America-on the Spiraling Downward Path, Part 7

Gay Marriage and the Church, from Midwest Christian Outreach, Inc. Newsletter of November 20, 2008
While same sex marriage is losing on the cultural front it seems to be making good headway in the church. Presbyterian court acquits minister in marriage of women: In a unanimous 9-0 decision Thursday, a Pittsburgh Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) court found the Rev. Janet Edwards not guilty of two charges of violating Scripture and the church constitution by uniting two women in marriage. The reasoning of the Presbyterian court is convoluted and walks around the issue rather than taking a firm biblical stand. What effect does this battle have on a nation? Can we learn anything from history about sexuality, spirituality and the rise and fall of nations? The article, "Homosexuality and the Historical Decline of Nations at http://www.ctm.org/arti/hathdon.html gives a very good outline and one of the comments is:
Nations most often fall from within, and this fall is usually due to a decline in the moral and spiritual values in the family. As families go, so goes a nation. This has been the main premise of thinkers from British anthropologist J. D. Unwin to Russian sociologist Pitirim Sorokin, who have studied civilizations that have collapsed. Unwin died in 1936. His research was published in 1940 under the title “Hopousia: The Sexual and Economic Foundations of a New Society.” He was likely influenced by Sigmund Freud to some degree, scrutinized the sexual behaviors of 86 cultures through 5,000 years of history. His observations were, and are, sobering.Freud maintained that sexual repression was the root cause of a society's ills. However, Unwin found the opposite to be true. His findings showed cultures that observed a strict sexual ethic – especially valuing pre-nuptial chastity and post-nuptial monogamy – thrived and flourished. However, those societies that rejected sexual restraint withered and died.

Taking a strong stand for sexual purity preserves a culture and nation.

Taking a second look at the roles played by the media in the presidential elections of 2008:
http://www.howobamagotelected.com/
'A lot' of homeschooled kids are 'demented' ...Joy Behar of ABC's 'The View': 'They learn to be scared of other children' Posted: November 21, 200812:00 am Eastern© 2008 WorldNetDaily: While discussing Barack Obama and the education of his two daughters, Joy Behar, a former public school teacher, described homeschooled children as "demented" on ABC's "The View." "I think they should get an education just like George Bush in the White House did," Behar joked on the Nov. 19 show. Her co-host, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, replied, "I think [homeschooling] actually is a good thing." Then Behar cut her off, saying, "A lot of them are demented when they're homeschooled. … They're afraid of children. They learn to be scared of other children."

In How atheism is being sold to American by David Kupelian, he points out that Religion – including Christianity and Judaism – is "violent, irrational, intolerant, allied to racism, tribalism, and bigotry, invested in ignorance and hostile to free inquiry, contemptuous of women and coercive toward children." At least that's according to the No. 1 New York Times bestseller "God is Not Great: Why Religion Poisons Everything" by journalist Christopher Hitchens. In the news business, we often cite a nation's current top-selling books – for example, the popularity of anti-Semitic titles in Arab countries – as evidence of the mindset of the people. Well, in the United States of America right now, some of the most-bought, most-read and most-discussed books are angry, in-your-face atheist manifestos. Besides Hitchens' book, which has dominated nonfiction bestseller charts for months, there's the popular "Letter to a Christian Nation" by atheist author Sam Harris, sequel to his earlier tome "The End of Faith," and Oxford biologist Richard Dawkins' "The God Delusion" – all New York Times bestsellers. Then there are other hot titles: "God: The Failed Hypothesis: How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist" by Victor J. Stenger. "Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon" by Daniel C. Dennett. "Atheist Universe: The Thinking Person's Answer to Christian Fundamentalism" by David Mills. And so on.
"This is atheism's moment," crowed David Steinberger, CEO of Perseus Books in a Wall Street Journal interview. "Mr. Hitchens has written the category killer, and we're excited about having the next book." That's right – this fall the publishing world will further cash in on the anti-God juggernaut with "The Pocket Atheist," featuring the writings of famous atheists, edited by Hitchens.

What is responsible for this blooming of atheism in America today? Dennis Prager, the brilliant Jewish radio talker and columnist, ferrets out some key reasons:
"First and most significant," he points out, "is the amount of evil coming from within Islam." He explains: Whether Islamists (or jihadists, Islamo-fascists or whatever else Muslims who slaughter innocents in the name of Islam are called) represent a small sliver of Muslims or considerably more than that, they have brought religious faith into terrible disrepute.
How could they not? The one recognized genocide in the world today is being carried out by religious Muslims in Sudan; liberty is exceedingly rare in any of the dozens of nations with Muslim majorities; treatment of women is frequently awful; and tolerance of people with different religious beliefs is largely nonexistent when Muslims dominate a society.
Remember, to atheists, Christianity, Judaism and Islam are all pretty much the same – dangerous monotheistic fairy tales that induce people to oppress and kill each other – the only difference being the particular myths, superstitions and rules they impose on followers based on each religion's traditions and supposed "holy books."

Another major, if more long-term, factor contributing to the popularity of atheist books, Prager notes, is the "secular indoctrination of a generation," thanks to our de facto atheistic public school system: Unless one receives a strong religious grounding in a religious school and/or religious home, the average young person in the Western world is immersed in a secular cocoon. From elementary school through graduate school, only one way of looking at the world – the secular – is presented. The typical individual in the Western world receives as secular an indoctrination as the typical European received a religious one in the Middle Ages. I have taught college students and have found that their ignorance not only of the Bible but of the most elementary religious arguments and concepts – such as the truism that if there is no God, morality is subjective – is total.

So the generation that has been secularly brainwashed is now buying books that reconfirm that brainwash – especially now, given the evil coming from religious people. Finally, observes Prager, Christianity and Judaism have, with some notable exceptions, failed to effectively counter the ever-rising tide of atheistic secularism in the Western world. Pointing out that "it is virtually impossible to distinguish between a liberal Christian or Jew and a liberal secularist," he notes that all three "regard the human fetus as morally worthless; regard the man-woman definition of marriage as a form of bigotry; and come close to holding pacifist beliefs, to cite but a few examples."

Thus, with religious evil increasing in the world – thanks to Islam – and fewer and fewer people willing and able to confront it, Prager concludes "the case for atheism will seem even more compelling." ...David Kupelian (The Marketing of Evil)

America-on the Spiraling Downward Path, Part 6

One of the most hotly contested controversies currently in vogue is the issue of global warming. Proponents of man-caused global warming and disastrous consequences if not curtailed include a gullible public, a host of scientists, Al Gore and the ICCC of the United Nations. Recently, at least as many opponent scientists have voiced their objections to these conclusions. Mr. Gore’s hysterical and ad hominem attacks are typical of doomsayers. It is common for these advocates to claim that those who disagree with them are working for the oil companies. But we should look at the agendas of the radical environmentalists, and the great economic benefit for them to keep the pot stirred. A new website examines this and is trying to calm some of this hysteria at www.fightglobalwarminghysteria.com. The proponents are typical of the “intellectual community” influenced by environmental radicalism and evolutionary thinking. This issue has become a power struggle for control in the classic Marxist-socialist sense. Dr. Roy Spencer of the University of Alabama in his book “Climate Confusion: How Global Warming Hysteria Leads to Bad Science, Pandering Politicians and Misguided Policies that Hurt the Poor“ points out specifically that the ICCC is a purely political body, without scientific credentials of any kind, and seeks control of all determinations of what is to be done to combat global warming. Sound like one world government? This, in spite of the fact that more and more evidence is piling up about periodic climate changes up and down, the cause thereof, and the impact of solar radiation changes. Dr. Spencer has recently concluded that a contributing factor from satellite measurements and a simple model shows 85% probability that slight temperature increases (if any) are due to periodic ocean currents and changes. In fact, Al Gore at the end of his award winning documentary comments indirectly supports population control as a means to reduce greenhouse emissions. This is the way of death, for the wages of sin is death.

