Michelle Bachmann on "No" Vote for Raising Debt Ceiling

While Michelle Bachmann and others have taken some heat for voting "No" on the debt ceiling, she and her colleagues were absolutely right to do so, and in fact, were sent the message by the Republican sweep that this was what the people wanted.

Many of those voted in as Tea Party candidates to shrink the size of government rejected the mandate and caved in to pressure, voting to raise the debt ceiling. Michelle Bachmann didn't, and explains her reason for not doing so.

Washington needs fundamental changes to the way it spends taxpayer dollars. Never has this kind of change been more urgent than now, when the federal government is running a deficit of $14.3 trillion. Right now, every household in America bears a burden of $130,000, and every individual owes $46,600.

Even with these incredible numbers, President Obama is still calling for an increase in the debt limit, which equates to more borrowing from our future generations.

Because I know that government spending is no different from spending by individuals, families, or businesses, I remained firmly opposed to raising the debt limit. No entity can borrow indefinitely, spending money it doesn’t have, without paying it back.

President Obama has also proposed raising taxes as a way around our debt crisis. But it is important to remember that tax hikes will only hurt America’s small businesses and stifle job creation. This is at a time when unemployment across the nation stands at an unacceptable 9.2 percent. More taxes give Washington more time to delay reform of its scores of wasteful programs and agencies.

It is an outrage that hardworking and responsible Americans are being shackled with the debts from bloated spending by our federal government. It is time for Washington to break the habit and get its fiscal house in order.

Bachmann was also on Hannity recently explaining her vote against raising the debt ceiling.

Ron Paul's Views on Abortion and Stem Cell Research

Ron Paul gives his views on abortion and stem cell research in this video.

Acts 29 Review TV Channel

With the Acts 29 Review TV channel, we'll include topics relevant to interests of the readers of the Website.

Our other Channel topics will be included in the TV portion of Acts 29 Review, but only those in video form. All links below include a video with it.


Ron Paul Rejects Human Evolution

Ron Paul on Abortion and Stem Cell Research

Michelle Bachmann on Pro-Life Stance

Ron Paul's Pro-Life Stance

Gene Edwards on Proper Order of Paul's Letters in New Testament

Watchman Nee on Brokenness

Life of John Wycliffe and the Lollards

John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress

The Bloody War for the Bible

Biography of John Huss

Ron Paul Rejects Human Evolution

It's been a bizarre situation to see various media outlets attempt to smear those campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination with the rejection of the theory of evolution, as if it had anything to do with governance.

Not only that, as science has improved since the time of Darwin, more and more proof has emerged that refutes the ridiculous theory, and it is evolution that is backtracking, not creationism, which an enormous number of Americans believe in.

Paul said in 2007 when asked about the question of where he stands on the issue.

"Well, first I thought it was a very inappropriate question, you know, for the presidency to be decided on a scientific matter. I think it's a theory...the theory of evolution and I don't accept it as a theory. But I think the creator that I know, you know created us, every one of us and created the universe and the precise time and manner and all. I just don't think we're at the point where anybody has absolute proof on either side."

Of course since we as Christians operate in faith, the proof is in the intelligence associated with faith, not in refuting a theory which has no reality behind it. Do we have to prove there's no easter bunny as well, or no tooth fairy? They're as real as the silly evolution theory that is crumbling under the weight of a growing amount of scientific evidence revealing it's nonsense.

Having said that, the idea that God created the universe being attempted to be positioned as an extreme position which would undermine the credibility of a candidate for the presidency is ludicrous and bizarre.

It speaks more to the misguided mindset of someone who would misinterpret the American public in such a way, rather than it does any candidate believing in our Creator.

Rand Paul Demands for Kreuger to Step Down

Rand Paul blasted Obama's appointment of Alan Krueger to head the Council of Economic Advisers.

