CovenantNews.com

Council Of Governors Takes Shape

Chuck Baldwin / The Covenant News:
Obama's "Council Of Governors" is quickly beginning to take shape. According to the Associated Press (AP), "Obama has selected Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon to serve on an advisory council for defense and national security issues. "Nixon was one of 10 governors named Thursday [February 4, 2009] by Obama to the newly created Council of Governors." As I have already written, the creation of a CG should be of serious concern to all liberty loving Americans. That more of us are not as concerned as we should be can be traced to the mistaken belief that the American people have nothing to fear from an overreaching federal government. This is pure folly! As I have said many times, we have far more to fear from Washington, D.C., than from Iran, Iraq, North Korea, or any other potential terrorist state. It is Washington, D.C.,--and Washington, D.C., alone--that has the power, opportunity, and propensity to squash our freedom and sell us into tyranny.

Reciprocal Rotting

Iron Ink:
I lifted this quote from a piece written by Bojidar Marinov. It is a piece I wish I would have written and really should be read by all Christians but especially those who use the doctrine of God’s sovereignty to cancel out the doctrine of our responsibility to the commands that issue forth from our High King Jesus Christ. As Bojidar notes, there should be no comfort found by or for a people who try to use God’s sovereignty as blanket to cover the ongoing sin of their refusal to contend for the crown rights of King Jesus.

When Gun-Grabbers Attack

Will Grigg / Liberty Minute:
Toronto resident Joe Fiorito was startled to find two police officers on his doorstep. They weren't there to investigate a crime; they had come to confiscate his .20 gauge shotgun. Last March, Toronto police began a campaign called "Project Safe City" to confiscate unlicensed firearms from civilian gun owners. The police who confronted Fiorito informed him that he had two options: The gun could be turned over to the police for "storage," or taken away and destroyed. Fiorito eventually relented after being threatened with more aggressive enforcement action.

Q&A on Nullification and Interposition

Clyde Wilson / LewRockwell.com:
Q. What can I read that can give me a serious overview of the true impact of the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 on South Carolina?
A: I think the question of the impact of the protective tariff on South Carolina is the wrong question to ask. It is something of a diversionary tactic, for reasons I will try to explain below. The questions to ask about that period of American history are 1) was the protective tariff just?; 2) was it good policy?; 3) was it constitutional?. A believer in free markets and constitutionally limited government can only give a resounding NO to all these questions.

What the Bible Says about Homosexuality

Gary DeMar / The Gary DeMar Show:
Scientists say homosexuality is genetic, but God otherwise. Should criminals be exempted from justice because they are genetically geared to commit theft, murder, and the like? Gary sheds light on how God's Word would handle homosexual ethics.

Homosexuality Is A Crime

Jim Rudd / The Covenant News:
Homosexuality is not a light or transient crime. It is an abomination (Lev. 18:22). It is the culmination of man's apostasy and hostility toward God and His Church (Rom. 1:18-32). For civil officials and judges to approve of homosexuality brings eternal damnation upon themselves (Rom. 13:2) and God's righteous judgment of death on the society as a whole (Gen. 19:24, II Pet. 2:6). Such officials and judges are not only anti-Christian by approving of homosexuality, they make the civil government a vile cesspool from which the abominations vomit out across the land. By displaying such a contempt for the administration of Justice, such civil officials are not only the source of the defilement (Lev.18:24-25), they are the criminals (Rom.1:32), and a hostile enemy authorizing the destruction of the society in which we live (Jude 1: 7).

Buchanan Returns to Republican Party Kennel

John Lofton / The American View:
Former Attack-Dog Conservative Pat Buchanan Has, Alas, Returned To Republican Party Kennel -- Now Going On The Paper, Barking Only Partisan GOP "Talking Points." Poor Pat Buchanan. My longtime friend of more than 30 years thinks, evidently, that there is a difference that matters between the two political parties. His current column is headlined: "Crisis of the Government Party." Off to a flying stop, it begins: "President Obama is in a dilemma from which there appears to be no easy or early escape. Democrats are the Party of Government. They feed it, and it feeds them."

Evangelicals For War (Again)

Darrell Dow / The Backwater Report:
In a recent Takimag essay, the estimable Paul Gottfried explained that the neoconservative movement consists of two factions he describes as "ill-mannered, touchy Jews" and their "groveling or adulatory Christian assistants." In the former category, Gottfried includes the Frum-Kagan-Podhoretz-Kristol axis of evil. Occupying the "servants' quarters" are Bill Bennett, Michael Novak, Cal Thomas and other lesser lights of the "conservative movement." Among conservatives of the Religious Right variety, Israel and her neocon hirelings find unqualified support among Dispensational fundamentalists and Hagee-style Pentecostals. In my denomination, the SBC, Richard Land provides political cover for neocons and supporters of Israeli policy vis-a-vis Arab states and the Palestinians.

