Veteran Views – 11/21/09

Fabulous photo journal on Air Force Pararescue, the "Pedros", in Afghanistan! 

 

Keeping the Bad Guys on the Run - I have seen in the short time here [Afghanistan} the foundation that the Marine Corps stands for. It's beyond "no better friend, no worse enemy."  It's built of honoring your word to locals, defending off hard core fighters that hate and intimidate the weak.  Traits found in every conflict the Marine Corps has fought in are still solid today within our ranks.  Wicked smart leaders, nail strong NCOs and they all have hearts as big as Texas that protect those weak and can turn into your worst nightmare with a flip of a switch to deal with insurgents.  Discipline, dedicated professionals within all the ranks that have already made a difference in the short time here. I know all past/present Marines would be proud of them. I sure as hell am.  More as time permits. Be proud of your warriors, the bad guys are on the run. Read it all here…

Veteran Views – 11/21/09

Cartoon Corner – 11/21/09

from Townhall.com

 
John Cole, Scranton Times

Cartoon Corner – 11/21/09

Self-effacement -- to gain face – Christian Devotional for 11/21/09

by Selwyn Hughes at Crosswalk.com

Philippians 2:1-11
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." (v.5)

We said yesterday that humility has not been praised -- except by a few -- in any age. Ancient writers regarded the quality of humility as a "servile, grovelling spirit." People today seem to view it in the same way and place it alongside the cringing spirit of Uriah Heep -- "I am so very 'umble, Master Copperfield." Perhaps it was this confusion that led to Gladstone, one of Britain's past Prime Ministers, to say: "Humility as a sovereign grace is the creation of Christianity." In choosing "humility" as the best translation of the Greek word used in the list of the fruit of the Spirit, we must be careful not to miss the thought that is contained in some of the other words used by translators, such as gentleness, meekness, forbearance, adaptability and tolerance. Threading them all together, we have a picture of this fruit of the Spirit as a gentle spirit of lowliness and humility with no arrogance but a joyous desire to serve.

Humility is not only misunderstood by the world; it is also largely misunderstood by the Christian Church. Some confuse it, for example, with self-belittlement. They think that by denigrating themselves or putting themselves down they are acting in humility. But by deliberately setting out to make themselves small, they are really trying to make themselves great. Self-effacement is their way of gaining face. They take the lowest place in order to be invited to go up higher. They express derogatory opinions of themselves in the hope that they will be contradicted. This is not real humility -- this is feigned humility: an unworthy substitute.

Prayer:

O Father, clarify my understanding so that I can discern between true humility and feigned humility. Help me to have a mind that is open to Your mind so that I comprehend all things clearly. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

For Further Study
Luke 14:1-11; Rom. 12:3; 1 Pet. 5:5
1. What did Jesus teach the disciples?
2. How are we to think of ourselves?

Self-effacement -- to gain face – Christian Devotional for 11/21/09

It's The Philosophy Stupid

by Matt Latimer at HumanEvents.com

   Recently New York Times designated conservative columnist, David Brooks, advised Republican candidates to avoid talking about their “conservative bona fides." Instead, Mr. Brooks wrote, Republicans should talk about other things, like balanced budgets and small business-led job creation. Mr. Brooks didn’t seem to understand that economic prosperity and job growth are not distinct from conservative principles. They are the result of them.  This sort of muddle qualifies as cutting edge conservative thought in today’s New York Times.'…

   Nearly three decades ago, the "move to the middle" moderates lived in fear that an unelectable right winger like Ronald Reagan might win the party's nomination. Their view was famously captured by a liberal historian who said that Reagan's selection proved that Republican voters "had a death wish." Instead we had a revolution.
   After the Reagan years ended, the "sensible centrists" of the party retook control, guiding the party to a repudiation of Reaganism in favor of something “kinder” and “gentler.” That apparently meant support for higher taxes, a failure to articulate a conservative vision, and the ushering in of the Clinton presidency. Republicans returned to the wilderness and minority status again. Then Newt Gingrich and his conservative revolutionaries challenged the “middle of the road” party leadership and enunciated a conservative philosophy that led to a massive electoral victory in 1994. …

…We can’t defeat Chuck Schumer or Blanche Lincoln or Harry Reid in 2010 by promising just to manage the welfare state a little better, or to keep federal spending in tact but just spend a little less. We know the road to victory is not to pretend to be Democrats-lite.  To longtime Human Events readers, the struggle ahead for the party is really just the same old story.  But as Margaret Thatcher once put it, “Of course it's the same old story. Truth usually is the same old story.”  It is time for conservatives who understand those truths to retake the party once again.  It is the only way to have a lasting Republican resurgence.

