In The Beginning...

Cross posted from Monkey in the Middle

Three words read by William Anders aboard the Apollo 8 mission on Christmas Eve 1968. 1968 was our Annus horribilis. It was a year of unrest at the Democratic National Convention. It was the year that saw the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. It was a year in which riots and protests were the daily fare on the nightly newscasts. It was a year in which America felt at its lowest point. And America needed a boost.

When the Apollo 8 mission was originally planned the mission was not suppose to go to the moon. It was suppose to be in a low Earth orbit checking out the systems on the Command module and possibly the lunar module if one had been ready by then.

Instead the mission was changed and Apollo 8 would be the first manned mission to go to the moon. In itself it would be a very dangerous mission, the first of anything is alway a dangerous mission to accomplish. Because of the nature of the mission and the decision to change it, the true mission was kept a secret from the public until the official announcement on 12 November 1968, less than 40 days before the scheduled launch.

Apollo 8 launched at 7:51:00 a.m. on December 21, 1968. During the flight, three fellow astronauts served on the ground as capsule communicators (usually referred to as "CAPCOMs") on a rotating schedule. The CAPCOMs were the only people who regularly communicated with the crew. Michael Collins was the first CAPCOM on duty and at 2 hours, 27 minutes and 22 seconds after launch radioed, "Apollo 8. You are Go for TLI". This communication signified that Mission Control had given official permission for Apollo 8 to go to the moon. Over the next twelve minutes before the TLI burn, the Apollo 8 crew continued to monitor the spacecraft and the rocket. The S-IVB third stage rocket ignited on time and burned perfectly for 5 minutes and 17 seconds. The burn increased the velocity of Apollo 8 to 35,505 feet per second (10,822 m/s) and the spacecraft's altitude at the end of the burn was 215.4 miles (346.7 km).

At this time, the crew also set the record for the highest speed humans had ever traveled. Five hours after launch, Mission Control sent a command to the S-IVB booster to vent its remaining fuel through its engine bell to change the booster's trajectory. This S-IVB would then pass the Moon and enter into a solar orbit, posing no further hazard to Apollo 8. The S-IVB subsequently went into a 0.99 by 0.92 AU solar orbit with an inclination of 23.47° and a period of 340.80 days.

The Apollo 8 crew were the first humans to pass through the Van Allen radiation belts, which extend up to 15,000 miles (25,000 km) from Earth. Scientists predicted that passing through the belts quickly at the spacecraft's high speed would cause a radiation dosage of no more than a chest X-ray, or 1 milligray (during the course of a year, the average human receives a dose of 2 to 3 mGy). To record the actual radiation dosages, each crew member wore a Personal Radiation Dosimeter that transmitted data to Earth as well as three passive film dosimeters that showed the cumulative radiation experienced by the crew.

By the end of the mission, the crew experienced an average radiation dose of 1.6 mGy. At about 55 hours and 40 minutes into the flight, the crew of Apollo 8 became the first humans to enter the gravitational sphere of influence of another celestial body.

At 64 hours into the flight, the crew began to prepare for Lunar Orbit Insertion-1 (LOI-1). This maneuver had to be performed perfectly, and due to orbital mechanics had to be on the far side of the Moon, out of contact with the Earth. After Mission Control was polled for a Go/No Go decision, the crew was told at 68 hours, they were Go and "riding the best bird we can find".

At 68 hours and 58 minutes, the spacecraft went behind the Moon and out of radio contact with the Earth. When the spacecraft came out from behind the Moon for its fourth pass across the front, the crew witnessed an event no one had ever seen — Earthrise. Borman saw the Earth emerging from behind the lunar horizon and called in excitement to the others, taking a black-and-white photo as he did so: Earthrise, seen for the first time by human eyes. In the ensuing scramble Anders took the more famous color photo, later picked by Life magazine as one of its hundred photos of the century.

In the Beginning...

