"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." (1st Timothy 6:10 a)
I was watching a television show on PBS called Now earlier today. The show was dedicated to predatory lending by companies providing student loans. I will not mention the name of the company that was on the hot-seat. However, I will clue you in that it was a company that used to be a government entity until 1997 and is now privatized but paid for the purchase of the name. So, I will have to let you figure out who it is.
The show featured a single mom of a child about five years old. She took out student loans to make it through college. After losing her job as a social worker, she became unable to make payments on her student loans. After much pressure from the lenders of her student loans due to ridiculous repayment expectations to get back in good standing with them, she stopped paying rent so that she could pay student loans. Eventually, both herself and her young daughter was evicted from her home.
The companies that were involved had no mercy and neither did this young single mother's landlord. The collectors called at all hours of the night and day. Sadly, the real loser in all of this was the (approximately) 5 year old daughter. But hey, the money is worth it, right? It's better that someone makes a nice profit at the expense of children like these???
The love of money truly is the root of all evil. All of those that love money make the dollar their God. They serve money and will do anything to get it. It should be morally objectionable for anyone to be in business with the objective of placing a sinkhole of debt on those that it is supposed to be serving. However, this is precisely what is happening on a widespread scale today in the American financial sector. And to the landlord who would evict in such circumstances, shame on you.
The bottom line is that we need to get back to the basics of serving people in business. Instead, it seems that many businesses are looking to make those that they are supposed to serve indebted servants who are bound to their respective company. Borrowers beware as truly the borrower is servant to the lender.
-Todd
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/525/index.html
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
A double minded man is unstable...
"If any of lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." James 1:5-8 (NKJV)
Yesterday, I visited a blog that I had seen mentioned in a book about blogs. The author of the blog has a goal of making abortion "unnecessary." She believes that abortion should be legal because of her belief that abortion has and always will happen so long as there are women who will get pregnangt- no matter what. She is a believer in our President's current policies on abortion. I will add here that current policy has erroded many of the policies of his predecessor in promoting a culture of life in our country.
I thought to myself that this was a "wise-sounding" argument... and notice that I said "wise-sounding." You know, since Cain first murdered his brother Abel, there has been murder. However, we have laws against murder so as to protect the innocent. It could be argued that maybe we could do a better job of protecting them. However, there are laws and people are being held to account for murder across our country today. And aren't you glad about that!!!
The laws that we have to prevent murder are designed to keep people from engaging in such a terribly evil. The better the laws and the better the enforcement will hopefully translate into protecting more innocent lives. Unfortunately, it is an unrealistic goal to stop murder completely in our world today because of the unfortunate fact that people will make a choice to sin.
And so this should be with our attitude reflected in our laws toward abortion. We protect as many of the innocent as we can protect. We do our absolute best to curb people from sin. We can not control them to keep them from sinning. However, we can assign firm consequences for such sin as a barrier that will keep many from crossing over. This stance will protect innocent lives.
As I thought about it more, the Lord revealed to me that this person that I referred to in the beginning of this article, and others with such views, are double-minded. In other words, they really aren't sure as to what is right so they straddle the fence on both sides of the issue. There are always going to be difficult cases. However, this is never sufficient justification to make a decision to end the life of a baby.
God has solutions to the problems that we face. And God, unlike people at times, is never double minded about anything. He always has a plan. He always has a solution.
I think we would be amazed what could happen if we got our eyes off of the pressure of the problems that we face and put our eyes on Him. The justifications that are given for abortion are nothing more than magnification of the problems that people face. Although these problems are real, and put pressure on people to make a decision that they know deep down is wrong, there is not sufficient justification to take a life and a future away from an infant.
I recently read of a case in Ireland where a 17 year old wanted to go to England to get an abortion (where abortions are sadly legal) because it was reported to her that her baby would not live due to part of the baby's skull missing. I was wondering how many babies such as this actually could have survived despite the wisdom of men? I was also reminded of my perfectly healthy 5 year old daughter that the doctor's wanted to abort due to a faulty blood test that gave her a high risk of Down's Syndrome. I also remembered my anger that a doctor's office would try to entice us into ending the life of our pre-born child. Today, tears still rise up when I think back on this attack on her life. It still hurts to think of it because I love my daughter.
Abortion is a heinous evil. If it was outlawed today, sadly the sin of abortion would still continue just as murder continues in our world today. However, just and righteous laws would protect and preserve our culture. They would also first and foremost acknowledge & protect the Personhood and rights of the pre-born babies. This would mean an end to the tragic Holocaust provided by legal abortion where abortion is numerous and widespread. Therefore, the casualty rate currently suffered by abortion's victims today would be drastically reduced.
Renewing our trust in God could open new doors to scientific advances that would give the women an option without endangering the life of the child. Can you imagine living in an era of scientific achievent that would so alleviate a woman's pressure to seek an abortion that it would truly be deemed "unnecessary?" Imagine with me for a moment the possibilities... an artificial womb developed in which a baby could be safely transplanted from a mother who didn't want the baby and grow safely until birth.
