My guiding principle on the proper amount of government is that it should never be so expansive that average, ordinary Americans, going about their average ordinary lives, are unable to keep track of it. When politicians themselves, who devote themselves full time, cannot read the bills they are passing and can't keep track of everything, abuse, corruption and waste in high amounts are inevitable.

I shouldn't have to read the news every day to remain informed. I shouldn't have to invest hours every week researching what bills say and what their likely impact will be to me, my family, my state, and my country. I don't want to be a news junkie, but I feel that I have to be one to protect myself, even if that protection amounts to little more than being aware of the different things happening outside of my control that are nonetheless impacting (and usually harming) my family. My alternative is to wander around, wondering why the things that are happe...

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In this election season it seems like there is a fair number of the American electorate that needs to be asked: “What is it about ‘Thou shalt not steal’ that you don’t understand?”

Now, there is little use putting this question to secular humanists and atheists. While to a man they all very much hope that humanity abides by the general principle (as far as their possessions go), since most of them reject any notion of there being a moral standard, obviously we cannot call them to act according to that standard.

Christians and others who abide by the Judeo-Christian worldview, however, are another matter. This column is directed only to those who make it their earnest goal to abide by the Scriptures. More to the point, it is directed at those who say they want to act in accordance to the Scriptures, but really aren’t.

“Thou shalt not steal.” What is theft? It is taking what doesn’t belong to you, of course. Sometime...

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Book Review by Mary Ann Kreitzer

It's a parent's worst nightmare -- hearing the words, "You have a very sick child." For a dad, it's particularly difficult because his job, besides providing materially for his family, is to protect his loved ones from harm. But when illness strikes a child, a dad often stands helpless to "fix it." Decisions about dealing with a critical illness in an already born child are difficult enough, but when that illness occurs in utero, parents are faced with another issue. The question is inevitable - "Will you keep it?" Since Roe v. Wade made abortion-on-demand legal in all 50 states at any time during pregnancy, vulnerable families faced with a sick little one are often given the bad news and immediately invited to consider abortion. How will they respond to the challenge? Anthony Horvath, in his book "We Chose Life: Why You Should Too," shares his story, his faith, and the reasons he believes others should "choose ...

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As the candidate field shapes up for the 2012 presidential election there is an opportunity to lay bare the fatal flaw in GOP ‘conservatism’ in the hopes that maybe something can be done about it. Let me be clear, this isn’t a new development. The problems began decades ago- even before we were born. To help me get at what I’m talking about, let me begin with what may appear to be another digression.

Much talk has been made about Sarah Palin’s intelligence and education and her suitability to be president of these united states. And this on the conservative side! Have we ever wondered why we need our presidents and politicians so sophisticated?

We perceive that a high level of sophistication is necessary because the issues that our politicians will have to grapple with are so hugely complex that on no one of them could the president get away with saying, “this is above my pay grade.” The underlying assumption, however, is that these politician...

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This thing down in Florida where a pastor of a congregation not much bigger than my thumbnail has threatened to burn korans has reached the heights of absurdity. Pastor Jone's one long publicity stunt has paid off in spades. It has attracted all kinds of attention. Even Obama has noticed, and given how hard it is for a commoner to attract his eye, that's really saying something. But maybe not. President Oblivious seems to have a keen eye for potential beer summits or things touching on Islam.

Now, Interpol has announced this warning:

LYON, France – INTERPOL has today issued a global alert to its 188 member countries following the request of Pakistan’s Minister of the Interior, and its own determination, that if the proposed Koran burning by a pastor in the US goes ahead as planned, there is a strong likelihood that violent attacks on innocent people would follow.

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As Glenn Beck continues to rise in prominence, he is becoming a target of Christians. He was already a big target for liberals, the left, and the mainstream media. Conservative Christians have their own objections. To begin with, he's Mormon.

Now, let me concede that I would be uncomfortable having a Mormon as president.  For Beck, I think I might be able to swallow that discomfort, because I think he's the real deal. The other big Mormon on the scene is Romney, and for that man it appears that whatever is politically expedient is what is driving him at a particular time or on a particular issue. His Mormonism is a big strike against him, but as far as credentials for elected office go, he fails on a number of very important levels. Like, can he be trusted at all.

Of course, Beck will never run for the presidency or probably any elected office. He's a media personality. Surely we should take this into account.  That said, 95% of what I have heard...

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Probably the most entertaining thing about reading the article about the 7 year old girl who found her lemonade stand shut down by the Portland health department was reading the comments that followed. Those comments quickly devolved into a contest between 'conservatives' and 'liberals.' That discussion was probably warranted, and while I would sympathize with the conservative comments I tend to think a valuable facet was generally overlooked: the overarching belief in our society that it really is possible to eradicate all unpleasant experiences and even if it is not possible, it is moral and proper to make the attempt.

By 'unpleasant experiences' I mean literally any unpleasant experience, from being murdered to being offended to being made sick by a little girl's lemonade not properly handled.

What we have here is...

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Anthony Horvath is the Executive Director of Athanatos Christian Ministries, a pro-life speaker, and the author of the Birth Pangs series of books describing the final fall of America.

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That I know of, I have been de-friended on Facebook four times. Curiously, all four have been Christians who have objected to my view that Christians shouldn't use the government to carry out the Church's charitable duties. Interestingly, the four have been an even mix of liberal and (morally) conservative Christians. The charge seems to be that economic systems are just economic systems and Christians are free to choose from them however they please. Moral issues are different- but economic systems (so I gather) are morally neutral. Worse is that (apparently) I equate...

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The predicament that the United States and the world finds itself in is the result of prevalent wishful thinking. It is honestly and sincerely believed that you can avoid the inevitable consequences of behaviors and beliefs. God cannot be mocked: You reap what you sow. This applies in religion, morality, politics, and economy. It is a general principle: there are rules that govern the world. You defy them at your own peril.  

Many people are pointing to what has happened to Greece and warned that the same thing could happen here in America.  One need not pin the whole argument on Greece's situation.  America has seen its share of economic disasters.   Unfortunately, many Americans don't know that.  Either they didn't experience it (ie, they were born after 1970) or they don't know their history.  The general feeling in America is:  "That can't happen here.  Preposterous."  But it has happened, and it can happen again.

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Friday and Saturday, May 7th-8th, Athanatos Christian Ministries is hosting an online apologetics conference focusing on the communication of Christianity through the arts, and literature in particular.

Presenters include keynote presenter Robert Bowman, an author and apologist and others such as Intelligent Design advocate Angus Menuge, CS Lewis expert Robert Velarde, Tolkien expert Corey Olsen, and plenty of others.

Registration is open until Friday, May 7th, 10:30 a.m. CST.

The conference takes place entirely online, allowing anyone in the world to attend- from home.

Register today!

Link:  http://onlineapologeticsconference.com/