I must admit my ignorance on the issue of the economy. I have become better informed and I hope I am able to present a point of view that is lacking in Big Media and is credible and has the backing of knowledgable sources like Warren Buffett (granting both sides have knowledgeable sources). This point of view lays the blame on the current mortgage crisis on Government Influence on the Free Market no matter how well intended or unpurposefully done. The crux of the argument is that if the private sector and the free market didn't include Fannie and Freddie's (two Government Sponsored Enterprises not subject to freemarket rules and trade) push for sub-prime mortgages and buy out of the bad debt from these loans in the private market this crisis would not have occurred. There is one candidate who is for bigger Government Influence on the Free Market and there is one candidate who is for less Government Influence on the Free Market thus the economy as the number one issue should aide McCain as opposed to Obama in deciding who to vote for and not to vote for when this argument is considered!!!

New York Times articles in 1999 and 2003 on the Economy-Must read articles from before the Financial Crisis!!! Quite informative on McCain vs Obama on Fannie and Freddie. 1) Congress had regulatory oversight of Fannie and Freddie not Bush. Bush in 2003 tried to set up a regulatory agency separate from the politics of Congress but Congress wouldn't allow this thus the blame is on Congress not Bush policies when it comes to the extent of the damage that is caused by Fannie and Freddie to our economy. That means we need to look at Obama (Democrats) and McCain (Republicans) in congress on Fannie and Freddie not Bush's policies to get to the bottom of this which contradicts Obama's campaigning position on this issue which would then mean Obama is either ignorant about this important issue and thus not ready to lead America out of our crisis or either Obama is purposely withholding that info to get into office. 2) McCain and Bush is indeed for regulation of these Government Sponsored Enterprises in Fannie and Freddie that ultimately caused this mortgage crisis. So this is a consistently Republican conservative position when one understands that Fannie and Freddie are not subject to the responsibilities of the free market and private sector thus regulation becomes more necessary. 3) Fannie and Freddie are in deed Government Sponsored Enterprise as opposed to private sector free market companies subject to the responsibility of the market and their investors. If the private sector were left alone this crisis would have never reached the point of crisis!!! The losses would have been dealt with much longer by the responsibilities these companies have to their investors in the free market but because these two Government Sponsored Enterprises would encourage sub prime mortgages by buying off the bad debt these companies could honestly and lawfully report profits as opposed to losses which makes the investors happy. If Fannie and Freddie were not buying off the bad debt the investors would most definitely have held the companies accountable by not investing in losses and thus would have been forced to straiten up whatever was causing the bad debt and thus putting our whole economy and possibly even the worlds economy in jeopardy. Investors would have caught the trend much more faster then a political beauricratic politicized Governmental Congress/Agency. This is a story of the importance of the free market remaining ultimately and at base free of Governmental political involvement that is not subject to free market rules but rather political correctness of the times which includes Big Media (which never reports on these facts) and liberal and almost socialisitic policies within both parties!!!

Anyways, that is my assessment so far by reading what I have read on the internet from even the New York Times and seeking an alternative understanding then what ABC, CBS, NBC and PBS gives me. I have found it quite beneficial to get out of the today news which has a much more possibility of being biased on either side on this issue because of the elections this year and look at this issue and the concerns that were brought up many years before this crisis. Now I will tell you that I did not go searching for these articles. They came to me via conservative news sources in my daily email subscriptions. So it is not that hard to get information to be better informed and vote responsibly with both sides of the issues laid out before us.

Now my understanding of the issues may be flawed, also. So do check out the articles yourself and see what you come out with but it does spill out some interesting facts that are kind of glossed over by Big Media and Obama in the debates like Congress fought Bush on regulatory oversight back in 2003 (Bush wasn't anti-regulation of a Government Sponsored Enterprise nor is McCain!!! It is just that Bush and McCain both didn't see Congress doing a good job as is evidence 5 years later!!!). One fact I found interesting was that Obama said in the debate that he in no way supported Fannie and Freddie in response to McCain's claim that Obama is the second highest benificiary of Fannie and Freddie in money contributions and McCain being number 62 on the list. And this is inspite of the fact that Obama has only been in the Congress much much much less of the time than McCain has!!! If Fannie and Freddie were not dishing out money to a candidate that is not supportive of themselves then Obama must think either we are stupid or Fannie and Freddie are!!! I am in no way suggesting McCain is perfect in answering debate questions and when you are on the spot a a good point has been made it boils down to who best covers it up and it seems Obama does a better job after all Obama is the lawyer from Harvard and McCain is the patriotic war hero so debates are naturally going to favour the lawyer. And it seems these debates are doing just that. I do hope that more Americans will go home and review what is being said and check out the facts on both sides from both sides. Because I think the debates favor the lawyer and since there is no real criticism on Obama from Big Media that really mean anything that I think it is necessary to take up some of these issues only for the sake of the unborn and Biblical Values. I believe God will give us wisdom how to get out of this mess if we got the moral issues down right if not then we must pray for His mercy for the time being and continue to do His will and leave the rest up to Him.

Lastly, I just found these articles on a conservative blog of the world's largest conservative think tank and largest think tank in the world period at: Morning Bell: The Left’s Official News Service-"Goldstein and Hall have written an article, “Private sector loans, not Fannie or Freddie, triggered crisis,” which is a masterpiece in half-truths and opinion journalism disguised as hard news. Goldstein and Hill cite “Federal Reserve Board data” that show “More than 84 percent of the subprime mortgages in 2006 were issued by private lending institutions.” This are the first and most prominent example Goldstein and Hill use to support their thesis. It is also completely irrelevant. As Goldstein and Hill later admit much later in their own article, Freddie and Fannie “don’t lend money, to minorities or anyone else.” Exactly. So the fact that 84% of subprime loans were made by private institutions is completely irrelevant. So why is it the first “fact” Goldstein and Hill cite?"-I just want to point out one thing in rebuttal to this article, also and do read further!!! That if the private sector were let alone and did not have the Fannie and Freddie buy off option would they have acted as carelessly as they did if they were not being encouraged and "bailed out" by Fannie and Freddie to invest in these risky loans. The obvious answer is no!!! For they would have been held responsible by those investing into their company. But the investors factor was eliminated by the bailing out of Freddie and Fannie so all went along and the burden now rests in Fannie and Freddie and us taxpayers!!! This would have been caught long before by investors if they didn't have the Fannie and Freddie buy out option nor their encouragement to invest in subprime mortgages so heavily as they did leading to this problem.

See tomorrow's blog for more on this most interesting subject that many if not most American's are going to vote on this issue as their number one issue over any other issue for one candidate or the other and are probabily not aware of the complexity and amount of facts to justify one's reason for voting one candidate over the other especially when one candidate is at the expense of the unborn children, traditonal biblical Godly family values and religious freedoms.

Lastly, I just found these links in the above article: check out what Warren Buffet and even liberal George Soros say about Fannie and Freddie's involvement in the mortgage crisis and thus in our economic crisis and the world's economy!!!

On to the other blogs posted of this week on ValuesVoterNews.com

Jill Stanek's blog has moved up into the top 7000 blogs!!-See new video ad running in PA, NC and OH on Obama's Born Alive Infant protection record and partial birth abortion. Also, an ecard you can send to others available. Check out what is in some of our American Textbooks and more!!!!

One of Big Media's biggest missed stories of this election year. California's Marriag Amendment!!! -But first a video report of students protesting school libraries over banning books that teach christianity can help those who want out of homosexual lifestyle. Boycott of McDonald's is successful.

California Marriage Amendment

"The state filing by the Protect Marriage Coalition today was nearly 5,000 pages long, recording tens of thousands of individual donations.Protect Marriage campaign manager Frank Schubert acknowledged the enormous fund-raising success “shows the strength of our cause and the tremendous grassroots support for traditional marriage across the state.” About two-thirds of all donations received have been $100 or less. Over 62,000 donations have been received to date. Ninety-five percent of all donations have come from within California."

"According to figures compiled by the National Organization on Money in State Politics, a little less than $33 million was spent on campaigns to pass or defeat gay marriage bans in the 24 states where they appeared on ballots in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Supporters of same-sex marriage had the fundraising edge in all of them, but voters approved all but one, in Arizona. With a month to go until the election, fundraising by the two sides in the California campaign already has well exceeded that amount."

