Don’t forget the corollary to the Buckley Rule

Bill Buckley the Godfather of the modern conservative movement issued a Rule: Vote for the most conservative person who is electable. Although not identified as a corollary, Buckley also advised: Better dead than red. The advocates of the Buckley Rule today fail to apply the corollary.

A RINO's (Republican In Name Only) voting record will align more closely with the Communist philosophy than the Declaration of Independence. A moderate is not more conservative than a liberal. A moderate merely says let's take a smaller bite of communism.

Voting the most electable conservative still elects some ultra liberals (communist in sheep's clothing). The USSR advocated communism for nearly a century. They attempted to purge all conservatives.  Yet their liberal philosophy could not stand against the backlash of freedom and the wall came down.  

Freedom is the foundation of conservatism and the antithesis of communism. The TEA Party has applied the corollary. They support and vote for the most conservative candidate. A true conservative cannot be a communist.

The TEA party supported candidates of 2010 are the initial wave of the American backlash against the liberal forces attempting to mold modern America. In last year's general election and this year's primaries TEA Party supported candidates have shown political strength even when they didn't win. It is likely some may have won had the voters voted their conscience rather than being politically expedient.

I have made the determination that Unions, environmental groups, and the "can't we all get along" groups are communist in philosophy whether by intent or unconsciously being duped. So since we have reached the point where we believe all candidates lie, vote according to their sponsors. Or vote against based on their sponsors. This may cause you to vote outside the mainstream. But, doing so means you have taken a stand to stop the slide America is taking.

Our Pastor is moving on

Kevin Ezell came to Highview Baptist Church in 1996. Since then the church has more than tripled in attendance.  Mission participation is no longer dominated by youth trips. Kevin is leaving pastoral duties at Highview to take on an administrative position with the South Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board. In many ways this move is a logical progression from what has been accomplished at Highview under his leadership.

Kevin is beloved and respected by the members at Highview. He has also garnered the respect of other pastors and church leaders in our community. The sadness I feel in his move is personal. It is tempered by the realization God is orchestrating the change which will include replacing Kevin at Highview.

Near the beginning of Kevin's second year at Highview he stated from the pulpit with unadulterated joy that 33 people were participating in the outreach program. I thought he is glad? That is less than 1% of the membership. Why aren't people participating? That question was immediately replaced by, "Why aren't you?" So I joined the outreach program.

Kevin's heart and understanding of God is illustrated by one instruction he gave to the outreach teams. If you witness to someone and they accept Christ as their savior, do not try to get them to join Highview. Inquire into their church background. Encourage them to make this decision known to the leadership of their current church. Volunteer to go with them. Stay in touch with them until they have settled into active participation with a church.

To Kevin outreach was about building the body of Christ. Not building a congregation. He noted following that instruction, God will take care of building Highview. We need only be faithful in reaching out to the lost.

Like the Apostle Paul and the church at Ephesus, Kevin will always be part of Highview.

Oil floats on water

Nothing can change the fact of oil floating on water. News reports that layers of oil attributed to the BP spill have been found submerged in the gulf are either out right misrepresentations or faulty analysis. I can believe an "environmental" group would lie to advance their agenda. I can also believe purposeful misrepresentation to gain prestige. I cannot accept a knowledgeable person suspending the laws of physics to make such a claim.

It's an undisputable fact that oil molecules are lighter than water molecules. There are possibilities for oil to be found submerged in the sea. Emulsification with a substance heavier than water is an explanation. However, it would not be from the BP spill. Hence, it is a natural occurrence.

The layer being reported as several inches thick is another clue to the misrepresentation. Why no specificity to the layer thickness? Was the sampling device not able to measure the layer thickness? Were several samples taken with varying results? The report doesn't provide any detail to address these questions. It breathlessly proclaims unresolved problems from the BP spill.

Heat and pressure in the cauldron at the earth's mantle is capable of producing marvelous things, like diamonds instead of coal. Presuming the report is not outright fabrication, we need to know what non-oil substances were found in the layer with the oil. Of course reporting that information would probably show the BP spill was not the reason for the layer.

A reporter may not know the simplest laws of physics. A good reporter would know their limitations and seek expert advice from another source. Sadly, too many reporters today are merely cheerleaders. When a cheerleading reporter initially receives information fitting their preconceived ideas or biases, they do no fact checking.

It is up to us to fact check.

Being a Christian is not difficult

Some people believe being a Christian is a chore, takes great effort, or is difficult to do correctly. None of those beliefs are true. Some Christians are constantly searching for the correct check list, Or reviewing the latest literature about being Christian.

