No doubt you remember the story of Joshua and Caleb being sent with ten others to do reconnaissance in Canaan as the recently liberated children of Israel prepared to enter their promised land. The minority report they presented was ridiculed, and because of the lack of faith exhibited by most of the people, the occupation of the land came forty years later. It is of particular importance to note the faithless died off in the wilderness, and the next generation, led by Joshua, moved in to claim their inheritance.
The lesson is clear. Victory is not dependent on size, wealth, or horses and chariots (to use the vernacular of the day). Victory is the Lord
=s and He will always prevail. The only thing ever in question is will we be standing with Him in faith.It is easy to look at them and marvel how the very people who witnessed the deliverance and provision of God in so many ways could waiver at such a crucial point in history. But they did, and true to form they lamented ever leaving bondage in Egypt. Imagine that, complaining about deliverance because trusting God is too frightening! We may marvel at them, but how should we view ourselves when we repeat their error?
Over the last eight years, I have talked to thousands of people (mostly Christian) who lament the direction our federal government has taken. The tragic irony is that most of them voted for the very people who plotted course. I
=m not pointing fingers here; I used to do the same thing until someone exposed my faulty thinking, and conviction set in like a sledge hammer from heaven. For the most part, I am now astounded by others who, confronted with the same reality, instead of repenting (i.e. changing) rush to defend their behavior and worse, persist in it. Why? Almost without exception, the reply is some form of, AThere are giants in the land.@This election cycle it is usually offered as an alarm that John Kerry might be elected. The philosophy implicit in the idea of
Astop Kerry at all costs,@ is that righteousness is served as long as he doesn=t get elected. I don=t mean to offend but that is just foolishness. In reality, the damage done to our country=s heritage since the Republicans took control of both houses of Congress and the presidency has dwarfed anything the Democrats accomplished in that regard over a forty year period of domination. That is uncomfortable for many of you to contemplate, but if you care to look at the details you will find that statement sustainable.When the Democrats were in power, Republicans were compelled to oppose many of their unconstitutional acts; but since they took control, they rubber stamp everything the president hands down because,
AHe=s our man.@ We have to move beyond the mentality that just because a candidate has the right letter beside their name, they get our vote. Let me make my purposes in what follows very clear. I want to convince you to quit supporting those who continue to destroy our republic and vote for a man who will stand Washington on its head if elected (I should say feet because things are upside down now). I=m tired of hearing Aone man can=t do anything.@ That=s bull! So often in history it has been a lone individual at the right place at the right time who made all the difference. So, forget that Acan=t do anything@nonsense.Of course the real challenge I face, is convincing most of you that Mr. Bush is not the man you think he is. Presenting that case could sound like Bush bashing and that
=s not my intention. You need to know what your vote in the last election got you. If you are happy with it and can support it with all good conscience before God, then you must do so, but I pray that God will open your eyes and change your heart in this regard. That said, let=s take a brief look at the last four years. Obviously we can=t address all the issues or go into detail in this limited space, but you can do your own research or contact me if you want to discuss anything here.i
One exercise would be to read the Constitution and make a list of everything it authorizes the federal government to do (Article I, Section 8 lists 18 things - that's all!). Compare your list to the U. S. budget and see just how much government is doing with no lawful authority. You could just take my word for it, most of it is unlawful. Virtually everything the government does today is a usurpation of its power. It is authorized to tax us in permissible ways for lawful expenses, but any other taxation is theft. The federal government is stealing what God has entrusted to you to minister to others and pass on to your children and grandchildren. The present administration has increased that theft to levels which never possible for a Democratic administration. Good stewardship demands action.Let me quickly respond to those who rationalize the increased expenses are due to the
Awar on terror.@ The Heritage Foundation has long been a trusted source of highly credible information for Christians. Their analysis of the increased spending reveals that 55 percent is due to non-military spending. You should also be aware that lumped into the military spending is billions of dollars for a lot of non-military items like rebuilding Afghanistan and Iraq.i
To repeat things I=ve written about before, be reminded it was the very first act of the Justice Department under this administration to execute the unlawful court order to confiscate the $6 million property of Indianapolis Baptist Temple. A Baptist Deacon (a U.S. Marshal), under the orders of John Ashcroft, stole the property. More recently, they removed the Ten Commandments monument from the Alabama Judicial Center. Is this the kind of AChristian@ governance you wanted? Remember, the courts have NO executive power. At his inauguration, Mr. Bush swore before God to defend the Constitution. The President had a duty to refuse to carry out the court=s unlawful orders. Like Pilate, he washed his hands of the matter and he hopes you will forget about it. Will you?i
