1 Peter 2:21

1 Peter 2:21

21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you,
leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

This verse continues the theme from the preceding verses of suffering for God. From this we know that we have been given an example to follow in this. This example is the ultimate example, Jesus Christ. From this example we know that we can also endure suffering, following in His steps.

This Woman Helps Decide Our Laws...

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This speech has so many problems, I don't really know where to begin. Most conservative news outlets are focusing on the use of the "race card" but honestly I find that one of the least concerning aspects of her speech. I will, however, make this point; she claims that people in foreign countries were shocked that we elected a black president. Has she stopped to consider that this could be because people like her devote so much of their time to trying to convince everyone that a substantial number of Americans are racist? Does she not realize that she is in fact much of the problem?

Now, the part of this video that really concerns me is her blatant support of communism (not progressivism, not even socialism, communism). She started by fawning over Cuba's health care (dishonest, but common among libs, not that big of a deal), but then went on to praise Castro (one of the "brightest leaders" she has ever seen) and the Communist Revolution. This woman is a blatant Communist. She then made up history about Che Guevara leading the revolution ("kicked out the wealthy) then finding Castro afterwards, proving that she is not only a Commie, but an uninformed one.

EDIT: here's a link to just the part on Cuba

1 Peter 2:18-20

1 Peter 2:18-20

18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good
and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when,
mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit
is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do
good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

These verses tell us to submit to authority, even if it is unjust, because this demonstrates the grace of God. If we return unjust treatment with sin, then both we and the person in authority are wrong. However, if we return this abuse with good, we are clearly in the right; when we do this for God, we bring glory to God.

1 Peter 2:17

1 Peter 2:17

17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

This verse gives a simple but much-encompassing command that guides how we should live our lives. We are to respect all people, love fellow believers, fear God, and give respect to our leaders.

1 Peter 2:16

1 Peter 2:16

16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil,
but living as servant of God.

This verse tells us that we should live as free people, but should use it not as an excuse for evil, instead living as servants of God. Our freedom allows us to do what we want, but God desires us to use this freedom to choose to serve him, not ourselves.

Some Good Old Fashioned Strong Arm Politics

Health Insurers Fear Probe By House Dems Is Reprisal for Opposing Part of Obama's Plan

1 Peter 2:15

1 Peter 2:15

15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

The meaning of this verse is quite clear; it is God’s will that we do good, and in doing good, we will silence those who stand against us. It’s hard to speak evil of someone who is known for doing good. In context this verse is referencing the command in the previous two verses to obey earthly authorities, but it is relevant in every area of our lives, and is used in a general context elsewhere in the Bible, including verse 12 of the same chapter.

Hmmm...

Firms with Obama ties profit from health push

1 Peter 2:13-14

1 Peter 2:13-14

13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to
the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do
evil and to praise those who do good.

These verses tell us that we should submit to our human leadership whoever they are. A similar admonition is given in Titus 3:1,

“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be
ready for every good work”

This teaching is expounded upon greatly in Romans 13:1-5, which tells us that we must submit to authority because all authority comes from God. God allowed everyone who is in a leadership position to be in that position. Thus we obey them because we obey God. That passage also points out the practical aspect to this; those who resist the authorities incur their wrath.

“1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no
authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2
Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and
those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good
conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then
do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant
for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in
vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on
the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s
wrath but also for the sake of conscience.”

It must be added to this, however, that we are also told in Acts 5:29,

“But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.”

When earthly authority requires us to act in opposition to God’s will, we must obey God. While he has set up earthly authority, that authority is still sinful and God is still our Lord, our ultimate allegiance is to Him. The Bible is full of many examples of this being followed, Daniel refusing to stop praying, the Israelites rebelling against their captors (though God sometimes required them to stay under foreign leadership, such as Daniel), and the early Church illegally preaching the Gospel, which is the context in which Acts 5:29 is found.

Conservatives Outnumber Liberals in All States

Conservatives Now Outnumber Liberals in All 50 States, Says Gallup Poll

Yep, all 50 states (three are within margin of error). They even outnumber moderates in 25 states (tie in 4 more).

1 Peter 2:12

1 Peter 2:12

12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak
against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the
day of visitation.

From this verse we see that we should keep our actions
among the unsaved honorable, so that when they begin to criticize us, they have
nothing of substance to bring against us; they can remember only our good.

2 Corinthians 8:21 tells us to keep honorable before both God and man:

“for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the
sight of man.”