"As one liberal academic administrator said in justifying his Draconian action in suppressing a Christian viewpoint, 'We cannot tolerate the intolerable.' This self-blinding, superior mindset explains how liberals can accuse conservatives of racism for their legitimate political differences with Barack Obama while demeaning, with racist epithets, Condoleezza Rice or Clarence Thomas. It's how they can mock conservatives for being close-minded while unilaterally declaring the end to the debate on global warming because of a mythical consensus they have decreed. It's how they can demand every vote count and exclude military ballots. It's how they can glamorize Jimmy Carter for gallivanting to foreign countries to supervise 'fair elections' and pooh-pooh ACORN's serial voter fraud in their own country. It's how they can threaten the tax-exempt status of evangelical churches for preaching on values, even when the churches don't endorse candidates, but fully support a liberal church's direct electioneering for specific candidates. ... It's how they can oppose the death penalty for the guilty but protect the death penalty for the innocent unborn. ... If you believe the left is tolerant, open-minded and democratic, you're in for a rude awakening." --columnist David Limbaugh

The Media Matrix-How the Press Creates a World of Illusion We Think Is Real: In “The Marketing of Evil”, David Kupelian comments on the bias of the majority of media outlets, especially over the last three decades or more. He comments, “..the scary fact is that the media-both news and entertainment-are literally the creators and sustainers of what most of us perceive as reality, reminiscent of the malevolent computer program in The Matrix film trilogy. In The Matrix, humans are born into a slave state in which what they think of as reality is actually a powerful computer-generated virtual-reality program. They live in constant and deep delusion. Without realizing it, these humans have been reduced to the lowest form of servitude, their life energies literally sucked out of them to fuel the insatiable needs of their rulers.” From Darwinism, to 'who should be elected', to Israeli Goliath threatening Arab David, to pedophile priests and Boy Scouts, to gay rights, multiculturalism, sexual liberation, abortion rights, gun control, hate crimes, separation of church and state...these are all part of the radical agendas being sold to Americans by the press. It only gets worse. Kupelian goes on to say, “Hiding behind the pretense of journalistic impartiality, de facto activists masquerading as objective, dispassionate reporters use the same seductions, the same expert packaging of corruption, the same propaganda techniques that professional marketers use. In America, what was once a free press...has largely become just another public relations establishment, intent on advancing ideologies and agendas that are hostile to traditional American values. ...As a matter of fact, over the past few decades no institution has been more culpable for making evil appear good and good appear evil than the media.” It is to their discredit that most reporters actually believe what they are selling.

Perhaps the greatest crime in America is that of abortion, now performed on a “legal” basis since 1973. American doctors alone have performed well over forty million abortions...it may be approaching 45 million now, or more. “During the tumultuous 1960s, after centuries of legal prohibition and moral condemnation of abortion, a handful of dedicated activists and feminists launched an unprecedented marketing campaign. Their aim was twofold: first, to capture the news media and thus public opinion, and then to change the nation's abortion laws. They succeeded admirably. Now we have “freedom of choice-a basic American right.” We have “Abortion is a personal decision between a woman and her doctor”, and “Will women decide, or will the politicians and bureaucrats in Washington?” Many doctors who perform abortions cite the same contributory factors to their getting started in abortion clinics, the media, women's rights groups, and their medical training itself. In addition, doing abortions makes for a very lucrative practice. Victims of con men are often loath to recognize that they have been deceived. As it continues both heart and conscience are hardened. The Bible describes this seduction process whereby we ignore our conscience so we can obtain some perceived advantage, but this results instead in spiritual blindness: saying, “Go to this people and say, You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; And you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; For the heart of this people has become dull, And with their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes; Otherwise they might see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, and I would heal them” (Acts 28:26-27)...David Kupelian in The Marketing of Evil.

...The War against righteousness will continue.

America-on the Spiraling Downward Path, Part 5

Romans 1 teaches the downward spiral: it goes from revelation to rejection to rationalization. They tell themselves they’re wise when the truth is they are fools. But the fourth cause of God’s wrath is the worst. Revelation rejected, darkness rationalized and the fourth is religion... ...Verse 23, “They exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.” How ridiculous.Religion...men create their own gods to accommodate their own useless ideas. You might think that religion is man at his highest, but religion is man at his lowest. False religion is man at the bottom. It’s man who has gone away from the truth of God and the further he goes, the more he descends into satanic false religion. ... This is the final straw. As verse 25 indicates, they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and they worshiped and served the creature rather than the creator who is blessed forever, amen. They kept worshiping, they developed the religion but they worshiped something of their own creation, or a creation of God, an animal, a fish, a star, a constellation, or an idol rather than the Creator. Verse 28 says it again, “They did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer.” It doesn’t mean they’re not religious, the whole world is religion, fanatically religious. You see, man does not ascend from the muck of paganism and ignorance up to the truth of God. That’s not how it works. ...Dr. John MacArthur, Jr.

Man is not evolving up, he is not ascending to God. He is descending. He falls from the truth of God into the slime of religion, false religion, satanic counterfeit. Religion is not man at his best, religion is man at his worst. It is not man finding God, it is man finding Satan and being content with him. The ultimate insanity is to reject God and create a non-God that doesn’t exist and worship that. How insane is that? A false God, a false Jesus, and you do that and call yourself wise and erudite and you pontificate about your religion and you have all kinds of complexities in your satanic system, all kinds of people going around with titles and robes and authority and influence and power. The idols come in all kinds of forms, from primitive statues of the lowest cultures to the more elevated gods of self and sex and mother nature, from the Roman eagle to the spotted owl, to the golden bulls of Egypt to the dolphin gods of environmentalists, from the worship of a stick to the worship of the earth, from Aborigines to environmentalists, from pantheistic worship of the world to eco-feminism, from eco-feminism to Islam and every other religion. I’m not surprised that terrorism is associated with religion, it’s man at his lowest. Is it any wonder that as a society we are struggling with our ethics? Is it any wonder we are struggling with our morals? We’ve rejected God. He gave us revelation, we rejected it. We rationalize it and call ourselves an elite educated advanced culture and we invent religion as if it’s an indicator of how high we have ascended when the fact of the matter is we’re going down at warp speed. We have abandoned God and God has returned the favor. ...Dr. John MacArthur

Liberals clinically mad, concludes top psychiatrist Eminent doctor makes case leftist ideology is a mental disorder Posted: November 12, 20086:33 pm Eastern© 2008 WorldNetDaily
WASHINGTON – Just when liberals thought it was safe to start identifying themselves as such, an acclaimed, veteran psychiatrist is making the case that the ideology motivating them is actually a mental disorder. "Based on strikingly irrational beliefs and emotions, modern liberals relentlessly undermine the most important principles on which our freedoms were founded," says Dr. Lyle Rossiter, author of the new book, "The Liberal Mind: The Psychological Causes of Political Madness." "Like spoiled, angry children, they rebel against the normal responsibilities of adulthood and demand that a parental government meet their needs from cradle to grave."
While political activists on the other side of the spectrum have made similar observations, Rossiter boasts professional credentials and a life virtually free of activism and links to "the vast right-wing conspiracy." For more than 35 years he has diagnosed and treated more than 1,500 patients as a board-certified clinical psychiatrist and examined more than 2,700 civil and criminal cases as a board-certified forensic psychiatrist. He received his medical and psychiatric training at the University of Chicago.