Big Media's disappointing Presidential Debates so far...-"Neither Tom Brokaw of NBC News, who moderated Tuesday night’s presidential debate, nor any of the “townhall” audience members Brokaw pre-selected to ask questions of the two presidential candidates asked a single question about immigration, abortion, same-sex marriage or the war in Iraq."

Fireproof continues to do well for the second week and Director is interviewed on ABCNews.com and I found this comment most interesting: "Hollywood is good at reflecting the values and lifestyles of people in California and New York, but there are so many of us who have a standard of morality and faith that is rarely reflected in films coming out of Hollywood."

C. S. Lewis wrote, “Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.”

"According to the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, Waves I and II, 20 percent of students in Grades 7-12 who live with their married, biological parents have ever been suspended or expelled from school. By contrast, more than 50 percent of adolescents who live with a single, never-married parent have ever been suspended or expelled. In between are those who live with two biological cohabiting parents (34.3 percent), those living with a step-parent (35.9 percent), those whose parents are divorced (37 percent), and those who live with one biological cohabiting parent (40.8 percent)."

Also in this blog: "Good News: Remarkable Pro-Life Women Share Their Stories-"Feminists for Life (FFL), which counts Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin among its members, is rolling out a series of seven videos featuring Remarkable Pro-Life Women.The videos will premiere one by one during the coming school year on FFL's Web site.The first video features Melissa Ohden, who survived an abortion at just 5 months' gestation. Today, she works for a social welfare agency in the Midwest."

And 2 more First Amendment Case Victories!!!

2 hour panel discussion: "Learn more about the body of research the American Psychological Association failed to assess in its recent report...-Planned Parenthood exposed once again. Check out video on YouTube before it gets yanked like all the rest. Obama has a pro-life web site!!!???? Check out this video and response to this site. Roe vs Wade hangs in the balance with this election and some articles about the accomplishments of Bush in this area and how many possible judges may be appointed this next election and the importance of judges!!!

Levi Strauss, Google, AT&T, Pepsi, NY Times, and High School Libraries vs Pastors, Churches, BoyScouts and those with differing points of view-The title says it all and now on to. This blog got over 200 hits in one day mainly because it got linked up to the google blog that first made the declaration that Google is in support of the homosexual community on this issue!!! Their is alot on this blog as the issue continues!!!!

Testimony of Brian Welch of Korn

I bought Brian Welch's new CD after his conversion. It has been a while since I have been into thrash music but for thrash fans it is a good one. I was in tears over his testimony. Brian is an ex-guitarist for Korn and popular thrash band of sorts and see how God used a friend and his daughter to cause him to rethink where he was going and draw him to Himself. Many links here. Check it out and praise God!!!

Brian Welch: More Than Head Knowledge-"In his early 20s, Brian moved to Los Angeles with a few members of Korn. Drug and alcohol abuse became a regular part of his life. After a few years, Korn hit it big. The drug and alcohol use became more prevalent....Korn’s popularity and success were growing as a Grammy winning Nu Metal rock band, but drug abuse and tumultuous times were going on behind the scenes....In 2004, Brian hit rock bottom. It was hard for him to meet the demands of life on the road as well as being a single father. One of the turning points was when he heard little Jennea singing a Korn song called “A.D.I.D.A.S.,” which stands for “All Day I Dream About Sex.”
Brian knew that he couldn’t keep Jennea in that life and wanted something to change. Brian was depressed, deep into drugs and Internet pornography....One morning, one of his business partners, Eric, sent him an e-mail out of the blue. Eric was a Christian, but didn’t normally share his faith with Brian. This day, it was different. Eric gave Brian the Bible verse, Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, there you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Brian replied and Eric continued to tell him the truth about Jesus, which gave Brian hope. God kept showing Himself to Brian through different personal events. Everywhere he went, it seemed people were telling him about Jesus....Brian is singing a different tune these days. Though his music and his appearance might not seem very different from a few years ago, he has had a true change of heart. Almost four years later, Brian’s motivation for his life and his music has God at the forefront.
Last year, his New York Times best-selling biography, Save Me From Myself, was released, with his fans receiving it as an inspired story of faith and hope. Brian says Korn fans understand the hurt and pain. The book speaks “the language of his people,” as he is trying to be real. His new CD, Save Me From Myself, which shares the same name as his book, was released last month."

Korn Meets Christ: The Conversion of Brian Welch

Why Brian Welch Walked Away

Brian "Head" Welch Releases 'Save Me From Myself'

The 700 Club's Tim Branson's Uncut Interview with Brian Welch

Law Suits from both sides on California Marriage Amendment-On same day as earthquake in California ADF files lawsuit against changed wording of California Marriage Amendment summary by Democrat Attorney General Jerry Brown:

"Original state wording: Amends the California Constitution to provide that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: The measure would have no fiscal effect on state or local governments. This is because there would be no change to the manner in which marriages are currently recognized by the state. (Initiative 07-0068.) (Full Text)

Jerry Brown revision: Changes California Constitution to eliminate right of same-sex couples to marry. Provides that only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Fiscal Impact: Over the next few years, potential revenue loss, mainly sales taxes, totaling in the several tens of millions of dollars, to state and local governments. In the long run, likely little fiscal impact to state and local governments."

It's not about sex!! The Great Worldwide Divide and Again it's not about sex but rather who is teaching for doctrines the commandments of men?. A lawsuit for 70 million dollars against bible publishing company...links to audio and video footage of great importance and issues concerning religious freedom and protests of gay bishop and a must see interview for those concerned about what one of the leaders of the gay movement thinks of those who believe the scriptures teach homosexuality is a sin (quite a revealing interview with this bishop). We need to pray for him. UK officer was fined 1200 pounds over his views of homosexuality and San Jose college professor fired for explaining what is in the college text book namely that homosexuality being hereditary is in debate and even the EEOC issues new guidelines on Religious Discrimination because of all the cases going to court recently. Good news also, "divisions have been widening as strictly Bible-interpreting Anglican churches in the developing world have become the largest and fastest-growing churches in the communion."!!! And concerning the gay bishop above: "The top Anglican bishop in Sudan is calling for V. Gene Robinson, the openly homosexual bishop in New Hampshire, to "resign for the sake of the church," according to an Anglican expert. Homosexual ordination "is not what is found in the Bible" and is "not the norm of the Anglican world." and in Jerusalem: "The Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) -- representing more than half of the world's practicing Anglicans -- wrapped up a weeklong meeting in Jerusalem, where more than 1,100 lay and clergy, including nearly 300 bishops, declared their allegiance to traditional biblical and church teachings and vowed to combat liberal trends, including the acceptance of homosexual leadership....Pledging to work against forces of "militant secularism and pluralism" within their Christian denomination, conservative Anglican leaders formed a new umbrella organization here at the weekend." bearing in mind that the Anglican church "is the second-largest group of churches in the world, behind Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians." and this meeting above consisted of "traditionalists from Africa, where the majority of the world's Anglicans (Episcopalians) live, they are being joined by some high-profile colleagues based in the West. They include the outspoken Bishop of Rochester, Michael Nazir-Ali, who is to date the most senior clergyman in the Church of England -- the "mother church" of the worldwide Anglican Communion"-There is more to tell. Just check out the links....

If you have a chance to watch the 8 minute video interview of the gay bishop and his reasoning for gay marriages then "review what Christ said in Mark 7:7-9: "Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.""and then "read thru the scriptures and see which of the two has violated the teachings of Jesus above. Who is laying aside the commandment of God and in its place teaching for doctrine the commandments of men? Again notice this is not about sex but whether or not one party or the other is properly representing what the scriptures teach on this subject." Is it the conservative Anglican community or those on the side of the gay bishop???? Notice again it's not about sex but about Christ and what the scriptures that testify of Him say about Christ and who's teaching on the subject of sex is consistent with the scriptures and thus with Christ.

Media's no emphasis of abortion as an issue hurting McCain and helping Obama/Obama on Fatherhood/The Physiology of Motherhood/Bush vs Clinton-"A new poll finds half of voters don't know that presidential candidate John McCain is pro-life on abortion or that Barack Obama is pro-abortion. The survey shows that, when pro-life voters know that information, they support McCain by a three-to-one margin....This information gap is important and a subsequent question shows whichever side of the abortion debate can frame the candidates first will likely help one of them win the election. Among pro-life voters who know where the two candidates stand, McCain trounces Obama by a whopping 70-24 percentage point margin. Surprisingly, Obama has a one percent lead (43-42 percent) among pro-life voters who are uninformed about their abortion positions." Check out the The Physiology of Motherhood, Obama and Fatherhood and if Fatherhood starts at conception when does Grandfatherhood start. Excellent video critizicing past comments by Obama on father's day concerning abortion. Also, Bush rocks congress over health professional rights to not have to be involved with abortion in anyway and more...