The Imperial Route to National Oblivion

Will Grigg / Liberty Minute:
According to the New York Times, the Obama administration's budget projections present "a picture of a nation that like many American homeowners simply cannot get above water." The budget envisions $5 trillion in tax increases and a $1.6 trillion deficit. This year, federal spending will devour nearly 11 percent of our nation's entire economic output. Under the most optimistic projections, by the end of the decade that figure will climb to more than twenty percent. Given the destructive impact of government intervention in the economy, that percentage will likely be much greater as productivity shrinks while the government’s appetite continues to expand.

The Census and Despotism

Lew Rockwell / LewRockwell.com:
"There went out a decree from Caesar Augustus," says St. Luke on why Mary and Joseph found themselves in Bethlehem, "that all the world should be taxed." Joseph had to go to his own city because the tyrannical Roman government was conducting a census. But the information may have been used for more than just taxation. The Roman government's local ruler later decided he wanted to find the Christ child and kill Him. Did the government make use of census data to find out where the members of the House of David were? We can't know for sure, although a later Roman despot did. But we can know that Joseph made a huge error in obeying the census takers in the first place. They were up to no good. In fact, another group of religious Jews in Judea decided that they would not comply with the Roman government’s demand to count and tax them. The group was known as the “Zealots” (yes, that’s where the word came from). They saw complying with the census as equivalent to submitting to slavery. Many ended up paying for their principled stand with their lives.

Not Planning To Retire, Are You?

Gary North / LewRockwell.com:
I have just posted a video of my 90-minute seminar: "Retirement Armageddon." It presents the background for a series of nasty surprises. For those of you who don't have time to watch a 90-minute video, let me summarize its implications. The U.S. government has a nasty surprise for tens of millions of retirees: a now-empty piggy bank. Two of them, actually: Social Security and Medicare.

Rockefeller and the New Temple in Jerusalem

The Gary DeMar Show:
Prophecy enthusiasts speculate that a man on the rise to 'savior' status in the Middle East will build a new temple in Jerusalem! Of course, this story has come and gone, and the developments are not true. But what are Christians expecting to happen if a new temple is built in Jerusalem, anyway? Gary DeMar explores the Biblical ramifications of Jerusalem and such a temple.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Think Things Through

William N. Grigg / Pro Libertate:
As Dr. Allan Carlson of the Howard Center points out, the United States military could be considered the single greatest source of cultural subversion in American society. It is, in his phrase, "an engine of social change," including radical alterations of conventional mores and the structure of the traditional family. Dr. Carlson observes that between 1941 and 1972, "over half of all American males served in the active-duty armed forces" -- an unprecedented state of affairs. During that same period, the state grew immeasurably in terms of both size and intrusiveness, and the "fundamental morals and religious values" of American society came under relentless attack. Carlson makes a compelling case that these developments are intimately related.

A New Justice System: Biblical Restitution

Pastor Paul Michael Raymond / The New Geneva Leadership Blog:
In 1985, the total population of prisoners in America was 744,000. In June 2003, the prison population reached nearly 2.1 million. Some prisons during that time had reached over 33 percent of their original holding capacities. In one year, between 2002 and 2003, state and federal prisoners grew as much as 2.9 percent, which was the largest growth of inmates in over four years. The local jail population grew 3.9 percent, state prisons grew 2.6 percent, and federal prisons grew 2.6 percent. . . . According to CNN, the prison costs of America have reached an average of 37 billion dollars in 2007. 1 million alone goes toward inmate phone calls.

What is the Glory of God?

Mark R. Rushdoony / The Chalcedon Foundation:
"What is the Glory of God?" I was asked out of the blue by a woman who has a knack for asking good questions. I was a bit surprised; not only had I never been asked that before, I had never asked it myself. References to God's glory are so common in Scripture and the church that we do not think enough about what the word conveys. I sometimes wonder if our best understanding of God’s Word isn't like that of a child who prayed to "Our father, who does art in heaven; Harold is his name."

A Nation in Decline

Tom DeWeese / American Policy Center:
Many politicians are asking the question today: "Why are the American People so angry?" The following may lend a clue to the clueless. According to the annual "Index on Economic Freedom," produced by the Heritage Foundation, the United States now ranks 8th, just behind Canada. That’s a drop of two full points since last year, and the largest drop of all nations in overall economic freedom. The index ranking is based on 10 measures of economic openness, regulatory efficiency, the rule of law, and competitiveness. The basic principles of economic freedom emphasized in the index are individual empowerment, equitable treatment and the promotion of competition.

