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Volume 20 Issue 5 - June 2005 ABORTION, SOCIAL SECURITY COLLAPSE, AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION or There is an elephant in our living room "But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out." (Numbers 32:23) For the past several years, both political parties have warned of a looming Social Security crisis. The Democrats, for the most part, reject this notion today fearing it might benefit President Bush and the Republicans. Nevertheless, one of their own, President Clinton, addressed this burning issue under his administration and stated, "We have a great opportunity now to take action to avert a crisis in the Social Security system," Clinton said again in February 1998, "By 2030, there will be twice as many elderly as there are today, with only two people working for every person drawing Social Security. After 2032, contributions from payroll taxes will only cover 75 cents on the dollar of current benefits. So we must act, and act now, to save Social Security." Subsequently, President Bush has taken the need for S.S. reform on the road. It is one of the key initiatives that highlights his second administration. The latest polls, however, reveal a lackluster response to his proposals. America may suspect something may be wrong, but to this point, we do not seem ready to sacrifice or make the necessary changes to salvage this doomed system for future generations. This should not be surprising considering the mentality of this generation. I believe it is safe to say that a large segment of the "Baby Boomer" generation is the first in American history willing to sacrifice their children to abortion, day care centers, public schools, paganism, hedonism, sodomy, and materialism in order for them to have a better life. Every cultural indicator and every crime statistic points to the fact that we have enhanced ourselves at the expense of our children. This posture would be unthinkable, let alone practiced just mere decades ago. Previous generations, though far from perfect, still held to a nobler notion of life. It was one centered on living in such a way that their children would benefit and have better opportunities than they themselves. Immigrants would come to these shores (legally) and many would slave away their lives to an early grave just to dream of sending their children to college. Many parents laid down their own desires in order to pass on a better world for their kids. Those days are long gone and know for a surety our sin is finding us out. The S.S. collapse and illegal immigration are just two of many signs that indicate we can run, but not hide. When S.S. was first introduced in 1935 there were many more workers than there were jobs. In 1950 there were 16.5 workers per retiree. In the near future, there will be two workers to support one beneficiary. Obviously, the triangle has been inverted. The foundation of many workers supporting one beneficiary has been turned upside down and the system will collapse under its own weight. S.S. as we know it is not sustainable and will not remain solvent unless necessary reforms take place. In order to prescribe the right reforms, however, one must first diagnose what truly ails the failing system. The S.S. meltdown and the invasion of illegal immigrants are fruits of a common problem, not the root. Our nation, however, seems content on treating symptoms instead of diagnosing the real disease eating away at America’s future. More on that later. For instance, pundits of all political stripes are debating privatizing S.S. or small portions of it. The conservative think tanks are all for it. They believe the more private it becomes, the greater return each retiree will receive. This whole premise, of course, is based on the health of the stock market and other financial institutions to guarantee those returns. There are risks involved as with most endeavors in life but at least it divests American citizens from some dependence upon big government. I believe it was Thomas Jefferson who stated, "A government big enough to supply you with everything you need is a government big enough to take away everything that you have.... The course of history shows that as the government grows, liberty decreases." Liberals, on the other hand, have never seen a government program they did not like. They want to keep S.S. under the domain of civil government. Typically, that is how they garner and maintain their political power. It has served their interests well in times past, but as of late, through other sources of media, such as talk radio, their agenda has worn thin. The American public is beginning to grow weary of their grandiose visions of statist utopia and the Marxist worker’s paradise. What boggles the mind in the midst of this national debate is the absolute refusal to deal with the most blatant cause of this national concern. I’ve listened to and read many commentaries about this burning issue. And as of yet, each author and talk show host has skirted the real culprit here and that is the national sin and crime called abortion. Since 