Take care all....

Congressional/Senate Races and Ballot Initiatives '08 by State Updates at ValuesVoterNews.com

I have made some updates to Races and Ballot Initiatives in Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona since most of you are in those states, however, I next look forward to working on Texas and then keep these 4 continually updated for you all.

Colorado

New Mexico

Arizona

How valuable is your Values Vote? Obamas' first ad: To Values Voters?-"It almost sounds like a typical Republican campaign commercial -- except this is the first national ad aired by Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama since he effectively secured his party's nomination earlier this month."

Check out The "Goose Bump" and "Race" trap - "Black Pastors for Biblical Values vs Obama and his values". See also Black Pro-Lifers to Protest NAACP Convention.

Liberal Media Bias

Notice what's ignored in the media: Voters most interested in Obamas' Position on Abortion, Obamas' Faith with no Wright, Success in Iraq and Africa

Also, I noticed on http://www.valuesvoternews.com/ that the page on my site called Obama and the Born Alive Infant Protection Act? has been the most accessed page and the most time spent on from people just doing a search on google or elsewhere on that subject (not from google or yahoo advertising or my emails). I got 8 hits in less then 24 hours on 06/26/2008 to the 27th and this is even after the fact that my web site has only been out there with less then a month at a time. Now I have yet to get any further inquires into that page but I moved it up to July to see if it makes any difference. But this was not my first page on the blog either at the time. So this issue of specifically the Born Alive Infant Protection Act may be of some controvesy along with other abortion concerns about Obama.

Obama on Abortion

Obama denies protection for infants of botched abortions-"Pro-life blogger Jill Stanek recently wrote a column for WorldNetDaily.com titled "Obama's biggest lie about supporting infanticide." She points out Obama actively opposed the Born Alive Infants Protection Act for three years in the Illinois senate. "He voted against it. He was the sole senator speaking against it on the [Illinois] senate floor [for] two years. And the third year, he held the bill from being considered altogether in committee and killed the bill," Stanek contends. She says Obama's explanation for opposing the Illinois bill does not pass the straight-face test because, as a committee chairman, he blocked the measure's sponsor from adding the federal language protecting Roe vs. Wade. That federal provision says the bill does not deny or add rights to the species Homo sapiens before birth. Stanek fought to stop "live-birth abortion" after holding a live aborted baby at a Chicago-area hospital where she worked as a registered nurse...."Barack Obama is now saying that, had that provision been in the Illinois bill he would have voted for it, which is absolutely false – because in 2003, the senate sponsor tried to add that provision and Barack Obama, as the chairman of the committee where the bill was being held, disallowed him from adding that provision, disallowed me from testifying, disallowed the committee from even voting on it. So, it sat in committee for 22 months," Stanek explains. She reveals it was not until Obama left the Illinois Senate that the Illinois Born Alive Infants Protection Act passed in August of 2005."

Vote in an online poll: Do you find inconsistency in Barack Obama's professed Christian faith and his support for abortion on demand?- Yes or no. I bet you this will be one of the most lop sided and most voted on poll to date on this conservative news source web site!!!!

Christian Group Launches "Abortion President" Campaign against Barack Obama-"Senator Obama's views on abortion are so radical that he even wants American citizens to pay for them. This would include Catholics, Evangelicals and all people of faith. He would also expand abortion rights through his passionate support of The Freedom of Choice Act....Obama campaign spokesman Hari Sevugan sent out the following statement: "Barack Obama understands that the best way to reduce the need for abortions is to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies. He is committed to commonsense solutions to achieve that objective and to changing the tone of the discourse which for too long has devolved into false and negative attacks such as this that do nothing to accomplish that goal"- It would be nice to point out the falsity of the attack please see Edwards, Obama Pledge Abortion Support (At the Planned Parenthood Action Fund presidential candidate forum earlier this week, the John Edwards and Barack Obama campaigns promised to include abortion coverage in their universal health care plans!!!). Obama would have us as most all democrats pay for abortion here and overseas. Secondly, it is negative as it should be. Thirdly, it is a partial birth abortion really the result of an unwanted pregnancy in the sense that he is speaking due to sexual promiscuity (see below).

Obama's Abortion Kerfuffle-"My only point is that in an area like partial-birth abortion having a mental, having a health exception can be defined rigorously. It can be defined through physical health, It can be defined by serious clinical mental-health diseases. It is not just a matter of feeling blue."- Obama. Oh yes the compassion of Obama and women during a PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION which is banned by the Supreme Court of the US and all other countries in this world!!! Are we not forever and always forgetting about the compassion that is forever and always missing toward the unborn human beings in these discussions???? There is no way Obama will get my faith based vote. No way. Unless he changes his view on this subject and others and make it public before all without dispute. I have actually prayed for that!!! Who knows!!!! He also says "historically I have been a strong believer in a women's right to choose with her doctor, her pastor and her family". Again how family of Obama!!! What advice to her daughters would Obama give in supporting his own daughters right to choose if "they make a mistake" that results in a pregnancy if we only took a speech he made some time ago into consideration.

Would he advise a) not to have an abortion thus reducing one abortion, b) to have the abortion if she chooses so because after all he is "a stong believer in a women's right to choose with her doctor, her pastor and" himself or c) MIT Pro-Life students vs Obamas' "moral" concern for his once unborn daughters and hearty empathetic Judges (scroll down to 2nd video). If the video doesn't work cause the last I checked it doesn't then just you tube "punished with a baby". You may also click here: Obama Says He Doesn't Want His Daughters Punished with a Baby for the answer which is c) "But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby." Now I hope that Obama wouldn't give that advice or give such a view of the situation to his daughters. In one sense it is a consequence of a sexually promiscous action but never at the expense of that unborn babies life (TALK ABOUT AN UNJUST PUNISHMENT!!! What did he or she ever do???). If one concieve of a baby as a punishment for bad actions an individual makes how much more should that same one understand the punishment of the innocent, period. Let us turn the tables, flip the coin, butter the otherside of the pancake and throw syrup all over it and respond to Obama and throw the comments that he threw at the unborn child right back at him and say if "they make a mistake I don't want the innocent unborn child punished either"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What did he/she ever do? Talk about social uncompassionate injustice to its lowest stooping degree to the most innocent/voiceless/poorest/helpless members of all in our societies and yet today we violated their most basic right of all rights the RIGHT TO LIFE. And then to hear Obama speak as he does attempting to belittle the concerns of those for the unborn by claiming he wants to only reduce abortions with no talk about the unborn at all, to some of us it makes us not fee so well (PC for sick)....But I will still pray for him no matter what!!!

Canada

Canadian Abortionist Receives Nation's Top Civilian Award

McCain and Bush for sharp contrast

McCain and Bush speak to National Right to Life-"National Right to Life has published the text of the comments by the President and Sen. McCain along with other information about the speeches. See the archive links dated between July 4-8."

Does the Vice President matter?

VP Pick Could Decide Swing States, Polls Show

Same Sex Marriages

Scottish Schools Ban Father's Day Cards

How Fathers Matter for Healthy Child Development

--http://www.valuesvoternews.com/

McDonalds's Boycott

http://www.boycottmcdonalds.com/

"This boycott is not about hiring homosexuals, or homosexuals eating at McDonald's, or how homosexual employees are treated. It is about McDonald's, as a corporation, choosing to put the full weight of their corporation behind promoting the homosexual agenda, including homosexual marriage."

Many of you probabily already know about this but just in case. I have already stopped eating there since I heard of this in the first place. I think if these companies are going to be active in supporting whatever they choose to support in the name of diversity then they need to be equally diverse in including the religious, also. Hey it's their business and they can do what they want with it but if it's hypocritical then it is.

Update on the NM photography case:

ADF files suit disputing N.M. commission's ruling against Christian photographer -A copy of the appeal filed with the 2nd Judicial District Court, County of Bernalillo, in Elane Photography v. Willock is available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/ElanePhotoAppeal.pdf.

