Don't you love it?  Grow your own transplant parts from your own stem cells. Claudia Castillo gets windpipe tailor-made from her own stem cells: (My emphasis)

A woman has been given a new section of windpipe created from her own stem cells in an operation that could revolutionise surgery.

Claudia Castillo, 30, who lives in Barcelona, has become the first person to be given a whole organ tailor-made for her in laboratories across Europe.

A graft from a donor was used, but because it has been imbued with Ms Castillo’s own cells, there is no sign that her body will reject the organ.

Researchers and surgeons from Britain, Italy and Spain collaborated to grow tissue from Ms Castillo’s own bone marrow stem cells, using them to fashion the new bronchus – a branch of the windpipe. They believe that one day the approach will be used to create engineered replacements for other damaged organs, such as the bowel or bladder. In five years they hope to begin clinical trials in which laboratory-made voice boxes are implanted into patients with cancer of the larynx.

Please notice that this breakthrough did not come from embryonic stem cells, the stem cell research that the Democrats are so gung ho on. This comment rather says it all from the Times: 

We continue to have vast success with adult stem cells, but the Obamamaniacs still want to use live embryos, (which have not had one cure in over 25 years), to satisfy the pro-abortion crowd.  ...John Frank, Reading, USA

Stem cell research was a big issue during the presidential campaign. Obama ads lied about McCain and Palin's stance on stem cell research. Truth is, the adult stem cell research that Republicans support is already yielding about 73 benefits to human patients. You can read more about it at CNS, and on the Stemcellresearch.org site.

Embryonic stem cell research, touted by Democrats, has hit snags in that when embryonic stem cells were introduced to rats, tumor growth resulted. From CNS:

Stem cells obtained from human embryos, however, have not been successful in yielding results in scientific research thus far.

Why should we support that embryonic type stem cell research when adult stem cells are already being used successfully  on humans? That does not make cents or sense!

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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So much for tolerance. A Radical Michigan Gay Group Attacks Christian Church Service on Sunday. Yup, those gay people that Christians are to be so tolerant of, acted in a very intolerant, disgusting way during a church service.

On Sunday, November 9, 2008 Michigan liberals sat peacefully through announcements, worship and prayer for the sick, our nation and our President-elect before staging a coordinated, disgusting and repulsive attack on worshipers and the broader concept of the church itself at Lansing's Mount Hope Church.

...Prayer had just finished when men and women stood up in pockets across the congregation, on the main floor and in the balcony. "Jesus was gay," they shouted among other profanities and blasphemies as they rushed the stage. Some forced their way through rows of women and kids to try to hang a profane banner from the balcony while others began tossing fliers into the air. Two women made their way to the pulpit and began to kiss.

Don't expect the mainstream media to pick up on this.

Right Michigan reported more details about the attack: (My emphasis)

The "open minded" and "tolerant" liberals ran down the aisles and across the pews, hoping against hope to catch a "right winger" on tape daring to push back (none did).  And just in case their camera missed the target, they had a reporter in tow.  According to a source inside the church yesterday there was a "journalist" from the Lansing City Pulse along for the ride, tipped off about the action and more interested in getting a story than in preventing the vandalism, the violence and anti-Christian hatred being spewed by the lefties.  We'll see what he files and what his editors see fit to print.

...The church's response?  After things settled down, the blasphemy ended, the lewd props removed and the families safe from fear of additional men and women running into and past them the pastor took the stage and led the congregation in one more prayer... not for retribution, or divine justice or a celestial comeuppance (that's what I'd have prayed for) but instead that the troubled individuals who'd just defiled the Lord's house, so full of anger and hate, would know Jesus' love in their lives and God's peace that exceeds human understanding.

I am thankful that this group of believers acted in a Christian way. Their actions speak volumes about their beliefs and character.

In case you haven't noticed, Christians are fast becoming the only group where intolerance is allowed. We better wake up.

Side note: Any media bias here? It is interesting that an Obama victory at 52.7% (McCain 46%) is called a landslide or mandate, but California's Proposition 8, which would outlaw gay marriage, passed by 52.4% (No 47.6%) and was called a narrow margin.

