Minneapolis Tornado and the ELCA's Embrace of Homosexuality

I am not a meteorologist, but a tornado struck the Minneapolis area this week while the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) was voting to allow homosexual clergy to actively minister to it's congregations.

Coincidence? Maybe.

But it makes you pause and wonder if there wasn't a message and a forewarning in that storm. Ironically, the ELCA may be inviting a divisive internal storm upon itself, much as the Episcopalian Church of America did a decade or so ago when it went down the slippery slope of homosexual clergy.

The dagger at the throat of the ELCA is not really whether homosexuals should be clergy or not but that of scriptural authority. While some ELCA apologists will claim that homosexuality is better understood now (and should be allowed)than it was when the Bible was written, the lurking danger is the reduction of scriptural authority. Here comes the slippery slope.

What other historic Christian theologies will now be reinterpreted in light of "modern revelations"-the inerrancy and authority of scripture; the deity of Christ; the sufficiency of the atonement?

Frankly, there are more pressing issues right now for Christendom than the ordination of homosexual clergy. The Church is commanded by Jesus Christ to be a light to world: the preaching of the Gospel, the making of disciples, the promotion of justice and equality, the care of the poor and sick, etc., etc.

Noted evangelical Christian author and pastor John Piper opined that:
"The tornado in Minneapolis was a gentle but firm warning to the ELCA and all of us: Turn from the approval of sin. Turn from the promotion of behaviors that lead to destruction. Reaffirm the great Lutheran heritage of allegiance to the truth and authority of Scripture. Turn back from distorting the grace of God into sensuality. Rejoice in the pardon of the cross of Christ and its power to transform left and right wing sinners."

Amen.

Teach the Bible in Public Schools? We Use To...

Most Americans don't remember that the Bible used to be the prima-learning text for all American school children.

Historically, biblical teachings have formed the core bedrock of our nation's heritage. A study by the American Political Science Review on the political documents of the founding era, which was from 1760-1805, discovered that 94 percent of the period's documents were based on the Bible, with 34 percent of the contents being direct citations from the Bible. The Scripture was the bedrock and blueprint of our Declaration of Independence, our Constitution, academic arenas and heritage until the last quarter of a century.

Today's USA TODAY offers a reasonable discussion on resurrecting the Bible as a source of literature and history for the public classroom.

I like the idea. Here are a couple of compelling reasons to bring back the Bible:

1-The Bible's timeless message pushes back the hopelessness of secularism. From a simple historical perspective, understanding the Bible's influence in the foundations of America is very important.
2-Having a versatile knowledge of the biblical themes and words aids students, particularly in understanding other great literary works such as Shakespeare, Milton, Wordsworth and Sidney.
3-Finally, research repeatedly shows that regular church attendance positively affects students and their academic performances.

Your thoughts?

Colorado's Economic Reality

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has not pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?"

Powerful words from 1 John 3:17.

In today's economic climate, many of desperate needs. Jobs have been lost, mortgages unpaid, and financial chaos is consuming many Coloradans.

Today's Denver Post contains a good article chronicling the plight of many Coloradans battle to find work and pay life's bills.

Perhaps today, there is someone or a family you know who could use a loan, a job, a bag of groceries or just some compassion.

Young Americans Still Want to Marry

News flash!

Young Americans still want to marry! With all things considered, that is good news.

Let's be honest though. The American marriage culture has taken a beating over the last few years. From the lingering cloud of low-fault divorce, the ongoing battle over homosexual marriage to a general disenchantment of marriage by the under 30's crowd, marriage in America is a bit wobbly.

However, Washington Times reporter Cheryl Wertstein has penned an informative article on the refreshing news that young Americans still want to be married or plan to be married somewhere in the future.

Here it is.

The bottom line-Americans still want to marry.

"Calibrate" Equipment Not Words

According to Webster, when you calibrate something, you are: "fixing, checking or correcting an item or machine."

You don't calibrate words.

President Obama, apologize when you misspeak. We all do it. Don't calibrate your words. It makes your apology appear very insincere.

