The ACLU Invites Me to The Party

One of the odd things in life that changes once you become a home owner is how your mailbox fills up with even more stuff “to consider.” For example, I have gotten several new charities trying to get me to support them. All of them so far have been worth while causes that I had heard of but not ever contacted before. I love the free return address labels.

Little sidenote. I don’t like writing my return address on all my snail mail … boring. I am using these labels even though they are of Christmas ornaments (should last through March), Ziggy chasing hearts around (got a ton of these….I am good through September) and some other design that looks like it was drawn by a 9th grade girl bored in English class (should finish out my return address needs for 2008.)

Back to the point, the ACLU (aka American Civil Liberties Union … or … Anti-Christian Liberties Union) cold calls mails me an invitation to join them in their efforts (click picture for full affect. I added the Ziggy sticker.)

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Come Home - Christians Hold Mass in Baghdad - Beauty Found

Yesterday I commented on how Islam hides the beauty and Image of God as seen in women. The Lord brought the following I think to remin me that it is all about relationships. When you are in relationship, authentic and sacrificial, beauty happens.

Read the commentary and view the photographs of Michael Yon: Come Home

Come home, come home,

Ye who are weary, come home;

Will L. Thompson, “Softly and Tenderly”

This is one of the most beautiful scenes I have seen coming out of Baghdad. The following brought tears to my eyes …

Today, Muslims mostly filled the front pews of St John’s. Muslims who want their Christian friends and neighbors to come home. The Christians who might see these photos likely will recognize their friends here. The Muslims in this neighborhood worry that other people will take the homes of their Christian neighbors, and that the Christians will never come back. And so they came to St John’s today in force, and they showed their faces, and they said, “Come back to Iraq. Come home.” They wanted the cameras to catch it. They wanted to spread the word: Come home. Muslims keep telling me to get it on the news. “Tell the Christians to come home to their country Iraq.”

Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin

In Search of the Beautiful

I went to Old Time Pottery for the second time in my life today. It was packed packed packed with people. You would think that this weekend was the infamous weekend after Thanksgiving when all the retailers are overrun with people Christmas shopping. Oddly, I went to Home Depot right after and it was deader than a door knob.

Anyway, large unfamiliar places with humongous inventories of everything shoved everywhere annoy me. Then if they are packed full of people trying to get the last of the best deal … I better just score a great deal myself or only be in there for a little while.

So I am standing there studying a lamp. Seriously… you don’t want to go shopping with me if I am “in the shopping mode.” I take forever. I am studying this lamp, studying and running through all the possibilities in my head. If the phrase “it’s perfect” doesn’t pop in there somewhere… I move on.

The problem is I struggle with home decor-dependency and want to *make* something work that just wasn’t meant to be. I am getting better but … it, this decor-dependency, slows down the hunt for the “it’s perfect.”

That’ll preach…I’m sure of it.

So I am studying this lamp and then I decide to break up with the unworkable situation. Dejected and a little sad, it was such a great lamp, I turn around and am immediately startled to the point of literally letting out a little “oh goodness!” in the general direction of a towering figure in black. It was a woman who had to be at least 6′4″ … not kidding, in a head to toe black burka. She was staring straight at me (downward angle cause … again … the woman was huge.) And her eyes were like, “Don’t you even think about taking that lamp!”

I told you, it was just like the day after Thanksgiving … the mayhem of *MINE!*

Then I noticed the lady had gloves on…non-descript sneakers and the only thing you could see were these piercing eyes that had no make up on. Anyway, I was embarrassed a little at being startled but I got to thinking how horrible this brand of Islam is to treat women in that manner. It just is. I hate seeing the Image of God born in the female soul/sense of being, hidden behind a cloak of unrestrained institutionalized misogyny. On the other hand, I hate seeing His image in her objectified, sexualized and prostituted for “entertainment” of the institutionalized secularized masses as well.

yeah … I said it.

I did end up with some art for the kitchen and entryway (very good deals.) And while my art is beautiful I can’t help but think of all the miraculous beauty hidden behind burkas. I pray the Lord would move in a miraculous way to free women from this oppression all throughout the darkened world that seeks control and oppress them.

Happy Veterans Day!

Photo of flag at John Wayne Airport in Southern California

Happy Veterans Day!  Thank you to all the brave souls, past and present, working and fighting for Freedom.  We love you and appreciate your sacrificial devotion to the United States!

False Prophet Fred Phelps Has A New Bill to Pay

My thoughts after the jump.

The Associated Press: $11M Verdict in Funeral Protesters Case
$11M Verdict in Funeral Protesters Case

By ALEX DOMINGUEZ – 4 hours ago

BALTIMORE (AP) — Members of a fundamentalist Kansas church ordered to pay nearly $11 million in damages to a grieving father smiled as they walked out of the courtroom, vowing that the verdict would not deter them from protesting at military funerals.