White powder sent to Mormon temples in Utah, LA:  Letters containing a suspicious white powder were sent Thursday to Mormon temples in Los Angeles and Salt Lake City that were the sites of protests against the church's support of California's gay marriage ban. [Hazmat crew determined it wasn't toxic.]

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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Well, today is the day. The day we go vote for president and our other government representatives*. How will you choose which one?

Will your choice be based on what the candidate promises to give and do for you? Or will the candidate's platform and character influence your choice?

President Lincoln said, "I know that the Lord is on the side of the right. But it is my constant prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord's side."

I am just speaking to people of faith here.

The Lord cannot bless a nation that embraces a culture of death concerning the unborn. He cannot bless a nation that embraces homosexual marriage. These 2 issues are clearly against His teachings in the Bible.

You cannot pick and choose which of God's principles you will obey and which you will disregard. If you do, you are in effect creating your own god, and putting that god before Him. That act violates the 1st commandment: Exodus 20:3 "You shall have no other gods before Me." We are created in His image, we don't create a god in ours.

On Sunday, our pastor challenged us to let God shape our thinking when we vote. As a Christian**, your vote represents God's voice to the government.

I am choosing the party that supports a culture of life and believes marriage between a man and a woman should be protected. That party's candidates are John McCain and Sarah Palin.

Is McCain perfect? Everything I could ever ask for in a candidate? No. But he does represent my Christian values. He also happens to support my American values.

"...choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods [idols] which your fathers served that were on the other side of the river... But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15

*I am also voting for Jim Sensenbrenner and Leah Vukmir.

**This statement was addressed to a Christian congregation. No candidate was endorsed.
 

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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Obama's I'm against same-sex marriage but against ending it's practice via California's Proposition 8 rings about as true as Wisconsin State Senator Jim Sullivan saying, he is for Voter ID but not for a state constitutional amendment referendum question requiring Voter ID. It's doublespeak for I don't want the current situation to change, but don't want to be on the record as saying so.

Obama Says He is Against Same-Sex Marriage But Also Against Ending Its Practice In Calif.:

Barack Obama's nuanced position on same-sex marriage is on full display in an MTV interview which is set to air on Monday.

Obama told MTV he believes marriage is "between a man and a woman" and that he is "not in favor of gay marriage." 

At the same time, Obama reiterated his opposition to Proposition 8, the California ballot measure which would eliminate a right to same-sex marriage that the state's Supreme Court recently recognized.

That's their Obama! Trying to be on both sides of the fence.

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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People, you have a voice. Use it!

When you speak up in volumes to corporations or to Congress, it usually has a positive affect. McDonald's recently reversed its support for gay and lesbian political and social issues. Sen. McCain is talking about drilling domestically because Americans demanded it.

Just a week ago, I told you about 2 Choice Hotels in New Jersey that offered a $50 discount to women who were in the process of having an abortion in Stay in our hotels, aborting young mothers do.  

I urged you to contact the hotel chain. I did. Evidently many people called and emailed, because yesterday I received a reply: (My emphasis)

Dear Kyle Prast:

Thank you for contacting us regarding your concerns about two hotels that are a part of the Choice Hotels franchise system.  We appreciate your input on this matter.  We have received several similar inquires. These two hotels, like all of our more than 4,600 franchised properties in the United States, are independently owned and operated. 

...While Choice as a franchisor develops national marketing programs, rates and promotion programs such as these are set locally.

As a result of inquiries like yours, The Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, upon reflection, has ended this practice of offering special rates to patients of the Cherry Hill Women's Center.

In addition, we have been advised by the Quality Inn in Maple Shade that any assertions of a similar discount at that hotel are false.

Thank you again for alerting us to this important issue. We hope you can now feel more comfortable about staying at our hotels.

Sincerely,

Mark Weiner
Vice President, Customer Care and Reservations, Choice Hotels International, Inc.

I emailed back a thank you. I don't know why the Quality Inn in Maple Shade, NJ was included in Family Research Council's alert, but they say they are not involved in the practice. Certainly the outpouring of negative public comment should keep other hotels in the area from offering similar discounts.

Money talks. Most businesses know they cannot afford to offend large groups of potential customers--especially in a depressed economy. Now if we could just get our government to be as responsive. It takes a lot of hammering by the public to make even the tiniest dent.