You don't think that God knows how to do that? You better believe that He can!!! He stands ready to provide the knowledge to those who would seek Him to develop such an invention. My question is will the godly scientists of our generation arise to this challenge? We need Jesus-filled sold-out to God scientists in this modern era to be agents of God's love and blessing to our generation.
A renewed culture of life would renew us to possibilities that are pure, true and right. Remember, God always has a plan. However, we must submit our collective earthly, sensual wisdom as an American people to the Wisdom of God. This is what "One Nation Under God" is all about.
And that's Wisdom for a Nation today. Todd
Yesterday, I visited a blog that I had seen mentioned in a book about blogs. The author of the blog has a goal of making abortion "unnecessary." She believes that abortion should be legal because of her belief that abortion has and always will happen so long as there are women who will get pregnangt- no matter what. She is a believer in our President's current policies on abortion. I will add here that current policy has erroded many of the policies of his predecessor in promoting a culture of life in our country.
I thought to myself that this was a "wise-sounding" argument... and notice that I said "wise-sounding." You know, since Cain first murdered his brother Abel, there has been murder. However, we have laws against murder so as to protect the innocent. It could be argued that maybe we could do a better job of protecting them. However, there are laws and people are being held to account for murder across our country today. And aren't you glad about that!!!
The laws that we have to prevent murder are designed to keep people from engaging in such a terribly evil. The better the laws and the better the enforcement will hopefully translate into protecting more innocent lives. Unfortunately, it is an unrealistic goal to stop murder completely in our world today because of the unfortunate fact that people will make a choice to sin.
And so this should be with our attitude reflected in our laws toward abortion. We protect as many of the innocent as we can protect. We do our absolute best to curb people from sin. We can not control them to keep them from sinning. However, we can assign firm consequences for such sin as a barrier that will keep many from crossing over. This stance will protect innocent lives.
As I thought about it more, the Lord revealed to me that this person that I referred to in the beginning of this article, and others with such views, are double-minded. In other words, they really aren't sure as to what is right so they straddle the fence on both sides of the issue. There are always going to be difficult cases. However, this is never sufficient justification to make a decision to end the life of a baby.
God has solutions to the problems that we face. And God, unlike people at times, is never double minded about anything. He always has a plan. He always has a solution.
I think we would be amazed what could happen if we got our eyes off of the pressure of the problems that we face and put our eyes on Him. The justifications that are given for abortion are nothing more than magnification of the problems that people face. Although these problems are real, and put pressure on people to make a decision that they know deep down is wrong, there is not sufficient justification to take a life and a future away from an infant.
I recently read of a case in Ireland where a 17 year old wanted to go to England to get an abortion (where abortions are sadly legal) because it was reported to her that her baby would not live due to part of the baby's skull missing. I was wondering how many babies such as this actually could have survived despite the wisdom of men? I was also reminded of my perfectly healthy 5 year old daughter that the doctor's wanted to abort due to a faulty blood test that gave her a high risk of Down's Syndrome. I also remembered my anger that a doctor's office would try to entice us into ending the life of our pre-born child. Today, tears still rise up when I think back on this attack on her life. It still hurts to think of it because I love my daughter.
Abortion is a heinous evil. If it was outlawed today, sadly the sin of abortion would still continue just as murder continues in our world today. However, just and righteous laws would protect and preserve our culture. They would also first and foremost acknowledge & protect the Personhood and rights of the pre-born babies. This would mean an end to the tragic Holocaust provided by legal abortion where abortion is numerous and widespread. Therefore, the casualty rate currently suffered by abortion's victims today would be drastically reduced.
Renewing our trust in God could open new doors to scientific advances that would give the women an option without endangering the life of the child. Can you imagine living in an era of scientific achievent that would so alleviate a woman's pressure to seek an abortion that it would truly be deemed "unnecessary?" Imagine with me for a moment the possibilities... an artificial womb developed in which a baby could be safely transplanted from a mother who didn't want the baby and grow safely until birth.
You don't think that God knows how to do that? You better believe that He can!!! He stands ready to provide the knowledge to those who would seek Him to develop such an invention. My question is will the godly scientists of our generation arise to this challenge? We need Jesus-filled sold-out to God scientists in this modern era to be agents of God's love and blessing to our generation.
A renewed culture of life would renew us to possibilities that are pure, true and right. Remember, God always has a plan. However, we must submit our collective earthly, sensual wisdom as an American people to the Wisdom of God. This is what "One Nation Under God" is all about.
