Author Archives: Donald Cole

It is Time to Break the Silence

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On the 46th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, the New York State Senate and visitors in the Senate gallery erupted in a celebratory standing ovation when the bill passed that allowed abortions at any stage of pregnancy. The bill also eliminated the requirement that a medical doctor perform an abortion and it decriminalized the mandate to care for a baby born alive after the abortionist failed to kill the child before it exited the birth canal.

The consequences of this law are clear. Organizations like Planned Parenthood will be able to significantly reduce overhead expenses of their abortion clinics. Nurses and Physician Assistants are less expensive to hire than licensed Physicians. A very real consequence to the removal of the mandate to care for a live born baby is that a child born alive could be merely left to die.

The most horrific consequence of this law is that it now gives body part brokers another 3 months to grow a more profitable baby to dissect and sell to the highest bidder. It will happen.

The law also strikes a blow to violence against women. It removed penalties for harming a child in the womb during an assault.

New York resident, Livia Abreu was in her 26th week of pregnancy when her boyfriend stabbed her in the stomach, killing her unborn child. He was charged for assault and the death of her child. Under the new law, there is no crime against the unborn child.

A few days after the New York law, the State of Virginia attempted to pass a similar law. Fortunately during committee deliberations, Republican House Majority Leader asked Delegate Kathy Tran, the bill’s sponsor, directly if the bill allowed an abortion even as the mother was about to give birth.

Tran tried to avoid the question but finally had to acknowledge that the bill did, in fact, allow the killing of the child even while the mother was giving birth. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam revealed more when he described what is happening even now:

“The infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother. So I think this was really blown out of proportion.”

This has not been blown out of proportion at all. It is very clear that a living child could be left to die, in comfort of course, unless the mother asked that the baby be resuscitated.

Between the Planned Parenthood undercover videos, the standing ovation in the New York Senate, and the debate in Virginia, America is getting a glimpse of the truth. Abortion has raised its ugly head and we recoil in shock. Too many have remained silent for too long.

Some Catholics called for the excommunication of Governor Cuomo. He did not merely sign the bill carrying out his civil responsibility as Governor. He endorsed the bill, pushed for its passage, and sent out a message on social media celebrating its passage and directing that the One World Trade Center be lit in pink.

It is evident that Cuomo is not repentant and shows no indication that he intends to repent. Yet he is very quick to throw on the Catholic mantle when it suits his needs.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan has said that he will not excommunicate Cuomo. It appears that Cuomo will carry on his charade while Cardinal Nolan looks the other way.

It is time to break the silence and directly question those whose silence allows these policies. The plain truth is that there is a clear distinction between the two major political parties on the practice of abortion.

The bill in New York passed this year because Democrats finally gained a majority in the state legislature. For years Republicans blocked such outrageous bills.

The bill introduced in Virginia died in committee along a party line vote. Democrats voted for it, Republicans voted against it.

The Democrat platform calls to overturn prohibitions against taxpayer funded abortions. It calls for support of Planned Parenthood. Republicans, in their platform, are on record against both.

African Americans and Catholics comprise a significant voting block in the Democrat party. African Americans and Catholics oppose abortion.

There is a disconnect that enables the Democrat party to aggressively promote abortion legislation. They have tossed the old arguments of “safe” and “legal but rare” to the side of the road hundreds of miles ago. They watered down requirements for safe medical facilities and licensed physicians.

The “Women’s Health” mantra is a fraud. It is evident that the real interest of Democrats is to increase the profit margins of abortionists like Planned Parenthood.

The traditional Democrat voting blocks do have an influence. Pastors can call out the politicians who lend credence to the culture of death in the abortion industry.

This should not be about partisan politics, but it is. No one can deny the stark truth.

You may be one of those who has always voted Democrat. Open your eyes to the truth of what is happening. It is time to break the silence.

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President Trump’s Compromise

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Friday afternoon, President Trump announced that he would sign a bill to fund the government for three more weeks and end the government shutdown. He accepted the Democrat proposal to first open the government and then they will discuss the President’s request for border security.

It was evident on the President’s face that this was not something he wanted to do. He knew that the headlines would be, “Trump Caves.”

President Trump did not cave. He compromised. There is a big difference.