"Absolutely, don’t you understand this was an act in futility?" said Shirley Phelps-Roper, whose father founded the Westboro Baptist Church.

Members promised to picket future funerals with placards bearing such slogans as "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "God hates fags."

They believe that U.S. deaths in the Iraq war are punishment for the nation’s tolerance of homosexuality. They say they are entitled to protest at funerals under the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech and religion.

Albert Snyder sued the Topeka, Kan., church after a protest last year at the funeral of his son, Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq. He claimed the protests intruded upon what should have been a private ceremony and sullied his memory of the event.

A jury agreed. On Wednesday, the church and three of its leaders — Fred Phelps and his two daughters, Phelps-Roper and Rebekah Phelps-Davis — were found liable for invasion of privacy and intent to inflict emotional distress.

Jurors awarded Snyder $2.9 million in compensatory damages and $8 million in punitive damages.

It’s unclear whether Snyder will be able to collect the damages.

…

Snyder sobbed when he heard the verdict, while members of the church greeted the news with tightlipped smiles.

…

Earlier in the day, church members staged a demonstration outside the federal courthouse, while passing motorists honked and shouted insults.

Phelps held a sign emblazoned with "God is your enemy," while Phelps-Roper stood on an American flag as she carried a sign that proclaimed "God hates fag enablers." Members of the group also sang "God Hates America," to the tune of "God Bless America."

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Count Me In … I am for Huckabee

Speaking on behalf of me….and me alone … not any organization and (especially not Exodus because Exodus as an organization does not support or condemn any particular candidate) *I* have decided to vote for Huckabee.

Yes, it is because he is unabashedly Christian, but it is also that he does care for the environment (in a balanced way … not the “new religion” kind of way.) I like that he has a lot of good experience as well. Of all the candidates, I like him. I like Fred too, but Huck is just as likeable in my opinion.

The only reason I have been hesitant was the “electable” factor. Pretty dang good reason if I do say so. Regardless, when it all boils down, Huckabee would be the person I would want in the White House.

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Washington Briefing - Mike Huckabee (Presidential Candidate)

My notes on Huckabee’s presentation I came in a little late.

“I don’t blame the people who want to be here, I blame the government sitting on its hands for twenty years. Build the border fence.”

This crowd absolutely LOVES Huckabee.

Get rid out the tax code with the fair tax. Stop the muzzling of ministers being told they can’t say things from the pulpit. The bloggers aren’t so happy with the crowds response. Any President who would allow international law to inform should be impeached.Some want to redefine marriage. Constitutional amendment is necessary… tired of hearing people unwilling to change the constitution but willing to change the Holy word of God as it relates to marriage.

Life begins at conception. Must stop the holocaust of Liberalized abortion. We should stop accommodating sexual irresponsibility… basketball metaphor for Standards of God. We don’t lower a basketball goal for a bad team to do better, we compel the team to work toward making the goal.

It’s important that the language of zion not be spoken as a second language.

That last sentence made me think of Romney and Mormonism. The parallel, if there truly is one, is that Mormon’s have added the book of Mormon as holy scripture. The do claim the Bible to be Holy Scripture as well but, from what I have experienced the book of Mormon always comes first and the Bible is primarily used to back it up. I could be wrong and that could be a totally inaccurate view of what Huckabee was intending ( as a metaphor ) … but that is what I thought of when he said that statement.

People need to sing from their hearts not lip synch. We will not sacrifice our principles for any one’s politics. I do not spell God GOP.

Huckabee had people jumping up and down. I was kind of shocked. He was all about the Bible, scriptures and it was almost like church on a Sunday morning. It was great! But I was concerned because… well just because. I am not one to get swept away in political rallies and as the crowd got more and more hyped, even though I loved what he was saying … I was uncomfortable. Still haven’t figured it out.

Washington Briefing - Rudy Giuliani (Presidential Candidate)

Rudy Giuliani - Very nice introduction. A very warm but not unanimous standing ovation.

My notes on what he said …

Speak to us about shared values and goals. The American people want their leaders to reason together. The culture here in DC prevents people from thinking about solving problems and finding solutions. When we discuss the role of faith and value in politics it is turned around to something negative. We have got to find a way to be more inclusive. Christianity is all about inclusiveness. It grew from a persecuted few in the Roman Empire to the most widespread message in the world. Love faith optimism. It was the love of the early Christians that drew thousands and millions. Non-believers saw the love and wanted to be a part of that. There was so much love that they overlooked the persecution brought to them.

He wants to be the President because he wants to face strong opposition and reason together for solutions.

We might have big problems but we have bigger solutions. For every right there is a duty … for every benefit a responsibility.