Rossiter says the kind of liberalism being displayed by both Barack Obama and his Democratic primary opponent Hillary Clinton can only be understood as a psychological disorder.
"A social scientist who understands human nature will not dismiss the vital roles of free choice, voluntary cooperation and moral integrity – as liberals do," he says. "A political leader who understands human nature will not ignore individual differences in talent, drive, personal appeal and work ethic, and then try to impose economic and social equality on the population – as liberals do. And a legislator who understands human nature will not create an environment of rules which over-regulates and over-taxes the nation's citizens, corrupts their character and reduces them to wards of the state – as liberals do." Dr. Rossiter says the liberal agenda preys on weakness and feelings of inferiority in the population by: creating and reinforcing perceptions of victimization; satisfying infantile claims to entitlement, indulgence and compensation;
augmenting primitive feelings of envy; rejecting the sovereignty of the individual, subordinating him to the will of the government. "The roots of liberalism – and its associated madness – can be clearly identified by understanding how children develop from infancy to adulthood and how distorted development produces the irrational beliefs of the liberal mind," he says. "When the modern liberal mind whines about imaginary victims, rages against imaginary villains and seeks above all else to run the lives of persons competent to run their own lives, the neurosis of the liberal mind becomes painfully obvious."
...such psycho babble is interesting to the conservative mind...but we have another non-psycho name for it: SIN.

Radicals have hijacked America's education system. Somehow out of the industrial confusion following the Civil War, (maybe well meaning) powerful men and dreamers became certain what kind of social order America needed. This realization didn't arise as a product of public debate (democratic), but as distillation of private discussion. Their ideas contradicted the original American charter but that did not disturb them. They had a stupendous goal in mind, the rationalization of everything. The end of unpredictable history and its transformation into something orderly. Their world view was radically different than ours. ...The first goal, to be reached in stages, was an orderly, scientifically managed society, one in which the best people would make the decisions, unhampered by democratic tradition. After that, human breeding, the evolutionary destiny of the species, would be in reach. Universal institutionalized formal forced schooling was the prescription....Evolutionary theory,...without the Creator, provided the philosophical underpinning for this atheistic world view. German psychologist Wilhelm Wundt, the founder of experimental psychology, created the “scientific” basis not only for denying God but for transforming society and the “public” school system. The planners were clever, using “public” for their “national” school system. There is a subtle, soul-killing power of forced government schooling without God, the devastating effect on each child's not-so-hidden genius of sitting at a desk in a classroom all day for one's entire youth. The bottom line, says John Taylor Gatto, is “spiritually contented people are dangerous for a variety of reasons. They don't make reliable servants because they won't jump at every command. They test what is requested against a code of (biblical) moral principle. Those who are spiritually secure can't easily be driven to sacrifice family relations.”

America-on the Spiraling Downward Path, Part 4

Frank and Ernest express it very well. My financial advisor sent me this note last month... to the effect that the reason for the financial meltdown was............GREED and FEAR. I might add that these stem from SIN.

America - on the Spiraling Downward Path, Part 3

Who's selling Sex and Rebellion to Your Children? David Kupelian describes the 'killer culture' we live in in terms of the “gangsta generation” of hip-hop rebellion, “merchants of cool” who now sell perverse and pornographic items of every kind, MTV commercials of despicable immorality, flesh “suspension”, self-mutilation (death-seekers), and celebratory piercing and tattooing and joining of the new free sex culture. “Today's youth rebellion and their dress codes and their sub-culture is not only against failing parents but against the entire adult society”.


“He that loves the world (system) does NOT love God.” 1 John 2:15

The moral inversion caused by multiculturalism of the radical 60s has evidently proclaimed without reservation that all cultures are equal, and extended to virtually every area of society. Think about the results from a biblical viewpoint: All Religions are equal; All Sexuality is equal; All Life is equal ('a rat is a pig is a dog is a boy'); Diversity, not unity, becomes our strength; Government must direct and provide multiculturalism from the courts, from the legislature, and now maybe from the executive branch. The marketing of evil stems from more than big corporations competing for the dollar.

In News of the Weird, Chuck Shepherd points out the results of 'equal rights'. Complaints were lodged with the Swedish government in June against the state-run retail pharmacy Apoteket, alleging illegal sex discrimination, in that its stores stock sexual aids that benefit women (e.g., vibrators) but none that particularly benefit men. Oh, the lack of justice!

The campaign to destroy marriage is upon us. It is not only a lustful response to fleshy desire, but of powerful agencies who gain from it! “The result of three decades of unrestrained divorce is that huge numbers of people-many of them government officials-now have a vested professional and financial interest in encouraging it. Divorce today is not simply a phenomenon; it is a regime-a vast bureaucratic empire that permeates national and local governments, with hangers-on in the private sector. In the United States, divorce and custody comprise over half of civil litigation, constituting the cash cow of the judiciary and bringing employment and earnings to a host of public and private officials, including judges, lawyers, psychotherapists, mediators, counselors, social workers, child support enforcement agents and others.” ...Stephen Baskerville

This growth industry of divorce derives from the impact on children. The divorce revolution has spawned a public-private industrial complex of legal, social service and psychotherapeutic professionals devoted to the problems of children, and especially children in single-parent homes. Many are women with feminist leanings. Whatever pieties they may voice about the plight of fatherless, poor, and violent children, the fact remains that these practitioners have a vested interest in creating as many such children as possible. The way to do it is to remove the fathers. ...Stephen Baskerville.

