"Obama Plays 'Race' Card: 'Trumps' GOP"

While the media was busy diagnosing Hillary's cough, President Obama nominated the very first Muslim-American to serve as a federal court judge.

If confirmed, Abid Riaz Qureshi's nomination would be an historic first.

The problem? He won't be confirmed. Everybody (including Obama) knows the U.S. Senate has halted any decisions on judicial nominations until after Obama's term ends in January.

So why did the President bother to nominate Qureshi even though he knows all judicial decisions have been halted?

One word, people--politics.

It's no secret the Dems worked overtime trying to paint conservative resistance to President Obama's liberal policies as 'racial hatred', when in fact it is his policies, not his race, that are disliked.

To nominate a Muslim he knows won't be confirmed just seems like another dubious attempt to play the 'race card', as in: 'See? They won't confirm him 'cause he's Muslim.'

As expected, the White House statement scores one for 'diversity':

"The men and women the president has nominated to enforce our laws and deliver justice represents his unprecedented commitment [to] expanding the diversity of our nation's highest courts."

In other words, Obama nominated Qureshi because he was a Muslim, using him as proof of Democratic diversity.

So what does that make Trump? The opposite, according to the Dems who love to color the GOP and Trump as racist. Trump wants to monitor Muslims, not nominate them to positions of power. He wants to build walls and kick out foreigners--the antithesis of inclusion.

Business Insider actually published an article with the title: "Republicans Would Be Screwed Without Racist Voters".

Can't anyone cough up something more original than the same ol' trumped-up prejudicial stereotypes?

A wise man once said: "White liberals are the most racist people there are. They put you in a little category, a little box--you have to think this way."  -- Dr. Ben Carson, Trump supporter

"I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him--and does what is right is welcome to Him--Acts 10:34-35.

News:

• Israel News: 88 U.S. generals sign letter of support for Trump.
• Washington Examiner: Liberals move aggressively to silence conservatives in attempt to amend the First Amendment, claims commissioner.
• New York Times: Obama avoids mention of Human Rights during visit to China; advocates concerned. 

"Pope Francis" 'Obamified'?"

According to a CNN piece by John Blake, the Right-wingers are at it again. (Those dang Right-wingers!)

What have they done this time? The 'Obamification' of Pope Francis!

"The same political slurs and conspiracy theories that critics have used against President Obama are now being deployed against Pope Francis. One critic even says the two leaders have morphed into a sinister figure he calls 'Popama', " Blake laments.

And that ain't all folks...

"Conservative concerns over Pope Francis appear to be growing. A Gallup poll this summer showed that Pope Francis' support among American conservatives fell from 72% last year to 45% in July."

Blake cites three ways the Pope is being 'Obamified':

• He's a stealth socialist (Why? Just because he hates capitalism?)
• He's the Antichrist (we haven't heard that one--but apparently if you Google the phrase "Is Pope Francis Antichrist" you'll get 440,000 hits. Yikes!)
• He's on an 'Apology Tour' ( ala Obana?)  

"Just like President Obama loved apologizing for America, Pope Francis likes to apologize for the Catholic Church," says Fox News.com editor Adam Shaw.

Shaw contends the Pope believes "the church is at its best when it is passive and not offending any one's sensibilities."

According to the CNN piece, "Some have even suggested that Pope Francis' allegiance to the Catholic Church is so shaky that he has an Islamic agenda--an accusation similar to one directed at Obama." (Now that one takes the baklava! So he invited an imam to the Vatican to recite Muslim prayers and Quran readings--how is that Islamic?)

So, is the Pope being 'Obamified'?

Didn't see any ring kisses--but he did get an unprecedented welcome from (his BFF?) the President.

The First Family travelled all the way to Joint Base Andrews outside Washington to greet the pontiff on the tarmac, a rare (read: NEVER!) occurrence, a day ahead of Wednesday's official welcome at the White House. 

Popemania--maybe. But Obamified? Seriously?

