Michael W. Smith and Crew (including Michael Olson)

Marty and I have attended his Christmas concerts for several years and even though we can't make it this year we recommend anyone who can should not miss it! Michael W. Smith's music is so moving (especially his orchestral and Christmas styles) and with my old college classmate touring with him currently as his drummer, Michael Olson - who is also an excellent musician, it is sure to surpass expectations again this year. I receive MWS's e-mail newsletters and after a few clicks on this website I happened to run across this! I love behind the scenes stuff...kind of makes me miss my time performing in HS and college. Hope you enjoy!

Not much of a change from previous years...

Perspective.

As I struggle to figure out how to deal with our financial situation, pretty much all do to our "stupid taxes" as Dave Ramsey would say, I had a moment of perspective.

Not a single penny is mine. Since I believe what the Bible has to say, I have to remember that everything is God's and placed in our hands to watch over temporarily. Knowing that I can let go of my frustration of unjust situations, situations I will not bore you with now.

So instead of getting depressed and defeated I can continue to use what has been given in the best way possible and continue to pray God's guidance in that ongoing task. He knows what we need and He makes it clear that if we seek God first the rest will be provided. Doesn't mean anything excess or even what most would consider comfortable. But just the basics. So far He has. So many people don't know Jesus personally, don't have that assurance of Heaven, don't have a loving family, good health, friends, etc. I do and for that I am very blessed. Perhaps earthly poor but eternally rich.

Perspective.

God knows our entire financial situation and for the first time ever I feel the most at peace with this area of my life. Since it is God's money and He can provide more or less, my job is to simply try and do the best I can with what He is giving. None of this will matter someday but our relationship with God matters eternally. Focusing on Him is an ongoing task. At this moment when I simply cannot do all I need to , that's when I remember it isn't up to me to do.

Perspective.

I'll need to be reminded of these things regularly. Keeping things in perspective is certainly an ongoing battle. I'm greateful I have loved ones around me to remind me, the Bible to help direct my path and God to handle these things that are so overwhelming. I forget that God can't do His job if I try to do it for Him.

So on this Veterans' Day I am truly greateful for my freedom. Freedom to worship God openly. Freedom to speak my mind. Even my freedom to have made stupid mistakes! But I am greateful that God helps me to keep things in perspective.

God Bless all those who have given so much for freedom.

*

Click Picture below to...

What do you know about FOCA?

What FOCA Would Do:

All sides in the abortion fight agree, if FOCA were to pass both chambers of Congress and be signed by a pro-abortion President, it would, among other effects, provide for taxpayer-funded abortion on demand even late in pregnancy, grant abortionists immunity from legal action, allow abortionists the discretion to perform abortions on minors without notifying a parent, and deny health care workers the right to refuse to make abortion referrals as a matter of conscience.

• "The legislation (FOCA) would invalidate existing and future laws that interfere with or discriminate against the exercise of the rights protected . It also would provide an individual aggrieved by a violation of the act a private right of civil action in order to obtain appropriate relief" - Planned Parenthood website.
• "As a general matter, if FOCA were enacted, it would wipe out a very large number of existing state laws on abortion, substantially impede the ability of states to regulate abortion, and override nearly 40 years of jurisprudential experience on the subject of abortion." - USCCB Memorandum on FOCA

FOCA would automatically overturn state abortion reporting requirements in all 50 states, 44 states' laws concerning parental involvement, 40 states' laws on restricting later-term abortions, 46 states' conscience protection laws for individual health care providers, 27 states' conscience protection laws for institutions, 38 states' bans on partial-birth abortions, 33 states' laws on requiring counseling before an abortion, and 16 states' laws concerning ultrasounds before an abortion.

FOCA seeks to eliminate any civil pro-life opposition in the public square:

"The bill would give women the right to file civil suits against any person or government agency that sought to limit their ability to get an abortion." - MSNBC Briefing Book: Issues '08.

• Presumably this would not only include federal and state legislators who merely introduce legislation seeking restrictions on abortion but also against peaceful pro-lifers who pray and offer alternatives in front of abortion facilities.

FOCA-type legislation increases rates of abortion:

According to NARAL's web site, seven states ( California , Connecticut , Hawaii , Maine , Maryland , Nevada and Washington ) have legislation on the books similar to FOCA.

• In Maryland , FOCA-type legislation has been on the books since 1991. According to Planned Parenthood's Alan Guttmacher Institute, the abortion rate in the United States DECREASED nine percent since 2000 to 19.4 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age in 2005. By contrast, the state of Maryland in 2005 produced a rate of 31.5 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age, an INCREASE of eight percent since 1991.
• Other states with similar FOCA laws on the books show abortion rates larger than the national average of 19.4 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age:
• California has a rate of 27.1 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age. Abortions in California represent 17.3 of all abortions in the United States .
• Connecticut has a rate of 23.6 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age. The rate has increased 12% since 2000, when it was 21.1 abortions per 1,000 women.
• Hawaii has a rate of 21.8 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age.
• Nevada 's rate is 27.0 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age.

For more on the implications of FOCA, see "Freedom of Choice Act Would Harm Women and Remove Protections, by Tom McClusky

*Taken from FRC Special Publication

One promise I hope he breaks.

"Well, the first thing I'd do as president is, is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. [Applause.] That's the first thing that I'd do."

Barack Obama speaking at a Planned Parenthood Action Fund event.

____________________________________________________________

*Article Exerpt:

Obama made his remark in response to a question from the audience...

Um, as you were talking about earlier, the recent Bush Supreme Court's decision really took away critically important decisions from women and put them in the hands of politicians. And as a result of this, we're expecting, and have already seen, so much anti-choice legislation at the state level. Um, what would you do at the federal level not only to ensure access to abortion but to make sure that the judicial nominees that you will inevitably be able to pick are true to the core tenets of Roe v. Wade?

Obama was answering that he believed FOCA would combat "anti-choice legislation at the state level" and take judges out of the abortion debate. That it would, on steroids. It would overturn all 300+ local, state, and federal abortion restriction laws, such as the Partial Birth Abortion Ban.

How can a candidate claiming he wants to prevent abortions want to overturn every common sense abortion restriction? That's like saying one wants to stop pollution by overturning all anti-pollution laws.

Don't believe me? Read FOCA for yourself.

Note "health" is not defined in this bill, of which Obama is already a cosponsor. This would fly in the face of Obama's statement to Relevant magazine July 1 that he thinks the definition of "health" should be "strict, well-defined."

In fact, Obama's support of FOCA flies in the face of his entire statement to Relevant...

I have repeatedly said that I think it's entirely appropriate for states to restrict or even prohibit late-term abortions as long as there is a strict, well-defined exception for the health of the mother.

... since FOCA would overturn those state laws he says he finds "appropriate."

*Taken from "One Year Anniversary of Barak Obama's FOCA test"

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

It is very easy to forget what Christians go through in other countries today.

The International Day of Prayer (IDOP) for the persecuted church is this Sunday. Please join us and hundreds of thousand of others to intercede on behalf of those who live in nations which are restricted and hostile towards the gospel.

The time that we spend in prayer has an eternal impact on the lives of people throughout the world. Through prayer, circumstances change, closed doors are opened, resistant people are made receptive and leaders are installed or removed.

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church website

You can also visit the Voice of the Martyr's website and blog for more information.

No kidding.

My message to the upcoming "Democrat" controlled government...

You wanted it (Pres/Senate/House), you got it. We'll see how you do with all these new responsibilities.

Good luck.

AMEN!

The 10 Cannots

By William J. H. Boetcker
(misattributed to Abraham Lincoln)

You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.

You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.

You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.

You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence.

You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.

You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.

You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.

You cannot establish security on borrowed money.

You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they will not do for themselves.


William J. H. Boetcker (1873 – 1962) was an American religious leader and influential public speaker. An outspoken political conservative, Rev. Boetcker is perhaps best remembered for his authorship of a pamphlet entitled The Ten Cannots. Originally published in 1916, it is often misattributed to Abraham Lincoln.

I couldn't resist...

Plus I forgot to get this up for Halloween. But it is still VERY relevant!