Larry Wants To Know
Tuesday, August 19, 2008, 11:04 AM
The Larry King Show hosted more concerned American viewers last night.Larry interviewed Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church, which has a 20,000 member congregation. Pastor Rick recently hosted the two Presidential Candidates, Senators Obama and McCain. Since then, many of the democrats have suggested that John McCain heard the questions Barack Obama was asked, while McCain was backstage. Pastor Rick replied to this by saying that the TV monitor that was in the room with McCain had been disconnected 2 days prior to the question and answer session with the senators.
Now this presents some interesting discussions:
- If in fact the Democrats are claiming this church gave McCain an unfair advantage, it makes me wonder, who would accuse a church and a pastor with a very good reputation?
- Both senators had an opportunity to answer the same questions. Now, it seems to me that Senator Obama was slower in answering the questions and was very cautious with his answers. How is this the fault of Pastor Rick Warren or the church?
- The answers are what they are. The question of pro-life or pro-choice, Sen. Obama answered that he is pro-choice except when it comes to late term abortions, but voted 4 times for it. Sen. McCain is pro-life, but supports stem cell research on the embryos of unborn babies.
- The question, when does life begin, was asked as well. Sen. McCain said at conception. Sen. Obama answered that whether this be a theological or scientific question, without specificity, his pay grade was not high enough to answer the question.
We could go on and on, but you can watch the broadcast yourself and draw your own conclusions.
Pastor Randy wants to know, do Christians really care what they believe? Is God in the mix of our lives and our marriages? Are Americans going to vote party line or vote the race card issue?
Larry King asked Pastor Rick Warren if he believed the President needs to believe in God? Pastor Rick answered yes; the job is too big for one man.
I want to know what you think?
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( 5 / 1 )Wow What a Church!
Monday, August 18, 2008, 01:40 PM
Saddleback Valley Church in Lake Forest, California recently hosted both presidential candidates. Pastor Rick Warren, the founder of the church, asked Senator Barack Obama questions first while Senator John McCain was back stage unable to hear the questions or the answers. Then Pastor Rick asked Senator McCain the same questions. The applause from the audience was good for the answers to the questions.I was glad to hear them clearly state their positions on key issues such as abortion, the definition of marriage, etc.
Senator Obama is pro-choice while Senator John McCain is pro-life. Both candidates believe marriage is between a man and a woman but neither believes the Constitution defines marriage. That should be done on the State level.
Both spoke of their beliefs in God and prayer. Both admitted to failures in their past: Senator Obama experimented with drugs and alcohol during his teenage years, while for Senator McCain his failure was his first marriage.
I am so thankful they spoke openly and seemed to be honest about their past.
The fuel problem was interesting with Senator McCain saying that we should drill off shore.
The war on terrorism was a key issue with General Petraeus as a mentor and one of his three most respected ones.
I want to say thank you to Pastor Rick Warren and his church for an excellent idea in presenting the facts.
The Christian community needs a candidate that they can support and believe in.
The Vice President selection will be critical.
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( 0 / 0 )KaBOOM! by Brandi Jones
Friday, August 15, 2008, 09:56 AM
As the Director of Communications at Bellaire, I wanted to let you all know of a very important project we are involved in. Thursday afternoon I received a call from Terry Hanley at the Bossier Press Tribune about the playground project we are working on. Terry found out about this at Wednesday night’s City Council meeting and wanted to know what it was all about.Earlier this year Bro. Randy got involved in a playground project called KaBOOM! KaBOOM! is a national non-profit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. Since 1995, KaBOOM! has used its innovative community-build model to bring together business and community interests to construct more than 1,400 new playgrounds, skate parks, sports fields and ice rinks across North America. On September 4th, the KaBOOM! playground will be built in the lot adjacent to our Barksdale Annex Mission House.
Now, I don’t know about you, but I am so grateful to have a pastor that has such a heart for the people and the children of our community. We all need to remember those in our community who are not so blessed and Brother Randy does that continually. This playground will be a great outreach for the Barksdale Annex Mission House and Bellaire Baptist Church.
We are currently in need of volunteers for build day on September 4th; if you are interested you can e-mail me at brandi@bellairebaptist.org.
“But Jesus said, ‘Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” Matthew 19:14.
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( 0 / 0 )Politics & Sex Scandals
Thursday, August 14, 2008, 12:23 PM
“Former presidential hopeful John Edwards admitted to an affair with his former videographer, Rielle Hunter, though he firmly denied tabloid reports that he is the father of her child.Edwards released a statement late in the day saying he made a ‘serious error in judgment,’ after telling ABC News' Nightline that he repeatedly lied about the affair during his failed presidential campaign.
I made a serious error in judgment and conducted myself in a way that was disloyal to my family and to my core beliefs,’ Edwards said in his statement. ‘I was and am ashamed of my conduct and choices, and I had hoped that it would never become public.’
‘In the course of several campaigns, I started to believe that I was special and became increasingly egocentric and narcissistic. If you want to beat me up — feel free. You cannot beat me up more than I have already beaten up myself,’ he said.” (foxnews.com)
In March of this year, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer was linked to a prostitution ring which led to his resignation as governor. “Over the course of my public life, I've insisted, I believe correctly, that people regardless of their position or power take responsibility for their conduct. I can and will ask no less of myself." (foxnews.com)
In July of 2007, Louisiana Sen. David Vitter was linked as a client to the DC Madam. He quickly admitted his guilt and offered his apologies.
“I want to again offer my deep, sincere apologies to all those I have let down and disappointed with these actions from my past," said the 46-year-old Republican, who lives with his wife, Wendy, and four children in a New Orleans suburb.
