Fred Thompson = Barak Obama

Everyone carries a messiah complex. We all want that one person who can solve all the problems of the world with one hand behind their back.

The liberals invested themselves in Obama. They imputed all the qualities they wanted in a president to him. Now that his is in the race who he really is and what he's really like is coming to light. Not all of it is pretty. He carries around the same clay feet all people have.

The right wing is in the same mode. The 10++ candidates all disappoint. When can we get a REAL conservative everyone asks.

So out from behind the curtain jumps FRED THOMPSON. Savior of all things conservative. Ronald Wilson Reagan Reborn. OR not.

Fred is one of those people who we conservatives impute the qualities we wish someone has. When Fred Thompson enters the race his feet will be exposed and they too will be earthen.

But, none the less there are some funny bits about Fred Thompson. In today's tribune was this column. It was drawn from this website. Good fun.

Here are just a few little-known facts about Fred Thompson:

• - Every night before going to sleep, Osama bin Laden checks under his bed for Fred Thompson.
• -Though Fred Thompson left the Senate in 2003, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) still hasn't stopped wetting his pants.
• - Fred Thompson once ended a filibuster by ripping out a senator's heart and showing it to him before he died.
• - Only two things can kill Superman: Kryptonite and Fred Thompson.
• - Fred Thompson once stood on our south border and glared at Mexico. There was no illegal immigration for a month.
• - Fred Thompson vows not only to win in Iraq but also to forcefully free Vietnam from communism, thus giving America a perfect win-loss record for wars again.
• - Fred Thompson can open clamshell packaging without the slightest trouble.

But, I want to know when a REAL conservative will run for President.

Suicide

A few weeks ago a woman Faith Center was brought to me for prayer. Her son had just committed suicide. She was understandably distraught. There were other prayer teams there but she was so upset the usher brought her to me. I usually get the tough ones. He said to her, "You need the prophet to pray for you and give you a word". No pressure you understand.

So I did what I do. I waited on the Lord as I laid hands on her and sure enough the Lord had something to say to her. There was reassurance and encouragement. That's what's so wonderful about the prophetic ministry. I saw her a week later and she was much more settled. A word from God can change your life for the better in a moment.

I hate suicide. I hate it more when it's a christian that is affected. I hate it most when a Christian commits suicide. I am convinced that turning your face momentarily away from Jesus for a Christian is functional atheism. Sin is functional atheism. For a brief moment we act as if there is no God. It's sin but as a Christian it's forgiven. Jesus died for all our sins. Suicide is a sin under the blood. That is not conventional theology but I have had enough involvement in dealing with suicide aftermath to tell you, sin is sin. Jesus died for all sins, no matter if it's a lie, theft or self murder.

What brought this up is a post by John Armstrong and the ensuing comments about the death by suicide of a friend of his. You should read the whole thing.

I don't think we understand the depth of pain that causes someone to take this final step. I am alarmed at the increase in suicide in America. In Japan it's normal. They have no God so the live like there is no God. And, they die like there is no God.

Hope is only found in Jesus, hopelessness is most hopeless when you no longer believe there is a God.

Blown Away

I have been a little quiet blogwise. Because - I've been working - a LOT.  12 hour days.  I'm not complaining.  I would do this for free.  I love to do what I do so much.  I pruned plants all day yesterday.

 

Today, I may not love it as much.  I have been so wise as to schedule 3 truckloads to ship today.  That's not the problem.  The wind will be up to 50 mph today and 93 degrees.  That's the problem.  Get a tree up in the air in that wind and it gets entertaining.  Putting a tarp on that truck is even more exciting in that wind.

 

I'll not be doing that, the nurseries will.  I have 2 - 26' loads of potted plants to ship today.  I have a young (17) high school student, a friends son who is going to help me load and unload the truck.  I hope he doesn't wear out.  That will be in the wind and rain as well.  So, by nightfall I'll be blown away.

 

In a news report about baby boomers of which I am almost one  (I'm actually a year too old to be considered a true baby boomer) I heard that 30% have no intention of ever retiring.  The intend to work till the day they die.  I am one of those.  I can't imagine what I would do in retirement.  I am doing what I want to do.  I love what I do.  Why would I retire?

 

So, I won't.

 

I have a theory.  I think there is a political indicator in those who want to retire.  I'll let you make the analysis.  Could there be a correlation between conservatism and liberalism and the idea of retiring?   I think there may be.

Prairie Apologetics

I know I will be in trouble for this.  But, if you read only ONE THING today you have to read the post Julie makes regarding a discussion in comments on this blog and her dissertation on it.

Julie in her responce is eloquent, respectful and deeply insightful.  I thought of titling this post, Angela's Ashes, But that would be wrong since her name isn't even Angela. 

If you ever wanted to know how to answer a lost atheist look at how well Julie does it.  She doesn't use the Bible, something we old thumpers did in the old days.  Atheists don't believe the Bible is any more relevant or true than an operators manual for a refrigerator.  Good for refrigerators but not for them. 

There is much to learn about reaching the lost atheist from Julie.  "Angela" may not respond.  Her loss.  But Julie did well.

If I learn to write someday I will be eloquent, respectful and insightful.  Till then I'm just Gene.

A GORE-EY COULD HAVE BEEN

In today's Chicago Tribune writer Dennis Byrne has a nightmare of what would have happened if Al Gore had become President. If this doesn't scare you, nothing will.

If Al Gore had been president ...

