Thoughts on the upcoming vote in Ohio--Matt. 18:1-9

In Sunday School today we were looking at Matthew 18:1-9 and other verses. Christians in Ohio are divided on what to do about Issue 1 on Tuesday. In fact, Christians are downright hostile towards each other on this issue. A look at these verses could speak to that.

First, Jesus sets a small child in their midst when his disciples (who seem to be slow learners) ask about who is the greatest in his Kingdom. Children in the ancient world had no standing unlike today when entire households and several generations will focus their lives and wellbeing around children and grandchildren, lavishing time and wealth on them. Jesus essentially told them to be needy, powerless and marginalized if they truly wanted status in the Kingdom. Think about it. Who is more needy, powerless and marginalized than an unborn child?

Second, Jesus then goes on to use hyperbole in showing what happens to those who would cause one of the little ones (his followers) to stumble. Really graphic and cruel--being drowned with a heavy weight attached to the neck, having limbs chopped off or eyes poked out. Again, in the ancient world, the disabled and blind would not have much social status.

 
Third, although Jesus is not referencing abortion, the cruel suffering depicted in his hyperbole, is real life and anguish for the unborn in the midst of an abortion. Right here in Ohio. Here in America. Limbs cut off and sometimes scissors jabbed into the skull to make the head small enough so the child is "still born," and not alive at birth. Late term abortion is rare in the U.S.--about 10,000 a year--some say less, some say more. That's a small city of dismembered babies!

 
When Dr. Kermit Gosnell was tried a decade ago for murdering babies in late term abortions who could have survived, only a few minutes (13 minutes and 30 seconds for a 58 day trial) of the grisly testimony ever made it to broadcast news. There will be Christians going to the polls on Tuesday who have no idea what they are voting for, enshrining abortion for any reason at any stage of the pregnancy in our Constitution. But even worse, there will be Christians who do know, yet still cling to the lie it's a "woman's right."

Joe Biden on abortion—through the 9th month

This was a prayer request I received today. It is estimated that abortion isn't a choice for about 60% of the women who seek one. So every time you hear that "choice" lie, remember all the women whose boyfriend, husband, parents and friends are pressuring them.

" For a woman who is being pressured by the father of the baby to have an abortion. She has 3 children already and is undecided about this pregnancy. During her initial visit, the consultant shared her abortion story, and this woman was touched, and cried as she listened. God, we pray You would use this story to encourage this woman onto the path of life."

If you are a Christian, remember what the incoming administration stands for, especially Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi who are both Catholics, violating the beliefs of their church. They are the most anti-life politicians ever to hold these important positions and thousands of Americans will lose their lives before they have a chance.

Joe Biden Supports Abortions Up to Birth, Supports Killing Babies “Under Any Circumstance” | LifeNews.com

This election was all about hate for one man

Hate is a powerful emotion. It's more motivational than love, family, power, or money, as I've learned these last 4 years. Although hate for President Trump comes from a number of sources, it's primarily issues on life. Or death, as abortion really is. If you claim that's not your motivation for hating Trump, you're kidding yourself. Just try suggesting the party has gone too far by not protecting the unborn and see how many Democrat friends you have left. It's the hate. For Trump.

Yes, Trump is arrogant, he tweets to skip over the stifling power of the un-elected media, he knocks heads with powerful people who distain those who don't know their place and he says mean things about people who aren't loyal. And he's a patriot at a time when Democrats are overrun by cancel culture advocates and critical race theory proponents spouting death to America. But mostly, he has surprised everyone including me by being the most pro-life President ever--and that even shocked the pro-life Christians who were accustomed to the mealy-mouthed, Bible spouting do-nothings we've elected in the past.