Mr. Bush also had a duty to use his power to prevent the largest checks ever from being written to Planned Parenthood. He talks pro-life, but his actions reveal his true position. Don=t be misled by his support for the partial birth abortion ban. He knows it opens the door to legalized abortion and it doesn=t save a single unborn child. If PBA stands, the issue has become how (not if) babies may be killed. Campaign rhetoric aside, Bush=s actions are pro-death:P
In 2002, Bush signed a $15.3 billion foreign appropriations bill to fund abortions in other countries (a $21.5 million increase over the previous year).P
In 2002 he approved the first federally funded project using embryonic stem cells taken from aborted babies.P
Bill Clinton issued five pro-abortion Executive Orders. Bush has rescinded only one.P
In 2002, the White House lobbied the Senate to defeat legislation which would effectively stop commercial human cloning in the U.S. yet Bush says he is opposed to all cloning.P
In 2002, White House lobbyists worked to prevent a vote on a bill with an amendment which would have banned the issuance of patents on human embryos.i
During the Clinton years, Republicans and others were outraged at the tyrannical Executive Orders and Presidential Decision Directives (Astroke of the pen law@ as one insider called it). However, after four years in office (as far as I can determine) only one of Clinton=s EO=s or PDD=s has been rescinded. If Bush has the power to reverse them (and make no mistake, he does) and fails to do so, is that not the same thing as supporting them? Will you vote for a man who has demonstrated he supports the things you said you opposed when Clinton issued them? In God=s Name, how is that possible?i
On a related theme, most folks don=t have a clue about EO=s and PDD=s. Skipping a lot of history, the president has been given expanded powers during times of declared national emergencies. How long has our government been operating under a declared state of national emergency? Since September 11, 2001? The Gulf War? The Vietnam War? Believe it or not, America has been in a continual state of declared national emergency since March 9, 1933 - that=s over 71 years! Every president dutifully extends the declaration annually and every Congress looks the other way. Why? To give the appearance of propriety to some of the most tyrannical decisions which have been issued by our federal government.i
Bill Clinton reacting to Bush=s establishment of the Department of Homeland Security: AWe have been building this for a long time.@ Most folks are unaware that the essential elements for Homeland Security were put forward by Al Gore in 1993. Republicans were screaming bloody murder then, and they would be now if Gore had done what Bush is pushing through. Thomas Green wrote in the British newspaper, The Register, AThe real purpose [of Bush=s proposal], clearly is data acquisition and manipulation on a gargantuan scale.@ Remember, information is power to control. You may think you are innocent but all of us are in violation of numerous Alaws@ and, should you attempt to stand against government tyranny, you can easily be labeled a criminal and silenced. If thoughts of Hitler=s Germany come to mind, good! Your memory is serving you well, don=t ignore it.i
Speaking of Clinton, Bill must have been thrilled when:P
. . . Bush=s first exercise of Aexecutive privilege@ was to keep Congress from seeing documents regarding the Clinton fund raising investigation.P
. . . Bush=s Attorney General appointee John Ashcroft announced the administration was permanently closing its investigations of Clinton=s criminal activities while in office. Did you want that swept under the rug?i
Former rep Bob Barr (R-GA): If someone Awere to ask you which recent president=s term in office was characterized by support for the so-called assault weapons ban, a huge increase in deficit spending, bigger budgets for virtually every domestic program, including Americorps and the National Endowment for the Arts, and signing into law a massive increase in federal government regulation of political speech, whose administration would you suspect they were describing? That of Democrat Bill Clinton? Nope. They=d be talking about the first term of Republican President George W. Bush.@ Christians shouted Aamen@ when Barr charged Clinton with such behavior. Will they now vote for someone who does the same thing?P
Those concerned about 2nd Amendment rights should know Bush pledged his commitment to America=s 20,000+ gun control laws and in 2001 requested an additional $158 million to enforce them; another campaign promise shattered.i
FREEDOMS LOST DURING BUSH=S TERM include:P
AFREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION: Government may monitor religious and political institutions without suspecting criminal activity to assist terror investigations.P
AFREEDOM OF INFORMATION: Government has closed once-public immigration hearings, has secretly detained hundreds of people without charges, and has encouraged bureaucrats to resist public records questions.@P
AFREEDOM OF SPEECH: Government may prosecute librarians or keepers of any other records if they tell anyone that the government subpoenaed information related to a terror investigation.@P
ARIGHT TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION: Government may monitor federal prison and jailhouse conversations between attorneys and clients, and deny lawyers to Americans accused of crimes.@P
AFREEDOM FROM UNREASONABLE SEARCHES: Government may search and seize Americans= papers and effects without probable cause to assist in terror investigations.@P
ARIGHT TO A SPEEDY AND PUBLIC TRIAL: Government may jail Americans indefinitely without a trial.@P
ARIGHT TO LIBERTY: Americans may be jailed without being charged or being able to confront witnesses against them.@These observations came from the Associated Press and only touch the tip of the iceberg of what Americans have lost in the pursuit of terrorists. The measures are so draconian that they can only be viewed as terroristic by those who value liberty.