McCain vs Obama on Bushs' Faith Based Initiative

Obamas' Divisive Faith Based Initiative? Click on African Wisdom vs NEA and UN/Obama supports a divisive faith based initiative. Scroll down to bottom video for a criticism.

Now you may have heard about whether or not Obama is for tax funded religious organizations religious liberties and conscious' or not. It may be confusing due to a recent AP article. Hopefully this may clear it up.

I will be emailing you 2 email updates I get everyday if you wish to read them in there entirety. I couldn't find a way to put them into this email so I will email the first one label One and the Second one labeled Two.

The first one says, "It's an axiom in politics that what a politician says in public is meant to please, but what he says in private is meant to pledge. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is rhapsodizing in public on the nation's hunger for a leader who shares their homegrown priorities--a love of country, faith in God, and loyalty to family. To prove his sincerity on the issues, Obama says that if elected he'll overhaul President Bush's faith-based initiative and expand it. In a speech today in Zanesville, Ohio, he said that church and religious organizations should play a bigger role in meeting our country's social needs. He would even support the right of federally-funded programs "to hire and fire based on faith." Notice assumed skepticism from this source as you read further. Apparently the skepticism turned out to be a ligitimate skepticism for the AP made a bad report on what Obama actually said.

The Second email labeled Two says, "It appears that in yesterday's Update we gave Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) faith-based policy too much credit. Working from an Associated Press story released before the candidate made his Zanesville speech, FRC included the quote that Obama intended to "support the ability [of religious groups] to hire and fire based on faith." We regret the error. But we also regret what Sen. Obama actually said, which is that his administration would not protect the religious rights of faith-based groups to make employment decisions based on their moral convictions when they are using tax dollars. In his talk, Obama put his "Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships" in stark contrast to President Bush's current program. "First, if you get a federal grant, you can't use that grant money to proselytize to the people you help and you can't discriminate against them--or against the people you hire--based on your religion," he said. Despite the clear and present danger this would pose to church-based outreach programs, Rev. Jim Wallis, President of the liberal Sojourners, wasted no time announcing his support for the plan, even implying that "Obama's proposals also contain necessary protections for religious liberty..." The reality is that Obama's interpretation would be a body blow to religious groups that apply for federal funds. In contrast, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) released a statement today supporting the rights of religious organizations that apply for government funding to "hire people who share their faith."

Arizona Marriage Amendment

Arizonans to vote on the Marriage Amendment in November-"The long-anticipated vote came just before adjournment and followed hours of angry, raucous debate in which the legislative rule book was used as a weapon to both stall the vote (Democrats) and cut short debate (Republicans). Senators on both sides of the aisle and of the issue lamented a meltdown in the higher chamber, as most of the day's work was scrapped so that the marriage amendment could be voted upon while key senators were present."

McCain vs Obama on state Marriage Amendments

In the first email labeled One that I am sending to you Obama is reported of saying at "the LGBT Democratic Club in San Francisco, he scorned man-woman marriage, saying , "...I oppose the divisive and discriminatory efforts to amend the California Constitution [to protect marriage], and similar efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution or those of any other states." While telling the world he will up hold the faith-based initiative as the cornerstone of his administration, Obama says that a cornerstone of society - heterosexual marriage -- is "divisive and discriminatory." Doesn't this mean that faith-based organizations that support marriage will be disqualified from federal funding under an Obama presidency? It would be next to impossible for ministries that promote traditional marriage to participate in a Healthy Marriage project funded through an Obama faith-based initiative."

For McCain see, McCain vs Obama on Marriage Amendment in California which I posted in the last email.

Good News on McCain

McCain seems to be meeting with evangelical conservatives to make a point with us. I find it interesting that there are ample reports in the news on Obamas' reaching out to the religious whereas McCains' reach has very little air. So, just in case you didn't know. McCain has made supporting statements on California Marriage Act which was in your last email. He has supported Bushs' Faith Based Initiatives to ALL Faiths not just to compromising faiths. He has met privately with Billy and Franklin Graham and with Frank Pavone a strong Catholic Pro-Life conservative scroll down to the second article under the subheading of Pro-Life. And recently he appeared before 90 conservatives in Denver evangelical leaders which include Matthew Staver who formely supported Huckabee of the Liberty Counsel (which offensively sues and defensively protects pro-life cases and religious liberty cases like this recent one against Hallmark)..."According to Staver, those in attendance included Phyllis Schlafly, head of the Eagle Forum; pastor and "Left Behind" co-author Tim LaHaye and his wife, Beverly, founder of Concerned Women for America; David Barton, founder of WallBuilders; Rick Scarborough of Vision America; and Don Hodel, a former interior secretary and former president of Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family. "Our shared core values compel us to unite and choose the presidential candidate that best advances those values," said Staver...."That obvious choice is Sen. John McCain. I think people left the meeting in unity the likes of which have not been evident through the primaries."...Staver said enthusiasm is building for McCain, in part because of the Republican senator's recent meetings with movement leaders like Phil Burress, who also attended the Denver summit. Burress helped pass an anti-gay marriage measure in Ohio that was credited with helping President Bush win the state in 2004. Asked whether it was opposition to Obama or enthusiasm for McCain that motivated the group, Staver said: "Obama is a considerable threat to our values. At the same time, Sen. McCain recently has been reaching out to evangelicals and conservative voters that we represent."

I am waiting to see who he chooses as VP before I am persuaded. But he is doing a good job reaching out at this moment for my values vote without contradictions.

Obama vs Dobson

Commentary: In Defense of Dr. Dobson-by Patrick Buchanan. A must read article for those interested. "Folks haven't been reading their Bibles....whose Christianity would we teach in the schools? Would we go with James Dobson's or with Al Sharpton's?...translate some of our concerns in a universal language so that we can have an open and vigorous debate rather than have religion divide us."-Thus saith Obama. But when confronted with skepticism from Dobson namely that Obama "is dragging biblical understanding through the gutter.." and "Am I required in a democracy to conform my efforts in the political arena to his bloody notion of what is right with regard to the life of tiny babies?". Obamas' "open" and "vigorous debate" is that Dobson is "making stuff up". Well maybe he is and maybe he isn't but when it comes to what matters at the end of the day on biblical issues like the lives of the unborn, marriage and religous liberties Dobson understanding of the Bible wins hands down!!!! Obama should practice his claimed truth and have an "open and vigorous debate". I think we need an "open and vigorous debate rather than having" Obamas view of the Bible "divide" up the truth of the scriptures into whatever he wants it to say all in the name of non divisiveness. How undivisive is that???!!!! Talk about an unbiblical point of view of what a christian is see: Obama Reaches Out to Young Evangelicals?. Don't forget about his pastor for 20 years!!! I mean if Obama wants to reach out to evangelicals he must expect criticism from evangelicals!!!! For more evidence of Obamas' reach out to evangelicals check out: How valuable is your Values Vote? Obamas' first ad: To Values Voters?.

"Is it not that, in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event in the progress of the gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer's mission upon earth?"-John Quincy Adams July 4th 1937

http://www.valuesvoternews.com/

2nd Amendment Rights

Thanks to Bush appointed Judges: 5 Judges rule in favour of 2nd Amendment to 4 dissenting Judges.-"Justice Antonin Scalia's majority opinion is a textbook example of constitutional originalism....D.C. had either the first or second highest murder rate among the nation's 50 largest cities. A National Academy of Sciences report based on 253 journal articles, 99 books, 43 government publications and a survey of 80 different gun-control laws, shows no link between restrictions on gun ownership and lower rates of crime, firearms violence or even accidents with guns...Justice Scalia's opinion is exemplary for the way it was reasoned. It will be studied by law professors and students for years to come. It is the clearest, most careful interpretation of the meaning of the Constitution ever to be adopted by a majority of the Supreme Court . . .Justice Scalia's opinion is the finest example of what is now called "original public meaning" jurisprudence ever adopted by the Supreme Court." "Flip flop or not? Does Obama support the DC Handgun Law as constitutional or does he not?"-See the video and you be the judge. I honestly can't tell for sure. One instance he says he supports the ban as constitutional and the next he doesn't but his explanation is a little confusing so who knows. To me either its a 2nd amendment right or not. But I honestly don't know the issues well enough so for those of you who do you be the judge if it interests you!!! By contrast, however, it is pretty clear where McCain stands. This to me is not a big issue except when it comes to how judges will understand the constitution and it sounds like Scalia and the majority court is in my boat of understanding what the constitution meant in the context of the times in which it was created and then to apply those intentions to life of today but never to change the meaning of those intentions because of the times of today. If one wishes to change the constitution for todays society one should AMEND IT not reinterpret nor redefine it!!! If we redefine or reinterpret it to meet todays "demands" then really how constitutional is the constitution from one day to the next and back!!!