To be a Christian a person needs to recognize they are a sinner incapable of not sinning. They must have a desire not to sin and be repentant of their sinful life. Jesus died as a sacrifice for our sins paying the penalty for our commission of them. But he was resurrected and lives today. Accepting his sacrifice for our sin and accepting him as Master of our life is what makes us a Christian. Nothing else. Nothing less.

The people who view being a Christian as difficult, a chore, or putting forth effort have confused being with living. When they have those perceptions, they have not turned their life over to Jesus as Master. If Jesus can be resurrected from the dead, how can surrendering our life choices to him make them onerous.

Just as we cannot be sin free we cannot live as a Christian without guidance of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who resides in us upon acceptance of Jesus as Master.  Ignoring that guidance is when it becomes difficult. Not seek that guidance is when it require effort. Not rely on that guidance it becomes a chore.

A person's earthly life is meaningless against the promise of eternity gained by accepting Jesus. Why have a job; why care for family members; or why be an active part of a local congregation? Because God, for reasons known only to Him, has not seen fit to end the person's earthly existence.

Pursue life as a Christian with a smile not a scowl.

Ever changing environmental niche

Seems the polar bears found a food source even though the ice floes are decreasing. The source was walruses. But walruses were already a source. It seems the walrus, who nested and raised young on floes had to go ashore where the polar bears were stranded.

The walrus actually likes the shore. In fact large herds are frequently found on the Russian shore of the Chukchi Sea. With the ice retreat, the Alaska shoreline became available to the herds. The shore habitat is the equivalent of a mall food court. The ice floe habitat is like a mom and pop grocery in rural area. Where would you choose to live?

The benthic organisms walruses prefer are not produced on an ice covered shore. Once the shore is exposed they flourish. They still exist on the shallow sea floor. In the fact the sea floor is the source for the exploding onshore feast.

Being onshore makes the walrus more susceptible to predators such as the polar bear. Whoops, circular logic here. The walrus was the prey of the polar bear on the ice floes. Now they are the prey of the bear on shore. What is the difference?

Environmental niches begin at the bottom of the food chain, starting with plankton. As that supply expands or contracts the animals above on the chain follow the food source. When the source diminishes all the animals up the chain diminish.

A predator like a polar bear will seek alternate food sources. Caribou herds would be a choice. Bears usually avoid caribou because the chase to run down one is exhausting. Increased attacks on man-made settlements are the true indicator of habitat deficiency. There have been no reports.

Perhaps the walrus and bear are no different than man. When it heats up, just go to the beach and enjoy life.

Charity is a business

Dismas Charities purchased luxury suites in the new downtown arena. They explained the money came from investments not donations. I guess the acquisition of the investments was a miraculous occurrence and purchase with denotations. Why could they do this? Because, charities are not accountable to the donors.

United Way provided a service when it began. It cut down solicitations for charities by combining them into one request at the work place with payroll deductions. After making a pledge a worker could say I gave at the office. This did cut down on solicitations.

It also grew new charities. Practically anybody with a charitable idea could get funded through the United Way. These new charities didn't have to explain their goals or be accountable for delivery of services to the donor. They need only satisfy the United Way criteria.

The last time I reviewed the list of charities on the United Way list I would not contribute to about a third of them. You may agree and that is why you designate your contribution.

It isn't distributed like you think. Each charity has a goal amount established by United Way. Let's say Charity ABC, your designated charity, goal is 10% of the total for all charities. Charity DEF, to which you would never donate, goal is 5%. A successful United Way campaign would reach 100% of the total for all charities. If ABC reached 80% of its goal through designated pledges and needs $20,000 to reach its stated goal. After all designated amounts were subtracted there was $1,000,000 undesignated. You would believe ABC would get $100,000 or its 10% share of the undesignated. It only gets $20,000, the amount needed to reach its goal. Charity DEF got zero designated pledges. Yet it likewise received its total goal amount.

I recommend giving directly to your chosen charity(s). Only the donor can determine accountability.

Government and Being Christian

Glen Beck in a recent Washington DC rally called for a spiritual rebirth of our Country. Cautionary communication was issued by many evangelical leaders because Beck is Mormon and doesn't believe in Jesus as the son of the one living true God and savior of sinful man. Beck is right in terms of government. The evangelical leaders are correct in a Mormon's view of Jesus.