1973, America, with the silent consent of the majority of the Church and the blessing of the state, has willfully and methodically murdered over 45 million children made in the image of God. One third of an entire generation has been wiped out by this monstrous lie. These children would have grown up to be mothers, fathers, citizens, workers, and tax payers. If we would have respected their "right to life," would this crisis still exist? Would our government still be in a state of denial when it comes to the influx of illegal aliens who threaten our national security? But who cares, just as long as they serve to prop up our fledgling work force? The point is who needs a crutch when the limbs are strong? Ideas have consequences and a belief system will lead us somewhere. Abortion and the subsequent pro-choice movement have led America to its inevitable conclusion, which is death. Whether we believe it or not or like it or not, abortion is a destroyer. The child in the womb is merely one manifestation of this truth. It has not one redeeming benefit, unless you believe that removal of personal responsibility from our greedy, lustful and selfish actions is somehow a redeeming quality. It has destroyed our children, motherhood, fatherhood, and families. It has helped to destroy the credibility of the Church and allowed the state to violate its sacred trust,which is to protect life and stop the shedding of innocent blood. And now we are awakening to the horrible truth that its destructive reach has already made claims to our future. If we continue to delude ourselves and turn a blind eye and deaf ear to this reality, what long lasting solution will fix America? The blind will still lead the blind. America will continue to strain at gnats and swallow camels, while we descend further and further into a ditch. There can be no successful reform unless America deals with abortion and the anti-child, anti-family legacy it has produced. Here is a simple equation that most will kick against, but is true nonetheless. As goes the father, so goes the family, as goes the family, so goes the church, and as goes the church, so goes your nation. The nuclear family, one man as husband and father, one woman as wife and mother, and their children is the building block of society. (It’s a crying shame I have to specifically define the terms due to the plague of political correctness that runs rampant today) Regardless, any law, policy, or entity that denies this truth, seeks to redefine its meaning, or harm it by the practice of abortion and the spread of sodomy will eventually remove a mighty pillar by which we stand. In fact, I’ll take this one step further. Most of the government programs we have, including S.S., has helped to undermine and replace the role of family. Through our welfare system, we actually pay mothers not to have fathers. The more children they have out of wedlock, the more we reward them with benefits. It this a sane policy? Does this serve to strengthen or weaken families? We have become so addicted to government as "Savior" programs we can’t seem to grasp its far reaching detriment upon the nuclear family. America it seems is going the way of Old Testament Israel. Israel rejected her godly legacy, her Hebrew Republic, and God’s time-honored principles and clamored to be just like all the other "enlightened" pagan nations that surrounded her. (American judges who look to international law instead of the Constitution anyone?) 1 Samuel 8:4-9 declares, "Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them." Israel gave up their liberty under God and increasingly surrendered their lives to the dictates of civil government. They wanted a king to care for them from the womb to the tomb. They chose security, instead of liberty and personal responsibility. And as Benjamin Franklin once said to those who would be tempted to choose this foolish course, "you are worthy of neither and will lose both." Notice Israel’s push towards statism began with the breakdown of the family. Samuel, though a great prophet, apparently failed as father. It cost Israel dearly. It cost them their sons and daughters, increased taxation, the loss of their private property, and livestock (1 Samuel 8:11-19). And yet, they blindly moved forward forging their chains of slavery as they went. But at least at the end of the day they could say they pleased Bill Maher who stated, "When you look at beliefs in such things as, do you go to heaven, is there a devil, we have more in common with Turkey and Iran and Syria than we do with European nations and Canada and nations that, yes, I would consider more enlightened than us." Rejecting God and His principles may appear enlightening to other nations, but it’s a false light that will eventually lead to oppression, tyranny, and despotism. The weighty issues raised in this article go way beyond saving S.S and protecting our borders. It is about saving America. The real reform that must take place begins in our hearts and souls. We must return to the God of our fathers (the Lord Jesus Christ) and the Biblical principles that have served us so well in our nation’s