State of Oregon - Measure 115

Vote ‘YES’ on Measure 115.

It provides of impeachment of state government officials that mirrors the U.S. Constitution.

Moral State of Our Leaders

Reading the Bible recently, in 1st and 2nd Kings, there is a main theme running through these historical writings: The moral state of the king directs or determines moral state of the people. The spiritual nature of the leaders is seen in the populace. The people follow the king’s lead. For example, king Jehoram “did what was evil in the Lord’s sight”. The king set up worship of idols of false gods! The people began to worship, nationwide, the idols, so the nation slid into evil.

Note: the religious leaders did little to try to stop the descent of the nation into sin. To be sure, there were prophets who spoke out to “turn from their wickedness and their wicked ways”. Occasionally there were towns or cities who did not follow when the king turned against God. For example, the town of Libnah did not approve the king turning to worshipping idols, and did not do the same. The kings and priests did not heed the prophets’ warnings.

This behavior was not (and still is not ) limited to Israel and Judah. Now this principle - people follow their leaders in all cultures are nations, to this very day. Leaders who operate without regard to the Lord and His ways rule with harshness, terror, and death.

This is a truism for all civilizations. Seldom, if ever, do the people rise up and demand to be led better. Looking at history, kingdoms and tribes on every continent have devolved into evil and damaging practices - both religious and secular.

For example, the Aztec empire was one of torture and death - early explorers found huge mounds of bones and skeletons surrounded their ‘temple’. In the Middle East, the nations’ religious ceremonies sacrificed their children, killing and burning them. In the Greek pantheon of gods, cult prostitutes were common. Rome was especially cruel in the way they treated subjects - the ‘Circus’ was battles between prisoners, and was famous for the statement, “We who are about to die salute you” - ‘games’ in the coliseum with killing, death, and crucifixion of any who would oppose their rule.

The French Revolution ended in a brutal war, with beheadings (including their queen and several of the leaders of the revolution). During the ‘Great Enlightenment’ there were riots, murders, the rebels turning on each other, death by guillotine with crowds cheering at each grisly death.

And then there is everyone’s bogeyman - Hitler - who turned a mostly peaceful nation into a horrifying Nazi regime which sent people to death camps. Plus look at any communist nation with millions and millions and millions of people killed by their godless leaders.

You might say we have grown and matured. Really? It isn’t hard to find cruelty and awful practices all around us. Consider the criminal gangs and cartels in South America and Mexico. The feckless leaders in Canada are not beacons of hope and morals.

Our country is being led by people who do not do right. We do not have a king, but the President is our national leader, mostly secular; but in truth, the actions of the President (or Vice-President) display the spiritual depravity of the USA’s leaders. No longer do they feign to do right while going in the wrong direction. They openly and brazenly lie. Our news organizations do not call attention to the truth. This is a version of ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’. We are told they are doing a wonderful job, except it is not a story, but is deadly and dangerous. We hear, “He is the smartest, sharpest president in our history” (paraphrased), as we watch him stumble and bumble and stare blankly into space. We are told, “This is the best economy in 100 years”, except the cost of every thing is 15-50% higher than four years ago. Another lie, “The mask will protect you from Covid,” when you know the virus would have to be the size of a golf ball to be stopped by those paper masks. How about the call for ‘reproductive rights’? These boil down to ‘let us kill your babies!’ We are descending from off-base or wrong, down to corruption and open evil. And not the least is the ‘sexual revolution’ where we see our children being groomed to perversion, or mutilated and permanently harmed trying to turn boys to girls, or vice-versa.

These are not isolated incidents. These are just a few examples of the corruption and depredation that is happening right now in our

We do not need to follow these leaders who would take us away from Judea-Christian principles. We need to speak up, stand up and let people know there is a better way to live. We are all sinners and in need of Jesus Christ in our lives. It is important for us to be heard in the public square, and championing life through Jesus Christ.

We have a great opportunity. Some polls and surveys have shown that the USA is becoming more and more unchurched, or unaffiliated with churches. Perhaps the largest ‘church’ in our nation is worship of self. I don’t know if people are merely unchurched and uninterested in having a religious faith, or if they are becoming hostile to Christianity. I do believe the modern media - both entertainment and news - are working hard to turn people against the church. That is our opportunity - to share Christ and what He has done for us personally. It’s not about church, but it’s all about Jesus Christ.

