What is Constructivism?!? (And why the heck is it in Texas Elementary Schools....)

Via Texas CSCOPE Review; the video is longwinded, but good background for the emerging debate of Texas School Finance:


Highlights:

• Teaches kids to 'create their own knowledge.

• Permissive 'education' on Steroids.

• Marginalizing Teachers in favor of 'facilitators.'

• The whole thing is based on feelings, not facts.

Cahnman's Musings will have more on this, and similar topics, in the next few months.

Discovery Missions: Can Christianity Survive in it's Birthplace?!?

This piece from Discovery Missions is a must read.

Chronicling Joe Straus' Shady Leadership

This video from Voices Empower details a number of the questionable actions of Joe Straus' leadership team in the Texas House of Representatives beyond the spending issues that fuel my opposition:


Lowlights:

• Straus attempted to re-district conservatives off the State Board of Education.

• Straus helped keep a registered lobbyist on SBOE.

• Straus' family has a financial stake in Casino Gambling.

Check out the entire devastating post from Voices Empower here.

That's why Cahnman's Musings supports Bryan Hughes for Texas House Speaker.

Karl Marx's Priorities

"And devils came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God.  And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that He was Christ." John 4:41 

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12

"My object in life is to dethrone God and destroy capitalism." Karl Marx

One area where political conservatives need to improve dramatically is our study of the vulnerabilities of the left.  They do it to us.  We fail to return the favor.

Look at that Karl Marx quote.  Notice, very specifically, that dethroning God was Marx's top priority.  Destroying capitalism was a distant second.

Have you ever noticed that the left's top priority, by far, is to remove God from public life?!?  Why is that?!?  It's because the left understands that if they win the spiritual battle, everything else will fall into place.

Consider, also, that quote from Luke's gospel.  While the religious leaders of the time didn't recognize Jesus, the demons sure did.  The modern political left is no different.

Too often, political conservatives respond to spiritual warfare with a discussion of public policy.  That's insane and it needs to end.  If political conservatives meet spiritual wickedness with spiritual righteousness,  then public policy will take care of itself.

If individual politically conservative Americans seek God, we can turn this ship around.  The left can only win with God out of the picture; we win with Him on the throne.  The logistical challenge is that tens of millions of people need to make an individual spiritual decision.

As for yourself, dear reader, no time like the present.

Chad Hampton: The Fight of Your Life

This sermon, which our student pastor gave back in June, was intended for kids heading into college; I think it doubles as a very succinct presentation of why political conservatives need to seek God:



 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.  And your feet shod with the preparation of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the firey darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Praying always, with all prayer and supplcation in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all persecution and supplication for all saints.  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel.  For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Ephesians 6:10-20

Highlights:

• There's spiritual warfare going on around us whether we like it or not.

• We're fighting against the Devil; taking on this fight by ourselves is INSANE!!!

• If you don't have the whole armor of God, you're setting yourself up for failure.

• We know what the big boy can do; God is our clean-up hitter.

• Satan knows your strengths and weaknesses.

• We're not fighting men (ie. Barack Obama), we're fighting spiritual wickedness in high places.

• The Great Deciever wants you to believe the truth isn't true; parallels with Obama are obvious.

• God is who He says He is and can do infinately more than we can do on our own.

Joe Straus: Obstacle to Prosperity

I met Bryan Hughes last night, and was generally impressed; I'll have a lot more to say on the positive side of this race shortly.

In the meantime, I want to piggyback on this piece from Empower Texans, because it encapsulates the importance of the Texas House Speaker's race to the long term economic future of Texas.

The piece, entitled "Dewhurst Doubles Down" details Lt. Governor David Dewhurst's welcome Road to Damascus-esque fiscal conversion.  Under the leadership of a chastened Lt. Governor Dewhurst, Cahnman's Musings is cautiously optimistic the Texas Senate will act as prudent stewards of the people's money.  Unfortunately, we are forced to concur with this assessment of the Texas House:

House Speaker Joe Straus refuses to make any commitments towards reducing spending, opposing new taxes, or preserving a strong Rainy Day Fund.  He's sent out many signals since the end of the 82nd session indicating the state should instead look for more revenue....