A cave is when one party gives in without fighting to win on their position. They may talk a great deal but do not put up a fight because they never intended to put up a fight.

A compromise on the other hand is when both parties come to an agreement to resolve an issue. Both parties come out of the deal with something and both parties give up something.

President Trump’s position was to fund the government and include border security provisions with physical barriers, commonly referred to as a wall. Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer said, no wall.

Both made small concessions along the way. Trump’s recommendation changed from wall to steel slats that allowed border guards to see through to the other side. He later threw in provisions to address the issue of children who had been brought to the United States illegally by their parents.

Pelosi and Schumer softened their position from “no wall” to a short term bill of a few weeks to open the government. During that period, they assured the President that there would be serious and meaningful bi-partisan discussions to fund border security.

The President had serious reservations about Democrats actually operating in good faith. He did not want to play the role of Charlie Brown to have Lucy (Pelosi and Schumer) snatch the football away again.

President Trump knew that the shutdown was putting a financial strain on impacted federal employees. The strain was showing, particularly in air travel.

During the shutdown, President Trump has been talking with members of Congress. Some meetings were well publicized while many were out of the limelight.

His statement below summarizes the spirit of the compromise.

After 36 days of spirited debate and dialogue, I have seen and heard from enough Democrats and Republicans that they are willing to put partisanship aside, I think, and put the security of the American people first. I do believe they are going to do that.

They have said they are for complete border security and they have finally and fully acknowledged that having barriers, fences, or walls or whatever you want to call it, will be an important part of the solution. A bipartisan conference committee of House and Senate lawmakers and leaders will immediately begin reviewing the requests of our homeland security experts, and experts they are, and also law enforcement professionals who have worked with us so closely.

The key in this statement is the agreement to have a bipartisan conference committee. A conference committee is generally formed after the House and Senate pass a bill with slight differences. The conference committee meets to work out the differences and present the same bill to both chambers for final approval.

The bipartisan makeup of the committee means that Democrats and Republicans will both be at the same table talking with each other. They will not be talking at each other via 30 second sound bites.

The address was originally scheduled for 1:00 pm last Friday. It was almost 2:30 before the President spoke. That delay indicates that he was working on this address, probably making phone calls, and finalizing agreements up until the last minute.

President Trump wanted a bill that included funding for a wall. He believed that he could strike some agreement to get it done.

Democrat leadership refused to talk. As time went on, the focus of attention turned more and more to the impact of the government shutdown and away from the crisis at the border.

The President decided to eat humble pie. He agreed to the appeals he was hearing from both sides to open the government. The compromise agreement is in the best interest of all Americans.

President Trump displayed leadership in fighting for his position. He displayed leadership by taking action to move the issue forward. He displayed statesmanship by putting trust in both parties to work together on a conference committee in good faith.

President Trump kept his part of the agreement. Within hours of giving his address, the President signed the bill to give full back pay and put federal workers back to work.

Furloughed federal workers are no longer an issue. Now, the issue is solely on border security and funding a wall to address the crisis on our Southern border.

The President recognizes the process that the Founding Fathers built into our constitutional government. Technically, the President could declare a national emergency and act unilaterally.

He believes that Congress should recognize the crisis at the Southern Border. They should acknowledge the crisis by funding border security.

The President has done his part. Now, it is in the hands of Congress. President Trump did not cave. He compromised. There is a big difference.

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America – Heed the Warning

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“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”(Genesis 1:1) The opening words of the Bible lay a foundation on which all of mankind stands.

The account of God’s creation unfolds step by step. Everything was building toward this grand finale of the creation. God created man in the image of God.

Man was special. Man was unique. The description of man contains a characteristic unlike any other part of creation. “in our own image.” (Genesis 1:26) Man was stamped with the image of God. He was sanctified by God.

In this perfect environment, with a perfect couple, a tragic event took place. God’s perfect human beings, Adam and Eve, rejected God.

Instead of trusting in the abundant gifts of God in a perfect environment with a perfect relationship, they chose their own path. They violated the one rule that God gave.

With the fall of man, sin entered the world. Adam and Eve experienced fear and shame.