They are both correct because they are talking about two different things. A Christian lives in this world under two authorities: God and the government of his earthly domicile. Examine the lives, beliefs, and actions of the founders of America.  Learn it was founded on principles of freedom of choice, personal responsibility, and desire for a peaceful society. Understand those principles were molded by their Christianity. When Beck calls for a spiritual rebirth, it is not a religious doctrine or denomination. He is calling for those principles of our Christian founders; then to live and act accordingly.

Christians know God provides for us. Citizens of America know government does things to us. The government has no soul. That is why its attempts to provide for its citizenry fail. The ever evolving Nanny State of America today is essentially trying to replace God.

Beck wants to change the course of governance; not save souls.  As an evangelical Christian you can stand shoulder to shoulder with Beck in his desire to change the course of government.

Because of the beliefs of our founders, America has down through time been called a Christian nation. It wasn't then and it isn't now. It was a country populated by a Christian majority. People not a nation spread the gospel message. Unfortunately, the American Christian began to rely on the nation's characterization as Christian, rather than actually telling about Christ.

Jim Blockey sept 2, 2010 - Objective of First Amendment

A follow up on my August blog on the separation of Church and State

The objective of First Amendment is not about controlling religion. Proof of this would be in the 1844 U. S. Supreme Court case of Vidal v. Girard's Executors. In the unanimous decision Justice Joseph Story wrote in his commentary about the original meaning of the First Amendment,

"The real object of the First Amendment was not to much less advance Mohammedanism, or Judaism, or infidelity, by Christianity, but to exclude all rivalry among Christian sects (denominations) and to prevent any national ecclesiastical patronage of the national government."

If we would have taught the true history of America in our schools this debate of the Muslims shoving their Mosque in our face would not be taking place. The First Amendment was not intended to give freedoms to America's enemies.

What would have happened 50 years ago to an American that started preaching communism? He would have been put in prison, or worse, for treason.

Because of our lack of education in the true history of this country we have this false belief that the First Amendment protects our enemies in their quest to take over America. Communism and Socialism are America's enemies as is the Muslim religion.

 

Shale oil reserves

The continental U.S. has more oil reserves than all of the Middle East. The largest basin extends into Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. The problem is that most of it is trapped in shale rock formations. The oil has permeated and adhered to the grains of the rock. Russia and China also have large shale oil reserves.

In 1980 a pilot recovery system was successful in extracting marketable fuel without further refinery cost. The best estimate for full scale production was $70 a barrel. The market for crude from drilled wells was under $40 a barrel. The pilot plant was converted to a refinery.

Shale oil usually has few impurities. The pilot plant production was gasoline, propane, and crushed aggregate. The aggregate was suitable for use with concrete production. There was no waste product.

 Inflation would have tripled the production cost. Fortunately technology has negated inflation, keeping the price per barrel under $80. When the price per barrel got to $75, gasoline went over $4.00 a gallon. OPEC knew that price per barrel was not sustainable, because it was too close to the production cost for refining shale oil.

Shale oil is a strip mine operation. It is not as dirty as coal because the permeated oil holds the dust particles. It does have a greater fire risk during handling than coal. However, the heat intensity is equivalent to a weenie-roast bon fire. Accidents involving raw product is limited to the footprint of the release.

If we want to be energy independent why doesn't the government assist in getting this type of production in place? Why the constant harping about alternative energy sources? Don't these "harpers" know we already have an effective and efficient infrastructure and delivery system for heating our homes and moving about our community? Why fix a system that isn't broken?

Home owners association responsibilities

The recent arrest of Spencer County man for growing pot and possession of other drugs shocked the other residents of the subdivision. Many of the subdivision residents were alarmed, appalled, and nearly apoplectic.  They never realized they had been apathetic.

Those residents had a certain mind set. These things happen in the big cities not the rural areas. We are solid middle class folks. We have moral standards. Criminal behavior is unacceptable. What I call righteous indignation.

Their reaction is something must be done. They want to crank up the home owners association (HOA) to prevent this type of thing. They get busy stirring up interest using their righteous indignation talking points.

A HOA has only two functions: enforce deed restrictions and maintenance of common areas. The primary purpose of a HOA is to preserve property values. Anything beyond those is merely community socializing. Annual picnics and newsletters are frequently done through a HOA. Some may even build and maintain a club house and or swimming pool.  But none ever have police powers.

I cannot think of any resolution or by-law amendment a HOA could pass that would stop the criminal activity that initiated the righteous indignation. Without police powers how could the criminal activity be discovered?

All the agitation may begin to get neighbors to know one another better, which is a good thing. Of course if you know your neighbors wouldn't you realize something odd (criminal activity) was occurring?