Choose Today

We are at crossroads in our nation at this point in time. The upcoming election season will be a defining moment. If we choose poorly, there may be no recovery. God has placed before us several situations which are warnings, redlines of danger for us and our country. How we react to these warnings will show the spiritual condition of our nation. God spoke to the Israelites just before they crossed over the Jordan River into the promised land, the land of Canaan. Moses's last message urged them to follow God's commandments. The message also threatened them - warning them that doing as they pleased, not following God's commands, would prove to be dire. Look at what He said to them - Deuteronomy 30:11-19 "This commandment I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it too remote... 15 "Look! I have set before you today life and prosperity on the one hand, and death and disaster on the other. 16 What I am commanding you today is to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to obey his commandments, his statutes, and his ordinances. Then you will live... 19 Today I invoke heaven and earth as a witness against you that I have set life and death, blessing and curse, before you. Therefore choose life so that you and your descendants may live!

God told them that what He wanted was not difficult, it was not a secret. It did not require mystic knowledge, or a special dispensation to know what to do. He had given them clear instructions. "Love God. Obey His commands." It is frightfully simple. Sometimes these simple commands are so 'in your face' that we tend to think, "Nah! That can't be right! There must be more I need to do." He gives them stark choices, Life or Death. All creation knows what He wants from them, from us. We cannot say, "We didn't know! Who told us?" He can turn to the rocks and trees, fish, birds, animals, angels and planets, and raise his eyebrow and say, "Really?" He will get a resounding reply, "Love God. Obey His commands."

We are in a similar situation in today's world. God has placed several redlines of warning for our country. God is warning us to choose wisely. If we fail, God will judge us as He has done with other rebellious people. These must not go on. First - Planned Parenthood harvesting and selling baby body parts. Second - the persecution and slaughter of Christians by Muslim extremists in the Middle East and Africa. Third - Our government (the United States of America) flaunting corruption and willful ignoring and breaking of laws.

First - Is there any greater evil than murdering babies for profit? Yes! Murdering babies with the intent of collecting bits and pieces to sell. It is supposedly for a good cause. What cause is worth dismembering a child? What cause is good enough for people to munch on salad while joking that a Lamboghini was a preferred payment for baby body parts? We are killing and dismembering the most innocent and defenseless. Over 1.2 million babies were aborted (killed) last year. That is about 15 Charleston church shooting tragedies per hour. We were shocked at that tragedy. That is about four Colorado Theater killings per hour. We wept for the dead in that tragedy. More babies are killed by abortion per hour than shooting deaths in Chicago in a year. Our nation is becoming a culture of death. God has warned us to protect the most innocent. We are not. This cannot continue.

Second - Can we with clear conscience stand by while Muslim extremists are beheading, burning alive, shooting, crucifying people who do not believe in Islam. They are especially cruel to Christians, but do not spare women, girls, homosexuals, or those who disagree with their cult of Islam. Do you want to talk about 'war on women'? Consider Boko Haram, or ISIS. Are you concerned about justice for gays? Homosexuals are being thrown off of roofs in ISIS controlled towns. We cannot say we do not know what they are doing.
Some of the accusations against the Germans during the Holocaust were they feigned ignorance of the slaughter of the Jews. They did not have the advantage of the internet or the 24-hour cable news, so they might not have known. However, there is the report that the church members sang louder each Sunday morning to drown out the sounds of the death trains rumbling by on the way to the ovens. To our shame, America turned its back on Jewish refugees, refusing their entry into the country. Our response to the ISIS situation is eerily similar.
We are becoming acclimated to the horrific violence of these religious zealots. We were shocked to the core when we saw the first beheading. Sickened at the immolation of a caged prisoner. Disturbed when more than twenty were beheaded on the beach. It has not gotten better. This week ISIS tied people on top of bombs (IEDs) then blew them up. What has been our response? Hold up handwritten signs with some inane 'hashtag'. Pathetic. We have not demanded our government do something. We cannot continue doing nothing. But on the other hand, perhaps we believe our present administration would do nothing even if we demanded it.