In January, 2017, President Trump reinstated the Mexico City policy (restricts funding for international organizations for abortions). On February 22, 2019, the Trump administration announced that it would not allow organizations that provide referrals for abortions to receive federal family-planning money, which implies a cut in funding for Planned Parenthood (the nation’s largest abortion provider) unless they perform abortions in a separate facility and not refer patients to it. And on May 2, 2019, Department Of Health And Human Services issued a new rule protecting healthcare workers who decline on the basis of conscience or religious conviction to participate in procedures such as abortion or assisted suicide. Trump was the first president ever to personally attend the pro-life March for Life in Washington, DC on January 24, 2020. Pro-life issues figured prominently in the August Republican National Convention. But the bomb thrown into the abortion fire was when the President nominated a mother with 7 children to the Supreme Court, a Catholic with traditional family values sending a loud, clear message to the nation. The mirage of "health care" for women evaporated as Democrats feared the loss of Roe v. Wade, a law which was made up in the courts and not Congress.

The Democrat party isn't the one I knew in the 70s and 80s--they weren't all about death for the unborn, and the selfishness and greed that go with it. It still claimed to care about the poor and weak. But it is all about death now. And hate--because the President exposed them for what they are.

Election Prayer from EWTN received today

Lord Jesus Christ, You told us to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God. Enlighten the minds of our people in America. May we choose a President of the United States, and other government officials, according to your Divine Will. Give our citizens the courage to choose leaders of our nation who respect the sanctity of unborn human life, the sanctity of marriage, the sanctity of marital relations, the sanctity of the family, and the sanctity of the aging. Grant us the wisdom to give You, what belongs to You, our God. If we do this, as a nation, we are confident You will give us an abundance of Your blessings through our elected leaders. Amen. (published in 1992)

When I first saw this prayer, I thought it was right on target--sanctity of life. That's my issue. That's the issue in 2020. All the wrangling about Judge Barrett, the hysterical women grieving that they might not have the "freedom" to choose to end the life within them, and the two very clear options we Christians have. Then I saw the date--almost 30 years old!

In 1992 there were 3 candidates; George H.W. Bush, the sitting president; Bill Clinton, governor of Arkansas; and business man and independent, Ross Perot. It was, in my opinion, the Republicans who voted for Perot out of anger at Bush for a tax increase, who elected Clinton. I was a Democrat then and voted for Clinton, but also realized the foolishness of my Republican friends who bolted the party. And there are Republicans today who are doing the same thing. They don't like Trump's personality, style and manner, so they ignore what he's done in giving Republicans a spine transplant and how he's achieved with no power base in DC many of the policies they used to say they wanted. Both parties are terrified of losing their sweet gigs, heady power and access to big money.

OK, Christians. Whether Democrat or Republican, you do have a higher power than party or your personal dislike you have to answer to. If an executive order from a President you hate means your favorite environmental protection regulation won't get an increase in the budget, or there's no increase to fund illegals going to college, no one dies. But abortion is a generational issue. Real people die and their descendants never exist. Thousands of women who were perhaps encouraged to abort will go through life with deep regret, missing family members and even additional life threatening illnesses. If you can't think of a fetus the size of your little finger as a "person" consider that approximately 10,000 late term abortions of viable babies 7-9 lbs. are performed a year. Roe v. Wade is almost 50 years old. That's 500,000 persons who were tossed in the trash. A city and a third of it would have been black. Now the entire Democrat party is at the level only Barack Obama held in 2008. There are none to speak up for the next generation--the so called future that Vice President Biden says he'll lead us to.

Vote for life, vote for the next generation.

What Saint Paul said

Most Americans are familiar with the idiom, “Damascus road experience” even if they haven’t read about Saint Paul’s conversion in the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament. But I had completely missed his retelling of that in the first chapter of Galatians. Perhaps it is the translation.

“But when he [God] who FROM MY MOTHER’S WOMB* HAD SET ME APART and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me . . . “ Do you really think “from” excludes “inside?”

In evaluating the policies and philosophies of the candidates, I put life issues first, as does one of our founding documents, “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Just a few years ago there was only one U.S. politician who would go on record as against the born-alive infant protection act—Barack Obama (as Illinois state senator) and he was left of NARAL, which is hard to do. Now his entire party of sheeples has followed his lead.