Since the time he first admitted to his wife about the dalliances, which he did not detail but claim took place while he was a congressman in the 1990s, Vitter said he has "gotten up every morning committed to trying to live up to the important values we believe in. If continuing to believe in and acknowledge those values causes some to attack me because of my past failings, well, so be it.” (foxnews.com)
These are hardly isolated incidents; there has been a long line of sex related scandals in American Politics:
“1802 — Affair is rumored between President Thomas Jefferson and his slave Sally Hemings. DNA tests of their descendents confirm it in 1998.
1884 — President Grover Cleveland wins election despite illegitimate child, with opponents chanting, "Ma, ma, where's my pa? Gone to the White House, ha, ha, ha."
1974 — Wilbur Mills, an Arkansas Democrat and chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, is stopped for speeding. His passenger, a stripper with the stage name "Fanne Fox, the Argentine firecracker," jumps out of his car and into the capital's Tidal Basin.
1976 — Ohio Rep. Wayne L. Hayes, a Democrat and chairman of the House Administration Committee, resigns over a scandal involving the raise he gave Elizabeth Ray, his secretary and also his mistress.
1980 — Rep. Robert Bauman, a leading Republican conservative from Maryland, pleads not guilty to soliciting sex from a 16-year-old boy. Charges later are dropped after he agrees to treatment for alcoholism.
1983 — The House reprimands Illinois Republican Dan Crane and Massachusetts Democrat Gerry Studds for having sexual affairs with congressional pages.
1987 — Colorado Sen. Gary Hart, a Democratic presidential candidate, is caught with a 29-year-old Miami model named Donna Rice on a yacht called Monkey Business at a Caribbean resort.
1989 — The House votes to reprimand Rep. Barney Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat, for his relationship with a male prostitute whom he hired as his personal assistant.
1992 — A tabloid newspaper pays Gennifer Flowers to recount a 12-year affair with Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton shortly before the Democratic presidential primaries.
1992 — Republican Sen. Bob Packwood of Oregon apologizes after 10 women accuse him of sexual harassment. He later resigns after the ethics committee finds him guilty of sexual misconduct.
1994 — Rep. Mel Reynolds, an Illinois Democrat, is indicted and later convicted for sexual assault of a 16-year-old campaign volunteer.
1998 — News of President Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky comes to light through a sexual-harassment suit against him by Paula Jones.
2004 — New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey steps down after disclosing an affair with his homeland-security adviser, an appointment he made despite the man's limited qualifications.
2006 — Sexual emails and instant messages between Rep. Mark Foley, a Florida Republican, and congressional pages surface just before the November midterm election.
2007 — Sen. David Vitter, a Louisiana Republican, is reported to be on the phone records of a Washington madam.
2007 — Sen. Larry Craig, an Idaho Republican, pleads guilty to disorderly conduct in a men's room and a police officer testifies he was soliciting sex.
2008 — New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer apologizes and resigns after a report that he was involved in a prostitution ring.” (Foxnews.com)
With all of the recent sex scandals what should we expect? Dr. Mohler says there is beginning to be a shift that morals should not matter in politics. I for one believe that leadership is earned and that leaders should be held to higher standards. The Bible says, “To whom much is given, much is required.”
I called Senator McCain’s office today (703) 418-2008 and asked that they prayerfully consider former Gov. Mike Huckabee for the Vice-President position. Remember, there is strength in numbers.
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( 0 / 0 )U.S. Women’s Team Wins Silver!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008, 11:52 AM
“It makes for fine television, especially when the IOC lines the teams up head-to-head.It makes situational heroes of the anonymous, as it did for heroic U.S. gymnast Kerri Strug, whose heart and one-footed vault secured the U.S. women's last team Olympic gold in 1996.
But it isn't the event that makes stars of little women.
That's a good thing for the Americans, whose uninspired team effort yesterday cost them their first chance at Olympic team gold since the Strug Olympics. China, paired with the U.S. team to heighten the drama, took gold, 2.375 points ahead of the United States in what was, as expected, a two-horse race.
Nastia Liukin and Alicia Sacramone shared a teary, defeated hug as teammate Shawn Johnson prepared for the floor exercise, the last performance of the day for the Americans.
The Chinese, 2006 world champions, had yet to perform their three floor routines, but the Americans, 2007 world champs, knew it was over.
Johnson is the favorite tomorrow in the women's all-around finals, where stars rise. By then, the world might have forgotten her team's hiccup yesterday.
It's a good thing for Liukin, too, the other all-around contender. With her team desperate for every hundredth of a point, she stepped out of bounds during her floor routine.
The Americans' 47.975, while fine, wasn't enough to match the Chinese bars specialists. They dazzled the hometown crowd at the National Indoor Stadium with their three spectacular performances, logging a 49.625 and forging a 1.125 point lead entering the final two disciplines.
The beam bore enormous weight for both teams, especially after Cheng Fei fell in her routine, the first of the rotation. Deng Linlin responded with a stronger routine, and Li Shanshan was typically excellent.
Sacramone wasn't. She fought tears as coach Martha Karolyi held her, offering sympathy and entreating her to focus. She led off the floor exercise in a few minutes, but at that point, as Karolyi noted, "Her concentration was gone."
The Chinese held a full point lead entering the floor exercise. After the Americans finished the floor, they needed just 43.425.
They slayed it.
Perhaps now, Johnson and Liukin, the top qualifiers in the all-around, can exact a little revenge.” (Online news source)
Sometimes how we take a loss shows more about our character than how we accept a win. These women suffered the loss of the gold, but they still won the silver. They should hold their heads high and be proud of what they have accomplished. America has a great women’s gymnastics team and we are all very proud of them. We will all be rooting for them as they compete in the all-around competition. But no matter the outcome they should be proud of themselves and of their silver medal.
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