January 2017 Women's March

What exactly is the women's march protesting?

It couldn't be foul comments Trump made over a decade ago because they didn't seem to mind when Bill Clinton was actually DOING the very same things Trump merely mentioned and worse while still in office.

It couldn't be Trump's foul mouth because Lena Dunham, feminist spokesperson who sexually abused her sister and regularly abuses the public by showing off her privates, says FAR worse to bring out the most carnal nature of both men and women.

It couldn't be a march for women's basic human rights because they celebrate the fact that at least 32,000,000 women have been denied the right to live in an excruciating, barbaric manner through abortion. 

It couldn't be concerns over financial support for moms because the plan Ivanka put forth benefits all mothers in the workplace and those working hard to raise respectable children at home.

It couldn't be suppression of women because they have voiced their support for Islamic extremists who bind and hide their wives in burkas and do not allow them to go out into public, speak out, receive proper education, or live in any way as they please so they can focus only on bowing down to their oppressive masters whose militias take women as sex slaves during their violent conquests.

It couldn't be a march for gay rights because they oppose those who want to to wipe out ISIS - the group that inspired the killing of 49 members of the gay community in just one attack in Orlando.

It couldn't be a march for tolerance because they have little to no tolerance for white males, Christians, or conservatives who are persecuted on a regular basis by groups they support here in America. 

What exactly has them so upset, and what will this march accomplish?  I appreciate the efforts to keep it peaceful, though, so kudos for that.

Presidential Inauguration 2017: A Call for Unity, Patriotism, and Prayers to God

I'd like to commemorate this historic Inauguration Day by sharing a few thoughts I had throughout the day.

Early AM
I've been working through Beth Moore's study, The Patriarchs.

  
This morning's lesson was from Genesis 27 and specifically addressed Esau's hatred of Jacob and the way he consoled himself by plotting to kill his brother (Genesis 27:41). This lesson seemed quite timely given the plots already uncovered by investigative teams to set off bombs during the Inaugural events and the arrest of at least one man (a friend of the Clintons) who pledged to kill the incoming President.  (By 1:00 pm, Fox News was reporting at least 90 arrests made within the vicinity of the Inaugural events.)

Beth Moore explains in the study guide that the Hebrew word used in Genesis 27:41 to describe Esau's feelings toward his brother is "satam" which means to hate, to harass, to nurse hostility and bitterness toward someone or to attack physically. This word shares the same root as the Hebrew verb "satan" which means to accuse, slander, harbor animosity toward another and with the masculine noun "satan" which means "adversary, accuser", from which we get the name Satan. 

Whether one's bitterness and anger flow out of being treated unfairly, not getting what one wants, or out of some false characterization of someone with no evidence or hint of truth, when negative emotions are encouraged by the culture and allowed to swell exponentially to the point that someone is consoling himself with thoughts of murder, that person's behavior has become clinically psychopathic.

Here's my concern. When we live in a culture that tries so desperately to normalize abnormal behavior, emotions go unchecked and psychopathic behaviors increase.

Satan is the father of lies with murderous intentions (John 8:44). He is the arch enemy, the epic accuser, and destroyer of all that is good. The spirit of Satan is what pushes people to attack, accuse, slander, hate, destroy, and plot murder.

Let us pray not just for safety for Trump, his family, and his executive team, but also for Satan's grip on our culture to be loosened and for our hearts to be turned from hatred and fear to love and faith. The battle is the Lord's, but we are commanded to pray, resist the devil, and humble our ourselves in repentance before the Lord. Pence knows that is what we need most, so he chose to take his oath while placing his hands on 2 Chronicles 7:14 which reads, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."


Around Noon
My kids got to watch the Inauguration at school today, and even though many different demographics with very different political views were present in each room, they watched together peacefully and respectfully. I wish more adults could be as mature as those K-12 students, but I sure am grateful their school let them watch history in the making.

I was impressed with Trump's speech. He's learned a lot since his campaign first began and moved considerably toward calmer, more unifying speech.  He's also been listening to a lot of committed Christians who have been teaching him God's word. That's what the evangelical team and Ben Carson have stated anyway, and it seems to show.

What were your favorite quotes from Trump's speech today?
Here are a few I liked (from memory so may not be quoted exactly):
  

• "We aren’t transferring power from one administration to the other or from one party to the other. We are transferring power from Washington, D.C. back to you the people."

(Populist sounding maybe but necessary to swing the pendulum back from tyranny toward a true Republic)

• "When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice." 

(Even more so when we open our hearts to God)

•  "How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!" 

(He was quoting Psalm 133:1.)

• "We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action – constantly complaining but never doing anything about it."

(WITHIN their legal limits - not legislating from the bench or through excessive, far-reaching executive orders, please)

• "Whether we are black, brown, yellow, or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriotism....we all enjoy the same freedoms and salute the same flag."  

(Rough paraphrase here, but it sounded like he was trying to emphasize how we are all equally valuable as human beings and need to unify as Americans)

• "May God Bless America!" 

 (I don't know about you, but I sure have missed that phrase.)

I also greatly appreciate the way he acknowledged that while it is the government's responsibility (and all American's) to build up, support, and respect our military forces and law enforcement officers, ultimately our protection comes from God Almighty. Now may we humble ourselves before the Lord of Grace and pray for His sovereign protection which we most certainly do not deserve. The Bible is filled with promises to protect those who call out to Him.  (A few examples are Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 5:11, 20:1, 36:7, 57:1, 59:1, 63:7, chapter 121, 140:4, Isaiah 41:10, 2 Thessalonians 3:3.)