And that's Wisdom for a Nation today. Todd
Thursday, June 11, 2009
"Wisdom for a Nation" past blog posts
My letter to our government regarding the conscience clause
Friday, April 10, 2009, 8:56:17 AM toddnessa
To whom this may concern, America's is being seared due to our national sin of abortion. Sin is rooted in fear and selfishness. For anyone to destroy a young, developing child in the earliest of stages of life for political expediency or to promote a woman's selfish ambitions is a grave moral and national tragedy. It is unfortunate that we have been and will continue to reap what we have sown as a nation in allowing this injustice and crime against our own humanity. We are allowing the world to lead us rather than for us to lead the world- as many other nations are much further advanced along in their promotion and acceptance of abortion. Abortion in many nations is seen as nothing more than another form of birth control. We are heading down that same path. However, we are being deceived into believing that this is not the case. Abortion is our Holocaust of the modern era. It is no different in what we are doing in legislating abortion and allowing clinics to continually murder babies day after day than what Hitler did with creating the concentration camps for the same purpose- to discriminate against one class of citizens and to terminate them. Amazingly, when the camps were liberated at the end of WWII, the people who lived in the neighboring communities were shocked and horrified- not realizing exactly what was going on in their own back yard. I am convinced it would be the same if all of us really knew the truth of what happens behind abortion clinic doors. We must be a nation who stands up for the least of those among us. We must hear their voice. What is being proposed in the conscience clause is not only another step in legitimizing this sin against humanity but working to further sear the consciences of our citizens who would either be expected to participate in this crime. And wether we through our courts reframe to call something legal and legitimize it or not- it is still a crime. Our laws must be in line with the laws of God. This was the desire of our Founders despite the fact that even they did not always live up to or attain this ideal in every era of law and government. God is the Supreme Judge and has promised to hold everyone for an account for their lives. We must strive toward this end. The reverse of the conscience clause would be criminal. It further propigates the murder of unborn children and therefore this decision would be evil. It is contrary to the Bilbe which historically is America's chief law book. It should not be enacted into law by an means. We must have the fear of God in our national affairs and governemtal policies. May each of you take time to reflect this Good Friday that was paid with blood on a Cross for you. God loves you! May your service in government be pleasing not to men but to God who presides over it all. Thank you for taking the time to read my response. Sincerely, Todd NessaWould you like to write a similar letter? Let your voice be heard TODAY! Send comments to proposedrescission@hhs.gov or call the White House Switchboard at (202) 456-1414.
Ungodly Science is Sin
Saturday, March 21, 2009, 1:15:10 PM toddnessa
Recently, it has been made known that one of the goals of the current President and his administration is to insulate science from politics and political influence. Wouldn't it be great if they did that with the Word of God! I have been really concerned about this as science without governmental regulation will have similar results to the philosophy of deregulation in the financial markets- leading to our current economic problems in this country.In World War II, Hitler's scientists would perform horrific experiments on Holocaust victims. Experiments such as cutting off the top of their skull to expose their brain while they were yet alive. Experiments such as freezing them in ice-cold water to see how long it would take for hypothermia to set in and kill them.In America today, we have entered into the bold new area of using federal tax dollars to support scientific research on human embryos- that could indeed grow further into a baby if implanted in the womb (as evidenced the "snowflake babies"). These embryos are destroyed in order to study stem cells in hopes of solving a myriad of diseases. It is justified much in the way that Nazi scientists did as they would use the information gleaned from their horrific experiments for troops in the field. They also dehumanized the Jews much in the same way as we are dehumanizing human embryos.There must be boundries to science. Science and scientific research must be governed in order to protect human life. The end must not justify the means of attainment.We are living in a time in which human life at the earliest stages of life and babyhood are dehumanized and deemed as not being as important as our scientific research or a "woman's right to choose." How arrogant and how blind we have become to prioritize our own selfishness above the sanctity, dignity, and the importance of human life.Jesus said it very plainly this way in Mark 10:14. "...Suffer the little children to come to me and forbid them not: for such is the Kingdom of God." It is to our national shame to allow for their destruction.
The Source of America's Prosperity is God
Saturday, March 21, 2009, 12:26:32 PM toddnessa
I was reading a speech by the President lately regarding our nations public schools. In the speech, he declared that our nations schools were "the source of our prosperity." He also stated "that America's future depends on its teachers." Now, I am not knocking the importance of education. I am a public school teacher. However, what ever happened to God as being the source of our prosperity? And how did we ever get the idea that our future succes as a nation is dependent upon the arm of the flesh (human achievement apart from obedience to God)? Have we become so arrogant in our prosperity so as to think that we have been the source of it all? Have we really become that proud? Here is what the Bible says iabout having this type of an attitude in Deuteronomy chapter 8.1All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers. 5Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee. 6Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. 7For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; 8A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; 9A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. 10When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. 11Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: 12Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; 13And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; 14Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage... 17And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. 18But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. 19And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. 20As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God. We are a unique nation. God himself rose us up as men colabored with God and sought his voice for a new nation of freedom. Our freedom springs from the word of God. Freedom used to sin brings bondage. And national sin brings national disgrace.It is sin to proclaim from the upper echelons of our national leadership that we have been the source of our wealth. We have not been our own prosperity provider. What God has done has been despite ourselves and our sense of pride in human accomplishment.