A wise man once said: "If Pope Francis embraces the Climate Change agenda (along with President Obama), he will be aligning himself with enemies of the Church and moral principles." -- Marc Morano, Senate Environment Committee

"After this, I heard the sound of a vast crowd in heaven shouting, "Hallelujah! Salvation is from our God. Glory and power belong to Him alone." (Revelation 19:1)

News:

• Washington Examiner: White House Compares Obama to Pope Francis; "the values that both men live out have common ground," says W.H. spokesman
• Bloomberg Business: Pope Visit opportunity for President to showcase Pope's support for issues like income inequality, immigration, and climate change.
• Time: Pope Francis Blurs Political Lines in White House Speech; takes hard stance on climate change, "It represents one of the principal challenges of our time," he said.

"Bible Prophecy & Prophetic Labor Pains"

President Obama believes "we can look out on the horizon and feel optimistic because human trend lines are getting progressively better and better."

"We've substantially improved the global tranquility", claims his new press secretary.

Really? Former Secretary of State, under President Clinton, Madeline Albright says "the world is a mess" and current Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel agrees. "The world is exploding all over," he remarked Tuesday.

Current events seem to prove their point. Consider:

• Northern Iraq and Syria, overrun by ISIS, has seen the slaughter of thousands (including the beheading of children, crucifixion of Christians and the kidnapping/rape of women).
• ISIS has become such a threat to the entire Middle East, that the US military has been drawn back in.
• The Gaza conflict is isolating Israel more and more.
• Russia is amassing troops on the Ukraine border while "daring" the West to stop them.
• The risk of a global financial meltdown has many experts nervous. USA Watchdog.com
• The chaos at the US border has become a major security breach.
• The continuing Ebola outbreak has been declared an "international health emergency" by W.H.O.
• Crippling long-term drought in many parts of the world is threatening the food supply. Central American drought
• Other parts of the world, including the eastern US, are experiencing record-breaking floods.
• Suburban St. Louis has had 5 nights of civil unrest after police shoot an unarmed teen. Ferguson, MO militarized police
• And to top it off? There are giant sinkholes appearing all over the globe.  Giant Sinkholes

So can we look out on the horizon and feel optimistic? You betcha.

We are living in the prophetic times detailed throughout Scripture. And though we are not prophets, we can tell you with certainty: You ain't seen nothin' yet. The world is in labor like a woman about to give birth (Romans 8:22).

And because he knows his time is short (Revelation 12:17), Satan has drawn targets on the backs of Christians and Jews and things will not go well for us.

So how in the world can we remain optimistic?

That's just it, our hope is not "in the world."

"And the world with its seductions is passing away..." 1John 2:17

A wise man once said: "To be consumed with this life is to be unprepared for the next." --Len Woods, Th.M.

News:

• Reuters: Central America braces for drought-linked food crisis; widespread crop damage to blame.
• Fox News Channel: Five nights of riots and looting escalates in Ferguson, MO as police meet threat with military-like force. Highway Patrol vows a change in tactics will turn things around.
• Jerusalem Post: Dramatic surge in anti-Semitism during Gaza offensive: violence against Jews, Jewish institutions "metastasized" during military operations in Gaza.

"3 Scandals 4 the Price of 1 = Government Gone Wild"

Anybody remember back in '09 when Barack Obama (with a straight face) declared, "Let me say it as simply as I can: Transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstones of this presidency"?

Um-m-m-m-m--whatever happened to that? Every new day seems to bring a new scandal involving yet another federal agency. And when the President is asked about it, he's got no answers. Literally. He looks bewildered, shrugs and says, "I only just read about it myself--in the newspapers...yeah, that's it...I read it in the newspapers."

As of now, he's juggling three very serious scandals involving the State Department, the IRS, and the DOJ.


There's Benghazi--where Ambassador Christopher Stevens was brutally assassinated along with three bodyguards in a twelve hour long attack. Stevens' repeated calls for help were ignored and Special Ops teams were ordered to stand-down. Why? That's the big question.

Originally Team Obama claimed the whole thing was started by an offensive YouTube video depicting Mohammad in a bad light and there was simply no time to send help. That explanation was later proved false, and we now know it was a terrorist attack. And help could have gotten there within three hours. So why didn't help come and why the big cover-up? The short answer: We don't know.

