Samuel in April

This video montage, if we may call it that, includes everything from bath time to "walking" with our little man. He still isn't crawling - can't seem to figure out to move the arms. But he absolutely loves to walk (assisted, of course) and tries to pull up on various pieces of furniture. This is such an exciting time to explore and learn new things!

Evangelicals and the Public Square

What role do Christians have in politics? Well, click the link below and prayerfully listen to three sharp thinkers discuss this topic.

Chuck Colson is a former Nixon White House staff member who served a prison sentence for Watergate crimes. He became a believer right before entering prison, later he started Prison Fellowship ministries, and now speaks to churches about their role in culture and political engagement.

Greg Boyd is a middle-age pastor and adjunct professor.

Shane Claiborne is a 32-year old Christian who is a part of a new movement toward Christian monasticism.

They were interviewed together at the national Pastor's Conference. The audio clip is approximately 60 minutes.

http://download.publicradio.org/podcast/speakingoffaith/20080417_evangelicalpolitics.mp3

Carrie's famous brother

If you want to see Carrie's lil' brother in action check out the Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School "Cougar Vision" on April 21, 2008. Scroll down and click the Quick Time player icon. Watch until the end where you can hear James singing his solo in the play Cinderella as the herald.

http://216.159.98.80/users/kennlive/

Review of "Expelled"

Dr. Douglas Groothuis of Denver Seminary reviews the new Ben Stein film "Expelled":

To View Click Here

Pork Barrel Spening and Carrie's Uncle

My wife's uncle is John Tillman. He is the CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute (www.illinoispolicyinstitute.org). He was recently interviewed on Fox News Chicago about the over-the-top spending habits of some Illinois lawmakers. This kind of earmark spending goes on in every state and in our U.S. government. When will it stop? Watch the video and then call your legislators.



http://www.youtube.com/illinoispolicy

Yale art student now denies her original statements

According to Fox News' most recent report, Yale and the female art student are saying the story it is a fabrication. She earlier said the statements were true, but after being investigated by the university, the veracity has been called into question. Whether true or not at this point . . . there are no laws to deter such activity.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,351608,00.html

Abortion Outrage

A Yale student recently artificially inseminated herself, then took drugs to cause a miscarriage, and then used the babies (it is believed that there may have been more than one instance to get the needed results) remains for an art project. Even the ultra-left pro-choice NARAL (National organization advocating for and providing comprehensive information on reproductive rights) denounced this murderous activity. "This 'project' is offensive and insensitive to the women who have suffered the heartbreak of miscarriage," said NARAL's communication director Ted Miller in a statement.

What's scary about this whole thing is that under current legislation, there is nothing illegal about this. O Lord, have mercy upon us.

Read the whole article at Foxnews.com.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,351608,00.html

How has the world been effected by the major world religions?

This is a 90 second illustration of the spread of religions around the world. It's interesting.

Not that anyone had any doubts . . .

The two Democratic rivals for their party's presidential nomination have both affirmed their support for abortion rights.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7345771.stm

At an event this past weekend, the two Democratic candidates shared about their expressed faith in Jesus Christ, and then they both went on to espouse deep religious ideas that deny that human life begins at conception:

The two were asked if they thought life began at conception.

"I believe that the potential for life begins at conception," said Mrs Clinton.

"But for me, it is not only about the potential life, but the other lives involved."

She said the individual must be entrusted to make "this profound decision" about whether to terminate a pregnancy and that abortion should remain legal and safe, if seldom practised.

'Bitter' controversy

Mr Obama said he did not know whether life begins with conception.

"This is something that I have not, I think, come to a firm resolution on... I don't presume to know the answer to that question," he said.

"What I know... is that there is something extraordinarily powerful about potential life and that that has a moral weight to it that we take into consideration when we're having these debates."


What are we supposed to do with this type of rhetoric?



I know some feel this passage of Scripture is overplayed, but how can it be denied by so many who call themselves Christians?

Psalm 139:

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

Samuel's latest

Here are our latest eating escapades as well as attempts at mobility. Enjoy!

Crawling?