Uganda Confronts 'Loud-mouthed Homosexual Lobby'

Cliff Kincaid / Accuracy in Media
A leading pro-family activist in Uganda says that Christians in that East African country need help resisting the schemes of the international homosexual lobby. Charles Tuhaise tells AIM that he is also disturbed by the general silence of conservatives in the U.S. to stand up for Uganda and its emerging Christian culture. The issue is consideration of a piece of legislation to discourage homosexual practices in Uganda. "Many Ugandans are shocked at the reaction to this bill and the extent to which homosexual activists can intimidate everyone to silence," Tuhaise said. "This is a bill written to control a problem that has largely gotten out of hand in western society and is now spreading tentacles worldwide. Perhaps Uganda has helped to highlight the danger that the homosexual movement poses to the world."

'Justice Denied' in CIA Shootdown of Missionaries

ABC News:
The CIA today was accused of lying to Congress and covering up its role in the deaths of two innocent Americans, a mother and her infant daughter, at the hands of the CIA and the Peruvian Air Force nine years ago. "If there's ever an example of justice delayed, justice denied, this is it," said Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R.-Mich., ranking minority member of the House Intelligence Committee. "The [intelligence] community's performance in terms of accountability has been unacceptable. These were Americans that were killed with the help of their government, the community covered it up, they delayed investigating."

Two Street Preachers Shot to Death in Fl.

The Palm Beach Post:
Boynton Beach -- Jeriah Woody executed two men who preached religion to the 18-year-old, a witness has told police. Woody, who turned himself in to Boynton Beach police Wednesday, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the Saturday night deaths of Stephen Ocean, 23, and Tite Sufra, 24, near the Boynton Beach city library. This morning, Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Ted S. Booras, ordered Woody held without bond. Woody said nothing during the exchange, which lasted less than a minute.

Related:
Teenager Kills Two Ministers Preaching To Him
Dr. Deb Brown / Examiner.com
Ordained as ministers last year, Stephen Ocean (23) and Tite Sufra (24) spent most of their time preaching to troubled youths in the streets before being gunned down Saturday night by an 18-year-old man named Jeriah Woody. According to police reports, the ministers had been preaching to Woody for about 15 minutes. Woody walked away, then inexplicably turned around and came running back to kill both men. Woody surrendered to Boynton Beach police this morning.

Two Men Martyred In Boynton Beach
Christian Web News
A witness has told police that 18 year old Jeriah Woody shot and killed Stephen Ocean and Tite Sufra after they tried to witness to him. On Wednesday, Woody turned himself in to Boynton Beach police, and is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the Saturday night deaths of Stephen Ocean, 23, and Tite Sufra, 24, near the Boynton Beach city library. Boynton Beach spokeswoman Stephanie Slater said Wednesday he was still being questioned and she would not immediately provide information about a motive.

Man Arrested On Charges of Shooting
Street Preachers in Boynton Beach (see video)
Sun Sentinel

Not Your Father's Army

Chuck Baldwin / The Covenant New:
Ever since the United Nations was created, its interests have dominated the usage of US forces. In fact, our military today is quickly morphing into the tip of the spear for a burgeoning, global New World Order. To those with eyes to see, the evidence is everywhere. It's not even being hidden anymore. Have you seen that new US Navy television commercial? It boldly proclaims, "The US Navy: A GLOBAL FORCE For Good." (Emphasis added.) This politically correct, UN-dominated New World Order has changed (and is changing) our US military right before our eyes. It has taken the greatest and proudest independent fighting force in the world--one created to defend the people and property of the United States--and turned it into a global military policeman for the evil Machiavellians at the UN.

U.S. Out of Yemen

Ron Paul / LewRockwell.com:
Statement before the House Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing: "Yemen on the Brink: Implications for U.S. Policy" February 3, 2010 -- Mr. Chairman, I am extremely concerned over current US policy toward Yemen, which I believe will backfire and leave the United States less safe and much poorer. Increasing US involvement in Yemen may be sold as a fight against terrorism, but in fact it is more about expanding US government control and influence over this strategically-placed nation at the gateway to Asia.

Will Obama Play the War Card?

Patrick J. Buchanan / LewRockwell.com:
Republicans already counting the seats they will pick up this fall should keep in mind Obama has a big card yet to play. Should the president declare he has gone the last mile for a negotiated end to Iran's nuclear program and impose the "crippling" sanctions he promised in 2008, America would be on an escalator to confrontation that could lead straight to war. And should war come, that would be the end of GOP dreams of adding three-dozen seats in the House and half a dozen in the Senate. Harry Reid is surely aware a U.S. clash with Iran, with him at the president's side, could assure his re-election. Last week, Reid whistled through the Senate, by voice vote, a bill to put us on that escalator.