Religious Freedom Day
Monday, January 26, 2009, 7:39:09 PM toddnessa
We lost a grand opportunity in the Church this past January 16th. This was the day that President Bush declared in a signed proclamation to be "Religious Freedom Day." This was to be a day for celebration and ceremonies in recognition of the opportunity that we have as Americans to worship God freely.Despite the significance of this historic day that has been set aside to recognize the importance of religious freedom to this country, I never heard one news story in which this was mentioned. You certainly did not hear the mainstream media mention it. I never heard of any churches recognizing it. Maybe there were some but it did not seem to get any coverage or barely a mention.Religious freedom is something that we often take for granted. However, it is religious freedom that is the barometer of freedom both in our nation and abroad. You can not have freedom without God. It simply does not exist apart from Him.Jesus is freedom's fount. Freedom lept from the pages of the Bible and from the hearts of our nation's founders in which God's Word had been implanted. It would soon be given life in a newborn nation that would eventually grow to become the United States of America.We must take up the baton that President Bush and President Clinton before him gave the American Church and run with fire. What a unique opportunity that we have to celebrate the importance of God in our national affairs. Next year, we can make religious freedom day known across America. However, it is up to us as the Body of Christ in America to do it.To learn more about the history of religious Freedom Day and read previous Presidential Proclamations please visit http://religiousfreedomday.com.
Abortion: Calling Evil Good
Saturday, January 24, 2009, 4:24:27 AM toddnessa
Many of us who love life are today saddened by our new President's Executive Order to overturn the Mexico City policy and the statement made by the administration on the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. The statement is included at the bottom of this blog post. Please be sure to read it it if you have not done so already.Abortion is evil. Abortion is infanticide. Abortion is sin. Abortion grieves God's heart. Abortion is idolatrous.Abortion policies in our nation are divisive because it is sin. The Bible declares in Romans 6:23 that "the wages of sin is death." You can not argue that in an abortion procedure that a baby dies. In the course of our natural affairs our culutre becomes coarsened to the value of life as it becomes accepting of this form of infanticide.There are many who will call evil good and good evil. Isaiah 5:20 says, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter."I was struck by several things when I read the White House statement regarding abortion given on January 22nd. One of those things was that somehow women become equal to men through abortion by being able to have the right to terminate a life that would stand in the way of their dreams and a "world class education." I was struck by how selfish it is to have and to promote the view that a child is not to the level of importance of women's ambitions to achieve things in life and must be sacraficed in the process. This is idolatrous as it denigrates life to promote selfish ambition.As I was reading the statement to my wife, she retorted that in some countries that not intruding on private family matters means a husband drowning their wife without consequence for some supposed sin against them. I am also reminded of the private family matters in which family members can be killed if they bring disgace upon their family. These are "family matters" and both of these are unrighteous and unjust. It is the duty of government to intervene and protect the innocent lives of the people that it serves.We must love our President. It is our duty to pray for him and his family. That means that we must pray that God will turn his heart on matters where his thoughts are not in line with God.My message to President Obama would be to always stay on God's side despite the insistence and demand by many in the public to propigate their pet sin. Women can never be made equal to men by abortion. In their efforts to do so they have actually brought about a national disgrace and brought females in general down to a new low.Women are supposed to be the protectors of life and not the destroyers of it. We have somehow bought into the lie in our society that to be equal we must be the same. However, in stark contrast God created us both male and female for a reason. This difference should be celebrated instead of being disdained. Women have been pre-ordained by the Lord to be and to do certain things that men never can- like having a baby. In my view, that makes women better than men.THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release January 22, 2009Statement of President Obama on the 36th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade On the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we are reminded that this decision not only protects women's health and reproductive freedom, but stands for a broader principle: that government should not intrude on our most private family matters. I remain committed to protecting a woman's right to choose. While this is a sensitive and often divisive issue, no matter what our views, we are united in our determination to prevent unintended pregnancies, reduce the need for abortion, and support women and families in the choices they make. To accomplish these goals, we must work to find common ground to expand access to affordable contraception, accurate health information, and preventative services. On this anniversary, we must also recommit ourselves more broadly to ensuring that our daughters have the same rights and opportunities as our sons: the chance to attain a world-class education; to have fulfilling careers in any industry; to be treated fairly and paid equally for their work; and to have no limits on their dreams. That is what I want for women everywhere.
