One Nation under God

A NATION AT WAR

2011-03-26T18:38:00.001-05:00

There is one war which a nation must win. It is the war that is fought within its borders. It is a war which is waged in every generation, for the enemy never lies dormant, but raises its head as if alive though dead. The strength of our nation lies not in the battles fought in other nations, but in our own. Even the two world wars were not seen in the victory over other nations, but how we built our nation after they were over. We forgot that we are one nation under God, a republic which we pledged our allegiance, and were led astray by those who believed that man alone was the strength of a nation, i.e. socialism of the Marxist kind. Thus weakened we entered into two wars, Korean and Vietnam, and caved in to their foolish voices. Now we find ourselves in two wars and a possible one on the horizon; while weakening ourselves at home. Calling ourselves a ‘democracy’ we cry out that our aim is that they too will become a ‘democracy.’ We are being fooled if we believe that these nations will not define ‘democracy’ to further their Muslim beliefs according to their Koran. Our victory lies not in these nations, or any other nation for that matter. We have forgotten that our strength or weakness as a nation will be a blessing or a prohibition to other nations.
There is a three-legged stool upon which our nation can prosper. It is three-legged because it takes a good measure of work to maintain the balance, the balance between Law, Limits, and Leadership. God’s Moral Law is the foundation of our nation. It is what makes strong our Constitution and Bill of Rights; for it strengthens its weakest parts, and gives guts to its best parts. On July 4, 1799 Abiel Abbot delivered a discourse “being the twenty-third Anniversary of American Independence” containing these words (which contain a quote from George Washington): “Our rights and liberties derive a greater and higher support and security from the constitution of the United States. By the union which is formed between the several states, each state participates the power and privileges of all the others; and thus an energy is given to the separate parts, as well as the combined whole of this great republic. The federal government is as truly the government of our own formation, as those of this or any other state in the union. It was framed and adopted by ‘the people of the United States in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to themselves and their posterity.’ These patriotic and glorious designs have been effective in a degree beyond the calculation of its most sanguine admirers. …Nothing is wanted in the forms of our government to make us a great and happy nation, ‘If we,’ says our worthy President, ‘compare the constitutions of other nations with those of the United States of America, we shall have no reason to blush for our country; on the contrary, we shall feel the strongest motives to fall upon our knees, in gratitude to heaven, for having been graciously pleased to give us birth and education in that country, and for having destined us to live under her laws’” (Passing the Torch of Liberty to a New Generation). God’s Moral Law (i.e. the Ten Commandments) nurtures our Constitutions and various laws, which must be obedient to the truth and righteousness that our Creator has revealed to us in His most Holy Scriptures. “It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible” (George Washington).
We call the second leg of our proverbial stool, “Limits.” The Constitution of the United States of America begins with these words, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union.” We are a “UNION” of States, willingly gathered together, “provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity” (so the Constitution was established). The preservation and maintenance of this Republic is placed in the hands of elected officials, which find its strength in its threefold nature called “a balance of power.” This balance of power must be maintained in these three areas, Legislature (Congress, consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives), Executive (the President), and Judicial (the Supreme Court and such inferior courts that Congress may establish). Each State establishes a balance of power. Not only must each “Power” or authority, must not tread upon each other, but those recalcitrant’s (i.e., lobbyists incl. Unions) are not legitimate influences upon which our elected officials may act. This ‘Leg’ is hardest to maintain because of the sin of greed, etc. George Washington said, “A government is like a fire, a handy servant, but a dangerous master.”
This is where the third leg comes in, “Leadership.” The Constitution was put before the Congress in Convention on September 17, 1787. The “Congress, together with the President, should, without Delay, proceed to execute the Constitution. Thomas Jefferson (1798) wrote, “In question of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.” Leaders are to execute their responsibility to the office they were elected, both in Congress and in the various States. Their leadership should not bring burdens upon the people they represent. Their leadership should encourage the people to build their persons and homes that will be a blessing to the nation. Leadership which believes that they have been elected to run the lives of the people is but small tyrants hoping to be bigger ones. Leadership preserves the liberty for the people, which is as strong a battle today as it was in the time of Patrick Henry, who said, “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains or slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take but as for me; give me liberty or give me death.” Patrick’s war was to preserve a nation from a power beyond its shores. Now we have a war to preserve our nation from within, those who would destroy a Constitutional Republic, one Union under God, taking away our liberty in establishing a socialistic republic. Liberty is the foundation upon which we practice our freedom. Those who desire to take away our freedoms have stepped off that rock of liberty to stand upon the sand of their own self-aggrandizement.
Leadership, at the time of our Revolution, was not only heard but seen. Here is a “Scene At Valley Forge” (The Christian Life and Character, B. J. Morris): “One of the most hopeful and inspiring scenes of the Revolution was to see this great hero, with the interests of a nation on his soul, retire for prayer unto God in whom he trusted. The winter at Valley Forge witnessed the retirement of Washington daily to some secluded glen in the surrounding forest for prayer. Thought gloom covered his desponding country and army, yet ‘a cloud of doubt seldom darkened the serene atmosphere of his hopes. He knew that the cause was just and holy, and his faith and confidence in God, as a defender and helper of right, steady in their ministrations of divine vigor to his soul.’
“While the American army was at Valley Forge, Isaac Potts strolled up a creek that ran through his farm, and walking quietly through the woods, he heard the tones of a solemn voice, and, looking round, saw Washington’s horse tied to a sapling. In as thicket nearby was Washington, on his knees, in earnest prayer. Like Moses, Mr. Potts felt he was on holy ground, and retired unobserved. He returned home, and, on entering the room of his wife, burst into tears, and informed her what he had seen and heard, and exclaimed, ‘if there is any one on earth whom the Lord will hearken to, it is George Washington; and I feel a presentiment that under such a commander there can be no doubt of our eventually establishing our independence, and that God in his providence has willed it so.’
“Oh, who shall know the might / Of the words he utter’d there? / The fate of nations there was turn’d / By the fervor of his prayer. / But wouldst thou know his name / Who wonder’d there alone? / Go read enroll’d in Heaven’s archives / The prayer of Washington.” –Chester
What will you look for, and pray for, in those who claim to serve their country?
Robert L. La May, March 2011

Truth poduces Understanding

2010-03-20T09:08:00.002-05:00

Understanding comes from the knowledge of truth, or what is true. Truth in its fulness proceeds from the very mouth of God. The Psalmist, therefore, can claim, "I have more understanding (intelligence, discernment) than all my teachers for Thy testimonies are my meditation" (Ps 119:99). Hatred for the lies which seek our loyalty come from our love for the truth: "Through Thy precepts I get understanding. Therefore I hate every false way" (Ps 119:104).

George Washington understood this: "I am sure, the mass of citizens in these United States mean well; and I firmly believe they will always act well, whenever they can obtain a right understanding of matters."

"Good civil leaders should have not only excellent character but also knowledge of the truth, especially in reguard to public affairs and government philosophy. The founders believed that they should biew all of life from a biblical perspectibe; that is, they should have a biblical worldview. How one thinks determines how one acts. A leader will govern based upon his presuppositions of law, government, economics, liberty, and life. If these presuppositions are rooted in relativism, humanism, secularism, statism, or positivism, the fruit will not be life, liberty, prosperity, or virtue. If they are rooted in true religion and morality, according to Washington, the fruit will be personal and political freedom and prosperity." -S. McDowell, Aposlte of Liberty.

Global Warning

2009-12-01T07:48:00.004-06:00

The road to Tyranny is a but a dip in the proverbial boiling pot. The 'pot warmers' believe that if they can get people (frogs to them) to feel warm about what they are up to, the people will not believe that they are being boiled (i.e., foiled). Global Warming, Global Economics (banking, etc), Global Abortion, Global Climate Control, are but means of taking power out of the hands of the Creator, making the people believe that they are able to redeem them from the horrors (which they themselves have created) of this world. In other words, they see the people as ignorant 'frogs', incapable to rule, only to be ruled.

Abigail Adams, writing to her husband, John, understood man and his propensity for power:

"I am more and more convinced that man is a dangerous creature; and that power, whether vested in many or a few, is ever grasping, and, like the grave, cries, “Give, give!” The great fish swallow up the small; and he who is most strenuous for the rights of the people, when vested with power, is as eager after the prerogatives of government. You tell me of degrees of perfection to which human nature is capable of arriving, and I believe it, but at the same time lament that our admiration should arise from the scarcity of the instances. "

Let us be warned. Let us be diligent in standing firm against those who would destroy a nation by their wanting of power over true moral leadership. There may be a scarcity of true Christian Statesmanship. But they are there. Let us support them will prayer and action.

Our Constitution

2009-09-19T08:37:00.003-05:00

a few days ago was the anniversary of the Constitution of the United States of America
Robert Shenk of Faith and Action quoted the following thoughts of Sen. Orrin Hatch, asking the question,
What Is the Constitution?

On this day, 222 years ago, 12 state delegations approved the new Constitution of the United States and 39 of the 42 convention delegates signed it. They sent it to the states for ratification, the act that would make it the supreme law of the land. It is worth focusing on just what the Constitution actually is.

The Constitution opens by saying: “We the people . . . do ordain and establish this Constitution.” Nearly all Americans say the Constitution is very important to them and it requires that virtually all legislative, executive, and judicial officers, both state and federal, “shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution.” But what is this thing called the Constitution that the people established, that Americans say is so important, and that public officials swear to support?

The Constitution is the oldest written charter of government in use in the world today. Anyone who can read knows what the Constitution says. But words alone are just inkblots, and ordaining and establishing the Constitution was much more than simply putting some words on a page. Constitution Day would hardly be worth the name if it celebrated nothing more than a collection of words with no meaning. The Constitution we recognize today is more than an empty shell, it is more than what it says. The Constitution is what it means.

Think about judicial review, perhaps the most powerful thing that federal judges do in our system of self-government. In an appropriate case, judges must determine whether a statute is consistent with the Constitution. If they conflict, the Constitution wins. As Alexander Hamilton put it in The Federalist No.78, it is the duty of judges “to declare all acts contrary to the manifest tenor of the Constitution void.” But here we are back to the same question — what is “the Constitution” that judges use to conduct judicial review? What is “the Constitution” to which statutes must yield?

Charles Evans Hughes, who would later become Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, famously said about a century ago that the Constitution is “what the judges say it is.” Since judges cannot change the words of the Constitution, Hughes was really saying what today seems to be widely accepted, that the Constitution means whatever judges say it means. But if Hughes was right, then judges in effect become the Constitution and judicial review means that statutes must yield to judges.

But Hughes was wrong. The Constitution does not mean, it cannot mean, whatever judges say it means. If it does, then Hamilton’s reference to its “manifest tenor” makes no sense. A century before Hughes, Chief Justice John Marshall offered the opposite view in Marbury v. Madison, the case often credited with establishing judicial review. Marshall wrote that we have a written Constitution so that the limits on government power “may not be mistaken, or forgotten” and that the Constitution is “a rule for the government of courts, as well as of the legislature.” Judges are part of the government. If the Constitution means whatever government says it means, then government determines the limits on its own power. That would render the Constitution impotent and hardly worth the effort expended at the Constitutional Convention.

Marshall wrote that the Constitution represents “the intention of the people.” Intention is expressed through the meaning, not merely the form, of words. The Constitution cannot be the intention of the people if all the people did was choose some words without meaning. The Constitution could not continue to be the intention of the people if its meaning could be changed by anyone but the people. Quoting George Washington, the Rhode Island Constitution declares that “the constitution which at any time exists, till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all.” Empty words oblige no one. To be the Constitution, it must not only say what they said but it must mean what they meant.

The Constitution – its words and their meaning – was established by the people, can only be changed by the people, and is sacredly obligatory upon all of government, including judges. This is why the debate over judicial selection is really a debate over judicial power. It is a debate over whether the Constitution controls judges or judges control the Constitution, over what the Constitution really is, with nothing less than liberty itself at stake.

— Sen. Orrin G. Hatch is a former chairman of both the Senate Judiciary Committee and its Subcommittee on the Constitution.

The True Statesman

2009-09-11T08:24:00.001-05:00

Lessons of Leadership
• A leader is indebted to the legacy of his parents.
• Providence chooses the leader who prepared to be chosen.
• Great leadership is never the product of natural gifts alone.
• The best leaders always educate themselves.
• A leader knows that adversity is the handmaiden to maturity; therefore, he will not shrink from difficulties.
• The unseen source of a leader’s courage is faith in God and His justice.
• A leader acts courageously because God governs providentially.
• Conviction is worthless unless converted into conduct.
• Humility is essential to leadership because it makes a leader a servant.
• A leader knows that criticism is inevitable, and thus will not allow himself to be poisoned by bitterness.
• All great leaders rule by the heart.
• A concern for people is the ultimate test of true leadership.
• The highest form of leadership is based on the bedrock of religious conviction.
• A leaders source of duty will move him to lay aside personal comfort for the interest of others.
• A man who cannot rule his family cannot govern his country.
• The home is the testing ground for all sound leadership.
• A leader’s vision is rooted in his knowledge of the past.
• A leader faces the future with a sober confidence.
• Leadership requires the courage to face the truth, even if painful.
• The difference between vision and fanaticism is realism.
• Every great leader fails; no great leader accepts failure as final.
• A leader is a guardian of his followers.
• Inspiring oratory is the result of courageous conviction.
• The character of a leader is revealed by the manner in which he handles success and power.
• A healthy sense of humor reflects a leader’s insight, humility, and sense of balance.
• A charlatan loves humanity; a leader loves people.
• A leader knows that hard work is a calling, not a curse, and the only sure path to greatness.
• Patriotic leadership means standing on divine principle in the face of human injustice.
• Every great leader will be a conservative who builds the future on the tried foundation of the past.
• A leader of men must be a reader of men.
• A leader’s courage is most clearly seen in how he faces death.
-Give Me Liberty by David J. Vaughan

The Stimulus Package: Without Intelligence

2009-03-03T16:06:00.003-06:00

Darwin’s evolutionary debacles have produced the most froward of blatherskites both in education and political stimuli to save people from religious and economic woes. Having enjoyed the wisdom of Charles Krauthammer on many issues, the following quote in the New York Times of 2005 is somewhat unsettling: “The conservative commentator Charles Krauthammer wrote in Time magazine that to teach intelligent design ‘as science is to encourage supercilious caricature of America as a nation in the thrall of a religious authority.’” It is not arrogant to claim an Authority that has led nations to a high and beneficial moral mountain. A ‘supercilious caricature of America’ is, however, seen in a people enthralled, i.e. controlled, by a President and Congress in Darwinian heaven: a belief that education, politics, and even the Constitution is evolving according to man; Intelligence, truth, justice, and even mercy, put aside. Believing that only Government (once thought of as “of the people”) can solve the problems that overwhelm us today. Thus the solution, the only solution they could come up with, was to clean the pockets of the Tax Payer (once thought of as “Citizens”) with a stimulus package plus: 787 billion dollar spur (i.e. to get the economic horses to run) spelled out in 1,073 pages; plus a 410 billion dollar package containing 8,570 earmarks costing 7.7 billion dollars.

History proves that there is a different way, which includes an Authority which provides blessings, where “the Gospel is the glory of the State.” –The “following paragraphs from a work on the Institutes of International Law, by Daniel Gardner, an eminent jurist and lawyer of New York.” (The Christian Life and Character, Benjamin F. Morris). He says,
“The permanent welfare and glory of every sovereign state demand a faithful obedience to the law of nations, founded on the precepts of the gospel. Self-preservation calls for it; interest and duty require it. International and municipal law are based upon the gospel, and obedience to them is necessary to the happiness and prosperity of every state. The violation of these celestial doctrines has swept away the Assyrian, the Egyptian, the Greek, and the Roman Empires; and the ruins of Baalbe, Palmyra, and Thebes, the shattered Parthenon, and the remains of the Roman grandeur, all attest the suicidal effect on empires of disobedience to God’s law of nations. Spain, once great and powerful, has fallen by her atrocious national offences from her vast power in the reigns of Charles V. and Philip II. History teaches that national sins, by a fixed moral law, punish the states that commit them. Self-preservation, as well as the obligation of the Divine law, demands a voluntary obedience to the precepts of the gospel in all international transactions.
“The sanctions of that law cannot be disregarded, or its sure penalties avoided, as the King of kings enacted it. All nations before him are as the small dust of the balance; they are counted to him as less than nothing and vanity. He holdeth the seas in the hollow of his hands; he weigheth the mountains in scales; he sitteth on the circle of the earth; he ruleth the hosts of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth; he ruleth the hosts of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. His title is Jehovah in the highest.
“May our republic and all nations obey that law and enjoy its promised blessings.
“The precepts of the gospel are the basis of all law. It is a moral code of general principles, which, intelligently and honestly applied, will solve every question of international right and duty. In this age of civilization and improvement, a liberal code of public law, based upon the golden rule of the gospel, and assented to by the leading nations of Europe and America, is a great desideratum.
“Our American public and private international law is composed in part of a written code, enacted in the form of a nation Constitution and State Constitutions and State laws, and in part of the law of national comity.
“This law seems to rest on the golden rule of the gospel, and as the fruits of Christian civilization, to belong of necessity to American jurisprudence, as God’s appointed regulator of the rights and duties of all national and State sovereignties. Treaties, constitutions, and laws merely recognize and regulate it in certain respects, but its true basis is in the command of Jehovah to nations and states, as well as to individuals, ‘Do unto others as you would they should do unto you.’ The observance of the principles of the gospel will insure the prosperity of every State and nation.”