Third - Our governmental leadlers - mayors, governors, legislators, the president and his administration openly and brazenly flout the laws of the land. Of all the countries in the world, the United States is a product of the people and laws. Lincoln said it best, "of the people, by the people..." We have chosen our leaders, whether they be corrupt, incompetent, greedy, or honest, forthright, with good character. At present we have very few of the latter. Whether it is the President, or the Speaker of the House, or the mayor of a city - we need honest people of good character leading us. We don't need liars. We don't need power-hungry narcissists. We cannot say that it is their fault, not ours. God had a warning for the people of Israel. He let them know that it was not just the king's fault, or the priests. The problem fell on all of the people. See Jeremiah 32:32,33 - "...the people of Israel and Judah have made me angry with all their wickedness - their kings, their officials, their priests, their prophets, and especially the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem have done this wickedness. 33 They have turned away from me instead of turning to me. I tried over and over again to instruct them, but they did not listen and respond to correction."
The political/government leaders, the religious leaders, the business leaders and the common man were all deep into sin.
Is America any different right now? One of the people running for President has spent a lifetime lying. If you need an example, start with the attack on our Benghazi Embassy. Or, what about secreting communications on a personal server, rather than using the government servers as proscribed by law. What about the majority leaders of the Senate, both Democrat and Republican bending the rules for personal gain rather than the good of the citizens of the country. We also see the legislators willing to put off until later, years or decades later, solutions to major problems. This is similar to king Hezekiah of Judah seeking approval of the Babylonians, rather than God. The Lord chastised the king, telling him the kingdom would be stripped away. Hezekiah's response? "Hey, at least it will happen after I am gone." Doesn't that sound like kicking the can down the road? This is related in chapter 39 of Isaiah, the punch line found in Isaiah 39:8 - Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The LORD's word which you have announced is appropriate." Then he thought, "For there will be peace and stability during my lifetime."

We no longer have any 'wiggle room'. The warnings are clearly before us. We must decide - do we say and do nothing, hoping the problems will fall on our nation after we are dead and gone? We must decide - can we stand by and be silent while babies are being torn asunder? We must decide - can we be quiet because at least the slaughter of believers isn't happening here? Do we let the power brokers drive our government into the sewer because we won't speak up, speak out, and vote? Joshua challenged the Israelites after they began to setlle down in their land. Joshua 24:15a - If you have no desire to worship the LORD, choose today whom you will worship. We need to live our faith, not just in church on Sunday, but in the world. Joshua 24:15b - But I and my family will worship the LORD! If we don't do this, God will withdraw His blessing from us. Choose today whom you will serve. Choose life. Or, choose death.

***
(note: Thank you Glenn Beck for the idea and the inspiration for the above.)

Another Major Failure in Oregon's Legislature

Senator Jeff Kruz (R-Roseburg) sent the following E-Newsletter to describe the frustration he experiences working with the Democrats in this session of Oregon's Legislature. A combination of corruption in the governor's office, plus hubris in the Democrat dominated Senate and House, plus rigid environmental wackos, and incompetence and corruption in ODOT led to the failure of the recently tabled Transportation bill.
Corruption: see the Kitzhaber debacle.
Hubris: the Democrats rammed the low carbon fuel bill through the House and Senate, ignoring valid objections from the Republicans.
ODOT: the department refused to cooperate in the joint working sessions, and did not provide needed data to verify the proposed plan until too late, which scrapped the limited coorperation that existed.

The following is the letter from Senator Kruz.
I thank him for his diligence.

THE CHURCH AND POLITICS

The following is a piece written by a long time friend and pastor, who lives in Libby, Montana. He and I worked together at Hyster Company; held Bible studies together, and both left Hyster to do ministry work. He started a church in Libby, Donna and I went into Campus Crusade for Christ.
This is a really fine piece about Christians and politics. It addresses the question of whether Christians should get involved in politics.