Paul said:

Alan Krueger is nothing more than an extreme government interventionist, cut from the same cloth as those who have failed to correctly predict, diagnose, and manage our economic problem. During his tenure at the Treasury Department, Alan Krueger helped design the ‘Cash for Clunkers’ program and even supported a European style value-added tax that would raise prices on American families.

This repetition of bad economic decisions by the President and his advisers could be described as the epitome of insanity – doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result each time. Hasn’t the President realized we don’t need more big-government Keynesians in Washington saddling the American taxpayer with trillions in debt? The President’s economic policies have been an abysmal failure. His economic advisers have helped lead to these failures.

I have called for Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner to resign, and I am now calling on Alan Krueger to step down before he even begins his new role, before any more damage can be done to the American economy by this Administration.

Kreuger is so inept he has actually stated that raising the minimum wage doesn't decrease employment for young people and unskilled workers; a fact long ago proven to be the case.

It's great to have a Senator like Rand Paul who understands economics and the consequences of government interference in the market place.

Obama's Solar Strategy Bankrupt, Along with Solyndra

The ineffective solar initiative and strategy of Obama has resulted in the bankruptcy of Solyndra, resulting in a loss of 1,100 jobs, in the doomed, so-called "green" industry.

Green is mean will increasingly become the byword of the American people, as the lack of demand from the government-created solar sector reveals the dubious nature of any industry supported by any government.

Also of note in the Solyndra debacle, is the very questionable ties between Obama, Democrats, and the failed company.

Campaign finance records reveal that there has been a financial history between these actors, with Solydra receiving $535 million in backing from the Feds, while executives and shareholders of Solyndra campaigned and raise money for the Obama administration.

Campaign finance records state that Tulsa billionaire George Kaiser, a major Obama supporter, and Solyndra executives and board members, donated $87,050 total to Obama’s election campaign. Kaiser alone donated $53,500 to the 2008 election campaign of Obama, with part of that going to the DSCC.

The increasingly inept and buffoonish Obama boasted of Solydra as a model for success concerning his green-energy initiative, which is increasingly a joke. Even the highly-hyped electric car is almost totally irrelevant to consumers, as evidenced by Costco removing chargers from its stores because no one used them.

Obama justified the controversial $535 million loan, saying it would create 4,000 jobs. Not only did it not do that, but all the jobs artifically created are lost, as the company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

There is a lot of egg on Obama's face, as he said in a 2010 visit to the Solyndra facility that it is “a testament to American ingenuity and dynamism and the fact that we continue to have the best universities in the world, the best technology in the world, and most importantly the best workers in the world.”

Now I'm sure we'll hear complete silence over the enormous failure, as the global solar industry continues to reel as declining demand and lack of capital devastate the sector.

This is why government need to keep their noses out of the free market. In a real free market there wouldn't have been the $535 million wasted, and now another large crop of workers applying for unemployment.

Women Who Abort Babies Develop Mental Health Problems

In an unsurprising conclusion of maybe the first honest study done concerning the effects of a woman cooperating in the murder of her baby through abortion, it was found that far more women face mental health issues how have had an abortion, than those that don't.

This is obvious if you've ever talked to women after they helped murder their children, as those I have met and talked to have always had regrets over the deed.

Published in the September 1 issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry, the authors of the study concluded this: "Results indicate quite consistently that abortion is associated with moderate to highly increased risks of psychological problems subsequent to the procedure."

The study had a strong representation of women, with 877,000 women participating, of which 164,000 had an abortion. Findings of the study were women who had an abortion were 81 percent more likely to have mental health problems. Participating in murder does that to a person.

Per the study, "Women who had an abortion were 34 percent more likely to develop an anxiety disorder, 37 percent more likely to experience depression, 110 percent more likely to abuse alcohol, 155 percent more likely to commit suicide, and 220 percent more likely to use marijuana."

Dr. Priscilla Coleman, professor of human development and family studies at Bowling Green State University, advised, "There are in fact some real risks associated with abortion that should be shared with women as they are counseled prior to an abortion."

In America alone, approximately 827,000 women still have an abortion on an annual basis.

