Have a Safe Memorial Day Week-End

Take up your Cross and Follow Me

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels." (Luke 9:23-26)

Although Jesus offered salvation as a free gift (John 1:12; 3:16–18; Eph. 2:8, 9), He also warned that following Him would entail suffering and hardship (Matt. 5:10–12; Rom. 8:17; 2 Thess. 1:5). People are willing to pay a high price for something they value. Is it any surprise that Jesus would demand this much commitment from His followers? There are at least three conditions that must be met by people who want to follow Jesus. We must be willing to deny self, to take up our crosses, and to follow Him. Anything less is superficial lip service.

U.S. House blocks ObamaCare funds!

U.S. House blocks ObamaCare funds for teaching abortion to new doctors

BY PETER J. SMITH

Thu May 26, 2011 11:39 EST

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 26, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to ban federal funds for teaching abortion techniques to medical students at public health centers.

The House voted 234-182 for the amendment proposed by pro-life U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.). Thirteen Democrats joined Republicans in voting for the bill, while ten Republicans voted with Democrats against it.

Foxx’s amendment (HR 1216) changes a part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), which had created a line of direct funding for qualified teaching health centers (including Title X “family planning” clinics) to establish or expand programs for medical residents.

The bill instead makes the centers dependent on annual appropriations from Congress, and requires that the funds allotted for qualified teaching health centers not be used to subsidize “abortion or training in the provision of abortions.” Click "Here" for complete article.

_________________________________________________

Way too go U.S. Representative Virginia Foxx! This is another thorn in the side of the Obama administration’s eagerness to support and fund abortion with tax payers money. Fox said on the House floor during Tuesday’s debate, “My amendment is designed to protect life, and the livelihoods of those who defend it.”

Foxx also added that her amendment supports the majority of U.S. taxpayers opposed to public funding of abortion and seeks “to ensure that their hard-earned money does not go to organizations that promote abortion or discriminate against pro-life health care providers.”

Let us continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2), lifting up our government and the people that are elected to serve us. It is my prayer today that God will continue to give wisdom and courage to those who speak out for the protection of the unborn so their cries will be heard all around the world. I pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.

Obama Criticizes Minnesota

Obama White House criticizes Minnesota traditional marriage amendment

BY KATHLEEN GILBERT
Wed May 25, 2011 13:31 EST

ST. PAUL, May 25, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Obama administration has condemned a traditional marriage amendment proposal in Minnesota in a statement issued Tuesday.

The amendment, passed by the state legislature on Saturday in a 70-62 vote, would allow Minnesotans the opportunity to vote during the 2012 election to enshrine traditional marriage in the state constitution.

When the gay news source Washington Blade asked for comment on the amendment, White House spokesman Shin Inouye issued a statement. It read:

“The President has long opposed divisive and discriminatory efforts to deny rights and benefits to same sex couples or to take such rights away. While he believes this is an issue best addressed by the states, he also believes that committed gay couples should have the same rights and responsibilities afforded to any married couple in this country.” Click "Here" for complete article.

_________________________________________________

It seems like our President is not having a very good week! First he threatens the state of Indiana for being the first state to defund Planned Parenthood. Now he is criticizing Minnesota for passing the traditional marriage amendment to their constitution that states: “Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota.” Now the voters in Minnesota will have a chance to vote on whether they would like to keep the traditional marriage in their state.  This amendment sounds just fine too me. Way to go Minnesota!

I am anxious to see what state will be next on the Obama Administrations list of "bad boys" that need to be reprimanded. What do all of you out there in cyberspace feel about this issue?

Obama Threatens Indiana!

Obama Administration threatens Indiana over defunding Planned Parenthood

BY PETER J. SMITH

Tue May 24, 2011 17:53 EST

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 24, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Obama administration is not happy with Indiana for being the first state to defund Planned Parenthood. According to reports, the administration is considering taking away the state’s Medicaid money in retaliation.

Pro-life Gov. Mitch Daniels recently signed into law a measure that bars state agencies from entering into contracts with abortion providers, aside from hospitals. The law also bans abortion past 20 weeks gestation, with an exception for the life or physical health of the mother.

The law effectively cuts Planned Parenthood off from approximately $3 million in state family planning funds, unless the state organization divides into separate independent affiliates that have nothing to do financially with abortion-providing affiliates.

The New York Times reports that federal officials are considering withholding some or all of the state’s Medicaid money in order to pressure the state to allow the nation’s largest abortion provider to tap into family planning funds. Click "Here" for the full article.

________________________________________________

Well, Well, Well!!!...In a way this is really not too big of a surprise to me when it comes to the Obama administration. I guess if each state does not conform to the "moral thinking" of Washington D.C. then BIG BROTHER will punish them.

You might recall that Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana signed a bill that made his state the first to cut off Planned Parenthood from taxpayer assistance because of its role in the abortion business. It will be interesting to see what happens here because Indiana has taken the lead in the fight against using taxpayer's money to fund abortions.