Their first child, Cain, demonstrated the pollution of sin and the fall. He experienced envy, jealousy, rage, and eventually killed his own brother.

When God handed down the 10 commandments, He included, “you shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13) God gave life. His creation was to honor life and treat everyone with dignity and respect.

Even the social consciousness movement against bullying is not a new cultural improvement. God handed down the first directive against making fun of others? “You shall not curse a deaf man, nor place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall revere your God; I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:14 NASB)

The Nation of Israel turned away from the one true God and chased after false philosophies. It led to a downward spiral of the nation that sunk to its lowest depth.

They sacrificed their own children. Their focus of attention was not on the gift of the lives of their children. Their focus was on themselves.

Things are no different today. The self-centered secular humanism has no moral absolutes. As a result, we have a nation that worships itself and fails to see the glaring inconsistency of its own behavior.

Imagine someone going on a famous talk show. Millions across the nation watch as the parents calmly talk with the host about their latest wonderful religious experience.

They vividly describe how they took their newborn baby into a decorated sanctuary. They bowed before a large statue. Then they turned and handed the infant child over to man dressed in a ceremonial robe.

The man lifted the child up high over his head and uttered words to the god he worshipped. He then placed the baby on a metal grate and turned a large valve. Natural gas freely flowed and then ignited beneath the child.

In seconds the metal grate changed to raging inferno. They reverently listened to the terrified screams of the baby until the screams finally fell to an eerie silence.

Imagine that conversation today before a live studio audience broadcast nationwide. The audience would be in shock and rage at such an event.

But then imagine a woman on the same show saying, “my body, my rights.” No, wait, we don’t have to imagine something like that. We see it every day. Her statement is usually followed by loud applause.

On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court ruled that the child in the mother’s womb is not a “person.” Therefore that child has no rights under the Constitution of the United States.

Since 1973 we have seen astounding advances in science and technology. The invention of the sonogram allows someone to learn of the gender of a child long before birth.

This has led to a new line of business for party and event planners. The “reveal party” now is a part of our culture where an expectant couple holds friends and family in suspense before revealing the gender of the baby, still months before birth.

We have a generation of children who grew up seeing sonogram images of little brother or sister. America’s plea of ignorance on the question of when life begins was weak in 1973. There is no basis for a plea of ignorance today.

The five year old brother standing in awe before the refrigerator looking first at his mother’s growing stomach and then at the sonogram image of his little sister taped to the refrigerator door instinctively knows better. We know better too, and we are accountable.

Just a matter of weeks ago, the state legislature in Ohio passed a bill that prohibited an abortion after the detection of a heartbeat in the baby. A heartbeat is a basic sign of life. Checking for a pulse is one of the immediate actions taken by a first responder at the scene of an accident.

Lawmakers in Ohio recognized that basic sign of life. They overwhelmingly passed a law recognizing that a child with a heartbeat had the right to live.

Governor John Kasich, a Republican, vetoed the bill. His reasoning relied on an outdated Supreme Court ruling.

Instead of standing for life and challenging the ruling, he unconditionally surrendered and vetoed the bill. Kasich claims to be pro-life. He ran as a pro-life candidate.

When it came down to it, Kasich thrust aside his trust and reliance in the infallible Supreme Ruler of the Universe. He bowed before black-robed fallible, human beings, and a terribly flawed ruling.

Each of the two major political parties have taken a clear position on an unborn child’s right to life. They published their positions in their campaign platforms for all to see.

The Democrats want to provide tax funding for abortion on demand. The Republican platform stands on the side of the child clearly stating “The unborn child has a fundamental right to life which cannot be infringed.”

Democrats also stand to defend the horrific practices of Planned Parenthood. “We will continue to stand up to Republican efforts to defund Planned Parenthood health centers.” Republicans call for the defunding Planned Parenthood and “to make it a crime to acquire, transfer, or sell fetal tissues from elective abortions for research.”

As if mere killing was not enough, Planned Parenthood and other organizations determined that if they killed the baby in just the right manner, they could butcher the body and sell the parts to highest bidder. With every innocent life brutally dismembered, there is a terrified, helpless, cry from a child fighting for his or her very life.

Those cries fall on deaf human ears. Be assured that God is not deaf. The cries of the millions of innocent babies callously killed as if a sacrifice to a god of convenience rise to His throne of justice.