Preserve President Bush's Pro-Life Executive Orders and Work to End Legalized Abortion in the United States
Saturday, November 29, 2008, 8:02:13 AM toddnessa
It is the expressed desire of the signers of this petition that the Presidential Executive Orders in the traditions of Reagan, George Bush, SR. & George W. Bush that have been put in place for the protection of innocent human life ("Mexico City" policy for example) be left in place along with all other Presidential Executive Orders that protect and preserve innocent life both domestically and around the world. This is to include the current policy barring researchers from experimenting on human embryos. It was commendable that President Bush worked to foster a culture of life through his Executive Orders. They should not be infringed. The signers of this petition desire that our national sin of abortion not be promoted in government either domestically or abroad. It is the message of the Bible, and has been proven at various times in our history, that there are issues that are not a matter of politics or the will of man to decide as being right or wrong. It is a long-standing belief in our national affairs that there is a Just Judge that presides in the Heavens and who also presides over the affairs of man. George Washington, our nation's first President said it best, "It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God." The Bible declares in Proverbs 14:12 (New International Version), "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." We ask that you lead our country with the Fear of God and respect for human life at all stages of development. It is our desire to see you do what is right before the Just & Righteous Judge in Heaven. This is the most patriotic duty of the Presidency. As the signers of this declaration, we implore you to stand up for and preserve innocent life. We implore you to work toward ending abortion in the United States of America rather than to promote it. Abortion is a grievous national sin that has caused America a tremendous loss of life and unknown amount of talent/productivity that would have greatly benefited the country. It is time for this sin to be led toward an end. It is our sincere hope that you will be the man to lead this charge. Matthew 19:13-14 (New International Version)The Little Children and Jesus: Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
A Call to National Repentance
Friday, November 28, 2008, 10:25:42 AM toddnessa
I went outside for a minute to perform a small errand. I was coming back inside and had one hand on my door when I overheard my neighbor across the street talking very loudly and emphatically on his cell phone. He was preaching to whomever he was talking to about how we have separated God from our money. He was talking about the economic times and the desperate situation that we are currently in at this time in our country. My neighbor compared what we were going through to 9-11 and how the President had went on television and at various times had called for the nation to pray. His big beef was that the President should be doing that now. The words that he spoke struck me from where I stood gripped by the significance of his words.Our nation has fallen on hard economic times as a result of the collective sin in our land that has produced negative consequences. The Bible makes it clear that the wages of sin is death. You may get by with certain sins for a while but if you continue in them the mercy of God runs out. We have continued to espouse abortion on demand and allowed our teenagers to get an abortion without letting their parents know about it. Selfishness and greed has become widespread as the masses are "looking out for number one." Our television networks produce shows that are full of adultery, violence and murder. Our movies are frequently filled with the same or even worse. We have a serious pornography problem as evidenced by the billions of dollars that it generates in this country. Our politicians and judges legislate God out of public life and have worked to be inclusive to other false god's in the name of "diversity." In essence, we have traded our forefather's biblical wisdom for the wisdom of a fool.Is it time to pray? It is beyond time. Prayer should always be the first step. However, we need to go one step beyond prayer this time and set aside time to repent from our national sins. It is time to purge the nation of evil in its various forms. You can't have your cake and eat it too. Our laws will need to change in order to line up with the Law of God once again. It is time to once again give the Bible a place of priority in the judicial and legislative affairs nationwide. You can't thumb your nose at God and expect not to pay a price for it. Prayer would be a good place to start to make amends but it can not stop there. Our actions must speak louder than our words. Are we One Nation Under God? Or are we just paying lip service? It seems as if we are paying the price for a nation of people that have forgotten God and no longer wish to obey him. I have seen a whole lot of lip service as evidenced by increasingly empty churches as many would rather play with their toys on Sunday than they would to take themselves or their families to church. We have a choice collectively as an American people and each of us have choices to make as individuals. If we are stiff-necked and fail to receive correction then things will only get worse for us. God has not given these times to us. Our choices have produced them and God allows us to choose and be responsible for the consequences of our actions. There is only One True God and we must again connect with him as a nation and decide to put Him and His things first. It is my prayer that we will do just that.Is it a time for a call to prayer? Absolutely. However, more importantly it is a time for a national call to repentance.
Sin is a polarizing force
Monday, November 24, 2008, 9:19:31 PM toddnessa
Sin is a polarizing force in our nation and our nation's political system. It is sin and not the work of God-fearing American Christians to turn back the tide of societal ills that is the real problem. The Bible declares in Proverbs 14:34 that "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people." It is the nation's sin that has us polarized and so politically divided as we see ourselves engulfed in major cultural wars due to the secular world-view becoming more popular in America today.So what is our answer? Jesus came to save what was lost. It's that simple. American's are lost today. We are reaping what we have sown and have a younger generation of American's today in which only 4% attend church. This news does not leave one with much hope. The Good News of the gospel is our hope. The Good News is that Jesus is just as true today as he was to past generations of Americans.God has a great plan for our nation and He knows how to get us back on track. It is up to us to hear His voice and obey as the Spirit directs. God knows how to spare us from mistakes. He knows how to bless and prosper us despite the world crumbling around us. We have to choose Him and He will take care of the rest.It has never been God that has been the problem but rather our disdain of Him that has been the problem. Romans 8: 31 states "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Our largest enemy today is our own selfishness and prideful attitudes that make us believe that we can chart our own successful course in this country without God.