Presidential Assassinations of U.S. Citizens

Glenn Greenwald / Buchanan.org:
The Washington Post's Dana Priest reports that "U.S. military teams and intelligence agencies are deeply involved in secret joint operations with Yemeni troops who in the past six weeks have killed scores of people." That's no surprise, of course, as Yemen is now another predominantly Muslim country (along with Somalia and Pakistan) in which our military is secretly involved to some unknown degree in combat operations without any declaration of war, without any public debate, and arguably (though not clearly) without any Congressional authorization. The exact role played by the U.S. in the late-December missile attacks in Yemen, which killed numerous civilians, is still unknown.

Feds Say They May Kill Americans Abroad

John Byrne / Raw Story:
In a striking admission from the Obama Administration's top intelligence officer, Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair announced Wednesday that the United States may target its own citizens abroad for death if it believes they are associated with terrorist groups. "We take direct action against terrorists in the intelligence community," Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair told the House Intelligence Committee. He said US counter-terrorism officials may try to kill American citizens embroiled in extremist groups overseas with "specific permission" from higher up.

Of Course We Beat Him: He Tried To Get Away

William Grigg / The LRC Blog:
When 18-year-old Pittsburgh resident Jordan Miles was surrounded by three disreputable-looking men on the way to his grandmother's house, he did the entirely sensible thing: He fled, thinking that the marauders were criminals. Unfortunately for Miles, his assailants weren't common criminals, but rather the state-employed variety -- undercover police officers. Street criminals would likely have left him alone. The police not only severely beat him but -- in keeping with standard procedure -- accused him of several supposed crimes, including "loitering," "resisting arrest," and "aggravated assault" (presumably by staining the fists of his assailants with his blood).

Military Bases to Offer 'Abortion Pills' Abroad

MSNBC News:
The Pentagon for the first time will require military bases worldwide to offer emergency contraception or the so-called morning-after pill (Bush's Plan B Abortion Pill at taxpayer expense), a military spokeswoman said Thursday. The decision follows a recommendation by an independent panel of doctors and pharmacists in November, said Defense Department spokeswoman Cynthia Smith. The panel determined that emergency contraception should be added to the military's list of medications that must be stocked at each military facility. Over much resistance from abortion opponents, the Food and Drug Administration approved the over-the-counter sale of the morning-after pill to adults in 2006. The drug, which contains a high dose of birth control pills, can be used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex by blocking ovulation or fertilization. Critics of the contraceptive say it is the equivalent of an abortion pill because it can prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus.

Flashback - July 30, 2004
GOP Led House Passes 'Abortion Pill' Bill
House passes bill to make abortifacent birth-control easier for public to access -- Bill will lead to over-the-counter morning after pills
The House of Representatives approved a move Thursday night July 15, that could smooth the way to over-the-counter use of emergency contraceptives like Plan B (morning after pills). Lawmakers unanimously passed a measure barring the FDA from keeping any contraceptive off the over-the-counter market once the agency has found it to be "safe and effective." While the bill does not specifically mention the controversial emergency contraceptive known as Plan B morning after pill, supporters were quick to point to the product as their motivation for pushing the vote. Next, the Senate must vote on the bill, and then President Bush must sign the bill, which would be necessary for it to become law.

Flashback - August 21, 2006
Bush Approves Over-the-Counter Sale of Plan B Abortion Pill
WASHINGTON -- President George Bush indicated he supports over-the-counter sales of Plan B, a so-called morning-after contraceptive -- except for minors. Bush told a news conference at the temporary press room across from the White House he supports plans by Acting Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach to OK sales of Plan B without a prescription. "I believe Plan B ought to be a required prescription for minors," Bush said, adding he supports "Andy's decision." Von Eschenbach testified at a U.S. Senate committee hearing last week he thinks Plan B can be sold safely to women over 18.

Flashback - August 30, 2006
Bush Irks Religious Right for Approving Plan B Abortion Pill Sales
WASHINGTON -- Just 10 weeks before the midterm elections, the White House has irked its base again. This time it's social conservatives, who are disappointed that President Bush endorsed a decision to allow over-the-counter sales of the Plan B morning-after contraceptive pill to adults. Making matters much worse, the White House all but blew off those conservatives who called to ask about the decision.

House Agrees to $1.9 Trillion More Debt

The Associated Press:
The House on Thursday voted to allow the federal government to go $1.9 trillion deeper in debt - an increase of about $6,000 more for every U.S. resident that provided a vivid election-year reminder of the nation's perilous financial condition. The huge debt increase, approved 217-212, is only enough to keep the government afloat for about another year as it borrows more than 40 cents of every dollar it spends on programs like defense, health care, feeding the poor and protecting the environment. The budget tops $3.7 trillion this year and the deficit's approaching $1.6 trillion under the budget submitted by President Barack Obama this week.