The adult Sunday school class at the church we attend has been going through a series by Chip Ingram entitled Culture Shock: A Biblical Response to Today’s Most Divisive Issues. We have looked at what the Bible says about truth, abortion, the environment, sex, homosexuality and the past two weeks we have covered The Church and Politics. Although it wasn’t intentional on behalf of the teacher, it is interesting, and great timing, that we should be covering The Church and Politics just before the November elections (tomorrow). Many folks think there are two subjects that are off limits for discussion: religion and politics. Granted they can create some very heated conversations, often without much light, but as believers, we happen to have a dual citizenship, so we have a responsibility to both the kingdom of heaven’s work here on earth and also to the government under which we live. Balancing those two out is what is difficult.
Since we are so prone to the swinging of the pendulum, we tend to either become separatists who believe that the church should have nothing to do with the political realm, or we become activists who feel the church should be highly involved in helping to influence the governmental system. As Chip Ingram discovered when he was a young pastor, the issue of the church and politics is possibly the greatest polarizing issue in the church, with some folks on each end of the spectrum of separatism versus activism and the majority somewhere in between. As he struggled with how to navigate through this maze of the Church and politics, he came up with four biblical absolutes as a framework to help us think clearly about the role of the Church in politics. Here they are:
1. There are two kingdoms in conflict: an eternal heavenly, spiritual kingdom and an earthly, temporal, secular kingdom.
a. Jesus said: “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting, that I might not be delivered up to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm” (Jn. 18:36).
b. Jesus is building a kingdom which is in conflict with earthly, physical kingdoms.
2. Every believer has dual citizenship and thus dual responsibilities.
a. The Pharisees and Herodians, trying to trap Jesus into siding either with the Jews or the Romans, asked Him if it was right to pay taxes to Caesar (Mk. 12:13-15). If he said “Yes,” then He would be siding with the Romans. If He said “No,” then He would be siding with the Jews. Either way, they had him in a trap. But, Jesus answer, which amazed them, was “...Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God, the things that are God’s” (Mk. 12:17).
b. As believers, not only are we citizens of an earthly kingdom, but “...our citizenship is (also) in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ...” (Phil. 3:20). So we have a responsibility to support our government (even though it may be evil—like the Roman government) and to support the Kingdom of God.
3. Humans governments are ordained by God to restrain evil (Ro. 13:1-7).
a. As Paul said, “...There is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God...” and “...it is a minister of God to you for good...” (Keep in mind that the Roman government was very ungodly and corrupt!)
b. The government is God’s servant to restrain evil, but cannot produce righteousness.
4. The church is ordained by God to make disciples.
a. In His commission to the disciples, Jesus said: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...baptizing...teaching...” (Mt. 28:18-20).
b. The role of the church is to produce additional followers of Christ, training them to disciple others.
c. When Christians live like Christians they will have an impact on their family, the church, the community, the culture, and the government, and thus the nation (Think about Joseph and Daniel). The early church was powerful because it focused on Jesus’ command to disciple others and thus to change one life at a time through the Gospel, something that the government cannot do and wasn’t intended to do.

So, how do we apply these basic biblical principles in our daily living with respect to the church and politics? Here are the ways Chip Ingram suggests:
1. Let the Church be the Church—to exalt Christ.
a. Through prayer: “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and for all who are in authority, in
order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved, and
to come to the knowledge of the truth” (I Tim. 2:1-4). We love to complain about those in office. How often do we pray for them? Pretty convicting, huh!
b. Through preaching and teaching the truth of God’s Word, helping others to develop a biblical world view on subjects like the home, marriage, work, sexuality, etc. “I solemnly
charge you...preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with great patience and instruction” (II Tim. 4:1,2).
c. Model the truth, righteousness, justice...be the salt and light you are intended to be in a dark and decaying world so that when others see your good works, they will “glorify your
Father who is in heaven” (Mt. 5:13-16).

2. Don’t expect the government to achieve what only the church can accomplish.
a. We may be thinking, “Oh, if only tomorrow’s election turns out the way I want it..” not realizing we are subconsciously believing our government can produce righteousness--
it cannot! It’s job is to restrain evil.
b. At some point in our history both major political parties have been in control—so where has that taken us spiritually as a nation?
c, A particular political system is not the answer to the human heart—only God has that answer.

3. Don’t expect the church to accomplish what only individual believers can achieve.
a. We (individually) have a responsibility to both our government and nation and to our Heavenly Father and His kingdom of righteousness. We should not demand that our local
assembly of believers corporately promote our passion. But we had better be doing so individually by living a Christ-like life and getting involved wherever possible to have
an influence for Him, whether it is writing letters to our representatives, attending city council meetings, running for school board or governor or president! God’s program to build
His kingdom is one of penetration, of infiltration. We are salt, but if we stay in the salt shaker, we have no influence on the earthly kingdom.
b. One thing you need to for sure do, and that is to vote tomorrow (If you haven’t already by absentee ballot). It is not only our right as a citizen of this great nation, but it is our responsibility. Of the 60 million registered voters in the U.S. who claim to be evangelical Christians, only 20 million voted in the last presidential election. That’s really a sad
commentary on our responsibility as Christians. And when you vote, be a “kingdom voter” who votes, not based on political parties, but on biblical principles and what candidate
most closely shares those values. The majority of Americans vote based on who can best keep the economy going, meaning they vote very selfishly considering who can help me
be the most comfortable and have the most stuff. Also a tragic commentary on our nation.