Morning Shows Give a Combined 3.5 Minutes to Historic Gun Ruling-"Despite the "historic" nature of Thursday's Supreme Court ruling that the Second Amendment is an individual right, all three morning shows on Friday virtually ignored the decision, devoting a combined total of three minutes and 33 seconds to the story. And between CBS's Early Show, NBC's Today and ABC's Good Morning America, that's out of eight hours of programming"

The 2005 testimony of the Roe of Roe vs Wade in the 1973 Supreme Court decision against the unborn.

Jesus, Texas, Kansas, Colorado and Roe vs Obamas' radical extremism against the unborn: "the most radical president ever when it comes to abortion."-See how the lawyers treated the "victim" in this case according to the "victim" herself. Contrast her Values with those of Obama. Also, note the forgiveness she received in Christ as she gives in her official testimony in 2005 to the US Senate and calls on Senators to repent she says, "We have to turn from our wicked ways. Senators, I urge you to examine your own conscience before Almighty God. God is willing and able to forgive you. He sent His own son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sins as Roe of Roe v. Wade, and for our sins in failing to act to end abortion and to truly help women in crisis pregnancies. I finally asked the Lord Jesus to forgive me in 1995"-And does this apply to us voters. Are we not the ones who have accepted this practice by electing the Senators and presidents that have been endorsed by the strongest abortion rights activists. Is not the media and hollywood and documentarist also just as much at fault for not making the American public aware of such issues and making it less of an issue then the Mary Magdalena of Jesus? I hear Obama says that he agrees that abortion is wrong but not to be imposed on others and then he says he doesn't want his daughters to be punished with a baby if they make a mistake and then he says fatherhood starts at conception and then he says he wants to only reduce aborted sons from conception and not eliminate it. My head is dizzy with contradictions. Bottom line he is for the destruction of newly formed human beings in the womb of a mother and it is obvious by who endorses him. I would just like to ask Obama to apply his belief that he is not to impose his beliefs concerning abortions on the choice of a woman (namely that it is murder) and thus we should not take the Pro-Life position in politics but let the women decide for themselves thus the Pro-Choice position in politics. Take that same view and apply it to those of the civil rights movement or abolitionist of slavery and the slave trade or any other autrocity that has been overcome in times past by men and women standing on principle like the holocaust inspite of others beliefs. Let Obama argue with William Wilberforce in Parliament. William says: "we need to end the slave trade it is an abomination" and Obama responds: "yes it is an abomination but we can't impose our beliefs on others". The only reason why one would make such an argument is because they knowingly or unknowingly consider the slave or unborn child as less than human. Obamas' position is an imposing of a belief on a human life to a point beyond slavery (death) in the name of not imposing my views on others on this politic. Thus Obama is self refuting when it comes to his position on abortion in politics and if this is how he treats this most grave and serious issue of human life then I don't care how good his "plan for america is" it is death to the unborn just as much as any slave abolitionist would not cast a vote for such treatment of humans as less then human. And how can God bless us if we are destroying lives in the name of choice. Now maybe I am misrepresenting Obamas' position and reasoning here. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong if there are any Obama fans out there.

Here is Sandra Cano 2 video minute testimony (if the link doesn't pull up click www.operationoutcry.org and you can find it near the bottom) before the senate in 2005. Sandra is the Doe in Doe vs Bolton which was a companion case with Roe vs Wade.

Supremes to reconsider landmark abortion case Plaintiff in Doe v. Bolton case says ACLU attorney pushed her to have abortion-"The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to reconsider next week its landmark 1973 Doe vs. Bolton abortion decision, in response to a lawsuit brought by the case's original plaintiff, who claims she was pressured by ACLU attorneys to opt for abortion and that the case was based on fraud. Like Norma McCorvey, the original "Jane Roe" of Roe v. Wade, Sandra Cano was "Mary Doe" of 1973's other historic abortion decision. Together, "Roe" and "Doe" eliminated all state laws prohibiting abortion and legalized abortion. Cano's case in particular – because of the "health exception" for the mother it created – opened the door to abortion on demand, for virtually any reason, at any stage of pregnancy up to the moment of birth....Cano, who at the time of the case was a pregnant, 22-year-old wife of an abusive husband and all three of her children in foster care, was just looking for a way to get her children back and leave her husband, she says. At no time was she interested in abortion, she adds, but insists she was pressured toward abortion by an aggressive ACLU attorney...U.S. abortion laws was based on fraud and lies coordinated by Margie Pitts Hames, Cano's ACLU attorney...Saying her mother and Hames tried to force her to have an abortion, Cano says she fled to Oklahoma and returned only when she was sure she was assured that she wouldn't have to have the abortion. She was told not to speak in court, Cano adds."-Many more good links below this story for further understanding from the Pro-Life point of view.

Repent America

This sites may be offensive and is pretty strongly worded at times as you dig deeper. So I just forewarn you all now. It is a decent resource and a good biblical argument for why we should repent there are 2 options to enter the site. One for the christian and one for the non-christian.

www.repentamerica.com- "Repent v. To turn away from sin. to sorrow or be pained for violating God's holy law, a dishonour to His character and government, and the foulist ingratitude to a Being of infinite benevolence."

And while we are at it another strongly worded article:

THE JESUS MANIFESTO: A CALL TO REVOLUTION-"Forty years ago, a counterculture revolution swept through America, resulting in a sudden, steep moral decline. Since that time (from the early '60s until today), the divorce rate has doubled, the teen suicide rate has tripled, reported violent crime has quadrupled, the prison population has quintupled, the percentage of babies born out of wedlock has risen six-fold, and couples living together out of wedlock has risen sevenfold. And the end is not in sight. The last generation's counterculture of rebellion has become this generation's establishment of revulsion, and what was unthinkable forty years ago – daytime talk shows celebrating adultery and incest; homosexual love scenes on major network TV; eleven year-old multiple murderers; massacres in our schools and houses of worship – is a matter of course today. We need a revolution! But this revolution will be different than other revolutions – including the revolution that birthed our nation more than 200 years ago. This revolution will not be fought with earthly weapons of destruction – not with guns and knives and bullets and bombs. It will not be fought with hatred, anger, intimidation, or brute force. No. It will be fought with the message of the gospel, with the love of God, with the power of the Spirit, with radical holiness, with sacrifice, compassion, and courage. It will be a Jesus revolution, an intense clash between two spiritual kingdoms, a heavenly attack on the enemy's strongholds, a no compromise stand for morality and truth. And it will impact society in a lasting way. It must!"

And event. If anything do check out the video advertisement on the below web site advertising this event:

The Call-"since 1973 we have had the choice" "we have chosen" "to kill a baby every 22 seconds" "if 600,000 men died on the battlefield in the civil war because of slavery" "what is coming to America if God provides a day fo reckoning for 50 million babie" "when there is no hope" "when there is no remedy" "God still has a holy prescription" "8 years ago 400,000 young people gathered at the mall" "8 years later...."-Washington DC at the mall 08/16/2008

On a lighter side

McCain vs Obama on Marriage Amendment in California

"Congress never reflects the values of the nation; rather, it only reflects the values of those who voted in the last election."-David Barton

---www.ValuesVoterNews.com

Entertainment:

http://www.belladvds.com/- "Bella is the #1 rated film of 2007 by the users of the biggest film review website in the world, Rotten Tomatoes.com with a 96.5 rating. Bella was also #1 while in theaters by users of Yahoo!, Fandango and NY Times Readers Poll."-wow!!! Grassroots baby!!! Who needs Hollywood or a Hollywood advertising/production budget or the media when you've got "we the people"!!!

Bella is the No. 1 pre-sale romantic movie on Amazon.com-"Producer Leo Severino told LifeSiteNews.com that the movie has been instrumental in saving at least 15 preborn babies from abortion."-I'm excited to find out what becomes of these 15!!!