Our elected leaders take an oath to be obedient to the Constitution of the United States of America that has been established upon the rock of God’s Law. The strength and hopes of America has rested upon the truth that we are a Republic where each State is sovereign and the president and congress and court are to protect and sustain this strength. The so-called ‘Stimulus’ is nothing more than the desire to control, and in so doing to put aside the intelligence and wisdom that the Almighty God alone gives, revealed to the magistrates through His Word.
Robert L. La May

President-Elect: A New Executive Office

2009-01-16T14:11:00.003-06:00

A New Office (with a background of American Flags, a podium, and a seal) has been added to our “Republic.” Though an interim one, the Office of President-Elect challenges the “balance of powers” which our forefathers planted in the Constitution of the United States of America. This balance should not be uprooted, but should be observed, because “We the People of the United States … do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
Interestingly, our Constitution’s three blossoms of the “balance of powers” begins, not with the President, but with the Legislature (Article I): “All legislature Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.” These are deliberating bodies and should have ample time for discussion, etc., before passing any laws or bills on to President; i.e., “All bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives” (see Section 7).
Article II addresses the President: “The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.” Before he can execute his Office he is to take the following oath: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States” (Section 1). Besides being “Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy” (Section 2), he shall “give to the Congress information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient” (Section 3). There is no such power given to the “Office of President-Elect.”
Article III reads, “The Judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court … shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States,” etc.

Therefore a “President Elect” must curb his desire for power, which disturbs the balance of power to the detriment of the “We the People” and the use of money that is hard-made by them. There is another problem that has been with us, but is raising its head, as well as its arms and feet. That is a welfare system, by which the Government interferes with the homes and businesses of the people. It is called laissez-faire! The dictionary defines ‘laissez-faire’ as “the principle that business, industry, trade, etc. should operate with a minimum of regulation and interference by government. “Balance of Power” is redefining ‘laissez-faire” as “the principle that Government should regulate business, industry, trade, etc, with a minimum of interference.” This seems to have been the operative principle of the new office of a President-Elect, as billions of dollars are to change hands, with the justification that Government alone is the answer.

Power also comes from promises made. Take the promise, “The first thing I’d do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act.” This “Act” is a sweeping bill that would abolish all pro-life regulations across the nation, from parental notification laws to bans on federal funding of abortions … FOCA shows no such restraints; it nails shut the coffin on pro-life choices and safeguards” (C. Norris). Abortion is nothing more than the taking of a life that is being nourished within the womb of a woman. The horror and stupidity of such a killing is illustrated in the following story:
An editorial by James Delingpole, Human Events, “Even a Cockroach Has Rights,” tells us, “Yes, it really is now a criminal offense in Britain to abuse an ant, a worm, a slug, a cockroach, a scorpion, a stick insect or what ever creature you care to name. The moment you decide to keep it as a pet you are obliged by our Animal Welfare Act to take full account of its welfare needs – or face a $30,000 fine or a twelve-month prison sentence.”
The DEFRA’s (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; you can look up similar departments in the USA), “new guidelines has the British public fully aware of its manifest absurdities.” Whether it is a mouse or a cat, once it is taken in as a pet, the care of each must be in agreement with the guidelines. Mr. Delingpole then asks this question: “How low in the biological chain do you have to go before an animal becomes ineligible for protection? Suppose I kept a pet amoeba: could I be imprisoned for being cruel to one of those? Sadly, the law does not specify.”
However, in the USA we have the multi-million dollar Planned Parenthood and its ‘Abortion’ clinics that tell us that there is, in the biological chain, the lowest of beings, which can be killed within the womb or on the way out. The amoeba has more protection than the baby in the womb; or even the poor women who has to be put under the knife to protect the so-called freedom of choice.

It is Liberty which is at stake, whether it is for the Citizen (now called tax-payer) or the baby in the womb. We turn again to the Constitution: “But if reason is the foundation of the Founder’s vision—the method by which we justify our political order—liberty is its aim. Thus, the cardinal moral truths are these: that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness—that to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed” (Cato).
Liberty speaks also to those in slavery as well as to those in the womb. These words from Abigail Adams, the wife of John Adams, speak of these liberties for all: “Is it not amazing, when the rights of humanity are defined with precious liberties, in a country above all others fond of liberty, that in such an age and in such a country we find men professing a religion the most humane and gentle, adopting a principle as repugnant to humanity s it is inconsistent with the Bible and destructive to liberty? Believe me, I honor the Quakers for their noble efforts to abolish slavery. It is a debt we owe the purity of our religion, to show that it is at variance with that law which warrants slavery.” (The Christian Life and Character).
If we cannot apply Abigail’s thoughts to the slavery of Abortion, we cannot claim liberty in the sight of our Creator and Lord. However the enemy is active, watch for their desire to keep Pro-Life advocates out of the Washington Inauguration.

Robert L. LaMay,
Asst. Editor, the Christian Observer

ATHEIST SCROOGES

2008-12-31T08:49:00.004-06:00

“Atheist Scrooges” (with apology to Ebenezer who became a second father to Tiny Tim) have run rampant in ’08 and will do so in ’09 if not checked by those who love truth and practice righteousness. History is not a hindrance to these practitioners of lies and hopelessness. Christmas ’08 has passed and will be in ’09. The story of the birth of a Savior by the name of Joshua (whom we call Jesus) is an historical fact that cannot be erased. He was born in Bethlehem at the time of Augustus Caesar. However, facts do not hinder the Scrooges who need to deny the God of History, to carry on their Godless agendas.
The schemas of these Scrooges hate the colors of red and green and the displays of reindeers and, of course, the Manger scene. Chuck Norris recently wrote in his article “Jacking Jesus” – “This year just over the past week, dozens of mini-messiahs have been nabbed from Nativities across the country. Residences, churches and even civic displays in New York, Michigan, Nebraska, Indiana, Florida, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois and Texas have been exploited by these Christmas scrooges.” These Scrooges seek to destroy the Christian by using the claim of “separation of Church and State” (which is not, in any way, taught in our Constitution), thus calling what they wish to destroy, “religious” (of which they themselves are, as the Humanist Manifesto clearly affirms “Religious humanists regard the universe as self-existing and not created”).
Let us also call upon those who despise the Christian faith, those ‘politically correct scrooges’ or ‘statesmen scrooges’ or ‘atheist scrooges.’ Of course, we must not sell the atheist short; they are consistently, ‘ATHEIST SCROOGES’ throughout the year. They have truly shown their colors. There are no green or red, or bright colors of any kind, just grays and blacks. In other words, there is a lack of color. The atheist has shown their true ‘no color’ (i.e. no hope) testimony. CNN reported that an atheist sign was erected alongside a Nativity scene outside the Legislative Building in Olympia, Washington; and that it was stolen and then found. Fox News reported of another scene at the same place: “The 25-foot noble spruce, officially called the ‘Capitol Holiday Kids Tree,’ is sponsored by the Association of Washington Business and tied to a charity drive for needy families. It’s been a Capitol fixture for nearly 20 years. Although nominally secular, the tree is clearly recognizable as a sign of Christmas: it’s strung with lights, topped by a large golden star and usually surrounded by faux wrapped presents.”
The placement of such a sign should be seen as an eye-opener for all people with minds able to reason. The Atheist’s sign begins with this hope: “At this season of THE WINTER SOLSTICE may reason prevail.” (Solstice meaning the shortest day of the year.) Therefore, let us reason together. What hope does the Atheist give us? Listen: “There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.” In other words, while the two displays, which they wanted their display to stand, were positive in hope of love and charity, their display is one of hatred and despair.
However, this Christmas cheerlessness has not ended with a new year, the “Atheist Scrooge” continues to spread his misery. It is brought to our attention in a local paper whose heading is, “Lawsuit would challenge inaugural oath, invocation” (Washington AP), which reads, “A California physician and attorney whose legal fight against the words, ‘under God’ in the pledge of allegiance has drawn national attention now says he will join a lawsuit seeking the removal of all references to God and religion from President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremony. Michael Newdow believes references to God or religion are unconstitutional. He wants to remove the phrase ‘so help me God’ from the oath of office and block the invocation prayer from Pastor Rick Warren. Newdow says the suit will be filed Tuesday in D.C. District Court. The plaintiffs include 17 other people and atheist and humanist organizations.”
The ‘Scrooges’ keep marching on. However, to give just an apology to the ‘Scrooge” of Charles Dickens story, A Christmas Carol, would not be enough. Mr. Dickens’ begins with a depiction of Scrooge may fit the “fool who says in his heart there is no God,” –“Oh! But he was a tight fisted hand at the grindstone. Scrooge! A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner.” May the truth of God pierce the hearts of these “fools” as was the heart of Scrooge, who “lived upon the Total Abstinence Principle, ever afterwards; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!”
Robert L. LaMay,
Asst. Editor, http://www.christianobserver.org/

CHRISTIANS BE INFORMED

2008-12-02T07:38:00.002-06:00

Christians must keep themselves informed as to the changes some statesmen desire to expedite in the months to come. Alan Sears of Alliance Defense Fund (.org) wrote on November 18, 2008:
Whatever else lies in store for the United States in the months and years ahead, statements and promises made on the campaign trail give clear indication that the new president and many congressional leaders plan sweeping changes that could soon seriously impact our First Liberty – particularly religious freedom – for all Americans and will create many legal challenges.
Among the policies that pose the greatest threat:
1. Enactment of the Freedom of Choice Act, which could remove nearly every existing restriction to abortion on demand across the country – and compel health professionals and hospital workers to assist in abortion procedures, even if doing so violated the deepest beliefs of their conscience.
2. Repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act and nationalization of such pseudo-marriage arrangements as "domestic partnerships" and "civil unions." In short order, some same-sex "marriages" could be recognized by the federal government for many things – including Social Security and tax purposes – and openly homosexual behavior could be permitted in the military.
3. Enactment of the Employee Non-Discrimination Act, which could force employers – including religious and non-profit organizations – to accept openly homosexual behavior when hiring for available positions. In other words, if an individual practicing homosexual behavior applies for a job as a counselor for a non-profit ministry to small children, the ministry cannot take that behavior into consideration when reviewing the application.
4. Enactment of the Matthew Shepard Act and other laws that would effectively empower government officials to act as "thought police," punishing anyone who – in their estimation – communicated "hate speech" or committed "hate crimes." This would almost certainly include any pastor or Bible teacher who presented a biblical view of homosexual behavior.
5. Enactment of the "Fairness Doctrine" – which could, for all practical purposes, eliminate Christian and conservative free speech on the nation's airwaves. (One congressional leader has already likened such speech to "pornography.")The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) will, of course, be prepared for a legal response to such violations of our First Freedoms and the U.S. Constitution.

The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) will, of course, be prepared for a legal response to such violations of our First Freedoms and the U.S. Constitution.

THANKSGIVING? GOVERNANCE BY WHOM?

2008-11-26T08:41:00.004-06:00

Words flow glibly from the lips of many elected officials, from thankful hearts they cried out “God bless America,” to promises “I will first do this and that when I take office.” Who then governs America? Is it God who blesses or is it man and his promises? Has God been made a tool to be used on occasions, but man the savior? Tyranny begins when man believes that he is, not only the master of his destiny, but also the master of our destiny. He relegates the Bible and its Writer to a religion he has defined as a trash bin of foolish men, delegating himself as the deliverer; i.e. protecting the right to end a precious life in the womb. These men who wish to be the deliverer of men are scared to death of the past which seems to emerge before them, which declare the truth that there is an Almighty God who rules and providentially cares for his Creation. If not, why do they not allow children to express their belief in a Creator and Savior? Why are they afraid to sing the last stanza of our National Anthem? Which praised God:

“Oh! Thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand / Between their loved home and the war’s desolation! / Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land / Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. / Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, / And this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust.’ / And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave. / O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

May our homes and nations remember God with much thanksgiving, the spirit that reigned in the history of our nation. This kind of gratitude finds an example in the “1783 Thanksgiving sermon preached at Philadelphia on behalf of the Continental Congress, the Presbyterian chaplain George Duffield spoke …And to him be rendered the thanks, and the praise -not to us:-not to us- but to thy name, O Lord, be the glory. For thine is the power, and the victory, and the greatness. Both success and safety come of thee. And thou reignest over all: And shall wrought all our works, in us, and for us. PRAISE THEREFORE THY GOD, O AMERICA. – PRAISE THE LORD, YE HIS HIGHLY FAVERED UNITED STATES.
“The English Puritan and the American patriot had each seen the same Lord of Israel in their deliverance, both in chapter and in verse. And, as America’s success was ‘marvelous’ in his eyes, Duffield closed his 1783 Thanksgiving oration with a call for biblically grounded governance in the newly born nation of United States: It is that we love the Lord our God, to walk in his ways, and keep his commandments, to observe his statutes and his judgments. That a sacred regard be maintained to righteousness and truth. That we do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. Then shall God delight to dwell amongst us. And these United States shall long remain, a great, a glorious and happy people. Which may God, of his infinite mercy grant. Amen.” (Daniel J. Ford, In the Name of God, Amen)
We will only be a “glorious and happy people” when the Lord will bless us, and his Word and Law be returned to our homes, churches, and to the legislature and judicial governance in our United States.
Robert L. LaMay,Asst. Editor, the Christian Observer

National Hymn of the People

2008-11-05T16:34:00.002-06:00

The candidates all said "God Bless America!" Will the President Elect Abama carry through on this 'prayer'? Or will we only hear the words and not the practice? It would be un-hypocritical to encourage both Congress and the school children to echo those words in the singing of "The national hymn of a people who openly professed 'Great God' as their King: Samuel Francis Smith (1808-1895) first published a poem in 1832 extolling the virtues of America. Its stanzas immediately became popular, and America was soon adopted as the national hymn of the United States. That status was not obtained by a political act, but achieved by the force of the nation's popular sentiment. Children over the next hundred years learned its verse by heart, in words that were among the most widely recognized in the English language. America concluded with a submissive prayer that publicaly acknowledged God as both the Author of liberty and as the nation's Sovereign:

Our father's God to Thee,

Author of liberty,

To Thee we sing;

Long may our land be bright,

With freedom's holy light, -

Protect us by Thy might,

Great God, our King.

(D. J. Ford, In the name of God, Amen)

Or, shall God and His Bible continually be cast out of the halls of congress and classrooms of schools? Christian arise and sing about the Lord, unashamedly proclaiming that He alone is the Prince of kings, the Lord which all magistrates and homes are accountable.

Robert L. LaMay

Election Follies vs Biblical Government

2008-11-04T10:26:00.004-06:00

You read it right: Election Follies! For months it has been hard to find both in TV and Newspaper land any resemblance of the discussions of moral and ethical aptitude, of issues and ability whereby the citizen would be able to vote intelligently. “Fair and balance” became a farce along with in depth analysis. In other words, we were given “theatrical revue with elaborate costumes, music, and dancing” (Encarta). Let the follies begin. The stage was set which allowed some third party candidates to say their piece. But it was soon seen that the shepherds crook would come out and what was left was what the media thought we should know, that we have a two party system and so our choice is between Republican and Democratic. It was so blatantly obvious that the media was going to give us little choice, the chosen runners were chosen before the Conventions were held.
To center stage we saw the ping-pong act. Report the speeches, which included muck (mud not being strong enough a word) throwing. And then throw (in depth?) ten to twenty minute discussions on what the polls are saying (which further emphasized that we only had a real choice between two parties). [I did a no-no and have voted for the men of the Constitution Party –WOW- I had a choice to choose life for America!]. The liberal media has set themselves as our conscience (Fox News is not that far behind).

BIBLICAL GOVERNMENT in home and state
However, let us go back to the time when we became a nation, under God, rejoicing in truth, and building upon a moral foundation. The following words from a book by Daniel J. Ford remind us that our moral strength was found in the Sovereign God which built up both family and nation. (I.e. there is not separation between state and God and His Word.) –
“…They were a people who held God’s Word as a common public as well as private standard, and who sought to emulate the model of moral fidelity hat God put forth for the ancient Hebrew nation. With a covenantal self-awareness, the early cultural dynamic was not seen as a matter of church verses state, as if one sphere of society was pitted against the other in the public arena. The entire culture rested upon a common fidelity within its every realm of government. The father and mother, child and grandparent, planter and shopkeeper, preacher and elder, citizen and senator, each had abundant and welcomed places. Their plantations were shaped in the Puritan’s sense of commonwealth, not as the church threatening the state, but as distinct yet cooperative realms, and, along with the family, each used biblical modes as its model and God’s Precepts as its first principles.” (In the name of God, Amen)
This concept of cooperative realms of state, church, family, and work, each building its moral strength on the Word of God, is being taken away from us. It is time for us to cooperate in returning that moral base, unashamed, and balanced in truth and righteousness.
Robert L. La May
Asst. Editor, the Christian Observer Internet

Prayer and the Statesman

2008-09-07T08:38:00.002-05:00

Statesmen are to pray as well as prayed for; whose prayers to the Almighty God should echo unashamedly throughout the chambers and halls of Congress. Here is a good prayer for those who hold and seek office in our nation that is pleasing to the Almighty:
“Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word. So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproaches me; for I trust in thy word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments. So shall I keep thy law continually forever and ever. And I will walk at liberty; for I seek thy precepts. I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings (rulers, presidents, etc) and will not be ashamed. And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.” –Psalm. 119:41-48

Since "rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil" (Rom. 13:3); then we are pray for statesmen who are seeking righteousness (the protection of the life in the womb, the protection of the marriage between a man and a woman, protection of our nation as a republic and not a socialistic tyranny, desiring a strong moral base built upon the Law of God, a strong army to defend the nation, an educational system under the rule of the family and not the state, etc).