Belief in personal responsibility. Otimistic, challenging and achievable. I can’t be all things to all people. We have many more areas of agreement than disagreement and I will always listen and be honest with you. I come to you with an open mind and open heart. Please know this, you have absolutely nothing to fear from me. Lberal causes - just read Times articles about me while I was Mayor. I have a certain reluctance that I grew up with to share my faith publicly. My reliance on God is at the core of who I am (check transcript.) Will not pretend to change all my position to fit … trust is more important than agreement. Reagan “what do I honestly believe is best for America.

I will not bend and sway with the political winds if I believe them to be against a good of the nation. Affirms faith as a part of the process.

Talks about the reformation of NYC. Defended people of faith. I believe America stronger and better for your participation. “Freedom of Religion is not Freedom from Religion” Gov. should not force parents to send their children to failed schools. Ideally it takes a family…not a village, to raise a child.

12 commitment - One to decrease abortions and increase adoptions. A country without abortion by changing the hearts and minds of people.

Judges - Americans are protected by the separation of Powers. Each branch must respect the limitations put on them. They must interpret the law…not create it. Giuliani … would appoint justices in the line of Scalia, Thomas, Alito and Roberts. Wow. We must remain on offense in the war on terror. Talked about Palestinian “have to’s.” Under no circumstances will we allow Iran to become a nuclear power. Get involved in Darfur. ::: I was the only one with a standing ovation on that one and that makes me sad. :::

We serve God best by serving others. I want to work with the community of faith to work toward shared goals. Advancing a culture of life by decreasing abortions and increasing adoptions. I will continue to extend my hand to you and I hope you will take it.

Giuliani did a good job on his speech but as I talked with people throughout the day … they, and I, cannot support him. We can not do it. As Dr. Dobson said tonight at the closing dinner, the election is a little over a year away, we don’t know what will happen between now and then. IF Giuliani and Hillary are the two put forward by the parties, there is a lot of talk about “voting for the lesser of two evils.” The problem is that both candidates have social issue stances that are not acceptable…how can one vote for what is not acceptable?

I have strong leanings for NOT starting a third party and from what I have heard here…no one here does either. Neither does Dr. Dobson (in spite of what the media is reporting.) At the same time, as I have mentioned before. A good friend said to me once, “God does not call us to be a Republican or Democrat, he calls us to be faithful.”

What a conundrum this is … We clearly need direction from the Lord.

Washington Briefing - Bill Bennett

Bennett is another intellectual that I am inspired by. He gets you thinking whether you agree with him or not.

The defining of values will be the issue of the upcoming elections .

“We cannot consign freedom to the ash heap of history.” He along with everyone so far mentions the next generation and the need to prepare, protect and preserve their freedom and religious liberty. I wish I could do his presentation justice in this blogpost but I was too busy listening to him I didn’t type anything down! That’s why I am not a good live-blogger
Plus, my main job is to represent Exodus here so meetings and interviews took priority and I did a LOT of interviews.

Washington Briefing - Representative Tom Tancredo (Presidential Candidate)

Tancredo had a lot to say and while I agreed with most of what he had to say … I have to say that I can’t see him as President. He came off very adversarial to me with a lot of little side digs at just about everyone. I must confess that I don’t know the man at all really. I like listening to politics and issues but I confess…I know almost zero about Tancredo. He is probably a very good leader and solid conservative but today he seemed negative and abrasive.

It could be that at the beginning he used a joke about a prostitute being self righteous about her price as a metaphor for something he’s against ( I can’t remember which … he’s against a lot of things.) I thought the joke was tasteless and degrading. At that point I just kind of tuned out. I can handle a President who can’t pronounce nuclear correctly, that’s funny, but degrading prostitutes as a metaphor for political opponents … not so much.

Some of his comments mingled with my notes (again, paraphrased … I don’t have a recorder and while I try my best to get it word for word, I don’t type that fast and must allow that I might be filling in here or there.)

I am upset by the fetish of hyphenated conservatives. Since when is conservatism, by itself, not enough? A kinder and gentler compassionate conservatism has done nothing for us.

When conservatives run on principles we win, when we don’t, we lose. Only adjective he wants to add to his brand of conservatism would be unapologetic conservative. He is very right on the issues, eloquent even, just combative. Tancredo will never apologize for America. It is the last best hope for western civilization. We don’t vote pro-life because of a poll we vote because the Lord says “I knew you before you were in the womb.” Conversion should happen on the road to Damascus and not on the road to Des Moines.

Tancredo is full of one-liners. Goes after top tier candidates, they will not go after illegal immigration. Tancredo’s single issue is the survival of America. The conservative movement is not to choose a candidate but produce one.

So … anyone angling for a third party vote? … anyone?

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