Prop 102

In addition to the facts listed in the video above, here are some other ways recognizing a homosexual marriage as a legal marriage would affect you and your local church:

• Pastors or other religious leaders could be sued for refusing to perform same-sex marriages.

• Wedding services such as photography, catering, gown designers, etc. could be sued for refusing services to same-sex marriage couples.

• Churches and temples could be sued for refusing to allow same-sex marriages to be performed in their sanctuary or on their property.


In Arizona, Proposition 102 is on the ballot November 4. Here's the complete wording taken directly from the site Yes For Marriage.

"Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state."

That's it. The entire proposition is only 20 words in simple clear English. I urge you to vote YES on Prop. 102 in Arizona and YES on Prop. 8 in California.

Godless

So, I missed the multi-million Barack Obama 30 minuet "infomercial" last night because I WAS AT CHURCH. Was it by coincedience the airing was when evangelical Christians would not be at home to watch? I think not. Evangelicals, by and large, have already backed John McCain. By purchasing network time that conflicted with traditional Bible study, Senator Obama didn't give his opponents the opportunity to even view his advertisement let alone question him on the content.

It's obvious that we are not his target audience anyway.

Arrogance

Maybe Senator Obama doesn't know it is illegal in many states for your employer to forbid you from exercising your Constitutional right to vote. There are people all over the world who stand in line for hours in the extremely harsh elements to vote in free elections.

By sanctioning skipping work obligations, this ad takes arrogance and irresponsibility to a whole new level.

Native Born

According to the Untied States Constitution, these are the requirements for being United States President:

"No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty five years, and been fourteen Years a resident within the United States." (Article 2, Section 1)

Both Senators Obama and McCain have had their eligibility questioned based on the Native Born requirement.

John McCain's Natural Born citizenship was questioned because he was born on a US Naval Base in the Panama Canal prior to the annexation of the canal as a US territory. This claim was dismissed because the Panama Canal was annexed in 1937, one year after McCain's birth and the citizenship requirement became retroactive to his birth in 1936.

Barack Obama's Natural Born citizenship was questioned because evidence has surfaced that he was born in Mombasa, Kenya and NOT in Honolulu as stated on his Certificate of Live Birth. This claim has yet to be refuted as Jerome Corsi who was investigating Obama's birth records was forced to leave Kenya after being told the records in Kenya are sealed.

Here is the document the Democratic Party has produced claiming it is a legitimate Birth Certificate. Here is what an authentic Birth Certificate looks like. Note the obvious omission of details such as the statistics of the birth (length and weight) and the name of the hospital as well as the doctor who performed the delivery are missing. Also of note, Barack Obama Senior is listed as "African" where in 1961 he would have been listed as "Negro" or "Colored". Use of the term African-American would not have been used until after the Civil Rights Act in 1964.

The most pressing question in my mind is why are Obama's Kenyan records sealed? If he wasn't born in Mombasa, why do they have records of him at all? Is it possible he is heavily involved with the Orange Democratic Movement which is lead by Raila Odinga, the current Kenyan Prime Minister who was granted a government position to appease the violent uprising after the election (which Odinga lost to Kibaki by 200,000 votes)?

Once again I am not surprised many of my friends and relatives haven't heard any of this information in the media. Why would they? Of course the media will do nothing to upset the chance of election for their darling Obama, even to the detriment of the American Republic and loss of the freedoms the Founding Fathers fought and died to create.

One Vote

The video states our country has never been more divided in our lifetime. The last time such division gripped The United States was when The American Civil War waged a great cost to our nation as 620,000 soldiers gave their lives to grant freedom to all Americans.

10 Reasons Christians Should Not Vote For Obama

Forwarded by my Dad from an email letter by Christian apologist Brad Harrub, PhD:

1. He has voted in support of infanticide

In 2002, as an Illinois legislator, Obama voted against the Induced Infant Liability Act, which would have protected babies that survived late-term abortion.