Whistle blowers have come forward with claims of intense intimidation and demotions and threats from the State Department. For those watching closely, this whole situation smells foul. Four people were left to die and nobody seems to have a plausible explanation.

The IRS is involved in one of the most outrageous abuse of power scandals ever perpetrated against the taxpaying public. Many believe we've seen only the 'tip of the iceberg' and that if all the facts are fully exposed, it will lead straight to the top.

The DOJ is also in hot water, caught red-handed trying to silence the press. The Justice Department thought it necessary to secure phone, email, and who-knows-what other records of AP reports, as well as Fox News reporters.

"Freedom of the Press" is one of this nation's most sacred checks-and-balances. Without it, governments run over the peoples' rights and no one ever finds out about it. Though this scandal may seem to be the least serious of the three, it's the one getting the most press. Understandable, because now the administration has stepped on the very toes that have been protecting it.

So what happened to your "touchstones", Mr. O? We haven't seen a whole lot of transparency or rule of law lately. Snooping? Yes. Intimidation? uh huh. Cover-ups? You betcha. But transparency and rule of law? Not so much.

Pray these scandals don't blow over. If they do, there's no telling where the next 3-1/2 years might take us.

A wise man once said: "The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with chains of the Constitution so that the second will not become the legalized version of the first." --President Thomas Jefferson

"Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are defiled. Such people claim they know God, but they deny Him by the way they live."  Titus 1:15-16

News:

• World News.com: Sweden stunned by third night of rioting; hundreds of youth set fire to cars and attacked police and rescue services in Sweden's worst disorder in years.
• The Telegraph: Pope Francis performed first exorcism after Mass on Sunday in St. Peter's Square.
• DEBKAfile: Two terrorists behead a British soldier on a London street in broad daylight in front of dozens of witnesses.
• The Times of Israel: Russia sends 12 warships to Syria in an aggressive move to warn-off intervention by Israeli and U.S. military.
• Wired: Bio-metric database of all adult Americans hidden in new immigration reform.
• NBC News: One of the most destructive tornadoes in history hits Oklahoma City suburbs on Monday.

"The Coming Economic Earthquake?"

There's a new game in Washington, D.C. called "kick the can down the road." The rules? Go from one crisis to another. Wait until the 11th hour to see if the opposition blinks. Agree to a last minute delay. Patch with a temporary band-aid solution and repeat as necessary. After all, no crisis is too big to ignore. The result? A ballooning crisis bubble. Thought you saw the last of the January 1st fiscal cliff?

Nope. It's ba-a-a-a-ack. Only now they're calling it "the sequester." The so-called fiscal cliff "compromise" consisted of a 2-month delay. On March 1st it will rear its ugly head again causing automatic, across-the-board spending cuts to go into effect. President Obama is blaming Republicans, even though the plan was first hatched in the White House as something "so terrible they will never allow it to happen." GOP now says bad spending cuts are better than no spending cuts. "It's a bad idea whose time has come."

Remember the budget? Oh, that's right--they haven't passed one in four years. Instead, Congress has been relying on a series of short-term "continuing resolutions" (CR). The current CR expires March 27, and Congress must pass a new one to avoid a government shutdown. And then there's the debt ceiling (the amount of debt the government must never, ever spend above, or else!)

Originally slated for mid-February, Congress has temporarily raised the debt ceiling until May 19th (when a catastrophic default will result...unless they raise it again). And let's not forget the ever looming Social Security and Medicare tsunami that's relentlessly heading our way. How much longer can D.C. ignore that one? Well, let's see--how far can they kick? The problem with this game is that it can't be won. The road is increasingly bumpy and the cans are turning into time bombs.

Is Congress worried? Nah. They're going on vacation...again.

Okay gang--so what do we do about it? Ideally, we ought to kick them all out of office and start over, but unfortunately that opportunity was lost last November. Instead, many financially savvy experts advise: stop waiting for the government to solve these issues. Prepare your own house. There's a coming economic earthquake that is growing more and more inevitable as each crisis adds more cracks to an already over-stressed system. Any good news regarding the economy must be seen in light of the $16 trillion debt and the seemingly endless money printing.