Rebelution:

Rebelution- Web site of brothers of Joshua Harris who wrote "I kissed dating GoodBye" and "Sex Is Not The Problem (Lust Is)" dedicated to teens rebelling against low expectations of teens. Listen to an interview of them here and scroll down to 05/08/5008. It takes a while to download but thats normal. I just start doing something else while I am waiting. Makes the wait go by fast. "Instead of serving as the launching pad of life, the teen years are seen as a vacation from responsibility. We call it the "myth of adolescence." And the Rebelution is all about busting that myth."

Iraq:

US Military deaths down over 26 year average-"In 2005, a total of 1,942 U.S. military personnel were killed in all causes, including accidents, hostile action, homicides, illnesses, suicides, etc...That compares to 2,392 in 1980, the last year of President Jimmy Carter's administration....the first year of the peacetime Clinton administration, 1,293 U.S. servicemen lost their lives -- just 649 fewer than in 2005, the hottest year of the Iraq war."-04/25/2008.

Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles have sharply reduced the lethality of insurgent roadside bomb attacks in Iraq.

Fall in violence lures Iraqis home-"According to the latest figures available from the Iraqi government, about 30,000 Iraqis had returned home through March."-05/04/2008 USA Today.

Seven weeks into its own surge, the city of Basra has been largely quited "to the initial surprise and growing delight of many inhabitants."

For a great conservative think tank and the largest think tank in the world period then check out The Heritage Foundation and you can sign up for their daily emails just for a differing point of view sake then the popular media and balance sake in ones own political understanding though they are not themselves at all balanced nor claim to be. Here is the web site of The Heritage Foundations' counterpart from the left wing web site http://www.americanprogress.org/. You will probabily note that most of their views are promoted in the media anyways so it may be nothing new but none the less feel free to compare and check out and then see if whether or not you agree that the popular media seems to highly favor one side over the other.

Online Dating Sevice:

EHarmony Sued for Gay Discrimination-"Linda Carlson says she tried to use the eHarmony site to meet another woman, but could not, based on her sexual orientation...Originally a Christian website, the company has sought out more secular audiences in recent years."-06/2007. Not only is EHarmonys' services not available for the promotion of homosexual couples but neither are their services available for the promotion of heterosexual "one-night stands"...

eHarmony and 'one-night stands' incompatible-"eHarmony has retracted a column advocating "one-night stands" after a newlywed Christian couple who met on the popular website accused the online dating service of departing from its "Christian, pro-marriage beginnings" and embracing the "hook-up" culture"-04/2008.

Update on Academic Freedom Legislation:

Four States Consider Permitting Academic Freedom on Evolution-"The effort to protect the academic freedom of the nation's educators received a blow, as a Florida bill protecting the right of teachers to examine the strengths and weaknesses of Darwin's theory of evolution died on Friday with the end of the state legislative session. However, Michigan, Louisiana, Alabama, and Missouri currently have similar legislation under consideration."-So now there are 5 states working on this type of legislation. I reported on Florida, Lousiana and Missouri and for actual wording of bills and success in Florida click on 04/28/2008 and scroll down Recent legislation inacted to support Academic Freedom:. Keep in mind this email is an update to Florida that even though the bills past both House and Senate that the bills were still being worked on but the legislative session ended so it stopped. I don't know what happens from there.

Burma: What lies in Darkness?:

Praying for Morning to Break in Burma-"March 11th is the Global Day of Prayer for Burma.....Last month, a young Chin woman named Cheery Zahau presented the United Nations with fresh evidence of atrocities conducted by the Burmese Army. She told of gang rapes and the raping of victims as young as 12 years old in Burma's Chin State. Zahau reportedly testified, "Often the rapes have been carried out with extreme brutality and in some cases they resulted in the death of the victim. In one case, a woman was stripped naked and hung on a cross, in a deliberate act of mockery against her Christian religion."-03/09/2007

Bush Urges U.N. to Spread Freedom-"Taking center stage in front the world, Bush announced that the United States would impose new sanctions against the military dictatorship in Myanmar..."Americans are outraged by the situation in Burma," President Bush said. The Asian country was renamed Myanmar from Burma by its military junta. However, the United States does not recognize that name change..."-09/25/2007

Text President Bush's Speech to the U.N.-"This morning, I'm announcing a series of steps to help bring peaceful change to Burma. The United States will tighten economic sanctions on the leaders of the regime and their financial backers. We will impose an expanded visa ban on those responsible for the most egregious violations of human rights, as well as their family members. We'll continue to support the efforts of humanitarian groups working to alleviate suffering in Burma. And I urge the United Nations and all nations to use their diplomatic and economic leverage to help the Burmese people reclaim their freedom."-09/27/2007.

Nine Dead as Burma Military Fires on Crowds-"Witnesses have reported that soldiers smashed windows and doors, and beat the sleeping monks. While some monks managed to get away, hundreds of others were taken away in military trucks...Bono said everyone should offer their support to the Burmese people. "In Britain, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has shown some leadership as has President George Bush. Everyone should keep their fingers crossed and say your prayers for them," the rock star said."-09/27/2007.

Tribal Christians Find New Life in U.S.-"The Htoo family is part of a tribe called the Karen, which lives in the mountains of northern Burma. The tribe is primarily Christian, thanks to the efforts of American missionaries in the 1850's. Just after World War II, the country of Burma was taken over by a Buddhist military dictatorship. Since then, the government has engaged in genocidal persecution of the Christian ethnic minorities within their borders....a country that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has recently called on the U.N. Security Council to consider action against its government....After years of lobbying, the U.S. government agreed to allow up to 10,000 refugees from Burma to resettle in the U.S."-09/28/2007.

Burmese Christians Pray for Hope-"In the midst of the seemingly hopeless situation, Burmese Christians are interceding for their country. Christians inside the country, and even those who fled to the jungles of neighboring countries are praying. They believe that no amount of protests can topple the iron rule in Burma. Only prayer, they say, can change their nation."-03/07/2008

Global Day of Prayer 2008 Brochure. "We believe that: 1. God loves the people of Burma and we should be strong in the mighty power of God. 2. The rider on the white horse (Rev 19:11-14) will fight for the oppressed. 3. We should go deep and go ahead, not broad or shallow or sideways. 4. God reveals what lies in darkness."-03/09/2008

Enters Cyclone: 05/03/2008

First Lady Laura Bush on Myanmar-Notice she didn't once recognize Myanmar as neither did her Husband in his speech to the UN back in 09/2007 (see above Bush Urges U.N. to spread freedom for further detail as to maybe why). "On Saturday, Cyclone Nargis swept through Burma. The storm affected more than 2 million people, and according to the Burmese media, killed thousands. The aftermath has left cities paralyzed, families separated and houses and businesses destroyed. It's troubling that many of the Burmese people learned of this impending disaster only when foreign outlets -- such as Radio Free Asia and Voice of America -- sounded the alarm. Although they were aware of the threat, Burma's state-run media failed to issue a timely warning to citizens in the storm's path...he United States stands prepared to provide an assistance team and much needed supplies to Burma as soon as the Burmese government accepts our offer. The government of Burma should accept this team quickly, as well as other offers of international assistance...In response to the regime's continued repression, President Bush has instructed the U.S. Treasury Department to freeze assets of Burmese state-owned companies that are held in U.S. banks. This adds to actions last year to expand U.S. sanctions against Burma's regime, and to tighten sanctions against its top leaders. We thank the European Union, Canada and Australia for joining the United States in imposing similar restrictions. And we appeal to China, India, and Burma's fellow ASEAN members to use their influence to encourage a democratic transition...Watch more of her press conference"-05/07/2008.

Myanmar Slow to Accept International Aid-"Despite the cyclone, the government indicated that a referendum on the country's draft constitution would proceed as planned on May 10. "It's only a few days left before the coming referendum and people are eager to cast their vote," the state-owned newspaper Myanma Ahlin said Monday. Should the junta be perceived as failing disaster victims, voters who already hold the regime liable for ruining the economy and squashing democracy could take out their frustrations at the ballot box."-05/07/2008

First Round of Int'l Aid Reaches Myanmar-"The first round of International aid began with 800 tons of food for Myanmar's homeless, the U.N.'s World Food Program.." And check this out as was mentioned in Laura Bushs' speech above..."The cyclone came only a week ahead of a key referendum on a constitution that Myanmar's military leaders hoped would go smoothly in its favor. But the disaster could stir the already tense political situation."-05/07/2008

Myanmar Junta Hands Out Aid Boxes-Check this out in light of last 2 reports above!!! "Myanmar's military regime distributed international aid Saturday but plastered the boxes with the names of top generals in an apparent effort to turn the relief effort for last week's devastating cyclone into a propaganda exercise...Despite international appeals to postpone a referendum on a controversial proposed constitution, voting began Saturday in all but the hardest hit parts of the country. With voters going to the polls, state-run television continuously ran images of top generals including junta leader, Senior Gen. Than Shwe, handing out boxes of aid at elaborate ceremonies."-05/10/2008. Wow!!!