'The Cause and Cure Of Earthquakes'

The American View:
Of all the judgments which the righteous God inflicts on sinners here, the most dreadful and destructive is an earthquake. This he has lately brought on our part of the earth, and thereby alarmed our fears, and bid us "prepare to meet our God!" The shocks which have been felt in divers places, since that which made this city tremble, may convince us that the danger is not over, and ought to keep us still in awe; seeing "his anger is not turned away, but his band is stretched out still." (Isa. 10:4.)

10 Baptists Charged With Child Kidnap in Haiti

The Associated Press:
Ten members of a U.S. missionary group who said they were trying to rescue 33 child victims of Haiti's devastating earthquake were charged with child kidnapping and criminal association on Thursday, their lawyer said. Edwin Coq said after a court hearing that a judge found sufficient evidence to charge the Americans, who were arrested Friday at Haiti's border with the Dominican Republic. Coq attended Thursday's hearing and represents the entire group in Haiti. Group leader Laura Silsby has said they were trying to take orphans and abandoned children to an orphanage in the neighboring Dominican Republic. She acknowledged they had not sought permission from Haitian officials, but said they just meant to help victims of the quake.

Temporal Consequences of Atheism for Christians

Gary DeMar / The American Vision:
There are temporal consequences for theists as there are eternal consequences for atheists. If as Christopher Hitchens believes Christianity is not good for the world, will laws be passed to outlaw or at least suppress religious expression? This has already been done in public schools. There are signs that such oppositions to religion are spreading: "[A] man talking to two willing strangers in a shopping mall was arrested because the subject of the conversation was God. The case developed several years ago when a youth pastor was arrested at the Galleria Mall in Roseville, Calif., for having a conversation about religion with two other people."

Combating Terrorism: The Lessons of 1798

William Watkins, Jr. / Tenth Amendment Center:
James Madison once observed that "it is a universal truth that the loss of liberty at home is to be charged to the provisions against danger, real or pretended, from abroad." Fear of foreign perils, Madison realized, can easily persuade a freedom-loving people to voluntarily part with liberties they would otherwise consider indispensable. In Thomas Jefferson’s words, the people are "made for a moment to be willing instruments in forging chains for themselves." In making such statements on the forfeiting of precious rights during times of foreign danger, Madison and Jefferson were speaking from experience. In the 1790s, a number of Americans feared that the democratic excesses of the French Revolution would be exported to the U.S.

Is Secession Constitutional?

Brian Stanley / LewRockwell.com:
In the 1868 case of Texas v. White, 74 U.S. (7 Wall.) 700, a case dealing with the title to some U.S. bonds, the Supreme Court ruled that Texas', and hence the South's, attempted secession in 1861 was unconstitutional. But the opinion also contained some wording that might give secessionists a way around White. It's unfortunate that the Court used White as the vehicle to address the constitutionality of secession. The Court reached the constitutionality issue only because of a jurisdictional question; and it was virtually impossible for the Court not to hold secession unconstitutional a mere three years after the end of the War Between the States.

Lending the Terrorists a Hand

Will Grigg / Liberty Minute:
As is the case with many other unsuccessful terrorist plots, the attempted Christmas Day bombing of Northwest Flight 253 over Detroit is looking like an incident co-produced by the government that supposedly protects us. For weeks prior to the incident, the CIA and State Department were aware that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian who smuggled an explosive aboard the plane in his underwear, had been meeting with Islamic militants in Yemen.

Taking the 'Neo' Out of 'Conservative'

Jack Hunter - 'The Southern Avenger' / Campaign for Liberty:
After Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity are the two most popular rightwing talk hosts in America, defining for millions the definition of the term "conservative." Lately, Beck has focused on attacking "progressivism," often stressing that the progressive foreign policy of President Woodrow Wilson, who wanted to "make the world safe for democracy," was identical to that of George W. Bush. Hannity takes a very different view, stating, "You can’t deny that George Bush was conservative on national security issues." Yet, Beck does deny this, quite regularly. Who’s right? Better yet, who’s "conservative?"

Witches, Pagans Get Worship Area at AF Academy

Abominations:
The Air Force Academy has set aside an outdoor worship area for Pagans, Wiccans, Druids and other Earth-centered believers, school officials said Monday. A double circle of stones atop a hill on the campus near Colorado Springs has been designated for the group, which previously met indoors. Lt. Col. William Ziegler, one of the academy's chaplains, said designating the space is part of the school's effort to foster religious tolerance and to defend the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom. "It's about our commitment as airmen to protect freedom and defend freedom. To me this is a freedom thing," he said. The school also has worship facilities for Protestant and Catholic Christians, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists.