We'd like to suggest an investment of a different kind: your place in the world to come. (Not sure you're going?click here ). Many of us are so busy living in the here and now, we rarely think about what happens next. Often we fail to realize that the way we live our lives here on earth will have eternal and unchangeable consequences and that our life experience in eternity is being determined by how we invest this life today. Bible prophecy was never intended to merely satisfy our curiosity about future events; it is intended to have a purifying effect on our lives (1 John 1:3).

"Another reason for right living is that you know how late it it; the time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So don't live in darkness. Get rid of your evil deeds. Shed them like dirty clothes. Clothe yourselves with the armor of right living, as those who live in the light. We should be decent and true in everything we do, so that everyone can approve of our behavior. Don't participate in wild parties and getting drunk, or in adultery and immoral living, or in fighting and jealousy. But let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don't think of ways to indulge your evil desires" (Romans 13:11-14).  In other words, kicking the can down the road doesn't fly for the Christian.

" Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts" (Hebrews 4:7a).

A wise man once said: "The curtain of this earthly drama will close, but it will open in eternity. What we encounter there will have been determined to some degree by the life we lived on this earth. Only in this life can we impact the kind of eternity we shall enjoy. For we are becoming today, the person we will be throughout eternity" --author Erwin W. Lutzer

News:

• Fox News Channel: Nearly 50% of Detroit residents failed to pay their taxes worsening the city's fiscal crisis.
• Politico: ICE announced Tuesday that it has released several hundred undocumented immigrants due to funding cuts (sequestration)
• FNC: Potentially deadly invasive Asian ant species gaining foothold in U.S.
• The Telegraph: Moody's downgraded UK credit rating because of "huge debt burden"

"Wars and Rumors of Wars--Iran Crossing 'Red Line'?"

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came out of the closet two weeks ago in Cairo and declared Iran was a "nuclear state."

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hastened to walk the statement back: "Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons, but no power could stop Tehran's access to an atomic bomb if it intended to build it."

Debkafile reports: "The components of a nuclear weapon have been procured, but Tehran has not yet assembled it. And if the Islamic Republic has acquired the components and knowledge for building one bomb, more would be no object."

Last week, The Sunday Times revealed that Iranian scientists attended the latest North Korean atomic test. The nuclear partnership between the two countries assigns Iran with the development of small nuclear warheads and North Korea with ballistic missiles. Through shared technology, they have achieved a nuclear warhead capacity, leaving Tehran the element of surprise.

On Thursday, February 21, a UN nuclear report stated: "Iran has begun installing advanced centrifuges at its main uranium enrichment plant." In response, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu warns: "Centrifuge report shows Iran nearing "Red Line" and is closer today than ever before to obtaining the necessary enriched uranium for a nuclear bomb." The White House said "that the window remains open for diplomacy with Iran, but will not stay open indefinitely," according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, Japan has warned it would launch a preemptive military strike against North Korea if it had firm evidence Pyongyang was planning a missile attack. According to Press TV News: Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said, "When an intention to attack Japan is evident, the threat is imminent, and there are no other options. Japan is allowed under law to carry out strikes against enemy targets."


The UN Security Council said in a statement on February 12: "There continues to exist a clear threat to international peace and security." Members of the Council would "begin work immediately on appropriate measures in a Security Council resolution."

It seems Iran's nuclear ambitions are beginning to cause a ripple effect:

• Iran threatening Israel
• Japan threatening North Korea
• North Korea threatening South Korea
• Both Iran and North Korea threatening the U.S.
• How long before China and Russia jump into the act?

Netanyahu's office released a statement quoting the prime minister as saying the latest findings of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) were "a very grave report which proves that Iran is continuing to make rapid progress toward the red line." President Obama plans his first trip to Israel next month. Let's hope preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons is finally on his agenda.

A wise man once said: "No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism."  Winston Churchill

"And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows" Matthew 24:6-8.