First U.S. Relief Airlift Heads to Myanmar-"Still, the reclusive junta insists it will handle the aid distribution itself, through its feared military, which has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1962. Many people have complained that they are getting rotting rice and that soldiers are keeping the best food for themselves. "The government is very controlling," said U Patanyale, the abbot of a monastery in Kyi Bui Khaw village. "Those who want to give directly to the victims get into trouble. They have to give to the government or do it secretly. They follow international aid trucks everywhere. They don't want others to take credit. That's the Myanmar government," he said."-05/12/2008

Maybe this email can be used in what little way it can in answer to the prayer of those in Burma of "...what Lies in Darkness..." and who knows but maybe in some tragic way larger scale attention will be continually brought to this area because of this tragedy...

Faith Based Christian NGO's also helping out:

Mission agency among first responders in Burma-"Thousands of Burmese cyclone victims are finding relief through a well-known mission agency. While international aid teams were trying to get permission to enter Burma, more than 500 Gospel For Asia (GFA) missionaries were already on the ground, providing relief to those who lost family members, friends, and all their possessions. And one GFA Bible College in Rangoon now serves as a makeshift shelter for those left homeless by the deadly cyclone."-05/08/2008

GFA Missionaries Seeking Cyclone Survivors
"The teams included students from GFA's Bible college in Yangon, which has become a center of ministry to survivors in Myanmar's largest city....The GFA country leader is directing the relief efforts at the college, which includes providing desperately needed food and water to survivors staying on and near the campus..."The number of dead will probably be over 100,000," K.P. reported...A few U.N. aid flights have been allowed to land in Rangoon, but only a handful of outside aid workers have been granted visas. "For us, the issue is not as much visas as it is getting supplies into the affected areas," K.P. explained. "Our people are already on the ground. Our national leader is organizing the relief efforts. And he is trying to arrange for our materials to get in. But they need much more—and they need much prayer. "We are working to get some of our workers into Burma from India," he noted, "but right now we are relying on our Burmese workers and church members who are helping every way they can to alleviate the suffering...Most importantly, they are bringing the hope of Jesus Christ into the situation...One of the things we learned in the wake of the Asian tsunami was that even when we bring physical aid, the emotional and spiritual needs are even greater. "I still remember when one of our missionaries read Scripture to a woman who was about to walk into the ocean and drown herself because she had lost everything in the tsunami," he recounted. "She had received food and clothing and shelter—but she had lost her entire family and didn't want to live anymore. It was only the Good News of the Gospel that saved her...Even as we minister in the wake of this cyclone, we must never forget what man's deepest needs are."-05/08/2008

OBI Brings Food to Myanmar Orphans-"Watch the full report on the player. It includes video from inside Myanmar and a phone interview with an Operation Blessing International aid worker."

http://www.myowneyes.org/-"With My Own Eyes is a firsthand, eyewitness account offering users the opportunity to see some of the most devastated, disaster-ravaged and previously inaccessible places in the world, as well as a look at Operation Blessing's efforts to help people that live there.This multimedia site features video footage, photos and the personal diary entries of team leaders from Operation Blessing International"

A can't miss footage of food getting to people via Operation Blessing (a christian relief organization) without government labels on the food!!!!!-See real faces and damage caused by cyclone.

Christians Concerned for Burma-"Map of Burma showing the state regions belonging to Burma's different ethnic nationalities." And many more resources. And just added is a link to photos of the human devastation you can get to here labeled Please be advised that photos are graphic.

Lastly:

A God of suffering?-Video of a christian response to the problem of suffering in the world. This video was made during Hurricane Katrina by a pastor who himself had underwent suffering in his own life and remember the only God in the history of humanity to partake in sufferings Himself is Jesus Christ and thus the only God that has a right to relationally speak on the subject for He has decided to personally relate on this issue with humanity.

Get Answers: Death and Suffering-For those without video and for further information and in more detail this issue is dealt with here.

I just want to add that since God is also, all just (not only all powerful and all loving) that all evils committed in the world will one day be as though they never even were "they shall be as though they had not been."-Obadiah 1:16 speaking of men who commit evil. If we trust to God's power of justice (or ability to make all wrongs right) then all evil will be reversed. But if we trust not to God what is our option??? Feel free to fill in the blanks. It seems that if we really want wrongs to be made right we are forced to believe that God is 1. all powerful 2. all loving and 3. all just??? Its almost as if the desire to right all the wrongs committed from beginning to end in our world presupposes a faith in such a God!!! Or rather it is the only position that will satisfy that thirst. So if we see evil in the world and we really truely desire for the wrongs to be righted then we must believe in God. And lastly since God is not bound to time like we are in one sense HE HAS ALREADY RIGHTED THE WRONGS!!!! So if you add to point 1., 2. and 3. above that God is 4. the creator of time and not subject to its laws sort of speak being outside and above His creation then by the eyes of faith we can know that they have been dealt with already in His mind if this is the God that does exist and we being subject to time and space must wait and see this glorious good desire of ours (that of justice) fulfilled. It seems as though it is an impossibility humanly speaking but as that which is with men impossible, with God is quite another thing and maybe this is one of those glorious acts that is already in His mind fulfilled but by believing maybe one day we will see the fulfillment of in some obviously unhuman way "as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."-I Corinthians 2:9. So when we are tempted to play the part of doubting Thomas "he (Thomas)..Except I shall see....I will not believe" may we take the counsel of Christ to bear in heart and mind, "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." And so the message of the cross is the most hopefilled relational/rational message from God to man for those in great suffering and pain desiring to see the righting of all these wrongs as opposed to their greatest enemy as many atheist would have us believe. What do the atheist provide but just that this is the way it is so releive as much pain and suffering as you can and so learn to live with it(no hell below us, above us only sky...and no religion too...and may I add it ain't pretty as it is and no justice too)!!! After all its been the way of the universe for billions of years who are we to complain and have any sense or need of justice if all we are is a result of chance over the chance of time!!!??? I suppose there are only so many things to have faith in!!! But God brings a proposition that satisfies our sense of justice and hope for such dire situations as Burma if we have any hope left after our many years of training in the schools of organized religious atheism!!! Good thing we don't act like all has its roots in naturalistic chancism!!!! I suppose if we did we really would have no justified logical reason to be concerned at all with what is happening tragically anywhere let alone our own back yard. Thank God that atheists act contrary to their beliefs!!!! And God save us if they ever do!!!! I say this with a little humour and not seriously though making a serious philosophical point of a flaw in atheism and not to be viewed as attacking any atheist personally or that all atheist are bad or anything like that. But just responding with the dangers of atheism if atheism weeded out all hypocrisy, after all atheists are always proclaiming the dangers of religion and such so just reasoning in a similar fashion relatable to atheistics own thinking to point out flaws in atheism is all I am attempting to do no matter how successful or unsuccessful. Take care all.

I understand that this is a more rational response to death and suffering as opposed to an emotionally supportive one. But just knowing that the Creator of the Universe chose to relate with us in our sufferings by suffering Himself on a cross for our sins especially when He didn't have to thus willingly/lovingly can bring great healing and help to us and those in tragedies like this. And that He can and does help us thru difficult times if we ask Him and sometimes even before we ask Him and then again at certain times appointed and planned He decides to take us and our loved ones home....Take care all....

Yanking Back the Balance/Filling in the Gaps/Emphasizing the Missing Headlines

"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?...I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people....They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture...Ye that fear the LORD, praise him....For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard."-Selected verses from Psalm 22 fulfilled in Christ on the cross for our sins!!! See Matthew 27:32-55

Another Update on NM Photographer case:

I hope this is the last update until it goes up further in the appeal process. I have been praying for this women and her partner that they would come to the Lord thru all this in some way and that in some way God would be glorified in this. I say this just to encourage you all to not only get a little upset but to handle this with passionate prayer for the lost and that God uses this for good like He did the cross and that we act like Christ did when He was persecuted for His religious beliefs!!!!