Study Confirms Chocolate Reduces Heart Disease, Stroke Risk

Most of us probably know chocolate, especially dark chocolate, reduces blood pressure, plaque formation and bad LDL cholesterol, but recent studies by the University of Cambridge in England found that five out of seven studies concluded those consistently eating chocolate had lower risks of stroke and heart problems.

Over 100,000 people participated in the seven studies, according to the study published in the August 29, 2011 issue of the British Medical Journal, whereby those eating chocolate reduced heart disease by 37 percent and strokes by 29 percent. The secret was the amount and consistency of those eating the chocolate.

The studies didn't measure the type of chocolate consumed by the volunteers, or what form it took. For example, in brownies, candy bars, and other types of dessert forms, or whether the chocolate was milk or dark.

So far the conclusion, in general, is chocolate should be eaten moderately, as there are the calorie and sugar issues which could generate weight gain and other health problems.

Still, great news for chocolate lovers who can consistently, but moderately consume chocolate.

While consistency is considered an important part of the health factor related to chocolate, there needs to be more research conducted to find out the quantity of chocolate that was consumed to bring the healthy results.

Source

Diet, Not Pesticides, Major Health Problem Says Scientist

It was interesting to hear what Bruce Ames, senior scientist at the Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute in California, recently stated about the unproven assertion pesticides on food are harmful to human beings.

According to Ames, the idea of not eating fruits and vegetables because of fear of pesticides, or not eating them in general, would be far more harmful to people than a small amount of pesticide on the food.

Ames also struck out at the assertion organic fruits and vegetables are safer.

He said, "If you ask the public what is causing cancer, they'll say it's the pesticides on fruits and vegetables, but that's the wrong message to give people. To me, the real risks are eating a bad diet, even if you just take obesity."

"Environmentalists hate me because I'm saying everything they've been passionate about for years is wrong. I think pesticides are good for the environment because you're getting more food out of less land and they're not giving you cancer at the level you're getting them."

In what would surprise most people, the majority of experts agree with Ames that it is better to eat fruits and vegetables of any kind, than to fore go them in lieu of fears of the effects of pesticides. That is more unhealthy than the latter.

Contrary to media reports, there is very little evidence pesticides on fruit and vegetables cause health problems.

Ames adds, that there are natural pesticides on every plant, which account for over 100 chemicals or more, which the plants have a a defense against predators. These account for over 99 percent of all the chemicals we consume, claims Ames, as are just as apt to cause cancer as synthetic pesticides are, according to studies.

"When you eat broccoli, you make compounds that work the same as dioxins" and bind the same receptor, Ames said. "When you compare the amounts, it seems like you should worry about broccoli. The whole thing didn't seem plausible."

The bottom line for Christians is to continue to be very skeptical of reports and studies which always have behind them more government control and centralized authority. This is even more dangerous to your health than anything else.

T. Austin-Sparks and Local Church 6 - Functioning

In this article, we'll look at what T. Austin-Sparks considered traits a properly functioninglocal Church must have if it is a true one. To me it's obvious that this will happen over time, and it has to be worked on to come to this state.

But having said that, as Sparks has said, if Christ has required it, then it is attainable. That's where he focuses on the need for heavenly resources and a deep work of the cross. Without either one, the attempt will be futile.

Here's Sparks take on functioning, local churches:

The Local Expression of the Church

BEFORE leaving our consideration of the Church, I feel strongly that I should say a few things of vital importance as to a true local expression of the Church. I know only too well how difficult it is to find or secure any such true expression, but that is no reason why we should abandon the whole matter: rather is it a pointer to its value, for history and experience have shown that this is one thing that is of very great account where the adversary of Christ is concerned. To prevent or destroy such expressions has always been a major concern of the powers of evil. The true Church, universal and local, is a very great menace to the kingdom of Satan. This we have emphasised in earlier chapters. But let us summarise:

(1) The importance of the Church in local expressions

We must first remind ourselves that a solid block of the New Testament was written specifically to local churches; which churches had been the first result of apostolic ministry. That ministry, and all the suffering involved, had been vindicated in local corporate bodies of believers. It was for those churches that the apostles travailed, laboured, prayed and fought. The bulk of the New Testament had its
supreme concern for such assemblies which, themselves, had known great sufferings in their very birth, and were in "a great fight of affliction" for their continuance and survival.

