' in this country.

They are controlled by Liberal Democrats who would rather see our troops defeated than recognize a successful Republican initiated response to 9/11. Media probably were holding 'til after coronation of BHO in order to give him credit.

God bless our troops, God bless President Bush and God bless the U.S.A.

How would pronounce "Le-a"?

ONE NATION UNDER GOD
WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
ONE NATION UNDER GOD
WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL

This is an email I received from my good friend Chuck:

OK. Everyone's mother has told them not to laugh at people's ignorance (or much of anything else, if I recall correctly); but this is so funny I couldn't resist, and you might learn something from reading it as well.

A mother in Louisiana Is furious that Teachers cannot pronounce her daughter's name correctly.

How would you pronounce this child's name: "Le-a"?

Leah?? NO

Lee - A?? NOPE

Lay - a?? NO

Lei?? Guess Again.

This child attends a school in Livingston Parish, La. Her mother is irate because everyone is getting her name wrong. It's pronounced "Ledasha".

When the Mother was asked about the pronunciation of the name, she said, "The dash don't be silent."

SO, if you see something come across your desk like this please remember to pronounce the dash.

If they axe you why, tell them, "The dash don't be silent."

What is the "Fairness Doctrine"?

What exactly is the "Fairness Doctrine," anyway?

Are you one of those people who says, "What Fairness Doctrine?" See if the following sounds like you:

I'll be honest, I'd never even heard of the Fairness Doctrine until I read this question.

Many feel as though the term "fairness" doctrine is a misnomer. They would assert that "censorship" is a more appropriate term. Irrespective of how you may feel about those media-outlets that would inevitably be affected by this doctrine, it is nothing short of an abridgement to freedom of speech.

In response to my request that Sen. Cornyn voice my concerns regarding the proposed "Fairness Doctrine," Sen. Cornyn responded as follows:

Thank you for contacting me regarding efforts to reinstate the "fairness doctrine." I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this matter.

Given the proliferation of media outlets today, consumers now have greater access to a broad range of information and discussions of contrasting points of view on issues of public importance than they did in the mid-20th century when the fairness doctrine was first adopted. If reinstated, the "fairness doctrine" would be a direct assault on the First Amendment, one of our nation’s most cherished freedoms.

As such, the Broadcasters Freedom Act, which I am proud to cosponsor, was introduced in the Senate on January 6, 2009. This legislation would prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from using funds to impose the "fairness doctrine" on America’s broadcasters. A basic principle of our democracy is a press that is free of government influence or control. The federal government should not dictate to Texans or the rest of the Country what can be said on the airwaves. The Broadcaster's Freedom Act will ensure that all ideas can be expressed openly and freely on our nation’s airwaves.

I appreciate having the opportunity to represent Texans in the United States Senate, and you may be certain that I will keep your views in mind should relevant legislation be considered during the 111th Congress. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.

Sincerely,

JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator

Should the "Fairness Doctrine" be reinstated? Interest in reviving this Doctrine emanated principally Congressional-Democrats, the principal purpose of which, unequivocally, is to silence conservative talkshow hosts across the nation. It is a power-play to obtain a grip on the media and create a stranle-hold on the free exchange of ideas.

Is the Doctrine "a direct assault on the First Amendment, one of our nation’s most cherished freedoms"?

If nothing else, find out what it means to you. We are in desperate need of an informed-citizenry.

Irrespective of your position on the doctrine, I merely ask that it be "informed," not one you gleaned from MTV or some late-night talk show!

January 21

Subject: January 21

Yeasterday:
1. Outgoing President George W. Bush quietly boards his helicopter and leaves for Texas , commenting only: "Today is not about me. Today is a historical day for our nation and people."

Eight years ago yesterday:
1. Outgoing President Bill Clinton schedules two separate radio addresses to the nation, and organizes a public farewell speech/ rally in downtown Washington D.C. scheduled to directly conflict with incoming President Bush' s inauguration ceremony.


Yesterday:
2. President B ush leaves office without issuing a single Presidential pardon, only granting a commutation of sentence to two former border patrol agents convicted of shooting a convicted drug smuggler. He does not grant any type of clemency to Scooter Libby or any other former political aide, ally, or business partner.


Eight years ago yesterday:
2. President Clinton issues 140 pardons and several commutations of sentence on his final day in office.

Included in these are: billionaire financier, convicted tax evader, and leading Democratic campaign contributor Marc Rich; Whitewater scandal figure Susan McDougal; Congressional Post Office Scandal figure and former Democratic Congressman Dan Rostenkowski; convicted bank fraud, sexual assault and child porn perpetrator and former Democratic Congressman Melvin Reynolds; and convicted drug felon Roger Clinton, the President's half-brother.


Yesterday:
3. The Bush daughters leave gift baskets in the White House bedrooms for the Obama daughters, containing flowers, candy, stuffed animals, DVD's and CD's, and heartfelt notes of encouragement and advice for the young girls on how to prepare for their new lives in the White House.


Eight year s ago Yesterday:
3 .. Clinton and Gore staffers rip computer wires and electrical outlets from the White House walls, stuff piles of notebook papers into the White House toilets, systematically remove the letter "W" from every computer key-pad in the entire White House, and damage several thousand dollars worth of furniture in the White House master bedroom.


Headlines On This Date 4 Years Ago:
"Republicans spending $42 million on inauguration while troops Die in unarmored Humvees"

"Bush extravagance exceeds any reason during tough economic times"

"Fat cats get their $42 million inauguration party, Ordinary Americans get the shaft"


Headlines Today:
"Historic Obama Inauguration will cost only $170 million"

"Obama Spends $170 million on inauguration; America Needs A Big Party"

"Everyman Obama shows America how to celebrate"

"Citibank executives contribute $8 million to Obama Inauguration"


----------Send this to anyone you suspect might not know what a class act looks like.