Who’s Leading Who?

Posted on August 13, 2010 by Christian Faith In America

Written by Mark Driskill:

Read Mark 6:30-44

Whenever the Lord sets out to do a mighty work through his people he often begins by getting his servants in line with his way of doing things. In the story of this miraculous feeding it is interesting to see the shift in perspective the disciples had to make. The first shift they had to make was to get in his pace. They had just come back from a mission project and he tells them, “Come away and rest”. You know the Lord isn’t calling us to burn out for him. He is calling us to work when he works, play when he plays and rest when he rests. He didn’t rust out or burn out. He followed the Spirit.

The second shift was in what they saw. When Jesus looked out on the crowds he had compassion on them because he saw them as sheep with out a shepherd. I think our churches would be more compassionate if we saw our people that way instead of seeing them as prospects who can help run our programs. Jesus didn’t see people as things to be used for his success but as people to be loved for his kingdom. If we are going to follow him we must break out of our church business mindset and begin to see people as Jesus saw them. In the earl church the question asked by the believers was, “Who needs us?” Then they went out to those who needed them. Now many churches ask, “Who do we need?” and they recruit accordingly. This has to change if we are to follow Jesus.

Third they had to change tier role from advising to serving. The disciples saw a situation and thought they could best help Jesus by serving in an advisory capacity, where most of us prefer to serve. They said to the Lord, “Send the crowds away to the nearby villages…” How presumptuous we are when we think we should tell the Lord what he needs to do about a situation. Does that ever happen in your prayer life? It is one thing to make requests of the Lord and quite another to begin telling him how to handle things. He rarely follows our clever advice and wise counsel no matter how practical it sounds to us. Jesus doesn’t always operate along the lines of practical human wisdom. We may think it is perfectly reasonable to take a course of action, e.g. “send the crowd out for lunch” but our Lord prefers to kill our sense of reason and replace it with thinking that falls along the lines of faith. How often he has ignored our reasonable ideas and led us out on a limb of faith where all we have is his grace and power to lean on.

Another thing the Lord had to kill in the disciples was their sense of convenience. “Send the crowds away Lord, so we can relax.” Usually when I am advising the Lord on what HE should do it usually means that I don’t have to invest myself in the situation. I can just tell the Lord what to do and then keep my hands clean. But Jesus often does to me what he did to them. He said; “You give them something to eat.” He says in effect, No I think we’ll take a step of faith and you will have to get your hands dirty if you want to see a miracle. So grab a basket and get to work. Listen; if you want the Lord to do a miracle in your life it will usually require that you get involved in the process in some way. Many never see miracles from God because they are willing to ask, but not willing to obey.

Finally the disciples got into the right mindset when Jesus handed the fish and bread to the disciples to hand out and they obeyed. When you ask for miracles expect God to give you something to do as an act of faith. It will likely be something mundane like handing out food, helping a neighbor rake leaves or read a story to a child. Not so glamorous huh? But when you obey you will see the hand of God doing unimaginable things. Get into the position of service and let God handle the rest.

Challenge: Today when you get into a crunch ask the Lord to help you see it his way and act accordingly.

Mark Driskill and his wife Mary are homeschooling community ministers in Breathitt County Kentucky. They have four children. They co pastor Emmanuel fellowship Church, serve as Camp Pastors at Bethel Mennonite Camp, and Mark Teaches at Oakdale Christian Academy. Mark is web minister for Begotten by the Word , a ministry of Helping Hands Christian Resources. Once a month he preaches on the local radio station through the “Lion of Judah” program.

Mark also preaches in youth rallies and revivals upon request at no charge. Their vision is to see true spiritual awakening come to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky and to the nation.

Contact information:
Email: driskill@hilbillymail.com
Facebook: Mark Driskill
Address: PO Box 1159 Jackson KY.

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Trading the Kingdom for Road Kill?

Posted on August 12, 2010 by Christian Faith In America

Written by Mark Driskill:

Read Mark 6:14-29

Imagine you have just been given the offer of a lifetime. Imagine, for example, someone with real connections offers you absolutely free anything you want up to half ownership of a billion dollar estate. The only requirement is that you ask. What would you ask for? Or imagine one of your children being given such an offer and they come to you for advice on what to ask for. What would you suggest to them? Money? Power? Or how about a scholarship to a nice college? Okay suppose given this opportunity to have anything you want, you responded by saying, “Umm let’s see now, I know! I’d like some road kill please.” That would be stupid. It would be unthinkable to throw away the opportunity of a lifetime for such a thing. Yet that is what we see Herodias doing. Her daughter comes to her having been offered anything she wants, up to half the kingdom of Israel. So she asks her mother what to request. Herodias is so filled with hatred toward John the Baptist that all she can see is an opportunity to punish him. She s is so blinded by rage and bitterness that she can’t even see the opportunity for her or her daughter.