Murdoch says 'Pay for Online News Content'

London Telegraph:
Rupert Murdoch said the destiny of News Corporation's newspapers is in paid-for content, claiming that his media empire is "on the cusp of a digital dynasty" from which it will profit greatly. Unveiling a $284m post-tax profit for the three months to December, Mr Murdoch proclaimed "content is not just king, it is the emperor of all things electronic." Promising to announce major developments "in the next two months," the owner of the Sun and Wall Street Journal said consumers want content on an array of devices, and are willing to pay.

China Threatens U.S. Sanctions

Sydney Morning Herald:
China will erect trade sanctions against Boeing and other large U.S. companies unless the U.S. Congress blocks the Obama administration's planned $7.2 billion weapons sales program to Taiwan, a senior defence strategist said. Rear Admiral Yang Yi told the Herald yesterday China was prepared to hurt itself in order to teach the administration a lesson. ''We're waiting for the reaction from US Congress and if they don't have a U-turn then the follow-up of sanctions will come soon,'' said Admiral Yang, who previously co-wrote Chinese defence white papers while director of international strategic studies at the National Defence University.

Sacerdotalism Or Every-Member Ministry?

David Alan Black / Dave Black Online:
Here's something to chew on: One's understanding of the nature of the church is a test or expression of one's understanding of Christ and the Bible. For example, why do we use the terms "minister" and "ministry" synonymously with "pastor" and "pastorate"? Or why do some use "priest" for an official minister when the term in the New Testament is used for any believer? We must honestly admit that there is in the New Testament not the faintest hint of a clergy-laity distinction. The various gifts of the Holy Spirit were bestowed by Jesus on all His followers for the purpose of building up His church. New Testament ecclesiology can be realized only when the congregation is filled with the Spirit and when each member is exercising his or her spiritual gift.

Biblical Mandate for Just Government

Timothy Baldwin / Liberty Defense League:
What is "Good" and "Evil," Part 1: I find it quite amazing that a person who claims to believe in the Bible and who actually studies it would ever hold the position that Christians should (or must!) submit to government's laws contrary to the Natural and Revealed Laws of God relevant to justice, judgment and equity. What is their main support for this position? It is Romans 13. Let us consider these verses and the Bible's confirmation that our duties to God and man necessarily mean that we not submit to laws contrary to God’s laws. For purposes of this discussion, this article is limited to "What Is 'Good' and 'Evil'," in context of Romans 13.

Is America a Christian Nation? Was It Ever?

Rosanne McDowell / ReachOut Columbia:
That was the topic of a debate last October between E. Ray Moore, president of Frontline Ministries, and Herb Silverman, president of the Secular Coalition for America and professor at the College of Charleston. Sponsored by the Pastafarians, a USC student organization for atheists and agnostics, the event drew Christians and non-Christians alike to consider Moore's defense of America's Christian foundation and Silverman's denial of it.

The Fed as Giant Counterfeiter

Robert Murphy / Campaign for Liberty:
San Jose State economics professor Jeffrey Rogers Hummel tells all his students that the easiest way to understand the Federal Reserve is to think of it as a giant, legalized counterfeiter. I had always known that the Fed and other central banks were like counterfeiters, but I still thought that the actual mechanics of open-market operations and so forth actually provided some important distinctions.

Why Inflation Will Come

Gary North / LewRockwell.com:
Allan Meltzer wrote a very good essay for the Wall Street Journal on January 27. It dealt with the build-up in the Federal Reserve System's monetary base as a result of its purchases of government debt, especially Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac debt, in the fall of 2008. Its title and subhead tell the story: "The Fed's Anti-Inflation Exit Strategy Will Fail Sooner or later the pressure to lend out excess bank reserves will be unstoppable."

Homosexual Media Target Christians

Cliff Kincaid / Accuracy in Media:
The Washington Post editorial page has joined lesbian MSNBC commentator Rachel Maddow in blasting the government of Uganda for considering a law to protect children from homosexual predators and the dangerous public health impact of the homosexual lifestyle. Despite its moderate views on some foreign policy issues, the Post has always come down firmly on the side of making homosexuality into a special right that should be protected and even glorified by governmental institutions. Now it wants to impose that view on Uganda's mostly Christian population.

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Wants Faggot Military

The Associated Press is reporting that "it's time" to repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" homosex policy and allow criminal sex offenders to serve openly for the first time in history, the nation's top defense officials declared, with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen proclaiming that homosexual service members should not be forced to "lie about who they are." The Pentagon announced an 11-month review of how the ban could be lifted, as Obama has said he will work to do. But there is no deadline for ending the policy that dates to President Bill Clinton's tenure and that sex offenders are pressing to overturn.