Our nation cannot continue down this path without consequence. The just and righteous Creator who watched over us and formed this nation of freedom is filled with grace beyond all measure. He is also a God of justice who will pour out His wrath.

God cares enough to warn those who make fun of a deaf or blind person. How much more does He have to say to a nation with the blood of over 60 million innocent lives on its hands?

Here is a clear warning. “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31) America had best heed the warning.

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Two Days in January – Part 1

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There are two significant dates in the month of January that impact America. No, one of them is not the Superbowl. 

One is a day in which we recognize the life of a man who led a movement for justice and freedom. He forced America to face the evil of discriminating against people based on the color of their skin. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is on the third Monday in January. 

The other is a dark day in American history. It is not a federal holiday and is not one to be celebrated with joy. 

On the contrary, it should be acknowledged with repentance and deep sorrow. It should be acknowledged with a cry to the Almighty for forgiveness. 

That day is January 22, 1973. On that day that the Supreme Court of the United States shook its fist in the face of the Supreme ruler of the Universe by ruling that unborn children were not persons, therefore did not have the unalienable right of life. 

What an irony of American history. One day celebrating the righting of the terrible wrong of racism. Another day, that ruled that an unborn child had no more rights than a housefly crushed to death with a swat as a mere nuisance. 

That dreadful decision unleashed the holocaust of abortion. Planned Parenthood and other abortionists have brutally killed millions since that decision.

This commentary is focused on the day we recognize Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

On January 15, 1929 a mother gave birth to a boy in Atlanta, Georgia. At the age of 39, his life was cut down in Memphis, Tennessee by the bullet fired by James Earl Ray, a hate-filled, evil, cowardly, sniper. 

I just read Dr. King’s, “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” dated April 16, 1963. It is his response to a published statement by eight clergymen It is said that he wrote it on the margins of a newspaper and on scraps of paper. 

Tweets, memes, and 30 second sound bites are the basic literature of today’s culture. They usually degrade to name calling and insults. 

We should regularly set those temporary blurbs aside lest they drag us down along with them. We should take the time to read on deeper, more thoughtful, literature, such as the Bible, biographies, and the writing of great thinkers and leaders that will stand the test of time. 

King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” is one of those writings that will stand the test of time. I was particularly impressed with a section of his letter that addressed the state of the church in American society. 

It was written over a half century ago. It could have been written yesterday. I have highlighted phrases of particular impact. 

There was a time when the church was very powerful — in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society. Whenever the early Christians entered a town, the people in power became disturbed and immediately sought to convict the Christians for being “disturbers of the peace” and “outside agitators.” But the Christians pressed on, in the conviction that they were “a colony of heaven,” called to obey God rather than man. Small in number, they were big in commitment. They were too God-intoxicated to be “astronomically intimidated.”By their effort and example they brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contests.

Things are different now. So often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. So often it is an arch-defender of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church’s silent — and often even vocal — sanction of things as they are. But the judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If today’s church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century.

If I attempted to add anything to his commentary on the church, it would only dilute the power of the message. I encourage you to read Dr. King’s complete letter. You can find it here: “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” 

On Tuesday, I will address Roe v Wade, the day of sorrow for America. 


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The Shutdown, Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Football

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Peanuts is an American classic. One of the ordeals for Charlie Brown is his repeated misplaced trust in Lucy holding the football for kickoff. 

Time after time, Lucy assures Charlie that she will hold the football. Charlie hesitates because she always pulls the football away. 

Finally, Charlie again trusts Lucy and races forward to kick the ball. At the last split second, Lucy snatches the ball out of the way. Charlie flips backwards through the air, landing on his back with a thud.

In some ways this is a good analogy of what is going on between the Democrats and President Trump in the government shutdown. 

The latest proposals from the Democrats provide for opening the government for two or three weeks. During the two or three weeks, the Democrats promise that they will make an honest and diligent effort to consider the President’s request for border security. 

Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, called on the President to postpone his State of the Union address. It is scheduled for January 29. She wants him to wait until the government is reopened. 

She also suggested that he deliver it in writing rather than a televised address to the American people. Her request is understandable given her poor performance with Chuck Schumer in their response to President Trump’s Whitehouse address on border security. 

