Let's consider the following verse...

Eph 4:15-16
"But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head — Christ." (HCSB)

Here is our only defense in the coming days against the looming "Hate Crimes" bill that includes "hate speech" implications. We are being told that to call something a "sin" that might result in someone taking that idea of "sin" as needing to be forcefully approached... as in attacking someone because they are involved in the said "sin," could result in charges brought against the speaker. In other words, the speaker against said "sin" could be held accountable for inciting the attacker.

We don't need that kind of actual thing going on, the "hate" thing. The Apostle Paul gives us this simple, yet powerful requirement. Speak the truth in love.

If I could expand on that just a little... we need to speak from a broken heart.

Isa 57:15
For the High and Exalted One
who lives forever, whose name is Holy says this:
"I live in a high and holy place,
and with the oppressed and lowly of spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly
and revive the heart of the oppressed."
(HCSB)

We need to have the heart of one oppressed... a spirit of contrition... a broken heart.

God will not despise this... and neither will mankind.

How can one despise one weeping over another's sinful condition?

We need to, "weep or' the erring one, lift up the fallen.
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save"... says the old gospel song.

It was true then... still true today.

No one can be charged with hate speech for having a broken heart... and for many... a broken heart from God's children just might be all that stands between them and a desperate eternity.

"Oh Yahweh...
break my heart with those things that break your heart."

Yes, it is a very dangerous prayer.

XtnYoda, shalomed

UPDATED AT BOTTOM









This reply by Renee, a health care professional in New York, over at Brutally Honest, in response to a post Rick has about panic in this swine flu ordeal we are in. I found it very down to earth and helpful in gaining some understanding about what is actually going on with these dramatic things being discussed around the issue.

People need to think education, not panic.

The designation of a pandemic is based on the ability of a virus to be transmitted, sustained, and then move across populations. It is showing about a 60% infection rate based on reported numbers. Even having 60% of a population sick can be a serious problem.

The markers in the H1N1 Swine flu is the same H1N1 marker in the common influenza. The common influenza kills more but only because it overwhelms people who have a compromised immune system, the 9 out of 10 it kills, are all older than 65, weakened humans. The other 1 out of ten it kills is other people, in other age groups, that also have compromised immune systems. It rarely, rarely kills a healthy person.

Now, you have a new cousin H1N1-Swine on the block...it has a new key to get in and components-swine and avian-that the majority of the human population hasn't had the pleasure of meeting before AND it is killing the young healthy crowd. This is a HUGE difference between it and the common H1N1 influenza.

It is just the begining of the flu season for the southern hemisphere so it will be telling to see what this virus does there over the next few months if they aren't able to contain it.

As far as the numbers being reported of infected or deaths...they are wayyyyyy under reported. Ask a doctor in Mexico treating the people who have it...and from personal reports, many medical professionals died in the process. They were told to put other causes on their certificates of death, they turned people away from the hosptials because they were overwhelmed.

Even in the U.S., only a portion of people are getting tested. For instance, in Queens, not even half of the people were tested...so that half gets reported as offical number of cases.

There are personal reports on U.S. forums of the 25-44 age group individuals having died a few weeks ago that had flu symptoms. It is not the normal influenza age group, so what did they die from? Those people are buried. Do you think they are going to dig them up to test them for swine flu when they aren't even testing people with apparent symptoms?

The CDC is pulling a trick now of trying to lessen the numbers by only counting those deaths THEY tested as having swine flu...forget about reporting all the people who had those symptoms, were tested by Mexican doctors, and died.

They know the real impact, they can't help but know, and so they are speaking out of both sides of their mouths trying to warn us, and calm everyone down. The number of deaths are likely more in the 1,000 range rather than the 150 and that is in a stage where the majority of the population hasn't been exposed to it yet.

We didn't know what to look for then, now we do, another reason to recognize a virus as having pandemic qualitites. It is too early in the life of this virus to see how it will mutate, stronger or weaker or what the actual fallout in numbers are..but it has to be watched, it has all the reasons to be taken very seriously. That doesn't mean panic the population, it means educate the population and prepare.

Thanks Renee... very helpful.

XtnYoda, shalomed

UPDATE:

Following is a follow-up post by Renee about what a "conspiracy" thinking way of looking at this whole thing might look like.

It's really unthinkable that this could be a purposeful attempt to spread terrorism or maybe even worse, to make money off of the ensuing medical needs... like selling the medications to fight the flu... so you create a flu in order to make the vaccines to treat the flu...

The above response was the non-conspiracy theory response...put on your tin-foil hat and go with me to this possiblity.

There are some experts who are saying this virus has vectors that could indicate it is from a lab. If so, did it escape due to human error or was it purposely released?

Read up on Baxter or Bayer if you don't think there is a possiblity of that occuring and then ask the question about fear chasing the dollar around.

We know there are hostile states, and terrorist organizations that have bio-terrorism on their mind and have an ideology that international chaos and death must come to the world to welcome in their messiah...they could care less if their people die and our people die; lots of us have to die for this to come about and they think they have been tasked to help it along.

There are also scientists who feel we have to kill off 9/10 of the world population for planet earth to survive and we have organizations that fund those scientists and give them awards.

What better carrier for all of the above than the common influenza with a few tweaks to make it more deadly?

We need to identify where this thing came from.

Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

"Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits." —Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison failed more times than he succeeded yet we sit here as benefactor of his handy work and persistence. As we watch a world standing around looking for it’s handout it is important to know opportunity is ever before you.

In 2Thessalonians 3:10 Paul told the Thessalonians that if they ‘would not work, neither should they eat.’

We must keep ourselves actively looking for the openings God has put in our path.
2Thessalonians 3:13 reminds us,

“But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.”

God give me wisdom to trust you and the strength and energy to be the servant you have called me to be.

Jesus died for you; Will you live for Him?

Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

What Is the Difference …

—Between the atheist who would not dream of financially supporting the church and the Christian who will not financially support the Lord’s church?

—Between the skeptic who does not believe the Bible and the negligent Christian who never reads it?

—Between those who do not believe in Bible classes and those who choose never to attend a class?

—Between the atheist who does nothing to build up the Lord’s church and the Christian who finds fault with others but does nothing himself?

—Between a man of the world and a person in the church who lives like a man in the world?

—Between a man of the world who lives for self, and a person in the church building who lives for self, not God?