Wow! Her resentment costs her a kingdom and it costs her daughter the opportunity of a lifetime. You see that’s what bitterness and resentment does. It blinds you to the kingdom, and costs those your loved ones, who have to live in the wake of your unforgiving spirit as well. The single mother so hates her ex husband that she poisons her children’s lives with her bitter words and spiteful actions, because all she can see is getting him back. The angry pastor, so filled with his own resentment, spews venom on the innocent members of his church every Sunday when he should be feeding their souls. But all he can see is the handful who criticized him and how he can punish them from the pulpit. Resentmentwill cost you the kingdom and will handicap the people around you.

How much better it is to forgive than to hold on to hurt feelings. This is especially true when, as in Herodias’ case, the person you are angry with is only guilty of telling you the truth you didn’t want to hear. Oh friend if you are living with resentment over something someone has done or said, don’t let it blind you to the kingdom opportunities that God has for you. And don’t let it spill out on your loved ones. Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.” As you give forgiveness from your heart, your ability to walk in the mercy of God and experience joy increases.

Unforgiveness is a prison that you are building around yourself and your loved ones. No matter how “right” you may be in the matter you are still in a prison of bitterness regardless of how you try to dress it up and rationalize it. A well decorated prison is still a prison. The great news is through the power of Jesus love in you, you hold the key to your release. Forgive and walk free today.

Challenge: Think of the person in your life who has been the most critical of you. Send them a sincere compliment in a note or email. Or if you are really brave tell them face to face.

Mark Driskill and his wife Mary are homeschooling community ministers in Breathitt County Kentucky. They have four children. They co pastor Emmanuel fellowship Church, serve as Camp Pastors at Bethel Mennonite Camp, and Mark Teaches at Oakdale Christian Academy. Mark is web minister for Begotten by the Word , a ministry of Helping Hands Christian Resources. Once a month he preaches on the local radio station through the “Lion of Judah” program.

Mark also preaches in youth rallies and revivals upon request at no charge. Their vision is to see true spiritual awakening come to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky and to the nation.

Contact information:
Email: driskill@hilbillymail.com
Facebook: Mark Driskill
Address: PO Box 1159 Jackson KY.

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Liberal or Liberalism? A Study in Contrast

Posted on August 12, 2010 by Christian Faith In America

Written By: Josh Kimbrell.

American history has borne witness to the progressive nature (no pun intended) of liberalism from championing individual rights to curtailing them. Classical liberalism, the type championed by Thomas Jefferson and company, sought to expand the realm of the individual by restraining government. Modern liberals seek to expand the realm of the state by restraining individuals. The result is a gutted notion of American independence, and a pretentious commitment to personal freedom, used only in election cycles. Make no mistake; modern liberals are the enemy of classical liberalism.

In Milton Friedman’s Capitalism and Freedom, the modern father of free-market philosophy argues that an emphasis on the individual is necessary for the advancement of society. The paradox proven by history is that a focus on the collective undermines both the individual and society, while a focus on the individual betters both. Great breakthroughs, from the discovery of America by Columbus, to the discovery of penicillin, were the product of personal initiative. In fact, many breakthroughs in science and technology, business and commerce, were not only achieved by individual initiative, but by individuals operating outside of government grants and conventional wisdom.

Even Christopher Columbus’ voyage, though financed by King Ferdinand of Spain, wasn’t a government-chartered program. Columbus had determined to find a shortcut to the Indies, well before King Ferdinand decided to get in on the action. Columbus was actually denied support from numerous European governments, before he secured the support of Spain. Had his voyage been contingent on government programs, this enterprising Italian wouldn’t have discovered America. Thomas Jefferson summed it up well in saying, “the government that governs best governs least.” Unleashing the entrepreneurial spirit is the sure-fire way to jump-start a successful economy.

Modern liberalism rests on the laurels afforded it by classical liberals. The commitment of classical liberals to individual rights made America the world’s first meritocracy. Folks who live in freedom find fulfillment by living in the realization that we are created in the Image of God. The hallmark characteristic of this image is the ability to create, or, in the case of mere mortals, recreate (as we can’t create the raw materials). A fervent commitment to the folks, as opposed to a foolhardy focus on the collective, is a necessary precondition of political and economic freedom. Let’s pull together as conservatives here in South Carolina to build a state where individual rights are championed, economic freedom flourishes, and our cultural capital, steeped in our Judeo-Christian heritage, is the foundation.

Joshua B. Kimbrell
President & Chairman
CEO Round Table of South Carolina

Josh Kimbrell is President & Chairman of CEO Round Table of South Carolina. CEO stands for “Christians Empowered & Organized.” Part of the mission of CEO Round Table is “to promote a way of life that embraces faith, family, and freedom.” For more information on this organization visit their websites at…

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Long Live The Constitutionalist Sheriff!