PROVERBS 6:16-17
16 There are six things which the LORD hates,
Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood

2. He is pro-abortion rights

He has maintained a 100% pro-choice rating with planned parenthood and NARAL, cosponsoring the Freedom of Choice Act.

JEREMIAH 1:5
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
And before you were born I consecrated you;
I have appointed you a prophet to the nations."


3. He is not in favor of traditional marriage between one man and one woman

In an open letter to the "lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual" (LGBT) community that was posted on Obama's official campaign website on February 28, 2008, Obama wrote that he unequivocally favors completely repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

GENESIS 2:24
24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

4. He supports same sex marriage

The Illinois senator said he supports extending "fully equal rights and benefits to same-sex couples under both state and federal law."

1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-10
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

5. He supports the teaching of homosexuality in schools

"And if we feed them hope, and we feed them reason and tolerance, then they will become tolerant and reasonable and hopeful. And that, I think, is one of the most important things that the next president can do."

MATTHEW 18:5-6
5 "And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me;
6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."

6. He supports funding research using human life in the form of embryonic stem cells

"I stand in full support of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act as I did when this bill was introduced and sent to the President's desk in the 109th Congress. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill."

ISAIAH 49:1
1 Listen to Me, O islands,
And pay attention, you peoples from afar
The LORD called Me from the womb;
From the body of My mother He named Me.

PSALM 139:13-16
13 For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother's womb.
14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.

7. He has known ties to convicted felon Tony Rezko

Bill Ayers and his wife Bernardine Dohrn helped found the radical Weathermen, launching a campaign of bombings that would target the Pentagon and United States Capitol. While Obama was only 8 years old at the time, he has since served on boards with Ayers and bonded their relationship as Obama jumped into politics with Ayers help and support.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:33
33 Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."

8. He believes anyone who disagrees with his views to be bitter

"So it's not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

ROMANS 1:21-25
21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and [d]crawling creatures.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.
25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

9. For twenty years he sat at the feet of a "preacher" who promotes more racial strife

If ever there was a place in which someone should get up and leave if you don't agree with the teachings, it would be in this horrible worship setting--yet Obama remained there for 20+ years.

EXODUS 18:21
21 Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.

10. He was educated for at least four years in muslim schools

Are the American people ready for an elected president who was educated in a muslim school as a young boy and has not been forthcoming about his Muslim heritage?

MATTHEW 7:15, 21-23
15 Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
21 Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
22 Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

Help get the word out. This man is not a wise or Christian choice to lead our country.

Thanks for your time.
Brad Harrub, Ph.D.

Just For Fun...

I needed a break from politicking to... well... dance! This is perfect (thanks, Shawn!)

We got that freak appeal!

Why I Can't Vote For Obama

By Huntley Brown

"Dear Friends, a few months ago I was asked for my perspective on Obama, I sent out an e-mail with a few points. With the election just around the corner I decided to complete my perspective. Those of you on my e-list have seen some of this before but it's worth repeating…

First I must say whoever wins the election will have my prayer support. Obama needs to be commended for his accomplishments but I need to explain why I will not be voting for him.
Many of my friends process their identity through their blackness I process my identity through Christ. Being a Christian (a Christ follower) means He leads I follow. I can't dictate the terms He does because He is the leader.

I can't vote black because I am black; I have to vote Christian because that's who I am. Christian first, black second. Neither should anyone from the other ethnic groups vote because of ethnicity. 200 years from now I won't be asked if I was black or white. I will be asked if I knew Jesus and accepted Him as Lord and Savior.

In an election there are many issues to consider but when a society gets abortion, same-sex marriage, embryonic stem-cell research, human cloning to name a few, wrong economic concerns will soon not matter.

We need to follow Martin Luther King's words, don't judge someone by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I don't know Obama so all I can go off is his voting record. His voting record earned him the title of the most liberal senator in the US Senate in 2007.