News:

• U.S. News: Economic review finds Detroit in 'Financial emergency'; unable to fix budget woes.
• NBC News.com: N.Korea threatens 'final destruction' of S.Korea in UN debate.
• Fox News Channel: H&R Block warns Obamacare tax penalty will negatively impact low and middle income tax returns starting next year.
• CNBC: President sounds dire warnings as automatic spending cuts (sequestration) nears.
• Bloomberg: In a leaked email, top Walmart executive blames tax hikes on middle income for "total disaster" in February sales.
• CNBC: U.S. Senate considers new bio-metric Federal ID card.
• CNBC: DoD prepares possible furlough of 800,000 employees due to sequestration.

"America in the Cross-hairs"

The debate over gun control reveals a lot about our nation. Number one? We are a divided people.

Pro-gun advocates, suspicious of any attempt to infringe on their 2nd Amendment rights, accuse the administration of taking advantage of recent events, while Joe Biden counters with the threat of using Executive Orders. The NRA (National Rifle Association) released an ad Tuesday labeling President Obama a "hypocrite" for allowing Secret Service protection for his daughters while dismissing the idea of putting an armed guard in every public school in America to protect other people's children. The White House called the NRA "repugnant and cowardly" for mentioning the President's children in the ad. The right accuses the left of being motivated by emotions and feelings rather than by facts, so anxious to "do something" that they often end up making matters worse. The left has become openly hostile to anything proposed by the right. A GOP Congressman threatens impeachment if Obama uses Executive Orders for gun control.

Really? Who's running this country--a room full of 12-year olds?

It's becoming increasingly clear that our once-great nation is in the cross-hairs of a spiritual attack.

The strategy? Divide and conquer. It's as old as the hills and diabolically effective.

Unrealistic? Not if you believe what Paul says in the Book of Ephesians:

"Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:10-12).

Chapter 10 of the Old Testament book of Daniel also touches on this theme with a spooky, behind-the-scenes look into the spiritual world. Read the entire chapter to get a feel for what is happening all around us without our being aware of it (and while you're at it, read 2 Kings 6:14-17 for another eye-opening look).

It's time to pray, people. This country faces a myriad of problems and none of them can be solved because our government is too busy going at each other's throats. We are divided already, let's not allow ourselves to be conquered, too.

A wise man once said: "Congress is so strange. A man gets up to speak and says nothing. Nobody listens and then everyone disagrees." - Boris Marsholov

"If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end" (Mark 3:24-26).

News:

• Debka File: Tehran has developed a rocket with a payload capacity of 330 kilograms, capable of placing nuclear warheads anywhere on the face of the earth.
• Reuters: IMF's managing director, Christine Lagarde, says the global economy risks "catastrophic" consequences if the U.S. fails to raise its debt ceiling.
• Jerusalem Post: Google Store provides free app with "inspiring" Hitler quotes, including a quote comparing Jews to blood-sucking mosquitoes.
• Daily Intelligencer: Obama signs 23 Executive Actions relating to gun violence.

"Has the World Gone Crazy?"

Remember that old song by The Who--"meet the new boss, same as the old boss"? Well, unfortunately for Israel the New Boss is the Old Boss--Barack Obama. And you'll never guess what he's up to now...

He's sending Egypt 20 F-16 warplanes! That's right, Egypt. 

• The country that voted into power a Muslim Brotherhood regime on an anti-U.S. and anti-Israel platform.
• The country who's new president, Mohammed Morsi, gave himself near-dictatorial powers (although, he has since been forced to walk that back).
• The country that's been rioting in the street in angry clashes between pro-democratic and Morsi-led pro-Islamist groups.

The jets were ordered 2 years ago by now-deposed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, a reliable ally of both Israel and the United States. But earlier this year a new Egyptian President, Mohammed Morsi, was swept into power. Egypt has now become a radicalized, unstable, and very questionable (ally?) government in the grip of upheaval. And yet, despite the instability and calls to suspend arms sales to Cairo, the United States is going ahead with delivery of the F-16s. Why now? Why not wait to see what kind of government will take shape? Or...