As they rounded the Moon for the ninth time, the second television transmission began. Borman introduced the crew, followed by each man giving his impression of the lunar surface and what it was like to be orbiting the Moon. Borman described it as being "a vast, lonely, forbidding expanse of nothing." Then, after talking about what they were flying over, Anders said that the crew had a message for all those on Earth.

Each man on board read the story of creation from Book of Genesis. Borman finished the broadcast by wishing a Merry Christmas to everyone on Earth. His message appeared to sum up the feelings that all three crewmen had from their vantage point in lunar orbit. Borman said,

"And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, and a Merry Christmas to all of you, all of you on the good Earth"

 After 10 lunar orbit, Apollo 8 returned to Earth on 27 December 1968. A successful and historic mission. So on this Christmas Eve, we should remember a historic moment in Human history that took place 40 years ago. William Anders "We are now approaching lunar sunrise and, for all the people back on Earth, the crew of Apollo 8 has a message that we would like to send to you.

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

Jim Lovell

"And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

Frank Borman

"And God said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas – and God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth."

View at YouTube

On this Christmas Eve I wish to again recall the words of Apollo 8 in wishing you a Merry Christmas.

And God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth.

Christmas Open House at the Thornton's with BooMama

BooMama's 2008 Christmas Tour of Homes began on December 15th, but I'm late to the party. I signed up anyway, and I am so happy to welcome you to our home. After the tour, run over to BooMama's and see what she's doing. Maybe you'll want to scurry around the house, tidy things a bit and join the fun. Really, my son arrives tomorrow, and I am so over politics for the moment! We have too much ice to get a good shot of the lights on my new little weeping mulberry tree. In reality, they are quite pretty, but rather pitiful in this photo.


This is our entry hall, with the only wall long enough for our sideboard, which is home for most holiday desserts. The mercury glass Christmas tree is dear to me...a gift from my sister-in-law.
Past the stairway. This is our dining room. We moved in only a few months ago. We plan to make many memories with family and friends here. The cloth on the table is a family tradition. Once upon a time, a long time ago, my Uncle was head of communications for the U.S. President. He brought this beautiful cloth back to my Aunt from Japan (or maybe China - I'm never sure). Our Christmas Tree. Our nativity was purchased the first year we were married. The manger is missing this year - yet to be upacked!!! It's a terrible thing to lose your manger but Mary and Joseph, Baby Jesus, the Wisemen and the Shepherd Boy are cozy by our fireplace. Thank you Father for the ChristChild. Amen. Christmas stockings are very, very important in our home. We have heavy duty wrought iron hangers because Santa leaves some serious loot in the socks. This year we have a new son-in-law, and his stocking is on the end to your left. Excuse the bare windows. I'll think about that tomorrow. I love peonies, although I must admit, after many tries, I'm not so great at growing them (they always want to fall over - lots of blossoms though). So, we have a painting over our fireplace of peonies. Because the colors are so soft, the traditional Christmas red and green wasn't a great match, so this year I found Christmas roses for the mantle. Favorite ornaments - a collection of Old Worlde Father Christmas'
Thanks for visiting. Here, take a warm go-cup of cider with you and visit BooMama where you'll find links to over 800 more Christmas Open Houses (I am number 857).

Related: Carol of the Bells by George Winston My Christmas Tree and other Famous Trees (this one done before I knew about BooMama's Open House - but see the Capitol Tree, the National Tree at the White House, the Vatican Tree and Rockefeller Center.

My Christmas Tree and Other Famous Trees

The Thornton Family Christmas Tree

The National Christmas Tree is a living tree located on the Ellipse near the White House. It is decorated and lit as a part a three-week holiday celebration. The design is unique each year.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

The Capitol Christmas tree in Washington, D.C., is decorated with 3,000 ornaments that are the handiwork of U.S. schoolchildren. Encircling evergreens in the 'Pathway of Peace' represent the 50 U.S. states. The Tree has been an American tradition since 1964. The first tree was a live 24-foot Douglas fir planted on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The original Capitol Christmas Tree died after the 1968 tree lighting ceremony due to a severe wind storm and root damage. The tree was removed and the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service has provided the trees since 1969. The Vatican Christmas Tree: During an audience Sunday with pilgrims from Austria who brought the Christmas tree that will adorn St. Peter’s Square, Pope Benedict XVI said the “green color and the lights on its branches are symbols of life. In addition, they remind us of the mystery of the Holy Night. Christ, the Son of God, brings a new hope and a new splendor to the confused, cold and unredeemed world in which he is born.”