NATIONAL JOURNAL: Obama: Most Liberal Senator in 2007 (01/31/2008)

To beat Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton as the most liberal senator, takes some doing. Obama accomplished this feat in 2 short years. I wonder what would happen to America if he had four years to work with.

There is a reason Planned Parenthood gives him a 100% rating. There is a reason the homosexual community supports him. There is a reason Ahmadinejad, Chavez, Castro, Hamas etc. love him. There is a reason he said he would nominate liberal judges to the Supreme Court. There is a reason he voted against the infanticide bill. There is a reason he voted No on the constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. There is a reason he voted No on banning partial birth abortion. There is a reason he voted No on confirming Justices Roberts and Alito. These two judges are conservatives and they have since overturned partial birth abortion. The same practice Obama wanted to continue.

Let's take a look at the practice he wanted to continue.

The 5 Step Partial Birth Abortion procedures:
A. Guided by ultrasound, the abortionist grabs the baby's leg with forceps. (Remember this is a live baby.)
B. The baby's leg is pulled out into the birth canal.
C. The abortionist delivers the baby's entire body, except for the head.
D. The abortionist jams scissors into the baby's skull. The scissors are then opened to enlarge the hole.
E. The scissors are removed and a suction catheter is inserted. The child's brains are sucked out, causing the skull to collapse. The dead baby is then removed.

God help him. There is a reason Obama opposed the parental notification law.

Think about this: You can't give a kid an aspirin without parental notification but that same kid can have an abortion without parental notification. That is insane.

There is a reason he went to Jeremiah Wright's church for 20 years.

Obama tells us he has good judgment but he sat under Jeremiah Wright's teaching for 20 years. Now he is condemning Wright's sermons. I wonder why now?

Obama said Jeremiah Wright led him to the Lord and discipled him. A disciple is one in training. Jesus told us in Matthew 28:19-20 "Go and make disciples of all nations." This means reproduce yourself. Teach people to think like you, walk like you; talk like you, believe what you believe, etc. The question I have is what did Jeremiah Wright teach him?

Would you support a White President who went to a church which has tenets that said they have a…
1. Commitment to the White Community
2. Commitment to the White Family
3. Adherence to the White Work Ethic
4. Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired skills available to the White Community.
5. Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a portion of personal resources for strengthening and supporting white institutions.
6. Pledge allegiance to all White leadership who espouse and embrace the White Value System
7. Personal commitment to embracement of the White Value System.

Would you support a President who went to a church like that?

Just change the word from white to black and you have the tenets of Obama's former church. If President Bush was a member of a church like this, he would be called a racist. Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton would have been marching outside.

This kind of church is a racist church. Obama did not wake up after 20 years and just discovered he went to a racist church. The church can't be about race. Jesus did not come for any particular race. He came for the whole world.

A church can't have a value system based on race. The churches value system has to be based on biblical mandate. It does not matter if it's a white church or a black church it's still wrong. Anyone from either race that attends a church like this would never get my vote.

Obama's former Pastor Jeremiah Wright is a disciple of liberal theologian James Cone, author of the 1979 book A Black Theology of Liberation. Cone once wrote: "Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him."

Cone is the man Obama's mentor looks up to. Does Obama believe this?

So what does this all mean for the nation?

In the past when the Lord brought someone with the beliefs of Obama to lead a nation it meant one thing – judgment.

Read 1 Samuel 8 when Israel asked for a king. First God says in 1 Samuel 1:9 "Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do."

Then God says

1 Samuel 1:18 "When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day." 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles." 21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD. 22 The LORD answered, "Listen to them and give them a king."

Here is what we know for sure.

God is not schizophrenic.

He would not tell one person to vote for Obama and one to vote for McCain. As the scripture says, a city divided against itself cannot stand, so obviously many people are not hearing from God.

Maybe I am the one not hearing but I know God does not change and Obama contradicts many things I read in scripture so I doubt it.