Fraudulent science a la the Kinsey report unleashed a catastrophic 'Revolution'. Kinsey has proven to be the worst kind of fraud. Alfred Kinsey, universally proclaimed as 'father of the sexual revolution' was a sexual psychopath. “Kinsey solicited and encouraged pedophiles, at home and abroad, to sexually violate...infants and children for his alleged data on normal “child sexuality.” Many of the crimes against children (oral and anal sodomy, genital intercourse and manual abuse ) committed for Kinsey's research are quantified in his own graphs and charts”. ...Judith Reisman

Judith Resiman's expose of Kinsey was met with astounding silence. “Just about everyone in attendance had cited Kinsey as their mentor, some even knew of criminal activity. They all knew that the Kinsey research was the basis of their own 'science,' which is to say, the legitimizing basis for everything they did. Kinsey was the foundation of a house of cards. If what he had done could be discredited, it threatened the sexual empire that had been built since his death and upon which they all depended for a livelihood.” A livelihood of psychotherapists, doctors, researchers, scientists and their cohorts, including Hugh Hefner and Harry Hay! ...E. Michael Jones

The implicit message regarding sexuality coming from the secular, mechanistic world view-if we were to verbalize it-would be that Mankind, you have evolved powerful sexual desires. There is no need to suppress them. If your activity is consensual, why should you be compelled to refrain from indulging whatever your sexual desires are, whenever you wish, regardless of how abnormal or strange those desires may seem to others? As long as you don't hurt little children and confine your behavior to consenting adults, there is nothing immoral, unethical, wrong, or forbidden in doing, whatever you want with whomever you want. Considering how widespread this view is today, it may be unnerving to realize this is also precisely the world view and philosophy of the Church of Satan. ...David Kupelian

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galations 5:19

Diseases and disorders may differ from country to country or one generation to the next. ...What one generation considers being normal another generation considers abnormal. In 1952 the American Psychiatric Association published the Diagnosis and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (SDM). One hundred and twelve mental disorders were defined of which homosexuality was included. In 1980 DSM-III was published and homosexuality was removed from the manual. The decision was not based on new advances and discoveries in science. Precipitated by active lobbying from the homosexual community, the American Psychiatric Association convened and voted. By a margin of 5854 to 3810 homosexuality, a long-standing form of abnormal behavior became a scientifically-declared form of “sexual preference.”...many behaviors which were considered normal twenty years ago have been added to the DSM and defined as syndromes, disorders, disabilities, and diseases...If your your child has problems learning, but does not meet the criteria of any specific Learning Disorder then it may be more serious that you think. He may be suffering from number 315.9 Learning Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. ... Drs Tyler and Grady, ADHD, Deceptive Diagnosis.

C.S. Lewis was writing in his book, The Problem of Pain and he wrote this, “The lost enjoy forever the horrible freedom they have demanded and are therefore self-enslaved.” God will abandon sinners to their own choices and the consequences of those choices. And just what is this abandoning act on God’s part, it is the removal of restraining grace. It is when God lets go and turns a society over to its own sinful freedoms and the results of those freedoms. No scripture more directly confronts this abandonment and its consequences than Romans 1 does. Here is the most graphic and the most comprehensive discussion of what it means to be abandoned by God and it is the best passage that I know of to explain the moral chaos and the confusion that we experience in our own nation at this very time. God’s wrath is already at work in our culture. We’re not waiting for it, we are currently experiencing it. ..Dr. John MacArthur, Jr. (“When God Abandons a Nation”)

America-on the Spiraling Downward Path-Part 2

Holiday Ads Ask, 'Why Believe in a god'?
By ERIC GORSK, AP
(Nov. 11, 2008) - You better watch out. There is a new combatant in the Christmas wars. Ads proclaiming, "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake," will appear on Washington, D.C., buses starting next week and running through December. The American Humanist Association unveiled the provocative $40,000 holiday ad campaign Tuesday.


“The consistent deterioration of the Bible as the source of moral truth has led to a nation where people have become independent judges of right and wrong, basing their choices on feelings and circumstances. It is not likely that America will return to a more traditional moral code until the nation experiences significant pain from its moral choices.” ...AFA Journal, October 2008, quoting George Barna.

Where personal responsibility ends, is neglected or abused, government by others begins. The end is NOT pretty. The only good government is one in which righteousness is understood; bad government oppresses people. ...Pastor Douglas A. White

The Myth of Church-State Separation: In allowing the First Amendment to be changed from its original meaning to what it has become today – namely, the prohibition of any acknowledgment of God or His laws inside the schools where most American children spend their youth – do you realize what we're doing? Similarly, in making any reference to God or biblical principles off-limits for those we've entrusted with running this nation's government and charting its future course, do you realized what we're doing? We are deluding ourselves into believing there is some neutral ground between good and evil, and that this is where the government is supposed to be. But such a neutral ground, if such can even be said to exist, is in itself evil. When Jews are being gassed and cremated down the street, “neutrality” is not neutral – it's collaboration. ... David Kupelian in “Buying The Big Lie” (The Marketing of Evil).

The greatest terrorist threat to America is the ACLU…Dr. D. James Kennedy

Has God Removed His Hand of Restraint Even More?
11/12/2008 - James White
Hatred toward the Christian faith is growing in response to the elections of November 4th. Here is an incredible video that shows you the mindless hatred of the supporters of homosexuality toward a little Christian woman. Watch toward the end as the stomp on the cross they have ripped out of her hands. Remind you of Romans 1? It should. You can't tell me these people are not God haters. It is written across their faces.
Also, did you notice the chant, "Shame on you!" What incredible hypocrisy! Those proposing the overthrow of morality, the violation of marriage, the destruction of a divine institution, have the audacity to speak thusly? Surely it has come true:
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20)
12:53:45 - Category: Christian Worldview - Link to this article at: http://www.aomin.org/aoblog/

On the same subject as noted by James White above is this notation of Gary Bauer in his newsletter: I want you to watch a video (go to http://www.ouramericanvalues.org/mediaVideo.php)
we have posted on our website. See how one elderly woman stood up for traditional marriage, and watch the reaction of the “tolerant” pro-gay marriage mob. What you will see is disgusting and outrageous. A line has been crossed. This video should put to rest the illusion of “tolerance” that the Left hides behind, and it should be a wake-up call to anyone who supports traditional values. This 69-year-old lady was verbally and physically assaulted. The cross she was carrying was ripped from her hands, stomped on and destroyed. Yet, the news broadcaster says at the end, “There’s a lot of hate on both sides.” What was he watching? I saw a mob of intolerant, hateful men attack an old lady. ...Gary Bauer

America - on the spiraling downward path, Part 1

"Without a doubt, the most dangerous idea to liberty would be a reincarnation of the Fairness Doctrine in one form or another. Oh, it won't be called 'The Fairness Doctrine' ... It will be called 'The Freedom in Broadcasting Act' or some such Orwellian formulation in order to give the perpetrators a veneer of deniability. This is a favorite game of the left who never tire of redefining basic terms and changing language to suit their political needs of the moment." --columnist Rick Moran

"The substantially enhanced Democratic majorities in Congress stand poised to pass a raft of legislation that ranges from the destructive to the abominable and the tyrannical. It will serve as an early challenge to the judgment of President Obama, and to the efficacy of the loyal opposition." --Claremont Institute Fellow Scott Johnson