history. We must reject the brutal darkness of paganism with its evil fruit of abortion and homosexuality. These practices undermine families that have proven to be the trusted foundation of civilized societies. We must work to see our laws and policies strengthen our faith in "One Nation Under God" and our families, instead of causing their demise. Government is a poor substitute as a god or father. Besides, the true and living God doesn’t take kindly to idolatry. America is going broke trying to replace the role of God and fathers in our lives. Family is God’s first welfare system, educational program, and Social Security entitlement. Fathers and mothers have children and care for them while they are young. The children reciprocate as they develop and their parents grow old. Thus children and not the government, should care for their aging parents. This will relieve the heavy tax burden, make "government as nanny" obsolete, and it will teach us to serve, love, and care for each other as we should instead of enabling the self-indulgence that marks us today. These are self-evident truths that must be reclaimed and applied if we are to escape the moral, spiritual, and financial bankruptcy that awaits our future. FLIP JOINS SAINTS IN COLORADO Flip Benham, director of Operation Save America, arrived in Denver, Colorado on May 11, 2005, to pave the way for OSA’s annual national event happening this summer from July 16-23. Wednesday evening the Boulee family had a spectacular lasagna dinner for Flip and a few friends. Ed and Ruth Boulee’s home is located on a fabulous lake with a view of the majestic Colorado Mountains. After dinner Sara Boulee, an accomplished pianist, serenaded the party with the most beautiful music. Listening to Sara play and taking in the breathtaking view was inspirational. Pro-lifers in Denver were thrilled to welcome Flip and to introduce him to thirty local pastors at a breakfast Thursday morning. Flip, as we all know, is an impassioned, dynamic speaker for the unborn. After a delicious breakfast, provided for us by the wonderful people of Redeemer Temple, we sat on the edge of our seats while Flip expounded on the plight of the unborn and laid the responsibility of that holocaust squarely in the lap of our church leaders. You could have heard a pin drop in the room. Flip made his point and left no wiggle room for anyone not to be involved. Before we left the room, two buses and seven vans were volunteered and the pastors took our flyers announcing the event this summer to pass out at their home churches. Now, we need to pray that the local Denver churches will respond by marching to the streets in July. After breakfast Flip was treated to a tour of some of the Denver protest sites planned for this summer’s event. Denver is where abortion began in 1967 with Governor Lamb. This July, OSA will confront Denver and the spirit of murder looming over it with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The saints will make their theology their biography in the streets and the gates of hell will not prevail against them. Praise the Lord. Thursday afternoon, as an act of good faith, Flip accompanied by Ken Scott and Bob Enyart, along with several other pro-lifers, met with Denver police Commander Debra Dilly and an FBI agent. The meeting went well. Law enforcement is aware that we are a peaceful movement and we now know where we stand with them and we will act accordingly. A tour of Boulder, better known as, (even to the police) the People’s Republic of Boulder was the next stop. Flip was amazed at all the possible locations. One location on the agenda will be abortionist Warren Hern’s mill. He is the infamous late term abortionist who not only wrote the book on late term abortions, but an instrument for tearing a child apart, the Hern, is named after him. Friday began on the street at Planned Parenthood where one precious baby was saved. Friday afternoon Flip did a radio show with Bob Enyart which will be posted at kgov.com later this week. At the conclusion of the show Flip and Jason Troyer were off to produce a promotional dvd for Flip and OSA. Saturday also began at Planned Parenthood and again one baby was saved. GLORY!! Flip and Ken Scott left the mill early to attend the homosexual marriage summit being held at the Denver Convention Center. It was a long morning of intelligence gathering and silent praying for the lost. After the convention, Flip traveled to Colorado Springs, an hour and a half away, to do a radio show with Pastor Kevin Swanson; then a quick trip back for an evening meeting with local pro-lifers. Sunday was a day of worship and praise along with a strong pro-life message from Flip at Denver Bible Church. Nothing ever goes without complications and several difficult situations did developed during Flip’s stay. By the grace of God and wisdom on Flip’s part everything was resolved to the glory of God and this summer’s event is right on schedule. Flip is encouraged and excited to see what is happening in Denver. Flip said, "This summer’s event is going be awesome!" And the Denver pro-lifers agree. COLORADO RIGHT TO LIFE WELCOMES OSA