Let us all continue to pray for our government, especially for the Obama administration.

Christian Love

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13: 4-7)

Our society confuses love and lust. Unlike lust, God’s kind of love is directed outward toward others, not inward toward ourselves. It is utterly unselfish. This kind of love goes against our natural inclinations. It is possible to practice this love only if God helps us set aside our own desires and instincts, so that we can give love while expecting nothing in return. Thus the more we become like Christ, the more love we will show to others.

Harold Camping - False Prophet!

I want to introduce to you 89-year old Harold Egbert Camping who is an American Christian radio broadcaster. Harold is president of Family Radio, a California-based radio station that spans more than 150 markets in the United States. Harold's claim to fame is that he has twice predicted dates for the Rapture, dates which passed without incident in each case. The most recent was his 2011 end time’s prediction; he calculated that the Rapture would occur on May 21, 2011, and that God would subsequently completely destroy the Earth and the universe five months later on October 21.

What is interesting about Harold Camping is that he had previously predicted that the Rapture would occur in September 1994...Didn't happen. It really amazes me that anyone in their right mind would still be listening to Harold regarding the "End-Times" or anything else that has to do with the Word of God.

Let us all pray for Harold that he will not continue to make a mockery out of God's Word and that the Spirit of Truth will convict him that ONLY God knows the date and time of the Second Coming of His Son Christ Jesus.

Unity within Christ's Church

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2: 1-4)

Many people - even Christians - live only to make a good impression on others or to please themselves. But "selfish ambition or vain conceit" brings discord. Paul therefore stressed spiritual unity, asking the Philippians to love one another and to be one in spirit and purpose. When we work together, caring for the problems of others as if they were our problems, we demonstrate Christ's example of putting others first, and we experience unity. Don't be so concerned about making a good impression or meeting your own needs that you strain relationships in God's family.

Perversion of Democracy!

Perversion of democracy: gay ‘marriage’ and the law

BY CHUCK COLSON

Mon May 16, 2011 10:06 EST

May 16, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - For two years now, I’ve warned that the drive for so-called “gay marriage” was the greatest threat to religious liberty we’ve ever faced. But I think I may have underestimated the threat, because now I fear the democratic process and the rule of law are endangered as well.

It was bad enough when the President and the Attorney General declared the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional and would not defend the law of the land in court. Never mind that the DOMA was signed by President Clinton in 1996 after the Senate passed it 85-15 and the House by a margin of 342 to 66!

But after the House of Representatives hired the law firm of King and Spalding to represent DOMA in court (since the executive branch wouldn’t), something not-so-funny happened. Gay-rights groups threatened King and Spalding and its commercial clients with boycotts. Click "Here" to read the full article.

__________________________________________________

I find this to be a very interesting article by Chuck Colson regarding the Defense of the Marriage Act. What's really interesting is that the Senate and House passed the Marriage Act by wide margins, but President Obama and his Attorney General declared it unconstitutional. Let me ask you this one simple question...Do the POLITICIANS who run the U.S. Government still answer to the PEOPLE that put them into OFFICE?

I agree with Mr. Colson when he says, "I can’t say this forcefully or clearly enough: Wake up, America! When the executive branch of government rules by fiat and chooses not to enforce the law of the land, the democratic process and the consent of the governed are no longer possible."

In Christ Alone

So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. (Colossians 2:16-19)

In view of Christ’s victory over His enemies, we should not be controlled by those powers and practices over which Christ has already triumphed. The false teachers in Colosse were tempting the Colossians to bind themselves with the outward observances of Judaism, such as the Jewish dietary restrictions. These were merely a shadow of Christ. Judaism and its rites pointed to Christ. When Christ came, He dispelled the shadow. If we have Christ, we have what we need to know and please God. Paul warns the believers in Colosse not to let others bind them to regulations from which Christ has already freed them.

Planned Parenthood Funding Cut Off!

by Kathleen Gilbert

Tue May 10, 2011 16:25 EST

INDIANAPOLIS, May 10, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Indiana has become the first state to cut off Planned Parenthood from taxpayer assistance because of its role in the abortion business.

Governor Mitch Daniels, a potential contender for the 2012 GOP presidential ticket, signed on Tuesday a measure to block public funds from going to organizations that perform abortions, depriving Planned Parenthood of an estimated $3 million in both state and federal funds.

According to the Associated Press, Planned Parenthood of Indiana has promised to take to federal court to seek a temporary restraining order and injunction Tuesday against the new law.

_______________________________________________

Let us see if the governors of the other states will have the courage and wisdom to stand up against abortion like Governor Mitch Daniels. There is no legitimate excuse to use tax payer's money to fund abortion clinics.

I think this may be one of the platforms that politician's will use this coming presidential election. What are your thoughts?