Careful What We "Fix?"

Like most Americans, I would concur that our current health care system needs reform. I don't like the $1500 per month premium nor the 80/20 payout after my family's $3k cap. Oouch to my wallet. And to top it off, whenever I call for a little customer service, I get someone who cannot speak English or cannot find my account.

Over and over, the Canadian health care model is held out to by many reformers be a shining example of patient care and fiducial responsibility. Really?

Here's a thought. If the Canadian system is so good then why do thousands of Canadians motor south to the USA for immediate care? And, why do Mexican immigrants stop here and not continue onward to our northern neighbor?

These facts give me pause. Perhaps, our health care system is not all that bad when compared to other places...

The Next Frontier in American Marital Evolution

After the homosexual and transgenderedc communities, the polyamorists will be next.

Haven't heard of them yet? Here's the story and the definition of who they are.

Health Insurance is Not Health Care

Most Americans mix the two up.

Let's be clear. Access to health care is not health insurance. Let me explain.

Health insurance occurs when a group of people pool their money together to help pay for the costs of health care. But, health care was never designed to give the payer a free ride from health care costs. You use it to help pay in part your costs for health care. Great health insurance does not guarantee great health care.

Today, free health insurance has become an entitlement in the minds of many Americans. This notion has sprouted legs in our culture because many businesses, in order to retain good employees, either have given their employees free health insurance as a perk or have limited the cost. But still, its not free. Either the employee pays it or the employer pays it.

On the other hand, health care is not health insurance. Yet, like every other aspect of our nation's economy, it is a business which many people make their livelihood on. A profit motive here is not necessarily a bad thing. With the profit incentive comes research and development for new life saving drugs and clinical procedures. In my last blog, I wrote about a friend whose father has pancreatic cancer. Several years ago, this would have been a death sentence. Now through extensive research and development (fueled by profits), new drugs and therapies are extending his life.

Here are two facts about the future impact of a public health care option funded by the government:

1- Quality health care will diminish. The government plan will pay health care providers less money for their services, reducing the profit incentives. Plus, the government option will eventually put private insurers out of business. Less pay means fewer docs and other health care providers. Privately owned hospitals will also contract or be bought out by a government run option similar to the current VA system. Once again, see Canada if you want a peek about hospitals under government operation.

2- Taxes will increase. Conservatively, the additional tax burden on American taxpayers will exceed 1 trillion dollars each year if Obama's plan is implemented. This is a cost our families cannot afford to bear.

I am all for helping fellow Americans access quality health care. Helping the helpless is a big deal for me. Reforming our broken health care system is a family issue, something that the Rocky Mountain Family Council deems as vital to our families. But, helping the clueless is a different story.

Obama Care and Its Impact on Your Family

I want to give the President a chance to explain his health care plan. I agree that our current system is too expensive, too complicated and uncovers many Americans.

But please, a government solution? If you want to build your confidence in the proposed public option, take a peek at other current government businesses like Amtrak and the US Postal Service. Makes me feel safe!

Who is President Obama kidding?

Last night's prime time Presidential news conference was another foray into the fogbank. I am sorry but the man makes no sense. He has had his chance. I don't think he has read his own plan. Obama either does not know his own plan; lives in a parallel universe; has no understanding of a free market economy or simply thinks he can fake us all out.

Here are a few ideas to ponder:

-Competition will not happen. If private companies (who have to show a profit) have to compete with a public option (who does not have to show a profit), they will fail. Employers, when faced with the cheaper public option, will cancel their current health care plans and put employees in the cheaper public option.

-Cost. No one really has an answer for it. Not even Obama. Most estimates are probably too conservative. Few government run plans come in on time and at budget. The economic reality is that our nation cannot afford this program. Who do you think will pay for it?

-Quality of care. Eventually, health care decisions will be made by a government agent who will decide who gets what care and when. The days of your doctor diagnosing your condition and prescribing immediate care will end (for more info on this one visit Canada). Also, forget about your privacy. All medical records under the public option will be put on a CD and be housed in some office in Washington, DC. This one scares me.