Leslie Hanks, Vice President of Colorado Right to Life, is delighted that OSA is coming to the ground zero of the abortion holocaust – the State of Colorado! Here is her invitation to each one of you: "Colorado began the abortion holocaust in 1967. State Representative Dick Lamb wrote and carried the first abortion law in the nation. It was passed and signed into law by Governor John Love on April 25, 1967, making Colorado the first state in our nation to "legalize" abortion on demand." "Dick Lamb went on to become Governor of Colorado. He earned the reputation of being "Duty to Die" Dick Lamb. In the late 1970s, he wrote an article for Playboy magazine in which he stated that the elderly should step aside and do their duty to die so that health care resources could be made available for the young." "Colorado started the abortion holocaust and planted many of the seeds of the euthanasia movement in America. Colorado Right to Life believes that we have a unique duty and responsibility to lead America back to protecting all life from fertilization through natural death." "We encourage and welcome every pro-life individual to join us in the battle of reclaiming America for the protection of God’s gift of life. Therefore we are so thrilled that OSA is heading our way. You are giving us an opportunity to honor our Lord and live out our faith in the streets of Denver, Colorado!" Activities include: Witnessing at different area abortion mills (Denver has many!) Proclamation at state capital Early morning overpass ministry Teaching seminars Evening rallies IN KING JESUS' SERVICE, Rusty, Liz, and the Thomas Nation P.O. Box 3126, Waco, TX 76707 Voice: (254) 836-1037 Fax: (254) 836-4092 Cell: (254) 715-3134 E-mail: elijahmin@ifriendly.com Websites: http://mttu.com/elijahmin www.operationsaveamerica.org New Tracts
SALVATION "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name (Jesus) under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)In this world there are serious problems that consistently plague mankind. Just a brief gaze at a local newspaper or a TV news program affirms the tragic state of affairs that affects our world. It doesn’t matter what political stripe you are, nor your religious or non-religious affiliations, you can be a conservative or a liberal, a Christian or an atheist, but regardless of our persuasions, most of us are convinced something has gone terribly wrong with mankind. Two important questions should emerge from this tragic predicament. First, what is the true source of our problems and based upon that premise, what is the correct solution. All good doctors know the key to their success in healing people is in the correct diagnosis of what ails them. Common sense tells us without the correct diagnosis, it doesn’t make a difference what cure you prescribe. It simply won’t manifest the desired results and in all likelihood, it will compound the illness, sometimes unto death. Man apart from God has one diagnosis of what ails man and the God of the Bible has a completely different diagnosis. Humanists, Secularists, and Atheists believe man is inherently good, its just his environment that is messed up. Based upon that diagnosis, man sets out to prescribe a cure to save himself. Typically its through law, (government policy and programs) education, money, science, and technology. Whenever serious problems arise in our nation, what does our government and media call for? Their tired slogan is "more money, more education, and more government programs." We are trillions of dollars in debt pursuing this course, yet they still insist this will surely solve our problems and man can move onto perfection. In and of themselves, money, education, science, and technology are not inherently evil. As a source of man’s salvation, however, they are woefully lacking. In fact, the world system held sway by this naturalistic philosophy can only succeed in creating pits for man to fall into and then tax us to death to try and bail us out. It is a vicious cycle with no way of escape, except through another entirely different source of salvation. God, however, places the source of man’s trouble actually within him. In Mark 7:21-23, Jesus clearly states, "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man." Notice where Jesus places the ultimate source of man’s problem. It comes from within us. Man can change spouses, children, churches, locations, friends, and jobs, but does that save man? The self-evident answer is no. Man will only be confronted with this horrible dilemma over and over again. The problem goes where man goes for we are the problem. The painful truth is, there is a sinful nature that rages within us and no outward shifting of circumstances can change that reality. Thus man’s greatest deliverance is to be delivered from himself. The Salvation of the Lord Based upon this diagnosis, there are several word/pictures in the Bible that reveal the great salvation offered to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. First, it would be fitting to define the word salvation Biblically. It means to deliver from evil, both temporal and eternal