CBN Blogs

Sarah Palin: Part 2

David Brody — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:02:51 GMT

Watch part two of my interview with Sarah Palin that aired on The 700 Club Friday morning.

Beat the Holiday Blues

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:20:56 GMT

Now that the holidays are upon us, millions of people will be experiencing an especially acute type of pain. The holiday blues are very common, although most people who experience sadness at the holidays don't talk about it. We're all under the assumption that it is the happiest time of the year, so we tend not to let others know that we are not falling in line.

The main culprit of the holiday blues is UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS. Want to make this year the happiest yet? Eliminate ideas about how you imagine the holidays should be. Wipe out of your mind's eye all the television commercials and hype that paint an idyllic picture of the perfect house with a fire blazing in the fireplace, family and friends gathered 'round a gorgeous Christmas tree with spiced cider in hand, singing Christmas carols, prepared to open dozens of perfectly-wrapped gifts.

Instead, prioritize. Put your relationship to our Lord #1. Meditate on God's word and pray often, focusing on God's will for your life. Ask for guidance regarding how much money to spend of gifts and how much to give to the needy. Ask for strength and wisdom regarding the busy-ness of the season. Make sure to spend good time each day, alone, quiet , with the Lord.

Give of yourself in non-monetary ways. Volunteer. Reaching out to others is one of the best cures for sadness. And give to your family members. Most all of us have dysfunction and brokenness in our families, and that pain is exacerbated this time of year. Family therapist Dr. Linda Mintle has the best advice I've ever heard for how to deal with family during the holidays. She says, "Even though that person is difficult and maybe even mean at times, YOU be the person of Christ to that person. YOU exercise grace, YOU exercise forgivenes,, YOU give them the benefit of the doubt and YOU do what Jesus sais. You bless those who curse you, you love your enemeis, you act like Jesus to that person and you woudl be surprised at how far that can go in the long run."

Finally, employ some practical tips such as eating right, sleeping enough and exercising...all things that heighten your emotional well-being.

I pray that everyone reading this can turn away from the false messages thrust upon us ad nauseum about what contemporary society says the holidays are about...spending too much, eating too much, doing too much. It's my wish that we can have a simple holiday season full of true joy where we focus on loving God and eachother.

Our Response to Poverty and Injustice

Jesse Carey — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:45:41 GMT

This morning on The 700 Club, Gordon interviewed American Bible Society President Lamar Vest. (The interview is embedded below). Vest discusses a new project ABS has partnered with World Vision to produce, called “The Poverty and Justice Bible”. The idea behind this Bible is to highlight every verse that deals poverty and justice. Scholars combed through the scriptures and found that there are almost 2,100 verses dealing with those issues—almost 10 percent of the Bible.

It's easy, especially in tumultuous economic times, to become focused on what God promises to us as individuals. But to see the huge emphasis the Bible places on living outwardly—serving those in need, and those suffering from injustice—is both inspiring and challenging.

In the interview, Gordon mentions how this idea relates to ideas found in the book of James. There are a few verses that stuck out to me in James as well: James 2:14-18: What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, "Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well"—but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

As we approach the holidays—particularly in a year when many families are in need—this should be a challenge to us as Christians to do what James encourages, and put our faith into action. Seek out those that have need; come beside to those who have been unjustly treated by others; pray that God gives you opportunities to give of yourself and share his love.

This is more than just an act of obedience; it’s an act of love and an expression of faith in a God who cares deeply for the poor and the victims of injustice.

James 2:26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.

Single and Thankful

Lee Warren and Julie Ferwerda — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:35:39 GMT

From Lee:

Last Thanksgiving, I was in a reflective mood. Maybe it was the aroma of turkey wafting through the house. Maybe it was the notion of watching football without worrying about anything else (hey, more than one man has been inspired by a football game!). But I tend to think it had more to do with the simple realization that life is good, and I needed to thank God for it.

I pulled out my moleskine notebook and began to write:

“At Mom’s for Thanksgiving dinner. Got here early to help with the turkey and to do whatever I can to help.

“The front window is open. Clanci [Mom’s cat] is sitting in her condo as a cool breeze filters in. It’s 4:15 p.m., and the sun is going down already. A red candle flickers on the nearby TV tray and the Cowboys are up on the Seahawks 27-3 in the second quarter.

“The turkey is almost done and for the first time in a couple of years, everything seems settled, normal. At least as normal as life ever gets. And I’m thankful—not for normal, but for God’s grace that sustained us when life got difficult. ”

I wrote more, but you get the gist.

The past couple of years leading up to that point were chaotic. My mom had a stroke in 2007, and my family had several other issues to deal with, much like every family does. We still had other challenges to face, but Thanksgiving gave me some down time to pause and thank God for all he had already done in our lives.