Friday, April 10, 2009, 8:56:17 AM toddnessa
To whom this may concern, America's is being seared due to our national sin of abortion. Sin is rooted in fear and selfishness. For anyone to destroy a young, developing child in the earliest of stages of life for political expediency or to promote a woman's selfish ambitions is a grave moral and national tragedy. It is unfortunate that we have been and will continue to reap what we have sown as a nation in allowing this injustice and crime against our own humanity. We are allowing the world to lead us rather than for us to lead the world- as many other nations are much further advanced along in their promotion and acceptance of abortion. Abortion in many nations is seen as nothing more than another form of birth control. We are heading down that same path. However, we are being deceived into believing that this is not the case. Abortion is our Holocaust of the modern era. It is no different in what we are doing in legislating abortion and allowing clinics to continually murder babies day after day than what Hitler did with creating the concentration camps for the same purpose- to discriminate against one class of citizens and to terminate them. Amazingly, when the camps were liberated at the end of WWII, the people who lived in the neighboring communities were shocked and horrified- not realizing exactly what was going on in their own back yard. I am convinced it would be the same if all of us really knew the truth of what happens behind abortion clinic doors. We must be a nation who stands up for the least of those among us. We must hear their voice. What is being proposed in the conscience clause is not only another step in legitimizing this sin against humanity but working to further sear the consciences of our citizens who would either be expected to participate in this crime. And wether we through our courts reframe to call something legal and legitimize it or not- it is still a crime. Our laws must be in line with the laws of God. This was the desire of our Founders despite the fact that even they did not always live up to or attain this ideal in every era of law and government. God is the Supreme Judge and has promised to hold everyone for an account for their lives. We must strive toward this end. The reverse of the conscience clause would be criminal. It further propigates the murder of unborn children and therefore this decision would be evil. It is contrary to the Bilbe which historically is America's chief law book. It should not be enacted into law by an means. We must have the fear of God in our national affairs and governemtal policies. May each of you take time to reflect this Good Friday that was paid with blood on a Cross for you. God loves you! May your service in government be pleasing not to men but to God who presides over it all. Thank you for taking the time to read my response. Sincerely, Todd NessaWould you like to write a similar letter? Let your voice be heard TODAY! Send comments to proposedrescission@hhs.gov or call the White House Switchboard at (202) 456-1414.
Ungodly Science is Sin
Saturday, March 21, 2009, 1:15:10 PM toddnessa
Recently, it has been made known that one of the goals of the current President and his administration is to insulate science from politics and political influence. Wouldn't it be great if they did that with the Word of God! I have been really concerned about this as science without governmental regulation will have similar results to the philosophy of deregulation in the financial markets- leading to our current economic problems in this country.In World War II, Hitler's scientists would perform horrific experiments on Holocaust victims. Experiments such as cutting off the top of their skull to expose their brain while they were yet alive. Experiments such as freezing them in ice-cold water to see how long it would take for hypothermia to set in and kill them.In America today, we have entered into the bold new area of using federal tax dollars to support scientific research on human embryos- that could indeed grow further into a baby if implanted in the womb (as evidenced the "snowflake babies"). These embryos are destroyed in order to study stem cells in hopes of solving a myriad of diseases. It is justified much in the way that Nazi scientists did as they would use the information gleaned from their horrific experiments for troops in the field. They also dehumanized the Jews much in the same way as we are dehumanizing human embryos.There must be boundries to science. Science and scientific research must be governed in order to protect human life. The end must not justify the means of attainment.We are living in a time in which human life at the earliest stages of life and babyhood are dehumanized and deemed as not being as important as our scientific research or a "woman's right to choose." How arrogant and how blind we have become to prioritize our own selfishness above the sanctity, dignity, and the importance of human life.Jesus said it very plainly this way in Mark 10:14. "...Suffer the little children to come to me and forbid them not: for such is the Kingdom of God." It is to our national shame to allow for their destruction.
The Source of America's Prosperity is God
Saturday, March 21, 2009, 12:26:32 PM toddnessa
I was reading a speech by the President lately regarding our nations public schools. In the speech, he declared that our nations schools were "the source of our prosperity." He also stated "that America's future depends on its teachers." Now, I am not knocking the importance of education. I am a public school teacher. However, what ever happened to God as being the source of our prosperity? And how did we ever get the idea that our future succes as a nation is dependent upon the arm of the flesh (human achievement apart from obedience to God)? Have we become so arrogant in our prosperity so as to think that we have been the source of it all? Have we really become that proud? Here is what the Bible says iabout having this type of an attitude in Deuteronomy chapter 8.1All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers. 5Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee. 6Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. 7For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; 8A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; 9A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. 10When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. 11Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: 12Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; 13And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; 14Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage... 17And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. 18But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. 19And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. 20As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God. We are a unique nation. God himself rose us up as men colabored with God and sought his voice for a new nation of freedom. Our freedom springs from the word of God. Freedom used to sin brings bondage. And national sin brings national disgrace.It is sin to proclaim from the upper echelons of our national leadership that we have been the source of our wealth. We have not been our own prosperity provider. What God has done has been despite ourselves and our sense of pride in human accomplishment.