In other words, Governor Rick Perry supports prudent financial stewardship.  A chastened Lt. Governor Dewhurst is also saying the right things.  However, the man who the Texas Constitution grants near dictatorial powers over the Texas State House dogmatically refuses to commit to prudent stewardship of the people's money.

Governor Perry frequently cites four factors behind Texas' economic success.  Number one is "do not spend all the money;" when government is frivolous with the people's money, the people cannot pursue productive activity.  It's common sense.

Joe Straus' spendthrift leadership is an obstacle to prosperity Texas cannot afford; that's why Cahnman's Musings supports Bryan Hughes for Texas House speaker.

Breitbart.com's disappointing anti-Rand Paul straw man

I clicked on Breitbart.com this morning and found this disappointing headline:

Rand Paul Threatens Filibuster Of Defense Bill to Release Potential Terrorists.

 Sounds pretty bad, doesn't it?!?

When you read the article, however, you discover:

He's threatening to filibuster Defense funding unless he gets a vote on an amendment that would curtail indefinite detention of potential terrorists.

In other words,  Rand Paul is talking about repealing the NDAA, not releasing Islamic Terrorists.

Disappointing; Breitbart.com can and should do better.

Black Friday has gone Way Too Far

This is something that has bothered me for several years, but this headline from yesterday was the final straw:

Shoppers Were So Obsessed With Black Friday Deals They Left Their Infants Unattended

Have we lost our mind?!?

Ok, so don't answer that.

The purpose of Thanksgiving is to express Gratitude to God for His bountiful provision.  It's also about fellowship with family and friends.  I checked the other day, and I didn't see anything about hot deals on flatscreen TV's in the Mayflower Compact.

The trend-line is obvious.  2012 was the first year stores opened at 8pm Thursday.  In the next few years, unless our culture changes, people will start eating on Wednesday so they can shop on Thursday.

This is insane.

Family Friendly Television Alert: The Original Transformers

Here at Cahnman's Musings, we echo the late Andrew Breitbart's belief that 'culture is upstream of politics.'  We concur that if we change the culture, politics will take care of itself.  In that spirit, Cahnman's Musings is pleased to report that we've recently rediscovered a 1980's television show that deserves commendation and support for it's dedication to a traditional moral foundation.

The original Transformers was a Saturday morning cartoon in the mid-1980's.  Unlike the rotgut you see today, it sought to build upon the foundation of America's founding culture.  The worldview of the show is surprisingly biblical.

Optimus Prime, at least as he's portrayed in the original cartoon, is a Christ-like figure.  He unquestioningly does the right thing because it's his duty, and he's always humble instead of braggadocios in victory.  Oh yeah, he also wins every time.

Where this show really gets fun, however, is the Decepticons.  Just the fact that the bad guys in the show base their name around deception tells you everything you need to know about them.  The Decepticons hide from the truth and distract, because that's the only way they can 'win.'  But they never do win, because their greedy, selfish, wickedness is no match for the righteousness of the Autobots led by Optimus Prime.  The Decepticons are also miserable.

In 2012, it's more important than ever to support entertainment that emerges from a Judeo-Christian worldview.  There's precious little out there and what there is deserves commercial success.  The original Transformers cartoon series from the mid-1980's does just that.  Evil always loses, the Good Guys always win, and the good are humble in victory.  This Christmas season, Cahnman's Musings wholeheartedly recommends the original Transformers.

Update: I've just been informed that you can get the Original Series streaming on Netflix.

The Mayflower Compact

The following is the text of the Mayflower Compact. It's written in King James' English.  While leaving the original language, I have taken the liberty of updating spelling to make it easier for you to read.

In the name of God, Amen.  We whose names are underwritten are subjects of our sovereign Lord King James and by the grace of God, of Great Britain, of France, and Ireland king and defender of the faith.

Having undertaken for the glory of God, and the advancement of the Christian faith and honor of king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern part of Virginia do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God, and of one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic; for our better ordering, and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof, to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts and Constitutions, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony: unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.  In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod the 11 of November, in the year of our sovereign Lord King James of England, France, and Ireland the eighteenth and Scotland the fify-fourth.  Anno-Domani 1620.

 In other words, the original Mayflower Compact was a covenant dedicating the nation to God, and setting up a civil government under His name.