Posted on August 10, 2010 by Christian Faith In America

By Chuck Baldwin

One of the tragedies of the current misled, uninformed, and otherwise preoccupied American citizenry is the seeming apathy regarding the importance and necessity of electing constitutionalist sheriffs. In many ways, State governors and county sheriffs just might be the most important elected offices in America. It is no hyperbole to say that State governors and county sheriffs form the last line of defense against tyranny and oppression. If our governors and sheriffs do not understand the principles of freedom and federalism, there is virtually zero protection against the abuses of liberty–save the right of the people to personally and individually defend liberty via the principles of God-given Natural Law.

Hence, a freedom-minded sheriff is invaluable to liberty’s defense. And perhaps at no time in America’s history has it been more necessary that we elect freedom-loving sheriffs than it is today, what with the ever-growing propensity of the federal government to trample and usurp State and constitutional protections of freedom.

For example, in an almost totally non-reported incident, an armed conflict between federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) agents and a Nevada Sheriff’s SWAT team was averted only by virtue of the fact that, at the last minute, BLM backed down from the impending confrontation.

For the record: federal police agencies have a long history of committing illegal searches and seizures (even assault and murder–can anyone say, “Ruby Ridge” or “Waco”?) against the US citizenry. But BLM might be the most notorious federal police agency of all. The tactics BLM employs against western landowners sometimes border on Nazi-like. When the late, great Helen Chenoweth was an Idaho congresswoman, she tried to raise awareness of (and opposition to) this out-of-control federal agency. I urge readers to read Rep. Chenoweth’s interview with Michael Reagan about this subject. See it at:

http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/blm.html

According to Rep. Chenoweth, “BLM is taking onto themselves law enforcement that is normally saved for the State, law enforcement over motor vehicles. They’ve written into the regulation without authority from Congress, the ability to stop vehicles or to search people, to search a place or a vehicle without warrant or process; to be able to seize without warrant or process any piece of evidence and to test people for potential DUI (driving under the influence).”

Chenoweth continued: “Our founders, when establishing our system of government wanted to make sure that law enforcement was closest to the people. You and I have talked before about how important it is to make sure that you elect the very best local county sheriff because he should be regarded as the highest law enforcement officer in the area because he is accountable to the voters. They really worried about a national, a federal, law enforcement. To federalize our law enforcement is to create a situation that the pilgrims were trying to escape.

“We are moving quickly to that. The Bureau of Land Management is taking onto themselves law enforcement authority that Congress never gave them. In the Federal Land Policy and Management Act that was passed in the early 1970s it made it clear that Congress said that, first, you must go to your local county sheriff for law enforcement activities.”

Chenoweth added, “In the BLM proposed rules and regulations, you can’t remove any plants or soil or pick up any rocks or minerals. You can’t drive on any vegetation or soil. You can’t disturb soil at all. Now you can’t set a foot on soil without disturbing it. You can’t set a foot on a ground plant without disturbing it.”

For the sheriff in Nye County, Nevada, BLM abridgments of liberty had gone too far. When BLM threatened to arrest the sheriff if he refused to go along with BLM’s illegal searches and seizures against Nye County citizens, Sheriff Tony DeMeo countered by telling BLM in no uncertain terms that should any agent attempt to enforce BLM’s unconstitutional policies, he would have his deputies arrest them. DeMeo even had his SWAT teams standing by to enforce the law AGAINST THE OUT-OF-CONTROL FEDERAL AGENCY. To put it in Sheriff DeMeo’s words, “We’d be standing between them [BLM] and my constituents [county residents].” At the last minute, BLM backed off and the confrontation between the Nye County sheriff’s office and the federal agency was averted.

See Sheriff DeMeo’s testimony on the incident at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoYtnoFn09Y

Now, Sheriff Tony DeMeo is exactly the kind of sheriff the Constitution requires! Unfortunately, it seems that the vast majority of sheriffs across the country have no idea as to what their constitutional authority entails, and seem to have no discernment and understanding of just what the federal government is doing to usurp State and local jurisdiction. Or if they do, they seem to lack the courage to act upon their power and authority. Or maybe they simply lust after federal monies (better known as bribes).

Of course, there are a few sheriffs across America who seem to be aware of what’s going on and have the guts to do something about it. A precious few. Along with Sheriff Tony DeMeo, there is Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Maricopa County, Arizona, Sheriff Shane Harrington of Wibaux County, Montana, Sheriff Paul Babeu of Pinal County, Arizona, and, of course, there are former Sheriffs Ray Nash of Dorchester County, South Carolina, Richard Mack of Graham County, Arizona, and Jay Printz of Ravalli County, Montana. Plus, if the good people of Larimer County, Colorado, will elect Carl Bruning as their sheriff, there will be another principled constitutionalist sheriff to add to the list of patriot sheriffs.

