1. You couldn't possibly know all that it does. You congressman certainly doesn't.
   Would you enter into a contract you don't understand?
2. It's a rush job. That means it's shoddy or it's shady. Or both.
3. Some senators got bought off with tax dollars. Their states will get better deals than yours.
4. If you have good insurance right now: kiss it goodbye. 
   Your employer will be charged a 40% tax on your premiums if you are not unionized. Either you go or your insurance goes. 
   Why should unionized employees be treated differently under law than non-unionized?
5. You will be forced to buy health insurance if it is not provided to you.
6. If somes states, or some employees, get different deals under Federal Law, what's the point of a federal government?
7. What right does the government have to get involved in this at all?
   Europe might do it, Canada might do it, but they are not under the US Constitution.

What the "other" Jeremiah Wright who's been visiting the White House looks like.

The defeat of "Health Care".

A conservative rout of the legislature.

The salvation of my loved ones.

The birth certificate, not that it matters.

On the birth certificate:

It is important to be assured that Constitutional provisions for presidential elections are followed.

However.

I, like many of you, grew up in America.

I had a love of our country instilled in me.

When I was taught "Civics", it was American "Civics", not sharia law or Indonesian civics.

I watched TV, and saw inspiring stories of American Heroes, and Founding Fathers.

The kids I played with, and grew up with, had that in common with me.

Our president grew up in a foreign land, taught in foreign (not embassy) schools, playing with foreign kids, only vaguely aware of America.

He "returned" to America, only to hang out with his mom and grandparents' certifiably communist friends, learning how bad America was.

He moved to Chicago and hung out with more of the same.

That's not what the Founding Father's had in mind.

The Constitution specifies the purpose of the Census:

Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states which may be included within this union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct.

That's it.

Enumeration.

Not 'How many bathrooms do you have?"

If they can find a right to privacy that allows the slaughter of innocent children in the womb, you'd think we might be able to avoid answering intrusive questions from the government without fear of prosecution.

Pastor Gregg asked that this morning:

"It's 2010. Where's My Flying Car?"
I told him it's in South America.

Seriously.

In WWII (that's when we fought the Russians in Vietnam for you Public School grads), there was an aircraft mechanic in the Air Force named Nate Saint.
Nate ended up as a missionary pilot in Ecuador in the 50's.
He met some other missionaries down there, and together they plotted an outreach to a tribe of killers so fierce that they drove out plantation owners and oil exploration companies. Nate was flying out of an abandoned Shell Oil airfield.
They eventually spotted the tribe from the air, but couldn't land close to them.
Nate invented a way to fly above the tribesmen in a tight circle while a basket with gifts was lowered. This resulted in the basket slowly twirling in a stationary position. (It's been said that this technique led to the development of the "Spectre" and "Spooky" gunships.) The tribesmen reached in, took the gifts and left some of their own.
Eventually, Nate flew the guys and they landed on a beach next to a river. They waited for the Indians to show. When they did, they exchanged gifts and interacted for a couple days.

Due to some lies and manipulation by a jealous tribesman, the tribe attacked the missionaries and killed them.

The missionaries were armed. They refused to kill the men they were reaching out to. When the indians discovered this, they were curious. You can read about this in, "Through Gates of Splendor" by Elizabeth Elliot. Elliot, widow of one of the missionaries, with Rachel Saint, Nate's sister, made it a point to reach out to the Auca tribe, eventually leading to their conversion.
Steve Saint, Nate's son, lived with the members of the tribe and was adopted by his fathers killer.
I had the blessing of going to a concert a few years ago to see Steven Curtis Chapman. In the middle of the the concert, Chapman brought out Steve Saint, who then introduced (and translated for) his adoptive Auca father Mincaye.  Wikipedia: Steve_Saint
The Love of God, exemplified.

