It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ! For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.
According to the Drudge Report, sources reveal that Jermaine Jackson will most probably sing Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile” at his brother’s Memorial Service on Tuesday. This will surely be a tear jerker for many, especially those who remember Michael’s rendition in 1995 from his HIStory: Past, Present and Future, LP.
Personally, this song has always been one of my favorites and adopted a new meaning for me when my beloved mother passed away in 1998.
Following are both the lyrics and video of this moving song; may it bring new meaning to all who drop by. God bless each of you….
***
Smile Charlie Chaplin's Theme Music for 'Modern Times' Lyrics by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons – 1954
Smile tho' your heart is aching, Smile even tho' it's breaking, When there are clouds in the sky You'll get by,
If you smile thro' your fear and sorrow, Smile and maybe tomorrow, You'll see the sun come shin-ing thro' for you
Light up your face with gladness, Hide ev-'ry trace of sadness, Al -'tho a tear may be ever so near,
That's the time, You must keep on trying, Smile, what's the use of crying, You'll find that life is still worth-while,
Since the rapid decline of my father’s health, my care-giving for him is rapidly turning full-time and I’m quickly loosing touch with the happenings of the “outside world.”
Seeking a quick break, I scan “old faithful” (Drudge Report) and stop short at the latest headlines:
• Abortion doc gunned down at church… • Man in custody… • Abortion foes fear backlash…
George Tiller, the man tagged as “Tiller the Killer” has been murdered.
It is [most probably] assumed that I, along with a multitude of other devout “pro-lifers”, are rejoicing in this man’s violent death, but I/we am not. Even though Tiller’s “fame” was attributed to his countless late-term abortions I am deeply saddened by this act and I mourn. I mourn for the insanity of the murderer and, most importantly, I mourn for Tiller’s soul.
Murder is never a solution and Tiller’s fate, as well as all who are like him, is for God to handle; not man.
Not knowing the full extent of the situation, I can only assume that the murderer is insane but, unfortunately, many who are dedicated in protecting the lives of all unborn babies will be unjustly linked with this tragedy.
I didn’t know Tiller but I imagine that he became desensitized to the realities of Truth over a period of time. Is he unique? No, if we are to be honest, we all have a little “Tiller the Killer” in us but what matters most in our lives is in the choices we choose to make.
I believe that Christianity is a choice. The dividing line to madness is within all of us and, without the anointment of the Holy Spirit, we are all capable of the most heinous acts and crimes.
Like Tiller, America has become “desensitized” to what is evil and has unadmittably chosen to be a God-less society. As I’ve written countless times before, America has quickly transformed into “an anything goes” society with many Christians compromising on what Truth is.
Man might be fickle, but God is not.
***
[Jesus said:] “What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” (Matthew 21:28-31)
Most of us have, at some point in our life, made a decision to serve God. Such moments of decision and commitment made a marked difference in our lives. We felt somehow new; we became aware of a new power, a new freedom, a new joy. Problems that had been bothering us for years disappeared; we sensed the operation of grace in us. It seemed as if our previous life had been but a preparation for this moment, and that our subsequent life would be merely a living out of our new consciousness of ourselves as Christians.
We soon discovered that euphoria was not a fruit of the Spirit; that although some problems had disappeared, other problems remained, that it still took our own effort, as well as the winds of grace, to move us along the road of salvation. So we settled in for the long haul and set about living out our life as Christians. We realized that the moment of decision was only a moment, and that we could not dwell within it forever.
There is both wisdom and danger in this realization. For with it comes a turning point in which we can continue to persevere as Christians or return to our former way of life. We can become like the second son who willingly said yes to his father but did not live out his yes. Chances are that this son was sincere when he told his father that he would work in the vineyard. He may well have meant to go but somehow got sidetracked. He may even have set out for the vineyard with fervor, but for one reason or another, never arrived.
We too can set out to serve the Lord with fervor but slowly, step by step, change our direction. We can abandon everything into the hands of God, only to gradually and imperceptibly take it back into our own hands again. We can invite Jesus into our lives as Lord and Savior, but over a period of time, reassert ourselves as “lord of our own lives” and come once again to rely on our own strength to save us.