Therefore we Confess that ...
“God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magistrates, to be, under Him, over the people, for His own glory, and the public good; and, to this end, hath armed them with the power of the sword, for the defense and encouragement of them that are good, and for the punishment of evil doers.” –WCF

A Reminder
True Leadership [i.e. Statesmanship]
The Lessons of Leadership
A leader is indebted to the legacy of his parents.
Providence chooses the leader who prepared to be chosen.
Great leadership is never the product of natural gifts alone.
The best leaders always educate themselves.
A leader knows that adversity is the handmaiden to maturity; therefore, he will not shrink from difficulties.
The unseen source of a leader’s courage is faith in God and His justice.
A leader acts courageously because God governs providentially.
Conviction is worthless unless converted into conduct.
Humility is essential to leadership because it makes a leader a servant.
A leader knows that criticism is inevitable, and thus will not allow himself to be poisoned by bitterness.
All great leaders rule by the heart.
A concern for people is the ultimate test of true leadership.
The highest form of leadership is based on the bedrock of religious conviction.
A leaders source of duty will move him to lay aside personal comfort for the interest of others.
A man who cannot rule his family cannot govern his country.
The home is the testing ground for all sound leadership.
A leader’s vision is rooted in his knowledge of the past.
A leader faces the future with a sober confidence.
Leadership requires the courage to face the truth, even if painful.
The difference between vision and fanaticism is realism.
Every great leader fails; no great leader accepts failure as final.
A leader is a guardian of his followers.
Inspiring oratory is the result of courageous conviction.
The character of a leader is revealed by the manner in which he handles success and power.
A healthy sense of humor reflects a leader’s insight, humility, and sense of balance.
A charlatan loves humanity; a leader loves people.
A leader knows that hard work is a calling, not a curse, and the only sure path to greatness.
Patriotic leadership means standing on divine principle in the face of human injustice.
Every great leader will be a conservative who builds the future on the tried foundation of the past.
A leader of men must be a reader of men.
A leader’s courage is most clearly seen in how he faces death.
-Give Me Liberty by David J. Vaughan

Do not seek to vote for those who seek to be magistrates upon their promises but upon their moral character and principles that will glorify our Creator and Lord.

Robert L. La May,

Contributing Editor, the Christian Observer

Which Party? One of Two?

2008-07-29T15:54:00.005-05:00

According to the media, paper and electronic, you would think that there are only two parties and, therefore, only two candidates from which you can choose. Even 'Balanced and Unafraid' reveal an unbalance in their presentation of Political America, that the reality is that we have a 'two-party' system; as if it is foolish to think that there are others, who are more qualified, that should be given a place on the stage.

There are a number of men such as Ron Paul, Fred Thompson, and Chuck Baldwin (Constitution Party). The platform of the Constitution Party should saturate our thinking as we are looking for true statesmen that would lead our country. I share that platform for your thinking:

Seven Principles of the Constitution Party are:
1. Life: For all human beings, from conception to natural death; 2. Liberty: Freedom of conscience and actions for the self-governed individual; 3. Family: One husband and one wife with their children as divinely instituted; 4. Property: Each individual's right to own and steward personal property without government burden; 5. Constitution: and Bill of Rights interpreted according to the actual intent of the Founding Fathers; 6. States' Rights: Everything not specifically delegated by the Constitution to the federal government is reserved for the state and local jurisdictions; 7. American Sovereignty: American government committed to the protection of the borders, trade, and common defense of Americans, and not entangled in foreign alliances.

Robert L. La May,

Contributing Editor, the Christian Observer

Global Citizens

2008-07-24T22:58:00.000-05:00

It is the sound of music to the ear of the Senator from Illinois as his remarks to the German crowd indicated that he comes as both a citizen of America and citizen of the world. He said that he does not come as the Presidential Candidate, but his rhetoric says different as in his desire to work with Europe to “remake our world again.”
However, both candidates for president (even though the conventions haven’t been held yet) the sound of music has a very clear tune of socialism and global management.
This desire of global recognition is seen in their turning away from seeing America as being “under God.” Have you ever heard the last stanza of our National Anthem being sung, especially at the High School games? Well let’s sing it out:

Oh, thus be it ever when free men shall stand,
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation;
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heav’n-rescued land
Praise the Power that has made and preserved us as a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our Trust”;
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

We cannot be a blessing to other nations of this world if we do not have a moral character of our own. Our strength comes from within with the blessing of our Creator. Make your choice, global citizenship or American citizenship; one will destroy a nation, the other will bless nations. We need statesmen such as Daniel Webster, who testified clearly:
“I was born an American; I live an American; I shall die an American; and I intend to perform the duties incumbent upon me in that character to the end of my career. I mean to do this with absolute disregard of personal consequences. What are the personal consequences? What is the individual man, with all the good or evil that may betide him, in comparison with the good or evil which may befall a great country, and in the midst of great transactions which concern that country’s fate? Let the consequences be what they will, I am careless. No man can suffer too much, and not man can fall too soon, if he suffer, or if he fall, in the defense of the liberties and constitution of his country.”

Robert L. LaMay,
Contributing Editor, the Christian Observer

THE TRUE STATESMAN OF HOPE

2008-07-02T15:30:00.000-05:00

“How great I am!” – “I promise you!” "I will bring change!" "I am your hope!" – Without a thought of a Convention, or that there are others we should consider, we are lead to believe that there are only two viable candidates running for President. There are at least two or three better candidates than the voices of the net-works speak of [try the Constitution Party for a beginning]. Those special “TWO” cry out that each are better able to “run the country” on our behalf. They put on their rubber faces that we might think of FDR, JFK, Reagan [the only reference to Clinton is that one or the other is Clintonesque in their responses to each other]; each building upon the false assumption that we are first a welfare state, and that we are to humbly allow our pockets to be picked. I grew up on the assumption that we were a Republic and that we voted for those who would best serve our nation well.
Let us be reminded again that we are to look for statesmen that are men of moral character, that, under Divine Providence, did not seek the office for gain, but was sought for the office by the people [who, by the way, are most able to discern what is right and what is wrong].
One such honorable Statesman was our first President, George Washington:
“His greatness did not stem from oratorical skills or superior knowledge or brilliant military tactics, but rather from his strong virtues, sense of duty, and invincible resolution. When he was offered leadership of the army and leadership of the nation, he expressed doubts in his abilities to accomplish these tasks, but once he occupied those positions, nothing could stop him from performing his duty. By sheer force of character he held the disorganized nation together during the great struggle for independence, and after victory was won, the love of the people for him provided the unifying factor necessary to set a course for the American constitutional republic.
“The providence of God and Washington’s Christian faith were key to his character, career, and accomplishments. His faith, heart, and humility are revealed in the ‘Circular to the Governors of the States’ in 1783 when he prayed that God would protect them and ‘most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristic of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation” (Stephen McDowell, Apostle of Liberty).
It would do us well if we would seek such statesmen that would stand tall in such Christian Characteristics; who would not say “I will bring,” but “I will serve.”
Robert L. La May,
Contributing Editor, the Christian Observer

THE IMMORTAL SEED

2008-02-29T09:02:00.005-06:00

The battle rages on. However, it is not a battle of ideas, or of armies, but of personalities; of who is best suited to be President of the United States. The debates are filled with nagging remarks, promises, self-achievements, put-downs, etc. “This is what I will do” without foundation or thoughtful considerations of the whole, are empty promises which, at its best, are assured by higher taxes and bigger government. We have moved from a base or world view of Biblical Law, to Natural Law (with and without the Bible), to a foundation without God. Debates have become a battle between feelings and promises of change without foundation. Another horror is that the debates are fed to us as being a choice between Republican and Democratic parties. We are losing the freedom of choice, the ability to choose the candidate which is most suited to lead the country, rather than who can lead the party. There are other men and parties out there who should be heard. Also, the Democrat and Republican platforms are quite different, but the debates do not reveal this. The question is ‘what is the foundation or world view that differentiates us from other systems of government?’ What really is needed in our Republic are those things that will bring the best of blessings to all.
In the article, “The Growing Moral Divide” (Biblical Worldview, Jan. Feb. 2008), Gary DeMar writes of the rise and fall of natural Law, “The unbelieving world was left with only the remnants of the Reformational system that believed the whole Bible applied to all of life. A natural law ethic also operated while biblical law was still prominent. Natural law was a near mirror image of biblical law since the Bible shaped and molded its content. …Hardly anyone noticed the transition from biblical law to natural law. In time, however, a natural law took on a life of its own. Its advocates believed that it was not dependent upon special revelation for its life.
Dr. DeMar gives the following illustration of what our foundation should be, ‘Paul Robert’s Justice Lifts the Nation is a case in point. The larger than life painting “is on the stairway in the old Supreme Court Building in Lausanne where the judges had to pass each time before going to try a case. Robert wanted to remind them that the place which the Reformation gave to the Bible provided a basis not only for morals but for law. Robert pictured many types of legal cases in the foreground and the judges in their black robes standing behind the judges’ bench. The problem is neatly posed: How shall the judges’ judge? On what basis shall they proceed so that their judgment will not be arbitrary? Above them Robert painted Justice standing unblindfolded, with her sword pointed not vertically upward but downward toward a book, and on the book is written The Law of God.’”
The above quote was taken from Schaeffer’s works. To follow through on this thought of having a Biblical Worldview we turn again to Francis Schaeffer who also wrote, “This painting expressed the sociological base, the legal base, in northern Europe after the Reformation. Paul Robert understood what the Reformation was all about in the area of law.
“Robert was expressing at a later date what some men in the flow of the Reformation had already understood and had expressed verbally. Alexander Vinet (1797-1847) was professor of theology at the Academy of Lausanne (now the university). He was the thinker in the canton of Vaud who stood in the stream of the Reformers who had preceded him in Switzerland. He was the foremost representative in the French-speaking world of his day. He said, ‘Christianity is the immortal seed of freedom of the world.’ Switzerland’s unique freedoms rest on this base. Vinet did not just talk and write about these things, but was the out spoken leader for both freedom of religious worship and freedom of conscience in relationship to the state. A statue of Vinet with the above quote on it is situated only a few hundred feet from the old Supreme Court Building in which Robert painted his mural.” [A view of the West, pg 136]
What immortal seed is being planted by those who call themselves the protectors of freedom and the giver of blessings? Their foundation and world view has a fault as big as that which runs from north to south in California. It is as slippery as the mud slides and as hopeful as broken promises. The debates are as useless as the follow up of the commentaries on TV. What can we do? Be informed. Be prepared to give answers upon a good foundation of a Biblical World View. Be active in supporting Christian Statesmen who are not afraid to speak the truth and fight for that which is righteous and good.
Robert L. La May
Contributing Editor, the Christian Observer

FIRE IN THE BELLY

2008-02-19T08:24:00.000-06:00

What ever happened to Fred Thompson? He was a refreshing deposit upon the political scene. He wasn’t obnoxious, his hope for the country was not framed in his desire to be President, his voice was deliberate, but he did not have “fire in the belly.” He also didn’t have the Media’s stamp of approval, negative in most of their ‘advice’ wondering why he didn’t do this or say this, etc. Andrew Ferguson wrote of this charge against Thompson that “His speaking style was too low-key, and his speeches were too long, and more often than not his ‘performance’ in televised debates was lackluster. He just didn’t have the fire in the belly.” [The Failure of Normality, the Weekly Standard, Feb 4, 2008]. He continues, “For those of us who suffer from acid reflux, this is a phrase full of meaning. In the world of politics, however, the meaning is vaguer. William Safire’s New Political Dictionary defines ‘fire in the belly’ as ‘an unquenchable thirst for power or glory; the burning drive to win a race or achieve a goal.’”
“Fire in the belly” does not necessarily carry with it an evil meaning, but its there alongside of what is good. Let’s take two passages from the Bible (the Book which our founding fathers were not ashamed to carry and use). One is from John 7:38—“He that believes on me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water (indwelling Spirit).” The other from Philippians 3:19—“Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is their shame, who mind earthly things.” The “belly” in both instances, allegorically speaking, means the “heart.” In other words, where your heart is there you will find your treasure. Also, to understand better the heart’s desire, remember that the meaning of “power” and of “God” is the word “Authority.” The “front runners” tasting the sweetness of victory speak with an authority which is not yet theirs, resting upon their ability to raise millions for their cause. Thompson speaks for those whose integrity does not rest upon the money but upon the truth that proceeds from their heart. The promises that continue to bombard our ears reach, not to our hearts, but to our pockets. The question is not what promises will do for us, but what foundations will prevail by which we can build our lives, our homes, our businesses upon.
The “listeners” (sometimes called the sheep) follow blindly, clapping and yelling, not knowing the full impact of the promises given. Mr. Ferguson (same article as above) gives us this observation, “Political campaigns have always been boisterous affairs, but candidates themselves rarely took center stage till well into the 20th century.” In other words they did not always blow their own horn until they were placed on the stage during the Convention. It would be a blessing if during the Convention the states would stretch their sovereignty and give us a little solidity in one’s integrity, honesty, and moral strength. But then, we the people may get what we deserve rather than what we need. What we need as voting citizens is our own “fire in the belly,” demanding leadership which will give us a Republic to which we can pledge our allegiance.
Robert L. La May
Contributing Editor, the Christian Observer

Wont of Political Wisdom?

2008-02-12T08:40:00.000-06:00

Political correctness to the speeches of 'Change at all cost' we seem wanting for political wisdom. This is a time when we ought to seek out those whose wisdom helped the formation of our Republic [with Providential help].

Benjamin Franklin speaks to Constitutional Convention on Thursday, June 28, 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
“Mr. President,
The small progress we have made after 4 or five weeks close attendance & continual reasonings with each other -- our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes asays, is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own wont of political wisdom, since we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution now no longer exist. And we have viewed Modern States all round Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances.
In this situation of this Assembly groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine Protection. -- Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance.
I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth -- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that "except the Lord build they labor in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall be become a reproach and a bye word down to future age. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human Wisdom, and leave it to chance, war, and conquest.
I therefore beg leave to move -- that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that service.” [American Rhetoric Online]

Though the motion was before the Convention it was not passed. Nevertheless, we note that the Christian statesmen must be diligent in seeking the Sovereign Lord’s providential help, no matter what task He has given us in both the civil and church government.
Robert L. La May,
Contributing Editor, the Christian Observer