Joe Biden, who may have once been pro-life, has gone against his church, his savior, the founding documents, and his own conscience.  And Donald Trump, like Saint Paul, who may once have been pro-choice (with no vote in Congress) but is now pro-life, is the one chosen by God from the womb to save babies.

Late term abortions are indeed rare, as my pro-choice friends remind me—maybe 1.3% of all abortions.  “Only” 5,000-10,000 a year. In Ohio that’s 106 and in New York that’s 1590.**  How many are the proper number for you?

*NIV translated the passage as “from birth,” with “from my mother’s womb” another translation.

**https://lozierinstitute.org/late-term-abortion-stats/ June 2020

RNC and pro-life message

The four day RNC was not just the most pro-life political convention ever, it was the most pro-life EVENT ever on television. From the former Planned Parenthood staffer Abby Johnson, who became an advocate for life and now has a non-profit to save babies, to the former military surgeon who has saved lives of soldiers and refugees and became a nun, Sister Dierdre Byre, who now saves babies, to the Ohio mother, Terri Myers, who was advised to abort her child with Down Syndrome and is now an advocate for school choice, to the general tone and respect for women who refuse to back down on the values--it was breath taking, glorious, and unheard of.

I was very fond of President George Bush, and he was a "pro-life president," but sort of in the closet when it came to public events. He didn't appear at them. And pro-lifers themselves had been letting the Leftist culture dictate how and what they said--didn't want to ruffle too many feathers, or get too graphic.

President Donald Trump just charges ahead--wants to defund the biggest killer of black babies, appoints women openly pro-life, and allows the actual, grizzly and anatomically correct truth to be told at an event where half the country already hates and lies about him.

Shocking. The man is a modern version of an Old Testament prophet. No one wants to hear the truth, but he says it anyway.

And although it's scandalous and racist to say in today's hyperbolic, hysterical and turned upside down world, all lives matter to Donald Trump.

Historic March for Life

Today January 24 marked the 47th annual March for Life to protest the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision in 1973 legalizing abortion on demand. Republican presidents usually sent someone to represent them to the rally, and last year VP Mike Pence addressed the event in person, while Trump appeared on video. This year, it was Pence who appeared by video and Trump who attended.

Although it's Democrats who claim to support the women and minority issues, half of those who are aborted are female, and about 35% are black. So who cares more? Planned Parenthood which is the biggest killer of life in the U.S. also launders money for Democrat candidates and has pledged $45 million for the 2020 campaign; it supports the candidate and they in turn see that PP continues getting tax money. Cozy deal. The real quid pro quo.

"Last year, lawmakers in New York cheered with delight upon the passage of legislation that would allow the baby to be ripped from the mother’s womb right up until delivery. Then we had the case of the Democrat governor in the state of Virginia. … The governor stated he would execute a baby after birth” (the same guy who wants to save life by taking away 2nd amendment).  https://www.dailysignal.com/2020/01/24/trump-at-march-for-life-unborn-children-never-had-stronger-defender-in-white-house/

What is your acceptable number?

At least 12,000 late-term abortions take place every year in the United States, according to Guttmacher Institute data (research arm of Planned Parenthood). Almost none out of medical necessity. And that's OK with Nancy Pelosi, Pete Buttigeig, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, and the rest of the gang. And they perpetuate the lie about "save the life of the mother." Nor will they vote to save the life of a born alive aborted child. There was a time in our history when only one politician would say that--Barack Obama. But, he did promise to fundamentally change the country. Promise kept.

Let me ask you, Democrats, what is the appropriate number of lives to snuff in the name of feminism? You can handle 12,000--how about 20,000? Or maybe 10? What's your number?