But wait. Wasn't the guy arrested? Didn't the current system work? Why does the HOA need to take action?

The call for action from righteous indignation is a typical liberal ploy to gain more power and control over the lives of others. Never willingly release any of your rights because of righteous indignation.

guest blog Robert Romano on Fannie and Freddie

Excellent follow-up to my thoughts about Fannie and Freddie

Robert Romano NN&V Staff Aug 25^th 2010

How to get rid of Fannie and Freddie

Recently, Americans for Limited Government (ALG) interviewed former chief credit officer of Fannie Mae, Edward Pinto, to get his thoughts on how best to bring an end to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-owned mortgage giants that helped cause the financial crisis, and to see what impact that would have on the housing market.

Pinto recently wrote an oped for the Wall Street Journal outlining his proposal, and also published a new forensic study explaining in indisputable detail how government policies, including those of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) helped to cause the crisis by weakening underwriting standards, lowering down payments, and generally degrading the quality of credit in the U.S.

"We got into this problem over 15 to 20 years through HUD, it's going to take us time to get out of it because they've left us in a terrible mess. We need to back out of it just like one backs out of any alley," Pinto said, explaining that it must be done "slowly and deliberately."

Pinto noted that securities sold by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are only selling for a slightly higher rate than treasuries right now. "The spreads are narrow to Treasury because they've got the unlimited backing of the federal government. They're not explicitly guaranteed by the federal government, but there is no limit on the amount of money that the Treasury can give to Fannie and Freddie to back them."

 

Nature is designed for balance

A new report from the gulf oil spill was not widely distributed. A microbe capable of surviving and flourishing in sub 80 water was identified. This microbe eats oil without depleting oxygen in the water column.

For over twenty years oil eating microbes have been used to remediate underground spills. Usually mechanical assistance is needed. These microbes go into near hibernation at the typical 56 underground temperature. Hot air is pumped down to invigorate the microbes. These microbes also use oxygen to facilitate their digestion. In fact without oxygen they may refuse to eat. So it is common to infuse the hot air with pure oxygen.

The gulf microbe is slightly different. It either draws oxygen from the air or metabolizes water freeing the hydrogen and using the oxygen. Metabolization is the probable method since that would result in methane as the oil molecule is reduced to atomic levels. The microbe doesn't need heating since it can use direct sunlight to facilitate chemical reaction with the oil.

It should not be a surprise that the microbe exist. Oil releases from natural sources to the gulf surface are common. The BP spill quantity far exceeded normal releases. Microbes have a very short gestation period. Once an abundant food source, the spill, was found it began eating and reproducing. Thus, reaching population density to be discovered as a new microbe strain.

Don't worry about microbe pollution now that the spill is gone. They will either go dormant or disintegrate to atomic levels.

Once again proof God's intelligent design, from microscopic microbes to acres of wetland, doesn't need man's intervention to keep the world clean. God gave man intelligence and reasoning, so to use those skills to assist is expected. To use those skills to predict calamity is unmitigated arrogance.

 

When it ceases to be free

Why is Google Earth free? One possibility, it is run by liberals who do not want to gouge anyone. (Meaning they can't figure out how to stick it to the rich.) Another possibility is a business plan to create a demand and then institute a fee subscription. A third possibility, it is profitable through on page ads and fees charged for links to secondary sites.

The business plan possibility of future fees will raise liberals hackles. When traffic to the site reach a certain threshold, subscription fees become increasingly desirable. The company decides when to begin subscription fees and announces the date for implementation requiring subscription to continue access.

The net neutrality proponents use this scenario as one reason why internet regulation is necessary.  Such regulation would be ineffective.  The company can move the data and servers outside the jurisdiction of the regulators. Besides, there are existing laws that can be used to ensure "fairness."

Microsoft is a prime example.  The Clinton administration brought unfair trade practices against Microsoft resulting in a settlement by Microsoft. No one will admit it also caused the collapse of the stock market tech sector stocks. The timing of the collapse following the settlement was coincidence.

The information used by Google Earth is not proprietary. Anyone can obtain the information.  Develop software to use the data. If Google Earth did go subscription, other small providers would spring up serving  a localized area. Charge a subscription fee, claiming to be more accurate, more up to date, or cite improvement of some other facet to be competitive.  

The market place will always outperform regulation. In fact regulation stymies innovation. In the long run, the product will be better and cheaper if unregulated.  Net neutrality is not about fairness, it is about power and control.