David Barton has more on the history of Thanksgiving:

Lewdness Masquerading as Free Speech

If you've never read the 1963 goals of the Communist Party USA, #24 states:

Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them censorship and a violation of free speech and free expression.

An almost cartoonish example came out of San Francisco this past week:

The nudists want to stop city leaders from passing a law prohibiting them from appearing in public in the buff.  The law, they say, would violate their right to freedom of speech.

Where to begin?!?

Public lewdness is not a political statement, and thus has no right to constitutional protection.  Public lewdness leads to chaos and disorder, which means it clearly falls within the police powers of local government.  This should be common sense.

Sadly, it's not.  Marxists have been deliberately using sex to undermine productive citizenship for decades, and this is the result.  That's why America desperately needs a sexual counterrevolution.

"We need you to Endorse Bryan Hughes" -- An Open Letter to David Barton

Dear Sir,

We've never met, although we have many mutual friends.  I'm a big fan.  This letter, however, is about business.

Texas Conservatives need you to endorse Bryan Hughes for Speaker in the 83rd Texas Legislature.

You might not know this, but your endorsement is one of the few that matters.  In lower profile races, your endorsement moves votes.  As one example, you endorsement was critical to my pushing the button for Michael Williams.

You know these candidates and you know the contrast.  Where current speaker Joe Straus deliberately echoes Obama, Bryan Hughes believes in prudent financial stewardship.  Joe Straus' Obama-esque crony socialist 'leadership' is an economic risk Texas cannot afford when a superior alternative exists.

Here's at Cahnman's Musings, we've endorsed Bryan Hughes.  The difference, David Barton, is that people actually care what you think.  That's why Cahnman's Musings respectfully requests your endorsement of Bryan Hughes for Texas House Speaker.

Sincerely,
Adam Cahn
Austin, TX
November 20, 2012

Thanksgiving: Overcoming Socialism

Michael Quinn Sullivan might be a dirty Aggie, but this video from Empower Texans is awesome:



Highlights:

• The Pilgrims early problems were their own fault due to their own misguided economic ideology.

• The first year, the Pilgrims did everything communally, aka Socialism.

• After three years, they established private property rights and labor suddenly became productive!!!

Yakov Smirnoff on Communism (1985)

Sometimes, humor is the best response:

Robert Morris; Why Finances Matter

Looks like a bunch of the speakers from Under God: Indivisible are finally up on YouTube; here's Pastor Robert Morris on Biblical Finance and how it applies to our nation:


Highlights:

• Main 2 Biblical principles on Finance: Giving and Stewardship.

• We cannot afford men and women  in Washington who do not understand Biblical principles of finance.

•  We have a treasury problem because we have a heart problem.

• Give to give, don't give to get.

• 2 Chronicles 7:14, always!!!

Danny Forshee Classics -- President Snow and the Antichrist

This message is much more theologically intense than I remembered.


President Snow and the Antichrist - Dr. Danny Forshee - May 6, 2012 from Great Hills Baptist Church on Vimeo.

Highlights:

• Revelation 13:1-10

• Written in A.D. 95 by the Apostle John

• The notion that Revelation is historical allegory is just plain silly; it's future prophecy.

• The last days are the time from the time of Jesus first coming to his second.

• The Antichrist will appear a savior to the lost of the world.

• Properly understanding Revelation requires a foundation in Daniel and Ezekiel.

• The Dragon is Satan.

• The Antichrist will rule the known world and be worshiped by those who are not in the book of life.

• Pastor Danny calls Dan Savage a mini-Antichrist!!!

• Jesus still wins!

On Joe Straus' self-serving Economic Lie

Current Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, just like Barack Obama, believes "you can't cut your way to prosperity."

This, of course, is a self-serving economically-illiterate lie that Joe Straus is pushing as a smokescreen to raise your taxes.

Back in August, I addressed this phenomenon at the national level:

A long time ago, economists identified a phenomenon called crowding out.  Crowding out is a fancy-pants, highfalutin' term that means when Washington D.C. spends us into oblivion, there's less money left for businesses and consumers to consume and invest as they see fit.  Given that Business Investment is the primary driver of economic growth, any action that restrains Washington D.C.'s ability to crowd out business investment promotes economic growth and productive employment.