On Sunday, November 9, 2008, Michigan liberals sat peacefully through announcements, worship and prayer for the sick, our nation and our President-elect before staging a coordinated, disgusting and repulsive attack on worshipers and the broader concept of the church itself at Lansing's Mount Hope Church. The lefties were a part of a liberal organization known as Bash Back Lansing and their collection of radical blogs, including one of the state's most widely read "mainstream" progressive blogs (and none which will receive a link on this website, given below) called on "queers and tyrannies" from across the state and the region to converge on Lansing for what they refer to as an "action." While many of the members claim to be anarchists (they drove on roads, ate non-garden grown foods, printed materials on products created by government protected free markets, wore clothing, talk incessantly about "organization," etc etc etc) their broader goal is stated plainly on one of their lefty blogs:
"I can tell you that we are targeting a well-known anti-queer, anti-choice radical right wing establishment." ...http://www.rightmichigan.com/story/2008/11/10/13335/904

The plain truth is, within the space of our lifetimes, much of what Americans once almost universally abhorred has been packaged, perfumed, gift-wrapped, and sold to us as though it had great value. By skillfully playing on our deeply felt national values of fairness, generosity, and tolerance, these marketers have persuaded us to embrace as enlightened and noble that which all previous generations since America’s founding regarded as grossly self-destructive-in a word, evil. …David Kupelian in “The Marketing of Evil”

David Kupelian’s research (in “The Marketing of Evil”) brings into sharp focus what many have sensed and suspected for a long time: the effort to change America’s mind on issues like abortion, homosexuality, church-state separation, and more is a well-thought-out strategic campaign that uses the methods of Madison Avenue to market rank lies. But the good news is that the truth will eventually win out, and Kupelian’s important and groundbreaking book makes enormous progress toward that end. …Dr. D. James Kennedy

It is a reflection of the enormous mystery of the subject that we do not have a generally accepted definition of evil. Yet in our hearts I think we all have some understanding of its nature. For the moment I can do no better than to heed my son, who, with the characteristic vision of eight year olds, explained simply, “Why, Daddy, evil is ‘live’ spelled backward.” Evil is in opposition to life. It is that which opposes the life force. …Dr. M. Scott Peck

One morning I woke up and the word evil had fled around the corner like a beaten dog. People regularly say words like “immoral,” or “corrupt,” but for a walk in public these days. Evil -- the word at least -- is no longer a part of the American vocabulary. Evil, of course, is not forgotten in Scripture. The word is mentioned nearly 600 times. But calling something or someone evil today will jeopardize your social standing. I guess the word evil is just too definitive for our modern society. Churches have become more sophisticated and comfortable in the last 50 years. They do not want to lose members by appearing to be uneducated. So they have shied away from talking about Satan, the devil and evil. ...Tom White in the October 2008 issue of The Voice of the Martyrs.

Psychologist John K. Rosemond in the foreword of David B. Stein's book, Unraveling the ADD/ADHD Fiasco wrote: For almost two decades I have witnessed a dark- I'll be so bold as to term it evil- trend in psychology and psychiatry. I have watched, often incredulous, as members of these two respected professions mass-marketed two nonexistent diseases, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), to the American public. The success of this propaganda effort has resulted in the victimization of millions of parents and children.

For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
No evil dwells with You.
The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;
You hate all who do iniquity. Psa 5:4-5

Hate evil, you who love the LORD,
Who preserves the souls of His godly ones;
He delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Psa 97:10

The activist and successful gay rights movement began in February 1988 at a war conference in Warrenton, Virgina. The main “founders”, Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen put into book form the comprehensive public relations plan they had been advocating. They wrote, “After the Ball: How America Will Conquer Its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the ‘90s”. Paul E. Rondeau says their “war goal” was “to force acceptance of homosexual culture into the mainstream, to silence opposition, and ultimately to convert American society.” About their strategy, David Kupelian translates “this psychological marketing jargon”: “We can change what people actually think and feel by breaking their current negative associations with our cause and replacing them with positive associations.” Example: "use gay rights instead of homosexual rights, thereby giving them the basic freedoms they deserve." The road to conversion has been an active one, indeed.

True Freedom

FREEDOM!...from sin
Eighth CLASS SESSION FOR FALL/WINTER 2008/2009
NOVEMBER 12,2008

I. PRESUPPPOSITIONS TO OUR STUDY
A. God gives life to all men, the just and the unjust
B. All men are created in freedom and are equal
C. All men are responsible to God
D. God gives gifts to men as a stewardship
E. It is sin to steal, negate or destroy another man's stewardship:
the wages of sin is death
F. God gives rights; men can only protect them for one another; they
cannot give rights
G. Good laws are made to protect rights from individuals who steal
them from others
H. Christ has come to free men from the oppression of sin and from
the oppression of one another

II. WHERE PERSONAL RESPONSIBIHTY ENDS, IS NEGLECTED OR
ABUSED, GOVERNMENT BY OTHERS BEGINS
A. Pr 12:24 The hand of the diligent will rule, But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.
B. Pr 28:2 Because of the transgression of a land, many are its
princes; but by a man of understanding and knowledge Rightwill be prolonged
C. Pr 16:32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And
he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
D. Pr 25:28 Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city
broken down, without walls.
E. 1 Ti 1:8 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteousperson, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly
and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of
fathers and murderers of mothers,for man slayers,10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust. (NKJV)

III. THE ONLY GOOD GOVERNMENT IS ONE IN WHICH RIGHTEOUSNESS IS UNDERSTOOD; BAD GOVERNMENT OPPRESSES PEOPLE
A. Pr 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.
B. Pr 28:15 Like a roaring lion and a charging bear,is a wicked
ruler over poor people.
C. Pr 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach
to any people
D. Pr 14:31 He that oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker: but
he that honors Him has mercy on the poor.
E. God hates oppression and calls on men to relieve it even as He does:
Ps 9:9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a
refuge in times of trouble. (refuge: Heb.'high place'}
Ps 10:18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress. (oppress: or, terrify)
Ps 12:5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the
needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
Ps 103:6 ~ The LORD executes righteousness and judgment for
all that are oppressed.
Isa 1:17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed,
judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

IV. THE MORE THE INDIVIDUAL IS WILLING TO LET OTHERS CARRY HIS RESPONSIBILITY BY PROVIDING FOR HIM, THE MORE HE WILL BE GOVERNED BY OTHERS AND LOSE HIS FREEDOM
A. l Tim 5:4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
B. 2 Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If any one will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. (NKJV)
C. Eph 4:28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him
labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. (NKJV)
IV. STAND FREE AND LIVE THAT WAY!
A. Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has
bondage. ~. ~
B. Rom 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," “You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely,you shall love your neighbor as yourself" 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
C. Freedom comes through the Truth and commitment to it:
John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If
you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 36 "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
D. The believer must reject the 'need' to be governed by someone
other than Christ although subject to ALL authority as outlined in Rom 13: Col 2:16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. 20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations-- 21 "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," 22 which all concern things which perish with
the using--according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (NKJV)

The Problem with Labels

During the recent "national" elections, a prominent figure endorsed the president-elect with these added words, "He is a Christian, not a Muslim". Not a few of us identified that statement as questionable in view of public statements regarding the candidate’s political views, belief system and intended actions with respect to what we call biblical values. I do NOT refer to the ‘fact’ that he is not a Muslim. Not at all. I am referring to the label of ‘Christian’. The basic problem with labels is that they are used indiscriminately, and often without meaning by different people for different purposes. This has been particularly so in the last half-century within Christianity.