After expressing his thanks for the 120 year-old tree that rises 108 feet, which will be placed in St. Peter’s Square together with other trees donated by the Austrian faithful, the Pope recalled the rich Christian tradition of Austria and said that faithful there should work to preserve the testimony of Christ to “provide men guidance in their lives.”

Before the ball drops in Times Square, the Big Apple turns on its holiday charm with the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center.

Barney Cam 2008

Cross-posted by The Lonely Conservative Also may be viewed at YouTube.com

Shopping at Coldwater Creek: Hey, it's Christmas!

Photo credit: Maggie's Christmas at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas

Before Thanksgiving, my friend and stellar blogger Roger Gardner, at Radarsite, posted a message to those "who plan on making money on us this CHRISTMAS Season...from small time candy makers to multi-million dollar automobile manufacturers." The message, of course is, don't forget that the reason for the season is Christmas, so it's okay to say Merry Christmas, and for those who point a finger and accuse us of turning Christmas into a commercial holiday, Roger has a piercing answer. If you are "stuck" for an reply about the perceived tawdriness of Christmas gift giving, read Roger's comments. You'll never again be put on the defensive about your joy of sharing in this wonderful spirit of Christmas, just as the Wisemen did, all those many, many Christmas' ago. I recently visited Coldwater Creek, an upscale women's clothing store. Each year I buy a gift card at Coldwater Creek for my husband's account manager, because she loves Coldwater Creek. The store had a bevy of gift cards: Happy Holidays, In the Spirit of the Season, A Gift for you, and Happy Hanukkah. I asked where I would find the Merry Christmas gift cards. The saleslady thought they might be at the other end of the register. She checked, and of course they were not there. They must be sold out, she mused - while never looking me in the eye. You have Happy Hanukkah, I replied...surely you would not be out of Merry Christmas this early in the season. A shopper (a man) standing at the next register said "well, you've been out since before Thanksgiving. I tried to buy a Merry Christmas gift card, or something that had Christmas on it, back before Thanksgiving." I did find Merry Christmas gift cards on the Coldwater Creek website, but we want to mail ours, in our own Christmas card. We haven't decided which "other Store" will have our business this year. I'm certain that my husband's account manager will enjoy her gift, and we'll try Coldwater Creek again next year. "Happy holidays," the saleslady chirped as I exited the store empty-handed. From Radarsite: A Christmas Message to all Retailers, Large and Small By Roger Gardner

(Roger, among your many magnificent posts, this is your most powerful and my favorite. Maggie)