Almost 30 years or more of brainwashing

Larry Burkett wrote a book, "What ever happened to the American dream," Moody Press, 1993. The year Bill Clinton took office. Usually that's a line for the left. Income gap. Dying unions. Shrinking middle class. What happened to the American dream? Burkett writes:

"There is enough material available on the impact of government regulations and their effect on the economy to write an entire book. But, in reality, regulations are just one part of the overall problem. The sad thing is that, with all the misinformation being aimed at the public via our media, America's children are being brainwashed into believing that all those regulations are in their best interests.”

Almost 27 years ago, and Burkett couldn't have imagined what was coming down the pike in the way of regulations. . . especially speech codes, mandatory anti-bias classes for college students, tearing down statues representing our history, use pronouns of choice or lose a job, drag queens for library story hour, hormone blockers for adolescents with consent of parents, doctors and psychologists, 9 month abortions called women's health, 50% of the citizenry bullied as deplorables by a national candidate, environmental disasters in California and skyrocketing homelessness due to disastrous regulations, and the civil war caused by Democrats' failure to accept an election. These weren't laws--they were regulations passed by unelected federal bureaucrats or local boards and committees and increasingly by digital giants infesting our freedoms.

Burkett said that increasing regulations translated to fewer jobs, lower salaries and diminished competition regardless of who was in the White House, but he was definitely on track when he referred to the brainwashing of children. President Trump is trying to bring back America, but because those children of a quarter a century ago have passed on their ignorance and government dependency to their own children, his accomplishments are ignored and his supporters called a cult.

Two months ago

Where were you 2 months ago? Sept 8. Looking back at my diary, I see it was a quiet, peaceful Sunday, good church service and we were getting back into our fall routine after a great summer at Lakeside. Not a thought about brain cancer and how our lives would change forever in a few weeks.

And where were you 2 months before you were born? I was living a very quiet, peaceful life in my mother's womb, kicking and swimming, and so were you (different years and different mother, of course). Mom was 27 and chasing after my 2 older sisters. I don't know if we--all of us--were living at 203 E. Hitt St., not sure I ever asked when they bought the home I remember. The newspapers were full of the growing tension in Europe caused by Hitler who in a few weeks, about the time of my birth, would march into Poland, but the U.S., including FDR, was still planning to be neutral.

Two months before you and I were born we were the same persons we are today, just smaller. Yet there are women walking into "clinics" today, November 8, who have changed their minds and will kill their babies who could have survived outside the womb. “Oh, but that's rare,” you say—“It's a woman's right.” OK, name the figure, the number of babies, that is acceptable to you. 50? 100? Perhaps 1,000? Pick a number.

And remember, once you too were counting down 2 months to launch.

Hitler and the disabled—the slippery slope of the left

https://www.lifenews.com/2019/09/13/before-the-nazis-killed-jews-they-euthanized-hundreds-of-thousands-of-disabled-people/

The article he refers to appeared in the NYT in 2017, and there's a pay wall, but this is a decent summary--if there can be anything decent about the Nazis. The Democrats, Antifa, BLM, Occupy movement and pink hat Trump haters and Hollywood celebs have cheapened that word and its memories. I had read about this years ago, but many people don't know that methods were tested on the disabled. Germany actually had some outstanding facilities for children and adults with challenges. Imagine the horror of the parents and siblings who came to visit or look for them! Hitler also learned from the Turks who slaughtered many thousands of Armenians. It's the power of the state--National Socialism (aka Nazi)--and it's the very thing President Trump is resisting. But Trump's enemies are clever--they know that most people don't know history, don't know the meaning of words, even, and that the big lie can be repeated and repeated until their minds are mushy. Hitler's socialist model first killed his own citizens before moving beyond the borders.

MSNBC hosts has it wrong

“Kamala Harris supports Born Alive abortions, open borders, a centrally planned socialist economy, free healthcare for illegals, the abolition of private health plans, the Green New Deal, and the Iran Deal.