Is the delivery date of January 22 more than just an amazing coincidence? It is the exact same day that Israelis will vote for the next Knesset. And how 'bout that announcement date. Another coincidence? 

The announcement for the jets came on December 11, as Cairo and other Egyptian towns were set for massive rival demonstrations: Those for and against President Morsi's referendum on a pro-Islamist constitution that would grant Islamic Sharia law a more prominent place in Egypt. Obama's actions appear to throw support behind this plan and away from the pro-democracy opposition.

As outrageous as it seems, we must ask:

• Is Obama using those warplanes to signal his support for the region's Muslim Brotherhood?
• Is Obama, by sending the jets on January 22, trying to undermine Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in the eyes of the Israeli voter?

Frankly, we can think of no plausible explanation to supply arms to Egypt at this time given these facts:

• The Morsi-led Muslim Brotherhood government has not proven to be a partner for democracy.
• Given the recent attempted power grab, Morsi has shown himself to be capable of violence against his own people. Have we learned nothing from Syria?
• Should relations between Egypt and Israel deteriorate, the U.S. will be in the untenable position of having supplied massive amounts of military hardware to both sides.
• Egypt already has 200 F-16 warplanes.
• And finally, why should the American taxpayer, in light of our fiscal woes, continue to be a major arms supplier to yet another unstable Muslim regime?

Is it just us--or were the Kinks right--"it's a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world except for..." oh, never mind.

A wise man once said: "The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are."-C.S.Lewis

"A man of understanding will attain wise counsel" (Proverbs 1:5).

News:

• CNBC: Federal Reserve announces QE4 to start at $45 billion per month of Treasury Bond purchasing.
• Fox News Channel: EPA threatens Virginia homeowners with eviction, citing "rain as a pollutant". Homes would be raised and grass planted; Virginia Attorney General sues EPA over proposal.
• Reuters: NATO chief believes Syrian regime on verge of collapse.
• CNN: North Korea successfully launches long range missile capable of reaching U.S. West Coast; possible nuclear implications.
• CNBC: Congressman Paul Broun (R-GA) warns of "total economic collapse" due to runaway spending. 

"Red Alert"

The problems affecting the world right now are legion. Israel and Gaza are at it again; Europe is awash in turmoil; and Iran is busy planning the apocalypse. In America, it's all about the 'fiscal cliff'--so let's start there: In exactly 46 days, our leaders will either cut a deal regarding taxes and spending, or send the country careening over the infamous fiscal cliff.

In the meantime, it seems President Obama and Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner are busy playing chicken. While one waits for the other to blink, the rest of us are losing our shirts in the stock market. In the last 3 weeks the Dow has dropped 1,100 points. Many analysts speculate the stock dump will accelerate, as wealthy investors position themselves for a myriad of tax breaks to expire and automatic spending cuts to kick in that could hurl the country back into a recession. Swiss investor, Marc Faber told CNBC: "I think the whole global financial system will have to be reset and it won't be reset by central bankers but by imploding markets." Others play down the looming fiscal cliff and stare instead into a fiscal abyss: the country's 16 trillion dollar debt.

Peter Schiff, CEO and Chief Global Strategist of Euro Pacific Capital, believes it's the Federal Reserve policies like quantitative easing (QE1, QE2, and QE3) that will lead to catastrophe. He believes all this money printing will lead to QE3-fueled inflation. "The impact will hit Americans hard. Ultimately, I think we're going see prices skyrocketing."

We will know in a matter of weeks whether or not there are any grown-ups in the room. If not, it could cost the average family roughly 2-3 thousand in new taxes per year! We believe they will manage to co-operate with each other and avoid this fiasco. Maria Bartriromo, CNBC's 'money honey', isn't as optimistic. "Obama has dug in his heels, unwilling to compromise. He's asking for 1.6 trillion in new taxes, double what he asked for last year. If the stock market is a good predictor of what's ahead financially, we may be going off that fiscal cliff."