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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Obama wants you to spread your wealth around, but doesn't do it himself. His charitable donations are abysmal, amounting to less than 2% on average.

He wants you to contribute $845 billion to his Global Poverty Act, but he doesn't even help his own half-brother in Kenya. Guess he has no responsibility to half-brothers?

At the convention he summed up the ability to prosper in America, "Born into poverty? Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps, even if you don't have boots. You are on your own." He then contrasted that cynical view with his ideals: (My emphasis)

Our government should work for us, not against us.  It should help us, not hurt us.  It should ensure opportunity not just for those with the most money and influence, but for every American who's willing to work.

That's the promise of America - the idea that we are responsible for ourselves, but that we also rise or fall as one nation; the fundamental belief that I am my brother's keeper; I am my sister's keeper.

That's the promise we need to keep.  That's the change we need right now.  So let me spell out exactly what that change would mean if I am President.

Obama repeated his "I am my brother's keeper; I am my sister's keeper" clip in last night's infomercial.

Well, Obama isn't president yet, but we can see how much he believes in his own words: His own Aunt Zeituni lives in a rundown tenement in Boston. Guess being your sister's keeper doesn't apply to aunties either.

Last night Obama also appeared on Jon Sewart's show. He tried to diffuse the Socialist label by quipping,

"That whole socialism argument, that doesn't fly too well,'' Obama said. "The evidence of this seems pretty thin. I said today that I think they found proof that when I was in kindergarten I shared some toys with my friends and that's clearly a sign of subversive activity. 

But there is a big difference between sharing, which is voluntary, and being coerced to share, which is involuntary. Plus, sharing toys in kindergarten doesn't even count. The toys in kindergarten were not personally owned by Obama; they belonged to the school system

When we share our own assets, that is charity. When we share our own assets with friends, that is called friendship. When we are coerced to share our bounty through taxation--to spread the wealth around--that is called socialism! 

Obama summed it up best himself when he was asked about the greatest moral failure in his life and of America at the Saddleback Forum: (My emphasis)

...And what I traced this to [his wild living] is a certain selfishness on my part. I was so obsessed with me and, you know, the reasons that I might be dissatisfied that I couldn't focus on other people. And I think the process for me of growing up was to recognize that it's not about me. It's about --

WARREN: I like that. I like that.

OBAMA: Absolutely. So -- but look, you know, when I -- when I find myself taking the wrong step, I think a lot of times it's because I'm trying to protect myself instead of trying to do god's work.

WARREN: Yeah, fundamental selfishness.

OBAMA: So that, I think, is my own failure.

WARREN: What about America?

OBAMA:: I think America's greatest moral failure in my lifetime has been that we still don't abide by that basic precept in Matthew that whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me, and that notion of -- that basic principle applies to poverty... There's a pervasive sense, I think, that this country, as wealthy and powerful as we are, still don't spend enough time thinking about "the least of these."

Obama's selfishness and socialism is showing. If he does not do for the least of these in his own family, what makes you think he will do for you?

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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Open Doors is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the persecuted Christian church around the world. It was the result of a one man crusade, that began in 1955, to support the local persecuted church in Iron Curtain countries. That man was Dutch Christian, Andrew van der Bijl, better known as Brother Andrew.

Brother Andrew turned 80 this summer (pictured left), and he is still going strong.

Today, his Open Doors organization works worldwide to supply Bibles to countries closed to Christianity and help oppressed Christians there. This particular Muslim challenge involves sending Bibles to Christians in Islamic countries:

Open Doors has been offered a $100,000 Challenge Grant to provide Bibles to Muslim converts.

...There is an amazing miracle that is taking place in Muslim countries like Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Muslims… even some radical Muslims… are coming to know Christ as their Savior!

These new believers often risk everything when they turn from Islam to follow Christ.  And the one thing they pray and plead for most… to give them the courage to stand strong… is a copy of the Bible!

Today, you can be an answer to their prayers when you send them the precious gift of God’s Word.(Donate link)

I first learned about Brother Andrew through homeschooling. One of the most enjoyable things my son and I did during our homeschool years was to start our day by reading missionary biographies aloud.

They all were good, but God's Smuggler was one of the more memorable ones.

