Obama: Champion of the Gays

Complete story here.

On Tuesday, our president spoke to a group of "gay leaders" at the White House. As I mentioned last week, the gay community is upset that their agenda is not being implemented quickly enough by the president.

President Obama's remarks to this group included this disturbing quote: "I will not only be your friend, I will continue to be an ally and a champion and a president who fights with you and for you." There were also these remarks:

"I know many in this room don't believe that progress has come fast enough. And I understand that," Obama said. But he added: "I expect and hope to be judged not by words, not by promises I've made, but by promises that my administration keeps."

By the time he leaves office, the president said, "I think you guys will have pretty good feelings about the Obama administration."

Some points to note here:

• Homosexuality is a sin. It is morally wrong, and this is clearly taught in the Bible. To be the "champion" of those who openly and proudly display their sinfulness, and to actively pursue goals which enable this sinfulness and reward those who do it, is wrong.
• Imagine this quote, in a new context: Speaking to a group of Christians! "I will not only be your friend, I will continue to be an ally and a champion and a president who fights with you and for you." Wouldn't that be wonderful? Why can't we see this instead? Why not have our president work toward goals like strengthening families and eliminating abortions? Why does he instead pander toward homosexuals while offending Christians?
• His last sentence is telling: He wants to be judged by kept promises. He does NOT want to be judged by words or promises made in the past. Does this sound hypocritical to anyone other than me?
  

What is sad here is that the president prefers those who sin over those who disapprove of this sin. This is not the change or hope I was awaiting.

Kalamazoo Discrimination Ordinance Passes 7-0

As expected, the Kalamazoo City Commission voted unanimously this evening to force residents and businesses in the city to grant special "protections" to those describing themselves as part of the "GLBT community."

I believe that to discriminate on the basis of skin color, age, or gender is inappropriate. These are factors that are beyond a person's ability to control. As a Christian, I am to show love to all—and that is certainly a non-discriminatory statement.

What I object to is being pushed to acknowledge a lifestyle choice which I find sinful and repugnant. God made man and woman, established monogamous marriage, and gave mankind clear commands about physical intimacy. Homosexuality is against God's commands. It is sin.

So now what? Stay tuned for the petition drive, and if you live in the Kalamazoo area and/or know voters in the city of Kalamazoo, get to work! Details to come....

Kalamazoo Discrimination Ordinance to be Voted On Tonight!

The title above is my own, as the ordinance will discriminate against those who live or operate a business in the city of Kalamazoo by forcing them to accept homosexuals (or anyone in the "GLBT" group) in housing, employment, and "access to public accommodations."

According to the Kalamazoo Gazette and widely reported elsewhere, the ordinance is likely to pass, and in fact could be unanimously passed. A similar ordinance passed the City Commission unanimously in December, but was then rescinded in January after an unprecedented number of signatures were turned in for a ballot referendum on the matter. Some minor changes have since been made granting more "protections" to religious groups. Fines for violating the ordinance will be $500 a day plus expenses.

The American Family Association intends to begin circulating petitions Tuesday morning if the measure passes the commission, as most expect it will. Given the fact that no commission members have given any indication of a change of heart on the matter, we need to prepare for this. The previous petition drive was only granted 20 days to collect over a thousand signatures (over the Christmas holiday season, no less), and was successful by a comfortable margin. If you are a registered voter of Michigan and know registered voters in Kalamazoo, you can help in the petition drive. Pay attention to the AFA website and stayed tuned for further developments.

The homosexual movement wants to win as many of these local battles as they can before the inevitable day when their agenda will be placed before Congress. Do your part to promote what is right and godly in your area!

Taking Names....Then What?

The U.S. House voted 219-212 to approve the contemptible "American Clean Energy and Security Act" (a.k.a. "The Job-Killing Act" or the "Plow our Economy Into the Ground Act").

It was widely reported that Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-MI 3rd District) was considering voting in favor of the bill. He did not vote in favor of the bill.