To visit Carl’s campaign web site, go here: http://carlbruning.com/

Readers should know, too, that Sheriff Mack has a plethora of outstanding books and videos relating to the role and duty of a constitutional sheriff on his web site. I highly recommend that you avail yourself to as much of Mack’s materials as you can. Here is his web site: http://sheriffmack.com/

If liberty has any chance of surviving in the United States, it will be because the American people wake up to the importance and necessity of electing constitutionalist governors and sheriffs. Sheriffs, especially, are critical to the maintenance of liberty. It is a truism that, next to the people themselves, the sheriff’s office helps form the last line of defense against federal abuse of power. Long live the constitutionalist Sheriff!

P.S. We are trying to keep up with those requesting to be added to our new PATRIOT BUSINESSES web page, but are having a hard time keeping up with requests. Please be patient. We are adding them as fast as we can. My small staff is quite overloaded, but hopes to be caught up by the end of the week. To see the new PATRIOT BUSINESSES web page, go to: http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/home/?page_id=1921

This column is archived at: http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/home/?p=2022

*If you appreciate this column and want to help me distribute these editorial opinions to an ever-growing audience, donations may now be made by credit card, check, or Money Order. Use this link:

http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/home/?page_id=19

Copyright © 2010 Chuck Baldwin

NOTE TO THE READER:

Chuck Baldwin is a syndicated columnist, radio broadcaster, author, and pastor dedicated to preserving the historic principles upon which America was founded. He was the 2008 Presidential candidate for the Constitution Party. He and his wife, Connie, have been married for 37 years and have 3 children and 7 grandchildren. See Chuck’s complete bio at:

http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/home/?page_id=6

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Get Naked For Jesus

Posted on August 10, 2010 by Christian Faith In America

Written by Mark Driskill:

Read Mark 6:7-13

Isn’t it interesting how the Lord prepares us to be used by the Holy Spirit? When Jesus sent his disciples out to preach, teach, and heal in his name he didn’t load them down with the things this world seems to think we need. He stripped them down of money, extra clothes, and even a staff for their protection. The only thing it says he gave them was authority. This is what he does with those who want to walk in the authority of the Spirit now. He sends us out completely naked before him. We have nothing to hide and nothing to hide behind. We have only his authority to keep us warm.

One of the great hindrances to our walk in the Spirit today is that we are over accessorized and under anointed! Twenty first century believers have more training, more money and resources, and a larger wardrobe than the apostles ever had and yet we are hard pressed to come even close to the impact they had. Why? It’s simple we have traded the Holy Spirit for personal comfort and convenience. We think we need Christian accessories and gimmicks to make us cool enough for the world when what we really need is the genuine anointing of the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t matter how many degrees you have, how many seminars you have been to or how much money is in your budget.

You will never be effective in God until you are stripped naked and filled with his holy power. Perhaps you have been asking God to use you in a special way, but it seems you are losing everything instead of gaining. God is answering your prayer. Before he can really use you he often has to strip you of all the worldly junk and hype that has been weighing you down. He has to strip you of the garb of this world before he can clothe you in the power of Christ. Western Christianity has it all wrong. We think just the opposite. We think we have to have big money, big degrees, and lots of insurance before we can even begin to follow Jesus. You have to ignore Jesus to believe that.

There is coming a day in America when the church will be stripped naked. She will lose her money, her fancy gospel glitter, and her worldly seductions. Then, when all the half hearted gospel groupies either go home or get right, she will be clothed with power from on high! In short, if you want revival, if you want to walk in the power of the Spirit, you’re gonna have to get naked before God.

Challenge: Get rid of all your Christian accessories; Jewelry, T-shirts, etc. and ask God to so fill you with the Holy Spirit that people will see Jesus in you.

Mark Driskill and his wife Mary are homeschooling community ministers in Breathitt County Kentucky. They have four children. They co pastor Emmanuel fellowship Church, serve as Camp Pastors at Bethel Mennonite Camp, and Mark Teaches at Oakdale Christian Academy. Mark is web minister for Begotten by the Word , a ministry of Helping Hands Christian Resources. Once a month he preaches on the local radio station through the “Lion of Judah” program.

Mark also preaches in youth rallies and revivals upon request at no charge. Their vision is to see true spiritual awakening come to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky and to the nation.

Contact information:
Email: driskill@hilbillymail.com
Facebook: Mark Driskill
Address: PO Box 1159 Jackson KY.

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Judicial Fiat…Again

Posted on August 10, 2010 by Christian Faith In America

Written By: Josh Kimbrell.