These are tough questions for Christians who live in a tough world. The fact is that Christians make no difference until they are different. Again, what’s the difference? (From Treasury of Biblical Illustrations)

We are to be the salt and light in a world of confusion. When we are not distinguishable from the rest of the world, what can they see that would draw them to God our heavenly Father? The Apostle Peter reminds us,

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

Let us rise up to be that peculiar people--not in a weird way, but as that champion for God.

Jesus died for you; Will you live for Him?

Here is an on-ground video of the crazy Air Force One fly by of the Statue of Liberty... and the ensuing terror on the ground.

How do you spell utterly stupid?

I don't know how you spell it, but here it is.

And the story that follows...

wcbstv

FAA Memo: Feds Knew NYC Flyover Would Cause Panic
Threatened Federal Sanctions Against NYPD, Secret Service, FBI & Mayor's Office If Secret Ever Got Out

Federal officials knew that sending two fighter jets and Air Force One to buzz ground zero and Lady Liberty might set off nightmarish fears of a 9/11 replay, but they still ordered the photo-op kept secret from the public.

In a memo obtained by CBS 2 HD the Federal Aviation Administration's James Johnston said the agency was aware of "the possibility of public concern regarding DOD (Department of Defense) aircraft flying at low altitudes" in an around New York City. But they demanded total secrecy from the NYPD, the Secret Service, the FBI and even the mayor's office and threatened federal sanctions if the secret got out....

According to the report, "The flyover (was) apparently ordered by the White House Office of Military Affairs..." Yet the White House feigns any knowledge of the event? So... the White House ordered it... but was unaware that it ordered it.

OK. Just fortunate that some didn't die from heart attack or wrecks from fearful drivers, etc. There was obvious panic, and they knew it would cause panic, and ordered silence or retribution?

This is evil.

UPDATED!


OK... now we must be politically correct in naming our flu's? Too, too funny! Because some have an aversion to pork meat we are going to have to rename the "swine flu."

On second thought... perhaps this is actually a government secret attack on those sensitive to the idea of dying with pork in their systems?

Just too, too funny... and stupid.

XtnYoda, shalomed

reuters report

U.S. officials want 'swine' out of flu name

WASHINGTON, April 28 (Reuters) - What's in a name? U.S. pork producers are finding that the name of the virus spreading from Mexico is affecting their business, prompting U.S. officials to argue for changing the name from swine flu.

At a news briefing, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack took pains to repeatedly refer to the flu as the "H1N1 virus."

"This is not a food-borne illness, virus. It is not correct to refer to it as swine flu because really that's not what this is about," Vilsack said.

Israel has already rejected the name swine flu, and opted to call it "Mexico flu." Jewish dietary laws forbid eating pork.....

UPDATE! Egypt is killing all it's pigs to stop swine flu!!!

Rather... uninformed.

Too funny.
yahoo news

CAIRO – The Egyptian government says it has begun slaughtering all pigs in the country as a precautionary measure against the possible spread of swine flu.

The Health Ministry says the slaughter of the country's 300,000 pigs will begin immediately.

The ministry has stated several times that there are no cases swine flu in the country, however neighboring Israel has reported two.

OK... since when does a National Security Adviser take orders from Henry Kissinger?

And, place Kissinger at the very top of our National Security policy makers?

This quote is from the CFR's official site, as they post the entire speech.

Weird... just weird.

Council on Foreign Relations site

Remarks by National Security Adviser Jones at 45th Munich Conference on Security Policy

Published February 8, 2009

Speaker: James L. Jones

"Thank you for that wonderful tribute to Henry Kissinger yesterday. Congratulations. As the most recent National Security Advisor of the United States, I take my daily orders from Dr. Kissinger, filtered down through Generaal Brent Scowcroft and Sandy Berger, who is also here. We have a chain of command in the National Security Council that exists today....

H/T Brian!

OK... now for an interesting study in perspectives. First an editorial piece in the Washington Times is titled Barack's in the Basement. The editorial goes on to show that the only president with a lower poll approval rating at 100 days in office taken since the Gallop poll started in 1969 was... Bill Clinton... and that only by one point.

President Obama's overall approval rating now stands at 56%. In January it was 84%. That is a rather dramatic drop of 32% in the first 100 days. That is why the Times called it "in the basement."

Then go to the second reporting of the same numbers and the statement headline from UPI is that the nation gives the President a showing of "strong support" with the same 56% approval number? They also fail to compare the President with all the other Presidents, all the way back to Nixon. By the 100 day mark Clinton, the only one with a lower number, was struggling over the 86 civilians the Federal Government had killed in Waco, Texas.

It is an interesting comparison in perspectives.

Washington Times

EDITORIAL: BARACK'S IN THE BASEMENT

According to Gallup's April survey, Americans have a lower approval of Mr. Obama at this point than all but one president since Gallup began tracking this in 1969. The only new president less popular was Bill Clinton, who got off to a notoriously bad start after trying to force homosexuals on the military and a federal raid in Waco, Texas, that killed 86. Mr. Obama's current approval rating of 56 percent is only one tick higher than the 55-percent approval Mr. Clinton had during those crises.

upi report

POLL FINDS STRONG PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR OBAMA
Published: April 24, 2009

WASHINGTON, April 24 (UPI) -- More than half of the U.S. public believes President Barack Obama has done an excellent or good job during his limited time in office, poll results indicate.

USA Today said Friday a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll found that 56 percent of the people surveyed gave Obama positive ratings.

Twenty-three percent said Obama has done "just OK" so far and 20 percent rated the president's service as either poor or terrible....

USA Today said Obama was rated good or excellent by 53 percent of respondents in terms of how he has handled national security, but only earned positive ratings from 48 percent on the topic of the troubled economy.

And, that last number just above... only 48% approval on handling the "troubled economy"... for a sitting president... that would be a very troubling number.

As Candidate Bill Clinton kept before him at all times on the campaign trail... a sign that read, "It's the economy stupid." American's do tend to vote their pocket books and reality is starting to set in on the now majority of Americans.

XtnYoda, shalomed

Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“Money never stays with me. It would burn me if it did. I throw it out of my hands as soon as possible, lest it should find its way to my heart.” (John Wesley)

God did not say, “Money is the root of all evil," He said,

"love of money is the root of all evil.” (1Timothy 6:10)

John Wesley knew his own heart. He knew the temptations he would face with money and did not want it to come between him and God.