SUPER TUESDAY -- a bit of change

2008-02-04T11:11:00.000-06:00

“Webster’s Millions” is a movie where Richard Pryor plays a man who has to spend millions within a period of time in order to inherit more millions. Webster sounds like the hopeful candidates of Super Tuesday who spend millions to tell us how great they are as masters of change. Webster goes on to fulfill a dream of his baseball team to play the New York Yankees. He ends up spending millions by running for office with the theme “None of the above.”
“None of the above!” should be the slogan for Super Tuesday. By virtue of their millions and backing of the Media the two-party system has been kept in tact. On the one side we have the truest liberals that have ever hit the campaign trail. They introduced the slogan “I am for change.” [This could be a sign that this is what we will end up with, change to clink with.] One candidate qualifies herself as having many years of fighting for change; the other wants us to believe that limited experience guarantees that he is able to change Washington. The only guarantee that they both can offer is a building up of a better mouse trap [i.e. welfare state], dressed up in the same old garb (age) of promises built upon the pockets of taxpayers (once called citizens), embracing pork on the one hand, abortions on the other, weakening the moral fibers of our “one nation under God.”
The other party seems to be resting upon “compromise” rather than the strength of its own platform. They have taken up the mantle of “We will Change” mentality. Fighting among them-selves as to who can show that they are most conservative, they reveal, with relish, that they are centrist (i.e. to win one we will be all). However, to be “centrist” or “Moderate” will reveal its true nature which is to move more to the left while keeping a toe-hold on the fence.
The Media has also shown its true colors; even those who cry out “fair and balanced.” They chose to cover those who are either “most leftist” because of their own bias; or those who chose those who seem to be most winnable candidate and have some vesture of conservatism. Thus Fred Thompson, who has the best showing of conservatism, is claimed beatable and so the minds of their listeners are directed as they feel is best. And so with a third party which is only discussed as coming out of one of the two parties. There is a viable third party called the Constitutional Party; but forbid that the media would let the people know about that. Between the Media and the Left, people are fed only what is placed in their trough.
We have been called a Christian nation. This does not mean that every one is a Christian, nor does it mean that those who are not Christian should not share in the blessings of this nation. It does mean that this nation was founded on certain moral principles and law which has Biblical harmony. It would be a great help to those who wish to be faithful statesmen that they know the history of our nation. If the senators and representatives are not readers of history they are malfunctioning in their tasks as protectors of their states on the one hand, and the people on the other. Thus there is at best a misunderstanding of our nation as a Republic, and at least a desire of some to destroy the base and build an atheistic house of cards.
What is the answer? Vote “None of the above!” seeking out men of moral and ethical character that understand the meaning of Christian statesmanship. Read up on the history of our nation. One neat book has short stories of the Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, B. J. Lossing, a reprint by WallBuilder Press. One such signer was Richard Henry Lee, who was “a sincere practical Christian, a kind and affectionate husband and parent, a generous neighbor, a constant friend, and in all the relations of life, he maintained a character above reproach. ‘His hospitable door,’ …was open to all; the poor and destitute frequented it for relief and consolation.” We do not need quasi promises of change, but a deep and lasting reformation. Reformation brings us back to the foundation upon which we can continue to build. We do not to be thrown some change make us feel good, but a reformation that will raise statesmen of moral character, whose life, not mouth, reveals that which will bless our America under God our Creator. We need to hear words as spoken by the father of our nation, George Washington, who said, “it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly implore His protection and favor. …we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions” (Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1789). We need statesmen who know that a nation rises or falls upon their moral foundations. John Adams’ words ring true today that a republic government must be supported by a “pure Religion or Austere Morals. Public Virtue cannot exist in a Nation without private (virtue), and public Virtue is the only Foundation of Republics.
Another book which would feed the feeblest of minds is America’s Christian History, by Gary DeMar, who reminds us of the drafting of the Declaration of Independence in July of 1776 which maintains that Rights “are a gift from our Creator: ‘We are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights.’ The logic is simple. No Creator, no rights.” He continues, “The moral state of our nation is directly tied to this single phrase in the Declaration. Today, while our nation clamors for rights, it rejects the standard by which those rights secure their moral anchor.”
The Republic, the united nations of America, need not change based upon unkempt promises, but a true Reformation. We need something that we have not heard on today’s campaign trails. An Orator like that of Patrick Henry who knew his history, loved his country, leaned upon his God, and fearlessly spoke the truth. Patrick Henry “had the power as an orator because he was sincere and earnest in his delivery. He meant what he said. And when he believed something deeply, he spoke it vehemently. While the written word can never do justice to the power of the spoken word, the following eyewitness account of Henry’s delivery of his Liberty speech give us a glimpse into the secret of his power: Henry arose with an unearthly fire burning in his eye. He commenced somewhat calmly—but the smothered excitement began more and more to play upon his features and thrill in the tones of his voice. The tendons of his neck stood out white and rigid like whipcords. His voice rose louder and louder, until the walls of the building and all within them seemed to shake and rock in its tremendous vibrations. Finally his pale face and glaring eyes became terrible to look upon. Men leaned forward in their seats with their heads strained forward, their faces pale and their eyes glaring like the speaker’s. His last exclamation—‘give me liberty or give me death’—was like the shout of the leader which turns back the rout of battle!” [Give Me Liberty, David J. Vaughan]
The last word: Orators and Statesmen like Patrick Henry spoke eloquently followed by their actions to be a blessing to their family and nation, not upon promises that cannot be personally kept.
Robert L. LaMay,
Contributing Editor, the Christian Observer

Fred, Thom, Ron, & Paul

2008-01-16T09:01:00.000-06:00

What’s in a name? Fred Thompson and Ron Paul have uncomplicated names which make it easy for the people to understand. And so should the message of those who desire the office of service within the government of our United States. Ron Paul understands the message which will encourage Americans to be strong, able to pursue the happiness of which our Constitution speaks. Mr. Paul speaks well of the Constitution, Civil Liberties, and fiscal conservativeness; believing in a limited, constitutional government. Fred Thompson is solidly grounded in moral principles, and committed to limited government. We need one who is a protector of our rights and not one who promises to make government our nanny (which would be paid out of our pockets). Mr. Thompson is truly pro-life, saying, “I think Roe v. Wade should be changed with good judges following the law…sound conservative judges who apply the law and the Constitution.”
Others cry out that they are agents of change that their service in the government has been about change; while others cry change upon a foundation of immaturity. It should also be pointed out that those who cry change seem to have a weak, if not an absence of knowledge of history. Even a quick reading of the short stories of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, by B. J. Lossing, might put them on the right track. It was the character and the depth of their knowledge that brought them into the conflict that ended in victory. Would that history say of those who seek office be that which was spoken of one signer, James Wilson (who stood at the head of the Philadelphia bar), “As a patriot none was firmer; as a Christian none sincerer; and as a husband, father, neighbor and fiend, he was beloved and esteemed in the highest degree.” We are made alive as a nation, not on promises but on integrity and honesty.
We do not need change but reformation. Change only means that something will be done that comes from the mind of the one seeking the change; it is self-aggrandizement (‘I am bigger and greater’). Reformation means a return to the foundation that has been laid and now is being torn apart. It is not that we as a nation need a new direction, but that we need those who bring us back to the right station and track that will build and, therefore, will be a blessing to many. The Honorable Justice Clarence Thomas, speaking at Hillsdale College, spoke to the use of the Constitution: “Read the Declaration of Independence. We should always start, when we read the Constitution, by reading the Declaration, because it gives us the reasons why the structure of the Constitution was designed as it was. And with the Constitution, it was the structure of government that was supposed to protect our liberty. And what has happened through the years is that the protections afforded by that structure have been dissipated. Son my opinions are often about the undermining of those structural protections.”
The best leaders are those who have left the starting line and have jumped many hurdles and still advance heartily toward the goal. Those who cry ‘change’ with promises they cannot keep want us to remain on the sideline, urging their self interest while they continue to run a pseudo race which has no goal but their own satisfaction. Place these words on your desk or wall as you consider seriously who you want to lead us: “Be courteous to all, but intimate with few; let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence” (George Washington).
Rev. Robert L. La May, Litt.D
Contributing Editor, the Christian Observer

SEPARATION OF TRUTH AND DECEIT

2008-01-04T08:47:00.000-06:00

We have been hounded by Republicans and Democrats in Iowa, like the hawkers trumpeting their wares to a weary crowd at a fair. At the fair we can buy a ticket and get our money’s worth of goods or entertainment. We get neither from these hawkers. They placed presents for us under their Christmas trees (i.e. health care for all, education for all children, etc.), promises of a better life with each wrapped gift bearing a price tag which reads ‘paid in full by the taxpayer.’ In the midst of the noise there were questions of whether one should mention their faith. They did. And the news stations, with their panels of experts, gave unintelligible guidance as they reminded us of the Constitutionality of separation of church and state (to which the Constitution does not speak).
It should be noted that those who lift up their banners of separation of church and state have made religion a political issue. They need to do this in order to define the meaning of religion and to advance their liberal and atheistic world view. For example, in the center of last evening’s report of Iowa’s Caucuses was this “breaking news” that the U.S. National Academy of Sciences has issued a report that evolution is “the bedrock principle of modern biology.” We are to receive this report as the only guiding principle as to how the earth and its inhabitants came into being.
A report of in a science article of Reuters.com gives us an understanding of the political power which the Academy of Science wields. The article, by Will Dunham, begins, “The U.S. National Academy of Sciences on Thursday issued a spirited defense of evolution as the bedrock principle of modern biology, arguing that it, not creationism, must be taught in public school classes.” The strength of such a statement can only be felt when we know that they receive their authority from those who we elect to be our representatives: “The academy,” the article continues, “which operates under a mandate from Congress to advise the government on science and technology matters, issued the report at a time when the theory of evolution, first offered in the 19th century, faces renewed attack by some religious conservatives. Creationism, based on the explanation offered in the Bible, and the related idea of ‘intelligent design’ are not science and, as such, should not be taught in public school science classrooms, according to the report.” (In a telephone interview, Barbara Schaal, evolutionist biologist at Washington University in St. Louis, and Vice President of the Academy, said, “We need a citizenry that’s trained in real science.”)
The article continues, “But teaching creationist ideas in science classes confuses students about what constitutes and what does not, according to the report’s authors.” (It should would, the students may understand that Creationism is true science and that there is a clear separation of the truth of the Scriptures and the deceit of the evolutionist.
Courts of our nation have supported the view that evolution is really a political issue, taking it out of the hands of the Christian families; as the article reports for an example, “A judge in Dover, Pennsylvania ruled in 2005 that the teaching of intelligent design violated the U.S. Constitution, which requires a separation of church and state, because it is based on religious conviction, not science.”
By making the view of this world a political issue the Academy and others who claim evolution as truth (i.e. atheism and liberal humanism) they can argue from a false view of the Constitution, and so, from the start, give no credence at all to the truth of Creationism. They strengthen their position by making the state schools a political matter and that they are the saviors of education with the backing of the government plus those of the unions, ACLU, etc. The presidential hopefuls cry out for a change in government, but not a change in power. They speak of giving the government back to the people. However, they are to be those who will still define what should or should not be done, especially in the education of our children. The battle of separation of church and state is a battle between the separation of Truth and Deceit. The object of the Academy and the evolutionists is not of science but of the existence of the Creator. The Creator has established Science on the foundation that He is the Creator and that He did so, according to His Word, in six days and it was good, complete. He has established the work of true Science when He said to Adam, “Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life” (Gen. 1:29-30). Herein is true science, for Adam and Eve would examine and study the wonder and beauty of God’s Creation.
We must not do battle on the enemy’s ground. We must start with the world view that true science comes from God as Creator. To acknowledge and know that there is ample facts to prove our case, and that the evolutionists have none and that their authority rests only in deceit. It may be time for us to remove our children from the state to school to an educational process that teaches the truth and separate it from deceitful lies. They cannot destroy that which our Creator has established: "For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, in formed it to be inhabitated; I am the Lord; and there is none else" [Isa. 45:18]. And thus he did, in six days and all very good!
Robert L. La May,
Contribution Editor, the Christian Observer
(Picture from CSF)

POLITICAL TORMENT

2007-12-19T08:05:00.000-06:00

The “tormentors” get together behind their podiums (pedestals of protection) tormenting the minds of those who are ready for a debate upon which they can make judgments as to who will be the statesman best qualified to lead and protect the nation. Instead we hear, not answers to questions that will stimulate the intellect, but canned rejoinders of how best they can express the promises that they alone can bring through blessings of a central government (i.e. taxes for pork). The republicans do a little better as their rhetoric speak of less government and a yearning (almost) that we return to being a Republic. The democrats have it over the republicans in that they continue to be true to their liberal foundation, while the republicans flounder to the brink of destroying their moral and conservative foundation. When one listens carefully to the so called “national front runners” their promises speak not of liberty but of power.
C. S. Lewis’ words are most apropos to the political climate of today (whose heat is greater to that of the global warming addicts): “Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” [Emphasis mine];
Robert L. La May,
Contributing editor, the Christian Observer

Public Speaking or Moral Duty

2007-12-12T09:32:00.000-06:00

American Speaker editor-in-chief Aram Bakshian Jr., who was director of speech-writing during the first days of Ronald Reagan, “has given Inside the Beltway [by John McCaslin, The Washington Times] the first glance at his annual Patrick Henry Awards for best and worse speakers. (Mr. Bakshian explains the award is name for the Revolutionary figure—‘Give me liberty or give death!’—since he is ‘the founding father of American orators.’” Receiving “the award for ‘Most Professional Spokesman’ is Tony Snow, who ‘took over the White House press office at a time when its stock was very low.’” Continuing, “By force of Character—and because he knew what it was like to serve as a working journalist—he restored a measure of mutual confidence and respect between the press corps and the position he occupied.”
It is good to be reminded that there is a difference between public speaking and the integrity of a true orator. We have seen a lot of public speaking along with what is falsely identified as ‘debates.’ Anyone can get up and speak publicly, but few are able to present oneself as an Orator (def. “An eloquent speaker; a speaker, by way of eminence” [Webster]. An Orator is one whose integrity, coupled with his knowledge of the subject, is able to move others to agreement or disagreement; but on both accounts is found to be well respected.
There is much discussion on whether one’s religion should have anything to do with his ability to hold office, especially that of President. Thus one says that his faith is private, or that he promises that his religion will not affect his running the country. That’s like an atheist saying that his non-belief in God [his innate desire to destroy Christianity] would not affect his ability to serve the “nation under God.” Or like the liberal who says their world view will not affect their decision to maintain and encourage abortion as an inalienable right of all women.
Back to the days of Patrick Henry who was active in the politics of Virginia. David Vaughn wrote in his book “Give Me Liberty” that “It is striking that in the Sixteenth Article of the Virginia Bill of Rights, penned by Henry himself, religion is defined as ‘the duty which we owe our Creator.’ This principle was at the foundation of Henry’s entire approach to life. As he learned from his uncle, Henry’s calling was to ‘do my duty in that state of life of life unto which it shall please God to call me.’”
Duty to God and Country should be the bottom line of those who desire to hold any office of the civil government. Promises made upon the ability of the citizen to pay taxes reveal the hypocritical character of many desiring to run for office. True religion develops character, and character enhances the gifts of service and leadership. The moral character of our leadership will influence the character of the nation.
Robert L. LaMay,
Contributing Editor, the Christian Observer

One Nation Under _________

2007-12-05T08:06:00.000-06:00

Last week there were two TV specials for the ‘Christmas’ season. One was from Radio City Music Hall NYC [Our mother would take us two boys there for a special treat in the 40’s]. The second was a Lawrence Welk Christmas special on Iowa Public Television. Both were very professional and lively.
At Radio City the choreography of the ‘Santa’s’ was spectacular as was the dancing of the Rockette’s dressed as Raggedy Ann’s. At the end of the Rockette’s routine they spelled out with large play-blocks “Merry Christmas.” The audience could be seen mouthing the words of the songs and the children’s faces were brightened. The Lawrence Welk special started out with everyone standing and repeating together the Pledge of Allegiance. The camera was on the people and when they came to the phrase “under God” there was no hesitation and they spoke the words clearly. Then there was the singing of Irving Berlin’s song “God Bless America.” Christmas Carols were also part of the program.
What does this all mean? The majority of American Citizens enjoy the Christmas holiday and they also are not ashamed of mentioning God in relationship to our Nation. [This in spite of cities that pass ordinances that only white lights are to be used during the holiday, even Santa is ruled out because of ‘religious’ attachment, etc.] Congress, on the other hand, continues to make light of the Scriptures and of God. They roll out the barrel that is not full of fun but of pork (fat earmarks that is), i.e. as in one bill which contained about 2,200 pounds of pork (earmarks) worth at least one billion dollars. A discussion of the news on TV began with the remark that there was a fight going on in Congress and that, as they were going on their Thanksgiving break, will have to wait until they got back to continue the fight. While they are battling as to who can spend the most money or maintain the most power, many Americans are unafraid to say ‘merry Christmas.’
When Congress turn their back on the Bible and are ashamed to look to the Almighty God of Providence in their deliberations, they become the ‘authority’ that America must look to for their salvation. True Christians believe that there must be a separation of church and state, but not of the Creator and state. God is sovereign, and Christians believe that He and His Word must be recognized in the state, and that by doing so ALL people are blessed. However, we are moving away from being a Republic whose foundation is the moral Law of God; and in so doing we are changing the words of our Pledge to read “One nation under congress.”
Let us sing unashamedly these last words of our National Anthem [which are so many times left out; heaven forbid (not) that we hear the word ‘God’]: “Oh! Thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand / Between their loved home and the war’s desolation! / Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land / Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. / Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, / And this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust.’ / And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave. / O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.” Our National Anthem became official in the year 1931, the same year that the Empire State Building was completed (I am one year older than both and praise the King of kings and Lord of lords for the blessings He has given).
Great Britain’s National Anthem speaks also of the Almighty God: “O Lord our God arise, Scatter her enemies, And make them fall: Confound their politics, Frustrate their knavish tricks, On Thee our hopes we fix: God save us all.” The Netherlands National Anthem also reminds us that the Lord is Sovereign over nations: “You, my God and Lord, are my shield, on You I rely. On You I will build; never leave me, Dispelling the tyranny that wounds my heart.”
Let us remember we truly are “One Nation under God!”
Robert L. La May,
Contributing Editor, the Christian Observer

POLITICAL CORRECTNESS VS. MORAL CORRECTNESS

2007-11-28T10:36:00.000-06:00

As we listen to those who run congress or are running for president we hear the sound of power. This ‘power’ has a underpinning which can be defined in one word, ‘tyranny.’ Tyranny is defined by Webster (1828) as “Arbitrary or despotic exercise of power; the exercise of power over subjects and others with a rigor not authorized by law or justice, or not requisite for the purposes of government.” This sound of power is heard when the ‘hopefuls’ promise national (free?) healthcare while they reach into the pockets of the hopeless (i.e. taxpayers. I grew up at a time when we were called ‘citizens’). Listen carefully to those who teach the lie of ‘Global Warming;’ for they seek power over nations; as do those of the U.N. This is seen in the “Law of the Sea Treaty,” whose letters spell ‘LOST’ as it should be. This is just another way of exercising power at the expense of others. It has been pointed out that LOST could very easily endanger the sovereignty of our nation by placing us under a global tax. Under “Brief of the Week” (Human Events Nov. 19) quotes from Reagan’s diary, “in which he wrote, ‘Decided in [National Security Council] meeting—will not sign Law of the Sea Treaty.’” The article continues, “Oklahoma Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe, one of the leaders of the anti-treaty forces, quoted from testimony by then-Ambassador James Malone, who handled LOST negotiations for Reagan, that, despite the claims the its controversial provisions have been fixed, ‘all the provisions from the past that make such a [new world order] out come possible, indeed likely, still stand.”
Other sounds ring of that desire for power (not power of the people) with such words as ‘earmarks’ and ‘pork.’ Rep. John Campbell from California wrote (Commentary, “Embracing Reagan’s legacy in the new century, The Washington Time, Nov.19) that “We have taken strong, principled positions on a number of issues. For example, we believe that the earmark process should be eliminated. Mr. Coburn has said that earmarks are the ‘gateway drug to overspending.’ They are. But they are also the gateway drug to corruption in Congress, as we have seen with recent indictments and convictions. And we are likely to see more such indictments in the future. To lead by example, all members of Reagan 21 have agreed to request no new earmarks. The earmark process is the tool used by the spenders in both parties to accomplish their goals of using your money to create their power. And we have to stop them.”
The dividing line between Political action and Moral action has been established by those in power, or those seeking power. Senators are supposed to protect the rights of their (sovereign) states. Representatives are to be the protectors of the people. In other words, “do those things which will enable us to do our tasks well in home and state.” There is a moral decline in our nation. We need less central government and more responsible and moral leaders. Listen carefully to these words of Noah Webster defining ‘morality’ –“The quality of an action which renders it good; the conformity of an act to the divine law, or to the principles of rectitude. This conformity implies that the act must be performed by a free agent, and from a motive of obedience to the divine will. This is the strict theological and scriptural sense of morality. But we often apply the word to actions which accord with justice and human laws, without reference to the motives from which they proceed.” When man seeks power without reference to an objective base (God’s Law) then tyranny shows its horrible head. There should be a separation of state and organized church, but there should not be a separation between the state and the Triune God who has declared that we shall not obey any authority that declares itself to be above Him and His Law. [Picture of George Washington at U.S. Capital Chapel]
Robert L. La May
Contributing Editor, the Christian Observer

PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION FOR THIS THANKSGIVING DAY

2007-11-19T08:29:00.000-06:00

Presidential Proclamation – Humility and Thanksgiving
“As no truth is more clearly taught in the Volume of Inspiration, nor any more fully demonstrated by the experience of all ages, than that a deep sense and a due acknowledgment of the governing providence of a Supreme Being and of the accountableness of men to Him as the searcher of hearts and righteous distributer of rewards and punishments are conducive equally to the happiness and rectitude of individuals and to the well-being of communities; as it is also most reasonable in itself that men who are made capable of social acts and relations, who owe their improvements to the social state, and who derive their enjoyments from it, should, as a society, make their acknowledgments of dependence and obligation to Him who hath endowed them with these capacities and elevated them in the scale of existence by these distinctions; as it is likewise a plain dictate of duty and a strong sentiment of nature that in circumstances of great urgency and seasons of imminent danger earnest and particular supplications should be made to Him who is able to defend or to destroy; as, moreover, the most precious interests of the people of the United States are still held in jeopardy by the hostile designs and insidious acts of a foreign nation, as well as by the dissemination among them of those principles, subversive of the foundations of all religious, moral, and social obligations, that have produced incalculable mischief and misery in other countries; and as, in fine, the observance of special seasons for public religious solemnities is happily calculated to aver the evils which we ought to deprecate and to excite to the performance of the duties which we ought to discharge by calling and fixing the attention of the people at large to the momentous truths already recited, by affording opportunity to teach and inculcate them by animating devotion and giving to it the character of a national act.
For these reasons I have thought proper to recommend, and I do hereby recommend accordingly, that Thursday, the 25th day of April next, be observed throughout the United States of America as a day of solemn humiliation, fasting, and prayer; that the citizens on that day abstain as far as may be from their secular occupations, devote the time to the sacred duties of religion in public and in private; that they call to mind our numerous offenses against the Most High God, confess them before Him with the sincerest penitence, implore His pardoning mercy, through the Great Mediator and Redeemer, for our past transgressions, and that through the grace of His Holy Spirit we may be disposed and enabled to yield a more suitable obedience to His righteous requisitions in time to come; that He would interpose to arrest the progress of that impiety and licentiousness in principle and practice so offensive to Himself and so ruinous to mankind; that He would make us deeply sensible that "righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people"; that He would turn us from our transgressions and turn His displeasure from us; that He would withhold us from unreasonable discontent, from disunion, faction, sedition, and insurrection; that He would preserve our country from the desolating sword; that He would save our cities and towns from a repetition of those awful pestilential visitations under which they have lately suffered so severely, and that the health of our inhabitants generally may be precious in His sight; that He would favor us with fruitful seasons and so bless the labors of the husbandman as that there may be food in abundance for man and beast; that He would prosper our commerce, manufactures, and fisheries, and give success to the people in all their lawful industry and enterprise; that He would smile on our colleges, academies, schools, and seminaries of learning, and make them nurseries of sound science, morals, and religion; that He would bless all magistrates, from the highest to the lowest, give them the true spirit of their station, make them a terror to evil doers and a praise to them that do well; that He would preside over the councils of the nation at this critical period, enlighten them to a just discernment of the public interest, and save them from mistake, division, and discord; that He would make succeed our preparations for defense and bless our armaments by land and by sea; that He would put an end to the effusion of human blood and the accumulation of human misery among the contending nations of the earth by disposing them to justice, to equity, to benevolence, and to peace; and that he would extend the blessings of knowledge, of true liberty, and of pure and undefiled religion throughout the world.
And I do also recommend that with these acts of humiliation, penitence, and prayer, fervent thanksgiving to the Author of All Good be united for the countless favors which He is still continuing to the people of the United States, and which render their condition as a nation eminently happy when compared with the lot of others.
PRSIDENT JOHN ADAMS, 1799
President John Adams may be politically incorrect according to today’s statesmen; but he certainly is not ashamed of the truth of God’s grace and the need of our Sovereign’s providential care. To whom shall we give thanks if we have replaced the Sovereign Redeemer and his Word with the foolish and hypocritical reason of man in the halls of our nation?
Giving thanks to the King of kings,
Robert L. La May
Contributing Editor, the Christian Observer

Tis the Season

2007-11-14T08:24:00.000-06:00

It’s the season to be ‘stupid’! Beginning with Halloween we are inundated with the words “Holiday Greetings.” Excuse me, we are allowed to say Happy Halloween. Which reminds me, as I was growing up in Brooklyn, New York, Halloween was the least of the holidays. We lived in one of the three six-family houses on Decatur Street (a number of Admirals were honored). Dad undertook care of these houses and reminded us that we had to take the gates off the fence that led to cellar, and along with the trash cans, hid them inside (the worse thing to happen that they were taken off as “trick” on the eve of Halloween). The bigger holiday was Thanksgiving. We looked forward to that Thursday each year with the gathering of fruits and nuts, worship service, and then the family noon meal. It was recognized in the papers with the printing of the Thanksgiving letter from the President. Heaven forbid that we mention anything that would bring out the words “thank you Lord.” I noticed this year that a Fox News commentator hesitated and came out with “Turkey Day.”
A city in Colorado has said that you could display white lights only. Which reminds me of last year when some school superintendents said that all red and green papers should be hidden during the season. Stars, angels, (even Santa Clauses), and other “religious” items are being banned. Children can have a holiday celebration at school, but not a Christmas party. In other words we must be careful not to hurt the feelings of those who do not believe, but it is OK if the Christian is offended.
The minority of one again finds that they can make the system bow in ardent worship of the god of “Political Correctness.” It is stupid to try and hide the truth under the guise of being politically correct. Stores know that a need for the seasons has been built in order to boost their sales. However, how has this war of words come about? Very simple, it started in the political halls of civil government. Statesmen became politically corrupt. The Bible was no longer a valid book to look for moral standards. God was not to be mentioned by the use of the false understanding of the division of Church and State (defined by action that there is a dividing wall between the Creator and state).
What shall we do? Support statesmen that are not ashamed of the Bible and of the history of our nation which was built upon the revealed moral law of God.
Lowe’s hardware gives a small example of how we should not be afraid to speak up (kindly) about what is happening. Lowe’s catalog had called their Christmas trees “Family” trees. This is the apology they gave: that they were “proudly committed to selling Christmas trees this year, as it has done for more than 60 years. The company apologized for the confusion created in its 2007 holiday catalog when it headlined the page of Christmas trees ‘family trees.’” Their trees will be called Christmas trees in their TV adv., etc.
I give this as an example only to get us thinking of returning to the halls of Congress the Bible as the foundation of our moral strength, that worship is that of the True Creator, and that they will recognize the true Sovereign is not in their hands but in that of the Son of God. We do not elect statesmen to represent our pocket-books that their nanny-promises may be kept; but to represent us and the states, to protect and encourage us to do the tasks for ourselves. When will we be tired of being the dogs that are being wagged by the tail?
Robert L. La May (and I approve this message),
Contributing Editor, the Christian Observer

Winning the Future with Whom?

2007-11-07T11:27:00.000-06:00

An advertisement in Human Events (Oct. 15) reads, “Winning the Future with Newt Gingrich.” Looking through some of the past e-mails one finds general solutions built around his founding of American Solutions: “Our belief is that politics can and should take second place to meet the challenge of restoring basic American principles to government. We have to have a fundamental approach to thinking through what we’re doing before we worry about the politics of what we’re doing.” Except for the hint of gobblygook (the orderly order of disorderly words to test the brain in the practice of comprehension), Mr. Gingrich never really defines what is meant by American Solutions, or his continued use of the words “family values.” A house without a sure foundation is bound to collapse upon itself. In other words, we once had a foundation based upon Law, which was of an objective nature (i.e. The Commandments of God); which we have seen weakened by the continued fight to eliminate the name of God as well as the Divine Book He has given us, the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament. Only when we return Washington to its foundation will we begin to define the principles of statesmanship and what the righteous values which bless family and nation are.
In the same issue of Human Events a letter to Conservative Forum reveals that there are conservatives who can examine issues without the gobblygook. Mr. Myron Ebell of Washington, D.C. understands the use of words: “But I write instead to quibble—in the strongest possible way—about the headline of your interview with former Speaker Newt Gingrich: ‘Gingrich lays out Course for Conservatives for ‘O8’ …Isn’t this rather like the leftist publications and politicians that pretend to give good advice to their dim conservative opponents?” I see this kind of posturing on Fox News when they say, balanced and not afraid, we report you decide, etc. They still choose what they want us to hear.
Mr. Ebell gives us another understanding of Gingrich’s shallow if not hypocritical thinking in light that he calls himself a conservative: “More recently, he debated Sen. John Kerry [D. –Mass] on global warming. It turned into a love-in, because Gingrich agreed with nearly everything Kerry said. He offered his usual concoction of ‘visionary’ rhetoric about providing incentives to develop the whiz-bang new technology he loves but also added, ‘I am not automatically saying that coercion and bureaucracy is not an answer.’ You can say that again. The whole point of global-warming alarmism, like most environmental issues, is coercion and bureaucracy. If the solution to global warming doesn’t involve big-government command-and-control, then its not recognized as a solution. And Mr. Gingrich must know that.”
As with many so-called statesmen in government today the issue is to protect the party at all costs. And rather than look to God’s Law Book for help they turn to the world. This is illustrated by Mr. Gingrich’s writing of his visit to Disney World (e-mail 11/7). He says that we “have obsolete based bureaucracies that don’t take care of their employees.” His answer to this is that “There is no reason we can’t take the principles of the world that works and apply them in Washington.” In other words Disney World can be our saving grace.
May I give you a better place to go: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power (authority) but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God; and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation” (Rom. 13:1-2). Have we completely stepped off that foundation once put down by the Founders? Let us hope not. Let us get a good footing on that which is the righteousness that will build a nation.
Robert L. La May,
Contributing Editor, the Christian Observer

Tyranny of One

2007-10-31T13:10:00.000-05:00

How many liberals (i.e. athiests) does it take to shake a tree full of conservatives? The answer is ‘ONE’. A law is passed that all schools in the state are to begin the day with a short time of silence. An atheist father speaks against the rule saying that Christians are forcing his daughter to pray. On the other hand a judge in northern New Jersey ok’s the students right to wear ‘Hitler” buttons to school (they wanted to protest uniform policy), saying that it is their right to protest peacefully. I wonder if they wore Christ is our Creator to protest, peacefully the teaching of the lie of evolution, that their rights be protected. Then there is the Erica who mentioned the name of Jesus in her 30 second Commencement Speech. In order to get her diploma she had to apologize. One voice is raised and we fall upon our knees in contrition. The few in this nation vigorously wave the scepter of Tyranny, defined as: “Arbitrary or despotic exercise of power; the exercise of power over subjects and others with a rigor not authorized by law or justice, or not requisite for the purposes of government.” –Noah Webster 1828.
The following is reported from the web of Fox News. A memo came to the Department of Veterans Affairs calling for the halting of the practice of flag-folding during military funerals. This caused uproar from the veterans. To appease the few the secretary for Memorial Affairs, William F. Turk, “Honoring the burial wishes of veterans is one of the highest commitments for the men and women of VA. A family may request the recitation of words to accompany the meaningful presentation of the American Flag as we honor the dedication and sacrifice of their loved ones.” Rees Lloyd, a member of the American Legion’s Memorial fund, said, “To me, it’s a slap in the face for every member of the Memorial Honor Detail and every family of the deceased veteran.” Rep. Heath Shuler of N.C. wrote a letter co-signed by eleven other congressmen calling for the return of the recitation to the full military funeral; “The flag folding recitation is a longstanding tradition which brings comfort to the living and honor to the deceased.”
It would be better that the one or few who are disturbed by the fact that we are a Christian nation, that they ask to be exempt, rather than they be moving factor of the many. Christians do have an agenda. However, we are taught to love our neighbors, seeking to be a blessing to those around us. This does not seem to be the agenda of the few who rather abort a baby rather than be a blessing to child and mother.
Robert L. La May,
Contributing Editor, the Christian Observer

Your Choice: Constitutional Law or Tyranny

2007-10-24T08:05:00.000-05:00

The news as to who is ahead in the race for the presidency begins with who has raised the most money. Then there is the discussion as to which party will win the Whitehouse. Neither of these discussions and the debates of the parties answer the question as to what makes a senator, representative, or president of value to the nation. Many a sermon was preached at the time of our establishment as a nation that encouraged those in office to be morally strong.
The following excerpts are from a sermon preached before “His Excellency John Hancock, Esq; Governour, the honourable the Senate, and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, October 25, 1780. Being the day of the commencement of the Constitution and Inauguration of the new Government. By Samuel Cooper, D.D.” Dr. Cooper chose a verse from Jeremiah 30: “Their Congregation shall be established before me: and their nobles shall be of themselves, and their Governor shall proceed from the midst of them.”
[The following thoughts from the sermon should help our statesmen to take note of the Republic and themselves as to what would make them of value to citizens which they represent.]
“Nothing can be more applicable to the solemnity in which we are engaged, than this passage of sacred writ. The prophecy seems to have been made for ourselves, it is so exactly descriptive of that important, that comprehensive, that essential civil blessing, which kindles the luster, and diffuses the joy of the present day. Nor is this the only passage of holy scripture that holds up to our view a striking resemblance between our own circumstances and those of the ancient Israelites; a nation chosen by God a theatre for the display of some of the most astonishing dispensations of his providence. Like that nation we rose from oppression, and emerged ‘from the House of Bondage”: Like that nation we were led into a wilderness, as a refuge from tyranny, and a preparation for the enjoyment of our civil and religious rights. …This day, this memorable day, is a witness, that the Lord, he whose ‘hand maketh great, and giveth strength unto all, hath not forsaken us, nor our God forgotten us.’ This day, which forms a new era in our annals, exhibits a testimony to all the world, that contrary to our deserts, and amidst all our troubles, the blessing promised in our text to the afflicted seed of Abraham is come upon us; ‘Their Nobles shall be of themselves, and their Governor shall proceed from the midst of them.”
[We need to take particular care of that tyranny which is raising its head through our courts and our halls of education. Tyranny defined as: “Arbitrary or despotic exercise of power; the exercise of power over subjects and others with a rigor not authorized by law or justice, or not requisite for the purposes of government.” –Noah Webster 1828. –i.e. promises which rest upon the raising of taxes.]
On the Constitution, Dr. Cooper called the citizens a “Happy people! who not awed by the voice of a master; not chained by slavish customs, superstitions, and prejudices, have deliberately framed the constitution under which you chose live; and are to be subject to no laws, by which you do not consent to bind yourselves. In such an attitude human nature appears with it’s proper dignity: On such a basis, life, and all that sweetens and adorns it, may rest with as much security as human imperfection can possibly admit: In such a constitution we find a county deserving to be loved, and worthy to be defended. For what is our country? Is it a foil of which, tho’ we may be the present possessors, we can call no part our own? or the air in which we first drew our breath, from which we may be confined in a dungeon, or of which we may be deprived by the ax or the halter at the pleasure of a tyrant? Is not a country a constitution—an established frame of laws; of which a man may say, ‘we are here united in society for our common security and happiness. These fields and these fruits are my own: The regulations under which I live are my own; I am not only a proprietor in the soil, but I am part of the sovereignty of my country.’ Such ought to be the community of men, and such, adored be the goodness of the supreme Ruler of the world, such, at present is our own county; of which this day affords a bright evidence, a glorious recognition.
“To the disappointment of our enemies, the joy of our friends, we have now attained a settled government with a degree of peace and unanimity, all circumstances considered, truly surprising. The sagacity, the political knowledge, the patient deliberation, the constant attention to the grand principles of liberty, and the mutual condescension and candor under a diversity of apprehension respecting the modes of administration, exhibited by those who were appointed to form this constitution, and by the people who ratified it, must do immortal honor to our country. It is, we believe, ‘an happy foundation for many generations’; and the framers of it are indeed the fathers of their country; since nothing is so essential to the increase, and universal prosperity of a community, as a constitution of government founded in justice, and friendly to liberty. Such men have a monument of glory more durable than brass or marble.
“I need not enlarge before such an audience upon the particular excellencies of this constitution: How effectually it makes the people the keepers of their own liberties, with whom they are certainly safest: How nicely it poises the powers of government, in order to render them as far as human foresight can, what God ever designed they should be, powers only to do good: How happily it guards on the one hand against anarchy and confusion, and on the other against tyranny and oppression: How carefully it separates the legislative from the executive power, a point essential to liberty: How wisely it has provided for the impartial execution of the laws in the independent situation of the judges; a matter of capital moment, and without which the freedom of a constitution in other respects, might be often delusory, and not realized in the just security of the person and property of the subject.” (Political Sermons of the American Founding Era, Ellis Sandoz, ed., Liberty Press, Indianapolis)
[Note the absence today of a absence of a true understanding of our Constitution as a foundation of liberty, of a need of a firm faith in the God of Providence, even Christ who is declared in His Word that He is the Supreme Ruler and all other authority is to give him homage and obedience.]
Robert L. La May
Contributing Editor, the Christian Observer