Dear Friends,

Last Wednesday, Judge Vaughn R. Walker, of the US District Court of Northern California, took his place as judge-turned-legislator when he ruled against California’s Proposition 8 amendment. In a 2008 ballot referendum, the people of California resoundingly passed Proposition 8, a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union of one man and one woman. Though the people of California sided with a thousand years of recorded human history, the hubris of one unelected judge has the capacity to drown-out the voice of the people.

If the lawsuit brought against Proposition 8, which led to Judge Vaughn’s ruling, is upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, it would nullify 45 individual state marriage laws. Such a decision would have the same effect on state marriage laws that Roe v. Wade had on state abortion laws. Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council characterized it as “the Roe v. Wade of same-sex marriage.” Not only is Judge Vaughn’s ruling a blatant attack on the will of the people, and the institution of marriage, but an affront to the 10th amendment. Since when do states not retain the right to determine under what conditions they’ll issue marriage licenses? Defining marriage is not an issue delegated to the Federal Government, nor to the courts, by the Constitution; therefore, under the 10th amendment, the definition of marriage is a state issue.

Many folks on the left will try and attack me as being hypocritical, given my past support of a federal marriage amendment. Some folks have accused me of trying to have it both ways: opposing federal nullification of state laws, while supporting a federal marriage amendment. My position, however, is not inconsistent and is, in fact, necessitated by the activism of courts like that of Judge Walker. The great irony in the fight for traditional marriage is that a constitutional amendment, at the federal level, is the only way to ensure that unelected judges don’t attempt to nullify state laws. This should be a states’ rights issue; however, due to continued court decisions imposing a radical redefinition of marriage, state laws are insufficient.

Judge Walker’s striking of California’s citizen-approved marriage amendment proves that even strong laws, like the one we have here in South Carolina, are in danger. The California marriage amendment was an amendment to their state constitution, exactly like the one we passed here in the Palmetto State several years ago. The writing’s on the wall: if the United States Supreme Court upholds Judge Walker’s ruling, we’re looking at the Roe v. Wade of marriage. I’d encourage you all to take a look at www.senateconservatives.com and help Senator DeMint elect conservative Senators from states across the Nation. We’re going to need a strong Republican Congress, and a conservative Senate, to stand against the coming judicial tide. Marriage in America is on the line.

Joshua B. Kimbrell
President & Chairman
CEO Round Table of South Carolina

Josh Kimbrell is President & Chairman of CEO Round Table of South Carolina. CEO stands for “Christians Empowered & Organized.” Part of the mission of CEO Round Table is “to promote a way of life that embraces faith, family, and freedom.” For more information on this organization visit their websites at…

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Oh it’s just Jesus

Posted on August 9, 2010 by Christian Faith In America

Written by Mark Driskill:

Read Mark 6:1-6

“Oh it’s just Jesus.” Another enemy of faith is familiarity. The people closest to the Lord Jesus could not push beyond their memories of Jesus the carpenter’s son to recognize him as messiah. They had become so used to him that they could not see him for who he was. Their faith was crippled by familiarity. Let’s make sure this doesn’t happen to us.

I think one reason the church in America is so lethargic is that we have become used to Jesus, and don’t really believe in him anymore. Our minds have been dulled to sleep by the accounts of his miracles and the retelling of his teachings, and we no longer hear them. We quote John 3:16 so quickly that its truth no longer stirs us. It’s is amazing how glibly we can speak of the resurrection with no more wonder that if we were speaking of the price of tuna. It no longer captures us.

When we get too familiar with Jesus our faith begins to suffer. We know he is a healer, but we don’t expect him to heal. We know he is the forgiver but we don’t bother to confess. We have become so familiar that we no longer believe. What we need is a fresh encounter with the living Christ to stir us out of our slumber so we can believe again.

Challenge: Open your Bible and take a look at the verses you have highlighted or underlined. Read them again. Only this time try to put away everything you have ever been told about them, and read them as if for the first time. Ask God to show you something new in the familiar.

Mark Driskill and his wife Mary are homeschooling community ministers in Breathitt County Kentucky. They have four children. They co pastor Emmanuel fellowship Church, serve as Camp Pastors at Bethel Mennonite Camp, and Mark Teaches at Oakdale Christian Academy. Mark is web minister for Begotten by the Word , a ministry of Helping Hands Christian Resources. Once a month he preaches on the local radio station through the “Lion of Judah” program.

Mark also preaches in youth rallies and revivals upon request at no charge. Their vision is to see true spiritual awakening come to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky and to the nation.

Contact information:
Email: driskill@hilbillymail.com
Facebook: Mark Driskill
Address: PO Box 1159 Jackson KY.