A message from Radarsite: This is a simple message to all of you who plan on making money on us this CHRISTMAS Season, whether you are multi-million dollar automobile manufacturers or small time candy makers. If out of either misguided conviction or simple cowardice you continue to ignore or obfuscate the foundational Christian significance of our great American tradition of Christmas do not expect our business. If you honestly believe that you can skirt around this (now-thorny) issue by using code words for Christmas, such as 'this holiday season', or get away with saying 'Season's Greetings!' in place of 'Merry Christmas!' you may indeed protect yourself from lawsuits from the ACLU, etc., but you will not get our business. You can't have it both ways anymore. You cannot do away with Christmas and at the same time expect to make money on it. We will not allow some small militant minority to take away all of our great and significant American traditions, not without a fight. We are getting ready for the battle once again this year, and you will not get away with this monumental theft unnoticed. This year, some of you, such as Wal-Mart, have already made their decisions to honor this special day by calling it what it is: 'Christmas'. These are the retailers we will reward. Others, Best Buy, Ace Hardware, the major American auto manufacturers, etc. are already asking us to buy their products or shop at their stores for the 'holidays'. Why on earth should anyone buy a new Lincoln for their lover for some unnamed 'holiday'? Which holiday are we talking about here, Columbus Day? Groundhog Day? This is (still) a free country and you can make whatever decision you want. However, know this, some 80% of America is Christian -- and most American Jews have long ago come to acknowledge this fact and accept Christmas in the spirit of good will, whether or not they actually celebrate it -- and if you choose to ignore this majority of Americans and for selfish reasons decide to throw in your lot with that small vocal minority who are determined to forever alter the character of this great nation then you will suffer the moral and financial consequences. This Christmas Season will be different than the previous ones. This time, we are wide awake and we are watching you. As I write this there are many sites coming back online who are devoted to this single cause, and they are growing every day. You have grown accustomed to having it both ways, but not this year. If you cannot find the courage to openly honor this very special day, if you cannot find the decency or the will to even utter the words "Merry Christmas!" you will not get our money. The decision is yours. - rg A postscript: Well, the very first comment I received to this article was negative. A defense of the denigration of Christmas on the grounds that it has become nothing but a commercial enterprise. If this is what the commenter thinks of Christmas, if this is all that Christmas really means to them, then to me this just reveals the paucity of their soul and I feel sorry for them. The commercialization of Christmas has been a contentious topic of conversation since I received my first boxed set of Gene Autrey six-shooters in 1945. But to use this as an excuse to do away with this great Christian celebration of Christ and joy and giving is inexcusable. Christmas means different things to different people, but to a majority of us Americans it means a great deal, and it always has. It's a very special time for special feelings and special memories. For me, it is simply irreplaceable. And to smother it or completely alter its meaning for the sake of appeasing some fanatical permanently disgruntled minority is totally unacceptable, and we just won't let this happen. You've been messing around now with our deeply-held convictions of the sacredness of human life and the nobility of traditional marriage, you've attempted to dishonor our fundamental patriotism and attempted to rewrite our honorable national history. You have been zealously teaching our own children to hate us, and removing God from every aspect of our culture. And now you want to take away our Christmas. Well you're not going to do it. And if you write in comments here in defense of this effort to expunge everything that is good and decent and clean from our American heritage I will simply delete you and smile while I'm doing it. - rg.

Carol of the Bells by George Winston

This will be one of many Merry Christmas wishes from Maggie's Notebook this season. Whether you are celebrating the birth of Christ, Hanukkah's Festival of Light, or just the beauty of a magical time of the year, I'll be wishing you a very Merry Christmas. This beautiful video may also be viewed at YouTube.com

A Different Christmas Poem

Cross posted by Findalis of Monkey in the Middle

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, My daughter beside me, angelic in rest. Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, Transforming the yard to a winter delight. The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve. My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep. In perfect contentment, or so it would seem, So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream. The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear. Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow. My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, And I crept to the door just to see who was near. Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight. A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold. Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child. 'What are you doing?' I asked without fear, 'Come in this moment, it's freezing out here! Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve, You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!' For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts. To the window that danced with a warm fire's light Then he sighed and he said 'Its really all right, I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night.' 'It's my duty to stand at the front of the line, That separates you from the darkest of times. No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me. My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,' Then he sighed, 'That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers.' My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ', And now it is my turn and so, here I am. I've not seen my own son in more than a while, But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile. Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, The red, white, and blue... an American flag. I can live through the cold and the being alone, Away from my family, my house and my home. I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet, I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat. I can carry the weight of killing another, Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.. Who stand at the front against any and all, To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.' 'So go back inside,' he said, 'harbor no fright, Your family is waiting and I'll be all right.' 'But isn't there something I can do, at the least, 'Give you money,' I asked, 'or prepare you a feast? It seems all too little for all that you've done, For being away from your wife and your son.' Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, 'Just tell us you love us, and never forget. To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone, To stand your own watch, no matter how long. For when we come home, either standing or dead, To know you remember we fought and we bled. Is payment enough, and with that we will trust, That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.' LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN 30th Naval Construction Regiment OIC, Logistics Cell One Al Taqqadum, Iraq

To all those who serve in far away lands, Thank You. We will not forget you or the service you give. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah.