For all my friends who are voting for Obama, can you really look God in the face and say; Father based on your word, I am voting for Obama even though I know he will continue the genocidal practice of partial birth abortion. He might have to nominate three or four Supreme Court justices, and I am sure he will be nominating liberal judges who will be making laws that are against you. I also know he will continue to push for homosexual rights, even though you destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for this. I know I can look the other way because of the economy.

I could not see Jesus agreeing with many of Obama's positions. Finally, I have two questions for all my liberal friends.

Since we know someone's value system has to be placed on the nation,

1. Whose value system should be placed on the nation.

2. Who should determine that this is the right value system for the nation?

Blessings, Huntley Brown"

Huntley Brown is as described on his web site a "Christian Concert Pianist whose personal repertoire includes classical, jazz, gospel, reggae and many other styles." Snopes.com contacted Huntley Brown to verify he wrote this e-mail. He did. And here is his response to Snopes.

"Yes, I wrote this e-mail. I was responding to my friends who asked me to vote for Senator Obama because he is black. It was not my intention to send it around the world.

I did not post this email or send out any pictures attached. I wish they had not done that.

My friends did not ask me to vote for Senator McCain, which explains why my e-mail was geared towards Senator Obama.

My email was not meant to influence public opinion in any way, but simply to share with my friends my views on why I could not vote for Senator Obama.

I have problems with both candidates, but the differences I have with Senator McCain pale in comparison with the ones I have with Senator Obama.

For the record, I am not a politician. I am not a Democrat or a Republican. I am a Christian independent who just loves the Lord.

If Senator Obama wins, he can count on my prayer support every day.

I tell my friends it's like a family where you have different opinions, but you love each other just the same. I love and appreciate Senator Obama but our views are diametrically opposed.

If I knew my e-mail would have generated this much interest on a national level, I would have left out a few points. I don't want people to think I am against gay people or against people who have abortions. (I am not.) We are all sinners by grace but we need to have some absolute laws to govern society or else we will self destruct.

What has really bothered me is our beautiful black women constitute only 6% of the population, yet they comprise 36% of the abortion industry's clientele. Obama has done nothing to stop this. Most people don't know that the leading abortion providers have chosen to exploit us blacks by locating 94% of their abortuaries in urban neighborhoods with high black populations. Obama has done nothing to stop this?

To be honest I can't wait to vote for the first black President but it has to be a person who shares the values I read in the Bible.

Thanks for checking to make sure my e-mail is legit, it is.

The sad part is I have been getting hate mail and my family is being harassed. As you can imagine, not everyone is happy with my e-mail.

God bless you richly."

Did You Survive an Abortion?

How many abortion survivors do you know? I have a dear friend who went to a clinic as a teenager to find out if she was pregnant. When she learned her test was positive, she was told she could have an abortion if she didn't want to tell her family she was pregnant. My friend decided to schedule the abortion and was told not to tell anyone because they would try to convince her to keep the baby. Because she was very nervous about the procedure, she told another friend who told her mother of the plans. Her mother talked her out of having the abortion.

My friend now has an adult son whom she loves very much and counts him as one of the biggest blessings in her life! She had been told to abort this wonderful Christian man by someone who didn't know her, her family or her situation. I would qualify that child as one who survived an abortion. Even though the surgical procedure was never performed, he survived the easy availability for his mother to abort him.

I only know about my friend's situation because she has supported my speaking out about the lies Planned Parenthood and Pro-Choice supporters speak in the name of "Freedom of Choice" for women. You might have a very close friend or even a family member who is alive today because their mother decided to proceed with the choice of birth. They may not even know their mother contemplated abortion at all.

Do some choices have bigger consequences than others? Absolutely! If I decide to take home a pencil from my office, I might get a reprimand and a lecture from H.R. about ethics. If I decide to have unprotected sex with someone, I might get pregnant. Is the choice to carry that baby to birth a punishment?