Such a pattern is not inevitable, but there are precedents for it in Scripture. Did not the disciples leave all to follow Jesus, only to argue about whom was going to have the highest place (surely an exercise in self-assertion)? Did not one of the chosen twelve betray Jesus and another deny knowing Him? Because of the danger of saying one thing and doing another, Jesus issued this warning,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
It is not enough to have once cried out to Jesus, “You are my Lord: - we must choose to make this our decision and prayer every day. It is not enough to have once placed everything in the hands of God; we must again place in His hands anything we’ve taken back from Him.
For Catholics, yesterday was Pentecost Sunday; the day God gave us His Holy Spirit.
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, "Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his native language? We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God." (Acts 2:1-11)
What does this mean for us?
Simply put, Pentecost is about how God has comes to live in human hearts, making ordinary people into extraordinary saints.
If we really want to see the restoration of our America [and world], it is time to get out of God’s way and allow Him to take charge. Jesus is simple yet it is man who has complicated and distorted Christianity.
The time is now; right now. Together, let’s stop for a moment and take a few deep breaths. In our mind, let us imagine ourselves breathing in the Spirit and breathing out our sins. Let us envision ourselves accepting the Lord and His plans while letting go of our own plans and visions.
Send forth your Spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth. (Psalm 104)
###
The following video, Cece Winans- Holy Spirit Come Fill This Place, courtesy of You Tube.
I can no longer be consumed with the news; it’s fruitless and I firmly believe that America’s only hope for recovery is Jesus.
Does this put me further on Janet Napolitano’s “watch-list”?
Probably, but I don’t really care; I refuse to be “a closet Christian.”
I am not armed with anger or revenge toward any of our leaders – I am armed with the Truth of Jesus Christ which is mightier than anything in this world.
His Truth is mightier that the threats of DHS, the pandemic alarm of H1N1 and certainly mightier than our failing economy.
I have come to realize that America is not experiencing the consequences of an election but, rather, the consequences of living in a God-less, society. Until we humbly fall to our knees and repent, it ain’t gonna get any better.
Burned out from the happenings on Capital Hill, I willingly divert from the Drudge Report to today’s readings (Acts 9:1-29):
Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" He said, "Who are you, sir?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do." The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.
There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." He answered, "Here I am, Lord." The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is there praying, and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, that he may regain his sight." But Ananias replied, "Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name." So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, "Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.
He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
***
Talk about a life-changing experience! In a flash of an eye, Paul was changed from a relentless persecutor of Christians to a relentless preacher of the gospel. Wow! While the story of Paul’s conversion is both dramatic and inspiring, the truth is that every conversion is a miracle and that there is hope for everyone.
Jesus told Nicodemus “that everyone needs to be born again.” Simply put, there must come a time when we can say:
“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I accept His forgiveness of my sins, and I want to live my life for Him.”
Although our Lord never forces Himself on anyone, He loves us deeply and wants all of His children to come to a close, personal relationship with Him and with his Son – yes, even those who are turning our America “upside down.”
America, don’t waste another moment; turn to Him who can create the true change in our lives.
***
Thank you, Jesus, for being my Lord and Savior. I humbly beseech you to lay Your hand upon our nation’s leaders and our America now so that any scales of darkness and sin may fall from her eyes. Fill us with the light of Your Truth, for the sake of our children and those not yet born.
###
The following video, Mighty To Save, courtesy of You Tube.
According to the Drudge Report, the U.S. government is set to offer an online emotional rescue kit!Lucky us! Isn’t it wonderful that our government is thinking of us; I am already feeling comforted…
"Getting Through Tough Economic Times" will launch Tuesday with a media push across all platforms.The site is meant to help people identify health concerns related to financial worries.
Check this out: (taken directly from the site) “…Warning Signs It is important to be aware of signs that financial problems may be adversely affecting your emotional or mental well being --or that of someone you care about. These signs include: • Persistent Sadness/Crying • Excessive Anxiety • Lack of Sleep/Constant Fatigue • Excessive Irritability/Anger • Increased drinking • Illicit drug use, including misuse of medications • Difficulty paying attention or staying focused • Apathy - not caring about things that are usually important to you • Not being able to function as well at work, school or home…”
Now that the government has destroyed so many lives, it is offering therapy! You have got to be kidding! The only way the government can really help us is to eliminate itself from our lives. But then again, that would defeat its present purpose of destroying America, now, wouldn’t it…
And so we have before us the consequences of an election.