Wednesday's Hero - Marine's Toys for Tots

Lance Cpl. Samuel Joyce, from Boston, accepts a bagfull of toys during the Toys For Tots 5k Run at Fleet Activities Yokosuka. Runners donated new toys to the local Marine's Toys for Tots program. These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero. We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams. Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Dropping Christmas but Keeping the Manger

The Patchogue, NY Greater Foundation located on Long Island, sponsors a boat parade on the Sunday after Thanksgiving each year. Last year the name was changed from the Patchogue Holiday Boat Parade to the Patchogue Christmas Parade of Lights. This year, another name change, dropping Christmas...this time to accommodate those without a connection to Christmas holidays. Last year, 1500 people attended the parade. This year 1000 people attended. According to City Father's, this year's parade was a success. What? Where were those disconnected to Christmas - you know, the ones you made the change for - the ones you were willing to abandon tradition for - the tradition that the City added just last year? They certainly didn't show - and if they did, they didn't fill the void left by those wanting a Christmas boat parade. If this year's 1000 were all disconnected from Christmas, and stayed home out of protest last year, 1500 either connected or disconnected to Christmas stayed home in protest this year. The point: last year's parade was more successful by one-third more attendees than this year's parade. A fireworks sponsor, the famed Fireworks by Grucci, pulled their donation after the name change. Grucci Vice President, Philip Butler, encouraged his supporters to stay away from the event this year, saying that the Patchogue Foundation is "using all the themes of Christmas and plagiarizing all those themes," to which blogger Roger Sinasohn at Holidash sniped: "Not that most of the themes of Christmas weren't lifted from other religions in the first place." Well, yes, civilizations do "borrow" from each other. We borrowed St. Nicholas, and stockings on the fireplace, but we did not borrow celebrating the birth of Christ, or "giving" gifts to those we adore - the tradition of "giving" in honor of the Christ-child. Amid all the lights and Santas and elves, for the Christian the birth of the baby Jesus is always there as the reason for the season. See a video of the parade here, complete with Santa and reindeer, a Manger scene, Snoopy and wrapped packages, and Angels with their trumpets proclaiming the birth. How long before the Manger scene is banned? The Patchogue Chamber of Commerce President Charles Baker accused Fireworks by Grucci of wanting to "buy the name." The city Mayor, Paul Pontieri says fireworks makes him think of "July 4th, not Christmas." Does Patchogue have a 4th of July Boat Parade, and if so what is the name of the celebration? How about a New Year's Eve celebration? Are there fireworks at either? Fireworks are an expression of celebration, no matter the time of year. I applaud the Grucci's, who "gave" a donation for a cause they appreciated. This year the City has said that "gift" was not appropriate anyway - it really only belonged at an Independence Day celebration. Let's see how long it takes them to find another sponsor not connected to Chrismas. Kelleen Gueyer at Patchogue.com, who says she is a Patchouge resident, but not an official of the city in any way, believes Patchogue is unfairly characterized as anti-Christmas, saying the City has numerous public Christmas events and she is glad to see the "Holiday" parade back, as it has been for 13 years. The City "gave" the citizens a Christmas boat parade last year...now they've abolished it. It's a fair question to ask: why did Patchogue add "Christmas" in the first place? Whatever the reason, this year's crowd clearly demonstrated that a non-Christmas parade is far less popular than a Christmas parade.

Obamas: Confusing Christmas with a "Seasonal" Event

H/T to The Obama Nation The Obamas, in an unnamed magazine interview, agree that Santa Claus and "seasonal gifts," are appropriate, BUT Christmas gifts are not. The Telegraph UK

In a magazine interview Obama and his wife Michelle revealed that one of their steadfast house rules is not giving Christmas or birthday presents to Malia, 10, and Sasha, seven. The couple explained that they spend "hundreds" on birthday slumber parties and want to "teach some limits". Santa Claus is still permitted to deliver seasonal gifts however.