Samuel is working on the crawling bit and smiling up a storm, despite the teething process.

Gorbachev's conversion doubtful . . . for now.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/aprilweb-only/114-52.0.html?start=1

I recently posted news that former USSR leader Mikhail Gorbachev had confessed to Christian beliefs, but recent sources bring these reported events into question. Read the Christianity Today article for yourself. Though a bit disappointing, it paints a powerful picture of God's divine plan through Ronald Reagon and Gorbachev's relationship and leadership at an important moment in history.

Zimbabwe, God and Elections

In 2005, my wife and I journeyed to Zimbabwe for a short missions trip. Now 3 years later our heart still goes out to many friends in the country. Last Saturday, they had elections that were for nearly every political office from local to federal.

The ruling party, the Zanu-PF, has been in power since 1980 when white rule was sufficiently wiped out. Their leader, Robert Mugabe, has since then become a vicious dictator and enemy of the people. It has the worst economy in the world (sparked by Mugabe's violent seizure of white-owned farms that were given to Mugabe's war buddies rather than able-bodied farmers).

Saturday's election results have been released slowly with no word on the new president of Zim. The parliamentary results have been totally released, giving the MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) the majority. Today, we may hear word of the presidential results, but it's tough to tell. The uneasiness of the country is rising. Just yesterday the MDC's headquarters was ransacked, some fearing Mugabe was going ofter the MDC presidential nominee (Morgan Tsvangarai).

Lord willing, the MDC will take power and seek a more just system of leadership. With 80% of the country unemployed, inflation at 100,000%, and millions starving to death and being ravished by AIDS (life-expectancy at an all-time low of 36 years of age), I'd ask you to pause and pray today for this country.

God is close to the broken-hearted and oppressed . . . ask that the Lord would send a new season of blessing upon this hurting land.

Samuel's new 'do

We are experimenting with some new hairstyles for our son. (Don't worry, he didn't actually roll off the couch at the end of this clip. Mommy was there to catch him.) He wants to send a little shout out to his man, Tino, in Boone, who inspired this one...

The Green Period

So some artists have such things as the Blue Period...well, these pictures are Samuel's little Green Period. Enjoy the series. Notice his fascination with the socks. He likes to pull them off and suck on them. We have also discovered him in his crib with his pants in various stages of removal. We're not quite sure what to make of all this, but we are hoping it passes eventually...

Visit with Grandpa Steve

Grandpa Steve was here for a brief visit. Here are some clips of their time together. We loved having him for a visit and Samuel seemed to especially enjoy Grandpa's shoes, as you'll notice.

Raise the Taxes . . . It's Our Only Option

Fox News' Neil Cavuto explains this perfectly . .
. (check out his website before you make too
quick of judgment on this post) -

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,344631,00.html

Here's his whole write-up:

I was wrong.

Plain and simple, I was wrong.

What I thought would be a mild recession has
turned into something worse — maybe much worse.

I didn't think the government should get
involved. Now, I think it has no choice.

If the markets can't correct things, maybe Uncle
Sam can.

And maybe, just maybe, politicians demanding a
greater government role are right.

But that government role doesn't come cheap.

They know this.

Belatedly, I know this too. So, let me be clear:
We need to raise taxes.

You heard me right — raise taxes.

Not across the board and hopefully not
permanently.

But enough to right some wrongs and pay some long
overdue bills.

The rich have had a nice ride. Paying a little
more for the pleasure won't kill them and it
won't kill me.

We've tried desperately to bring the poor up.
Maybe it's time to teach the well-to-do a thing
or two and bring them down.

They won't miss the money. But maybe they'll get
the point.

Yes, it's time to raise taxes and the sooner the
better.

Because, yes, I was wrong: Cutting taxes isn't
the answer. Hiking them, now, more than ever is.

Mark it down. This date: April 1st, 2008.

April Fools Day.

Gotcha!

Matthew W. Proctor
Please direct all email communication to:
apostlemw@yahoo.com or mattandcarrieproctor@yahoo.com
Blog: www.mattproctor.blogspot.com

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