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The Grinch Who Stole Conservatism

Posted on August 6, 2010 by Christian Faith In America

By Chuck Baldwin

The GOP is frantically searching for the person who will lead them to the Promised Land (translate: White House) in 2012. Barack Obama is leaving a death stench so heavy that even most of the political allies in his own party are asking him to stay away from their reelection campaigns. You gotta give it to Obama: he has done in one term what most Presidents cannot accomplish until their second (lame duck) term. The problem is, the GOP just
can’t seem to find their Moses (or even their Ronald Reagan). That means, as far fetched as it sounds now, Obama has a good chance of being reelected. And, once again, when any Democrat candidate for President wins, the GOP will have no one to blame but themselves. 2012 could be another example.

You see, the GOP (including their lackeys at Fox News) either really don’t know what a constitutional conservative looks like, or they do know what he or she looks like and don’t want them leading the party. I believe the answer is the latter, but in either case, the GOP continually does nothing to groom constitutionalist conservatives for leadership. Just the opposite: such people are routinely ignored, shunned, besmirched, or impugned. (Can anyone say, “Ron Paul”?) Is it any wonder that by the time the general election comes around, the GOP candidate for President is usually nothing more than a Democrat-lite, or a “Democrat in Drag” to borrow from Steve Farrell.

That brings me to one of the people that the talking heads at Fox News and other GOP propaganda centers are routinely discussing as their 2012 Presidential hopeful: former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich.

According to Reuters News, “Republican former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich said on Sunday [July 25th] he will decide after November’s congressional elections whether he will make a run for the White House in 2012.”

Here’s what Gingrich is looking at: he wants to see if the GOP makes significant gains in both houses of Congress in the November elections. If the GOP wins one house (especially if enough real conservatives win), I predict Gingrich will enter the race. So he can ride a conservative wave into the White House in 2012? No! So he can derail any potential conservative momentum that the Tea Parties might be able to create in this year’s November elections. You see, Newt Gingrich is the Grinch Who Stole Conservatism from the GOP.

Some of us are old enough to remember Newt Gingrich’s “Contract with America” that produced huge Republican victories in both houses of Congress back in 1994. However, what did that “Conservative Revolution” (as it was called then) actually produce? The answer: NOTHING! Newt’s promise of smaller government was immediately forgotten. Instead, Gingrich, along with Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, facilitated and helped orchestrate further expansion of the federal government. The “less government” theme that swept house freshmen such as Joe Scarborough, Steve Largent, Sonny Bono, Bob Barr, Helen Chenoweth, John Shadegg, and J.C. Watts into Congress quickly evaporated and this new neocon Republican Party was born.

Mark it down, if Newt Gingrich is the Republican Party’s Presidential nominee in 2012, he will do to whatever grassroots conservative momentum is brought about by this year’s congressional victories what he did to the “Conservative Revolution” in 1994: DESTROY IT!

Newt’s track record is there for anyone to see. So, why does Fox News continue to promote him as a leader of smaller government or constitutionalism? Does Fox News even have a clue as to what limited government really means? Apparently not.

Remember, Newt Gingrich is a long-standing member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), which is a notorious proponent of globalism and archenemy of national independence, State sovereignty, and limited government. Does anyone at Fox News recall what Admiral Chester Ward said about the CFR? (Plus, how many of the Big Shots at Fox News are themselves members of the CFR?)

Rear Admiral Chester Ward, who was the Judge Advocate General of the Navy from 1956 to 1960 and a former member of the CFR who pulled out after realizing what they were all about, warned the American people about the dangers of this and similar organizations (such as the Trilateral Commission). He said, “The most powerful clique in these elitist groups have one objective in common–they want to bring about the surrender of the sovereignty and the national independence of the United States. A second clique of international members in the CFR . . . comprises the Wall Street international bankers and their key agents. Primarily, they want the world banking monopoly from whatever power ends up in the control of global government.”

Admiral Ward also said, “The main purpose of the Council on Foreign Relations is promoting the disarmament of U.S. sovereignty and national independence and submergence into an all powerful, one world government.”

Accordingly, as a loyal CFR elitist, Gingrich has supported Big Government programs and policies all of his political life. Gingrich is also an ardent disciple of Alvin Toffler, who is the guru of  “The Third Wave” politics. That’s why Gingrich refers to himself as a “conservative futurist.”

Webster’s (1992) Dictionary defines “Futurism” as: “Study of, and interest in, forecasting or anticipating the future, or theorizing on how to IMPOSE CONTROLS ON EVENTS.” (Emphasis added.)

Steve Farrell rightly notes that “futurism is a head-in-the-clouds political philosophy, complete with theories and forecasts, which envisions the use of force to insure that those theories and forecasts come to pass.” Farrell summarizes “conservative futurism” as “communism with economic vision.”

This is why Gingrich went along with Clinton’s Big Government agenda, and supported the unconstitutional faith-based subsidies, public-private “partnerships,” etc. Gingrich’s brand of “conservatism” spawned another Big Government neocon’s (Karl Rove–another favorite son at Fox News) “Compassionate Conservative” movement of the G.W. Bush White House, which at the time led to the biggest expansion of the federal government since Lyndon Johnson.