Distortions of meanings evolved for no other reason than to promote one’s own worldview and ideas or lobbying effort. My friend, Jim, and I put together a list of about 100 and didn’t get nearly all of such! We were going to provide precise definitions in booklet form to clarify the landscape of meanings. After reaching the 100 mark on the list, we gave up. Too many people with too many different definitions provide constant cloud cover. Then it began to rain steadily and without stop. Nevertheless, I find them necessary. So, let me say, "I love ‘em". But my pastor hates ‘em! Another of my pastors stated positively that he does not use the word ‘Christian’ any longer, but appends to it so that he speaks of ‘Christian believer’. You get the idea.

Some time ago the PyroManiacs commented on the use of labels. At least two different posts commented that 1) (we) wholeheartedly agree that dismissive labels are not valid substitutes for sound arguments, and (we should) do try to write accordingly. On the other hand, labels can be valid shorthand in cases where the supportive argumentation is already well established, and 2) lamenting the fact that labels at their best are of varying utility. Comments were made on the bastardization of "Evangelical", "Fundamentalist", "Cessationist", "Lordship Salvation", and "Grace Alone". Out of the 100 List, we could easily add Calvinist, Arminian, Charismatic, Liberal, Conservative, Dispensationalist, and a few dozen more to turn the lights out on ‘normal’ conversation between two pastors or two laymen or two politicos. One of the PyroManiacs summarized, "It's enough to drive one to despair of all attempts at communication."

Another comments: "The postmodern antipathy for any and all labels is patently unreasonable. If a Jehovah's Witness comes to my door claiming that Jesus isn't eternally God but the highest of all created beings and a kind of "god," it is perfectly appropriate for me to label his view Arianism and refer him to the lessons of historical theology for an answer to his heresy. Magnanimity doesn't oblige me to seriously consider his error anew just because he himself doesn't call it "Arianism."To the degree that today's Open Theists have espoused Socinian or neo-Socinian notions, it is perfectly legitimate to label their ideas accordingly. In some cases, those ideas deserve to be dismissed with extreme prejudice.If someone seriously does not understand why Socinian tendencies have always been destructive to the church, or why a particular tenet of Socinianism is wrong, or why in the world anyone would label some of the postmodern ideas about the atonement "neo-Socinianism"—just ask, and I will be happy to try to explain why I have employed a certain label, show why the error I've applied the label to is a dangerous idea, or otherwise make whatever argument you feel has been missed.But if there is a new postmodern rule about "politeness" that in effect forbids us from ever pointing out that certain aberrant theological notions have already been decisively consigned to the dustbin of heterodoxy by the unanimous consensus of Protestant and evangelical history, I did not get that memo.

And if we're now required by the manners-police to drop all our prior objections to serious errors like Pelagianism, eschew all labels, and give serious consideration to every new denial of Original Sin—just because the architects of post-modern theological folly want to call their views something other than "Pelagianism"—then I'm warning you right now: you're not going to think I'm playing nice."

And when the RCs deny that they are semi-Pelagian, inspite of Augustine’s good work on Pelagianism, I must say, "I just love labels anyway".

God's Plan for the Nations

GOD’S PLAN FOR THE NATIONS: ACCEPTING GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY

In light of the recent elections, for the record, let me state categorically that I believe in the absolute sovereignty of our God, Jehovah Elohim. Some Christian believers may object to this with questions about their own personal sovereignty. This may be followed up with further questions about Christian believers involved with, or commenting on the political process, rather than in just preaching the pure gospel. But two things stand out: the first is that the Lord God placed me in America both to be subject to the authorities AND as a Christian believer; the second is also vitally important in that the elections did NOT affect either my standing or my state before the sovereign God. Where do we go from here? We stand on the Word of God with the understanding of Rom 11:36.

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY IN INFLUENCING NATIONS/PEOPLE TO ACCOMPLISH HIS WILL

Influencing the emotional state of people Deut 2:25; Psa 9:20
Using angels to influence nations 1 Kings 22:5-39
Confusing armies to protect His people 2 Chron 32:20-21
Using the armies of heaven as needed Josh 5:13-15, 2 Kings 6:15-18
Frontal assaults against nations: Pharaoh and the Exodus
Influencing the thought life of people to believe delusions
2 Thess 2:7-12
God’s resistance to evil and His removal of His resistance
Rom 1:21-28
Raising up kings and rulers and presidents Dan 2:20-21; 4:34-35
Setting up the boundaries and preappointed times of nations
Acts 17:26-27
Scattering Israel among the nations in discipline for unbelief and disobedience
Deut 30:3
Establishing Israel as a nation for His own sake
Deut 9:4-5
Driving out Israel’s enemies before her and not driving them out
Deut 11:23
Not stopping men from doing what they wanted to do in order to accomplish His goal
Acts 2:23; 4:27-28
Sending spokesmen into the world to give His message to the nations
Jer 1:5,10
Motivating nations to do that which they had not thought to do before
Ezek 38:1-4

THE NATIONS FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE

Their importance is described in Isa 40:15-17. Yet there are some nations that do not have His heart on them. The only nation for which He has made such statements is Israel! Every nation, including the USA is a stewardship from God Almighty, it is not an “ownership”.

Their useless, powerless and pointless wars against Him Psa 2:1-12
The reason for their existence Acts 17:26-27,30
God’s final destination for the nations Isa 66:18-20