The Life and Work of Cornelius Van Til

Joel McDurmon / The Gary DeMar Show:
Joel McDurmon interviews Dr. K. Scott Oliphint about his work to share the works of Cornelius Van Til with the average theologian. Van Til's written works were so sophisticated, even for their day, that few Christians understood them then -- much less now. However, Van Til's contribution to apologetics with a Biblical worldview set the standard for other great apologists like Dr. Greg L. Bahnsen. Learn the interesting story of this unique Christian patriarch.

Spending Freeze Not Likely

Ron Paul / Texas Straight Talk:
Last week politicians in Washington made a few things clear about how they really feel about the state of the union. First, they are beginning to hear the growing discontent with the size and scope of government and the broken promises that keep piling up. Certain events in Massachusetts recently made that statement loud, clear and unavoidable. In the face of those events, the powers that be made the determination that some populist rhetoric was in order, and the idea of a spending freeze in Washington was proposed, albeit with several caveats. These caveats to the proposed spending freeze ensure that we are not at any real risk of actually doing anything about spending.

'Pro-Life' Assault on Ron Paul and the Constitution

Laurence M. Vance / LewRockwell.com:
The right-to-life movement is a failure. Although millions of dollars have been spent on lobbying, marches, and protests since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, millions of women have still had abortions since then. There is no doubt that many abortions have been prevented, but even a round number of how many is almost impossible to estimate. The pro-life movement has failed miserably to persuade women to not have abortions, to educate women on the evils of abortion, to prevent unwanted pregnancies, to convince doctors to not perform abortions, to effectively counsel women with unwanted pregnancies, to impede promiscuity, and to provide sufficient alternatives to pregnant women considering abortion. Pro-lifers are quick to lay the blame on the Supreme Court, activist federal judges, Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, feminists, doctors who perform abortions, the Democratic Party, and liberals – anywhere and anyone but themselves and the women who actually have abortions.

ResistDC: The State Authority and Anti-Racketeering Act

Michael Boldin / Tenth Amendment Center:
Often, supporters of the 10th Amendment movement that’s been growing around the country say -- "I love all the discussion and the resolutions in support of the 10th amendment, but where's the enforcement? These actions need some teeth!." If teeth is what you want, you need to go no further than Georgia. House Bill 880 (HB880), introduced by Representative Bobby Franklin, is called the "State Authority and Anti-racketeering Act." Unlike the many 10th Amendment Resolutions that have been introduced around the country since 2008, HB880 is legally-binding legislation.

The Presidential Assassination List

Will Grigg / Liberty Minute:
Without a declaration of war or even overt congressional approval, U.S. troops are now involved in yet another military conflict, this one in Yemen. According to the January 27 Washington Post , this latest military venture began in mid-December, when President Obama unilaterally approved a plan for the clandestine Joint Special Operations Command (or JSOC) to join government forces in tracking down and killing suspected terrorists.

Year of the Rat -- I Mean, Census

Becky Akers / Campaign for Liberty:
Serfs who suffer the Census Bureau's invasive curiosity might consider this one of the Constitution's errors, right up there with granting Congress power over the eighteenth-century version of telecoms ("To establish Post Offices and Post Roads") and our wallets ("To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof" and "provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting." [Art. 1, Sec. 8]). The Census is indeed a mistake, not only in its concept but in the phrasing: given the latitude of "in such Manner as they shall by Law direct," it's hard to argue that any question bureaucrats ask, whether via mail, phone, or personal visits, violates the Constitution once legislation authorizes it. Indeed, that document's elasticity enables the Census Bureau to justify even its annual "surveys" by claiming they help with its gargantuan, decennial task.

Requiring Gov't ID To Use the Internet

LewRockwell.com:
The world needs a treaty to prevent cyber attacks becoming an all-out war, the head of the main UN communications and technology agency warned Saturday. International Telcommunications Union secretary general Hamadoun Toure gave his warning at a World Economic Forum debate where experts said nations must now consider when a cyber attack becomes a declaration of war. With attacks on Google from China a major talking point in Davos, Toure said the risk of a cyber conflict between two nations grows every year.

Roeder Brings in the Victims & Is Silenced

Iron Ink:
The link below is 92 seconds long. In it we see the man who killed the abortionist Dr. George Tiller describe what happens in abortion. The Prosecution immediately and vehemently objects. The Judge sustains the objection, and Roeder is told he is not allowed to describe what happens in an abortion. This is like a Kulak being tried for killing a Communist soldier who was aiding and assisting in starving out the Ukrainian population and not being allowed to describe how the Communist soldier who was killed was constantly taking food out of starving children hands. So Roeder is being tried for Murder but he is not allowed to describe the gruesome procedure inflicted on victims that had him willing to risk incarceration and possibly execution in order to save those lives.

http://videos.kansas.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=9788583

Related:
Prosecutor Objects To Roeder's Graphic Answers
While trying to explain his knowledge of abortion, the prosecution often objected to Roeder's graphic answers. Roeder received a warning from Judge Warren Wilbert to not answer questions that he doesn't have the medical qualification to answer.