Religious Freedom Day
Monday, January 26, 2009, 7:39:09 PM toddnessa
We lost a grand opportunity in the Church this past January 16th. This was the day that President Bush declared in a signed proclamation to be "Religious Freedom Day." This was to be a day for celebration and ceremonies in recognition of the opportunity that we have as Americans to worship God freely.Despite the significance of this historic day that has been set aside to recognize the importance of religious freedom to this country, I never heard one news story in which this was mentioned. You certainly did not hear the mainstream media mention it. I never heard of any churches recognizing it. Maybe there were some but it did not seem to get any coverage or barely a mention.Religious freedom is something that we often take for granted. However, it is religious freedom that is the barometer of freedom both in our nation and abroad. You can not have freedom without God. It simply does not exist apart from Him.Jesus is freedom's fount. Freedom lept from the pages of the Bible and from the hearts of our nation's founders in which God's Word had been implanted. It would soon be given life in a newborn nation that would eventually grow to become the United States of America.We must take up the baton that President Bush and President Clinton before him gave the American Church and run with fire. What a unique opportunity that we have to celebrate the importance of God in our national affairs. Next year, we can make religious freedom day known across America. However, it is up to us as the Body of Christ in America to do it.To learn more about the history of religious Freedom Day and read previous Presidential Proclamations please visit http://religiousfreedomday.com.
Abortion: Calling Evil Good
Saturday, January 24, 2009, 4:24:27 AM toddnessa
Many of us who love life are today saddened by our new President's Executive Order to overturn the Mexico City policy and the statement made by the administration on the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. The statement is included at the bottom of this blog post. Please be sure to read it it if you have not done so already.Abortion is evil. Abortion is infanticide. Abortion is sin. Abortion grieves God's heart. Abortion is idolatrous.Abortion policies in our nation are divisive because it is sin. The Bible declares in Romans 6:23 that "the wages of sin is death." You can not argue that in an abortion procedure that a baby dies. In the course of our natural affairs our culutre becomes coarsened to the value of life as it becomes accepting of this form of infanticide.There are many who will call evil good and good evil. Isaiah 5:20 says, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter."I was struck by several things when I read the White House statement regarding abortion given on January 22nd. One of those things was that somehow women become equal to men through abortion by being able to have the right to terminate a life that would stand in the way of their dreams and a "world class education." I was struck by how selfish it is to have and to promote the view that a child is not to the level of importance of women's ambitions to achieve things in life and must be sacraficed in the process. This is idolatrous as it denigrates life to promote selfish ambition.As I was reading the statement to my wife, she retorted that in some countries that not intruding on private family matters means a husband drowning their wife without consequence for some supposed sin against them. I am also reminded of the private family matters in which family members can be killed if they bring disgace upon their family. These are "family matters" and both of these are unrighteous and unjust. It is the duty of government to intervene and protect the innocent lives of the people that it serves.We must love our President. It is our duty to pray for him and his family. That means that we must pray that God will turn his heart on matters where his thoughts are not in line with God.My message to President Obama would be to always stay on God's side despite the insistence and demand by many in the public to propigate their pet sin. Women can never be made equal to men by abortion. In their efforts to do so they have actually brought about a national disgrace and brought females in general down to a new low.Women are supposed to be the protectors of life and not the destroyers of it. We have somehow bought into the lie in our society that to be equal we must be the same. However, in stark contrast God created us both male and female for a reason. This difference should be celebrated instead of being disdained. Women have been pre-ordained by the Lord to be and to do certain things that men never can- like having a baby. In my view, that makes women better than men.THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release January 22, 2009Statement of President Obama on the 36th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade On the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we are reminded that this decision not only protects women's health and reproductive freedom, but stands for a broader principle: that government should not intrude on our most private family matters. I remain committed to protecting a woman's right to choose. While this is a sensitive and often divisive issue, no matter what our views, we are united in our determination to prevent unintended pregnancies, reduce the need for abortion, and support women and families in the choices they make. To accomplish these goals, we must work to find common ground to expand access to affordable contraception, accurate health information, and preventative services. On this anniversary, we must also recommit ourselves more broadly to ensuring that our daughters have the same rights and opportunities as our sons: the chance to attain a world-class education; to have fulfilling careers in any industry; to be treated fairly and paid equally for their work; and to have no limits on their dreams. That is what I want for women everywhere.
