Principled Pragmatism Prepetuates Unemployment Payments

President-Elect Obama is proudly pronouncing pragmatic members of his new administration and pragmatic principles upon which he will operate. In case you've missed it, http://www.change.gov/ is the web-site for the Office of the President-Elect, and there are many interesting features that "you've mandated".

On Nov 15th Obama called for the extension of employment benefits, and on Nov 21st announced that Congress had acted, saying that millions of Americans are lying awake at night not knowing if they can pay their bills or not. I guess they'll rest easier now. Extending unemployment benefits beyond the normal one-year period is apparently "what works"; the pragmatic solution. On a number of occasions President-Elect Obama has stated that he will govern with policies that work. In a 60 Minutes interview on Nov 16th he said ...

"I don't want to get caught up in a lot ideology ... my interest is finding something that works" - President-Elect Obama

While denouncing ideologues, Obama is espousing the ideology of pragmatism. Pragmatism does not know truth; it has no moral or ethical limits. Pragmatism is relative by nature and has roots in men such as Darwin and Dewey.

I must admit, I'm more comfortable with Obama's words now than during the campaign cycle. The Weekly Addresses are the same tired song, but some of the interviews reflect rationale objective logic over the resounding mantra of change. I'd love to see some federal programs obsoleted, as Obama has called for. He has slightly backed off from the Leftist supporters that got him elected. They are wondering what happened to their candidate, and when he's going to enact programs for their benefit. But while he targets elimination of subsidies to rich farmers, he wants to increase subsidy for long-term unemployment. Obama likes rewarding those doing good in the environment or public schools, and at the same time rewards those doing bad in the labor market. Someone please explain...

This Sunday, Nov. 30th, let's talk about pragmatism and unemployment benefits. How does pragmatism compare to other ideologies? Can it offer a principled approach to unemployment and other problems? Are American workers due an equivalent job and wages after being laid off? Obama claims the feds are on solid ground in providing jobs to the unemployed, and at the same time states that we're a free market economy. What do you think? What are the Constitutional and Biblical considerations for the federal government coming to the aid of the unemployed?

Oh, don't forget your pragmatic solutions...

God Save the U.S.A.

Churches Under Secular Heads

Maybe you think the above title is some kind of prophecy. It is the present reality. Yes, things could get worse. They can also get better. Will the church pursue a change in legal status?

The majority of today's U.S. churches are legally and organizationally bound to a head other than Christ. Churches that incorporate and establish a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status with the IRS are bound to certain rules that are secular in origin. As a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, I know full well the restrictions, requirements, limitations and administrative obligations of such an organization. Even just an incorporation establishes a legal entity that can be sued and is subject to the civil code of state federal laws. These matters are of great importance, and Christian Lawyer, Jerald Finney has something to say about it.

“When a New Testament church does anything contrary to Scripture which gives even partial claim of sovereignty over that church to the state, that church has committed a wicked act which subjects her to another head, thereby greatly displeasing the Lord. That church has betrayed the Lord” – Jerald Finney, God Betrayed: The Separation of Church and State: The Biblical Principles and the American Application

Finney asserts that contemporary churches have done a wicked act in the sight of God by wilfully submitting to a secular heads, the state and federal governments. That is not to say the church is not accountable to criminal law.

Jerald Finney and Steven Reeves were our guests on the first Political Hope Radio Show aired on July 27, 2008. Join us this Sunday, Nov 23, as we reflect on that show, and add to the discussion of challenges facing the New Testament churches in the U.S.

RRISD Rents say TTYL to Lauren Myracle

It’s a cute little pink book; Bright yellow emoticons on the cover. Your eleven-year-old daughter brings TTYL home from the school library. When the “rents” review the book, they find out it’s not cute at all; in fact it’s vulgar and sexually explicit. That’s what happened to Wes & Sherry Jennings, parents of a student in a Round Rock ISD Middle School.

TTYL (Talk to You Later) is the book title. TTYL is about three High School sophomore girls who are best friends that stick it out through thick and thin. That’s all great. Too bad writer Lauren Myracle thinks teen girls will be sexually repressed by their Christian parents, and must be liberated by an X-rated and vulgar sexual expose of the "real world". TTYL is deservedly on the 2007 top ten most banned book list of ALA.


Thanks to persistent objection from RRISD parents, the book has been removed from Round Rock Middle School libraries. Superintendent, Dr. Jesus Chavez took action to protect young readers against TTYL on Monday, Nov. 17th.

Thank God that parents have stood up to the process, and persisted in protecting little ones. Thank God that Dr. Chavez recognized TTYL is not appropriate for Middle School girls. The Jennings and other Round Rock parents have set a great example, making a difference by engaging the process.


God Save the U.S.A.

Show Announcement: The Future of Liberty, Part II

The future destiny of our nation will soon be in the hands of the most left leaning Presidential Administration and Congress we've ever seen. The secularization of America and its institutions is still raging on its destructive path.

What will you do? Will you continue to be silent and disengaged from the political process? Will you continue to mind your own business?