And the only reason MSNBC thinks Republicans don’t want to vote for her is because she’s Black.”

dk  African American Conservatives

Why Andrea walked away from the Democrats

Andrea voted for Obama twice, but didn't like Trump and didn't vote in 2016:

“Meanwhile, I watched the left ... just ... lose it.

I saw a party that once believed in restrictions on abortion go full-on-pro-baby-killing.

A party that used to believe in protecting women's opportunities now forcing women's sports teams to allow men to compete as trans.

A party that used to believe in securing our borders now encouraging people to break the law and bum rush our gates and attack ICE agents.

I saw identitarian social justice warriors emerge as the authoritarian thought police and start terrorizing anyone who challenged them.
I saw people that I used to admire advocate for the kind of political censorship and violence against dissenters that typifies a fascist dictatorship, all the while calling ME a fascist for defending the first amendment!!!

That's when I realized what hateful people the Democrats were becoming. I also began to see what their tax-and-spend policies were really doing to the country, their plan to turn us into a socialist economy, their constant race-baiting, their conspiracy theories, their kowtowing to Islamists, their trying to buy votes and destroy the electoral college ... not to mention the LIES told by the media about the president and conservatives in general... and I decided NO MORE!!!

If this is what liberalism is now, I want no part of it!!! "
from #Walkaway”

An Illinois Catholic on the new abortion bill—guest blogger

“Our priest spoke about it numerous times, as did others. . .  The diocesan office encouraged everyone to pray, fast, and act.  For those who were able, many trips were taken to Springfield to protest this hideous legislation.  We were encouraged to spread the word about these bills.  Many wrote letters, many called. . . .  The judicial process allowed us to protest the bills via an online vote. 

It's saddening to realize we have people who do not value life.

In the recent newspaper from our Diocese, a priest has made it known that all legislators who voted for these bills and reside in his deanery will be denied holy communion (I believe it was a priest, might have come from another Bishop) . . .  until that person has made his/her confession.  And interestingly, both Madigan (Speaker of the House) and Culverton (Head of the Senate) are both Catholic.  The denial of holy communion is powerful.”

Illinois is the shame of the nation

I’ve looked over the latest abortion initiative for Illinois and am shocked and horrified. Particularly at the cheering! What has happened to the people? It is now the most radical, the bloodiest, the most dangerous (to women), the most ghoulish, and deeply disturbing abortion legislation in the nation. God have mercy on the people who came up with this evil. https://www.liveaction.org/news/illinois-house-passes-abortion-worse-new-york/

There was a time when only a man called Obama of all the local, state and federal politicians supported (publicly) such radical, anti-human and anti-humane actions. Now it’s half the nation. What a legacy. And what has Illinois given the nation.

On the radio today I heard a broken hearted director of a pro-life pregnancy center in Illinois—they counsel women in bad situations, give them material aid, education and employment opportunities and save their babies—say that she and her husband have moved to another state rather than pay Illinois taxes,* and she is doing her job at a distance, trying to keep a brave face for her staff and volunteers.

* I think your state taxes follow you even if you move to Tennessee but earned it in Illinois, so she’ll probably be looking for work.

Is there womb discrimination?

Democrats are OK with discrimination because of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, or disability as long as it results in the death of an inconvenient baby in the womb. Democrats have been brutal to Justice Clarence Thomas as long as I can remember, but it has only made him stronger.

https://www.dailysignal.com/2019/06/05/clarence-thomas-shows-lefts-hypocrisy-on-discrimination/

Illinois perfect storm (Gene Kollack)

The 'Perfect Storm' descended with full force on the citizens of Illinoi this week. Your Governor and legislators (both sides) thank you for allowing them to go 'full Venezuela' on you. . .

This week in Springfield the following legislation was passed.