Love of money is not the only temptation known to man. Many are not only tempted by money to turn away from God but also by many other ways: entertainment, drugs, alcohol, even vocation, and a myriad of other things.

"God, keep my heart pure and turned toward You. Help me to throw temptation out of my hands and and out of my life as soon as possible to keep it from finding its way into my heart." Amen.

Give praise to and for the creator.

H/T Jeremy!

Caption reads:

"I tried to hijack a US ship and all I got was this hat!"

The bullet hole in the middle is courtesy of the Navy Seals.

XtnYoda, shalomed

Hillary is getting in on the global warming frenzy.

All the while the earth is cooling...

yahoo news

Clinton tells nations US acting on climate change

WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told representatives from 16 major world economies Monday that the United States is moving quickly to address global warming.

At an international forum on energy and climate change organized by President Barack Obama, Clinton said the U.S. no longer doubts the urgency or magnitude of the problem.

"The United States is fully engaged and ready to lead and determined to make up for lost time both at home and abroad," Clinton said at the start of the two-day meeting. "The United States is no longer absent without leave."

No longer doubts about the magnitude? Are we forgetting the hundreds of skeptic scientists who have signed on to acknowledge their skepticism?

The Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate Change was announced in March by Obama and includes the countries responsible for 75 percent of the global emissions of heat-trapping gases. Its goal is to lay the groundwork for an international agreement to curb climate-changing pollution by December.

That's when delegates from 175 countries will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark, to forge a new treaty to replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. The Kyoto Protocol required 37 countries to cut emissions by a total of 5 percent by 2012.

This should be a fun meeting in Denmark, in December... Denmark might be under a glacier by then?

During President George W. Bush's tenure, the United States refused to take part in the Kyoto regime, calling it unfair since it made no demands on rapidly developing economies like China and India....

Clinton referred to the fragile planet when she told leaders that the U.S. was "working tirelessly" to ensure that this time there would be a successful outcome. But she acknowledged that there is no sense in negotiating an agreement if it will not have a practical impact in reducing emissions, meaning developing countries such as India and China will have to be included.

"Fragile planet" now is it? Exactly how long has earth been around? How many natural disasters like meteorites, volcanoes, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, etc. has the earth survived?

Earth looks fairly robust to me.

XtnYoda, shalomed

We came oh so close to having this liar in the White House eight years ago. Really sobering.

First he outright lies to a congressional hearing...

Gore lies to Congress about personal finances

When Tennessee Rep. Marsha Blackburn confronted Al Gore with his profiteering from global warming legislation at today's House Energy and Environment Subcommittee hearing on the Waxman-Markey climate bill, Al Gore said that every penny he ever made from his business activities went into non-profit efforts.

That is a flat-out lie, according to the following March 6, 2008 Bloomberg report that indicates that Al Gore invested $35 million of his own money in various for-profit endeavors.

story here

documented here last year

Gore Invests $35 Million for Hedge Funds With EBay Billionaire
By Miles Weiss

March 6 (Bloomberg) -- Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore left the White House seven years ago with less than $2 million in assets, including a Virginia home and the family farm in Tennessee. Now he's making enough to put $35 million in hedge funds and other private partnerships.

Gore invested the money with Capricorn Investment Group LLC, a Palo Alto, California, firm that selects the private funds for clients and invests in makers of environmentally friendly products, according to a Feb. 1 securities filing. Capricorn was founded by billionaire Jeffrey Skoll, former president of EBay Inc. and an executive producer of Gore's Oscar-winning documentary film on global warming.

Since losing the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, Gore, 59, is best known for focusing attention on climate change through his book and movie, ``An Inconvenient Truth,'' which helped him win a Nobel Peace Prize. Gore's newfound wealth resulted, in part, from speaking engagements and ties to Silicon Valley firms with soaring stock market values, such as Google Inc. and Apple Inc....

So for Al, $35 million dollars invested in for-profit ventures is... charity?

Sorry Al. You are burned... but I know... you don't care... because that's just the way liars are.

Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

Some time ago in Reader’s Digest there was a short article about a group of sea gulls that was starving to death in St. Augustine. They were not starving because of a food shortage but because they had forgotten how to fish. For years they had depended on the shrimp fleet operating out of the harbor to toss them scraps from the nets. When the shrimp fleet moved to Key West, they began to starve. They had lost their natural ability to fish because they had not been using it.

This is a rule of nature. If you do not use what you have, it will be taken from you. This is the lesson in the parable of the talents. The servant who did not use the one talent had it taken from him (Matthew 25:28). This agrees with the old adage,

‘Use it or lose it.’

Let us be a good steward of the gifts and resources we are blessed with.

Give praise to and for the creator.

Here is one of my favorite Christian Rock bands, Skillet.

They've been around for awhile!

Go check out the tangle site sometime. A breath of fresh air.

Here is one of my favorite songs out there right now. Written in a brothel in Thailand as Aaron Boyd of the band Bluetree, sang with the operators permission if their friends would stay and buy Cokes. This is Aaron singing a simple acoustic version of the song.

God... strut Your stuff?

XtnYoda, shalom



And... here is Aaron telling the story himself.

God Bless you Aaron and Bluetree.

Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

A rural brother, considered a bit old-fashioned, visited a great city temple. As the eloquent minister drove home some great truth, the ruralite shouted, “Praise the Lord!” Whereupon an usher touched him on the arm and whispered, “Be quiet. You can’t ‘praise the Lord’ in this church.”

God pity both preacher and church!

We all need to praise God. There is something inside each of us that must reach out to the God who created us. The world would try to squelch us into remaining silent while the whole universe groans to give him praise and glory with every means it has. Jesus summed it up when he told the disciples,

“I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” (Luke 19:40)

Let us beat the rocks, hills and streams in praising God with every means He has given to us. Let us praise him by stomping our feet, clapping our hands, using our whistles, and even our voices when necessary. Praise ye The Lord!

Give all glory and praise to God.

Following is a portrait of a hero... both on the battle field and at home.

YAHOO news

INJURED SOLDIER GETS NEW FACE

Sgt. Darron Mikeworth had just come out of a drug-induced coma — his mind was still in a fog and he was so weak he could barely stand.

Three weeks before, in Iraq, a suicide bomber had raced up to the right side of his Humvee, igniting a barrel of explosives that tore into the machine gunner's face. He nearly died.