So far, the President is not buying it. He is standing firm. 

Democrats are playing the role of Lucy. They promise that if President Trump will sign a bill to fund the government for just two or three weeks, they can work things out.

The script assures us that Charlie Brown will finally trust Lucy. There is a big difference this time. President Trump is not Charlie Brown. 

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Dear Congressman Bishop

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Last Wednesday I called my Congressman, Sanford Bishop, Democrat, 2nd District of Georgia. I left a simple message with his kind receptionist. 

“Part ways with Nancy Pelosi and represent your district by funding the President’s request. If you have not called, will you take a moment to do that? 202-225-3631. 

Earlier this morning, I also sent the following message. 

Dear Congressman Bishop,

Represent your constituents. Part ways with Nancy Pelosi. Cross the aisle, and vote to secure the borders and reopen the government.

In his address to the American people, President Trump said that this entire shut down could be resolved in 45 minutes with sincere negotiation. 

Thus far the Democrats have been hypocritical. If you insist on listening to and voting as Nancy Pelosi directs, then you, too, will be hypocritical. 

For years politicians on both sides of the aisle have talked about the need for stronger border security. I have read statement after statement from Presidents and leaders from both parties, including the the present Democrat leadership that you are following.

You know that some of those crossing the border are ruthless and merciless criminals. They bring innocent victims along with them.

Reports are that one third of the women who are on caravans to try to illegally cross the open border are victims of horrendous rape and sexual assault along the way. 

Statistics like this indicate that many of the people funding and leading these caravans are not humanitarians helping families seek the American dream. Rather it reveals that these are criminals callously treating women and children as mere commodities in modern day slavery and sex trafficking. 

Now you are inflicting even more pain by allowing the government to shut down. As I write you, federal employees are due a paycheck. It won’t come today.

President Trump said that he would own the shutdown. He may own the shutdown, but you own the solution. 

You voted for the Secure Fence Act when President George W. Bush asked for it. Chuck Schumer voted for it. Today, when the crisis at the border is even worse, you suddenly make a 180 degree turn. Why? 

It is not because of policy. Border security is an American issue, not a party issue.

It is not a funding question. I have not heard one word asking what to cut in order to fund the request.

There is only one reason for the sudden change. It is a political issue to keep President Trump from fulfilling a campaign promise. This is childish behavior. 

Even more childish, it is a personality issue about Donald Trump himself. It is time to put away childish behavior.

It is time for you listen to your constituents. It is time to part ways with Nancy Pelosi. It is time to cross the aisle.  

Vote to secure the borders, and reopen the government.

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Dear Mr. President

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Thank you for your stand on securing our nation’s border. If I depended on the main stream media, I could start to think that I am the only person who supports you. I am not.

Given the media propaganda, I think that it is appropriate to let you know that I hear and understand what you are saying.

Americans from all walks of life, all races, nationalities, socioeconomic classes, and educational levels, hear and understanding what you are saying. It would not surprise me to learn that even some who vote Democrat hear and understand what you are saying.

Tweet from President Trump with image of steel slat fence

You made it clear that we need stronger border security. You even sent a tweet referring to the border security structure as steel slats.

I appreciate the picture you attached. It is simple and shows what we need at certain places on the border.

Whether we call it a wall or steel slats, it functions to protect and secure our borders. That is your mission.

On December 11, 2018, Nancy Pelosi told you that there were not enough votes in the House, even with a Republican majority, to fund the wall. Nine days later the House of Representatives passed a bill by a vote of 217-185 which included $5 billion to build a wall.

That bill never made it to a vote in the Senate. Chuck Schumer and Democrats used their power to filibuster to keep Senators from voting it up or down.

Schumer and Democrats said that the wall funding bill, as passed by the House, would not pass the Senate. Obviously they did not believe what they were saying or they would have allowed an up or down vote.

No one claims that we do not need border security. No one disputes that there are some bad characters attempting to enter our nation illegally. No one disagrees that the Executive branch has the responsibility to protect our nation and her borders.

Our Border Patrol agents face danger on a daily basis. They clearly can do their jobs more effectively, and with less danger in areas with a strong physical border.