Then we must remember that the Lord's own personal concern for, and evaluation of local churches is made very evident by His direct messages to the seven churches in Asia with which the book of finalities (Revelation) commences. There is no mistaking the importance to the exalted Lord of local churches when we read those messages, the focal point of which is a clause in one of them "These things saith the Son of God." The Psalmist Would say: "Selah" -- "think of that!"

(2) This importance is to be seen in the specific values of a local assembly, when rightly functioning (a) Here the principle that "No man liveth unto himself, and no man dieth unto himself" (Romans 14:7) is enunciated in relation to the
local church in the messages to the churches in Asia. It is said of the church in Ephesus that through them "all they which be in Asia heard the word of the Lord" (Acts 19:10 -- see 1 Thessalonians 1:8).

It should be impossible for a local assembly of God's people to exist without it being known over an area far greater than its own locality. A living company will, sooner or later, be known abroad for what it has of the Lord.

(b) To enlarge on this, a local church should have, not only enough spiritual bread for itself, but basketfulls over to spare, and many beyond its borders should be receiving enrichment from its spiritual wealth. Is this not so very evident in history? Have not the Lord's people been feeding down the ages unto this day upon the bread ministered to and through those New Testament churches? Is it not true that multitudes have been fed, and are still being fed by the food ministered in local churches in many places in the last century? So the Lord would have it. The church which only ministers to itself and does not do so to the Church at large is committing a sin against the trust of life; it is a cul-de-sac, not a highway. Of course, it is particularly important that the ministry in a local church is truly
anointed ministry. Not by man's appointment, selection or decision from either side. Not by studied-up and made-up addresses, but by illumination and inspiration as through an open heaven. Not just keeping something going as a must, but by revelation of Jesus Christ. It must be evident to all that those leading and ministering are under a genuine burden from the Lord, and the evidence is life!

(c) The local church should, and can be a refuge, a covering, a protection to its own members. One of Satan's master-tactics is to isolate believers and then knock them out. This can be done by unwise and independent action, choices, movements, uncounselled decisions.

The church by its prayers, and counsel, and fellowship is a Divine provision against the tragedies which lie in the way of independence and isolation. Co-operation and coordination in the physical body are a provision and a law against many diseases. So it is in the spiritual body corporate.

(d) The local church should provide personal ministries to the Lord's people, and to the unsaved near and far, and it should provide an encompassing safeguard and support for the fulfilment of such ministries. Those who go forth in the church's ministry should know that they are being upheld and stood with by those from amongst whom they have gone. Indeed, they should go as sent forth by the church!

The lack and absence of these characteristics in local companies is the cause of much weakness in the Church universal.

(e) Finally, a local church rightly functioning is a wonderful provision for the training of its members for service. Training is so largely a matter of being able to work corporately. How to live and work with others, and to sink individualism into fellowship, is a real part of the discipline which makes a fruitful ministry!

There is a real danger in departmentalism; the separation into isolated groups, so that these groups do not come into the corporate life and function of the church. It is possible to have groups associated with a local church which really have no true church life.

This means weakness and loss. Moreover, the local church should be its own Bible School, for systematic instruction in the Word of God.

Careful reading of the Bible, especially the New Testament, will show that what we have said above is all there as exhortation, admonition, warning, instruction, and example.

Were I to add one more vital and all-inclusive thing, I would say that the absolute essential to such churches is a real work of the Cross in everyone concerned.

That last statement on the cross is so understated and vast, it will be treated separately in another series. The deep work of the cross in the lives of believers must happen in order to a local church to effectively reveal and release the life of Christ.