Substitute the word Austin for Washington D.C. and you understand why the notion that "you can't cut your way to prosperity" is just as big of a lie when it's said by Joe Straus as it is when it's said by Barack Obama.

The number one way to restrain Austin's ability to crowd out business investment is the Texas Budget Compact, which Joe Straus dogmatically opposes.

That's why Cahnman's Musings supports Bryan Hughes for Texas House Speaker!!!

Book Review: The Harbinger, by Jonathan Cahn

"The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars."  Isaiah 9:10

"The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the enternal ruls of order and right Heaven itself ordained."  George Washington, Inaugural Address, 1789

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

This book could be a red pill/blue pill moment.  90% of people who read this will conclude it's crazy.  That's fine, this review is for the remaining ten percent.

What would you say if I told you a 2,700 year old Biblical prophecy could help explain why things in America have gone so badly wrong in the past 11 years?!?  In the Harbinger Jonathan Cahn (no idea if we're related) argues that's exactly what happened.  At a minimum, events fit Cahn's hypothesis.

America began to turn away from God decades ago, when the Supreme Court issued a radical "separation of church and state" doctrine that was the antithesis of what our founders intended.  The results have been predictably disastrous: crime is up, families are in tatters, and we've torn up 55 million babies in the womb.  America's spiritual descent over the past 50 years mimics the decline of ancient Israel in the Eighth Century B.C.  (The first) 9/11, just like the Assyrian invasion of Ancient Israel in 732 B.C. was intended as a wake up call.

The Harbinger is about America's defiant vow to rebulid, and how that vow perfectly mirrors Ancient Israel's.  Isaiah 9:10, quoted above, is that defiant vow; in issuing that vow, Ancient Israel sowed the seeds of its ultimate demise.  The frightening thing is how America's actions since (the first) 9/11 are identical to those taken by Ancient Israel.

The Harbinger is based on easily verifiable events; this is just the first time they've been detailed in order.  An online review cannot do these events justice (you'll have to read the book for that), but one element warrants specific mention.  That's the location.  After (the first) 9/11, St. Paul's Chapel became famous as a sanctuary for pilgrims and rescue workers.  What few people realize, however, is that in 1789, St. Paul's Chapel is where George Washington dedicated America to God following his inauguration.  In other words, God issued His warning to America on the same ground that George Washington offered his dedication; personally.

A note to non-believers and pre-Christians: the purpose of the harbingers is to warn America, not condemn it.  I've written before about post-9/11 idolatry and how that played out in Hurricane Sandy.  How is boastful defiance working out?!?  Have things gotten better or much worse?!?  I'm just as guilty as anyone of relying on myself instead of trusting God, but when things stopped working, I changed.  If this strikes you as plausible, or if something about this just bugs you, I urge you to study deeper.  Don't take my word for anything, do your own homework.

America's crisis is spiritual; our economic, military, and political problems are symptoms of deeper spiritual amnesia.  Over the past 50 years, we've severed our connection with what made us a great nation in the first place.  From our debased culture, to our anemic economy, to our precarious international position, the results speak for themselves.  We've got to do something different.  The Harbinger, by Jonathan Cahn, might not have all the answers, but it's a damn good place to start.

Update: In the interest of open discussion, check out the take of a biblically-adept Harbinger skeptic.

OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENT: Bryan Hughes for Texas House Speaker!!!

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; when a wicked man rules, the people groan."  Proverbs 29:2

What would you say if I told you that the man who the Texas Constitution grants near dictatorial power over half of the Texas Legislature views economic growth exactly the same way as Barack Obama?!?

Sadly, he does.

In October 2011, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus told the El Paso Times "you can't cut your way to prosperity."  The previous June, Barack Obama said the exact same thing.  That Joe Straus deliberately echoes Barack Obama's core economic philosophy should tell you everything you need to know about Joe Straus.

But there's more, a whole lot more.