A couple months ago, I was in an office and read a copy of Popular Mechanics. This issue had an article about the top ten inventors of 2009. Read here about your flying car: http://www.popularmechanics.com/

Being flown by Stone Age Indians.
Invented by a real Saint of God.
I bet his dad's proud.

The guy who got elected president, stands behind a podium with the sign "President-Elect of the United States". Unprecedented.
The same guy appoints a bunch of left wing socialists and communists to key positions in the government.

The economy goes further into a tailspin.
GM and Chrysler declare bankruptcy.
The government takes them over.
And some banks, too.
Sort of like Venezuela.

The people of Honduras get fed up with their socialist president's shenanigans and oust him.
Our president tries to pressure them to take him back.
Sort of like Venezuela.

Air Force One flies incredibly low over NYC (accompanied by fighters) on a photo-shoot, scaring the daylights out of the inhabitants. "Sorry."

The Obama logo replaces the presidential seal.

A prominent baby-killing abortionist is murdered by a lone wolf anti-abortionist with no ties to a larger conspiracy.
The murderer is declared a terrorist by the media.
A jihadist terrorist in contact with al-quaida kills American soldiers on an American street.
The man is refered to as a murderer by the media, if mentioned at all.

A veteran pilot "miraculously" lands his plane safely on the Hudson river, saving all passengers aboard and the press doesn't find that he beats his wife, kicks his dog, smokes crack, etc. That's the miracle.

Iranian citizens rise up in protest against their nutjob government.
American citizens do, also.
Obama takes no notice of either event.

Obama bows to the Islamic Saudi King who directed the Arab Oil Embargo in the 70's.
Obama ignores the National Day of Prayer.
Obama celebrates Ramadan in the White House, obviously familiar with the tradition (unlike most Americans who don't listen to NPR).

A Muslim Terrorist masquerading as an Army Officer kills 14 people (shooting more) on an Army Base.
Obama gives a "shout-out" to a liberal amerind activist before remembering to mention the shooting, rejecting the "Muslim Terrorist" aspect.
It turns out that this guy should have been on a "no-let-on-an-Army-Post" list, much less a "no-fly" list.
The terrorist, I mean.

Obama bows to the Emperor of the nation that attacked Pearl Harbor and conquered China.
Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize.
Even he admits he hasn't earned it.

A "Stargate" or "Wormhole" or some such thing is observed over Oslo the night before the Nobel is awarded ( read more here ).

The Chinese premier stands up Obama in Copenhagen.

The American Congress votes to enact socialist healthcare legislation into law despite an overwhelming opposition by the American People.

A jihadist terrorist in contact with al-quaida attempts to blow up an airliner on Christmas day.
Obama, when finally speaking about it, says that the jihadist terrorist in contact with al-quaida was acting alone.
His Homeland Security Chief says "the system worked".

The White House Christmas tree has a Mao ornament on it.

Welcome to Bizzaro World. Can we use that 'wormhole" to get back?

Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Rush Limbaugh are in Hawaii.

Rush suffers a heart attack.

Coincidence?

OK, so some people got scared.

A burning airplane did not land on my house (yeah, it's that close).

An Islamic Terrorist got his junk burned off.

An idiot (Napolitano: color in that "Morticia" streak!) was exposed as incompetent.

Obama's team takes a hit.
Nobody died.
There is a God in heaven.

May God bless each and every one who visits here,

even if you don't read this til July!

God has given us much.

He has given us Himself.

Ed

I saw something today at the Cracker Barrel that warmed my heart. Actually I was so blessed, that tears came to my eyes later.

A tall older gentleman was being helped out of the door by a small older woman and a tall younger man. They were kind of stuck there. The man's feet weren't cooperating. I asked the lady if I could help. She informed me that it was under control. After a while I realized that it wasn't. There were some other people standing around also, looking concerned.

I finally insisted to the lady that she should move and let me support the man.

She aquiesced (I like that word).

A short black gentleman (he was wearing a suit) went to the other side. The son stayed in the middle.

I suggested that we could carry the man to the waiting van.