AMERICA’S NATIONAL ELECTIONS AND THEIR RESULTS

We cannot “out vote” God; God uses our vote to appoint His man.
     God works through the choices of people, removing His resistance to evil against obstinate people.
    The current leadership has shown itself to be arrogant and prideful though many have seen this “natural man” leadership as strong and patriotic. Presidential parties had to fight unpopularity and foolish, immoral, selfishness of half-hearted legislators, advisers and fellow party members that made them reprehensible to many Americans. God used these natural human sinful behaviors to build strong resistance to themamong common people for their defeat!
    God has raised up the current presidential and legislative authorities in order that they (AND WE) might seek after Him.
    God has already told us not to fret or worry, and gave us a battle plan for winning this struggle Psa 37
    God has told us where the REAL battle is Eph 6:10-18
    God has given to us the weaponry of truth and hope 2 Cor 10:3-5
    Bible believers are to use the strategy God has already laid out or we will fall captive to the devices of the devil 1 Thess 5
Christian believers should be discerning and beware (Luke 20:46-47), for this fruit from the president elect could occur if his words and deeds are an indicator:
    Opposition to him will be shut down by his “associates” so that he is not directly involved. Examples are those found in the Fairness Doctrine and the Obama Truth Squad in Missouri during this campaign.
    The securing of abortion by the Freedom of Choice Act as a federal law
    The appointment of 2-6 Supreme Court justices who will secure a federal Freedom of Choice and protect it. The extension of the civil rights/human rights agenda to cover economic and social issues of empowerment as a “second bill of rights” stating what government should do for you
    Legislation to match the courts’ activism and ignite a more proactive social and economic agenda for the less fortunate at the expense of liberty for the “fortunate”
    The further erosion of the constitutional guarantees of state’s rights and promotion of a “National Govt” in contrast to the American Republic
    Continuing “violations” of the constitution by the executive branch, rather than the law making responsibilities of Congress and the people
    The repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act which gives individual states the right to not accept another state’s homosexual marriages
    A corresponding rise in open homosexuality and its forced acceptance
    The Employment Non-Discrimination Act amended to include homosexuals, bi-sexuals and transgendered people, and applicable to churches
The passing of hate crimes legislation also applicable to preaching and evangelization
    Increased attacks upon the traditional family
    Open attacks on Christianity particularly in the field of taxation and practice as violations of the First Amendment
    Increased gun control
    Dramatic though subtle changes in the educational system in include sex education at the lowest levels and acceptance of homosexuality; more training classes and less traditional education; the application of educational reforms as proposed by William Ayres
    Continued use of the dialectic to keep opposing viewpoints (thesis/antithesis) actively “fighting” in order that his administration can be seen as the reconciling force to create a new pragmatic compromise (synthesis)
    Deep, perhaps gradual, cuts in the military including withdrawal of overseas troops; cuts on research on experimental defense weaponry; budget cuts with continued job performance expected; as in the Clinton years, more officers retiring from the military
    Repeal of the “Bush” tax cuts; increased taxes on a larger number of people than anticipated by the campaign rhetoric; line item budget cuts to help pay for intended social and economic programs; penalizing profit margins on business; requiring health care provisions for all businesses regardless of size and penalizing capital gains and inheritance more
    Some form of universal health care a la England/Sweden that will become a bureaucratic nightmare for all
    Community organizational groups that will spy on dissident or potential opposition to the social agenda, quietly working at first and then become more open and welcomed such as those who “outed” Joe the plumber
    At first, a gentler, kinder more open administration with frequent reassuring press conferences promising candid and transparent openness.     Anticipate a media honeymoon for a while; he has had a bye on careful investigation by them since the beginning and they are not going to start investigating him any time soon. More on methodology: read David Kupelian’s intriguing analysis in “The Marketing of Evil”.
    Listen for odd-sounding, new interpretations of the constitution that may be hard to swallow at first but most will come to accept it. It will become a “living” document.
    Foreign policy will take on a new world order loveliness: read, a march toward the world-system or one world government

Is it too early to speak thusly? Consider the online Fox News report of Nov 6, 2008-”Barack Obama's election on Tuesday set off international celebrations and ignited a fervor for the United States that has been unseen since the days immediately following the September 11, 2001, terror attacks. To some observers, the international reaction has elevated America's president-elect to an unparalleled post”: president of the world.

Presidential Elections are Over

Yes, the election is over, but not happily for millions. Yet, the American people have spoken. They have spoken out of sin and with hearts of unbelief. They have spoken with poor discernment. The younger generation is to be complimented on their efforts for voter registrations and getting out the vote. They, too, have spoken with poor discernment. What does the future hold? Perhaps we have received as a nation what we deserve. A purported letter from James Dobson is on the airwaves imagining the state of the union in 2012. This represents doom and gloom. Nevertheless, to all who read this, I was encouraged by a note from a friend this very day:
"Some things to keep everything in its proper place and perspective and things to remember in the years ahead":
http://www.founders.org/blog/2008/11/post-election-analysis-true-or-false.html

My God reigns! "For from Him and through Him and to Him are ALL things. To Him be the glory forever, Amen."

ADHD-Deceptive Diagnosis"A Must Read"

Introduction
This is not a book on child psychology. It is not just another pragmatic approach to parenting a child labeled ADHD. The authors are not proposing a new method. Instead, our goal is to present the principles of biblical parenting as they pertain to the behaviors associated with the label ADHD. We have attempted to do this with as much clarity as possible. We are convinced that if Christian parents understand and apply the simple principles set forth in Scripture they
can rear their children in a way that honors Christ. It is our desire to make parents aware of two things: first, what the Bible has to say about these behaviors, and, second, how to help their children change.

Children Are Blessed Gifts
God's design is that all children, even those labeled with ADHD, are blessed gifts. Children should not be seen as a burden, but a benediction from God to grace our lives with fulfillment, meaning,and happiness. Parenthood is God's gift to us. Even in a fallen world contaminated by sin, children are living proof of God's love and mercy. Adam and Eve's rebellion toward God occurred before they conceived any children. Nevertheless, God preserved them and permitted Adam and Eve to fulfill the command given before the fall; "Be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:28). In these words God would set in motion a plan of redemption embracing great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues" (Revelation 7:9). Adam and Eve's children embodied the hope that fallen sinners could be redeemed.

Adam and Eve recognized children as God's blessing to them. When Cain was born Eve said, "I have gotten a man from the Lord"(Genesis 4:1 KJV). Once again Eve bore a son and said, "For God hath appointed me another seed" (Genesis 4:25). Even the children of unbelievers are tokens of God's blessings. "As for Ishmael... I will bless him." How will God bless Ishmael? God will "make him fruitful and multiply him exceedingly" (Genesis 17:20).

God has given parents the duty of raising their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. They are not given the prerogative of delegating that duty to school teachers, peers, or child-care workers. Parents must involve themselves in their children's lives. Parenting is time consuming (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). It is not an easy assignment. The difficulty comes when parents fail to follow the simple principles set forth by God. In neglecting their God-given duty they forfeit the blessing inherent in parenting. Parenting then becomes a burden God never meant for them to bear.

Training up children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord does not always guarantee our parenting will succeed. But isn't Proverbs 22:6 ("Train up a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it") a promise? Does it promise that if parents train their child in the Lord the child will remain faithful? The answer is no, it is not a promise. Verse 4 says, "The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and life." However, Proverbs 22:6 is not a guarantee either. Everyone who is humble and fears God does not become rich. Some are poor. They may be persecuted and not honored.

We have all heard stories about children reared in godly homes that later abandoned their faith and grieved their parents. On the other hand, we have heard about godly children whose parents are ungodly and neglectful. Statistically speaking, children influenced by godly parents are more likely to remain faithful than children who grow up in homes where Christ is not honored. The book of Proverbs contains wise sayings, but the wise sayings are not necessarily absolutes. They are not true in every instance. The true measure of parenting has to do with what the parent does and not what the child does. The focus of success is the character of the parents. Children are quick to understand and will imitate what they see and hear. An affectionate and conscientious parent is a powerful influence in a child's life. Children are never too young to be an accurate observer of their parent's conduct. By that conduct, a child's character may be purified or contaminated. For example, parents want their child to be truthful at all times. However, if the child hears their mother and father tell lies, the child will learn to tell lies. By their example,parents are however unwittingly, molding their child's minds, habits, and character. To the level that parents have followed God's plan for parenting they have succeeded as parents in the eyes of God.

Children have an intellect and do not merely imitate what they see and hear. They are thinking beings. They examine and judge impressions they get, and confirm or reject them according to how they have been taught. Parents must involve themselves, taking great pains in instructing their children to insure no other influences take precedence. For parents to complain that their son or daughter's failures are the fault of their peers is shifting the blame. The parents are to blame because they allowed others to influence their children more than they have themselves.