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Amnesty for criminals: Bush has pushed for amnesty for illegal aliens. Here are people who show no respect for our laws and yet we are to welcome them with open arms? There is a procedure for entering this country legally and even becoming a citizen. Law breakers should be dealt with appropriately, not rewarded. Don=t vote to aid and abet criminals.i
Bush is the first Republican President to turn his back on biblical morality by giving homosexual activists and programs the full support and backing by the federal government.P
Bush has made good on his promises to Log Cabin (homosexual) Republicans who helped elect him. He has made numerous homosexual appointments in his administration to keep that support.P
Bush has continued to support Clinton=s Adon=t ask, don=t tell@ policy. Has he kept his promises to you?i
Instead of closing down the Department of Education, Bush has expanded its budget and is proceeding with plans for national testing of students, not to mention mental health screening of the entire population starting with students. If you think private school or home school students will ultimately be exempt, think again. Do remember those who resist tyrannical government always have mental problems and need treatment.i
Privacy: Bush imposed the Clinton administration=s medical Aprivacy@ rules which gives the control of our medical records to the government. The government now gets to decide how private they really are. Law enforcement, insurance companies and numerous others all have access. Bush received 24,000 letters opposing the action but he told Health and Human Services to disregard the public comments and implement the rules immediately. Remember that the next time you sign one of those HIPPA forms at the doctor=s office, and remember it November 2nd!i
IRS: In 2001, Bush gave the IRS additional funds to hire 4,000 more tax collectors. Instead of moving to abolish the unconstitutional income tax, he has further entrenched this crime against the people. Will you vote to continue government theft? Why?Volumes could be written on these subjects and many others, but as I promised last month, bullet points will have to do. The things I know about can
=t be covered here, much less all the other things one could discover. Besides, you probably wouldn=t read it all anyway. We have lives. That=s the point.The number one issue is there are too many issues where our federal government is concerned. By design, it was to be small enough that the average citizen could know about its actions and effectively control them. We are way past that ability now, but we must move quickly to restore it..
Hopefully, what you
=ve read will cause you to reconsider how you spend your vote next month. It doesn=t please me to have to tell you these things. I wish they weren=t true, but I=ve been to Oz and glimpsed behind the curtain, and I have some idea of what is going on with our elected servants (turned masters). We must reclaim rule of the house! That starts with personal responsibility and accountability to be sure, but major strides can be made at the national level if we can just find the courage to vote for those who will do what they say they believe. It=s time to take off the elephant or donkey-shaped red, white and blue glasses and look at the situation as citizens of the kingdom of God.God is not an American and He sure isn
=t a Republican or Democrat or Constitutionalist! He IS concerned about just government and it is our sacred trust to maintain it. The rest of the world sees our problem, but Christians tend to reject their analysis. We need to listen carefully to their criticism, especially that which comes from other Christians. I=d like to close with comments issued by Korean and Japanese believers when President and Mrs. Bush worshiped at a Shinto shrine:(Note: I have not corrected their English)
DENOUNCING THE PRESIDENT BUSH'S SHINTO SHRINE WORSHIP
The Korean Church together with the Japanese Church is shocked and frightened at the act of the President Bush's shrine worship at the Meiji Shrine in the morning of Feb. 18, 2002 upholding the flag of the so called a Christian justice and a superpower, for it is an act of idol worship breaking the first, second, and third commandments of the Christian faith. We strongly denounce it.