I was impressed until I got to that last sentence. I concede that Christmas gifts get out-of-hand, and the meaning of Christmas can be lost in the material wealth on December 25th. But if Santa is allowed to come and leave "seasonal gifts" on the traditional day of Christ's birth, in a Christian home - them I confused. Other cultures and religions have celebratory events at about the same time as our Christmas. Some celebrate with traditional Christmas icons such as Christmas trees, Christmas stockings, gifts, - even though they are not Christian. But the Obamas do not adhere to other cultures or other religions, do they? This glimpse into the Obama's home life, on the most sacred day of the year, other than Resurrection Day, for a Christian, is one more reason to doubt his commitment to Judeo-Christian values. And yes, I know that I do not know what is in a person's heart. Nevertheless... Christmas is not a "seasonal" event. NOTE: A kind reader reminded me that Resurrection Day is the "most sacred" of all days for a Christian, and that is correct. As I told him/her, I got a little carried away and I've amended my above comment. Thank you CKA in Red State USA Permalink: http://maggiesnotebook.blogspot.com/2008/07/obamas-confusing-christmas-with.html Trackback URL for this entry: http://haloscan.com/tb/maggiesnotebook/5897424958863388402 Tracked by: PATIENT EVIL - An R.J. Godlewski / Right Truth Blog Exclusive - Chapter Twenty-Nine from Right Truth - Excerpt: PATIENT EVIL They say laughter is the best medicine from Right Truth - Excerpt: So oft repeated, without question, yet has the cliché status of that statement hidden a pernicious effect? Perhaps some will laugh at even the notion that such is possible. Just such a reaction that helps illustrate what will be discussed ... Some people are just nuts, mean, or both from Right Truth - EXCERPT: I have not commented until now on the church shooting at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville Tennessee. I wanted to wait for the facts, so here they are cuil from 123beta - Excerpt: Former Google employee Anna Patterson debuts her latest search engine, cuil.Patterson intends to upstage Google, which she quit in 2006 to develop a more comprehensive and efficient way to scour the I... Doozie of the DaY: Bali Bombers from Woman Honor Thyself - Excerpt: Angel’s first prize goes to: Mahendradatta, the bubbly Muzlim Bali bomber’s defender. Technorati Tags: Senator Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Christianity, Christmas, How the Obamas Celebrate Christmas

Conservative Christian Writers Sought

A little over a week ago Faultline USA launched a very successful new blogroll, Christians Against Leftist Heresy .

This isn’t just a typical blogroll. Blogroll members may submit their articles and the article links are posted in weekly member updates as well as being permanently linked on the blog’s sidebar.

If you are a member of a Christian church anywhere in the western world, you may be aware of the growing threat from within – “Marxist” or Leftist Christianity. No denomination has been left untouched. The threat has been growing for many years but has now reached a critical point!
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Fautline USA has posted a continuing series of articles concerning the epidemic leftist takeover of many venerable old Christian denominations – especially those denominations under the sway of the National Council of Churches.
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For background please read the criticism of Pledging Your Moral Stand for Immigrants Rights

Links to previous articles are provided at the end of that article.
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Here’s how to join the Blogroll.
Go to Christians Against Leftist Heresy and follow the simple directions to add the code to your sidebar. After you have successfully added the code to your sidebar, e-mail Faultline USA at faultlineusa(at)yahoo(dot)com. Be sure to include a link to your blog.
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Christian
Marxist

Tags: religion, christianity, bible, jesus, church, god, faith, spirituality, theology, christ, communist, democrat, socialism, politics, left , blogging, news, weblog, blog, internet.

Eminent Domain, Obama, and the little guy

Cross-posted from Faultline USA

Yesterday three minor news stories came together into one story, and then the story really got interesting. Hang in there and read on. Don’t you want to find out why Obama positioned himself in alignment with the rotation of the earth?