Quick update concerning my complaint of KOAT and KOBTV report from the 04-11-2008 AP report on there web sites on my prior email on this subject which you can find here. Check out the NEW MORE ACCURATE AP release on 04-14-2008 www.CBNnews.com entitled: "Human Rights Commission: Christian Discriminated against Lesbians"-"The Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian organization that defends religious liberty"-04-14-2008. Much better!!!

Now, the facts:

The official 35 page briefing in defense of NM Photographer-Check out the Statement of Facts starting on page 3-7, And here is a key argument concerning motivation and quite enlightening..."At best, Willock has introduced direct evidence that Elane Photography does "not photograph same-sex weddings," Resp. Ex. B. at 5, but that does not inform the "ultimate issue" of the Company's motivation....Once a complainant establishes her prima facie case, that prima facie showing "may then be rebutted by evidence that the [complainant] was [refused service] based on a nondiscriminatory motivation."...Id. Here, both Jonathan and Elaine testified that they declined to photograph Willock's wedding-like, same-sex commitment ceremony because they refuse to use, and company policy prevents them from using, their talents and resources to promote a message with which they earnestly disagree, namely, that marriage can exist between anyone other than one man and one woman. Tr. at . Both Jonathan and Elaine testified that they did not refuse their Company's services because of Willock's "sexual orientation." Tr. at . In fact, they both acknowledged that they would offer their photography services to Willock or any other individual regardless of their sexual orientation, but they could not do so in the requested context of a wedding-like, same-sex commitment ceremony because of the message conveyed by that event. Tr. at . On the other hand, if Willock had asked Elane Photography to take pictures of her as part of, for example, individual portraits for a modeling portfolio, the Company would have been happy to provide its services in that context. In sum, then, Elane Photography's refusal to photograph Willock's ceremony was motivated by Jonathan's and Elaine's desire to refrain from furthering, promoting, or endorsing a same-sex "marital" relationship, and not from any soft of unlawful discriminatory animus. This is not some irrational, arbitrary, post-hoc justification for the Company's actions. Context and message are important to artists, and the legitimacy of Elane Photography's nondiscriminatory reason is demonstrated by a simple illustration. Suppose, for example, that a Ku Klux Klan..."-pg 16,17.

The Commission Opinion and Final Order-Documented Email conversation,
"17. On September 21, 2006, Ms. Willock contacted the website of Elane Photography to obtain information about its photographic services and pricing. Ms. Willock sent Elane Photography the following email inquiry: We are researching potential photographers for our commitment ceremony on September 15, 2007 in Taos, NM. This is a same-gender ceremony. If you are open to helping us celebrate our day we'd like to receive pricing information. Thanks [Testimony of Willock; Exhibit E at 1-2.] 18. Later on the same day, Ms. Elaine Huguenin gave the following response to Ms. Willock: Hello Vanessa, As a company, we photograph traditional weddings, engagements, seniors, and several other things such as political photographs and singer's portfolios. -Elaine— [Testimony of Willock and Elaine Huguenin; Exhibit 1; Exhibit E at 1, 3 & 43 19. Ms. Willock was not sure whether Ms. Elaine Huguenin's response meant that Elane Photography did or did not offer its services to same-gender couples arid sought clarification on November 28, 2006, as follows: Hi Elaine, Thanks for your response below of September 21, 2006. I'm a bit confused, however, by the wording of your response. Are you saying that your company does not offer your photography services to same-sex couples? Thanks, Vanessa [Testimony of Willock; Exhibit I; Exhibit E at 4.] 20. On November 28, Ms. Elaine Huguenin clarified her previous response to Ms. Willock in the following way: Hello Vanessa, Sorry if our last response was a confusing one. Yes, you are correct in saying we do not photograph same-sex weddings, but again, thanks for checking out our site! Have a great day. -Elaine"
Notice that she needed clarification 3 months later!!! Just a little odd...

"25. On November 29, 2006, Ms. Willock's partner, Ms. Collinswortb, formerly known as Ms. Pascottini, sought to verify Ms. Elaine Huguenin's refusal to photograph a same-sex ceremony by making a similar email inquiry about packages and rates to photograph a wedding, without any mention of same-sex. Ms. Collinsworth sent the following email to Elane Photography: Hi Elaine, I really like your photographs. I was wondering if you would be willing to travel to Ruidoso for my wedding? Can you send me a list of your packages and rates? Thanks!! [Testimony of Collinsworth; Exhibit E at 6.) 26. On November 29, 2006, Ms. Elaine Huguenin responded affirmatively by email to Ms. Collinsworth's inquiry and, at the same time, forwarded Ms. Collinsworth information about the company's photography pricing (base package, $1,450; deluxe package, $1,850; and royal package, $2,250), as well as information about the company's procedure for online proofing credits. The text of Ms. Elaine Huguenin's response to Ms. Collinsworth's inquiry was as follows: Hello Misty, Thanks so much for contacting us. I would definately [sic) be willing to travel to Ruidoso for your wedding. I have attached some information that should be helpful as far as prices and packages. There is also another attachment concerning "print credits" — it explains what online proofing is, because it's something that is a bit newer and not everyone may know what it is yet. Hopefully these items will help you sort some things out. Also, I would love to meet up with you sometime, if you are interested, to show you more of my recent book, along with an example of the "coffee table book" that included in all ofourpacicages. My place of choice is Satellite... Good luck with your planning, and I hope to talk with you soon -Elaine [Testimony of Collinsworth and Elaine Huguenin; Exhibit E at 7; Exhibit C & Exhibit E at 9; Exhibit D & Exhibit E at 10.] 27. On December 19, 2006, having not heard again from Ms. Collinsworth (then known as Misty Pascottini), Ms. Elaine Huguenin sent the following email to Ms. Collinsworth:
Hello Misty, I just wanted to check and see if you had any questions about the prices or packages that I could help answer. I hope that planning is going well for you. Have a great day! -Elaine [Testimony of Elaine Huguenin; Exhibit F at 8.]"

That's all the conversation that took place!!! Some how Vanessa Willock and her partner believed that Elaine had no other reason to not do photographs of there same-gender ceremony except for sexual orientation. It seems to me that if there is any discrimination going on here it would be: religious discrimination on the part of the Human Rights Commission (arbitrarily favouring one right over another)!!!!...This is a case of Religious Discrimination in the name of Sexual Orientation..."Gay rights have trumped religious rights in a New Mexico case."-04/14/2008 AP. I can understand maybe the confusion between Elaine and Vanessa in the email conversations but I have yet to agree with the Human Rights Commission Final Order and Opinion...

Here is an interesting commentary on this case:

The New Mexico Human Rights Commission Refuses to Consider Religious Freedom Objection:

The Breadth of the New Mexico Human Rights Commission's Rationale:

Photographers Denied the Freedom To Choose What They Photograph:
What does Bush have to do with all this:

Fighting religious discrimination: Bush administration's quiet campaign-"In education, for example, the DOJ reviewed 82 cases and conducted 40 investigations from 2001 to 2006. Compare this with the 1995-2000 time period, when the DOJ reviewed one case and made no investigations...As Judge Judy would say, these are real cases about real people. From attacks on houses of worship to incidents of discrimination at school and work, the DOJ over the past five years has investigated scores of cases involving the religious rights of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Native Americans and others."-When I read this I was reasoned, yep here is another one. I am hardly getting the whole story from ABC, CBS, NBC or PBS. Justifying the slogan below....

Yanking Back the Balance and Filling in the Gaps

P.S.-Concerning the media lack of coverage on these issues I wanted to submit a suggestion concerning motive of lack of coverage. And I do believe I have presented evidence of this unlike Vanessa and her partner. Not only is money and ratings a motive but may I submit that maybe just maybe liberal politics rooted in a liberal worldview is a big part of the pie, also, which highly favours one political party over another....

I always intend just to send a quick email but then I just can't help but to add a little and a little and a little until it is a little to much!!! :)

Take care all.

"When I watched him [former President Bill Clinton] at Mrs. King's funeral, I just have never seen anything like it....There are times when he sounds like Jesus in the temple. I mean, amazing ability to transcend ethnicity -- race, we call it, it's really ethnicity -- in this country and, and speak to us all in this amazingly primordial way."-MSNBC's Chris Matthews (Awarded "Quote of the year" at the 2008 Dishonors Awards)