Preserve President Bush's Pro-Life Executive Orders and Work to End Legalized Abortion in the United States
Saturday, November 29, 2008, 8:02:13 AM toddnessa
It is the expressed desire of the signers of this petition that the Presidential Executive Orders in the traditions of Reagan, George Bush, SR. & George W. Bush that have been put in place for the protection of innocent human life ("Mexico City" policy for example) be left in place along with all other Presidential Executive Orders that protect and preserve innocent life both domestically and around the world. This is to include the current policy barring researchers from experimenting on human embryos. It was commendable that President Bush worked to foster a culture of life through his Executive Orders. They should not be infringed. The signers of this petition desire that our national sin of abortion not be promoted in government either domestically or abroad. It is the message of the Bible, and has been proven at various times in our history, that there are issues that are not a matter of politics or the will of man to decide as being right or wrong. It is a long-standing belief in our national affairs that there is a Just Judge that presides in the Heavens and who also presides over the affairs of man. George Washington, our nation's first President said it best, "It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God." The Bible declares in Proverbs 14:12 (New International Version), "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." We ask that you lead our country with the Fear of God and respect for human life at all stages of development. It is our desire to see you do what is right before the Just & Righteous Judge in Heaven. This is the most patriotic duty of the Presidency. As the signers of this declaration, we implore you to stand up for and preserve innocent life. We implore you to work toward ending abortion in the United States of America rather than to promote it. Abortion is a grievous national sin that has caused America a tremendous loss of life and unknown amount of talent/productivity that would have greatly benefited the country. It is time for this sin to be led toward an end. It is our sincere hope that you will be the man to lead this charge. Matthew 19:13-14 (New International Version)The Little Children and Jesus: Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
A Call to National Repentance
Friday, November 28, 2008, 10:25:42 AM toddnessa
I went outside for a minute to perform a small errand. I was coming back inside and had one hand on my door when I overheard my neighbor across the street talking very loudly and emphatically on his cell phone. He was preaching to whomever he was talking to about how we have separated God from our money. He was talking about the economic times and the desperate situation that we are currently in at this time in our country. My neighbor compared what we were going through to 9-11 and how the President had went on television and at various times had called for the nation to pray. His big beef was that the President should be doing that now. The words that he spoke struck me from where I stood gripped by the significance of his words.Our nation has fallen on hard economic times as a result of the collective sin in our land that has produced negative consequences. The Bible makes it clear that the wages of sin is death. You may get by with certain sins for a while but if you continue in them the mercy of God runs out. We have continued to espouse abortion on demand and allowed our teenagers to get an abortion without letting their parents know about it. Selfishness and greed has become widespread as the masses are "looking out for number one." Our television networks produce shows that are full of adultery, violence and murder. Our movies are frequently filled with the same or even worse. We have a serious pornography problem as evidenced by the billions of dollars that it generates in this country. Our politicians and judges legislate God out of public life and have worked to be inclusive to other false god's in the name of "diversity." In essence, we have traded our forefather's biblical wisdom for the wisdom of a fool.Is it time to pray? It is beyond time. Prayer should always be the first step. However, we need to go one step beyond prayer this time and set aside time to repent from our national sins. It is time to purge the nation of evil in its various forms. You can't have your cake and eat it too. Our laws will need to change in order to line up with the Law of God once again. It is time to once again give the Bible a place of priority in the judicial and legislative affairs nationwide. You can't thumb your nose at God and expect not to pay a price for it. Prayer would be a good place to start to make amends but it can not stop there. Our actions must speak louder than our words. Are we One Nation Under God? Or are we just paying lip service? It seems as if we are paying the price for a nation of people that have forgotten God and no longer wish to obey him. I have seen a whole lot of lip service as evidenced by increasingly empty churches as many would rather play with their toys on Sunday than they would to take themselves or their families to church. We have a choice collectively as an American people and each of us have choices to make as individuals. If we are stiff-necked and fail to receive correction then things will only get worse for us. God has not given these times to us. Our choices have produced them and God allows us to choose and be responsible for the consequences of our actions. There is only One True God and we must again connect with him as a nation and decide to put Him and His things first. It is my prayer that we will do just that.Is it a time for a call to prayer? Absolutely. However, more importantly it is a time for a national call to repentance.
Sin is a polarizing force
Monday, November 24, 2008, 9:19:31 PM toddnessa
Sin is a polarizing force in our nation and our nation's political system. It is sin and not the work of God-fearing American Christians to turn back the tide of societal ills that is the real problem. The Bible declares in Proverbs 14:34 that "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people." It is the nation's sin that has us polarized and so politically divided as we see ourselves engulfed in major cultural wars due to the secular world-view becoming more popular in America today.So what is our answer? Jesus came to save what was lost. It's that simple. American's are lost today. We are reaping what we have sown and have a younger generation of American's today in which only 4% attend church. This news does not leave one with much hope. The Good News of the gospel is our hope. The Good News is that Jesus is just as true today as he was to past generations of Americans.God has a great plan for our nation and He knows how to get us back on track. It is up to us to hear His voice and obey as the Spirit directs. God knows how to spare us from mistakes. He knows how to bless and prosper us despite the world crumbling around us. We have to choose Him and He will take care of the rest.It has never been God that has been the problem but rather our disdain of Him that has been the problem. Romans 8: 31 states "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Our largest enemy today is our own selfishness and prideful attitudes that make us believe that we can chart our own successful course in this country without God.
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