Reading about Andrew's adventures in his blue VW bug not only made us appreciate our religious freedoms but also strengthened our faith. We saw how the God of the Bible, who closed the mouths of the lions for Daniel, was still miraculously intervening in lives today. Synopsis:  

As a boy, Brother Andrew dreamed of being an undercover spy working behind enemy lines. As a man be found himself working undercover for God. His was a mission filled with danger, financed by faith, supported by miracles. Told it was impossible to minister behind the Iron Curtain, Andrew knew that nothing was too hard for God. Crossing "closed" borders, he prayed, "Lord, in my luggage I have Scripture I want to take to Your children. When You were on earth, You made blind eyes see. Now, I pray, make seeing eyes blind. Do not let the guards see those things You do not want them to see."

And they never did. For 35 years, Brother Andrew's life story has inspired millions to step out on their own journeys of faith. This young Dutch factory worker's near-incredible adventures testify of God's step-by-step guidance and hour-by-hour provision -- available to all who follow His call. Far from being over, Brother Andrew's current adventures are his most challenging yet. In a new prologue and epilogue, the Sherrills [authors] carry his story into the new millennium with an account of Andrew's work in the "closed" societies of Islam.

Andrew continued to work, risking his personal safety to bring Bibles to people in oppressed countries. His personal mission brought him to China and Islamic countries too. You can read more about Brother Andrew van der Bijl's adventures and conversion on his website or read his books. (Truth sometimes is more amazing than fiction!)

Today, other people* are risking their lives to bring Bibles to Muslim converts, and converts still risk all for their beliefs. If you are a person of faith, pray for those converts, Open Doors ministry, and help with the Muslim challenge financially if you can.

*I know of a family from Brookfield who left their very comfortable life here to become missionaries in the Middle East. Because of the risk to their safety, details are not available. 

Links: 

Joe the plumber sure put a face on the problem with taxing small businessmen and giving it to workers paying little or no Federal income tax at all.

Now we learn that Joe isn't Joe, he isn't a licensed plumber*, and in actuality, is not in such a high tax bracket**.

This Joe's real name is Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher. But whether he goes by Sam or Joe, there are plenty of small businessmen in the same very real tax situation that Joe asked Obama about.

Joe may not exactly be the "Joe the Plumber" we thought he was, but Barack Obama's tax give away answer is very real and sincerely believes in the ideology of spreading the wealth around.

If it were not for "Joe" would Americans have heard from Obama's own lips that, (My emphasis)

"It's not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody that is behind you, that they have a chance for success, too. I think that when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."

There isn't anything really new about Obama's "spread the wealth around" message. It just never got much national coverage. Real Clear Markets spelled it out well back in February:

The Obama spend-o-meter is now up around $800 billion. And tax hikes on the rich won't pay for it. It's the middle class that will ultimately shoulder this fiscal burden in terms of higher taxes and lower growth....

Obama would like voters to believe that he's the second coming of JFK. But with his unbelievable spending and new-government-agency proposals, he's looking more like Jimmy Carter. His is a "Grow the Government Bureaucracy Plan," and it's totally at odds with investment and business.

Obama says he wants U.S. corporations to stop "shipping jobs overseas" and bring their cash back home. But if he really wanted U.S. companies to keep more of their profits in the states, he'd be calling for a reduction in the corporate tax rate. Why isn't he demanding an end to the double-taxation of corporate earnings? It's simple: He wants higher taxes, too.

The Wall Street Journal's Steve Moore has done the math on Obama's tax plan. He says it will add up to a 39.6% personal income tax, a 52.2% combined income and payroll tax, a 28% capital-gains tax, a 39.6% dividends tax and a 55% estate tax.

Not only is Obama the big-spending candidate, he's also the very-high-tax candidate. And what he wants to tax is capital.

...

Obama believes he can use government, and not free markets, to drive the economy. But on taxes, trade and regulation, Obama's program is anti-growth. A President Obama would steer us in the social-market direction of Western Europe, which has produced only stagnant economies down through the years.

Joe certainly got his minutes of fame. He was on the Mike Huckabee show and greeted like a hero.  It took Joe the Plumber to put a face on the problem and bring it to the forefront. Why haven't we been talking more about this before?