I have recently known two teenage girls who had sexual relationships with their boyfriends and got pregnant. One decided to publicly announce her mistake, ask for forgiveness and decided to carry the baby to term and adopt her to a family unable to have a child. The second girl decided to move away for the duration of the pregnancy but still carried the baby to term and adopted her to a family. I think the most unselfish decision a young mother can make is when she considers another family to raise the child and gives them that gift. Especially when that family is physically unable to bear a child of their own.

I told the teenage mother I was very impressed by her maturity to make a decision in the best interest of another family and the baby. Since we were living in California at the time, it would have been convenient to take the "easy way out" and have an abortion before anyone knew she was pregnant. Girls at any age can acquire an abortion without parental consent in the following states: Alaska, California, Connecticut, Washington D.C., Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Vermont, Washington.

Regardless of reason or rationale, every abortion is birth control.

Finally, Some Good News!

From a letter my husband sent to me today from American Family Association...

Great news! Because of AFA supporters like you, McDonald’s has told AFA they will remain neutral in the culture war regarding homosexual marriage. AFA is ending the boycott of McDonald’s. As you know, AFA called for the boycott in May after McDonald’s joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).

McDonald’s said McDonald’s Vice President Richard Ellis has resigned his position on the board of NGLCC and that his seat on the board will not be replaced. McDonald’s also said that the company has no plans to renew their membership in NGLCC when it expires in December.

In an e-mail to McDonald’s franchised owners the company said, “It is our policy to not be involved in political and social issues. McDonald’s remains neutral on same sex marriage or any ‘homosexual agenda’ as defined by the American Family Association.”

We appreciate the decision by McDonald’s to no longer support political activity by homosexual activist organizations. You might want to thank your local McDonald’s manager.

After a 3 month complete boycott of McDonald's, I'll be going in tomorrow to let the manager know why our family is going to be patronizing their restaurant again. And then I'll buy a Big Mac.

Vanity

Below is an excerpt of a review with the author of a recently published book titled My Beautiful Mommy written to help parents discuss plastic surgery with their young children.

"Many parents don't explain to their kids what's going on," said the father of four, with his fifth child on the way. "Children are very perceptive. You can't hide a major surgery from them. When mom goes down for two weeks after a tummy tuck it affects them."



Illustrations show a crook-nosed mom with loose tummy skin under her half shirt picking up her young daughter early from school one day and taking her to a strapping and handsome "Dr. Michael."

Mom explains she's going to have operations on her nose and tummy and may have to take it easy for a week or so. The girl asks if the operations will hurt, and mom replies, "Maybe a little," warning she'll look different after the bandages come off.

The girl asks: "Why are you going to look different?"

Mom responds: "Not just different, my dear — prettier!"

This type of children's book was inevitable with the choice for elective plastic surgery increasing by almost 500% in the past ten years. However, this book was written by a plastic surgeon, not by a child psychologist. I think there is a clear conflict of interest here. Mothers (and fathers for that matter) are going to see this book as confirmation that there is nothing wrong with having lipo to help her "loose those last 15 baby pounds". The doctor who wrote this book has one agenda, to further his practice by making parents think it's ok to hand a book to a child and expect the surgery to fix all their woes.

2 Peter 2:18-19

18 For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error,
19 promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.
20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.

Christian parents don't need to purchase this book or undergo elective plastic surgery when the Bible speaks directly to the issue of vanity.

I Timothy 2:9-10

9 Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments,
10 but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.

I'm concerned that daughters who look to their mothers for guidance about body image are getting a dangerous message from this book, that something is wrong with you on the outside and getting surgery will help you feel better on the inside. It's possible this author/doctor is prepping his next generation of clients by enlisting their parents help to give children this book.