-The development of new drugs and treatments. A good friend's father has advanced pancreatic cancer. Until recently, this was a death sentence. However, thanks to ongoing research and development over the last 20 years, new anti pancreatic cancer drugs are now available to put the cancer into remission. What drives research and innovation is not just the desire to find a cure but the financial reward for finding a life-saving drug. It's called the profit incentive and its the little secret behind a free market economy (See point #1). There will be no incentives for private companies to do research and to find those future drugs that will save people 20 years from now. Obama care will snuff this out.

-Finally, control. Do you want the government to control your health care decisions. I don't think that's what most American bargained for when they voted for Obama in November of 2008. But this is what "the change we can believe in" is coming to be. If the government takes over health care, one sixth of the American economy will be under its control.

Here is my bottom line: the current system is broken and in need of reform. The Obama plan will not solve any of the issues only worsen the system.

Here is an excellent link and analysis of the Obama plan.

Getting "High" in Denver

I will confess that I live near the "Mile High" city of Denver. It used to be that "mile high" proudly referred to the elevation of Denver, rooting for the Broncos, cool nights, close proximity to the Rocky Mountains, clear majestic views and all of the other good things that go with living at altitude.

However, its taken a new meaning. A smoky "haze" is now descending on the Mile High City. Here is the latest story on the medicinal use of marijuana.

The elected officials in Denver are caught up in this haze. It seems like the only adults in town right now are the Feds and local law enforcement (the folks that deal everyday with drug addicts).

Yesterday, the ubiquitous Denver Post ran a less than heartily followup story on medicinal marijuana. Unfortunately, the majority of confidential Denver registry of folks who claim pain and need medicinal marijuana are males with an average age of 24.

Sounds like a scam to me!

Here's the key quote the Denver Post (which I agree): "Pardon our skepticism, but that profile seems tilted awfully heavily toward young Coloradans."

Really. Here's more: "It's one thing for people who are at the end of their lives or who are truly suffering to find some relief in the use of marijuana. It's another entirely if people who want to see marijuana legalized are using medical marijuana provisions and friendly doctors to do an end run around drug laws."

This Denver law needs to be repealed. Clear away the haze!

Is There Hope for the American Marriage?

This was the title of a July 2nd article in TIME magazine (which I normally do not read).

This is an interesting article particularly from a reliably liberal news magazine like TIME. My parents used to get the old TIME magazine while I was growing up before it morphed into what it is today.

Here is the link to this article.

Here are a couple of thoughts.

First, I find it a bit humorous that the TIME staff would even be interested in such a topic. Afterall, TIME has been at the forefront championing homosexual marriage. They have led the party that is celebrating the advent of open homosexuality and its practices in our country.

Second, my skeptisicm is rooted in my piqued interest as to the true intent of this article. Its either a celebratory "I told you so" postmortem on traditional marriage or its a mea culpa that they have taken a bridge too far.

Third, Caitlin Flangan's premises (the authoress)are surprisingly accurate and conservative in tone. "There is no other single force causing as much measureable harship and human misery in this country as the collapse of marriage. It hurts children, it reduces mother's financial security, and it has landed with particular devastation on those who can bear it least: the nation's underclass." Wow. Right on...

Fourth, the marriage gap. Flanagan hits the nail on the head here. There is a growing marriage gap threatening our nation today. She is right on when she chronicles the plight of the underclass, who are uncoupling parenthood with marriage. One of the greatest predictors of poverty are under-educated single women having children. These fragile families are destined for the ash hill of public substinence. For the "priviledged" the marriage trend today is to battle middle-age boredom with realtional trysts which bring the wrecking ball to their families and children---see Governor Mark Sanford et al.

Fifthly, and this is the a-ha moment of the article. Quoting noted feminist researcher and author Sara McLanahan, she states that "Growing up without a father has a deep psychological effect on a child. The mom may not need that man, but her children do." Wow.