The following video, It’s A Controlled Economic Disaster, courtesy of You Tube.
It doesn't end with this administration, does it? With all the lies and bad decisions within this "new" administration, my head is spinning and wondering: what next?
Here's a "what next" for all of our veterans: Obama is considering making veterans use private insurance to pay for treatment of combat and service-related injuries. Is this man [our president] serious? The following is posted on the DrudgeReport:
WASHINGTON—The Obama administration is considering making veterans use private insurance to pay for treatment of combat and service-related injuries. The plan would be an about-face on what veterans believe is a long-standing pledge to pay for health care costs that result from their military service.
But in a White House meeting Monday, veterans groups apparently failed to persuade President Obama to take the plan off the table.
“Veterans of all generations agree that this proposal is bad for the country and bad for veterans,” said Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. “If the president and the OMB [Office of Management and Budget] want to cut costs, they can start at AIG, not the VA." Read more.
***
Shame on you, Mr. President! How dare you insult those who have dedicated their lives to protect us... to protect you and your family? I think everyone in Washington should retire and/or quit with dignity. Go home, guys and let us lead our USA... you're not what our America needs!
***
The following video, We The People Stimulus Package, courtesy of You Tube.
###
Together, we can help stop FOCA. Visit www.FightFOCA.com and join the almost 600,000 people who have signed the online Fight FOCA petition so far. Help be the voice for our unborn babies!
You have to admit one thing: like him or not, our President is certainly holding true to his promises of “change” for our America.
But there’s a problem, a big problem: Obama’s administration is destroying our country.
A few weeks ago, a concerned friend timidly asked if I was “okay.”
I had to think for a minute… was there something wrong that I had forgotten? After a moment or two, I assured her that I was fine.
“Well, everyone’s worried, Judi, after all, you’ve changed.”
“Have I?”
“Yes, you have. Why are you concentrating so much on the “tough” issues – just let it go! Forget all of this and concentrate on your family and your career! Abortion will always be there with you or without you. People don’t want “this Judi” - they loved you when you wrote about “lighter” things; you know, your family and your daughter. You were funny. We want the “old” Judi back.”
“Oh, I see. So I’m not so popular anymore, huh?”
“Well people are wondering what’s going on with you – what are you so angry about? You make people feel “uncomfortable.”
Unaffected, I respond: “Good. Uncomfortable is good. Party time is over, my friend.”
***
It amazes me that when someone chooses not to be “sheeple” it is assumed a mental breakdown has occurred. If being “sheeple” is synonymous with “popularity” than I opt to be unpopular.
Second by second we are loosing our rights and still there are those who choose to be blind. I can’t count the numbers of people I have spoken with who are ecstatic that Obama will pay for their mortgages.
Huh? Are they serious? And I’m accused of experiencing a meltdown? Ple-e-eazzz!
We only have to look at the cross to see what’s wrong. But instead of humbly submitting to Him, we choose to submit to lies. No longer a nation of “In God We Trust” America has willingly submitted into the nation of “In Lies We Trust”.
As our country rapidly yields to bigger government, we are facing the most serious threat to pro-life policies ever with the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). If passed, abortion would become an entitlement the government must fund and promote. All citizens would lose the freedom they now have to enact even the modest regulation of the abortion industry.
Today, March 2, the Drudge Report reluctantly reports:
President Barack Obama has named Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius --a Catholic who has aggressively promoted legal abortion-- to head the federal Department of Health and Human Services.
Great. Good news, huh?
Am I angry? You betcha! As a Catholic/Christian am I out of line with my outspokenness? Me thinks not. If one professes to be a Christ follower, then remaining silent is out of line. This administration was chosen out of desperation for a failing economy and, with that, look what is happening on Wall Street: despite Obama’s stimu-lie bill, despite the trillion-dollar bailout of the banks, despite the fact that AIG just received another 30 billion dollars from the government, the stock market dropped by 300 points -- the Dow is below 700 points.
America, including many Catholics and Christians, have unwisely compromised and gambled on short- term "hope" and America will demise unless we change from God-less to God-filled.
Whether FOCA passes in its entirety or in “piece-meal” rest assured, that this administration is determined to pass it.