Read the entire article here…

It's The Philosophy Stupid

A Health Bill Nobody Believes In

from The Foundry at The Heritage Foundation

Last Saturday night Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) forced through a vote on her 2,032 page health care bill only a few days after releasing it to the public. Now Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is poised for another Saturday night cram down, forcing a Senate cloture vote mere days before his 2,074 page bill was given to Senators. Yet again, Congress will be forced to vote on a bill that none of them have actually read. More importantly, as we pour through the details, it becomes obvious that none of them even believe the plan will do what the bill says. [The bill:]

Kills Jobs …
Hurts Small Businesses …
Hurts Families …
Hurts Poor …
Hurts States …
Funds Abortion …
Hides True Costs …

…That is exactly what the Reid health care bill is: a completely disingenuous plan to increase coverage while reducing cost. Nobody believes Congress can or will follow through with spending cuts required to keep this scheme from bankrupting our country. That is why the AMA can support Obamacare despite the fact that both the House and Senate bills call for at least a 21% cut in doctor pay starting in 2011. Nobody believes those cuts are going to happen. Nobody believes in this bill.

Read more ….

A Health Bill Nobody Believes In

Principled Politics – 11/20/09

James Taranto: In Praise of Inexperience - A president who knew what he was doing could do lots more damage…. If you like the Obama agenda, you probably wish he were more like LBJ. If not, you can be thankful (at least when it comes to domestic policy) that he's such a greenhorn. And if you've found yourself in strong disagreement with any president in the past 40 years, consider that there may be a wisdom in electing men who aren't masters of Congress.

Jeb Hensarling and Paul Ryan: Why No One Expects a Strong Recovery - When you repeal sound economic policies you repeal their results…. It is hardly surprising that many investors are reaching the conclusion that this administration and Congress favor policies that virtually guarantee the economy will not return to the climate of low interest rates, benign inflation and strong growth that we knew from 1982-2007. These investors understand a simple truth that current Washington policy makers fail to grasp: When you repeal the Reagan economic program, you repeal its results.

Michael Reagan: Stimulus Equals Deception
It seems the president has a new trick up his sleeve to convince us his bloated "stimulus" packages are solving our economic woes: deception….. Yet on every other level this is the sad story, already grown stale in the repeating, of an administration which promises things it cannot deliver and then backs away from responsibility.

Michelle Malkin: When Big Labor Bullies and Volunteers Collide
The Boy Scouts' motto is: Be prepared. Who knew it meant preparing to defend themselves against purple-shirted union thuggery over community service? Kids, pay attention. This is a teachable moment for all of you on power, politics and Big Labor's culture of corruption. Read more here…  [This is a must read. The arrogance of the Left can be truly astounding and threatening!]

Principled Politics – 11/20/09

Christian Calling – 11/20/09

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT  
VERSE:
  When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy
to my soul.  Psalm 94:19
THOUGHT:
  God is our comforter, sustainer, and Lord. Only his gracious
presence and tender blessings can bring consolation and comfort to
our restless and discouraged souls. So let's turn to him, honestly
confessing both our sins and our sorrows. Let's ask him to take our
anxiety away and restore to us the passion, the joy, and the
confidence of our salvation.
PRAYER:
  Almighty Shepherd, in the noise and confusion of many thoughts
burdened by many concerns, minister to me through your Holy Spirit.
I need your comfort and peace. I ask for your presence and your
grace. In Jesus' name I ask. Amen.

I wish I could run this video continuously at every store that wished me a Happy Holiday!

There is no miraculous cure for heartache.  With all the wonder drugs there is no instant and wondrous cure for sorrow.  We cannot use force of will to reach in and tear the sackcloth from our souls.  But we can achieve healing through faith.  We can share our troubles with our Heavenly Father. ~ William Silverman

Christian Calling – 11/20/09

Cartoon Corner – 11/20/09

 
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner

from Chip Bok at Bokbluster.com

Cartoon Corner – 11/20/09

The Hope You Need – Christian Devotional for 11/20/09

by Charles R. Swindoll at Crosswalk.com

Hebrews 6:19

Somewhere along the many miles of southern California shoreline walked a young, 20-year-old woman with a terminal disease in her body and a revolver in her hand.