Perhaps there is a third reason for this article. Could it be that the folks who have tried to demolish marriage for decades are seeing the light?

Obama and Homosxuals-Update # 2

Several months ago when we did our first "Obama and Homosexuals" update, we told you that we would continue this frequently and as new information came out.

Homosexuals are a major constituent group of the Democratic party. In recent weeks, homosexual activist groups have been clamoring to Obama for support payback. Frankly, it has gotten nasty.

Here is the latest since June 1st.

-The Obama White House has proposed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. If passed, this bill would add gender and sexual orientation to hate crime laws.

-Urging Congress to repeal the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

-Ensure national adoption rights for homosexual couples.

-Passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. This bill would expand it protections to cover sexual orientation and gender identity.

-Repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy towards homosexuals. This is controversial and will take time. Homosexuals would then be allowed to serve openly.

Ritter's Car Tax HIts Home

It's here. If you have not seen it yet, you will. Just wait until your annual car renewal license bill comes and it will be huge.

All of this courtesy of Guv Ritter and his Democratic allies in the state legislature.

Below is an excellent op-ed piece from our good friend and State Senator Kevin Lundberg on this issue. Read it and weep.

Senate bill 108 is a quarter of a billion dollar (per year) car tax. Some are calling it Bill Ritter's Car Tax.


Never in my legislative experience have I seen such a reaction from the people of Colorado after a law has taken effect. For the last several weeks hardly day goes by without at least one constituent calling me at home to complain about SB-108.


Not only do they resent the more than doubling of the cost of registering an older car, but the penalties for late registration are an incredible shock. It is a mandatory, one size fits all formula of $25/ month, up to four months ($100) for any late registration. This applies to even the little trailer you may have around that you rarely use.


How would you react if you expected a nominal ($10-30) registration cost and are handed a bill for well over $100? This late fee even applies for the months before the bill became law! Many people with multiple older vehicles or motorbikes have told me they may never register them. Others have threatened to go to another state.


But wait... there's more. SB-108 also set up a system for tolling existing roads and several new bureaucracies for administering these taxes, fines, and tolls. For all of these reasons not one Republican, in either house, voted for SB-108. We spent long hours in the Senate and the House arguing against this new car tax, but in the end the governor had the votes from his own party to pass both houses and then he signed it with great fanfare.


In the next session I will be introducing a bill to repeal parts of SB-108. I trust that the people will have, by that time, convinced enough legislators in the governor's party to agree to get rid of at least the worst parts of the Bill Ritter's Car Tax.


For more information about SB-108 go to: http://www.rscc.us/ActionAlerts/Index.html.

Elections have expensive consequences.

Colorado "Stimulus" Czar Makes $146,034

I have no beef with Don Elliman but I do have a big one with whoever hired him as Colorado's "stimulus" czar.

Here's the story.

In a time of budget deficits and less expenditures, Colorado now has a "stimulus" czar. I am sure that Mr. Elliman has busy days. After all, he oversees all budgets of state agencies and monitors how Colorado uses federal stimulus funds.

You can't tell me that there is someone already in the system who could do this?

This story seems to be exhibit A on wasteful government spending. Or, perhaps its one of those "shovel-ready" jobs Obama promised.

Sign me up!

Obama Giving Benefits to Federal Homosexual Employees Partners

Today, President Obama will put pen to paper and extend federal health care benefits to the partners of homosexual government employees. In doing so, he hopes to appease homosexual groups which supported his election.

This move comes in reaction to high pressure from homosexual groups who form a loud and financially lucrative group in the Democratic coalition. In recent weeks, homosexual activists have grown increasingly frustrated with what they perceive is a lack of action by the Obama administration on their issues. When Obama failed to lift the current military ban on openly homosexuals serving in the military, the tipping point had come.

The target point here is the Federal Employees' Health Benefits Program. Via executive order, Obama will order that these benefits be made available to homosexual partners of federal employees.

Again, the tidal wave of homosexual activism continues forward in America. Here in Colorado, Governor Bill Ritter signed a similar measure. Homosexuals and their political allies argue that these are rights they should have-that true equality cannot be achieved unless our society gives them equal rights and recognition previously enjoyed by heterosexual married couples.