Mikeworth awoke in a hospital bed, thousands of miles away.

He was relieved he still had his arms and legs. He was thrilled, too, that his ears had survived the blast. But he had wounds he could not see, life-changing wounds. His wife, Dea, helped break the news: His face was in bad shape. His left eye was useless.

And there was more....

SALUTE!

XtnYoda, shalomed

OK, how about a little spice for your life today.

Got your cell phone? Is it secure?

:)

H/T to Douglas P. Coletrain

OK... you probably won't find this on a MSM site. I found it on a very anti-capitalist site here via the Drudge Report. Their disdain for capitalism is evident... like a slap in the face is evident to the one being slapped.

I don't want to take the room to list all 13 of their grievances against America, their attack point they call capitalism, but it is amazing to read.

We are the cause of the entire world's economic woes, climate woes, social woes, wars and tribal conflicts, migration woes, Cuba's woes, education woes, world health woes, etc. Amazing read from South and Latin America's leaders.

When you have time go get a primer in the expanded hatred of the Ugly American.

XtnYoda, shalomed

The Declaration of Cumaná: Capitalism 'threatens life on the planet'
April 24, 2009

We, the Heads of State and Government of Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Honduras, Nicaragua and Venezuela, member countries of ALBA, consider that the Draft Declaration of the 5th Summit of the Americas is insufficient and unacceptable for the following reasons....

1. Capitalism is leading humanity and the planet to extinction.... Until now, the economic crisis has generated over 100 million additional hungry persons and has slashed over 50 million jobs, and these figures show an upward trend.

2. Capitalism has caused the environmental crisis, by submitting the necessary conditions for life in the planet, to the predominance of market and profit. Each year we consume one third more of what the planet is able to regenerate. With this squandering binge of the capitalist system, we are going to need two planets Earth by the year 2030.

3. The global economic crisis, climate change, the food crisis and the energy crisis are the result of the decay of capitalism, which threatens to end life and the planet....

7. As for climate change, developed countries are in an environmental debt to the world because they are responsible for 70% of historical carbon emissions into the atmosphere since 1750. Developed countries should pay off their debt to humankind and the planet.....

9. We condemn the discrimination against migrants in any of its forms. Migration is a human right, not a crime. Therefore, we request the United States government an urgent reform of its migration policies in order to stop deportations and massive raids and allow for reunion of families....

Bankers who stole the money and resources from our countries are the true responsible, not migrant workers. Human rights should come first, particularly human rights of the underprivileged, downtrodden sectors in our society, that is, migrants without identity papers. Free movement of people and human rights for everybody, regardless of their migration status, are a must for integration....

10. Basic education, health, water, energy and telecommunications services should be declared human rights and cannot be subject to private deal or marketed by the World Trade Organization. These services are and should be essentially public utilities of universal access.

11. We wish a world where all, big and small, countries have the same rights and where there is no empire.... We request the new Government of the United States, the arrival of which has given rise to some expectations in the hemisphere and the world, to finish the longstanding and dire tradition of interventionism and aggression that has characterized the actions of the US governments throughout history, and particularly intensified during the Administration of President George W. Bush. By the same token, we request the new Government of the United States to abandon interventionist practices...

12. With regard to the U.S. blockade against Cuba ...

“WE REQUEST the Government of the United States of America to comply with the provisions set forth in 17 successive resolutions approved by the United Nations General Assembly and put an end to the economic, trade and financial blockade on Cuba.”...

On that last point about the "blockade" of Cuba, just in case you may not know, our blockade only affects any United States trade with Cuba, the rest of the world is quite free to trade with Cuba... including these Latin and South American nations. (The MSM and the socialist nations of the world love to have Americans thinking that we allow no trade with Cuba from anywhere.)

A lie.

Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

A king asked his three daughters how much they loved him. Two of them replied that they loved him better than all the gold and silver in the world. The youngest one said she loved him better than salt.

The king was not pleased with her answer, as he thought salt was not very palatable. But the cook, overhearing the remark, put no salt in anything for breakfast next morning, and the meal was so insipid that the king could not enjoy it. He then saw the force of his daughter’s remark. She loved him so well that nothing was good without him.

Jesus tells us in Luke 14:24, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” The picture is not to actually hate those around us, but to love God and follow Him so that the love for others pales in comparison to our love for Him. Our love for Him is such that nothing is good without Him.

Give all glory and praise to God.

WOW!!!

Waxman wants to accuse Gingrich of trying to scare the American people about "cap and trade" tax burdens that are going to greatly damage American people.

And, what is it that Waxman says Gingrich is using to try to scare the American people?

Why... my gosh... Gingrich is using truth and facts about the tax burden of "cap and trade."

How wretched in Waxman's eyes, that truth and facts should actually be told to the American people.

XtnYoda, shalomed

Michael Ramirez

Hummm... something's been lost over time in our thinking. Quite the opposite seems to be happening these days.

Just be educated for the days ahead.

XtnYoda, shalomed

Patriot Post

"The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite."
--James Madison, Federalist No. 45

Poor Al and the climate warming fear mongers/money grubbers are now relegated to actually running and hiding and canceling their charade pep rallys intended to convince congress to mandate climate changing emission restrictions, (in their opinion) in order to force the development and investment of tax dollars into Al Gore's failing "green technology" business ventures.

Talk about conflict of interest.

Funny report.

XtnYoda, shalomed

climate depot

Report: Democrats Refuse to Allow Skeptic to Testify Alongside Gore At Congressional Hearing

'House Democrats don't want Gore humiliated'

Washington, DC -- UK's Lord Christopher Monckton, a former science advisor to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, claimed House Democrats have refused to allow him to appear alongside former Vice President Al Gore at a high profile global warming hearing on Friday April 24, 2009 at 10am in Washington....

“The House Democrats don't want Gore humiliated, so they slammed the door of the Capitol in my face,” Monckton told Climate Depot in an exclusive interview. “They are cowards.”

According to Monckton, Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Energy & Commerce Committee, had invited him to go head to head with Gore and testify at the hearing on Capitol Hill Friday. But Monckton now says that when his airplane from London landed in the U.S. on Thursday, he was informed that the former Vice-President had “chickened out” and there would be no joint appearance....

“The Democrats have a lot to learn about the right of free speech under the US Constitution. Congress Henry Waxman's (D-CA) refusal to expose Al Gore's sci-fi comedy-horror testimony to proper, independent scrutiny by the House minority reeks of naked fear,” Monckton said from the airport Thursday evening.