Thank you, Joe. Sorry your life has become an open book.

*Many people in the trades do not have an actual license themselves but work under the license of an owner or boss.

** " Wurzelbacher never claimed to be making $250,000 a year. He told Obama that he might be 'getting ready to buy a company that makes about $250,000, $270,000' a year. His simple point was that Obama's punitive tax proposals would make it more difficult to realize his dream."

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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I always find it interesting to see how much politicians give to charity. Senator Joe Biden gave a paltry $995 last year, yet he made $2,450,042! And his $995 to nonprofits was over twice his normal yearly giving for the past 9 out of 10 years. Why do I say paltry? Because many teens I know give more money from their part time job income than he gave in his past average donations.  Biden made almost $2.5 million but gave such a little amount... amazing.

Actually, I am surprised at his Scrooge-ishness, because Biden says he is a Catholic. I would have thought he would have given his church more. (David Wade, a spokesperson, said the Bidens did give to their church, “The charitable contributions claimed by the Bidens on their tax returns are not the sum of their annual contributions to charity.” That could be the case. But why they wouldn't record these donations and put them on their tax return is beyond me, since that is such a standard practice. It raises the question, if you aren't claiming the entire amount, then why list any at all?)

I was thinking about stinginess vs. generosity again today when I looked at our church bulletin. I usually check the offering report for the previous week and often am pleasantly surprised at the dollar amounts listed. Our congregation almost always gives above the amount needed to stay on budget, and they do this without coercion.

The associate pastor does remind us from time to time that all we have is from God and that He allows us to keep around 90%. But there is no heavy handed tithe requirement or even a hint that giving more makes God love you more. The love is supposed to be coming from us to God in the giving, and it is evident in our church. Often people give more than the usual 10%. Many of these families are not wealthy and some are large, having 4 or more children.

Given that Al Gore and his wife gave a pittance, coupled with Biden's ridiculous amount, and the Obamas only recently gave above their 1% average, to me shows a selfishness. God instructs us to give Him the first of our fruits, not the left-overs. We are to trust Him to take care of us. (In fact, that was the subject of our sermon today, from a series on The Sermon on the Mount, Oct. 5, 2008)*

It's no wonder these politicians think people must be compelled by the government to give to social programs through taxes. They know they would not give voluntarily. From National Revue:

It has become a common practice, when a presidential candidate releases his or her tax returns, for reporters and pundits to examine how much the candidate gave to charity. In September 1992, for example, when the Washington Post reported that Al Gore, then the Democratic candidate for vice president, had released his tax returns, the second paragraph in the story noted that out of income of $183,558, Gore “donated $1,727 — less than 1 percent — to charity.

But thankfully, plenty of Americans do give voluntarily, and they give a lot!

When the government taxes me more, it reduces my ability to give to the good works I think are worthy. Taxes also compel me to support programs I don't agree with or think are immoral, such as Planned Parenthood or ACORN. My "donation" in the form of taxes gets less bang for my buck because it must first travel through the maze of wasteful government bureaucracy.

If politicians like Biden, Obama, and Gore would give more to charity, maybe they would be less eager to increase taxes to pay for government social programs. Maybe then they would be more understanding of how higher taxes impacts voluntary giving. Obviously they have not tried it.

In case you were interested, McCain's giving, Palin's income and giving. 

*When my husband was laid off in 1982, we were concerned that we would not be able to meet our charitable donation commitments. Thankfully, we got through it.  

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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In 1983, 11 people gathered in the conference room of the McLario law firm in Menomonee Falls for a church service. Out of that core group Brookside Baptist Church was born. Today, 25 years later, often 900 people attend Brookside on a Sunday.

This Sunday, Sept. 28th, in celebration of Brookside's 25th Anniversary, two of our former pastors, Dean Taylor and Bill Jones will be preaching as part of the celebration. 

Our family started attending 9 years ago when the church was still in their smaller building on Hampton and Lisbon Rd., in Brookfield. Every Sunday it seemed the building was getting smaller! Soon they needed to hold 3 services--it was time to expand.