She had called me late one evening. We talked for a long time. A troubled young woman, her mind was filled with doubts. She had advanced leukemia. The doctors told her she would not live much longer. She checked herself out of a hospital because, as she put it, she "couldn't take another day of that terrible isolation."

Her husband had left her.
Her two-month-old daughter had recently died.
Her best friend had been killed in an auto accident.
Her life was broken. She'd run out of hope.

She and I spoke calmly and quietly about what was happening. I did a lot of listening. There were periods when there was silence on the phone for thirty to forty-five seconds. I didn't know where she was. I still don't know her full name. She spoke of taking her husband's revolver and going out on the beach to finish it all. She asked me a lot of questions about suicide.

The Hope You Need – Christian Devotional for 11/20/09

Veteran Views – 11/19/09

Senate Passes Legislation to Provide Housing for Homeless Veterans!

Veteran Views – 11/19/09

On Self-Defense – 11/19/09

 
More here…..

Baucus bill threatens gun rights > all gun-related medical data to be funneled into a national health database!

"Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms." (James Madison, The Federalist Papers #46 at 243-244)

On Self-Defense – 11/19/09

Christian Calling – 11/19/09

 

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
VERSE
   Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and
to mutual edification. - Romans 14:19
THOUGHT:
  "Make every effort!" That's quite a challenge. But notice where
that exertion is to be focused: peace and mutual edification. Both
sides of this exhortation are two way responsibilities. I must
pursue and share peace if I am going to have it myself. I must
edify, and be open to being edified, if mutual edification is going
to happen. In other words, we live with other people in God's
family. He wants us to be responsible for making relationships work
in our spiritual family. He reminds us it will require strenuous
effort. But, isn't that true in every family relationship? Love
means sacrifice, effort, and concern for others. When we share our
love willingly, however, we're much more likely to see it coming
back to us!
PRAYER:
  Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for my impatience and
selfishness. Defeat the bad attitude of competitiveness that I
often display in arguments and disagreements with others in your
family. Energize me by your Spirit to see areas where I can be a
blessing and an encouragement to others. In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.

Dear Mr. President > I don't agree with you but I'm praying for you today at http://ow.ly/DHuc

Christian Calling – 11/19/09

Principled Politics – 11/19/09

ACTION! ACTION! ACTION! If there was ever a time to stand up against ObamaCare, it’s now! Please call both your Senators before Saturday to defeat the health care bill! It takes 60 votes to get it to the floor but only 51 to pass it once it gets there. Now’s the time to stop it!

REALITY Check! The White House Butler - A judge twice rejected by voters is nominated by BHO

Obama's Doubletalk on Political Dissent
Michelle Malkin at Townhall.com - President Obama traveled all the way to China to praise the free flow of information. It's the only safe place he could do so without getting heckled. With a straight face, Obama lauded political dissent and told Chinese students he welcomed unfettered criticism in America. Fierce opposition, he said, made him "a better leader because it forces me to hear opinions that I don't want to hear." How do you say "You lie!" in Mandarin?

Liberals' Establishment of Religion
Ken Blackwell at Townhall.com - One of the reasons liberals are so hostile to public expressions of Christianity is because it threatens the monopoly that the religion of liberalism enjoys in the public square…. Is it any wonder growing numbers of Americans think it’s a living hell?

“if I had to go to Heaven in a political party, I would not go at all.” Thomas Jefferson

O's China kowtow  > nothing in sight to suggest reality will suddenly start measuring up to O's campaign rhetoric!

Showdown for Health Bill > Sen. Dems' $848 Billion Plan Promises Deficit Cut, Medicare-Tax Hike for Rich 

"All history is one long story to this effect: men have struggled for power over their fellow men in order that they might win the joys of earth at the expense of others, might shift the burdens of life from their own shoulders upon those of others." ~ William Graham Sumner

Principled Politics – 11/19/09

Cartoon Corner – 11/19/09

from Townhall.com

from Townhall.com

Cartoon Corner – 11/19/09