Parents in Round Rock ISD are setting the example on a local book controversy. The 11-year-old daughter of Wes and Sherry Jennings checked out the cute little book "TTYL", by Lauren Myracle, from a Middle School library. The book turned out to be not so cute; in fact, it's vulgar, bigoted, and X-rated sexually explicit. RRISD officials have thus far taken no steps to protect the little ones from sin. Jennings will be joining us to expose the issue and tell how we can help.

... whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Matt 18:6 (ESV)

Rob Hurlbut of TakeUp.org will also join the program. Hurlburt is a Kingdom Warrior. He knows first hand how the political system works, and what we can do to impact our nation. As we prepare for the first 100 days of a new Presidential Administration and a new Congress, we must be ready to stand and to speak.

Call the Political Hope Radio Show to voice your opinion this Sunday at 4 pm CDT. You can hear us on The Word 98.5 & 99.3 KLGO FM Radio in Austin, or listen on-line ... http://www.theword993.com/

We need your calls. Pick up the phone and join the discussion every Sunday at 4pm. The call in numbers are ... (512) 637-9673 (WORD) - or - (888) 860-9673

Show Announcement: The Future of Liberty, Part 1

The Election is over and the results are speaking. The intentions of the hearts and minds of Americans have been revealed on a ballot and the vote count rings loud with the past actions, the current climate, and the future destiny of our nation.

We have seen the United States of America drift away from morality, the church and God. We have seen God systematically removed from public life in America.

What is the true Hope of our Nation? What will it take to keep aflame the Torch of Freedom in America? Will the next Presidential Administration and U.S. Congress continue the secularization of America? Will God or Government have preeminence in our nation?

Join us the Sunday at 4 pm as we look at liberty in the U.S.A. http://www.theword993.com/

God Save the U.S.A.

Socialist Education & Economics

Cynthia Dunbar and Jonathan Saenz joined our show on Sunday, November 2nd. Cynthia is very articulate in communicating the associations of the Bible and the Constitution, and she has a new book, "One Nation Under God: How the Left is Trying to Erase What Made Us Great" Jonathan Saenz is Director of Legislative Affairs for Free Market Foundation. Jonathan knows first hand the legal attacks of the leftist/socialist agenda.

The show is now posted on our web-site for your listening. There is an mp3 download link on the Program Page of the Political Hope Radio Show web-site, and you can still listen to and browse the shows on our SMP player.

NOTICE: I'll also be on the Homeward Bound Program today (Monday, Nov 3rd) with Richard Curlee on the Word, KLGO 99.3 FM or http://www.theword933.com/. You can listen on-line or on FM radio in Austin, and you can call-in to the show at (512) 637-9673.

[Show Announcment] Jim Dillon Interview

I sat down with Jim Dillon on October 2nd to discuss his run for Texas House District 20. Jim is from Liberty Hill and is running a very unique campaign. Jim ran and won the Democratic primary in Spring of 2008. Jim is not your average Democract by any stretch of the imagination. He is not soliciting donations from any one. He is running a very independent campaign. Dillon says, "This nation was built by rugged individuals".

Jim aligns more with Constitution Party platform than the Democrat platform, and he said, "Republicans are conservatives in name only ... They have a fantanstic platform that they never abide by".

Jim also said, "I'm just your average 53 year old American patriot. I went to High School in Tokyo, Japan. I've work hard all my life. I've never been on welfare, and don't understand why any one else would ... with the right solutions America can be great again." I urge to listen to this interview on our web-site >>

Jim is running against Republican incumbent Dan Gattis for the seat of Texas House District 20. I'll be paying attention to this race to see how well Jim's support tracks with other Democrats in Williamson County.

Show Announcement: The Final Analysis

Early voting has ended with heavy turn-out and the big day is about to go down in history. This maybe the most pivotal election in our life time. The stakes are extremely high, and we'd like to hear where you stand.

Have you already voted? Are you undecided? Have a question about a race? Maybe you're planning to sit it out?

Our guests for Sunday, November 2nd are Cynthia Dunbar and Jonathan Saenz. Cynthia holds the District 10 seat on the Texas State Board of Education. She is also a lawyer, educator, speaker and author. Cynthia has a new book, "One Nation Under God: How the Left is Trying to Erase What Made Us Great".

Jonathan Saenz is the Director of Legislative Affairs of Free Market Foundation. Jonathan and Free Market are actively involved in numerous religious liberty and family friendly legal & legislative issues in Texas and the nation

We'll cover a host of different topics relating to the election, including the State Board of Education and Socialist Economic Policies. We would love to hear where you stand.

Call the Political Hope Radio Show to voice your opinion this Sunday at 4 pm CDT. You can hear us on The Word 98.5 & 99.3 KLGO FM Radio in Austin, or listen on-line ... http://www.theword993.com/

We need your calls. Pick up the phone and join the discussion every Sunday at 4pm. The call in numbers are ... (512) 637-9673 (WORD) - or - (888) 860-9673