Democrats and the mainstream media have made this entire escapade like a preschool playground argument that wants to keep little Johnny from winning a game. (My apologies to preschoolers who may be insulted by the analogy).

Mr. President, I hear you. I appreciate your stand. I support you fully.

History reveals the hypocrisy of Chuck Schumer. He voted for the Secure Fence Act in 2006. So, what has changed?

We elected you to be our President. That is what has changed.

Thank you, Mr. President, for standing for America.

Sincerely,

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A Christmas World View

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Christmas is not just another holiday. It is not just a season for retailers to see the parenthesis disappear from the net profit/loss bottom line.

The truth of Christmas is a basic foundation of deep philosophical and theological questions about the meaning of life and our existence in this world.

In just a few decades, we have witnessed a major shift in attitudes about this traditional holiday. To show how seismic the shift has been, let me ask you a question. Why was it newsworthy that in 2017, President Trump wished everyone a “Merry Christmas?”

There is a world view on public display in a manger scene or in the greeting of “Merry Christmas.” That is why organizations like the ACLU regularly demand that small towns remove manger scenes from public property and “Seasons Greetings” or “Happy Holidays” have replaced “Merry Christmas” as a traditional greeting in many places.

A Christmas world view is based on the truth of Scripture. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1 NASB)

That one sentence established the truth that God is the creator of all that we see. Some may mock the idea of God creating everything out of nothing.

The alternative view is that everything was already in existence and just rearranged itself, by itself, in the balanced order of nature and universe that we know today. It seems that the latter view requires a greater leap of faith than to believe in God as the Creator.

Genesis further describes God’s creation of man in the image of God. He created Adam and Eve as a special creation and gave them dominion over the earth.

The world was perfect in every way and man was perfect in every way. A perfect, holy God had created a perfect environment with perfect creatures.

His desire was a personal relationship with His creation and He had one. He walked with Adam in the garden in the cool of the day.

God gave one rule to man. Imagine, living in a perfect environment with just one rule.

Adam and Eve willfully committed the first sin and broke the one rule that God gave. As a result, sin entered the world and with it the consequences of sin.

The horrible consequences included the destructive emotions of fear, embarrassment, guilt, anger, jealousy, envy, and hatred. Those emotions led to actions of cover-up, blaming others, murder, and other destructive behaviors.

Nature itself was infected by sin. Man now had to confront weeds, thorns, and pestilence that fought to kill what had been growing freely and abundantly in the perfect Garden.

Man’s sin was an incurable genetic disorder passed down to every generation. “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12 NASB)

Man sought for meaning through accumulating knowledge, establishing empires and building wealth. None of those ended the curse of death and none of those brought peace and meaning to life.

But God already had a plan to solve the unsolvable problem of sin. Because of His great love for man, He came to earth as one of us to reconcile man to himself.

2,000 years ago on a hillside near the little town of Bethlehem, angels appeared to shepherds in the field and announced good tidings of great joy. “Today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11 NASB)

Jesus lived the perfect life. He promised life to those who would believe in Him. He made an exclusive claim that He, and He alone, is the way, the truth, and the life.

He took the penalty of sin on behalf of fallen man. He died on a cross and was raised again from the dead. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (II Corinthians 5:19)

He defeated death and the grave by being raised from the dead. Since the time of His life on this earth, His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension to heaven, millions, if not billions, have believed in Him. He changed the world and is still changing lives today.

One day He will return. He will, once and for all, put a permanent end to the consequences of sin. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain.” (Revelation 21:4 NASB)

God’s revelation of Jesus Christ is the greatest message ever given. It is the message of God’s great love and His amazing grace that He has shown to man.

Christmas is not just another holiday. The images of Christmas such as the manger scene and the greetings of “Merry Christmas” carry with them a world view, the only world view, that gives hope for eternal life.

It is no accident that you are reading this blog post. My prayer for you this Christmas is that, if you have not already, you will receive Christ and forever more have a Christmas world view.

Merry Christmas.

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Senators Dodge Accountability

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Through some miracle, I am able to write this commentary in the midst of a government shutdown.

In all of the drama watching the clock tick down till midnight, Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee made brief comments about the voting process.