Brookside built the new facility on Pilgrim Rd. just south of Lisbon Rd. 5 years ago. Using lots of free labor from the congregation, Brooksiders pitched in with electrical, plumbing, concrete, finish carpentry, painting, staining, and tile work. It was hard work, yet it was a satisfying experience. I helped with some of those tasks; other women brought lunch to the crew every Saturday. It reminded me of the old time barn raising where everyone pitched in to help. Once the building was finished, it was great to all be in one church service again. That did not last for long; we soon needed 2 morning services again...and so it goes.

About 2 years ago, Brookside started a Spanish church. Our Pastor, Dr. Sam Horn would preach a Spanish sermon during the Sunday School hour on Sunday mornings. I attended a few times and I found it enjoyable to try and see how much I could understand. (Un poco.) Singing the hymns in Spanish was much easier. We have since hired a Spanish pastor for this church within a church. 

Our church has grown through the grace of God. It will be interesting what the next 25 years brings.

Drop in sometime if you don't already attend a church or watch a sermon on the internet.  See what Brookside has to offer. 

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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The movie, FIREPROOF opens today at 2 area theaters. From the previews, it sounds like a must see for any married couple, and probably would set a good foundation for anyone getting married too."FIREPROOF is the third feature film from Sherwood Pictures--the creators of FACING THE GIANTS and FLYWHEEL."

This is a low-budget film, but the story looks good. Kirk Cameron stars as a firefighter whose marriage is in serious trouble. His father challenges him to the "love dare" for 40 days. A firefighter friend encourages Kirk to work to save his marriage saying you go into a burning building to rescue a total stranger but you won't try to rescue your own marriage? After all, a firefighter's motto is that you never leave your partner behind.

I heard about the movie from a homeschool friend of mine that is going into full time service with Family Life ministry, an organization set up to help strengthen marriages and families. 

Interestingly, the Pope issued a statement today about troubled marriages too. With the help of God, marriage crises can be overcome

Vatican City, Sep 26, 2008 / 10:24 am (CNA).- Meeting with participants of the Retrouvaille Association, Pope Benedict XVI explained that when a marriage is suffering, the spouses are facing an opportunity that "will help them to grow." Guided by Mary* and with the help of the Lord, their love will be purified, deepened and strengthened.

Is your marriage FIREPROOF? The movie opens at the Ridge in New Berlin and the Menomonee Falls 18 today.

What do you have to lose? 

*Although I am not Catholic, I do agree with the Pope that the Lord will help those seeking to improve their marriage.

Don't forget, the Civil War weekend at the Wade House  

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What if I had a cure for Parkinson's, leukemia, diabetes, or paralysis caused by spinal cord injury? All you would have to do is take an infant, remove all of its stem cells (sorry, the infant dies), tweak the cells, and transfer them to the ill patient.

Would you do it?

Most people wouldn't and would consider that murderous act barbaric. Yet those who favor embryonic stem cell research are in effect doing just that in the eyes of those who are pro-life.

If you believe that life begins at conception, then even using an embryo for research purposes is an act of murder.

President Bush has been adamantly opposed to federal funding for embryonic stem cell research for that very reason. (The Bush stance only opposes federal funding--not outlawing private research.)

McCain has voted for existing embryonic stem cell research in the past, but those measures failed. John McCain is opposed to embryonic stem cell research that would encourage growing embryos for the purpose. The Republican platform is against any federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, but THEY ALL, BUSH, McCAIN, and PALIN FAVOR FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ADULT STEM CELL RESEARCH! 

The outrageous Obama radio ad that distorts McCain's position includes a woman talking about her diabetic daughter. She says that John McCain is opposed to stem cell research. It goes on to say that medical research, benefiting millions, shouldn't be held hostage by a few.

So why do the Democrats constantly tell people that McCain and Bush are against stem cell research?

Two reasons: One, they want to portray the Republicans as heartless cretins, too stuck on religious principal to care about the ill. Two, if the Democrats can get people to buy into the necessity for embryonic stem cell research, it will dilute the anti-abortion/sanctity of life position of conservatives.

The issue should become moot in time, according to CNS, which is consistent with what I have seen reported*,

Stem cells obtained from adult humans have been widely acclaimed for their ability to promote human health and stave off dreaded illnesses. Stem cells obtained from human embryos, however, have not been successful in yielding results in scientific research thus far.