Meanwhile, life in Israel has taken a dramatic turn for the worse. They are in the midst of an escalation in the latest round of violence between Israel and the Palestinian organization, Hamas, based in the Gaza Strip. As of this writing, Israeli forces are pounding Gaza from the air after Hamas missiles killed three Israeli civilians and sent Tel Aviv residents scrambling for cover. The Israeli Defense Force is calling up reserves ahead of a possible Gaza ground operation. The Hebrew name of the campaign is Amud Anan, which means 'Pillar of Cloud'--a biblical reference to God's taking on the form of a Pillar of Cloud during the Exodus (Exodus 14:24).

Only time will tell how this current skirmish will end. We know from Psalm 83 that eventually Israel will be attacked from every bordering nation and win (with God's help), only to be attacked again by Iran, Russia, and an Islamic coalition. Speaking of Iran, a new IAEA report indicates Tehran is continuing to move its nuclear program deep underground, beyond Israel's ability to reach. The centrifuge count now stands at 2,700.

And then there's the Euro Zone. Hundreds of thousands of Europeans clashed with riot police, as they demanded that governments stop cutting benefits and create more jobs. The protests were met with tear gas.

Oh boy. The problems affecting the world right now are legion. Better start praying, people.

A wise man once said: "My hope despairs; but my despair keeps me hoping!"--Martin Luther

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." -- Matthew 21:22

"And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." --Isaiah 2:4

News:

• Drudge Report: Jobless claims up a staggering 78,000 in the first week after election.
• MSN: Rockets fired on Tel Aviv ramps up speculation of a full-scale war.
• Reuters: U.S. Postal Service has record loss of $15.9 billion; triple last year's loss.
• World News: Spain suspends home evictions for most needy in emergency response to economic crisis.
• Global Markets: Japan cuts economic view for 4th month as recession looms.

"2012: An Obamanation?"

Time is short. The wheels of our world are coming off and there doesn't seem to be anyone in charge. Is it time to run around in circles like chickens with our heads cut off?

Nope.

God is the ultimate Sovereign. He is in control. Does that mean the Christian has no obligation to be socially and politically involved?

We don't think so.

Statistically, only about one out of every four evangelical Christian votes, even though it is God who has established government and tells us to pray for "all who are in authority that we may live a quiet and peaceable life"
(1 Timothy 2:2). According to the Family Research Council: "Never before in the history of the United States has our nation faced so many threats to the institutions of faith, family and freedom that compose the heart of society."

The Bible tells us to be "salt and light" (Matthew 5:13-16).
The Leftist Agenda?

• National imposition of same-sex "marriage"
• Imposition of national health care that would include anti-Christian mandates
• Cementing of a secular-socialist style of government that would replace freedom and biblical values with government dependency.

Voting is an opportunity to promote, protect, and preserve godly government. In Romans 13, Paul urges us to obey the legal authorities. And again in Hebrews 13:17, we are told to submit to the rulers, who will have to give an account to God. In America, we are a government of the people. We are the government in the sense that we have the privilege to vote in the leaders who represent our views. God has established the United States of America to:

• protect the helpless
• spread the Gospel
• stand up for Israel

We will answer to God for our diligence in managing the responsibilities given to us.

A wise man once said: "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." -Sir Edmund Burke

Two Thumbs Up: Went to see 2016: Obama's America, a documentary based on conservative author Dinesh D'Souza's book The Roots of Obama's Rage.

Far from a hit piece, the film documents President Obama's past and illuminates what motivates him using Obama's own biography Dreams From My Father. It is eye-opening and compelling. A must-see for anyone mystified by the actions taken by our President. Suddenly, everything he's doing makes sense, from the 16-trillion dollar debt to the global "apology tour." Sobering, chilling and oddly humanizing, we highly recommend this film for anyone hoping to make an informed choice this November.


"I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God's mercy upon them, and give thanks. Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, for He wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth" (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

Special event: Calvary Chapel Chino Hills will present a free viewing of 2016: Obama's America featuring a live appearance of Dinesh D'Souza for a Q&A after the film.

• Admission: one canned good for the church's Alms Ministry
• Date: Sunday, October 7, 2012
• Time: 6:00 p.m.
• Place: Calvary Chapel Chino Hills
• website: www.calvarycch.org

News:

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