In the end, eight (8) Republicans voted in favor of the bill. Forty-four (44) Democrats voted against it. You can find the complete Congressional roll call for the vote here. The eight Republicans who voted for the bill should be losers in the 2010 primary elections, as they clearly do not stand for conservative principles or for the principles of the Republican party.

Taking Names? Here are some to consider:

All seven Michigan Republicans in Congress voted "No" on the bill.

All eight Michigan Democrats in Congress voted "Yes" on the bill.

The eight GOP traitors on this vote were:

• Mary Bono Mack (CA 45th District)
• Michael Castle (DE)
• Mark Kirk (IL 10th District)
• Leonard Lance (NJ 7th District)
• Frank LoBiondo (NJ 2nd District)
• John McHugh (NY 23rd District)
• David Reichert (WA 8th District)
• Chris Smith (NJ 4th District)

I hope the Republicans in New Jersey, in particular, are mad.

There is a lesson here: Keep your memory. Remember who voted to raise your taxes (regardless of whatever misnomer they may invent for it), usurp more power, and drive a stake into the heart of the American economy. And when you enter that polling place next year, vote them out.

Hymn of the Week Top Ten Countdown

The wealth of hymns in the English language is a great musical treasure. I have been thinking for some time about this question: If a "greatest English-language hymns of all time" list were compiled, which hymns would be on it?

Picking a "Top Ten" list must of necessity leave out some absolutely wonderful pieces of music, so I came up with a list of criteria for consideration:

• The hymn must be well known (and loved) across a wide swath of American denominations.
• The hymn must have both an easily recognizable melody (or melodies, as some hymn lyrics are sung to multiple tunes) and doctrinally accurate lyrics.
• The hymn must have been around for some length of time.

I gave this some thought and put a list together. I will unveil the list, in the traditional tenth-to-first order, on Wednesdays and Sundays beginning July 1.

My list is still open to revision, however, so if you would like to make some input, feel free to leave a comment. If you are a lover of hymns and know a little of their history, speak up!

In the meantime, let me leave you with one verse of a hymn:

Nearer, still nearer, close to Thy heart,
Draw me, my Savior—so precious Thou art!
Fold me, oh, fold me close to Thy breast.
Shelter me safe in that “Haven of Rest”;
Shelter me safe in that “Haven of Rest.”

Soccer, America, and South Africa

Today the American soccer team, after some surprising and unexpected outcomes, is going to play in the championship game of the Confederations Cup against highly esteemed Brazil. A victory here would be on par with the "Miracle on Ice" hockey game at the 1980 Olympics, as Brazil has traditionally been a world powerhouse in soccer. The U.S.A. has never been a powerhouse in soccer internationally.

It surprised me this morning to read this article about Americans in South Africa and their excitement about the game:

JOHANNESBURG -- It is a grand old flag -- a gift from a family friend -- but for 11 years as an American living in South Africa, private equity investor Greg Durst has not dared wave his impressive 9-foot-by-5-foot Old Glory farther than his own porch on the Fourth of July. Like many expatriates overseas, he's been laying low in the face of anti-American sentiment.

But for Yanks in these parts, the spirit of Independence Day has come early in this age of Obama with the U.S. soccer team's improbable "miracle on grass" win leading to Sunday night's upcoming sold-out Confederations Cup final against the fancy-footed Brazilian powerhouse.

"Suddenly, we're all Americans again," says Durst, who hopes to wave his Stars and Stripes -- a newly hot commodity -- at Coca-Cola Park stadium (formerly Ellis Park) if he can scrounge up tickets for the game.

Perhaps Greg's sentiments were taken out of context by the reporter—I don't know—but I was a bit disturbed by one phrase in each paragraph. Specifically:

"He's been laying low in the face of anti-American sentiment." Laying low? Why would anyone want to live and work in a place where they have to "lay low" because they are American? I can understand the desire not to be thought of as a stereotypical pushy American, but there's a wide and happy medium between these.

