President Obama & Other G_ds Of Capitol Hill

"Congress' deity syndrome didn't happen overnight, and the media has certainly played a part in bolstering Washington's narcissism. Newsweek editor Evan Thomas even said Obama is 'sort of God.' But many American citizens have also contributed to the creation of the Washington god complex, by asking government for too much. When this country was founded, citizens largely looked to God, their families, or themselves for help or comfort. Now, many Americans have stopped looking towards the traditional resources, and instead look more and more to government. Thereby, in a mutually dysfunctional relationship, government becomes their god. When they are without money, they cry out to the government to take care of them. If there is a problem in areas like the public school system or health care, they look to the government for the answer. They expect the government to fix all areas of life that pose some discomfort. No matter what ails them, government is the cure. When citizens endlessly extend their hands to the government to bestow blessings and riches upon them, a government god complex is inevitable. If citizens continually look to our representatives for salvation, representatives start believing they are our saviors. For our messianic leaders, the sense of entitlement and lack of accountability that go along with omnipotence is endless. ... With their all-knowing divinity, they think they know what's good for us when we don't."

--columnist Sarah Durand

Ray Stevens: Come To The USA

New Job, New Opportunity

Suggested Bible Reading

These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. This was after King Jeconiah, and the queen mother, the court officials, the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the artisans, and the smiths had departed from Jerusalem. The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom King Zedekiah of Judah sent to Babylon to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. It said: Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

-Jeremiah 29:1-7

Are we a free and self-reliant people, are a government-dependent people?

"From 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was signed, until 1940, when the first Social Security checks were paid out, Americans did not receive income from the federal government unless they were pensioned veterans or employees of the government itself. For 164 years, Americans took care of themselves and their own families. With the Social Security Act, they began to slide into government dependency. Today, thanks to Social Security, a majority of Americans over 65 rely on the federal government for a majority of their income. Thanks to Medicare, enacted in 1965, American seniors now rely on the federal government for their health care, too. If Congress does not repeal Obamacare, virtually all Americans will soon depend on government for their health care. We will no longer be a free and self-reliant people -- we will be a government-dependent people."

--CNSNews editor Terrence Jeffrey

The Hair Cut

One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.' The florist was pleased and left the shop. When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you , I'm doing community service this week.' The cop was happy and left the shop. The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

Then a Congressman came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I can not accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The Congressman was very happy and left the shop. The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen Congressmen lined up waiting for a free haircut.

And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it.

BOTH POLITICIANS AND DIAPERS NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN AND
FOR THE SAME REASON!

Suggested Bible Reading

-Deuteronomy 11:18-21

You shall put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and fix them as an emblem on your forehead. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the LORD swore to your ancestors to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.

Todays Scripture

Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
-Philippians 2:4

WHEN asked, I find it easy to promise people that I will pray about special needs in their lives. However, keeping that promise is not so easy. Other concerns and activities often get in the way of this most sacred of promises -- the promise to lift a person into the channel of God's grace. When I persevere in keeping that promise, I become a link in the chain that includes others who join together as intercessors. But when I neglect to pray, I cheat myself of the privilege of connecting with faithful people who are keeping their sacred promise.

So, to help me remember my promise to pray for others or about particular situations, I carry in my pocket a small, broken link from a chain. Each time I put my hand into that pocket, I can feel the link and choose to be joined with others who are praying. Praying with and for others is a high privilege and holy intimacy that cannot be duplicated.

Prayer
Loving God, open our ears to the cries of those around us who need your help. Remind us that the call to pray for another is always a holy call. Amen.

Remembering September 11 -- 2001 Year in Review

GOPUSA invites you to look back on the events of September 11, 2001 through our "2001: A Year in Review." This production presents a pictorial review of 2001 as well as a special remembrance in music and photos of the events of September 11.

Read more: http://www.gopusa.com/theloft/2010/09/remembering-september-11----2001-year-in-review.php#ixzz0z9nR8bp7

A Thank You From Michelle Obama

Michelle Antoinette ObamaFor only the second time in my adult life, I am not ashamed of my country.

I want to thank the hard working American people for paying $242,000 (plus a few hundred thou in additional expenses) for my vacation in Spain. My daughter Sasha, several long-time family friends, my personal staff and various guests had a wonderful time. Honestly, you just haven't lived until you have stayed in a $2,500.00 per night suite at a 5-Star luxury hotel. We only booked 70 rooms for our friends, staff and family. Thank you also for the use of Air Force 2 and the 70 Secret Service personnel who tagged along to be sure we were safe and cared for at all times — with our 13-vehicle convoy.

Air Force 2 only used 47,500 gallons of jet fuel for this trip and carbon emissions were a mere 1,031 tons of CO2. It costs only $11,500 per hour to operate Air Force 2 and each additional plane for the other members of our party group. These are only rough estimates, but they are close (who's counting?). That's quite a carbon footprint as my good friend Al Gore would say, so we must ask the American citizens to drive smaller, more fuel efficient cars and drive less too, so we can lessen our combined carbon footprint.

I know times are hard and millions of you are struggling to put food on the table and trying to make ends meet. I do appreciate your sacrifice and do hope you find work soon. I was really exhausted after Barack took our family on a luxury vacation in Maine a few weeks ago. I just had to get away for a few days. Will write more from Martha's Vineyard where we will spend our sixth vacation this year with more of our family and friends.

With Gratitude,
Michelle Obama

The Second Chance

Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

-Ephesians 4:29-5:1 (NRSV)



Today's Scripture

Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.

-Romans 12:17 (NRSV)

Shrink Ray hits USA food stores

If you have not noticed before food packages are getting smaller, and a pound is not always 16 ounces.
http://tinyurl.com/y68euy3

G_d has a sense of humor

While creating men, God promised women that good and ideal husbands would be found in all corners of the world. . . And then he made the earth round.

Igniting Our Faith

Suggested Bible Reading: Matthew 17:14-20

When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, and said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; he often falls into the fire and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him." Jesus answered, "You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to me." And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."