It's important to remember these arguments in the face of this tidal wave:
-Marriage has always been seen as the socially acceptable relationship between a man and a woman.
-Society and the state have a vested interest in promoting and maintaining high numbers of successful marriages. Marriages provide the procreation of future generations; reduce unmarried infidelity and paternity; promote the creation and distribution of wealth; reduce sexually transmitted diseases et al.
-Thus, the distribution of "benefits" is so important. Because of society's and the state's vested interest in marriage, family benefits were distributed to encourage marital and familial stability.-Homosexual marriage provides none of these benefits other than the fulfillment of adult needs.
Here is the story.

Obama's act is in essence a de facto recognition of homosexual unions as marriage. This downward slide will continue and the fight is not over.

Elections have consequences.

.

David Letterman Offers Mea Culpa

Earlier today, Daivd Letterman offered his mea culpa issuing an apology to Governor Sarah Palin and her daughters about his offensive joke last week.

The point here is that this joke broke new ground in television decency.
Whether you are Democrat or a Republican, liberal or conservative,we must agree that any joke about a woman being raped is beyond the pale. There is no room for this type of comment in ou culture.

As a father of two teenage daughters, I was deeply offended. My wife and I work hard to teach our children well about sexuality and the appropriate place for it in their lives. Granted, my daughters never saw the show, but many young women did.

Our nation is awash in a sea of nastiness and crudeness. The toxicity level of our discourse is appalling.

If my grandmother was still alive she would have driven to New York and washed Letterman's mouth out with soap.

Obama Health Care for Your Family

President Obama's announced number one domestic priority is to require healthcare of all Americans. His main vehicle to accomplish this goal: a government run health care program ala Canada and socialist Europe. Yikes...There is a reason why Canadians now come south of the border for their healthcare needs...

I did some digging and here's what it may look like if it passes Congress:

-Cost. The Obama campaign estimates his health care reform plan will cost between $50 and $65 billion a year when fully phased in. He assumes that it will be paid from savings in the system and from discontinuing the Bush tax cuts for those making more than $250,000 per year.I doubt the cost- it will be higher.

-Its broken into three parts: 1. Quality, Affordable & Portable Health Coverage For All 2. Modernizing The U.S. Health Care System To Lower Costs & Improve Quality, and 3. Promoting Prevention & Strengthening Public Health.

-Savings. Obama claims that his health care reform plan will save the typical family up to $2,500 every year. Yet, specifics are hard to find.

-Obama’s key components here include:

•Establishing a new public program that would look a lot like Medicare for those under age-65 that would be available to those who do not have access to an employer plan or qualify for existing government programs like Medicaid or SCHIP. This would also be open to small employers who do not offer a private plan.
•Creating a “National Health Insurance Exchange.” This would be a government-run marketing organization that would sell insurance plans directly to those who did not have an employer plan or public coverage.
•An employer “pay or play” provision that would require an employer to either provide health insurance or contribute toward the cost of a public plan.
•Mandating that families cover all children through either a private or public health insurance plan.
•Expanding eligibility for government programs, like Medicaid and SCHIP.
•Allow flexibility in embracing state health reform initiatives.

This Democratic proposal is all about access—getting just about everyone covered. Getting everyone into this unsustainable system will then make things even more unsustainable creating an imperative for a second wave of real cost containment when the feel good list of cost containment proposals now in their plans falls short. My sense is that most Democratic health policy experts already know this but see no other political alternative.

If this thing passes, get ready for some new terms: Cost containment (limiting medical practices; required medical coverage for your kids;

Tiller's Abortion Clinic Closes

I can't say that we will miss George Tiller.

Earlier today, the family of slain abortion doctor George Tiller announced that his infamous clinic would close. See the whole story here.

Apparently, no one else was willing to pick up Tiller's scalpel. That alone should tell us all we need to know about the practices of George Tiller. While the liberal media has made Tiller out to be an iconic hero, my take is different.