It will be wonderful to cure some of these diseases in the near future. McCain and Palin are in favor of curing these diseases too, just not at the expense of another individual! Remember that next time you hear an Obama ad saying they aren't.

PS Nick Reed (substitute for Vicki McKenna) called the mother, Jody Montgomery, from the ad to ask if she knew she was telling a complete lie. Turns out, this is the same woman who used the same type ad against Mark Green 2 years ago. Listen to the podcast from the 10am hour on Sept. 24th to hear more.

*Nick Reed just name some of the 73 benefits to human patients obtained from ADULT stem cell research on the same radio program. He continued the stem cell discussion into the 11am hour. He mentioned the 73 benefits at about 11:20am if you were listening to the podcast. See Stemcellresearch.org 

Brookfield District 7 Info meeting, Wed., Sept. 24, 2-3pm or 6:30-7:30pm City Clerk Kris Schmidt will be in attendance to answer questions or concerns regarding recent news about the Van Hollen lawsuit against the state elections authority.

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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Author Kitty Foth-Regner is the featured speaker at the Creation Science Society of Milwaukee's September meeting. (See bottom of post for location.) The speaker's name means nothing to me*, but her story is compelling. She was an atheist/agnostic for 30 years but now is a Bible believing Christian. (It does happen, and Creation Science played a part in her conversion.)

For those who assume that any Bible believing Christian who also believes in Creation must check their brains at the door, Kitty graduated summa *** laude from UWM. She is a a freelance copywriter, co-author, and author.

So how did this atheist become a believer? Unfortunately, it took a tragedy. From the Creation Science Society newsletter,

When a mother dies, science and prophecy lead a grieving daughter from feminist atheism to Biblical Truth. Is there a God? A heaven? Will we be able to spend eternity there with our loved ones? And if so, can we find out for sure how to get there...before it is too late?

These are the questions asked eight years ago by a heartbroken woman in the wake of her mother's death--questions that she spent more than a year investigating...

There is a happy ending to this story, as is to be expected whenever someone sets out in sincere pursuit of the truth. 

Kitty Foth-Regner writes about her quest to find the truth in her book, Heaven Without Her: A Desperate Daughter's Search for the Heart of Her Mother's Faith. "Her book is helpful for anyone seeking the truth about eternity, as well as for equipping Christians with a reason for the hope of heaven. Kitty Foth-Regner describes in often witty and moving detail how topics as earth-bound as origin via creation, genetic mutation and irreducible complexity can lead to heaven-bound joy."

I would think her talk would be of interest to anyone wondering if there is a God and did He create the universe. She is sure to strengthen the faith of believers and encourage them not to give up praying for atheist friends and family. Kitty lives in Waukesha with her husband and assorted pets.

Hear her speak on Tuesday, September 23, at 7:30 pm at Milwaukee Lutheran High School Library, 9700 W. Grantosa Drive, Milwaukee, WI (near the Greek Orthodox Church). Once at the high school, walk westward, under the roofed walkway, and use the main doors walking up the stairs to the library. 

*Talk about a small world. Kitty's name rang a bell with my sister who said, Kitty is a member of our church!  

Brookfield District 7 Info meeting, Wed., Sept. 24, 2-3pm or 6:30-7:30pm

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, Mark Levin,  Vicki Mckenna

I am a little puzzled by this statement, since the Democrat's presidential candidate and platform are pro-abortion too.

The Roman Catholic group, Fidelis, says Barack Obama's selection of pro-abortion Catholic Joe Biden to be his V.P. running mate "is a slap in the face to Catholic voters" and poses a major challenge for American Catholics.

In a press release sent out overnight, Fidelis president, Brian Burch, declared that Barack Obama has "re-opened a wound among American Catholics" by picking a pro-abortion Catholic politician like Joe Biden.

According to Burch, the American Catholic bishops have made it clear that Catholic political leaders must defend the dignity of every human person, including the unborn. 

The article goes on to state Joe Biden's "steadfast support for legal abortion" in the US Senate. 

This same issue came up in the 2004 election when John Kerry "sparked a nationwide controversy over whether Catholics who support legal abortion can receive communion." 

The Catholic group's president, Brian Burch stated, "Selecting a pro-abortion Catholic is a slap in the face to Catholic voters."