Dumb & Dumber

2007-10-17T08:37:00.000-05:00

Dumb & Dumber
A movie by this name, revealed by TV trailers, shows two men seemingly competing for the Dumber Emmy Award; which may disclose the reason behind some of the presidential debates. Dumb, meaning intellectually wanting, & Dumber, as if that is possible, fits well into the Political Correctness of today. For example:
1. A group of Christian student football players kneel in prayer before a game (students are allowed to pray as they see fit). The coach stands by quietly with his head bowed. The coach is being chastised for not being sensitive to those who don’t have a god to pray to. The TV news discussion makes an end run for separation of church and state, giving a solution that the coach could have turned his back and crossed his arms. It looks like the only true sensitive people are atheists. Dumb and dumber awards are pinned to those who continually try to rationalize behavior by irrational laws. 2. Members of Congress attack a Radio host (Rush) contending for the Dumb and Dumber award. Having heard the conversation, I find it not at all confusing as to what he was talking about. Taking out of context words that fit their agenda seem to be seen as a proper use of lying without lying. Facts are not relevant, only the end which they see as justifying the means (a very unbiblical position). The liberal media (i.e., K. Obermann & C. Matthews) knows who wins the award as they, upon opening the envelope, join in signing “Smear Rush” letter to Clear Channel (signers: Harry Reid, Hillary Clinton, Ted Kennedy, Barack Obama, John Kerry, Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein, Chuck Schumer, Richard Durbin and Tom Harkin). Is this why we elected these people to office? 3. Radio Disney has joined the race for the Dumb & Dumber Emmy Award. There is a new motion picture, “Ten Commandments” soon to be released. However, Radio Disney has decided to ban the words (Moses) “chosen by God” from an ad promoting “Ten Commandments.” Imagine the liberal committee from congress meeting Moses at the foot of the Mount Sinai. With black pen it hand they removed words that their poor sensitive hearts could not bear: “I Am-------“(oh, you forgot, “I Am” is the name of the Lord thy God). It is not the removal of the word God, or of His Scriptures from the halls of Congress that make it so horrible, but that such actions declare that there is no God (no authority above that of man). Dumb always reveals Dumber. 4. The Architect of the Capital had removed the name of God and Lord from the certificates of authenticity which is received by those who request a flag which is flown over the Capital. Sorry, you lost the Award by default. We are thankful for those of Congress that has brought back the right of those who wished God to be mentioned in the certificates (i.e. the Boy Scout who wanted to honor his grandfather on the occasion of his 81st birthday, “the year of our Lord, 2007. Thank you Grandpa, for showing me what it means to love God, family, and country. We love you.”
Remember, “A leader acts courageously because God governs providentially.” And, “Leadership requires the courage to face the truth, even if painful.” Scroll down and read the Blog of July, and the Blog of March 6, “True Leadership.”
Robert L. La May
Contributing Editor, Christian Observer

Theology and Statesmanship

2007-10-10T08:32:00.000-05:00

I received an email, titled, ‘President Bush’s Theology,” directing us to a White House interview between the President and the TV station ‘Al-Arabiya.’ The theology of any one cannot be separated from their thoughts and actions. Decisions are not made in a vacuum. Your god (authority) guides your judgments. The interview, therefore, is said to reveal that “President Bush believes and practices the theological lie of universalism.”
The interview took place on October 4 in the Oval Office. The part of the interview that we are interested in reveals the theology of the President. Q. …I heard Mr. President, also that you are receiving an Iftaar—P. Yes I am. Q.—in the White House, which is, of course, a Muslim ritual. P. It is. …Well, first of all, I believe in an almighty God, and I believe that all the world, whether they be Muslim, Christian, or any other religion, prays to the same God. That’s what I believe. I believe that Islam is a great religion that practices peace. ...We are having an Iftaar dinner tonight—I say “we” – it’s my wife and I. This is the seventh one in the seven years I’ve been the President. It gives me a chance to say “Ramadan Mubarak.” The reason I do this is I want people to understand about my country. In other words, I hope this message gets out of America. I want people to understand that one of the great, freedoms in America is the right of people to worship any way they see fit. If you’re a Muslim, an agnostic, a Christian, a Jew, a Hindu, your equally American. And the value—the most valuable thing about America is that—particularly if you’re a religious person—you can be free to worship … Secondly, I want American citizens to see me hosting an Iftaar dinner.
What does it mean to say, “Ramadan Mubarak”? You can celebrate this religious month of Ramadan by sending a card reading, “Blessings of Allah on You!” An advertisement on a web-site goes this way, “Say Ramadan Mubarak and send your wishes for the holy month with this elegant E-Card.” It is the holy Quran teaches us of “Ramadan-ol-Mubarak,” the anniversary of the Holy Quran: “To render our dues we should recite the Holy Quran as much as possible. During this month, at night, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) use to recite the Holy Quran in its entirety with the Angel Gabriel (Jibraeel).
Whom do we serve? A God who has revealed Himself through the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, or a god who is confused as to what his true nature is, in whom are so many variables? We know and serve the Lord who has revealed Himself clearly: “Do not err my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” [James 1:16-18].
The Christian statesman stands for the truth, that others may know the truth, and that many may be blessed. A nation whose foundation is strengthened in the Word and Truth of the Creator becomes a place of blessing. These words of the E-mail I received gives our hope in Christ: “We pray that the President will hear and understand the truth of John 14:6, Acts 4:12, and the multitude of other Scriptures that declare the uniqueness of the Lord Jesus Christ and the lostness of those outside Him” (David Carr).
Robert L. La May
Contributing Editor, Christian Observer

Congress Can

2007-10-05T07:33:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Google beamed with this quote by C. Hightower, “We may not imagine how our lives could be more frustrating and complex – but Congress can.” And as if in direct answer the U. S. House of Representatives approved the following resolution (sponsored by Rep. Eddie Johnson, D-Texas): “Recognizing the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and commending Muslims in the United States and throughout the world for their faith.” The measure passed 376-0, with 42 members voting "Present." (One News Now). What happened to separation of church and state? And, how easily can Congress refuse to so recognize the Christian faith, even refusing to recognize Christmas, etc.
However, this is not the way to remember 9/11. In a previous Blog I recorded Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's appeal, in his speech at Columbia University, to the “name of God (Allah) the compassionate, the merciful.” He then recited the Koran (in Arabic), saying “Oh, God (Allah), hasten the arrival of Imam al-Mahdi and grant him good health and victory and make us his followers and those to attest to his righteousness.” Ahmadinejad looks for the coming of Al-Mahdi, “The Guided One,” the final prophet who will lead the Muslim world to victory over all those not of the faith (i.e. Christians). Until the time of his coming, Muslims must be diligent in their faithfulness to the Koran.
The Judeo-Christian faith seems to be foreign to Congress, so look for continued frustration from those we have elected to represent us in the halls where the Bible and Faith has been placed in a capsule and buried for a future generation to dig up. Maybe the time is now for us to unleash the power of the capsule and give honor to the King of kings who can along bring true blessings to the nation.
Robert L. La May,

Contributing Editor, Christian Observer

Confidence in Power

2007-10-03T08:38:00.000-05:00

It has been said that the love of money is the root of all evil. It may be said today that the gathering of large funds is the foundation of political aspirations. So great is this reality that a table debate on a news channel concerning who is ahead began with the dollar support; i.e. Senator Clinton has gathered 22 million over Senator Obama’s 19 million. This should read: my supporters like what I say about things like, health insurance for all, war, abortion, etc. In other words, I really am not speaking to the people but to those who send me the money (with the hope that the people will follow without the use the thinking machine). Note the hidden words of the campaign: compromise, band wagon, don’t do your homework, make a hypocritical fool of yourself on the floor, forget what it means to be a Republic, turn from object Law, forget vows to support the Constitution, etc.
What we need is another “Tea Party” – a rebellion against two parties whose goals seem to be more and more the same. The confidence in the Constitutional Government of which our Republic has found strength, has been exchanged for a Confidence in Power, a confidence in man. Thomas Jefferson likes to be quoted out of context concerning the separation of church and state, but we haven’t heard these words of his, “In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.” We need to be unshackled from their promises which destroy our liberty, and chain these promise breakers to the Constitution.
We need true freedom of speech. They speak up a storm and expect the listeners to be listeners only. George Washington spoke rightly, “If freedom of speech is taken away and then dumb silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” In other words, freedom of speech means responsible dialog with intelligent understanding. To spew words of lies or filth, for the purpose of self-brandishing only puts down the audience as stupid spectators. Free speech should rejoice in truth and righteousness, bringing blessings to all citizens.
There is a foundation that has been left rotting away. But its healing is coming. We need to heed the call to bring our nation back on this foundation, which was clearly expressed by our first President, “It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.” The rule of law has been established by our Creator. Put Him aside and you have a government without a foundation. There lies our true Confidence in Power, in the strength and word of the Sovereign King of kings and Lord of lords.
Robert L. La May
Contributing Editor, Christian Observer

Ahmadinejad - Freedom of Speech

2007-09-25T14:48:00.000-05:00

Freedom of Speech:
Amendment I of the Constitution of The United States of America begins with the general rule, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” We won’t get into that right now but that the word ‘free’ is put there for a purpose. The free exercise of religion is followed by these words, “or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Note that freedom of speech is an adjunct or appendage to free exercise thereof. When laws are passed to abridge and deny one, they affect the others. Another point before we go on to the activities of September 24, the First Amendment is for the purpose of building our nation as a Republic protecting the rights of the people of each of the sovereign states of America.
The battle over whether the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad centered on whether he should have been invited to speak at Columbia University. Free speech appeared on the horizon of the debate clouding the truth of what free speech is all about. It is about being responsible to the nation and being faithful to the truth that will build upon the moral strength of our nation.
Nevertheless, Pres. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was invited and spoke. Between the United Nations and Columbia University the writer spent four years on East 49th Street at New York Theological Seminary. We watched some parades of cars moving back and forth, with some dignitaries stopping to speak at the Seminary, in particular, a very gracious lady, Madame Chiang Kai-Shek. Interesting that our friends are not accepted; i.e. China still hinders Taiwan from entering its rightful place among the nations. The hypocrisy of both the U.N. and Columbia is shown in whom they choose, or not choose, to fill their pulpit.
Preceding the speech of Ahmadinejad, President Lee Bollinger of Columbia had some biting comments as “You exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel evil dictator;” though approving the right of the dictator free speech. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad began his speech appealing to the “name of God (Allah) the compassionate, the merciful.” He then recited the Koran (in Arabic), saying “Oh, God (Allah), hasten the arrival of Imam al-Mahdi and grant him good health and victory and make us his followers and those to attest to his righteousness.” Knowing this helps us to understand what he said throughout the speech. Al-Mahdi is “The Guided One,” the final prophet who will lead the Muslim world to victory over all those not of the faith (i.e. Christians). Until the time of his coming, Muslims must be diligent in their faithfulness to the Koran. Thus whatever is in his speech is colored by his prayer.
Ahmadinejad saw himself as one of the academics, as he himself was a professor and still teaches. He likened the Testaments with Islamic teaching, likening religion with science. He continued by saying he was grateful to almighty Allah for providing him with the opportunity to speak to those who are “seeking the truth and striving for the promotion of science and knowledge.” Later on he gave us the understanding that he was speaking of a true academic that is true to the uniting of religion (Koran) and science. Science being the “divine gift” which illuminates the heart. Continually quoting the Koran Ahmadinejad spoke of the Old and New Testaments; i.e. “Regarding the holy prophet Moses, may peace be upon him, God (Allah) says, quote, ‘And he was taught wisdom, the divine book, the Old Testament and the New Testament. He is the prophet appointed for the sake of the children of Israel, and I rightfully brought a sign from the Almighty, holy Koran.’”
Throughout the speech and the Q & A session he revealed that his purpose was to control the situation, from the beginning when he complained “a bit from the person (Bollinger) who read this political statement against me” (saying that in Iran they “actually respect our students and professors”), to the questions which he evaded by stating his own agenda (i.e. as to whether he sought the destruction of Israel as a Jewish state, his answer was of Palestine, that they should have the right to choose their future for themselves). The Q & A time revealed that debate was not on his agenda.
It is for us not a question of free speech for Ahmadinejad, but of strengthening our nation’s moral fiber, as in being a nation under God, upon His righteous Law. Then we will be able to stand against that which is evil, even when we come face to face to those whose lies abound, who cover themselves with sheep’s clothing. Let us remember that God (Triune) is “the supreme Lord and King of all the world.” Therefore, “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. (Honor) the Son (King of kings), lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him” (Ps. 2:11-12).

Robert L. La May

Contributing Editor, Christian Observer

Health Care (less)

2007-09-18T09:28:00.000-05:00

We are being pounded with the promises of “health care’ for everyone. Around two billion dollars will be the average yearly cost. But are they really promising Health Care or should the programs be called Health Care Hypocrites?
Note first: After the presentation of the promise of National Health Care (including all benefits, etc), the need is expressed in and example of such a need. A woman (usually) who, with tearful expression brings out a number of plastic containers which she slowly opens and pours out a number of pills or capsules, telling us of how expensive the drugs are becoming and that her money will soon run out (i.e. government help me). This is not Health Care, it is Sick Care (i.e. people will get sicker and when they do we will provide drugs to ease the pain). The emphasis is on drugs, not care.
Note two: The payment of this Health Care (Hypocrisy) will be placed upon the backs of the tax-payer (i.e. healthy taxpayers, for you need a base of healthy people to pay for the drugs given to those who should have been given Health Care in the first place). For those who think those who are older, or those in accidents, etc. should not be given help when needed this is where we can be truly helpful.
Note three: People will have the choice of their own Insurance Co., of an Insurance provided by the business they work for, or of a government program, (i.e. we will be forced to enter into the program provided by the government).
Note four: Taxes will have to be raised, but that will be offset by the benefits received, (i.e. Welfare State). It is quite easy to run on promises that you yourself will not have to support, (i.e. the pockets of those who run for office and make these promises have their suits tailored made, including the sewing closed of all pockets).
Note five: The benefits are many and for all, (i.e. for all of the Insurance Companies, Drug Companies, and Government Bureaucracies).
Closing Note: This will put a great burden upon those who truly want to provide Health Care, (i.e. those who believe that helping people have a quality of life by living rightly, becoming physically able to overcome sicknesses, morally strong to stand for truth, rejoicing in the ability to help one another, especially when they truly need the help). Health Care does not begin with drugs but with knowledge of the wonderful body which the Creator has given us.

W O W !

2007-09-11T14:28:00.000-05:00

“Wow” may be the exclamation of those who have never thought that there was an authority greater than man. However, it is more likely that they will not accept any authority but themselves. This is why General Petraeus’ calm and thought out assessment of what is going on in Iraq is met, not with debatable researched comments, but with emotional tirades. The emotional responses are but those of one who can’t wait until it’s his turn to speak, as if it mattered not at all what the General said. The sound bites tell the true story.
There is a greater Authority that has been neglected in all of these matters. For the problem is not who says it best or says it the loudest, but upon whose authority we claim allegiance. If the moral base of a nation is broken, we are like a precious vase ready to be shattered.
Our Confession ought to be that “God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magistrates, to be, under Him, over the people, for His own glory, and the public good; and to this end, hath armed them with the power of the sword, for the defense and encouragement of them that are good, and for the punishment of evil doers” (WCF 23.1). Wisdom in all matters of state is built upon a solid moral foundation, of knowledge of what is righteous and good. “By (wisdom) kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth” (Pro. 8:15-16). Mr. Statesman, where do you stand?
Robert L. La May
Contributing Editor, Christian Observer

Reformed Believers and Presidential Election

2007-09-04T09:27:00.000-05:00

The following is a part of an essay by Mr. Williams published in the May 2007 issue of the Christian Observer. We need to keep our eyes on what is true that we may rightly vote. -Robert La May, Contributing Editor, Christian Observer

Reformed Believers

As Reformed believers who espouse the absolute sovereignty of God and that 'all things necessary for His own glory, man's salvation, faith, and life, is wither expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture' (WCF 1.6), we are called away from the conformance to the world that has long dominated Christian political thought and Action and in large part has led to our present perdition, and toward Biblically principled thought and action in the political arena and for that matter all areas of our lives. I offer the following points not as an exhaustive exegesis of this subject, but as a few applications as food for thought.

God has ordained government for specific purposes and we should support only candidates and governments that conform to God's design for Government. (Romans 13:1-7)

In the US, our national, state, and local governments are those of a constitutional republic, i.e. their powers are limited to what is granted to them in their particular constitution, charter, or bylaws, and we should support only candidates and governments that stay within their prescibed limits of power (8th and 10th Commandments, (Luke 20:25 etc).

God ordains particulare leaders for particular times for particular circumstances, according to his sovereign, eternal providence, and does not need man-made assistance like compromise, pragmatism, relativism, syncratism, and lesser-of-two-evilism. (Daniel 2:21, 5:21 etc.)

God calls us to keep his laws and commandments in matters of elections and politics as in everything else - no matter what the temporal cost. (Daniel 3:16-18, John 16:2-3)

I close this essay with the inspired words of Paul, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure...That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:13, 15). May we be those willing and doing lights - in politics, elections, and throughout all of our lives.

Bob Williams, Contributing Editor, Christian Observer

PROMISES

2007-08-28T09:10:00.000-05:00

Which of the following fit most of the political runners? 1. The promises I make are made to be broken. 2. The promises I make will be kept. 3. The promises I make will be remembered. 4. All of the above. Number one: If the promise is not kept, it is the fault of the taxpayer, or those who will not raise taxes. Number two: The promises are kept upon the depth of the pocked to be picked; the octopus comes to mind as two hands show promise while the others gather in that which they hope will keep the promise. Number three: Here is where the promise has an opened door from which the runner can escape. Number four: All of the above can be revealed in the staged debates.
The debates of today are just reruns of the past debates. The presidential primary debate in New Hampshire of 1984 was recorded in Newsweek with this quote of Ronald Reagan, “There were so many candidates on the platform that there were not enough promises to go around.” Nikita Khrushchev had a handle on that truth, “Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river.”
Which leads us to one of the means which political pundits hope to carry out their promises, that is, PORK: earmarks, grants, programs; by way of the Appropriations Committee; which, may have been induced by tasty carrots, i.e., Lobbyists plus Lawmakers equal earmarks.
There is a warning for us here, as Aristophanes (450-388BC) wrote, “Under every stone lurks a politician.” When they are let loose they then want to throw that rock at their opponents. If you are unable to prove your point with intelligent arguments, then you look to put the challenger down. The dictionary tells us that a politician (statesman) is one “who is widely respected for integrity and impartial concern for the public good.” Jean Jacques Rousseau wrote that “Those that are most slow in making a promise are the most faithful in the performance of it.” In other words, those who make promises must be able to carry out that promise. Which means, for all of us, is that we need help; for only our Creator can make the promise and keep it, for his glory and for the good of his creation.

Robert L. La May

Contributing Editor, Christian Observer

A Need to Remember

2007-08-20T19:24:00.000-05:00

A need to remember what is a true statesman.
On August seven the Democratic runners for President “sparred during their nastiest meeting yet—a debate for 15,000 AFL-CIO members in Chicago” (Christina. Bellantoni, The Washington Times, Aug. 13). Bellantoni continued writing of flared tempers, as “The candidates pledged to revise the North American Free Trade Agreement, stand up for workers and expand health care, but their domestic proposals were overshadowed by testy exchanges.” Hillary Clinton was quoted as saying, “I’m here because I think we need to change America […] not to get in fights with Democrats.” Among other ‘statesman like’ remarks came from Sen. Edwards as he “accused Mrs. Clinton of being too closely tied to special interests because she won’t refuse lobbyist donations and because she was the focus of a recent Fortune cover story ‘Business loves Hillary.’” Sen. Edwards’ claim to the right to cast stones, saying, “You will never see a picture of me on the front of Fortune magazine saying I am the candidate that big corporate America is betting on.” [I guess that means he is truly the small business man fighting the fight for the poor (RLL).] Bellantoni pointed out that Edwards “recently has been on the covers of Men’s Vogue and Esquire.” It was a debate only in the sense of what usually takes place at Soldier Field, home of the NFL’s Chicago Bears.
There was a ‘Commentary’ in the same issue of the Times which reveals the need to remember. Scot Faulkner wrote calling today’s Congress an “Animal House,” that “The latest poles show American’s confidence in Congress at an all-time low. Gallup’s 14 percent rating is 4 points below the 18 percent that ended the Democratic Party’s 40-year hold on Congress in 1994, and 5 points below the 19 percent that drove the GOP from power in 2006.” Faulkner compares Congress integrity with that of a sausage factory whose standard is far above that of the statesmen of Congress. He wrote that at the “world’s leading hot dog factories, you see prime cuts of meat being processed in a clean and efficient environment operated by dedicated professionals devoted to quality assurance. I devour hot dogs knowing the integrity of these producer’s brands is at stake with every bite.” Faulkner then writes that Congress does not share the same concern of integrity, that “the House projects the image of a huge freshman dorm on a college campus. Everyone is adjusting to living away from home for the first time. Just like college freshmen, they mess around all term and then pull all-nighters to get the minimal work done. …Just like a freshman dorm, the House is a mix: party animals, druggies, slackers, social climbers, jocks, idealists, activists and scholars. During my years as a House staffer and as its chief administrative officer, I encountered nearly half of members and staff displaying some form of addictive behavior including ego, power, greed, sex, drugs and alcohol.”
In that sausage factory they knew where the beef was; while at the hall of Congress the cry is not, “where is the beef,” but that there “should be no beef.” In other words, do not do as we do, but listen carefully to the promises we make on your behalf. Then there should be no beef, just taxes to help us keep our promises.

Robert L. La May

Contributing Editor, Christian Observer
Therefore, let us again be reminded by one of the great Statesman whose integrity was what made this country great.
True Leadership [i.e. Statesmanship]
The Lessons of Leadership
A leader is indebted to the legacy of his parents.
Providence chooses the leader who prepared to be chosen.
Great leadership is never the product of natural gifts alone.
The best leaders always educate themselves.
A leader knows that adversity is the handmaiden to maturity; therefore, he will not shrink from difficulties.
The unseen source of a leader’s courage is faith in God and His justice.
A leader acts courageously because God governs providentially.
Conviction is worthless unless converted into conduct.
Humility is essential to leadership because it makes a leader a servant.
A leader knows that criticism is inevitable, and thus will not allow himself to be poisoned by bitterness.
All great leaders rule by the heart.
A concern for people is the ultimate test of true leadership.
The highest form of leadership is based on the bedrock of religious conviction.
A leaders source of duty will move him to lay aside personal comfort for the interest of others.
A man who cannot rule his family cannot govern his country.
The home is the testing ground for all sound leadership.
A leader’s vision is rooted in his knowledge of the past.
A leader faces the future with a sober confidence.
Leadership requires the courage to face the truth, even if painful.
The difference between vision and fanaticism is realism.
Every great leader fails; no great leader accepts failure as final.
A leader is a guardian of his followers.
Inspiring oratory is the result of courageous conviction.
The character of a leader is revealed by the manner in which he handles success and power.
A healthy sense of humor reflects a leader’s insight, humility, and sense of balance.
A charlatan loves humanity; a leader loves people.
A leader knows that hard work is a calling, not a curse, and the only sure path to greatness.
Patriotic leadership means standing on divine principle in the face of human injustice.
Every great leader will be a conservative who builds the future on the tried foundation of the past.
A leader of men must be a reader of men.
A leader’s courage is most clearly seen in how he faces death.
-Give Me Liberty by David J. Vaughan

SEE-SAW POLITICS

2007-08-15T08:33:00.000-05:00

The See-Saw is the outstanding game in the political park of today. The see-saw was a popular game at the cement parks of Brooklyn; though there were the bigger parks like Forrest Park, where you could watch a good game of baseball or take a walk among God’s nature. Though there were some skinned knees from the cement, we brushed it off quickly so that we get on with the fun. The See-Saw of the political park may seem like a game to many, for they see-saw back and forth, twisting the Constitution and righteous laws, which a brush of the hand cannot help. Plus the fact that they do harm to many who are innocent of their mischief.
There are two pseudo foundations that lawyers and politicians (many wear the same hat) like to swear to as truth. These two legs of their three legged stool are, freedom of speech and separation of church and state. They are false because they are being redefined to fit their pseudo brainpower that they may be seen as standing for the rights of all people. The two legs are taken from Amendment One of the Constitution of the United States of America. Leg one, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The second leg reads that Congress shall not “abridge the freedom of speech, or of the press.” Note that these amendments in no way teach “the separation of church and state;” and freedom of speech is not to be abridged, shortened or changed, to fit the mould of anyone’s personal agenda. Along with freedom of speech comes responsibility to the truth.
The first Amendment is a safeguard against those who would use their position in government to make a law against religion or hinder it anyway from their exercise of faith. The Government was not established to build a Christian State, but their duty was to build upon the existing foundation of Biblical truth and Law. James H. Thornwell, preacher and writer, wrote, “The State realizes its religious character through the religious character of its subjects; and a State is and ought to be Christian, because all its subjects are and ought to be determined by the principles of the Gospel. As every legislator is bound to be a Christian man, he has no right to vote for any laws which are inconsistent with the teachings of Scriptures. He must carry his Christian conscience into the halls of legislation.”
Jonathan Edwards preached before Governor Samuel Huntington and the Connecticut General Assembly on May 8, 1794, from Psalm 144:15: “Yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord.” The following words from that sermon, are relevant to statesmen of today.
“Since the belief and practice of Christianity are so necessary to the political good of our state, and since you are appointed to be guardians of our political good, I thought it not impertinent to suggest to you some important means, by which you may obtain the end for which you are appointed. Opposition to Christianity both in faith and practice was never, at least in our country, so great and so increasing, as at the present day. It lies with you, gentlemen, by a steady belief, profession and practice of Christianity; by your conversation and weight; by the appointments which you shall make to the various offices, civil and military, and by all your public proceedings, to withstand this opposition, and to guard against the danger to the public good, arising from the depravity of manners which opposition to Christianity naturally induces. It is your province, in conjunction with his Excellency the Governor, to appoint all our executive civil authority and to confer the higher military honours. When men of licentious principles and practice are promoted either in the civil or military line, it gives a dignity and an influence to vice and irreligion. And ‘one sinner destroys much good,’ especially when exalted to a high station of honour and authority. Now, if you give this advantage to vice, you will thereby injure the state; but more immediately you will injure religion and the kingdom of Christ. And let me beseech you to remember, that you also have a master in heaven, to whom you, as well as the rest of men, must give an account. The only way in your political transactions not to act from part attachments and private connections, not to practice intrigue to serve your own interests or those of your friends; but to endeavor to serve the public in the best manner according to your capacity and opportunity. In so doing you will appoint to several executive offices, men of knowledge and discretion; men that fear God and hate covetousness; men who will be just and rule in the fear of God. By the promotion of such men, virtue will be encouraged and vice will be restrained; by their official proceedings, law and justice will be executed, and ‘judgment will run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream,’ even that righteousness which exalteth a nation. Then shall our political interests be in a prosperous state; then shall we be that happy people whose God is the Lord.”
Robert L. La May
Contributing Editor, Christian Observer

Freedom of My Rights

2007-08-08T08:08:00.000-05:00

Freedom of my rights to take precedence over all other rights
Actually Amendment I reads, “Congress shall make no law …abridging the freedom of speech or of the press…” There are those who see these words as giving them the right to redefine the meaning thereof; i.e. abridging: edit, reduce, and cut. We have professors who believe their tenure entitles them to spew forth lies and filth, twist history to confuse the minds of their students. There are those who, claiming that they are pedophiles, saying they only “look” and are defended that as long as they don’t touch they are protected by the words “freedom of speech.” Pornography is placed on the “freedom of speech” list, but hate crimes include those who “think” or “speak” in ways that are an offense to others; i.e. speaking out for marriage between a man and woman, speaking against same sex marriages as breaking the moral law which states “thou shalt not commit adultery.” Therefore a minister, faithful to the moral law of God, could be fined or placed in prison for his speech.
Freedom of Speech which includes irresponsibility and lawlessness repudiates the rights of those who seek to do good. Speaking of the freedom of the press, W. Blackstone wrote that “The liberty of the press is indeed essential to the nature of the free state.” However, freedom does not mean freedom from appropriate discipline, self or law. Blackstone continued, “but this consists in laying no restraints upon publications, and not in freedom from censure for criminal matter when published. Every freeman has an undoubted right to lay what sentiments he pleases before the public; to forbid this, is to destroy the freedom of the press; but if he publishes what is improper, mischievous, or illegal, he must take the consequences of his own temerity” [CRS Annotated Constitution].
Moral law must prevail in the preservation of home, religion, and in civil government. Truth is not up for grabs, to be trampled upon by wicked mindsets. Our freedom is most strong when our foundation is most solid. When evolution is taught as truth and Creation is a lie, the foundation begins to crumble. When the Bible is place upon equal footing with other writings, other writings become the standard. Compromise is not the answer, for in it the weaker becomes the stronger, and the stronger sits by and watch the foundation shift as if on sinking sand. When a nation is built upon righteousness, all people are blessed. God, being the stronger authority, cannot be replaced by the authority of man. Let us therefore be subject to the higher power, “For there is no power (authority) but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God (authorities under the Supreme Authority). Whosoever therefore resists the power resists the ordinance of God; and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil” (Rom. 13:1-2). The decision is this, shall we do that which is good and right, for the benefit of all, or do that which is self-endearing to the detriment of those who do good?
Robert L. La May
Contributing Editor, Christian Observer

The Global Hurricane

2007-08-01T12:42:00.000-05:00

We continue to see, day after day, Global Hurricanes, that send us into the cellars of our minds. This is not a bad place to be, if we have had the forethought to lay aside provisions for this onslaught of turbulent weather. We too can give names to these storms, such as, “Liar, Liar”, “False Fixations”, “Hot Air buffoon”, “Looney Laws”, etc.
In the Political Incorrect Guide to Global Warming and Environmentalism, there is this quote on page 154, “During hurricane season, Pat Robertson suddenly gains crunchy allies by saying the deadly storms are the consequences of human misbehavior.” We might better say, “the stormy lies of Global Warming are the consequences of the misbehavior of self-embracing humans.” It is interesting that those who espouse Global Warming blame it on human behavior and at the same time remove themselves from the human race by saying they are the ones who are behaving correctly. They have taken the employment of the weather out of the hand of God, and placed it in their hands. Just who is misbehaving?
The bottom line is the reality of truth, “you look for it here and there, and wonder, where that illusive pimpernel is?” Those who spout out their seeds of deceit do so with their chests held out that we might see the glory of their endeavor to save the earth. Wouldn’t it be correct to search out what is true, and not be satisfied to have our ears tickled? Here is a Truth: “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump?” 1 Cor. 5:6. We need some new lumps that breathe not hot air but warming truth.
That Politically Incorrect, give us a start by quoting the American Meteorological Society (page 159): “1. there is no established connection between greenhouse gas emissions and the observed behavior of hurricanes; 2. any future changes in hurricane intensities will likely be small and within the context of observed natural variability; and 3. the politics of linking hurricanes to global warming threatens to undermine support for legitimate climate research and could result in ineffective hurricane policies.”
The Christian would put it this way: We have been given the responsibility of having dominion over the earth. Let us do that which will be of benefit to God’s Creation, and leave the storms, etc, to the Creator. Then we will act responsibly and with blessings to all to the glory of our Lord.
Robert L. La May
Contributing Editor, Christian Observer

Duty, Responsibility, and Sacrifice

2007-07-06T07:57:00.000-05:00

The great statesman Patrick Henry said, “I shall act as I think my duty requires.” Many statesmen of today seem to say, “I shall give promises as I think my duty requires.” David Vaughn in his book, Give Me Liberty, wrote, “Duty is one of those old-fashioned concepts which would, if revived, benefit our increasingly hedonistic society. Duty assumes there is a moral order in the universe that demands recognition.” He then quotes Henry, “The eternal difference between right and wrong does not fluctuate. It is immutable.” Vaughn continues, “And if the moral order does not change, then it imposes on us obligations toward God and man. Duty, then, requires the willingness to accept responsibility and to sacrifice one’s desire to a higher law.”
The “Duty” of many of those so called statesman seeking the office of President give promises instead of providing moral leadership. Those in office are supposed to protect the right of individuals (House of Representatives) and the right of States (Senate), to lead the nation in the strength of righteousness against oppressors (President and Cabinet); i.e. act like we are a Republic under a Constitution and Bill of rights or Rule of Law enhanced by the moral Law of God. Promises come in the form of benchmark, pork-barrel, line-items added to appropriation bills designating tax dollars for certain purposes; i.e. picking the pockets Tax-Payers (called at one time Citizens of the USA), to circumvent the proposed Budget of Congress; i.e. two million three hundred thousand dollars toward the International Fertilizer Development Center, which may be the reason why we have Global Warming (i.e. Hot Air).
Duty, Responsibility, and Sacrifice have been left by the side of the road. However, the right men could very easily pick them up and find themselves with the strength to be a blessing to the Nation. A quote from David Vaughn may help us demand statesmen that would be true moral officers: “In Henry’s day there was a ready recognition of the duty one had toward both God and society. It is striking that in the Sixteenth Article of the Virginia Bill of Rights, penned by Henry himself, religion is defined as ‘the duty which we owe our Creator.’ This principal was the foundation of Henry’s entire approach to life. As he learned from his uncle, Henry’s calling was to ‘do my duty in that state of life unto which it shall please God to call me.’ Henry accepted this dictum early in life and his father often commented that he ‘was one of the most dutiful sons that live…’”
We need statesmen who have a strong sense of duty toward God and society. Scripture teaches us, “Let us hear the conclusion of the matter; Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” [Ecclesiastes 12:13-14].
Robert L. La May
Contributing Editor, Christian Observer