1. Expanded abortion up to birth.
2. Expanded gambling with up to 6 new casinos.
3. Allowing inmates to vote including establishing a polling place at the Cook County Jail.
4. Removing $5 co-pay for inmates making medical and dental completely free.
5. New law passed regarding Driver Licenses. When completing your drivers application you can identify as Male, Female, or Other (non-binary).
6. Legislation to extend voting rights to non-citizen student trustees in Illinois.
7. Passed legislation preventing law enforcement from enforcing the law and making Illinois a Sanctuary State.
8. A bill that requires all Refineries in Illinois, all petrochemical plants, all ethanol plants, all basic organic chemical plants must become union.
9. Last night passed legislation for a $40 billion budget (a billion more than the governors proposed budget) and $45 billion capital bill, raising license plate fees to $199, legalizes sports betting, higher taxes on video gaming and an expansion of video gaming, a tax hike on cigarettes and vaping, a new tax on parking garages, and raises the gasoline tax to $.38 a gallon.
10. Passed a constitutional amendment to go from a flat tax to a progressive tax.
11. Increased minimum wage to $15.
12. Legalization of marijuana.
13. Last but not least legislators gave themselves a 2.5% salary raise, a 25% and 33% increase in mileage and per diem.

Venting on stupidity in Washington

Why do billionaires like Soros, Steyer, Bezos, Zuckerburg, Brin, et. al. support the Democrats? It's good for business, and they are first and foremost capitalists and globalists. The more heavy handed government control, the less competition they'll have because smaller companies won't be able survive.

Since November 2016 the Democrats have done nothing but try to impeach the President and have accomplished nothing for the country. The Mueller report is out and they are still at it. The Democrats are rushing to impeach because the investigation of the Obama regime's spying is coming down the pike. (Caller to Mike Gallagher show--paraphrased). Good point. And that may have been the motive behind the entire phony investigation.

"We no longer live in a constitutional republic. We live in an idiocracy. Only in modern-day America, under the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives, is the basic proposition that federally subsidized public housing should benefit American citizens and legal residents slammed as “despicable” and “damaging.” " Michelle Malkin

Women are marching in support of killing other women's children. Whatever moral authority women may have had in the past, it's gone forever.  The pro-lifers marching outside the clinics are the abolitionists of the 21st century. The pro-choicers bragging about their abortions at rallies are the slave traders of the 18th century.

https://www.breitbart.com/border/2017/05/22/zuckerbergs-open-borders-group-enforcing-immigration-law-hurts-public-safety/

https://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Bezos-contributions-Democrat-Washington-Post/2013/08/07/id/519168/

https://dailycaller.com/2018/07/30/soros-uygur-ocasio-cortez/

The Democrat platform for 2020

The 2020 campaign and platform for the Democrats, based on recent behavior of those in Congress and those who have declared:

1. Open borders.
2. Pack the polls with ex-felons, 16 year olds, and illegals.
3. Destroy the electoral college so Democrats can legally win all future presidential elections with 4 states they packed with #1 and #2.
4. Implement the Green New Deal so the public sector control and influence is greater than the private sector--aka socialism.
5. Infanticide and late term abortion for any reason.
6. Abortion's progressive outcome, euthanasia for the inconvenient, ill, disabled and elderly.
7. Ratchet up the hate, fear and distrust with more identity politics and intersectionalism.
8. Reparations for slavery.
9. Destruction of first and second amendments, with more regulations, more laws, especially on religion, speech, and assembly on college campuses which then infects the whole society as academe has been doing for 50 years.
10. Find more charges to bring against the President and his family.

During the campaign, because it pleases the gullible and fattens the purse, the emphasis will be #1 (worded in compassionate and Biblical terms), #7 and #10. The others are really distasteful for most Americans and will need to be more incremental with more changes in the language with talk of core values, ethics, etc., the best double speak they can find.

Who is actually endangered?

Wolf numbers in the lower 48 states have rebounded from roughly 1,000 several decades ago to 5,000, and they may be removed from the endangered list, causing progressives to weep and gnash their teeth. Those same progressives cheered for infanticide and late term abortion. Maybe human babies and elderly humans could be added to the endangered list.