The President and Mrs. Bush entered into the Meiji Shrine together with the Shinto priest and bowed a big ceremonial bow and worshiped idol. Even though the Premier Junichiro Koizumi was originally to accompany the President Bush, he did not accompany and worship because he was said to have worried about the critical public opinion of the Japanese. Yet, the President who claims himself a Christian committed the sin of idol worship defying the strong warning and advice of the Japan Evangelical Association. The act was also an act of betrayal cruelly breaking down the honorable Christian tradition cherished by many Korean, Japanese and Asian Christian believers going through various sufferings over against the Shinto shrine worship.
The Japan Evangelical Association announced a statement of denounce on Feb. 19 as the followings. We regret very much that the President Bush defied the warning and advice of the Japanese Church. We question and doubt about the personal faith of the President. We denounce the self-justified American way of thinking of indifference and insensitivity to the people of the world. We especially denounce Mr. Bush's words and acts of defiance about the feeling and sentiments of the Korean people. We worry that Mr. Bush's act of Shinto shrine worship might justify the act of Shinto shrine worship and thus weaken the Christian cause in Japan.
The President Bush also did wrong in that he upheld high the militaristic and capitalistic flag of a so called a just superpower, took a self-justified and autocratic attitude of ruling, condemning and punishing the world at random and thus intensified the conventional cold war spirit. We wish that the Bush administration would recover the Christian spirit of faith exalting God as well as the Christian spirit of love embracing the poverty and disaster of the world before taking an attitude of punishing evils. We pray that the United States of America today would be born to be the USA of the past which did shine the light of hope and love to the world.
February 19, 2002
Rev. Kim Ki Soo, president of Christian Council of Korea
Rev. Kim Myung Hyuk, chairman of Korea Evangelical Fellowship
Prof. Son Bong Ho, chairman of Christian Ethics Movement of Korea
Does it not break your heart to read these words? Please understand they are not the only Christians in the world who are expressing such concern. Earlier this year I listened to an American
Amissionary@ who relocated to France to make a new life there. Together with his French wife, and a French friend they spoke of how Christians in the U.S. are viewed. All I could say was, for the vast majority of Christians I meet, they are correct. Even in the present debauched state of affairs many Christians believe we have a mandate from God to impose our ways upon others by force. Others see how we have strayed from the principles of Godly liberty and reject what we have become. They too want the liberty of self-government before God. Our system, even if it was being obeyed, is not the only pattern which, justly practiced, would conform to biblical standards. Don=t get me wrong, what our government is doing in the rest of the world has nothing to do with some perceived biblical mandate; however, many Christians do see it that way.What will you do in November? You may not have had this information before, but you have it now. How will you deal with it? Will you continue to insist the only way to win an election is to vote for someone who doesn=t share your values and beliefs? Is that really winning? NO! In fact it is the worst kind of losing.
Most of those I meet who cannot bring themselves to abandon the AR@ candidate initially respond in one way. I hear it all the time, AWe can=t let Kerry win!@ If you hear fear in that statement, you=re right. Maybe it is a fear with which you identify. We would do well to remember the word of Christ to his disciples, AAnd I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who after He has killed has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!@ (Luke 12:4-5) We find a principle here which should not be forgotten. We are not to fear men, but God.
A vote cast in fear of men is anything but a vote of faith and obedience. Our vote must be cast in fear before God for truth, righteousness, justice, mercy and compassion. There are some who vote alternate parties out of fear of what George Bush will do. I=m no more concerned about him than I am the rest of them. I am concerned about how I vote and how we the people vote because God will deal with us on the basis of the choices we make. I pray we make wise ones.
A
We pray that the United States of America today would be born to be the USA of the past which did shine the light of hope and love to the world." That is a prayer to which I can add a hopeful Aamen.@ With all that is in me, I urge you to add your Aamen@ by voting for Michael Peroutka for president. The choice is yours, will you find the faith and courage to ignore the AGiants in the Land@ and trust the outcome to God, or do you still find bondage in Egypt more appealing?