Philippians 2:15 tells us that with righteous living we will be lights to the world:

“that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the
midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the
world”

Titus 2:7-8 tells us to live as a model of good works so that our opponents are put to shame, because they have nothing bad to say about us:

“7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your
teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned,
so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.”

Matthew 5:6 tells us to:

“in the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your
good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

What a Fine Representative of the People

"I will vote against the interests of my district"

House Democrats Say Public Option Will Stay, Push Back Vote

Liberal Dems in the House are saying that they will not allow the health care bill to pass without the public option attached, and their leadership have pushed back the vote until late September.

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Public Option to Be Dropped from Obama's Health Care Plan?

White House officials have been recently saying that the public option is not essential for the health care bill. The compromise to this would probably the development of consumer-owned (but government supported) health care cooperatives. While this may gain support from the moderate and conservative opposition, it may create new opposition from the liberals who want the public option.

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Two Men Arrested for Praying... in America

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Here's the basic gist of this situation:
1) ACLU files BS lawsuit against school (someone please explain to me how allowing prayer and promoting Christian values is Congress making a "law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof")

2) School settles, this includes not allowing the senior class president to speak at graduation because she is a Christian and might have said something religious ("prohibiting the free exercise thereof," "abridging the freedom of speech" much?)

3) Principal (Frank Lay) asks athletic director (Robert Freeman) to pray at a meal for school employees and boosters.

4) Judge M. Casey Rodgers has them arrested for this prayer under contempt charges.

Добро пожаловать к родине, друзья!

Some Interesting Poll Numbers

Highlights:

Daily Presidential Tracking Poll -
Obama: 52% Disapprove overall, 65% among independents

BY THE NUMBERS -
Obama less than 50% approval on the economy, national security, leadership, energy, ethics, and the current economic crisis.
Only 11% think taxes will go down, 68% think spending will go up.
GOP has slight lead on generic Congressional ballot.
More people think tax cuts and spending cuts benefit the economy than tax and spending increases.
Voters trust the GOP more than the Democrats on national security, health care, the economy, education, social security, taxes, abortion, and immigration. They trust Democrats on ethics and corruption, and trust both equally on Iraq.
60% believe America is on the wrong track.
Only 39% believe humans are the cause of global warming, but 61% think it is a serious problem.
52% think nuclear power plants should be built.

Support for Congressional Health Care Reform Falls to New Low -
Americans oppose the current health care bill 53-42%.

1 Peter 2:11

1 Peter 2:11

11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of
the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

From verse 11 we see that we should strive to “abstain from the passions of the flesh,” or abstain from physical sins. We are told that these not only are sins, but in fact war against our soul. In Romans 13:14 we are told that through or Lord Jesus Christ we can defeat lust:

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its
desires.”

Galatians 5:24 tells us that our fleshly desires have been crucified:

“And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions
and desires.”

Obama Calls Health Care Bill Protests "Scare Tactics" and Gives Clue to Quality of Government Health Care

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The basic gist of this article is Obama attempting to counter the claims of those opposed to his health care plan. This is, of course, in contrast to the non-scare tactic of the gloom and doom he has been predicting if it is not passed.

Perhaps the most interesting part of this article, however, is the Obama quote at the end of the article:

"They do it all the time," he said. "UPS and FedEx are doing just fine. ...
It's the Post Office that's always having problems."

Did Obama just say the public option component of his plan will be run with the efficiency of the post office? I think we should listen to this man.

Democrat Congressman Yells at One of His Constituents

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Entertaining read; apparently you shouldn't go on tirades against people asking valid questions.

$12.1 Trillion? Clearly Not Enough

WSJ: Geithner Asks Congress to Increase Federal Debt Limit

A couple high (low) points from the article:

"the Treasury projects that the current debt limit could be reached as early
mid-October. Increasing the limit is important to instilling confidence in
global investors, Mr. Geithner said."

Really? Making our debt even more massive is going to instill confidence?

The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office said Thursday the federal
government's budget deficit reached $1.3 trillion through the first ten months
of fiscal 2009, on track to reach a record high of $1.8 trillion for the
12-month period.

Lovely.

Well, Renewable Energy Sure Seems to Be Working Well...

Bloomberg: Wind Promises Blackouts as Obama Strains Grid With Renewables

So someone remind me again why we aren't using nuclear power?