George Tiller intentionally killed viable babies in later term abortions. His practice was gruesome by best accounts. While some may think his action are heroic, thousands of unborn Americans died at his hands. His death practice ushered darkness into his clinic and community. When one engages in practices that contradict the law's of nature's God, chaos ensues.

George Tiller is no hero. George Tiller has had to explain his actions to the ultimate Judge of life and death.

The Battle Continues for Life-The Tiller Legacy

Today's Denver Post op-ed (Wednesday, June 3rd) suggests that the abortion battle needs to tone down in the wake of the murder of the infamous Kansas abortion doctor George Tiller.

I would agree with the Post that this scorching debate need not become a shooting war, but the issue cannot be buried either. What the Post is subtly suggesting is that pro-lifers go away and accept the status quo. I say no.

Right now, abortionists hold the upper hand. Abortion is the law and legal in all 50 states. Our current Colorado state legislature is led by an pro-abortion majority. However, that does not make it right. In 1857, the United States Supreme Court concluded that Dred Scott, a black freeman, did not have the same constitutional rights as any of his white equals. Eventually, this law was rescinded and deemed by history as misguided. Similarly in 1973, our nation's highest court was wrong again, extracting the constitutional right to an abortion. This too in time will be overturned.

Pro-lifers, despite the liberal media barrage, need to be encouraged. National polling shows that most Americans lean towards life, seeing abortion as the last option. While the media wants to spin the story about the alleged damage done to the pro-life movement, I would take a different position. The kind of heinous abortion services that Dr. George Tiller was offering is evaporating. Most Americans remain offended that viable, unborn children are being killed.

More than ever now, the practice of late-term abortions needs to be outlawed. Let's start here in Colorado. That action will be the legacy of George Tiller.
.

More on Tiller

A good friend sent me this note. I think it hits the nail on the head...

I wonder how this issue will be spun by the media and politicians. I don’t condone vigilante justice, but these things just seem to work themselves out. Even God-hating unbelievers understand the ‘live by the sword, die by the sword’ credo. Throughout Scripture and in the world today, evil unbalanced people are often killed by other evil unbalanced people. I will not miss Dr. Tiller, and I hope his clinic closes. The unfortunate fact is that abortion is legal. And, it is not right to murder someone for doing something legal, no matter how abhorrent it may be to you. We must find a peaceful way to end this horrible practice in our nation.



Am I the only person who sees the irony in the fact that a man who killed innocent viable unborn babies in a horrific way for a living was serving as an usher in a church!?! I’ve been praying that God will wake His Church up. Dr. Tiller was a man who needed to be changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Had that occurred, he would have stopped killing innocent children, and cared for them and their mothers instead, similar to Norma McCorvey (Jane Roe). Repentance, love and acts of contrition are marks of true belief. When the church begins to love justice, and to care for the innocent and those in the margins, our culture will change – one person at a time. We need to stop going to church – and start being the church. We can’t reach guys like George Tiller or Warren Hern by yelling at them, hating them, condemning them or threatening them. We need to show them compassion, to engage them in a dialogue, and to be welcoming positive examples of Jesus for them. I’m not sure how to do it, but when we figure out how to do that, something will change in this situation.



I think that some day, legal abortion will be viewed in the same way as whaling or Nazi concentration camps. Both of them were legal, and served a purpose that an entire culture and and nation thought was important. History has proven them both to be wrong, abhorrent and needless. Likewise, the objects of their slaughter are necessary, beautiful and important parts of God’s creation. Through abortion, we have slaughtered many wonderful world-changing people before they ever lived out their purpose. God weeps at this sin, and at our nation’s tolerance and promotion of it.



Perhaps one child who Dr. Tiller would have aborted today will be born instead, to live out a wonderful life, fulfilling their purpose in changing the world as God intended. And perhaps George Tiller decided on Sunday morning that he would follow Jesus and close his abortion clinic first thing Monday morning, and that God will have mercy on his soul. That is my prayer.