“Waxman knows there has been no 'global warming' for at least a decade. Waxman knows there has been seven and a half years' global cooling. Waxman knows that, in the words of the UK High Court judge who condemned Gore's mawkish movie as materially, seriously, serially inaccurate, 'the Armageddon scenario that he depicts is not based on any scientific view,'” Monckton explained...

A call to the Democratic office of the House Energy and Commerce Committee seeking comment was not immediately returned Thursday night.

Al's conflict of interest investment company's web site is here... just in case you find it hard to believe the dishonesty.

And go here to see the gush of money lust in "warming" investors

It Will Increase the Flow of Quality Capital Into the New Energy Economy

"There has been a really good amount of high-quality capital seeking the best deals in the New Energy Economy. But that flow will definitely increase now that Al Gore has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize," according to Michael Butler, Chairman of Seattle-based Cascadia Capital, a national investment bank focusing on emerging growth, middle-market and sustainable technology companies.

Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“IN OUR HEARTS WE ARE ALL DREAMERS. Most of us know what it is to dream dreams and see visions of what we might hope to become or what we think would bring happiness and contentment to our lives.” (O.S. Hawkins, More Good News for Great Days)

While we may be dreamers, most of us have had bent, broken, or even crushed dreams. These times leave us hurt, confused, and frustrated. Where do you go after a shattered dream? We must go to the same place the disciples went after the cross. We must go to the same place Jesus went, to our own Garden of Gethsemane, praying,

“Not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

Let us run to that place that we might be refreshed at the feet of the Father.

Give all glory and praise to God.

Following is XtnYoda's answer to a question on another board about the "prosperity gospel." You will find at the end that the temptations of the "prosperity gospel" are actually quite old...

Deu 29:9, "Therefore keep the words of this covenant and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do." (ESV)

I suppose this verse in Deuteronomy is the foundational verse for the "prosperity" gospel. Problem is that "prosperity" in the bible doesn't mean the same thing it means in the English language. We of course tend to stick our idea of material things onto the idea of being prosperous... but not scripture. In the OT the idea of "prosperity" actually revolves around the idea of a person "finishing what they start." Or if you will, bringing to a successful conclusion what one lays their hands too. Thus Christ's admonitions about not putting one's hands to the plow and then looking back... etc.

Isa 52:13 My servant will be successful... (GW)

Introducing the majestic Isaiah 53, we find the above curious statement. That "successful" is the same Hebrew word translated "prosper" in Deuteronomy 29:9 above. Some translations do say, "My servant will prosper." (Bishops, Geneva) Immediately after declaring that God's servant would prosper, God then goes on to describe the "suffering servant" that is to suffer more than any other person... and that is God's idea of prosperity? In this case... yes... the reason? The servant came to "bear the reproach of many" and the servant finished what he came to do... that is biblical prosperity.

When our Lord cried out, "It is finished!"... that is a victorious statement of biblical prosperity... might not look very prosperous to the bystander... Jesus... hanging there dead on a cross... but... Jesus came to die to appease the wrath of God Almighty and he finished what he came to do.

Now I will grant you, that if people would adopt this understanding of "prosperity" and finish what they start... like schooling, homework, job assignments, relationships... then they might actually also appear successful as far as acquiring things as well...

One little interesting side note... in Eve's encounter with the serpent that went something like this...

"So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise...(Gen 3:6)

that "make one wise" thing... is the same word that can be translated "prosperity." If you will the old serpent said that the fruit was,

"desirous to make one prosper."

The old serpent is still dangling that fruit out there and this time wrapped in the "prosperity gospel"... so called.

XtnYoda, shalomed

International Space Station








Ever wonder what the International Space Station actually looks like, and what makes it up? This link will demonstrate the different parts, shows the sequence of the construction, and gives other interesting information about the entire project.

Pretty smart construction, and a lot of human minds and thoughts and inventions have gone into its current reality.

Think how smart God must be to have created this entire universe out of nothing.

XtnYoda, shalomed

Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“All men have fears, but the brave put down their fears and go forward, sometimes to death, but always to victory.”
(Motto of the Kings Guard in ancient Greece)

Many decisions being made today are being ruled by a spirit of fear. We are reminded in 2 Timothy 1:7,

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

May we lay down the weight (fear) which has so easily beset us, (Hebrews 12:1) gird up our loins, and put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) that we might march forward to the victory.

Give all glory and praise to God.

OK... here's the scoop on the "interrogation" by the CIA. The main type talked about, water boarding, was performed on a total of three terrorists that had credible information about future planned attacks on the US. The one often mentioned as having been discovered and stopped was to have happened in Los Angeles, California.

It was going to be another plane event... killing as many as possible.

You be the judge if the water boarding was worth saving the lives of thousands of US citizens in California.

XtnYoda, shalomed

cns news

....The quotations in this part of the Justice memo were taken from an Aug. 2, 2004 letter that CIA Acting General Counsel John A. Rizzo sent to the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel.

Before they were subjected to “enhanced techniques” of interrogation that included waterboarding, KSM and Zubaydah were not only uncooperative but also appeared contemptuous of the will of the American people to defend themselves.

“In particular, the CIA believes that it would have been unable to obtain critical information from numerous detainees, including KSM and Abu Zubaydah, without these enhanced techniques,” says the Justice Department memo. “Both KSM and Zubaydah had ‘expressed their belief that the general US population was ‘weak,’ lacked resilience, and would be unable to ‘do what was necessary’ to prevent the terrorists from succeeding in their goals.’ Indeed, before the CIA used enhanced techniques in its interrogation of KSM, KSM resisted giving any answers to questions about future attacks, simply noting, ‘Soon you will know.’”

After he was subjected to the “waterboard” technique, KSM became cooperative, providing intelligence that led to the capture of key al Qaeda allies and, eventually, the closing down of an East Asian terrorist cell that had been tasked with carrying out the 9/11-style attack on Los Angeles....

It's just about tornado time! Been through a few.

Nothing like it.

XtnYoda, shalomed

This might play well with some... I think it's mainly a "belt-way" squabble and pent up hatred for Bush by the "sorry winners" that control the White House, and Congress.

It might get some good air time until another terrorist attack... then we're going to look back and ask,

"Now what were you doing with your time? Oh... you spent it all trying to dig up dirt on the Bush administration for winning the war in Iraq? Yea, that's a pretty severe charge... to go out and win a war somewhere!