Some parents may object, roll their eyes, and insist that it is unrealistic to expect them to have more influence with their children than the child's peer group. However, the reason peer groups have influenced children to the degree they have is that parents have simply abdicated the parental role God has required of them. They have invested less time in teaching their children. Television, movies, music, the internet, video games, and other children have become the main source of their children's spiritual, moral, and ethical instruction.

God has made parenting a full-time responsibility. Some parents talk about spending "quality time" with their children. This means they have set aside a number of hours during the week to spend on parenting. This violates the spirit of Deuteronomy 6:7. It guarantees outside influences will have a great affect in shaping the children's character. God solemnly charged parents: "These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up" (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).

Parents must recognize the mournful fact their children are depraved. If they fail to recognize this sad reality they will fail in their attempts to educate their children. Children possess selfish spirits. Self is king in their lives. How strongly they resemble their fallen parents! Unless a child is instructed in biblical truth he will become a slave to ungodly passions and desires. Wickedness will reign in his heart. However, God gives children tender and supple hearts that can be molded. Enlightened by God's Word, children can differentiate between right and wrong. A child can learn to be responsible toward God and neighbor.

The Facts Change Everything
Have you ever had this kind of experience? You become angry, upset, or happy about a particular event. Later, you discovered an important fact that changed your perception about the event. For example, let's say you are standing in a crowded hallway following the Sunday morning worship service. You are waiting for your wife who has stopped to talk to a friend. You notice Frank Smith hurriedly making his way through the crowd. He passes you and steps on your foot without acknowledging his rude behavior Frank dashes out the door, leaving you with a sore foot and hurt feelings. You share the incident with your wife on your way home. Both of you are upset with Frank's thoughtless behavior. Later in the week, Frank calls you at your office. He tells you how sorry he is for stepping on your foot last Sunday morning. However, he goes on to explain how he had not been feeling well that morning. When the service ended, he had become very sick and needed to get outside quickly. Suddenly, your perception of the event changed when you had all of the facts and understood the reason for Frank's behavior.

Imagine for a moment a country that drugs six million children with powerful substances to control behavior. A place where parents are told their children are victims of a "brain disease" that causes them to act inappropriately. A disease that if not treated immediately, could
produce a lifetime of failure, disappointment and under achievement. Frightened by such prospects, the parents are given the "good news" of a safe and mild drug to alleviate the symptoms inflicting havoc in their child's brain. If a parent refuses to accept the pill, they are
encouraged to try it on a trial basis. If the magic pill works and calms the child down, then it proves he had the disease after all.

The view that states man is like an animal, a collection of genes, chemicals and stimulus-response behaviors, laid the groundwork for attention deficit disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and a host of other "diseases." Years ago the symptoms associated with these "disorders" were viewed much differently. They were viewed for what they truly were. If little Archie was reluctant to engage in tasks that required sustained mental effort, made careless mistakes, or did not do his homework, the problem was lack of self-motivation. If he was fidgety, squirmed in his chair, and wouldn't remain seated he was viewed as lacking self-control. If he interrupted others and didn't wait his turn the root problem was poor self-discipline. When Archie behaved in a defiant way and would not comply with rules and requests he was called disobedient. If he pouted, was resentful and vindictive he was said to have a bad attitude. Lying, stealing and hitting others were sinful. In other words, Archie was expected to behave responsibly. If he behaved irresponsibly, his teacher, school principal, Mom and Dad would teach him to be responsible.

In America today, with psychology deeply rooted in Western thought, children are no longer considered to be capable of volitional control over their actions, attitudes, or thoughts. Their behaviors are said to be beyond their control, affected by hereditary, so-called biochemical imbalances in the brain, food additives, television, or even infant DPT inoculation. Their lack of self-discipline, self-control and self-motivation, disobedience, and bad attitudes are defined as a
disease.

This book will help Christian parents who are floundering in the quagmire of un-biblical and contradictory ideas fed to them concerning ADD/ADHD. While its advocates claim ADHD is a brain disease,its opponents, many of which are world renowned psychologists,psychiatrists and neurologists are denying its very existence. It is not a denial of the behaviors; it is a denial that the behaviors are caused by a disease.

The biblical model is more than one more "model" or conceptual system to deal with ADHD. Our goal is to help you see biblical truth you have not seen before. When you do, it will change the way you think about the label ADHD. Instead of humanistic psychology you will see Christian theology..., a Person. In place of "disease" we talk about sinful behavior against that Person. Sufferings are trials that reveal our need for comfort and a Comforter. Instead of defining change in unjustified psychological or medical terms we define change as putting off sinful habits and replacing them with Christ-like habits.

The pressures, difficulties, and at times embarrassment that parents go through with a child labeled ADHD are in many cases over-whelming. It is not unusual for entire households to be thrown into turmoil. Family members become divided against one another. Other children in the family may feel ignored or be neglected. Everyone's life is focused on the one child and the chaos he or she creates. Parents respond with a level of anger they would not have thought possible. They react with accusations and ultimatums. In addition, they may become confused and frustrated because of all the fad theories and sure-cures that have disappointed them. They oftentimes feel at a loss to know how best to help their child. Prayer is a never-failing remedy and comfort to these parents. Sometimes their only solace is when they are on their knees praying to God. However, parents need to realize there are times when prayer is not enough. There are even times when praying is not the thing to do. Moses was on his knees praying God would deliver His people. Then the Lord said to Moses, "Why are you crying out toMe?" (Exodus 14:15). God was saying to Moses: Moses, this is not the time for prayer. It is the time for taking action. "Tell the sons of Israel to go forward" (Exodus 14:15).

There comes a time when praying parents must take godly action. Do not continue to pray and wait and pray and wait. Do not keep worrying and talking about it. Move forward!

Archie's parents must commit themselves to teach, rebuke, correct, and train Archie in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16; Deuteronomy 6:5-9; Ephesians 6:4). Changing years of habitual behavior will take patience on their part. Schedules and routines may have to be temporarily changed. Mom and dad cannot be cold, or lukewarm in their effort to help Archie put-off and put-on. They must be boiling with holy enthusiasm. Forward, forward, forward is the motto. Christ-likeness is the goal for themselves and Archie.

This book is about giving hope. It may seem that the easiest thing to do is to give up in despair. As you read on, we are confident that you will find help. The Apostle Paul says, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God,to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). The key words in the verse are "work together." It is hard to discern the picture of a puzzle when only a few pieces are in place. When most or all the pieces are in their proper place the picture is clear. God has a plan for you and your child. Yes, He is at work in your circumstances. However, we usually don't realize immediately the good God is doing. Believers only see a very small part of the puzzle. This is an opportunity for parents to minister to their children and to be part of what Cod is doing in their life. They must never allow themselves or their child to believe God is distant and uninvolved.

The Bible teaches God is near and active in their lives. Every moment is a God moment. True success cannot be achieved by following human techniques. It will only come from a faithful commitment to the sufficiency of God's Word. You say, "I have tried everything." Perhaps you have not tried what is written in the pages of this book.

...ADHD, Deceptive Diagnosis by Drs David Tyler and Kurt Grady, 2008, Focus Publishing, Inc.
...available from the Gateway Biblical Counseling Center library.