Joe Straus is in the Texas Legislature for two reasons: to spend the people's money and to enrich his family's cronies in the corrupt casino gambling industry.  Due to an unexpected surge in oil and gas revenue, Texas is blessed with a modest amount of extra cash, which Straus wants to blow on pork-barrel projects.  Joe Straus also dogmatically refuses to support the Texas Budget Compact, the most important step the 83rd Legislature can take to defend Texas' economy.  This shouldn't be surprising, considering that in the 82nd legislature, Straus chose to prostitute himself to the usual suspects of corporate welfare johns instead of minimizing the burden on Texas taxpayers.  Joe Straus' Obama-esqe crony socialist 'leadership' is an economic risk Texas cannot afford.

Fortunately, there's a declared alternative.  Bryan Hughes, Straus' opponent in the Speaker's race, supports the Texas Budget Compact.  That's good enough for me.  An across the board fiscal and social conservative, Bryan Hughes has been endorsed by Concerned Women for America, Freedomworks, and Young Conservatives of Texas.  He's also been endorsed by Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, but that endorsement only counts for half because Michael Quinn Sullivan is a dirty Aggie.  Bryan Hughes is committed publicly to the economic reforms Texas needs to survive the coming storm.

Last summer, Texans witnessed a U.S. Senate primary between an establishment insider, and a guy who had taken on the insiders and won.  The Texas House speakers' race is exactly the same.  An assault is about to come out of Washington, and to have any chance of withstanding it, Texas must have our own house in order.  Given the near dictatorial powers the Texas Constitution grants the Speaker of the House, the speaker's race could determine if the 83rd Texas Legislature passes the Texas Budget Compact.  For that reason, Cahnman's Musings unapologetically, unconditionally, and unreservedly endorses BRYAN HUGHES FOR SPEAKER OF THE TEXAS STATE HOUSE!!!

Matt Maher: Hold Us Together

I haven't forgotten you dear readers, just been busy (posting could will be light this week). I'll be back on Tuesday evening with a neutron bomb, and I might have a second on Wednesday, but in the meantime here's Matt Maher:



Update: When I posted this, it was the day after Pastor Danny's post-election sermon on tithing; with help from God, I got thru the next month.

Mission #3: Protect and Strengthen Texas' Economy

"The rich ruleth the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." Proverbs 22:7

"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." 2 Thesselonians 3:10

"But if any does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." 1 Timothy 5:8 

Conservatives still control Texas; in fact, we strengthened our hand.  While big government and Obama's entitlement culture won in most of America, it lost in Texas.  This offers the 83rd Texas Legislature tremendous opportunity.

Texas must become Galt's Gulch.  America is about to become very, very hostile to productive citizens.  Texas, to the degree it is possible, must be shelter in the coming storm.

There is one place in America where people still fear God and support free enterprise; that place is Texas.  With abundant prayer and prudent financial stewardship, Texas can be a beacon of light to a lost and dying America.  What's the alternative?!?

Let's define prudent financial stewardship: passing a non-watered down version of the Texas Budget Compact while simultaneously cutting spending to balance the budget without accepting blood money from Washington.  If Texas draws this line in the sand, Washington will attempt to bribe us into selling our soul.  No thank you, Texas can cut spending.

The first step towards prudent financial stewardship is obvious: Bryan Hughes must become Speaker of the Texas House.  This is non-negotiable.  More on this soon.

Obviously, prudent financial stewardship won't be popular in certain quarters.  So what?!?  Other places in America support big government and Obama's entitlement culture.  Texas does not.  If you want big government and Obama's entitlement culture, move to California.

This won't be easy, but with humility and prayer, it can be done.  Prudent financial stewardship will make Texas a beacon of hope when Obama's entitlement culture collapses.  What's the alternative?!?

Mission #2: The Sexual Counterrevolution

"he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance." Proverbs 29:3 

Since Tuesday night, a lot of ink has been spilled about how voters chose free stuff in servitude over self-reliance in freedom; Rush said it best when he said "people voted for Santa Claus."

That description is true, as far as it goes, but it misses the core.  Free stuff is the symptom, promiscuity is the disease.  People voted to maintain their sex lives.

Since the dawn of time, Utopians have used free love as a recruiting tool.  For obvious reasons, consequence free sex with multiple partners (of either gender) makes Heaven on Earth an easy sell.  As I wrote back in June, this was a deliberate strategy of Obama's Marxist fore-bearers.