Soooo... while you were trying to find out if it is legal to win a war with the enemy sworn to destroy you, they came here and killed _______ numbers of us?"

I can almost hear the chorus of "By by!" sounding in the capital of Washington as I type... and it is a sweet sound... except for the needless screams and sorrow from terrorists killing Americans on American soil again that I can also almost hear...

XtnYoda, shalomed

yahoo news

DEMS PUSH FOR TORTURE HEARINGS IGNORING OBAMA
AP

WASHINGTON – Brushing aside the president's suggestions, congressional Democrats pushed ahead firmly on Wednesday toward investigations into the Bush administration's harsh interrogation of terror suspects including hundreds of instances of waterboarding and other abusive practices.

President Barack Obama said a day earlier that if there was to be an investigation, the independent commission that looked into the Sept. 11 attacks would be a better model than a congressional probe that might break down along party lines. But Democrats were moving in their own directions, and Republicans were united in their opposition to a commission that they see as an effort to vilify George W. Bush now that he is out of office.

Democrats moved toward separate hearings in the House and Senate and seemed to be jostling each other for leadership roles on the issue, all but ignoring Obama's effort to head off an uncontrolled, partisan sprint toward a rash of probes that could impair the foreign policy he now steers....

An admittedly 'liberal' university student finds some surprises at Liberty University... under cover... and some of those surprises are about himself.

A true and interesting report. I'm sure the MSM will admire this young man for being honest and helping tear down many of the 'liberal' stereotypes propagated in the MSM about conservative Christians.... (don't hold your breath on that one though.)

XtnYoda, shalomed

yahoo news
IVY LEAGUER 'INFILTRATES' FALWELL'S UNIVERSITY
By Associated Press Writer Eric Tucker

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Kevin Roose managed to blend in during his single semester at Liberty University, attending lectures on the myth of evolution and the sin of homosexuality, and joining fellow students on a mission trip to evangelize partyers on spring break.

Roose had transferred to the Virginia campus from Brown University in Providence, a famously liberal member of the Ivy League. His Liberty classmates knew about the switch, but he kept something more important hidden: He planned to write a book about his experience at the school founded by fundamentalist preacher Jerry Falwell.

Each conversation about salvation or hand-wringing debate about premarital sex was unwitting fodder for Roose's recently published book: "The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University."

"As a responsible American citizen, I couldn't just ignore the fact that there are a lot of Christian college students out there," said Roose, 21, now a Brown senior. "If I wanted my education to be well-rounded, I had to branch out and include these people that I just really had no exposure to."

....He was determined to not mock the school, thinking it would be too easy — and unfair. He aimed to immerse himself in the culture, examine what conservative Christians believe and see if he could find some common ground. He had less weighty questions too: How did they spend Friday nights? Did they use Facebook? Did they go on dates? Did they watch "Gossip Girl?"

....He lined up a publisher — Grand Central Publishing — and arrived at the Lynchburg campus prepared for "hostile ideologues who spent all their time plotting abortion clinic protests and sewing Hillary Clinton voodoo dolls."

Instead, he found that "not only are they not that, but they're rigorously normal."

He met students who use Bible class to score dates, apply to top law schools and fret about their futures, and who enjoy gossip, hip-hop and R-rated movies — albeit in a locked dorm room.

....Roose researched the school by joining as many activites as possible. He accompanied classmates on a spring break missionary trip to Daytona Beach. He visited a campus support group for chronic masturbators, where students were taught to curb impure thoughts. And he joined the choir at Falwell's Thomas Road Baptist Church.

....He revealed the truth on a return trip to campus. He grappled with guilt during the entire project, but said he ultimately found forgiveness from students for his deception....

Roose said his Liberty experience transformed him in surprising ways.

When he first returned to Brown, he'd be shocked by the sight of a gay couple holding hands — then be shocked at his own reaction. He remains stridently opposed to Falwell's worldview, but he also came to understand Falwell's appeal.

Once ambivalent about faith, Roose now prays to God regularly — for his own well-being and on behalf of others. He said he owns several translations of the Bible and has recently been rereading meditations from the letters of John on using love and compassion to solve cultural conflicts.

He's even considering joining a church.

ATTENTION... ATTENTION... THE FOLLOWING IS AN OFFICIAL XTNYODA MORON REPORT!!!

Here is some discrimination against "fat" people. Could this be called "Hate Speech?"

Now what if an angered or person filled with fear by the following story goes out and starts killing fat people because they are now identified as part of the reason that the earth is coming to an end due to global warming? We should hold these reckless an careless scientists responsible for their fear mongering that leads to public stereotyping of fat people as a threat to the planet and life in general.

Stereotyping... the bane of liberalism... or is it only when stereotyping fits their agenda that it is OK? Or... like Gore calling for violent protest against coal fired power plants... uhhh... calling for "civil disobedience"... so when it fits their political agenda it's now OK.

The SUN UK

FATTIES CAUSE GLOBAL WARMING

Scientists warned that the increase in big-eaters means more food production — a major cause of CO2 gas emissions warming the planet. Overweight people are also more likely to drive, adding to environmental damage.

Dr Phil Edwards, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: “Moving about in a heavy body is like driving in a gas guzzler.”

Each fat person is said to be responsible for emitting a tonne more of climate-warming carbon dioxide per year than a thin one.

It means an extra BILLION TONNES of CO2 a year is created, according to World Health Organisation estimates of overweight people. The scientists say providing extra grub for them to guzzle adds to carbon emissions that heat up the world, melting polar ice caps, raising sea levels and killing rain forests.

The environmental impact of fat humans is made even worse because they are more likely to travel by car — another major cause of carbon emissions, and researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine say wealthy nations like the US and Britain are getting fatter by the decade.

Dr Phil Edwards said: “Food production accounts for about one fifth of greenhouse gases. We need to do a lot more to reverse the global trend towards fatness. It is a key factor in the battle to reduce carbon emissions and slow climate change. It is time we took account of the amount we are eating. This is about over-consumption by the wealthy countries. And the world demand for meat is increasing to match that of Britain and America. It is also much easier to get in your car and pick up a pint of milk than to take a walk.”

The study by Dr Edwards and colleague Ian Roberts is published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.