President Al Gore today asked the United Nations Security Council to pass a resolution of "concern" over the nuclear arms race between Iran and Iraq.

"Both countries are perilously close to possessing nuclear weapons," Gore said at a White House press conference. "Nuclear warfare between these two historic enemies would be a tragedy for everyone."

President Gore requested the resolution after the countries' two dictators, Saddam Hussein of Iraq and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, renewed threats of annihilation against each other over disputed Persian Gulf territory. Two decades ago, the two nations fought a prolonged war involving the use of chemical weapons over dominance of the strategically important gulf region, and both nations years ago dropped any pretense that their nuclear programs had peaceful purposes.

Gore said former President Jimmy Carter, who now is Gore's UN ambassador, would present new, softer language than what's contained in the 14 previously rejected resolutions proposed by the United States. Gore indicated that the resolution would drop a U.S. request for a multinational summit of Middle East nations and instead seek mediation by the International Anger Management Institute.

Former Sen. Fred Thompson, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, said in response, "Great, just what we need, another futile request for a feeble declaration from an international body incapable of agreeing on the time of day. Ever since 9/11, the Gore administration's toothless foreign policy has led to more attacks by Islamic terrorists, killing thousands more Americans on our own soil and worsening the sectarian violence in the Middle East.

"All because no one seems capable of saying, 'Enough.' "

Gore has persistently argued that only multilateral talks involving the European community and all Muslim countries can settle the growing conflicts that threaten to drastically reduce the amount of crude oil available to a worsening American economy. Because of the uncertainty of supplies from the region, mandated caps imposed on U.S. off-shore oil fields, a moratorium on all domestic crude oil exploration and new production, and the crippling of domestic refining capabilities by a host of new government regulations, the nation now finds itself in the grip of an unprecedented energy crisis, with average gasoline prices soaring to a near-record $8.35 a gallon. As unemployment climbed to 9.3 percent -- the highest since the early 1980s -- and energy-driven inflation has bounded to 9.1 percent -- reminiscent of the "stagflation" that characterized Carter's presidency -- Gore's presidential approval ratings have hit a rock-bottom 25 percent.

Despite the dire economy, Gore renewed his threat to veto any legislation that would lessen costly measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as required by the Kyoto treaty. "This will be seen by our allies as a betrayal, and tarnish America's good name worldwide," Gore said. The president sidestepped repeated questions about why America should carry the burden, even though no European nation has met carbon dioxide emission standards, and China and India, which have leapfrogged America as the world's leading polluters, have not attempted to control their emissions.

Gore also threatened to veto the so-called USA Patriot Act, proposed legislation that would strengthen America's intelligence-gathering capabilities. A bipartisan coalition crafted the legislation in the wake of repeated terrorist attacks on American cities, including the horrific use of hijacked airplanes to destroy the Capitol and Chicago's Sears Tower. One of the most important features of the Patriot Act would be the interception of communications between domestic terrorists and Al Qaeda operatives operating freely in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and Pakistan.

In other matters, Gore:

*Said he would present a "comprehensive" proposal to deal with the genocide in Darfur "at the appropriate time." He specifically ruled out the use of force because "it wouldn't look good." Besides, "we can handle only one genocide at a time," referring to Hussein's continued slaughter of Kurds and Shiites.

*Warned against any Israeli attempts to use force to stop Iraq and Iran from developing nuclear weapons. "Israel must understand that force would doom hopes for a multinational summit to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian-Lebanese-Syrian war. The American people want a realistic foreign policy, one that rejects the use of force in any form," he said.

*Said he would not comment on a newly published book, "An Assault on Reason," by his defeated 2000 and 2004 presidential opponent George W. Bush in which Bush assailed the Gore presidency as "the worst in history." Gore, however, cracked a smile when a reporter reminded him that Bush said the book was not "political."

Joyce Still at Faith Center

Tonight I took a friend of mine along to Faith Center.  Aaron is the Pastor of the Church in Berwyn we have been working with for a few months.  His wife is out of town so he wanted to come with.  He's glad he did.

 

Joyce Still was there ministering.  She is a person that operates in words of knowledge and the prophetic .  I have seen Joyce many times in action.  She's the real deal.  She can look at a person and tell them everything going on in their life.  Even years ago.

 

She was doing what she does and during it called Aaron out.  She didn't know him from anyone.  She then proceeded to tell him what he was doing, what challenges he is facing and to describe details no one except God could have known.  That's why I love the Prophetic and the Word of Knowledge as spiritual gifts so much.

 

We call the having your mail read.   It impressed even me.  There is little more to this report except this musing;  I see Richard Dawkins book God is not Great is on the best seller list. 

 

I have pity for him and those who buy in the whole intentional unbelief agenda.  What is even more sad and to be pitied people he convinces.  At the other end of the spectrum is a reality in God that staggers the imagination. 

 

I guess it would take Richard Dawkins putting himself in a place where a Joyce Still could just stand there in the power of the Holy Ghost and tell him all kinds of things about himself he didn't think anyone knew for him to be convinced.  But, then he would find some reason to poo poo it all anyway.  He would be convinced that there was some snake oil in all this. 

 

I know Joyce, I know Faith Center, I know Aaron and I know his situation.  Joyce called it perfectly.  Aaron has no doubt. 

 

It must be horrible to not have any knowledge of the reality of God. 

 

Or maybe more horrible to live on the edge.

 

Or horrible to be both.

 

Cynicism is punishment enough.