***
The following video, Gianna Jessen Abortion Survivor in Australia Part 1 and Part 2, is a magnificent testimony from an abortion survivor (courtesy of You Tube):
There is nothing more I can add; Gianna says it all. As this beautiful woman proclaims, it is the mercy of God that sustains us even when we hate Him.
The time to act against this travesty is now; not later -- not tomorrow but now. At this time of serious national turmoil, Americans must unite to serve the good of all, born and unborn.
Where To Call:
US Capital switchboard: 202.224.3121. Ask for the offices of your Representative and two Senators.
The White House: 202.456.1111.
Where To Write:
The Honorable ________________________ United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable ________________________ United States Senate Washington, DC 20510
The President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500
E-mail:
To send e-mails to Capital Hill or the White House, please visit the special e-mail action page at: nchla.org.
***
Prayer For One’s Country Most merciful Jesus, I beseech You through the intercession of Your Saints and especially the intercession of You dearest Mother who nurtured You from childhood: bless my native land. I beg You, Jesus, look not on our sins, but on the tears of little children, on the hunger and cold they suffer. Jesus, for the sake of these innocent ones, grant me the grace that I am asking of You for my country.
-- from Sister Fautina’s Divine Mercy Diary (286)
###
Together, we can help stop FOCA. Visit www.FightFOCA.com and join the almost 600,000 people who have signed the online Fight FOCA petition so far. Help be the voice for our unborn babies!
PELOSI SAYS BIRTH CONTROL WILL HELP ECONOMY Sun Jan 25 2009 22:13:43
ETSpeaker of the House Nancy Pelosi boldly defended a move to add birth control funding to the new economic "stimulus" package, claiming "contraception will reduce costs to the states and to the federal government."
Pelosi, the mother of 5 children and 6 grandchildren, who once said, "Nothing in my life will ever, ever compare to being a mom," seemed to imply babies are somehow a burden on the treasury. The revelation came during an exchange Sunday morning on ABC’s This Week.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Hundreds of millions of dollars to expand family planning services. How is that stimulus?
PELOSI: Well, the family planning services reduce cost. They reduce cost. The states are in terrible fiscal budget crises now and part of what we do for children's health, education and some of those elements are to help the states meet their financial needs. One of those - one of the initiatives you mentioned, the contraception, will reduce costs to the states and to the federal government.
STEPHANOPOULOS: So no apologies for that?
PELOSI: No apologies. No. we have to deal with the consequences of the downturn in our economy.
***
Following is Madam Speaker’s own words regarding this brilliance (video courtesy of You Tube):
Madam Speaker, with all due respect, have you lost your mind?
Firstly, as a fellow Catholic, I am surprised that you would suggest something that is against our Church teachings… but, then again, Nanc, excuse me, I mean, Madam Speaker, this isn’t the first time you’ve openly rebelled against the church…
But, apart from your basic arrogance, Madam Speaker, where have your basic maternal skills gone? Are we to really take you seriously?
C’mon, somebody help me out here… is this really our America?
###
Publisher's Note: President Barack Obama has promised Planned Parenthood that one of his top priorities as President will be to sign the “Freedom of Choice Act” (FOCA) into law.
•FOCA would eliminate every restriction on abortion nationwide.
• FOCA will do away with state laws on parental involvement, on partial-birth abortion, and on all other protections.
• FOCA will compel taxpayer funding of abortions.
• FOCA will force faith-based hospitals and health-care facilities to perform abortions.
Barack Obama believes this legislation will “end the culture wars.” To him, “ending the culture wars” means eradicating every state and federal law on abortion—laws the majority of Americans support.
Together, we can help stop FOCA. Visit www.FightFOCA.com and join the almost 600,000 people who have signed the online Fight FOCA petition so far. It’s up to us to save our babies!
###
Judi Lynn Lake has kept up with leading edge business trends throughout her varied and successful career. She had already had her "15 minutes of fame" over and over again before starting her family. Judi and her family now reside in South Carolina, but, having been born and raised on Long Island, NY, it is clearly evident that she will always be a "New Yorker." Today, she successfully runs her own advertising agency which handles everything from logos, branding and package design while she continues to work closely with self-published authors from design to promotion. For more information, visitjudilake.com
Life As It Happens was created to be a "safe-haven" for all Christians to share "life as it happens." If anyone is interested in being a "guest author" on this blog, feel free to e-mail me at judi@judilake.com. Please be advised that all material is subject for approval.