Titus 2:3-5

3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,
4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

Chinese Contamination

At the time of my post about melamine contamination in China sickening 50,000 infants and leading to the death of six, there had not been any detection of the milk contamination in the U.S. The following is a recall by the FDA for foods imported from China to the U.S. that are contaminated with melamine:

FDA Statement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement
October 6, 2008

FDA Detects Melamine Contamination in Flavored Drink
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has increased inspections and product testing efforts in response to the melamine contamination problem which originated in Chinese dairy products. As a result of the FDA’s on-going testing program, the agency has detected melamine contamination in Blue Cat Flavor Drinks. The distributor of the product, Tristar Food Wholesale Co. Inc., initiated a recall of several flavors of Blue Cat Flavor Drink, based on the FDA’s findings. The FDA advises the public not to consume this product and recommends that retailers and food service operators remove the product from sale or service.

Other Recalls
On September 26, the FDA issued an alert to consumers that seven Mr. Brown instant coffee and milk tea products were being recalled by the Taiwanese company, King Car Food Industrial Co. Ltd., due to possible contamination with melamine. King Car Food Industrial Co. used a non-dairy creamer manufactured by Shandong Duqing Inc., China, which was found to be contaminated with melamine. The recalled products are:

Mr. Brown Mandheling Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
Mr. Brown Arabica Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
Mr. Brown Blue Mountain Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
Mr. Brown Caramel Macchiato Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
Mr. Brown French Vanilla Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
Mr. Brown Mandhling Blend instant Coffee (2-in-1)
Mr. Brown Milk Tea (3-in-1)
The FDA recommends that consumers not consume any of the above Mr. Brown instant coffee and milk tea products. The FDA also recommends that retailers and foodservice operators remove the products from sale or service.

Sunny Maid Corp. Monterey Park, Calif., who is an importer and distributor of Mr. Brown Instant Coffee products, is recalling the products in the United States.

The FDA is working with regulatory agencies in the United States as well as with other countries. The California Department of Public Health and the New Zealand Food Safety Authority reported that its testing of White Rabbit Creamy Candies has shown melamine contamination at high levels. In light of the widespread contamination of milk and milk-based products in China and the New Zealand Food Safety Authority’s finding, the FDA continues to recommend that consumers not eat White Rabbit Creamy Candy and that retailers and foodservice operations remove the product from sale or service.

A recall by QFCO Inc., Burlingame, Calif., of the White Rabbit Creamy Candies, is underway in the United States.

The FDA is closely monitoring these recalls and will continue to perform follow up activities of other recalls that may develop.

Although the products listed above appear to have only been sold in Asian import stores, those stores ARE IN America. Please, please, please read labels carefully to be sure products you buy for your family DO NOT have China listed as the country of origin. If you are unsure where the product was manufactured, DO NOT purchase the product, find a substitute.

In order to try to combat the influx of harmful products, I will be reading labels much more closely to avoid purchasing products from China. The Chinese government had claimed the melamine contamination had been contained and was not a concern for the public at large. Unfortunately, they were wrong and the danger of illness from Chinese imports is not limited only to consumables since lead-based paint has been an issue with products imported from China for some time.

Done With NBC

After the shock of what I had just seen wore off (a day later) I'm left with some questions.

•Who at NBC thought it would be a good idea to defame a decorated war veteran by interviewing his torturer? There was no reason for this interview to even take place. There is no justifiable reason to give audience to such people as those who torture prisoners of war.

•What point does NBC think they will make by discrediting Senator John McCain with an interview of the director of the prison where he was held in Vietnam? I thought the motive was fairly transparent... pure hatred of Senator McCain and anything noble and honorable in his life.

•Why does the timing of this interview coincide with the race for President of the United States? Someone at NBC, perhaps everyone, wants Senator Barack Obama to be elected the next President and anything they can dig up is fair game.

One comment left on the YouTube video sumed up my feelings well.

"What's so unfortunate in this country is that there are so many people who will believe NBC's version, just because they hate anything with a Republican or Conservative label attached to it. Liberals should come with a warning label: Open mind, brains fell out."

I think I'm ready for another boycott...