Dr Edwards went on: “We are not just pointing the finger at fat people. All populations are getting fatter and it has an impact on the environment. UK health surveys estimate fatness has increased from an average body mass index of 26 to 27 in the last ten years. That’s equivalent to about half a stone for every person.”

....Australian Professor Paul Zimmet predicted a disastrous obesity pandemic back in 2006. And, Oxfam warned yesterday that the number of people hit by climate-related disasters will soar by more than half in the next six years to 375 million. The impact of more storms, floods and droughts could overwhelm aid organizations.

Sun doctor Carol Cooper said last night: “I’m not sure which came first, people getting fat and driving or the other way around. It is true fat people eat more food than average..."

Simply brilliant powers of deduction.

Unabashed... unashamed... and unfounded fear mongering.

XtnYoda, shalomed

Sunspots could be seen by the Soho telescope in 2001 in the left photo, but not this year in the right photo.

ATTENTION... ATTENTION... THE FOLLOWING IS AN OFFICIAL XTNYODA MORON REPORT!!!

OK... I shouldn't be quite so harsh on this one as the real problem is "spiritual blindness and arrogance" as opposed to true "moron" status.

The thing about the idea that humans can somehow "control" something in nature as huge as the world's climate is... well... spiritually arrogant.

Remember the tower of Babel in the book of Genesis? The judgment point of God that set up the divisions in humanity goes like this...

"Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth." Genesis 11:4

The issue was that humanity came to the delusion that they could control their circumstances, control their environment... and God said, "Hold on just a minute."

Same thing today. For governments to be declaring that we can somehow control climate is to put ourselves in the place of God... a thing God is not very fond of.

Sooo... God is strutting His stuff. God has dampened the sun just to show the human race that God is God... and mankind is not.

Now that is what is going on that is baffling astronomers... and politicians...

BBC
'QUIET SUN' BAFFLING ASTRONOMERS

The Sun is the dimmest it has been for nearly a century.

There are no sunspots, very few solar flares - and our nearest star is the quietest it has been for a very long time.

The observations are baffling astronomers, who are due to study new pictures of the Sun, taken from space, at the UK National Astronomy Meeting.

The Sun normally undergoes an 11-year cycle of activity. At its peak, it has a tumultuous boiling atmosphere that spits out flares and planet-sized chunks of super-hot gas. This is followed by a calmer period.

Last year, it was expected that it would have been hotting up after a quiet spell. But instead it hit a 50-year year low in solar wind pressure, a 55-year low in radio emissions, and a 100-year low in sunspot activity.

According to Prof Louise Hara of University College London, it is unclear why this is happening or when the Sun is likely to become more active again.

"There's no sign of us coming out of it yet," she told BBC News....

ATTENTION... ATTENTION... THE FOLLOWING IS AN OFFICIAL XTNYODA MORON REPORT!!!

OK... journalist and reporters no longer know the difference between anecdotal evidence and evidence. This "news" story is pathetic and intended for one purpose only... to encourage more women to get abortions and blame it on the economy... you know, "If others are doing it then it is fine and justifiable for me to do it."

YAHOO news
U.S. RECESSION LINKED TO MORE ABORTIONS, VASECTOMIES

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The pregnancy was unexpected, and for one 32-year-old single mother in Syracuse, New York, the ailing economy became a factor in her decision to have an abortion.

"More so now that we are in a recession ... I felt I had to go through with the procedure because I cannot afford another child," said the woman, a registered nurse who spoke on condition of anonymity because she was worried about job security.

"People say, 'You're a nurse, you'll always have a job.' I think it's not as true as people think it is."

The recession may be a factor influencing more Americans to opt out of parenthood with abortions and vasectomies, although there is no data available yet to suggest a trend

Even so, there is some anecdotal evidence that would-be parents are factoring the rough economic times into the most personal of reproductive choices, some experts said....

Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain—and most fools do.” (Dale Carnegie)

We see daily a world that steps on its friends to climb the ladder to success--a world that berates foes and friends, yea even kinfolk, to get what it wants. Yet at the top of the heap, they find the struggle has left friendship and everything else that matters destroyed. The writer of Ecclesiastes sums it up well:

“Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.” (2:11)

May we follow the advice of the writer of Proverbs:

“A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (18:24)

If we do so, then we have something that really matters whether at the top, middle, or bottom of the heap.

Praise God today as He has so blessed you.

H/T Vickie!

One of my least favorite creatures of God's Creation is... the tick. OK... I despise any blood sucking creature and generally relish in attempting to kill them with impudence.

Ticks do carry some serious diseases for certain. The tick bite and reaction to salivary secretions can be severe and tick-born diseases include: Tularemia, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. Named for the Connecticut town where it was first diagnosed, Lyme's disease is one that is a serious problem. There are evidently many who actually have Lyme's and are not even aware of it. From what I've read, if you can get the tick off in less than 24 hours then there is not much chance of contracting the disease.

Received this from Vickie today and thought I would pass it on.

Subject: Removal of ticks (BELIEVE IT OR NOT)

Spring will be here soon and the ticks will soon be showing their heads. Here is a good way to get them off you, your children, or your pets. Give it a try.

Please forward to anyone with children... or hunters or dogs, or anyone who even steps outside in summer!!! A School Nurse has written the info below -- good enough to share -- And it really works!!

I had a pediatrician tell me what she believes is the best way to remove a tick. This is great, because it works in those places where it's some times difficult to get to with tweezers: between toes, in the middle of a head full of dark hair, etc.

Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for 15-20 seconds. The tick will come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away.

This technique has worked every time I've used it (and that was frequently), and it's much less traumatic for the patient and easier for me. Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can't see that this would be damaging in any way. I even had my doctor's wife call me for advice because she had one stuck to her back and she couldn't reach it with tweezers. She used this method and immediately called me back to say, "It worked!"

Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“Every real accomplishment first begins as a dream.” (Alan C. Elliott)

We have heard,

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18)

It is important to have the capacity to dream dreams, and then it is important to reduce our dreams to writing so we can keep them before us. We are told to

“Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” (Habakkuk 2:2)

When we have dared to dream the dream, written the dream on paper and on the tablets of our hearts, we are in the process of seeing the accomplishment come to pass.

Praise God today as He has so blessed you.

Let's take a trip back to 1973 and listen to Gordon Sinclair's address titled The Americans.
Similar time today... feelings the same as well... at least from this American.

XtnYoda, shalomed

H/T to Brutally Honest for a snapshot of a real person.