"...has come early in this age of Obama..." What, pray tell, does he have to do with this?!?!? More than anything else in the story, this tells you something about the reporter's political proclivities. Espn.com reporters typically do a good job of keeping politics out of sports reporting, but the editors dropped the ball badly here.

"Suddenly, we're all Americans again." Coupled with a later sentence, "It's good to be an American again, but it's even better to know someone with tickets," I had the thought, Since when was it ever bad to be an American? Unlike certain people I could mention in the entertainment media and the left-wing political establishment, I am not, and never have been, embarassed to be an American, or desirous to hide that fact. Even with its flaws (and there are enough of them), this is the greatest nation on earth! I should be thankful and proud to be an American, no matter where I am or what I am doing!

And, of course, I hope that the U.S.A. beats Brazil soundly.

Biden Reaches Out to Gay Community

Thus reads the title of an article on the Kalamazoo Gazette's website (originally from politico.com). Speaking at a "LGBT fundraiser" that brought in about a million dollars for the Democratic National Committee, the vice-president acknowledged that the Obama administration had not been moving as fast as many in the homosexual community had desired in implementing their agenda.

Although those of us who believe that homosexuality is an abomination (because that's what the Bible calls it) find the "homosexual agenda" disturbing, we are comforted slightly that our president has not simply done everything they want. Yet. Perhaps even more disturbing is the knowledge that some homosexuals boycotted the event—to protest that Obama isn't doing everything they want, fast enough!

The vice-president tried to smooth ruffled feathers by pointing out what the Obama administration has already done for them, and how many homosexuals he has appointed to office already. He even said,

Biden said the administration is committed to "the unfinished business of true equality."

"I promise you with your help we'll get there in this administration," he said, going as far as to add that if the country achieves gender equality, "I will have marked my term as vice president as being truly worthwhile."

Disgraceful. But consider this scenario:

The president or vice-president comes to speak at a fundraiser dinner organized by Christians to support candidates who cherish traditional family values. He apologizes for not implementing the "Christian agenda" quickly enough and promises that by the time his current term ends, progress will be made. Meanwhile, outside the venue, a group of protesters hold pickets and decry the administration for not making greater progress when the opportunity arose.

Do you think you will ever see this?

Prioritizing the News of the Day

Here are some headlines that you may or may not learn about in today's news:

• Approximately 3,000 children murdered in their mothers' wombs today.
• Congress soon to vote on one of the largest tax increases in American history, under the poor disguise of something called "cap and trade."
• American soldiers involved in conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Some calling for the resignation of a governor of a state containing 4.5 million people.
• An over-the-hill rock star who has been in trouble for doing unspeakable, perverse things with children and whose music grates on the ears of millions of Americans died yesterday.

The first four are significant things going on today that will affect (or even end!) the lives of Americans for some time to come. The fifth item, though sad, is not going to affect most of us, and certainly not in a life-changing way.

We are going to be better citizens if we deal with those first four matters properly...so let's get to work.

Not-So-Bright Criminal of the Day

In the previous post, I alluded to (see comments) the fact that sin can often cause one "to lose all sense of equilibrium when it comes to issues of right and wrong." Apparently that happened here, but in a different way.

According to the Kalamazoo Gazette, a 27-year-old man...

"...walked into the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety substation on North Park Street at about 4 a.m., bleeding from cuts on his arms and hands and apparently drunk, and told officers he had seen someone breaking into a building in the 600 block of North Rose Street, according to a news release.

"The release said the Kalamazoo resident told police he wanted to stop the crime, so he climbed into the building and scuffled with the other person but lost his grip."

Upon further review of the crime scene, the police determined that the criminal was in fact this man, who after being stitched up at a local hospital, was arrested and jailed for breaking and entering.

And to show that Kalamazoo Public Safety does have at least a little sense of humor, their news release contained this sentence:

"Kalamazoo Public Safety cannot always count on suspects to report their own criminal activity."