His wife said that there was no way we could carry him.

The black gentleman then asked someone to bring one of those rockers to us.

We sat our friend down and picked him up by  the chair arms and carried them to the van.

The black gentleman climbed in to get the buckle. The son and I helped situate his dad and pass the buckle.

I prayed for the man in Jesus' name and after a number God Bless You's and Merry Christmas's all around, we parted.

The black gentleman's wife thanked the mom for letting us help.

For letting us help.

Christian's all around.

It was later, at our table, that Scherie and I were recounting the incident. I told her how grateful I was to be of use. Then I realized how blessed the family must have been to think that God had sent them help in their time of need.

We serve a great and mighty God.

And there are good people all around us, yet.

Announcing (with great pleasure) our selection for Person of the Year.

In going over the candidates considered this year, the judge took into consideration the following criteria:

Who has seen me through a tough year and encouraged me?

Who has cooked my meals?

Done my laundry?

Smiled at me as if she really loved me?

Prayed for me and those around her?

Baked me stuff?

Sent me off to work in the morning with breakfast and a thermos?

And a lunch?

Been my sweetheart and companion?

Ladies and gentlemen, I present this years award to:

Scherie Bonderenka!

I was driving to work yesteray morning.

It's an hour drive and I leave about 4:45am.

So I have I-94 mostly to myself.

I was driving about 70 at one point. I tapped my brakes every now and then to test for black ice.
Not often enough.
There was a clearing of the tree screen along the expressway and the wind was ripping across it. It pushed me into the median.
When I realized that I was leaving the road, I yelled out: "God! Help me!".
I spun across the median, lost in a cloud of snow I was spraying all around me, and came out facing traffic (not much) on the other side, still rolling. So I gave it the gas, went back across the median, and back on the expressway.
It weirded me out for most of the day after that.
God is good.

Q: What do you call a man who shoots dozens and kills 14, in the name of "Allah", in order to bring fear into the heart of his community?

A:  A muslim terrorist.

Q: What do you call a man who doesn't know the correct term to call that man?

A: Mr. President.

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,
Secretary of State

Pascal Fervor wrote something http://pascalfervor.blogspot.com/2009/10/as-if-in-answer-to-prayer.html wherein he prays for our country while admitting that he is an agnostic, a word for "don't know". The Latin is "ignoramus", but that obviously does not describe Pascal.
I was once an agnostic. And I prayed.
I am a graduate of twelve years of catholic school. We had priests who were family friends.
I almost went into the seminary. Then a priest came on to me in a confessional after I confessed doing something all boys do, repeatedly, in private.
I just stopped going to church after high school graduation.
When I went into Basic Training, the TI marched us to church. The choice was protestant or catholic at the chapel. I went with the catholics. Before mass I thought I should go to confession.
"Bless me father, for I have sinned. It's been two years since my last confession. I forget the rest of the words, can you help me out?"
"What do you mean, you forget the words?", he said and then said soemthing else I don't recall, but the words did not encourage me to stay there, so I walked out.
When the TI came back I was sitting on the steps of the chapel. We talked for a while about why I was out there.

Two years later, I was picked up at an airport in Frankfort, Germany, driven to a hotel in Wiesbaden and dropped off. I was told I'd be collected the next day. It was late.
Sometime in the middle of the night, I woke up in intense pain. It felt like when I'd passed a kidney stone the year before, only much worse. Much worse.
I did not know what to do. The night clerk did not speak english. I felt like I had no recourse. So I prayed.
And I quote: "If there's a god out there who can hear me, if you heal me, I will do all in my power to find you and serve you."
And the pain went away.
Trapped by my own words.
I spent the next three years investigating magic, Eastern Mysticism, psychedelics and a lot of other stuff.

I ruled out Christianity, because I'd read the Bible as a kid, and had
never seen any contemporary power in the Christian church I was familiar with.
But I believe that if you are sincerely looking, you will find that God has found you.