deliverance from evil. The Apostle Paul declared, "Who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us (2 Corinthians 1:10)." It also means preservation from danger. There are dangerous thoughts that lead to sin and crimes that lurk within us and will eventually manifest itself physically. God’s salvation preserves us in the midst of this two-fold danger. Four Word/Pictures of God’s Salvation Justification! Romans 5:1 states, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." The word justification paints for us the image of a court trial. It is a legal, judicial term. All of us will one day stand before a just Judge who is not of human origin. All of us will have to give an account for every thought, word, and deed we have committed in this life before God’s bar of justice. Unfortunately, this Judge cannot be bribed and no high-priced lawyer can detour Him from the truth. He will not be swayed by our poverty nor enticed by our riches. Sadly, even before He officially declares our guilt, our own consciences will scream the verdict that will echo throughout eternity in our shame-ridden souls. As this picture of the court trial progresses, know for a surety that the righteous Judge will officially find unrepentive men guilty and will pass sentence. The sentence is death, eternal death, that will separate us from God forever. This is the bad news, but wait, there is also some good news. We can be justified. Thus instead of hauling us away to eternal separation from His Holy presence, the same righteous Judge stands up, takes off his robe, becomes our substitution, dies in our stead, and let’s us go free. Romans 4:25 declares, "Who was delivered for our offences, (Jesus delivered over to death on our account) and was raised again for our justification." Redemption! John 8:34-36 states, "Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the slave of sin. And the slave abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth forever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." As we examine the words of Jesus in this passage, picture a slave block, a place where precious human beings are bought and sold based upon the lustful whims of slave masters. As human beings, we must come to grips with the fact that our hearts and souls have been bought and sold on this slave block countless times by the destructive power of sin. But there is One according to the book of Isaiah that can "break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron ." God’s redemption sets the captive free. It delivers us from the power of sin that destroys our lives. This redemption came with a costly price, the sacrifice of the Son of God on a cruel cross. If true liberty is what you seek, then you must place your faith in the only One that has the power to grant that precious gift, the Lord Jesus Christ. He paid a debt that He did not owe, we owed a debt that we could never pay. All of us need someone to wash our sins away. Thanks be to God for this unspeakable gift that is full of joy and great glory. Propitiation! 1 John 2:2 states, "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross appeased the wrath of God that was against us. John 3:36 declares, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." Though God is love, he hates sin and will not abide it. This places sinful man in a dangerous predicament. How can a Holy God who hates sin establish a relationship with sinful man? Through the bloody, cruel cross God took our sin, misery, disobedience, moral failures and many transgressions and thrust them upon Jesus. This satisfied God’s justice and thus released mercy to the guilty. The Scriptures declare that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, the just for the unjust and now we can have peace with God (Romans 5:8; 1 Peter 3:18). Reconciliation! 2 Corinthians 5:19 states, "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." Reconciliation is a picture of a broken relationship, particularly between a parent and a child that miraculously becomes restored. The premiere example of this heart-wrenching plight is found in the "Prodigal Son" story taught by Jesus in Luke 15. I would highly recommend that you read this special passage of Scripture. It is truly inspiring. God’s word declares, "For he saith, I have heard you in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I helped you: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2)." This tract was written in a feeble attempt to communicate to you the Gospel of the Kingdom that has the power to save your soul. The Lord is making His appeal known. His desire is to make all things brand new in your life, regardless of all your sins, transgressions, and past failures. He desires to justify you, to redeem you, and to remove all hostility that exists between you and Him. The Bible declares that if you hear His voice do not harden your heart, but rather open your heart, eyes, ears, and your life to His saving grace. I would encourage you to humble yourself, repent of your sins, call upon the name of the Lord, and ask Him to save you and to fill you His Spirit! Rusty, Liz, and the Thomas Nation |