Is America Still the Land of the Free?

Pastor Paul Michael Raymond / The New Geneva Leadership Blog:
Of a truth, the only real liberty is that Liberty which the Lord Christ grants either to an individual, a family, a state, or a nation, by His Sovereign Grace. For an individual, liberty is granted as a result of regeneration. This liberty is a spiritual liberty from the penalty of sin, and the ravages of sin's dominion over the flesh. While it is spiritual, it is no less real. Its essence is Divine, and its power is therefore of God, which makes it very real in this life. The liberty one has in Christ is not merely conceptual or theoretical, but actual, with physical, behavioral and emotional evidences attached. cf Gal 5. Since True Liberty is only that Liberty which is under God, a family, state, or nation, en mass, realizes Biblical Liberty when it submits itself to the Law of God as it is revealed in the Holy Scriptures. Contra-wise, whenever an individual, family, state or nation refuses to submit itself to the Law-Word of God, it comes under the frowning providence of God, and is thereby libel to God’s wrath. If repentance is forthcoming, God turns, and re-establishes that entity under His blessing. However, if that entity continues in its rebellion, God judges, and if repentance ultimately fails, He destroys that entity, be it an individual, family, state or nation.

Bashing Iran Increases Danger to Christians in Iran!

John Lofton / The American View:
Interview with Carl Moehler of "Open Doors" Ministry says yes, of course, U.S. "Christian leaders" bashing Iran increases danger to christians in Iran! On this program you will hear the actual voices of the warmongers who have agitated for war with Iran, for overthrowing that government. Tied for Warmonger-In-Chief re: Iran are: Pat Robertson and Neo-Con Man William Kristol. Others include: George Will; Sean Hannity (rhymes with insanity); Michael Ledeen; Rick Warren; Newt Gingrich; Rep. Mike Pence.

Related:
Steve Deace Interviews Tom Minnery
Doug McHone / Coffee Swirls.com:
For those of us who didn't know (myself included), Tom Minnery is the long-time political director of Focus on the Family. He was recently interviewed on Deace in the Afternoon, and Steve really made Tom feel right at home. (Editor: Also, hear Tom Minnery use a statest, neo-con misinterpretation of Romans 13:1-7). You can listen to the interview here.

Steve Deace podcasting WHO Radio.com archive.

Senate Quietly Passes Iran Sanctions Bill

TRUTHOUT.org:
The Senate quietly passed legislation Thursday implementing tough new sanctions against Iran that advocacy groups say will cause more pain for the citizens of the country than for the government it's intended to cripple. The sanctions would target gasoline companies and Iranian imports of refined petroleum products. In addition, the bill includes provisions to ban imports to the US and exports to Iran, with the exception of food, medicine and other humanitarian aid goods. Assets of certain Iranian individuals could also be frozen.

The Neoconservative Empire

Ron Paul / LewRockwell.com:
This grand debate is welcomed but it could be that this is nothing more than a distraction from the dangerous military confrontation approaching with Iran and supported by many in leadership on both sides of the aisle. This resolution, unfortunately, does not address the disaster in Iraq. Instead, it seeks to appear opposed to the war while at the same time offering no change of the status quo in Iraq. As such, it is not actually a vote against a troop surge. A real vote against a troop surge is a vote against the coming supplemental appropriation that finances it. I hope all of my colleagues who vote against the surge today will vote against the budgetary surge when it really counts: when we vote on the supplemental.

The Pentagon: Corporate Welfare Pimp

Will Grigg / Liberty Minute:
Many people who are commendably hostile toward Washington's increasing role in our lives surrender to uncritical admiration of the immensely wasteful and ever-metastasizing federal bureaucracy called the Department of Defense. The Pentagon is the largest and most costly federal bureaucracy, devouring unfathomable quantities of money and feeding a growing roster of corporate welfare clients. Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently met with leaders of several major Pentagon contractors - including Boeing and Lockheed Martin – to propose a "closer partnership" in order "to secure steady growth in the Pentagon's budget over time."

Obama's $3.8 Trillion Budget Heading to Congress

The Associated Press:
The Obama administration on Sunday endorsed spending an additional $100 billion to attack painfully high unemployment as it prepared to send Congress a $3.8 trillion budget that would provide billions more to pull the country out of the Great Recession while increasing taxes on the wealthy and imposing a spending freeze on many government programs. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the administration believed "somewhere in the $100 billion range" would be the appropriate amount for a new jobs measure made up of a business tax credit to encourage hiring, increased infrastructure spending and money from the government's bailout fund to get banks to increase loans to struggling small businesses.