(1) Congress was opened for the first time by a Hindu prayer. The Hindu cleric’s prayer to open Congress was disrupted by some Christians. Read three different takes on this from Christian Newswire, Religion Clause, and the lefty Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

(2) Eminent Domain Reform was introduced in U.S. House of Representatives. The Castle Coalition reported yesterday that Reps. Maxine Waters (D-CA) and F. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) introduced the Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2007 to stop taxpayer funding of eminent domain abuse. . . “It prevents Americans’ federal tax dollars from being used to kick them off their land for private development, while allowing federal money for traditional public uses like roads and post offices. ” According to Steven Anderson, director of the Castle Coalition, “Unsurprisingly, tax-hungry governments and land-hungry developers prey on those that are less likely to be able to defend themselves.

It is vital that the federal government stop subsidizing this blatant abuse of power.” Eminent Domain reform is desperately needed following the disastrous Kelo vs the City of New London Supreme Court ruling. This reform should have broad bi-partisan support. Lefty groups, however, are a bit too fond of portraying the “little guy” as an inner city minority or a member of a “marginalized” group. In fact, the little guy is just as likely to be a farmer or rancher who will lose family land to the NAFTA highway, to some kind of questionable “city” government, or to big money private development.

Read about the consequences of Kelo vs City of New London. “In Kelo v. City of New London, the U.S. Supreme Court held that anyone’s home or business can be taken if the government thinks someone else can make more money with the land. The floodgates to eminent domain abuse have busted open. However, there is a silver lining.” Also read The Impact of the Kelo Decision from reason.org.

(3) An Iowa farmer is being threatened with Eminent Domain by the Maharishi Vedic City. Bob Palm and his two brothers have 149 acres of farmland that has been in their family for 115 years. After the Palm brothers announced plans to raise hogs on the farm, the Maharishi Vedic City became upset because the city does not allow the sale of any non-organically raised product (that means only vegetarian). The city offered to buy the farm to build a park after appraising the farm’s value at $2,675 per acre. The Palms refused to sell and the “peace-loving” cult threatened to bring Eminent Domain proceedings.

Currently they are at a standoff. I am really curious. Isn’t this America, the land of the free and home of the brave? How did Maharishi Vedic City become a genuine city in Iowa? Aren’t all American cities held to some basic standards of freedom of diversity? Apparently not so! In Maharishi Vedic City no one is allowed to sell non-organic products. The city is vegetarian. The official language is Hindu Sanskrit. Need I go on? So how can this so-called American city even be considered a real city much less bring Eminent Domain proceedings against a neighbor? For some history on the Utopian, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and his Transcendental Meditation cult read Heaven on Earth .

Living in the hope of spending the afterlife in heaven is a definite waste of the glorious gift of human life. So every individual must try to create a heavenly environment on earth, and one Hindu spiritual leader thinks it's very much possible to build heaven on earth! He is Maharishi Mahesh Yogi — the notable Vedic teacher and celebrated guru of transcendental meditation, and the vital force behind such Vedic institutions as the Maharishi University of Management and the Maharishi International University.

According to a 2000 article by Rick Ross it’s all about big money and politics:

Today, amazingly, the Maharishi is still purveying bliss - only to the gentry, not below stairs. He has become a fashion icon. His sly smile no longer looks down from a thousand college notice boards, but he is the pin-up of politicians, accountants, doctors, businessmen and journalists. In this era of anxiety, his New Age message is the antidote to executive stress.

What is Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Natural Law party?

According to the Natural Law Party (U.S.) "50-Point Action Plan to Revitalize America," "there are simple, humane, cost-effective, scientifically proven solutions to all of America’s problems. The Natural Law Party was founded to implement these solutions immediately in government." The discussion of their actual policy in their printed material and web site, while quite lofty, is extremely vague. Nowhere in the literature they mail to prospective members do they mention that all of these "solutions" are based on products of one controversial group. But in actuality the Natural Law Party is a global "political" front -- with organizations in 80 countries -- for the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Transcendental Meditation (TM) movement.