Knee Jerks

2007-06-16T08:16:00.000-05:00

A comedy routine went something like this, taking place in a doctor’s office, the doc took his little rubber hammer and proceeded to hit the patient below the knee, with no result. The knee was too smart for him. However, he did find that when he hit his own knee he could get the patient to jerk his leg. The Amnesty Bill advocates are trying the same procedure. They couldn’t get the jerk they wanted so they planned a similar modus operandi. Alliances were formed and pressure was given, so that opposing forces would seem to be aligned as one. However, it is compromise is being held up as a remedy. And anyone who keeps true to the knowledge that righteousness must prevail, knows that compromise always means that one party has given in to another party (and always, the stronger to the weaker).
While faithful border patrol officers sit in jail for doing their duty (to whom the President should give an unhesitant pardon) congress seeks to resurrect an amnesty bill that will be of no blessing to the country. Ann Coulter puts it right, “Bush won’t build a wall and he keeps prosecuting law enforcement officers who stop illegal border crossers. But don’t trust him. He’ll get it right on that border enforcement business as soon as we grant amnesty to 12 million illegal aliens.” And, Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean, who served in the military, have “been risking their lives as Border Patrol agents for years. Ramos was nominated for Border Patrol of the Year in 2005. His nomination received a major setback when the Bush administration decided to put him in prison instead. Ramos and Compean are now serving more than 10 years apiece in solitary confinement for chasing a drug-running illegal alien back to Mexico.”
The Bill comes short as does the promise of a fence for a two thousand mile border by knee jerking it down to a hopeful beginning of 370 miles. Also, the parties involved try, not to help the nation, but to appease each other, i.e. “eleven amendments awarded to each side.” Through the years Amnesty Bills have been passed and not made effectual to help the situation. Jerry Seper writes in the National Weekly of the Washington Times of a border patrol veteran, “William King Jr., who served for 50 years in immigration law enforcement, said that his ‘oversight of the 1986 amnesty program,’ he fears the immigration reform law being debated in the Senate will not succeed.” Mr. King continued, “I just can’t believe they’re truing to do this again. We seem to be suffering from collective amnesia about why amnesty programs have never and will never work. They’re using the same language, the same language, the same logic and, I assure you, will reach the same conclusion: failure.”
We need less knee-jerking and more wisdom which will bring the drug lords to their knees, strengthen and support the border patrols etc. and deal with true judgments on the illegal migrants, with a good measure of mercy on those who need it; which may mean to put authority back to the Sovereign States of this country called America. Politicians seem to follow the false adage that money will solve the problem, and if it doesn’t, we will stick to our corner and say, “what good boys are we.”

Robert L. La May

Contributing Edior, Christian Observer

Global (Snow Job)

2007-06-09T08:24:00.000-05:00

A presidential hopeful’s TV Commercial should bring a smile upon the lips of Global Warming’s Guru. It goes something like this: Global balloons are, some as large as the children, bounced around the school grounds while they sing, “I’ve got the whole world in my hands.” For those who don’t know the song of the children at Christian camps, it speaks of the Creator, singing, “He’s got the whole world in His hands.” Which gives you an idea of where our supposedly saviors are coming from. The advertisement ends with the “hopeful’s” words that Global Warming is our responsibility because “we’ve got the whole world in our hands.” Horrible thought. Of course, the advertisement ends with the familiar words, “And I approve of this message.” The use of children to pass on such lies directs them in paths that will only bring discouragement.
Another illustration of the foolishness of Global Warming, which is a bursting balloon at best, is another Senator hopeful’s cry for power. Senator Clinton on October thirteen asked President Bush “to designate four counties around Buffalo, N.Y. as disaster areas because the region was hit by an unexpected October snowstorm.” Having grown up in New York City, and living in the Finger Regions of upstate, and living just north of Buffalo for a time, it would have been a disaster if there suddenly was no snow. Snow covered the ground from October to spring, as the area averaged 91 inches of snow each year. The air was fresh and cool. The beauty of the country was great, and we hardly had a school closing because New York knew how to keep the roads open. We do not need Global (hot air) war(n)ings.
The presidential hopefuls are leading us astray. The debates are not debates but opportunities to reveal their biases. Truth is not the goal. Heaven forbid that they would have to study honestly both sides of an issue.
Robert L. La May

Smaller Government?

2007-05-17T08:23:00.000-05:00

I was pleased to hear a politician that sounded sincere and spoke clearly about the issues. Mr. Fred Thompson delivered a speech before the Lincoln Club of Orange County on Friday, May 4, 2007, titled, Smaller Government.
He spoke about taxes: “Taxes are necessary. But they don’t make the country better off. At best they simply move money from the private sector to the government. But taxes are also a burden on production, because they discourage people from working, saving, investing, and taking risks. Some economists have calculated that today each additional dollar collected by the government, by raising income-tax rates, makes the private sector as much as two dollars worse off. To me this means one simple thing: tax rates should be as low as possible. This isn’t anything ideological, and it really isn’t some great insight. It’s common sense arithmetic. That’s why the economy booms when taxes are cut.”
*I would add these thoughts: 1. A great effort on the part of our representatives must be made to rid us of the burdensome tax code; i.e., Flat Tax. 2. Our representatives need to get rid of the pork, entitlements, etc. In other words, stop promising us things and then reach into our pockets in order to keep the promises. 3. Return our country to that of a Republic, giving back to the States which belong to them; i.e. education: the education of our children belongs to the parents and not to the government.
Mr. Thompson continues on the thought of the development of Bureaucracy and “Pretty soon there is no accountability in the system.” He continues: “Yet people in both parties continue to try to federalize and regulate at the national level more and more aspects of American society—things that have traditionally been handled at the state and local level. We must remember that we have states to serve as policy laboratories for innovation and competition. That’s how we got welfare reform. Our system allows for the diversity of our large country. Our attitude should be, let the federal government do what it is supposed to be doing—competently. Then maybe we will give it something else to do.” (Italics mine.)
*I would add that the States are not policy laboratories, but are Sovereign States able to handle the work of that State. I use to enjoy listening to the Conventions where a representative of a state would rise up and say, The Sovereign State of____, and a favorite son was put forth as a possible candidate for office. Of course that was the day when we were called citizens and not tax-payers. We need statesmen who are well taught in what it means to be a Republic, the true meaning of our Constitution, and, especially, the foundation and meaning of the Bill of Rights. Then Mr. Thompson’s words will have meaning: “But the level of bipartisanship needed for real progress can only be achieved when politicians perceive that the American people are demanding it. That is why leaders of reform and hopefully our next President, will have a mandate to go directly to the American people with truth and clarity.” It is the responsibility of our elected officials, by word and deed, to express the true meaning of their office, in light of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, which rests squarely upon the moral law of God.
Mr. Thompson spoke of the generations to come. However, unless we know what is right and true, the generations are kept in ignorance that the politician may keep power at their expense.

Robert L. La May
Contributing Editor, Christian Observer

Clothed in Righteousness # 2

2007-05-03T14:57:00.000-05:00

Righteousness expresses what is morally, ethically, or legally right; i.e. justice, honesty, integrity, based on what is true.
However, when government programs (oink, oink) take over the task of ‘compassion’, they redefine the term ‘righteousness’ to fit a liberal or secular agenda (i.e. ‘welfare’). Mr. Olasky (Conservative Chronicle) asked the question, “What is compassionate conservatism?” A quote from his editorial answers the question, “One compassionate conservative goal was to encourage average citizens to help the poor directly, instead of handing off all the responsibility to government officials. Another goal was to end government discrimination against faith-based groups that were often the most effective poverty-fighters.” Of course, if the truth be known, Christians and their fellowship in church congregations have been long in doing this in our nations. Many have continued to do so. It is also true that because of the belief that government is man’s salvation, they (oink, oink) have established a welfare state; which has discouraged some, and hindered others from doing what is right (righteousness). The quote continued, “Those goals were moth expenditure-neutral: They suggested neither bigger nor smaller budgets, but a different way of spending.” The best way, of course, is stop the spending and let us get on with our responsibilities.
What are the resources that Government pinpoints to “help” Americans? The resources are that which are taken from the pockets of ‘tax-payers’ (originally called ‘American Citizens’); second, the appointed agencies of Government become the distribution centers of what and where our money should be spent. As soon as the tax is paid the agency becomes the piper. It is then the government’s prerogative to define what is of value. Christian charity values are written upon the heart by the Author of righteousness; third, again government assumes that by taking money from one pocket and put in the other pocked, charities will get the help it needs.
It is when the government (representing the people) and the people act righteously, and then the whole is blessed. Wisdom speaks to those in office, “Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaks right” (Prov. 16:13). To the nation Wisdom speaks, “Righteousness exalts a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov. 14:34). Wisdom speaks of the cure and problem, “As righteousness tends to life; so he that pursues evil pursues it to his own death” (Prov. 11:19).

Clothed in Righteousness # 1

2007-04-26T19:50:00.000-05:00

Ethics! There is a cry which comes forth from Congress every so often from the throat of the Ethic Committee. The Committee continues to function as long as the keeping of ethics is presented in the abstract and does not demand too much of those to whom it speaks. However, once its demand comes close to the moral code of God rather than man, then it is sent back to committee. Ethics is nothing less than moral principles or values which bring demands upon the character and actions of man. However, its value comes from within the soul and not from a list of dough’s and dough-not’s gathered around mugs of stale coffee. For, they are then assimilated and easily dismissed when it does not feed the self-image.
For example: Righteousness has been hidden in the closet of political intrigue, kept closed by committee action. In this closet are two pardons for our faithful border guards, Agents Ramos and Compean. When are we going to free these men who have faithfully done their job, while their wives and children weep?
Ethics, if understood as a way of righteousness, demand that relationships among people (and between God and man) be maintained for the blessings of all. Faithfulness, justice, mercy, etc, are expected from those who claim to be righteous, especially those who represent their State (Senators), or those who represent their people (Representatives).
The Prophet Isaiah represented the Lord before his people, and his people before God. Because of the covenant that the Lord made between Himself and His people, His Prophet had to be a man of a certain moral character. So with those who enter into a covenant with those whom he had elicited votes. Isaiah understood that his value as a servant of the Lord lay in his faithfulness, which in turn was proved by that righteousness which is of the Lord alone. Therefore his response to the Lord was, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with jewels” (Is. 61:10).
Clothed in righteous is a garment of great value!
Man’s righteousness is of no value. They are as filthy rags. However, the righteousness of Christ, that moral character which man receives from his Creator is very precious. Man’s righteousness is as a tight fitting suit which you cannot grow into, nor, because of self-righteousness, man would rather dwell in wickedness than give up the pain of the ill-fitting way of unrighteousness.
Righteousness expresses what is morally, ethically, or legally right; i.e. justice, honesty, integrity, based on what is true. What suit are you wearing? That which will never wear out? Come to Christ the Sovereign Lord and know the promise of a new garment, unstained, a life in which to grow. Righteousness exalts a nation!

Hug-the-Truth

2007-04-23T19:17:00.000-05:00

Joshua was appointed to continue the task of Moses, who encouraged him to be a great leader: “Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them (the enemy); for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (D. 31:6). True leadership or statesmanship is found in the character of the leader whose strength is found in Truth; whose wisdom comes from an inward character which looks to the Lord: “Behold, thou dost desire truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom” (P. 51:6). A righteous statement fears the Lord, knowing his judgment upon wickedness; thus says the Lord: “And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies; but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me” (J. 9:3).
There is a righteous kingdom which advances on this earth that seeks to embrace truth and not error. Its King is the Son who speaks, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (J. 8:31-32). [Have you noticed how the leaders who teach lies are the ones whose voices are the loudest, and whose practice is not to allow the truth to hinder their agenda?] The King walks with those who rejoice in the truth: “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (J. 14:6). Therefore, those who would be statesmen showing real leadership, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2T. 2:15).Give truth a hug and it will embrace your deeds which will be a blessing to all, and a glory to God.

Embrace the Lie

2007-04-09T07:45:00.000-05:00

It seems to be easier to embrace a lie than admit one is wrong, especially when it has to do with a liberal agenda (interpreted, a means of gaining power at the expense of truth; example: ability to raise taxes). Agendas include Global Warming, Sperm Cell Research, Evolution (Denial of Creator), Gay Marriage (The gauntlet has been been whipped in America and England hitting the Christian Church’s right to see that children are adopted into moral families which include both Father and Mother.)
An example of one embracing a lie (at best a show of ignorance) is that of embracing the Scopes trial of 1925 as a showing of freedom of intelligent ‘thought’. The local TV news recently showed a freshman’s office as he sat in his new found office in the United States House of Representatives. Upon his wall is a picture, of which he was proud, of Clarence Darrow.
Darrow’s appeal was from the emotion as he was want to add poetry in summoning up his case. He would rather appeal to man’s heart than that of God, appealing to the words of Omar Khayyam, “So I be written in the Book of love / I do not care about that Book above. / Erase my name or write it as you will, / So I be written in the book of love.” It is written that Darrow brought tears to the cheeks of the trial judge.
Back to the Scopes trial: Tennessee legislated that it is a crime to teach the theory of evolution in the public school. The ACLU advertises for anyone who would be willing to stand trial, all expenses paid, in an effort to challenge the Butler Act. A Dayton, Tennessee coal company manager, George Rappalyea, sees the advertisement, and, convincing others to join him on the basis that that such a trial would attract new business to their city, they found a substitute teacher that could just fill the desire of the ACLU. John Scopes (who had an undergraduate degree in Law) was a substitute teacher at a Biology Class and part-time football coach.
William Jennings Bryan said, “If evolution wins, Christianity goes.” Clarence Darrow said, “Scopes isn’t on trial, civilization is on trial.” In other words, the choice is ours, shall we serve God or the god of Enlightenment. In his last message William Jennings Bryan wrote, “Do these evolutionists stop to think of the crime they commit when they take faith out of the hearts of men and women and lead them out into a starless night? What pleasure can they find in robbing a human being of ‘the hallowed glory of that creed’ that Romanes once cherished, and in substituting ‘the lonely mystery of existence as he found it? Can the fathers and mothers of Tennessee be blamed for trying to protect their children from such a tragedy?”
There are two foundational books that man can rest their thoughts and decisions upon; one is the Bible of God, and the other the bible of man. Where do you stand, upon the Rock or upon the quagmire of hopelessness?

Our Father Statesman

2007-03-08T15:46:00.002-06:00

George Washington: Our Father Statesman
What words would be spoken over your grave, O statesman?
Would the following words that were preached at the time of the death of George Washington, be yours, who claim to be such leadership?
Samuel Miller’s Sermon on the Death of George Washington
“Our beloved and deplored Washington was, emphatically, a man whom God had made great. Without the tinsel ornament of titled nobility—without the advantage of what is called distinguished and honourable birth, was raised by the Governor of the world to a degree of greatness, of which the history of man has furnished but few examples. He was not, indeed, endowed with those brilliant and dazzling talents, which many erroneously imagine to be alone estimable. His mind was of an higher order. Providence designed him to move in a sphere in which a dignified prudence, soundness of judgment, firmness, self command, and uniformity, were especially needful; and, therefore, these were the leading features of his character…
“When the encroachments and oppressions of Britain prompted our countrymen to throw off her yoke—when a few infant colonies rose to contend with a gigantic, rapacious, and haughty parent, you saw him step forth, their patriotic leader, n asserting their precious rights, and in braving all the ills of a perilous and doubtful conflict. And, though little versed in the art of war; though placed at the head of a raw and undisciplined army; though contending with skilled, veteran, and more powerful foes, you saw his wisdom, his perseverance, and his valour, rise superior to the most formidable difficulties. You saw him lead on his fellow-citizens, from time to time, to conquest and triumph: until the fair fabric of Independence was completely reared over the tomb of tyranny…
“The admired hero, and the beloved sage, notwithstanding all his greatness, must, at length, lie down in the dust. There, according to the high decree of heaven, the rich and the poor, he learned and the ignorant, the honoured and the despised, must become the common food of corruption and worms. Candidates for immortality! So number your days, that you may apply your hearts unto wisdom. What will it avail you to receive the applause of man, whose breath is in his nostrils, and to be loaded with those honours which soon pass away, if after all, you have no inheritance secured beyond this little span of existence? There is a kingdom which is not of this world, offered and secured to all the faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. There is a glorious exaltation tendered to them, without money, and without price;–an exaltation in comparison with which the objects of earthly ambition are insignificant trifles. To this felicity and glory, then, let us each aspire. Let us seek after reconciliation with God, through the atonement of his dear Son; and a conformity to his image, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Let it be our highest ambition to be found of him at last in peace, without spot, and blameless: that when He who is our life shall appear, we also may appear, and live and reign with him in glory, forever and eve. Amen!” [Copied from The Confessional Presbyterian, Vol. 2.]
In a time when statesmen hide their faith in a pocket they have designated as “my personal faith,” and when the God and Word are said not to belong on the civil stage, we must the more, as true statesmen, acknowledge the true God and His moral Law as the Law of our nation.
Robert L. LaMay
Contributing Editor
Christian Observer