1 Peter 2:10

1 Peter 2:10

10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not
received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

This verse tells us of the results of our salvation. Before being joined together by Christ, the body of believers was not a people, but now we belong to God. We had not received mercy, we were under the law, but now we have mercy, the law of liberty.

Instability Increases in Iran

Pro-Mousavi Iranians chant "death to the dictator"

Sotomayor Confirmered

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William Jefferson Convicted

Remember the Congressman who got caught hiding bribe money his freezer? He was found guilty on 11 charges.

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Clinton Brings Imprisoned Journalists Home

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It looks like the only cost to this was a little propaganda for North Korea, a small price to pay for the freedom of two Americans. If that is the only cost, I have to give props to Clinton and the Obama administration for sending him; this appears to have been handled surprisingly well.

1 Peter 2:9

1 Peter 2:9

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his
own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out
of darkness into his marvelous light.

Verse 9 describes believers; a contrast to nonbelievers described in verse 8. We are told that we have been chosen; we are a race, a nation, made priests, made for God. Revelations 1:5-6 tells us that this was the result of our salvation through Christ’s blood:

“5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and
the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins
by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be
glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

The verse continues by teaching us why we were called. We were called so that we can proclaim the awesomeness of God, to tell others of salvation through Jesus’ sacrifice. This truth is expressed and expounded on in the great commission, Matthew 28:19-20:

“19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe
all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of
the age.”

1 Peter 2:7-8

1 Peter 2:7-8

7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
"The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,"
8 and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense."
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

Continuing the theme of a spiritual house, verse 7 seven points out that, for those of us who believe, Christ is honor and that, though rejected by those he came to save, Jesus is the Cornerstone, the basis of our salvation, the rock on which the Kingdom of God is built. Verse 8 then tells us that He has become a stumbling stone, an offense to those who reject Him, those who disobey. This we can see in the world around us; many who are not Christians quickly take offense to the Truth. It is important to remember that, while we do sometimes add to the offense people take to Christ by our wrong actions, some people will always be offended by the Truth, and the Truth of Christ is something we cannot compromise.

1 Peter 2:6

1 Peter 2:6

6 For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."

Verse 6 continues the theme of comparing the building of the Kingdom of God to the building of a building. In verses 4 and 5 we are told that we are stones in a spiritual house, and in verse 6 we are told that the cornerstone of that house in Jesus Christ. When we believe in that Cornerstone, we stand on a strong foundation, and cannot be put to shame.

Is This What We Have to Look Forward To?

UK Telegraph: Patients forced to live in agony after NHS refuses to pay for painkilling injections

Looks Like Taxes May Be Going Up

AP: 2 Obama officials: No guarantee taxes won't go up

Timothy Geithner and Larry Summers both refused to rule out raising taxes.

From the AP article:

"President Barack Obama's treasury secretary said Sunday he cannot rule out higher taxes to help tame an exploding budget deficit, and his chief economic adviser would not dismiss raising them on middle-class Americans as part of a health care overhaul."

Cash for Clunkers

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The "Cash for Clunkers" program is out of money; shocking that a program designed to essentially give away money would actually give away money. Apparently liberals have once again failed to realize the quite simple concept that when you offer money to people they'll take as much as they can.

You may be thinking that the boost to the economy from this program will outweigh the negatives of government spending. However, a look at one of the rules of this program from the official site (page 5) indicates that this may just be a temporary boost. The law requires that,

"The dealer must agree to transfer the trade-in vehicle to a disposal facility that will crush or shred it so that it will never be returned to the road, although parts of the vehicle, other than the engine block and drive train (unless the drive train is sold in separate parts), may be sold."

This program is taking thousands of cheap cars off the market. While the dealers will get a temporary boost from increased sales, they are loosing all the sales from selling these trade-ins, as they are forced to have them destroyed. This also takes cheap car options away from the thousands of Americans who are unable to afford new cars.

When the government meddles in private industry, it creates problems. Do we really want these people running our healthcare?

Navy Pilot's Remains Found in Iraq

The remains of a Navy pilot, the first American lost in the Gulf War, have been finally recovered in the Iraq desert.

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Obama Says Recession Will Continue

"It will take many more months to fully dig ourselves out of a recession - a recession that we've now learned was even deeper than anyone thought"

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Chavez Shutting Down Radio Stations

He's shutting down 34 radio stations; all in the interest of democracy, of course.

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Iran Confirms It Is Holding Three Americans

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