“The future of America will ultimately rest, not on politicians, but on the fervency of God’s people in sharing their faith as credible witnesses to the Christ who saved them. Unless the culture changes, America will not change, and that change is brought about one life, on family, and one community at a time” (Erwin Lutzer, Pastor of Moody Church, in his book When a Nation Forgets God).

Forever His,
Pastor Dave


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Welcome to the "Know Nothing" Party

We are seeing the rebirth of the Know-Nothings.
This administration, and all the minions of darkness therein, never seem to know what's going on.
The Know Nothings were a secretive faction of the 'American' political party in the 1850's. The American party was basically an anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant organization. The Know Nothing name came from the society's instructions to answer any queries concerning their meetings and activities with "I know nothing." What are we seeing today?
People die in Benghazi, and Obama lies. But no one knows anything. He doesn't know anything, but he's really upset about what happened and is going to work night and day to bring "whoever" to justice. Question: why was nothing done to aid the ambassador and the others? Answer: I know nothing.
Check.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham was in charge of the safety of the embassy personnel. She doesn't know anything, and "what does it matter?" that four Americans died. When the 3:00 AM phone call came, she didn't answer. Question: why wasn't the security increased in light of the warnings given. Hillary's answer: a lie to Congress, and she knows nothing.
Check.
Susan Rice lied about the Benghazi attack perpetrators, and the impetus for the attack. But Susan didn't care. She didn't know anything, or wasn't talking beyond the Obama script. She was rewarded with a promotion. The poor guy who made the video, was a political prisoner for several months. Question: why spread the lie about the video? Answer: I know nothing.
Check.
The IRS attacks the Tea Party groups. Obama has no idea how this happens. No one is more upset than he! But how could you expect Obama to know what was going on in his administration? Maybe it was rogue agents! Can't trust those Cleveland agents. Maybe it was George Bush's fault! Question: who instructed the IRS to harass the conservative groups? Obama's answer: I know nothing.
Check.
Hey, I know. Let's ask Lois Lerner. She was in charge. Oops. She doesn't know anything. Great, now she gets a promotion, too.
Check.
The NSA spies on Americans. Obama says, "What?! I didn't know that was happening! Nobody is more upset..." Blah, blah, blah. Lie, lie, lie. No one, absolutely no one, in the administration is held accountable. Well, maybe a couple of factotums, a few peons had to take a couple of paid days off, but otherwise, no heads rolled. Not a cabinet secretary, not a department head, not the Teflon narcissist.
Check.
The Obamacare sign-up rollout is falling flat, failing spectacularly. Why is this happening? Obama doesn't know. Nobody told him! And he is hacked off, I tell you. Really upset. I mean really, really upset. Kathleen Sebelius doesn't know. No one told her. How can it be her fault? She is only the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Why would you expect her to know anything?
Question: how many have been allowed to sign up for Obamacare? Sebelius' answer: I know nothing.
Check.
So. Is it incompetence, or deceit?
Even an incompetent would get something right once in a while. To borrow a line from the X-Files, "This administration operates by deceit, inveigling, and obfuscation."

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Location:On the left coast

Bad 'Law of the Land'

So, Obamacare is the 'law of the land' and its implementation is inevitable? We, the U.S. citizens should just lay back and enjoy it? These Democrat hypocrites! If it is so GOOD, why do our Congressmen, Senators, and their minions want no part of it? Why do the unions, the most virulent backers, want waivers? As people find out how negatively their lives are being effected by this bill, and how much more worse it will get, they want it stopped.
If a law of the land is bad, we have both the right and responsibility to eliminate that law. The Democrats gave us slavery, Jim Crow laws, and the KKK (some of the most honored Democrats were KKK members). Should we have done nothing because racism and slavery were the law of the land? The people of the United States rose up, fought a war to break the back of slavery, marched to end racism, and to shame the KKK to insignificance.
Likewise, women were not allowed to vote. If we follow Oregon's Schrader, Bonamici, DeFazio or Blumenauer, there would be no women's suffrage, because men-only voting was the law of the land. Doing nothing is not an option.
Bad law, and make no mistake Obamacare is really bad, needs to be corrected as soon as possible. Now we know. We've read the law. It's time to delay, defund, and defeat Obamacare.


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