But it gets worse: Sexual Promiscuity is very, very expensive (*).  That's where free stuff comes into play.  Chasing the sexual utopian dragon has many direct costs, but the most evil and insidious opportunity cost of sexual utopianism is that it undermines the discipline necessary to delay gratification.  Capitalism is based on delayed gratification.  Unfortunately, you will never sell delayed gratification and patient acquisition to a population obsessed with its next orgasm.

That's why America desperately needs a sexual counterrevolution.  The sexual revolution was a direct antecedent to the dumbing down of America's population.  We won't be able to reverse the dumbing down until we reverse the sexual revolution; that reversal needs to come from our churches, culture, and media.

Here's why there's hope: what Marxists will never tell you is that while yes, promiscuity can lead to lots of sex, most of that sex is bad.  As someone who grew up around leftists, and as a repentant little whore myself, I cannot overemphasize how much time liberals spend complaining about bad sex.  By contrast, married conservative Christians have the best sex.  Leftists might be able to muddy the waters on gross diseases and poorly timed conceptions, but they can't defend bad sex.

You can read my mini-manifesto on this topic here.

* Author's note: I learned this lesson the hard way.

Pray for Obama (or at least his physical safety)

Today, someone made an insane comment on Facebook that I pray doesn't reflect a deeper sentiment of those upset over the results from Tuesday.

I'm not going to repeat the comment; suffice to say it would leave Barack Obama in similar circumstances as Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley, and John Kennedy.

That's not cool, even as a joke.

The United States Declaration of Independence states: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these LIFE, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."  Notice how life comes first.  If those words apply to children in the womb, they certainly apply to the sitting President.

Here's the other thing: from a crassly political perspective, could anything be a bigger disaster for Conservatism than turning Barack Obama into a martyr?!?  Barack Obama will begin his second term in the face of a growing scandal in Libya, a very interesting TARP lawsuit, and continued inquiry over Fast and Furious.  Presidential second terms tend to be disastrous for re-elected Presidents, could you do anything stupider than turning Barack Obama into a martyr?!?

John Kennedy was one of the great frauds of American History.  John Kennedy's weakness in the Bay of Pigs and Vienna blundered us directly into the Cuban Missile Crisis and Vietnam.  Unfortunately, no one remembers John Kennedy as the pill-popping intern rapist because he's considered a martyr.

These thoughts are evil, banish them from your mind.

Mission #1: A Message to Demoralized Conservatives

"In His great mercy He has given us new birth into A LIVING HOPE through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."  1 Peter 1:3, NIV

Last night sucked; I'm not going to sugarcoat it, last night really sucked.

There is hope, but only in Christ.

A year ago, during Occupy Wall St., I was exactly where you are today.  Republicans were (are) ineffective, people were (are) hooked on Big Government, and idiot college kids were (are) only interested in having their alcohol consumption and sexual promiscuity subsidized.  I felt despair, and it really, really, sucked.

Then I started reading the Bible.

The specifics of why I started reading scripture aren't important, but it started with a David Barton video; what's important is that I started with Genesis 1:1 and continued, five chapters per day, until I reached Revelation 22:21.

If you are politically conservative, understand this: God wants a relationship with you, and you already agree with 90-95% of what He thinks.  We are in a spiritual war and taking it on by ourselves is insane.  God is willing to be our clean-up hitter, but we first have to ask Him.

Buy a Bible, start reading it, and find a local Church this Sunday; trust me.

How to accept Christ's Salvation

It's our only hope now:

Reagan: A Time for Choosing

Ronald Reagan gave this speech in 1964 on behalf of Barry Goldwater; I'm struck by the parallels with today:


Highlights:

• "This is the issue of this election, whether we believe in our capacity for self-government, whether we abandon the American Revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far off capitol can plan our lives better than we can plan them ourselves."

• "I for one resent it when a representative of the people refers to you an me, the free men and women of this country, as the masses; this is a term we haven't applied to ourselves in America."

• "The full power of centralized government, this was the very thing the founding fathers sought to minimize."

• "It's not that our liberal friends are ignorant, it's that they know so much that isn't so."

• "The more the plans fail, the more the planners plan."

• "A government bureau is the closest thing to eternal life we'll ever see in this world."