Gingrich’s infatuation with “conservative futurism” also helps explain his support for NAFTA, GATT, the WTO, and virtually every other policy promoting globalism and interdependence. It also helps explain why Gingrich and former Vice President Al Gore have worked so closely together in globalist organizations such as the now-defunct Congressional Clearing House on the Future (once chaired by Gore).

See Steve Farrell’s column at:

http://tinyurl.com/gingrich-toffler-gore

Gingrich was also a major proponent of the federal Department of Education, continually supports unconstitutional foreign aid, even to the Soviets and other unfriendly governments, through the Export-Import Bank. In one year (1994-1995) Gingrich voted for nearly $45 billion in foreign aid. He also helped push through federal loan guarantees to Communist China.

Gingrich was the Grand Old Pal of President Bill Clinton. He supported Clinton’s unconstitutional wars (as he did Bush’s); he supported Clinton’s welfare programs, education programs, labor programs, and environmental programs, as well as most of his foreign affairs programs. Gingrich supported spending $30 billion for the Violent Crime and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 that shackled gun owners with new restrictions, federalized a number of crimes, and handed the feds police powers that the Constitution reserves to the states. (I guess the NRA forgot all about that, too.). Gingrich voted to give billions of dollars to United Nations “peacekeeping” operations; he supported the National Endowment for the Arts; he supports giving illegal aliens amnesty; and he has continually supported increased federal spending and higher taxes.

Campaign for Liberty has an excellent exposé on Newt Gingrich that I encourage everyone to read. See it at:

http://www.campaignforliberty.com/blog.php?view=36799

Also, John McManus has an outstanding video exposing Newt Gingrich as a
traitor to conservatism and constitutional government that everyone should
watch. See it at: http://vimeo.com/6445068

In spite of overwhelming evidence that Newt Gingrich is a scheming, double-talking, duplicitous Big-Government globalist of the highest order, many conservatives continue to listen to pro-Gingrich propaganda coming from Fox News and other “conservative” outlets.

If true conservatism has any chance of reemerging within the sheepfold of what is known as the national Republican Party, that fox, Newt Gingrich, must not be allowed to be anywhere near it. Unfortunately, thanks to Fox News (pun too easy to pass up), Gingrich is prowling around the barnyard and doubtless licking his chops at the prospect of having another opportunity to feast on the flesh of unsuspecting conservative sheep that foolishly believe him to be one of them.

P.S. My office has been inundated with business owners wishing to be added to our new PATRIOT BUSINESSES web directory. Hopefully, most of these early
participants will be uploaded to the web page by the end of the workday today (Friday). But as we are still receiving the names of those who want to be included, this process will doubtless continue into next week. Please keep watching the page, and if you own a business and want to be included, send us the information requested. To see the PATRIOT BUSINESSES web page, go here:

http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/home/?page_id=1921

This column is archived at… http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/home/?p=1997

*If you appreciate this column and want to help me distribute these editorial opinions to an ever-growing audience, donations may now be made by credit card, check, or Money Order. Use this link:

http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/home/?page_id=19

Copyright © 2010 Chuck Baldwin

NOTE TO THE READER:

Chuck Baldwin is a syndicated columnist, radio broadcaster, author, and pastor dedicated to preserving the historic principles upon which America was founded. He was the 2008 Presidential candidate for the Constitution Party. He and his wife, Connie, have been married for 37 years and have 3 children and 7 grandchildren. See Chuck’s complete bio at:

http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/home/?page_id=6

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Why bother?

Posted on August 4, 2010 by Christian Faith In America

Written by Mark Driskill:

Read Mark 5:35-43

Futility is the great enemy of faith. Whenever we are seeking God for a miracle there will often come a point in which all seems lost. The Lord often allows things to go beyond the point of human reason where we begin to think there is no way the miracle can happen. This is where Jairus was when he heard the words of his friend, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any longer?” These words must have pierced through his faith with magnum force. His desperate heart sank under their weight into the depths of despair. Which of us has not felt our hope being deflated by the sobering “reality” of well meaning friends, calling us to give up?

The enemy of our souls uses well-meaning friends to try to reason us down from our position of faith. He whispers through them as he did to Jairus; “Why trouble the teacher any longer?” The implication of this question is clear. “Why trouble the teacher?” The enemy was saying in effect, “He’s just a teacher, nothing more. He has nice words, but he can’t help your daughter now. Leave the teacher alone and give up. Your daughter is mine.” He was calling Jairus to put away his faith and live in futility. Are you being called to give up in the same way? Have you been praying about something while well meaning friends are saying to you, “Come on this is ridiculous. Just give it up and get real.”?