The Maharishi is a Hindu monk who began teaching TM in the 1950s. The public best knows him for his association with the Beatles, who learned TM from him in the late 1960s. It's interesting to note that in 1957, the Maharishi claimed he would bring the world to enlightenment within 10 years -- and would then retire to the caves of the Himalayas to spend the remainder of his days in quiet meditation. Yet, today he governs a world-wide spiritual empire worth over $3.5 billion dollars.More details and source documents. Return to top.

Also read Secrets of the Natural Law Party. Here’s an excerpt from the chapter Unnatural FAQs:

. . .Since the 1970s, the Maharishi has touted TM as a secular form of meditation that does not conflict with any religion, philosophy, or governmental system. But in fact, insiders report that TM is secretly a very fundamental form of Hinduism. According to former Maharishi International University professor Anthony D. DeNaro, the Maharishi once snapped, "When America is ready for Hinduism, I will tell them." The Maharishi incorporated his original movement as a religious organization with himself as its "spiritual head." He has said that he chooses the names of Hindu gods as mantras for his followers. Four U.S. courts have found that TM is religious or a religion. . . .

All the more reason why this city isn’t an American city and should not have the power of Eminent Domain! Obama woos Vedic City, folks! Also see Politico Blog. Here’s an excerpt from with bold added by me.

FAIRFIELD, Iowa-Sen. Barack Obama drew his heartiest welcome of a two-day swing through Iowa in the state's capital of inner peace. . .Obama had positioned himself in alignment with the rotation of the earth, in accordance with the teachings of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, whose followers moved en masse to this small Iowa city more than 30 years ago.The Maharishi’s transcendental meditators, along with vacationing pilgrims from the East Coast, turned out in large numbers in the town’s traditional green square to hear the Illinois senator deliver his stump speech on the night of July 3-more people, Fairfield’s sheriff said, than had come out to greet a sitting president.“I saw him and I thought, ‘Oh my god, this is somebody who could lead us into a new era,’” said Nancy Watkins, an international student adviser at the Maharishi University of Management.

A liberal’s take on the event. Here’s an excerpt. Highlights added by the liberal:

Meditating Iowans At Peace With Obama CBS News, NY turned out in large numbers in the town’s traditional green square to hear the Illinois senator deliver his stump speech on the night of July 3 — more people, Fairfield’s sheriff said, than had come out to greet a sitting president. ..... "Somehow we have lost the capacity to recognize ourselves in each other,"” Obama said, to an intently nodding crowd of at least 1,000. "You know, people talk a lot about the federal deficit, but one of the things that I always talk about is …an empathy deficit," he continued, to applause. ...... Obama spoke as Washington wallows in a summer of intense conflict. Subpoenas are flying from the Hill to the White House. ..... In some of his speeches, he didn't even mention President Bush. .....

This is a central gamble of Obama's campaign for President. The loudest voices in the Democratic Party — from Chairman Howard Dean to former Sen. John Edwards and Sen. Hillary Clinton — have been sounding steady notes of confrontation with the White House. Clinton and Edwards argue that they will win the partisan wars. ..... Obama argues that the country, and even partisans, are tired of partisan warfare. .... a suburb — the fist new city incorporated in Iowa in decades — called Maharishi Vedic City, in which all buildings face East.

Now I wonder if the crowd was nodding in agreement with Obama or just head-bobbing in transcendental meditation? No matter. It sure looks like Obama won’t be visiting any farmers facing Eminent Domain these days, now does it? Obama’s got more bread to butter and he knows exactly where to find it! H/T to Iowa Voice “Gurus Love Obama” (from someone living in the midst of these folks) . . .

Oh, by the way…you know what that “Yoga flying” really is? They cross their legs, go into a “trance” (some “herbs” might be involved, if you get my drift), and then proceed to hop/bounce around a gymnasium. They barely get a few inches off the floor, yet they think they’re actually flying. And that’s just stage 1! Pure freakin’ nutjobs. So if they want to be supportive of Obama, more power to ‘em. But I’ll just bet you won’t see any “Endorsed by The Maharishi University” on any campaign flyers anytime soon.

Barack Obama Eminent Domain Christian Hindu Congress politics Iowa Maharishi Vedic City