God Bless you Sarah. Thanks for standing strong in the face of all the hate and murderous desires toward our most vulnerable.

XtnYoda, shalomed

ATTENTION... ATTENTION... THE FOLLOWING IS AN OFFICIAL XTNYODA MORON REPORT!!!

Energy Secretary Offers Dire Global Warming Prediction

FOX

Speaking at the Summit of the Americas in the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago, Steven Chu says some islands could disappear if water levels rise as a result of greenhouse-gas induced climate change.... Caribbean nations face "very, very scary" rises in sea level and intensifying hurricanes, and Florida, Louisiana and even northern California could be overrun with rising water levels due to global warming triggered by carbon-based greenhouse gases, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said Saturday.

Chu's comments followed meetings with environmental ministers attending the fifth Summit of the Americas. He did not shy away from the most perilous predictions about the potential effects of global warming.

He said global temperatures have already risen by 0.8 degree Centigrade, that another 1 degree increase was certain to occur and "there's a reasonable probability we can go above 4 degrees Centigrade to 5 and 6 more."

Chu painted a dire picture of the implications.

"So imagine a world 6 degrees warmer. It's not going to recognize geographical boundaries. It's not going to recognize anything. So agriculture regions today will be wiped out," Chu said.

"I think the Caribbean countries face rising oceans and they face increase in the severity of hurricanes. This is something that is very, very scary to all of us. The island states in the world represent -- I remember this number -- one-half of 1 percent of the carbon emissions in the world. And they will -- some of them will disappear," he added....

You know... when reason, logic, facts, and prudence all fail you... use fear, delusion, and deception.

It's all they've got...

He of course fails to mention that his .8C temp drop figure comes from things as they stood in 2007... that's because the global temperatures have dropped twice that amount in the last two years of our "slumbering sun" cycle that we have entered into.

I can almost see them now... bending prostrate toward the sun and chanting...

"Heat up oh Great One, Heat up oh Sun?"

XtnYoda, shalomed

Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“The mind grows by what it feeds on.”—J. G. Holland

We have found that many of the fruits and vegetables we eat do not have the nutritional value they once had. From the depletion of the nutrients in the soil to the chemicals to make them grow faster to genetic engineering to produce more and larger fruit the product is not as good for you as it was in grandma’s day.

Similarly, we find the diet of the mind has eroded to a great degree. Newspapers don’t give you the good news for the most part. Television for the most part uses the credo “If it bleeds it leads” in formatting their news. Even what is called ‘entertainment’ no longer has a good moral to the story. In fact morals seldom have anything to do with today’s television, good moral values that is.

We must get back to Biblical principals as recorded by Paul in Philippians 4:8,

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report;
if there be any virtue,
and if there be any praise,
think on these things.”

Just imagine what that diet would do to your mind.

Praise God today as He has so blessed you.

Sorry Harry, you were wrong in this clip from two years ago.

Still are.

xtnyoda, shalomed

OK... you've got to go read this post by Sarah, over at the Conservative Independent. She is a mental health care provider and shares some powerful and thought provoking information about the "love/hate" thing going on in our society.

The "walls" between us are growing higher and wider. Sarah gives us some heart information that is pretty sobering.

In my work as a mental health therapist I use biofeedback techniques one of which is heart rate variability training. In doing this training I have learned some fascinating things about the heart. Guess what it doesn't just pump blood.

The heart is also a gland. That means it produces hormones.

One of those is a hormone called Oxytocin. Oxytocin is nicknamed the "bonding hormone." It is the hormone that is present when we feel attached or bonded to people. For example, Oxytocin floods the body of a woman giving birth. That is part of the immediate connection a mother and her child have with one another. When the heart is messed up, so is the production of Oxytocin. Our connection with one another is damaged.

The heart has glia, which is neuronal material. That's right your heart has its own little brain. The heart has memory. The heart is the center for emotion. Also, the heart has an incredibly strong connection to the brain itself. In fact the communication between the heart and brain is dominated by the heart.

When the heart is healthy brain function improves. When the heart is in the middle of the stress response the brain has difficulty making rational decisions.

Why the heck am I blogging about this? The reason is I see the anger and the hate and the vitriol that seems to be infecting American society on every side. I am shocked by it.

I think one of the prime examples is looking at the treatment of Sarah Palin not just during the campaign but continuing. Here is a person who agree with her or not is a good and decent person. Yet, people either love her or hate her. Why the hate? I just don't get it....

Found Sarah via Rick

Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“Now, if you are going to win any battle, you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do.”
—Gen. George S. Patton

Patton demanded that every soldier run a mile every day, twenty-five years before jogging became popular. He warned his officers to stay away from desks; they were to be out talking with the troops. Too much desk work, according to Patton, soured the brain. Patton taught that one must exercise beyond the point of exhaustion to gain superior strength and stamina.

To overcome the weakness of one’s body, the mind must play its part. Patton encouraged his troops to gain mental strength from daily readings of the Bible. When it was time for battle, he believed, the mind must be in charge of the body, since the body will always give up first.

General Patton must have known the principal of Romans 12:2 that encourages us using these words,

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

May we keep our minds focused on things above.

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith...” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Praise God today as He has so blessed you..

OK... ABC IS NOW TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY NUTS AND NEEDS TO BE CLOSED DOWN.... OR.... THEY ARE PURPOSELY LIARS WORKING TO DIMINISH, DISCOURAGE, AND DEFEAT THE AMERICAN DREAM.

Please notice the last part of the part I've quoted from ABC news... the part about the "colonization of Latin America" by the United States...

The United States has never, in her entire history, "colonized" any part of or nation in Latin America. The ABC statement is a bold faced lie intended to make duplicit, self loathing, Americans say... "Yea! We've really used and abused Latin America!"

Just too much deception by ABC. If you are believing this stuff they are laughing their heads off at you saying... "What an idiot!"

abc ruse

Chavez Gifts Obama With Book That Assails U.S. for Exploiting Latin America

April 18, 2009 9:21 AM

At President Obama's meeting with the heads of South American countries this morning, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez stood, walked over to him, and presented him with a copy of "Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent" by Uruguayan author Eduardo Galeano.

Obama politely posed for a photograph with Chavez, shook his hand, and accepted the gift.

The book, first published in Spanish in 1971, offers a critique of the consequences of 500 years of European and U.S. colonization of Latin America....