According to Burch, "The American bishops have instructed Catholic voters to consider many issues, but have characterized the defense of human life as foundational and have explained that the issue has a special claim on the conscience of the Catholic voter. This means that a political candidate like Biden, because of his strong support for abortion rights, forfeits any claim for support despite his views on other issues like health care and the economy."

I would agree with Mr. Burch that this issue is foundational.

What I don't quite understand is why would a pro-life Catholic (or a pro-life voter from any other religion) be voting for Barack Obama--the most anti pro-life candidate? 

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, Mark Levin,   Vicki Mckenna

If you are a child, 4 years old through 6th grade, you are invited to Brookside Baptist Church's Vacation Bible School next week.

The theme this summer is Medieval Mayhem. (I think it is based on an Armor of God theme--same topic as our recent Sunday sermons.)

The Medieval Mayhem fun runs from Monday, July 14th through Friday, July 18th, 5:45 pm - 8:30pm.

On Friday, there will be a carnival night for all families and ages.

Oh, did I mention it is free?

Brookside is located on Pilgrim Road, just south of Lisbon. Address: 4470 N. Pilgrim Road, Brookfield, WI 53005, 262-783-6180

Click here to sign the DRILL HERE. DRILL NOW. PAY LESS.  domestic drilling petition and see the latest links to related oil news (updated every day).

Drill Here is now over the 1.3 million mark. The goal is 3 million signatures by the Democratic and Republican Conventions. 

Links:  

Just when I finally think I can stomach a McCain presidency, John goes and does something else that makes me shake my head in disgust.

McCain just joined 23 other senators in asking the EPA to reconsider some pollution standards. Good, I thought. Then right on the heels of that positive action, McCain still is talking Cap and Trade.

Oh well, he is still better than the alternative. But now this. The possibility of a McCain/Huckabee ticket.

Reason? To woo evangelical voters like me. With the Huckster? Ugh. McCain just alienated me again!!!

If McCain wants to woo the greatest number of evangelical voters, all he has to do is pick a true social and fiscal conservative as a running mate. Someone we would like to see as the next president in 2012. That is NOT Huckabee. 

First rule in picking running mate: First, do no harm.

Possible running mates better than Huckabee: J. C. Watts Jr. (He was even a Southern Baptist Youth Minister for 7 years),  Bobby Jindal, Paul Ryan, hey, even Haley Barbour is looking good compared to Huckabee.

If the conservatives squash Huckabee like they did Harriet Miers, McCain might come to his senses. Let the squelching begin. 

Links:

This Saturday, May 10th, the feature length film, The Enemy God will be shown at 3-5 PM, at Elmbrook Church.

The film is a true story of how a former Yanomamo Indian shaman (witchdoctor) from the Amazon basin is told by outsiders that there is a great creator spirit who loves him. Interestingly, the witchdoctor already knows about this great creator spirit because of the many spirits that indwell him. Problem is, his spirits tell him that this great creator spirit is his enemy. His dilemma is to decide who is telling him the truth: his indwelling spirits (demons) or the missionaries who assure him that the great creator spirit (God) is good. "Are the spirits which indwell him lying--could it be that the great creator spirit is NOT his enemy as he had always been taught by the older shamans of his tribe?"

This is a question each one of us must answer. Is God our friend or enemy?

My cousin Matt, a producer for 10X Productions, has been working on this movie for over 5 years. It is a full length film that was recently chosen as an official selection of the Breckenridge Festival of Film in Colorado. It was also awarded, "Best International Film" and "Best Supernatural Film" by Brilliant Light International Film Festival of Los Angeles.

Many people believe that tribal people live happy lives apart from any knowledge of God. This movie challenges that concept. Watch a trailer from the movie here. (Matt and other people connected with the film are interviewed.) You will hear from the Yanomamo people, in their own words, how they were not happy apart from God. This movie was made at the request of the Yanomamo people to set the record straight.

Although the movie is not yet rated, it probably would be considered PG-13--not recommended for children 13 and under.

Admission is free on a first come, first served basis. Hope to see you there.

Elmbrook Church is located on 777 South Barker Road, Brookfield. Movie will be shown in the Amphitheater.

Links: