Our Facebook Youth & Abortion

"Im still thinkin if I shuld abort dis or not"

I am utterly speechless...

The UK Shows Concern Over Swine Flu (H1N1) Vaccine

A warning that the new swine flu jab is linked to a deadly nerve disease has been sent by the Government to senior neurologists in a confidential letter.

The letter from the Health Protection Agency, the official body that oversees public health, has been leaked to The Mail on Sunday, leading to demands to know why the information has not been given to the public before the vaccination of millions of people, including children, begins.

It tells the neurologists that they must be alert for an increase in a brain disorder called Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), which could be triggered by the vaccine.

GBS attacks the lining of the nerves, causing paralysis and inability to breathe, and can be fatal.

The letter, sent to about 600 neurologists on July 29, is the first sign that there is concern at the highest levels that the vaccine itself could cause serious complications.

It refers to the use of a similar swine flu vaccine in the United States in 1976 when:

• More people died from the vaccination than from swine flu.
• 500 cases of GBS were detected.
•  The vaccine may have increased the risk of contracting GBS by eight times.
• The vaccine was withdrawn after just ten weeks when the link with GBS became clear.
• The US Government was forced to pay out millions of dollars to those affected.

You can read more here.

Some questions:
-Does this hold merit or do you think it is just a scare tactic?
-Does this affect your opinion of getting the Swine Flu vaccine?
-If a senior neurologist would not get the vaccine would that affect your decision to get the vaccination?
-Did you know about the vaccination debacle that took place in the U.S. under Gerald Ford's presidency?

***** As a note to my readers, I don't intend on turning this blog into a blog about vaccinations. However, it is a topic that is very real to me and my family at this time and we are trying to work through it in a logical and ethical manner. *****

When The System Fails

A New Jersey man whose driver's license has been suspended 78 times has pleaded guilty to his 15th drunken-driving offense.

You can read the rest here.

Some questions:
-How in the world?
-78? Seriously?
-Anybody got a better idea for a system that works?

Earth Shattering Event Predicted By Pastor Wilkerson

A respected pastor, best-selling author and founder of a major ministry to teens predicts an imminent "an earth-shattering calamity" centered in New York City that will spread to major urban areas across the country and around the world – part of what he sees as a judgment from God.

David Wilkerson, author of "The Cross and the Switchblade," a book about his ministry to troubled New York street kids that was later made into a movie starring Pat Boone, tells readers of his blog this weekend that he is "compelled by the Holy Spirit to send out an urgent message" about his prediction.

"An earth-shattering calamity is about to happen," he writes. "It is going to be so frightening, we are all going to tremble – even the godliest among us."

What we are experiencing now is not a recession, not even a depression. We are under God’s wrath. In Psalm 11 it is written, "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

"God is judging the raging sins of America and the nations," claims Wilkerson. "He is destroying the secular foundations." Wilkerson urges everyone to stockpile a 30-day supply of food and other necessities to deal with the catastrophe he foresees.

"I do not know when these things will come to pass, but I know it is not far off," Wilkerson concluded in his message. "I have unburdened my soul to you. Do with the message as you choose."

A past vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention is hoping believers pay attention to Wilkerson's message.

"I have known David Wilkerson for more than 25 years as well as many of his friends and associates," said Pastor Wiley Drake. "He is a godly man and I believe he is listening to God. I encourage each Christian to read and heed what God is saying through our brother."

You can read more here.
Read it first hand here.

Some questions:
-Does God still warn those who will listen?
-Does a God of love judge?
-What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear of things like this? Coming from Wilkerson, does it make a difference?
-Will you stock up on food?
-If you believe the message Wilkerson prescribes to God, what will you do to repent?

The End Of A Democracy: The Collapse Of The U.S.A.

Mr. Panarin posits, in brief, that mass immigration, economic decline, and moral degradation will trigger a civil war next fall and the collapse of the dollar. Around the end of June 2010, or early July, he says, the U.S. will break into six pieces -- with Alaska reverting to Russian control.

"There's a 55-45% chance right now that disintegration will occur," he says. "One could rejoice in that process," he adds, poker-faced. "But if we're talking reasonably, it's not the best scenario -- for Russia." Though Russia would become more powerful on the global stage, he says, its economy would suffer because it currently depends heavily on the dollar and on trade with the U.S.

You can read more here.

Some questions:
-Do you think this is more plausible than we would like to admit or is it simply Russian propaganda?
-Does this give you reason to be fearful?
-Should Christians have a reason to not fear such predictions?
-If we were to speculate, what would you see as being a post American world? Better? Worse? The same but with different labels?

The Front Fell Off Interview

How could anyone be upset that crude oil is covering a portion of the sea after watching an interview like this? Good job oil company. Good job.



HT: Riley
Hoax

Common Sense Is Not So Common Anymore

A 10-year-old boy here has been suspended from school for having something most students carry in their supply boxes: a pencil sharpener.

So, let me get this straight. A student with no past record and no signs of aggression owns a pencil sharpener. No doubt the pencil sharpener was on the list of "Back to School" items on the approved list for his fourth grade class. He uses it a few times and the "made in China" pencil sharpener breaks exposing the blade. Now he has to make a decision. Do I A. Dissappoint the "go green" crowd and allow this to be yet another piece of non-eco friendly waste that will fill our landfills and destroy the earth. Or B. Do I continue to use it (it still works and allows me to be fiscally responsible)and bank on the fact that my teacher and the administrators are smart enough to recognize that a school approved pencil sharpener is being used for sharpening pencils.

The ever-trusting fourth grader chose to stay friendly with the "go green" crowd, show fiscal responsibility in not having his parents to buy him a new made-in-China pencil sharpener, and to trust in the common sense of those who are entrusted to educate him. Boy was that a wrong decision. Now he has to endure two days of suspension and possibly more disciplinary action for what? His parents buying a piece-of-junk pencil sharpener sold at Wal-Mart and made in China because they can make them cheaper and faster and Wal-Mart can continue to lower prices. You see what is going on here don't you? This is all part of the plan. Wal-Mart and China are in cohorts and due to our lack of common sense and our inability to put political correctness in its proper place, we will all have our children spending the entirety of their school age in suspension where they will be unable to learn and once they enter into the workforce the American economy will collapse and our nation will crumble. That is when China will move in and eradicate us to make way for their citizens to start having 2 children per marriage. After all, they will need the space and everything they need will already be sold at a Wal-Mart near them.

Ridiculous.

Here is the link.

A Forward I Recieved

The below is an email forward that was sent to me.

... As you watch the flooding in the Midwest? Have you noticed that there are no farmers running around with stolen plasma TVs or holding stolen liquor over their heads.
There's no looting or yelling
'Where's Bush?',
'Where's FEMA?,
Where's my check?', or
'Why isn't the Gov't out here saving me and my farm?'

Likewise, I've also noticed there are no reports of any other country
coming to help or sending aid.

And this one---Where are all of the Hollywood celebrities holding telethons asking for help in restoring Iowa and helping the folks affected by the floods?

Where is all the media asking the tough questions about why the federal government hasn't solved the problem? Asking where the FEMA trucks (and trailers) are?

Why isn't the Federal Government relocating Iowa people to free hotels in Chicago?

When will Spike Lee say that the Federal Government blew up the levees that failed in Des Moines?

Where are Sean Penn and the Dixie Chicks?

Where are all the looters stealing high-end tennis shoes and big screen television sets?

When will we hear Governor Chet Culver say that he wants to rebuild a 'vanilla' Iowa, because that's the way God wants it?

Where are all of the gangs taking law into their own hands?

Where is the hysterical 24/7 media coverage complete with reports of cannibalism?

Where are the people (read liberals, progressives and other way out left wingers) declaring that George Bush hates white, rural people?

Where are the debit cards for Iowans?

How come in 2 weeks, you will never hear about the Iowa flooding ever again?

Because these people are responsible and will take care of themselves . . . like the others need to learn to do. These are the Americans who understand that help begins at home. God bless them and let's help them. They are true Americans!

Shocking contrast, isn't it?!?!?!
Tell it like it is, pass this on!

I do not agree with the implication of this email nor do I see a need to draw dividing lines based on race, I do however find intriguing the heart of the issue brought up by the email.

Some questions:
-How should we respond to such emails?
-Why is race made to be a dividing line?
-Does scripture speak to race? In what ways?
-Why do you think this tragedy was/is being handled differently than the aftermath of hurrican Katrina?

Luke Is Not From New Jersey

Draw your own conclusions.

New Twist To The Pregnancy Pact

The mayor of a Massachusetts city that drew attention for a spike in teenage pregnancies denied on Monday a media report that a group of girls entered a pact to become pregnant.
"I am not able to confirm the existence of a pact," Gloucester Mayor Carolyn Kirk told reporters after meeting with local school and health officials to discuss a June 18 Time magazine report about teenagers who entered a pact to get pregnant and raise babies together.

You can read more here.
You can read the original post here.
You can read Misawa's take on the issue here.

Steven Curtis Chapman Video With Daughter Maria

In case you did not hear, Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter Maria Chapman died two nights ago when her brother accidentally ran her over in their driveway. She was 5 years old. I can't even begin to imagine what the brother must be going through. May God grant him (and his family) much grace!

Here is the video.

Some questions:
-What would you say to the brother who has to live with this for the rest of his life?
-If you were his family, how would you minister to him while still grieving the death of Maria?
-How does Satan use guilt in circumstances such as these?

The Prosperity Gospel

First seen on Between Two Worlds

Some questions:
-What are your thoughts on the message of the video?
-Do you agree with the speaker?
-Why are we so quick to accept something without checking it against the scriptures we say we believe?

Stage6 From DivX Is Shutting Down

This is a sad day for me. I rely heavily upon the Stage6 site for sharing my videos and embedding them in my website. Thursday is the last day for Stage6 so I will need to either find another site to upload my videos to or host them on my own server.

If you want to download any of them, you better do it before Thursday.

Here is the link.

Here is the shut down notice.

Any suggestions on other video sites? I am starting to use Vimeo but there is a file size limit.

Is God Sovereign Over Tornadoes?

By the breath of God ice is given,
and the broad waters are frozen fast.
He loads the thick cloud with moisture;
the clouds scatter his lightning.
They turn around and around by his guidance,
to accomplish all that he commands them
on the face of the habitable world.
Whether for correction or for his land
or for love, he causes it to happen.

Job 37:10-13

In his book, Is God Really in Control?, Jerry Bridges recounts a story amazingly similar to the events of this past week [Union University being devastated by a tornado]. Here is an excerpt with his commentary that I believe to be really helpful when thinking about God’s power over nature and providence in our lives.
From the chapter “God’s Power Over Nature,” Bridges writes:

You can finish reading Timmy Brister's post where Jerry Bridges addresses "Why bring God into chaos and suffering such as this?” here.

Tornadoes Hit My Alma Mater Yet Again

A powerful storm system with multiple tornadoes collapsed the roof of a mall in Memphis, trapping people inside, and trapped students in dormitories at a college in Jackson, the Nashville Tennessean reported on Tuesday.
A least one fatality was reported, the newspaper said, and other media reported dozens of injuries, some serious.

Our house is only about 6 miles from Union. We suffered no damage during the first wave. We have another one coming. Please pray for us. 9 students remain trapped at this hour at Union and the campus is completely demolished. Jennings Hall is without a roof, the dorms were demolished and miraculously no one has died there. There are other areas around the city that were hit hard such as a nursing home and others. Hopefully this next wave will not bring any more damage to our area. Tornadoes have hit Jackson back in 2003 and 1999 and brought about tremendous damage.

Please continue to pray for us and for those who will be affected by this for months to come. Thank you.

You can read more from Reuters here.

You can read more from the Baptist Press here.

You can see some of the first pictures of the damage to Union University here.

Ignorance Doesn't Make The Suffering Stop

A new IRC survey has found that 5,400,000 people have died from war-related causes in Congo since 1998 – the world’s deadliest documented conflict since WW II. The vast majority died from non-violent causes such as malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition—easily preventable and treatable conditions when people have access to health care and nutritious food.

1.5 million of those deaths were in the past 2 years. Approximately 40,000 die each month.

You can read more here.

Some questions:
-What is the responsibility of Christendom concerning issues of this nature?
-What, if any, Biblical responsibility lies on the shoulders of individual Christians who live in the United States?
-Can you grasp losing the entire state of Colorado in less than a decade? That is equal to the death toll in the Congo currently.
-Should we neglect those around us in order to fund or help those there? What does scripture say?

Don't Steal That Song, It May Not Be Legal!

Music fans around the world faced confusion today as it was announced they would be able to download unlimited, free songs without breaking the law.

A revamped online file-sharing service had vowed to offer a catalogue of 30million free songs that are compatible with iPods, but record labels have denied they had granted permission to share the songs.

...Warner Music said it had not authorised the use of its tracks by Qtrax - and later Universal Music Group and EMI followed suit, saying they did not have licensing deals with Qtrax and discussions were continuing.

You can read more here.

An observation:
-As quick as it came, in all probability, it is gone.

The Lord Gave & The Lord Has Taken Away; Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord

Imagine with me if you will, you are a missionary called by God to speak truth to the indigenous peoples of third world countries. Now imagine you have a wife and kids and they support you in all your endeavors to see the Gospel reach those who have never heard it in hopes that God may save some. God has truly blessed you and equipped you for your work beyond your wildest dreams and He continues to bless you through the ministry of your wife and children.

Isn’t that a great picture of what the gospel is to look like? A husband being obedient to God, a wife supporting her husband and the Lord blessing them with children and many are coming to know the Lord through their work; isn't that a great picture of the gospel according to Ephesians 5?

That was the life and story of a young man who dedicated his entire being to spreading the Gospel. Now the circumstances have changed. This young man’s family was left behind in the states while he went back over on a two week trip to the land where God had called them. One thing occurred that will change this young man's life forever. His wife was in a car wreck which took her life but miraculously the children were spared. He traveled over 2 days to get back to the states not knowing of these events. He traveled unaware of the fate that had befallen his wife. Death is a terrible enemy. His life will never be the same. Greeted at the airport, not by his wife and children, but by the deacons of his church. I can only imagine the look on his face when he heard the news. I can only imagine the amount of tears he has shed since the news reached his ears in that airport terminal.

What to do? How do you comfort one who just lost their bride? How do you comfort the one who’s entire world has been turned upside down? What words can man utter that would lesson the pain?

This young man has his faith being put to the test. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Does that really make it any easier to swallow?

My prayer for this young man is as follows:
May the Lord who is gracious and merciful to us; may the Lord who saw fit to allow us to hope in something more than the blood of goats and bulls; may the Lord who has indeed blessed us with a hope of something far greater than any earthly good see fit to grant you great grace during this time of trial. May the Lord of all things, both in Heaven and Earth and below the Earth, see fit to grant you peace that withstands the onslaught of doubt and fear. May our God who unanimously defeated Satan, sin, and death grant you comfort not known to common man so that you may be given to trust in His plans more so than your feeble understanding. May the God who gives and takes away see fit to honor Himself and bring Himself much glory by the work of your hands in your obedient trust in faith that He indeed knows what is best for you. May the Lord grant you much discernment during this time of great grieving and may that feed your passion all the more for the cause of Christ as He is truly gracious and merciful to us in that He sent His Son to die for an undeserving people to call His own.

You, your children, and your ministry will remain in my prayers to the only One who can truly comfort you during this time of great tribulation. May your faith and endurance be an encouragment to Christians the world over until the Lord Himself returns to gather up His own. May God grant you much peace my brother.

You can read more particulars here.

Tunguska Event: The Threat Of Small Asteroids

BEWARE the blast from above: small asteroids that explode before they hit the ground may be more dangerous than we thought.
Asteroids a few tens of metres in diameter rip through the atmosphere at between 40 and 60 times the speed of sound, and many explode before they hit Earth. Extreme friction and heating can cause these asteroids to flatten into pancakes, which increases drag even more and eventually tears them apart. The resultant "airburst" is thought to be behind the 1908 Tunguska explosion in Siberia, which levelled 2000 square kilometres of forest.

Currently our equipment used in tracking meteors and astroids can only detect those objects that are bigger than 140 meters across. According to new research published in New Scientist concerning the 1908 Tunguska event, an object as small as 30 meters across cleared over 2,000 square kilometers and that same 30 meter wide astroid could easily wipe out a million people and we currently have no way of tracking objects that small.

You can read more on the new research here.

You can read more on the Tunguska event and its many theories here.

Some questions:

-Do you think that events like this should concern us?

-What should we, as people, do to prepare for such events?

-Do you think this is what happened at Sodom and Gomorrah?

-Do you think such an event as this could change the history of the world if say Washington D.C. was hit?

-What can we learn from the Tunguska event?

Thoughts On Old Ads And Feminism

In this 1961 Kenwood ad, you can definitely tell times were different back then. This was from a time when women kept the flame far from their bras and family and marriage was a thing to be honored and respected. I'm not saying that it is not now, but it sure does not seem like the norm of our current culture. Feminism entered the scene shortly thereafter and a revolution began. Since then abortion has become an acceptable practice, birth control is looked upon favorably and independence is valued over and above any family model. "You got to get yours" has become the banner statement.

Now, do I attribute this to feminism? No. I attribute it to a fallen world that seeks to rebel against its Creator. Do I think that women should be treated as second rate citizens? No. I believe they should be loved and cherished- especially by their husbands and fathers. Do I believe things were better back then? Yes and no. I believe we stripped away our family values as a culture in exchange for liberation, but the cost of that liberation has yet to be fully realized. I believe that we should have treated women as we knew we ought and maybe the burning of the bras and an ushering in of a new era would have been exchanged for better marriages, better society and children who value and respect those in authority over them.

You can see more ads here.

Some questions:

-What are your thoughts on feminism and what it brought to America?

-Do you find it to be an improvement or the lesser of two evils (or the greater of two evils)?

-Do you think the mindset of the culture that made this ad was any better than the mindset of the culture of feminism?

-What does this ad say about how women were treated back in the 50's and 60's? Are they treated any better now?