• "Those who would trade our freedom for the soup kitchen of the welfare state have told us they have a utopian solution for peace without victory; they call their policy accommodation."

• "There's only one way you're guaranteed peace, surrender."

Obama's Record on Radical Islam

Today is the anniversary of the Ft. Hood jihadist attack workplace violence.  Obviously, tomorrow is election day.  Given this juxtaposition, now is an appropriate time to review his record.

One Note: Whoever wins tomorrow, we need to reconfigure our strategy in this conflict.  Obviously, Obama's approach has been a treasonous disaster, but the alternatives advanced by George W. Bush and Ron Paul aren't satisfactory either.  I've outlined broad principles here.

Barack Obama has:

• Appointed Muslim Brotherhood linked operatives to numerous National Security positions and generally abetted Muslim Brotherhood infiltration of the United States government.

• Attempted to give Khalid Shiekh Mohammed, the architect of (the first) 9/11, a civilian trial in New York City.

• Failed to support the Green Revolution in Iran.

• Failed to stop the Ft. Hood shooter or properly define him; refuses to declassify the military after-action report.

• Failed to stop the Christmas Day 2009 pantybomber despite having been warned by the guy's father six weeks before the attempted attack; despite this, Janet Napoletano said 'the system worked.'

• Dithered in Afghanistan for a year then failed to give the military what they'd asked for.

• Condemned Israel's Gaza flotilla raid.

• Supported the Terrorist Victory Monument Islamic Cultural Center at Ground Zero.

• Had multiple members of his administration attempt to silence the counter-Islamic speech of a Pastor in Florida.

• Supported the Muslim Brotherhood over a longstanding American ally in Egypt.

• Launched an illegal war against a quasi-American ally in Libya without Congressional authorization, and that's just what he did in 2011.

• Dragged his feet on the bin Laden mission for a year, then revealed sources and methods to the enemy.

• Joined with the Organization of Islamic Conference to promote criminalizing counter-Islamic speech.

• Lectured Israel to return to the Auschwitz lines.

• Failed to renegotiate our Status of Forces agreement with the Iraqi government, squandering America's hard fought victory in Iraq.

• Shown no willingness to do anything difficult to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuke; blabs incessantly about the few steps he has taken.

• Signed a law allowing him to detain indefinitely U.S. citizens that we don't need to fight terrorism.

• Speaking of which, don't get me started on how much worse the TSA has gotten under Obama; the silver lining is that, in Barack Obama's economy, people can't afford to fly anywhere in the first place.

• Failed to secure a border where Islamic terrorists are working with Drug Cartels.

• Blamed a YouTube video for a series of coordinated attacks against U.S. embassies.

• Benghazi-gate continues getting worse.

• Stonewalled Congress regarding 80 boxes of discovery material provided to the defense in the Holy Land Foundation trial.

I did this list off the top of my head, so I've probably missed some stuff; feel free to add your 'favorites' in the comments.

The Faith of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

This is a fascinating talk about how Dietrich Bonhoeffer developed his personal faith:


Highlights:

• Bonhoeffer came from an amazing family.

• Bonhoeffer's family was the foundation of his faith.

• Bonhoeffer got his Phd. at 21; he split Atoms with Einstein

• Spent a year in New York City during 1930/31, where he was active in a black church; seeing such faithful Christianity in pre-Civil Rights black America caused him to deepen his faith.

• Upon his return to Germany, Bonhoeffer started saying very provocative anti-Nazi stuff.

• The Nazi's infiltrated the German Church with their propaganda.

• Unlike the rest of the German Church, Bonhoeffer knew they had to resist the Nazi's.

• The Nazi's tried to remove the Old Testament from the German Church; Bonhoeffer responded by writing a book about Psalms.

• If you want to remove Jewish influence from Chrisitanity: "Good Luck with that!"

• Bonhoeffer understood that if you have a relationship with God, you don't have to fear death.

David Barton: The Foundations of American Exceptionalism

Way, way cool:


Highlights:

• The United States has the longest surviving form of government in the world.

• Political Stability is not a natural state for a nation.

• "The comparisons of our Government and those of Europe are like a comparison of Heaven and Hell." Thomas Jefferson

• We've been blessed in America because we followed certain Godly principles.