Injury

For those of you who have yet to hear the news, we are requesting prayers for my parents speedy recovery from injuries they both have to their leg/foot. Here's a run down of the events so far:

Dad
Three weeks ago, my father mis-stepped outside their house in Prescott and severed the tendon that attaches the knee cap to the quadriceps muscle in his thigh. Although he heard the "pop" in his leg, he waited two weeks to see an orthopedist for a consultation. The doctor informed my dad the usual procedure for this type of injury is surgery within 36 hours. Since my dad was at almost two weeks past the accident, the doctor was less than optimistic of success but he did perform the procedure last week. There will be extensive physical therapy after several months of recovery. Please pray for miraculous healing for my father.

Mom
When my mother was coming out of the house the day of the surgery to take my father to the hospital, she twisted her ankle on the stairs and broke the arch in her foot. Fortunately, they were already going to the hospital so she got an x-ray and diagnosis right away, but she still will need to see an orthopedist this week. She was told by the E.R. doctor to stay off her foot, but she has been unable to do so since she has been caring for my father. Please pray she will be able to follow through with the directions of her doctor and have complete healing.

We are blessed to be close enough to spend the past weekend at their house cleaning and making it more handicapped "friendly". They have a wonderful church family in Prescott that has been so gracious to bring meals and offer to drive them to appointments. They have had a wheelchair, walker and a set of crutches loaned to them so they are some what mobile but this new house has steep concrete stairs leading up to the front door, so they are unable to go outside for the fear of taking another fall.

We'll be spending the upcoming weekend there again to do some cleaning, shopping and whatever they need. Please pray for our strength too. It's been hard for me to see my parents unable to care for themselves.

Couscous with Asparagus

Bountiful Baskets co-op this week had LOTS of tomatoes (I think I had 8) and fresh asparagus. Here's the recipe for the lunch I made yesterday to use up the last of my tomatoes:

2T olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1c chicken broth
1 package Near East toasted pinenut couscous
2 roma or plum tomatoes, seeded and diced
10 spears asparagus, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3/4 c shredded Parmesan cheese

Heat olive oil in large skillet and saute garlic about 2 minutes. Add broth and couscous seasonings. Bring to boil and stir in asparagus. Reduce heat, cover and simmer about 1 minute. Stir in couscous, cover and remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and Parmesan cheese.

I've loved being in the co-op for the past month. I've been motivated to try recipes I never would have attempted without the addition of the fresh produce we've received. If you haven't done so yet (and you live in Phoenix), please check it out. You won't be disappointed!

What This Really Means

The issue most Americans are expressing with the continuation of Gwen Ifill as moderator for the Vice Presidential debate is that the appearance of impropriety should have been grounds for her removal by the debate committee that selected her as moderator, yet she still remains. At the very least, Ms. Ifill should decline to moderate the debate to maintain her respect as a professional. Personally, I am most angry that a journalist assumed she was above full disclosure of the timing for release of her book when she was selected to moderate the Vice Presidential debate.

What exactly does Gwen Ifill have at stake if Barack Obama is elected as US President? The sale of 100,000 copies of her book will put her on the New York Times Best Seller list and I think that's a conservative estimate if he is President. The list price for the book is $24.95 and her profit will be 15% (the standard profit). That means Ms. Ifill stands to gain a minimum of approximately $375,000. I think that makes it difficult to be "unbiased" toward anyone opposing Barack Obama including Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

Ms. Ifill has stated that she is a professional and all her questions will be fair to both candidates. However, any question too easy for Governor Palin will be viewed as pandering to the idea of partiality while any question too hard for Senator Biden will be viewed as over-compensating for a bias toward his running mate, Barack Obama. This is a loose/loose situation that will further divide America down deep party lines.

Update 10/3/08
Ms. Ifill did not present a disclaimer prior the debate stating she would be impartial to both candidates. I found this upsetting, but throughout the debate she proved to be very professional and did not favor either one. She did a fine job a moderator and I think she was a good choice.