But Jesus has an answer for the one who would sell us his “reality”. He said to Jairus what he says to us when we get to the point where a miracle no longer seems possible. He said, “Do not fear. Only believe.” Then he raised her from death. You see a miracle isn’t really miraculous until it goes beyond our sense of possibility and reason. The Lord often has to bring us beyond the limits of our reasoning to show us his unlimited power.

Too many of us never experience miracles because we have domesticated Jesus, at least in our minds. We have him on the leash of our reasonable religion where everything is nice and neat, and well ordered. We have a Jesus who would never defy our sense of propriety by doing anything supernatural. So when we come to an impossible situation we hear that dark whisper saying, “Why trouble the teacher? His teachings are nice and inspiring. His stories are uplifting. But don’t expect any more from him than that.” That kind of thinking puts Jesus on the same level with Barney the Dinosaur. Friend Jesus is not just a cool teacher. He is not just another step on the path to enlightenment. If he were, we could not trust him, because he claimed to be much more. He is the Son of God who heals saves and transforms lives. He calls to us in our impossible situations, “Do not fear. Only believe.”

Challenge: Eradicate the word Impossible from your vocabulary today. Start praying about an impossible situation in your life. Begin to expect God to act.

Mark Driskill and his wife Mary are homeschooling community ministers in Breathitt County Kentucky. They have four children. They co pastor Emmanuel fellowship Church, serve as Camp Pastors at Bethel Mennonite Camp, and Mark Teaches at Oakdale Christian Academy. Mark is web minister for Begotten by the Word , a ministry of Helping Hands Christian Resources. Once a month he preaches on the local radio station through the “Lion of Judah” program.

Mark also preaches in youth rallies and revivals upon request at no charge. Their vision is to see true spiritual awakening come to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky and to the nation.

Contact information:
Email: driskill@hilbillymail.com
Facebook: Mark Driskill
Address: PO Box 1159 Jackson KY.

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Have you touched Jesus today?

Posted on August 3, 2010 by Christian Faith In America

Written by Mark Driskill:

Read Mark 5:21-34

So Jesus is doing a 911 call to the house of Jairus and he is caught in a traffic jam of gawkers, followers, and fans. The crowds pressing against him are like a suffocating mass of human need and wonder. Then the Lord says something really curious. He says, “Hey who touched me?” At that point the disciples start talking about getting their beloved teacher out of the sun for awhile because he is becoming just a little disoriented amidst all the body heat. They remind Jesus, as if he needed reminding, that , “Hello, we’re in a crowd! There are lots of people touching you.” What they don’t understand is that while the crowd was pressing him, only one person was really touching him. There was a frail woman in their midst who stumbled onto the secret of touching Jesus.

While the crowds were pressing in with all their questions and attempts to impress the master, only the touch of faith caused power to be released from Jesus. You see being part of the Jesus crowd doesn’t guarantee that you are touching him. You can go to church and rub up against the master with your songs, your doctrines, and your religious posturing and still never make contact with his heart. Many will come to Jesus on that day saying, “Lord, Lord didn’t we do great things in your presence?” He will say to them, “Depart from me, I never knew you.” They will have pressed in with the crowd without ever really touching him.

Friends, keep in mind today that what really touches the heart of our Lord is the desperation of faith. That is what set this woman apart. Not only was she healed, but Jesus called her “daughter”. For this woman Jesus was not a religious curiosity, or an icon to be admired from a distance. He was her only hope and she was willing to risk everything to allow him to make her broken life whole again. Are you looking to touch Jesus today? Then come to him broken and desperate and reach out to him in real faith. Bring your greatest need to him and trust him to heal it. Come just like you are trembling and unpretentious, and lean into his mercy. Put away the religious games and be yourself in his presence. You will see that even the smallest step of faith is greater, in God’s eyes than the grandest pious gesture. He doesn’t care as much about your theological propositions and religious dogma as he does your simple honest faith working through love.

Challenge: Today try to talk less about your religious opinions about God and more about the personal ways he has touched your life. That’s what people need anyway. They can live without your opinions but not without your love.

Mark Driskill and his wife Mary are homeschooling community ministers in Breathitt County Kentucky. They have four children. They co pastor Emmanuel fellowship Church, serve as Camp Pastors at Bethel Mennonite Camp, and Mark Teaches at Oakdale Christian Academy. Mark is web minister for Begotten by the Word , a ministry of Helping Hands Christian Resources. Once a month he preaches on the local radio station through the “Lion of Judah” program.

Mark also preaches in youth rallies and revivals upon request at no charge. Their vision is to see true spiritual awakening come to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky and to the nation.

Contact information:
Email: driskill@hilbillymail.com
Facebook: Mark Driskill
Address: PO Box 1159 Jackson KY.

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