He explained that Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona and others had reached an agreement that the next vote by the Senate would be on a bill that was agreed to by the President and Republican and Democrat leaders in the House and Senate.

He went on to say that this pushes ahead a negotiation that will yield results. At first take that sounds reasonable. But remember, this is a politician talking.

What he is really saying is that there will be a closed door meeting with a handful of people. There will not be an open floor debate and discussion.

The news keeps saying that it takes 60 votes to pass. That is not true.

It takes 60 votes to end the debate. Then there is a vote on the resolution itself. That vote only requires a simple majority.

There should be a vote to end debate with each Senator on record to proceed to a vote on the House bill. That bill funds the government temporarily, provides border security, and provides emergency disaster relief which includes Georgia farmers hit by Hurricane Michael.

If there were not enough votes to end debate, then someone could offer an amendment and the Senate could deliberate and vote on the amendment. In other words, be accountable for the vote.

The US Senate is supposed to be the great deliberative body. They should go on record so that everyone can hear and see.

Historians should be able to look back and see how our “distinguished” Senators set priorities and addressed border security. But this is not about the great deliberative body debating and hammering out these issues.

It is about allowing individual Senators to dodge accountability. Theoretically some Democrats might be persuaded to vote to end the debate and proceed forward.

I believe that some Republicans do not want to end debate because they do not want real border security. They just do not want their constituents to know that.

They want to dodge accountability. Once again, this puts on open display the hypocrisy of politicians in Washington.

They say that they can’t do away with the filibuster for appropriation bills because the Senate is the great deliberative body. Yet their actions show that they do not want the Senators to deliberate at all.

The Senators are dodging accountability. They should be held accountable.

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Kick the Can – Episode 186

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Congress hit the playing field for its favorite game, “Kick the Can.” After 185 grueling matches, they were pumped and ready to go.

The Senate kicked off with a continuing resolution that would keep the government going for seven more weeks, until February 7, 2018. It was passed by voice vote so we do not know how each member voted.

This is typical cowardly politics. If the House makes any changes, the resolution will come back to the Senate. They need to have a roll call vote so every Senator is accountable.

The House has possession and expected to have a wide open field to quickly seal the deal. Some Freedom Caucus members; however, are not going with the deal and will make a goal line stand to try to run out the clock.

Congressman Mark Meadows sent a pointed and common sense tweet:

“Punting to Feb. 8 on a CR not only gives Democrats a Christmas present, it offers them a Valentine’s Day gift. Democrats will win, the wall will not be built, and Congress will once again have punted when we should’ve been taking a stand. The time to fight is now. Zero excuse.”
Even though Republicans hold a majority in the Senate, Democrats can block any legislation with just 40 votes. So, in reality, it takes 60 votes to get anything past the Senate.

Republicans say that they cannot get those 60 votes. The next Senate will have a stronger Republican majority but still will not have 60 votes. The next House will be in the Democrat control so Nancy Pelosi will just stop any legislation there.

So, let’s keep this simple. President Trump said that he wants a wall.

This is what he said to Pelosi and Schumer on December 11, ” If we don’t get what we want one way or the other, whether it’s through you, through a military, through anything you want to call, I will shut down the government.”

Five billion is the cost for building the wall. Five billion is pocket change relative to the budget. Republicans could put that in the budget.

Today it would pass the House. Then in the Senate, the Democrats would threaten to refuse to act. If the President did not sign a budget by midnight tomorrow, the funding would lapse.

Critical government functions would continue and non-critical functions would not. We are right in the middle of Christmas holidays so the reality is that no one would even notice that the government was “shut down.”

So, Republican “leadership” strikes a great compromise without even trying. They would rather play kick the can, than take a stand and get the job done.

There is one issue and only one issue that is holding things up. Put 5 billion in the budget to build the wall.

I saw reports of some Republican leaders saying that they did not know what the White House wanted. It appears that they don’t know because they don’t want to know.

President Trump has been clear. The American people know what he wants. Fund the (expletive deleted) wall!

If Republicans in Congress will take a stand, President Trump will have their backs and the wall would be funded.

Their 186th episode of kick the can reveals that while Trump has their back, Republican leaders in Congress don’t have his.

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