• The political leaders we think of as America's Founding Fathers didn't think of themselves that way; they thought the Pastors were Founding Fathers.

• Taxation without Representation is grievance #17 out of 27 in the Declaration of Independence; in other words, economic complaints against the King didn't even make the first half of the list.

• Every right presented in the Declaration of Independence was preached from the American pulpit prior to 1763.

• Massachusetts 1647; First Public School Law in America
• "Satan's #1 purpose is to keep us from reading scripture."
• Grounding kids in Scripture was the whole point.
• Jefferson and Franklin were the two least religious Founders, but they're the only ones we ever talk about when discussing the Faith of the Founders.

• Dr. Benjamin Rush
• "If we can get Americans to read the Bible two things will happen: 1) They'll become Christians and figure out how to have a Personal Relationship with Jesus Christ [Personal Note: Amen to THAT], and 2) if Americans will obey what they read it will solve all our social problems."
   
• Mulitiple Founders would read the Bible cover-to-cover once a year. 

• John Adams' writings on Christ are waaay cool!!!

• Abigail Adams said shed rather see John Quincy die than renounce his faith!

• In a free market of spiritual ideas, Christianity wins every time; it's the best product.

• Origin of the Free Market system -- 1 Timothy 5:8, 2 Thessalonians 3:10.

• For Christians, voting is a form of stewardship.

• Luke 19:13 -- "Occupy till I come" -- Whether or not we're living in the End Times is irrelevant.

• A Christian Nation doesn't mean you decree Christianity by law, it means Christianity has a major influence on the development of the culture.

• George Washington asked for Chaplains for the military seven separate times during the Revolution.

• Hebrews 11

2 Chronicles 7:14 and Hurricane Sandy

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will hear their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

"For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." John 3:17 

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose."  Romans 8:28 

I was  going to write a political piece about the chaos in Brooklyn, Staten Island, and New Jersey, but the political problems are obvious; I want to say something else.

The solution is humility, not defiant pride.

New York is great at defiant pride.  New York was defiantly proud after 9/11.  New York continues to be defiantly proud.  How's that working out?!?  The economy still sucks, people are eating out of dumpsters, and the Yankees have only won the World Series once since 9/11.

No government activity or politician will solve this; not even Rudy.  The only way out of this is through our churches.  In humility there is hope, but defiant pride will continue to bear bitter fruit, and it will get worse.

That being said, pray for Michael Bloomberg.  We're stuck with him for another year.  As much as I agree with Glenn Beck's sentiment, potty mouthed tirades won't help.  Michael Bloomberg needs a radical change of heart, and there's only one way that will happen.  What's the alternative?!?

One final note: if you play fantasy football, I have a funny feeling that this could be a really good week to start Tim Tebow....

Tea Party will tame Mitt; an open letter to James Taranto

Dear Sir,

Yesterday, in your Best of the Web column, you engaged in the following speculation:

Since the House is expected to stay under Republican control, Romney may actually turn out to be the one who has the skills to tame the Tea Party.

Over my dead body.

The Tea Party is currently pulling Mitt, along with a number of U.S. Senate candidates, across the finish line.  When Mitt wins, which he will, Mitt will owe us.  We intend to collect.

One dirty little secret about the Tea Party is that we didn't arise in response to Barack Obama, we arose in response to TARP.  To be sure, Obamacare resistance put us on the national radar, but we were around before that.  The Tea Party cannot wait to hold a Republican President accountable.

I addressed this topic at length last month, but once we get into year two and three of President Mitt's administration, policy will take a major Tea Party shift.  We'll probably pass Paul Ryan's budget in year one, but in year two we will come back and demand Congress pass Rand Paul's budget followed by the Uproot and Overhaul proposal from Rick Perry's Presidential campaign.  Over the next decade, the Tea Party will follow Ted Kennedy's legislative strategy in reverse; take what you can get, then immediately ask for more.

In his speech at FreePAC Dallas July, Sen. Mike Lee pointed out that it took 15 years to get from the original Boston Tea Party to ratification of the Constitution.  America's founders got the country where it needed to get, but it didn't happen overnight.  This is a long-term fight, and the Tea Party is not going anywhere.

Sincerely,
Adam Cahn
Austin, TX
November 1, 2012