I felt especially thankful on this particular day to be able to have a nice dinner with my family. Sure, I wished I had wife or girlfriend by my side for it. But, in all reality, being around other loved ones was more than enough.

In some small way, it reminded me of Rebekah’s situation. In Genesis 24, she was single and working in the context of her nuclear family. Abraham’s servant initially met her at the well, where she drew water. After learning that the servant needed a place to stay for the night, she invited him to stay at her family’s house. Rebekah’s brother, Laban, greeted them. Shortly thereafter, they sat down for a meal.

Abraham’s servant knew God has orchestrated the events of the day to make it clear that Rebekah would be Isaac’s wife. Rebekah already understood this, but now it was up to Rebekah’s family to hear the case.

Some believe Rebekah’s father, Bethuel, was incapacitated because Laban was serving as the head of household. That was probably the case, but Bethuel was involved in the decision-making process (see Genesis 24:50).

The point is life wasn’t perfect for Rebekah. Her father was probably in ill health and she was single. Judging by her reaction to the marriage proposal, she was quite ready for marriage, but it just had not happened yet. So, she was doing what I was doing last Thanksgiving; joining her nuclear family for a meal and serving them whenever possible. It’s where she belonged at that point in her life.

This Thanksgiving, I hope you’ll dine with your nuclear family if your situation will allow it. If not, find a family to break bread with or invite friends, neighbors, or other single people to your place for a feast. If you cannot find people to spend the holiday with, let your pastor or deacon know.

Wherever you end up dining, take some time to thank God for everything he’s doing in your life. He loves you and longs to fellowship with you.

Palin Asks People to Invite God to Take Over in Their Lives

David Brody — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:28:49 GMT

One of the most interesting parts of the book is something nearly everyone is overlooking. Well, not The Brody File. At the end of "Going Rogue" Sarah Palin actually invites people to let God take over their lives. Wow! Watch the video clip below.

Sarah Palin invites people to let God take over their lives:

Sarah Palin: "My very last paragraph there sums it up and invites people, encourages people to do what I did and that's put their life in God's hands, our Creator who knows probably better than we know what the perfect path is for a person so God being so extremely important my faith is to my life I wasn't going to be hesitant at all to let people know what I believe."

Here is another way she sums up her invitation to accept God. This will like a Pseudo Altar Call:

Sarah Palin: "How in the World would I sum up my life except to say God at the end of the day I have really nothing but my faith, my reliance on you lord and I wanted to articulate that."

This is the actual quote from the end of the book in Sarah Palin's own words:

Sarah Palin quote from "Going Rogue": "I do know there is a God. My life is in His hands. I encourage readers to do what I did many years ago, invite him in to take over...then see what He will do and how He will get you through. Test him on this. You'll see there's no such thing as a coincidence."

She also takes about her baptism when she was 6 years old:

Sarah Palin: "Knowing even back then that it is a step that one can take to show the rest of the World that I'm not shy about this. I am going to let the World know that this is my foundation and that this is my reliance is going to be on my faith in God."

The Church Fights Back: The Manhattan Declaration

Craig von Buseck — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:31:35 GMT

The year was 1776. American patriots were fighting to defend their freedom from a tyrannical king and parliament in England. They had tried diplomacy; it had failed. They had extended an olive branch; it was rejected. The issue was freedom, and the Americans had come to a point where they had to draw a line and tell the king, "You have pushed us far enough. We will be pushed no further."

So in order to secure their freedom -- that which the colonists understood derived from God and not from any king -- the Continental Congress made a Declaration of Independence for the people of America.

Thomas Jefferson penned these immortal words in the opening of that famous document of liberty that set the stage for the revolution that was already underway:

"When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

Today, Bible-believing Christians find themselves in an eerily similar situation as the activist Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of the U.S. Federal Government move swiftly to deny religious liberties, and impose a radical anti-family, anti-Christian agenda upon the people of America.

Christian leaders today have arisen to echo the words of the colonial patriots, "You have pushed us far enough. We will be pushed no further."

To counter this anti-family, anti-religious movement, some key Christian leaders gathered on Friday, November 20th, in Washington, D.C., to announce what is being called The Manhattan Declaration -- a 4,732-word statement signed by a collection of Orthodox, Catholic and evangelical Christian leaders who are collaborating around moral issues of great concern.

You can read The Manhattan Declaration here.

More than 125 Christian leaders from various faith backgrounds have also signed this declaration, affirming the following:

The sanctity of human life;
Marriage as defined by the union of one man and one woman; and
Religious liberty and freedom of conscience.

Addressed not only to Christians, but to the president, Congress, and civil authorities, the document calls for protection of the sanctity of life, traditional marriage and religious liberty.

The Manhattan Declaration endorses civil disobedience under certain circumstances if it becomes necessary to defend our constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of the press.

Read the text of the Manhattan Declaration with a list of the 125+ signers at http://www.demossnews.com/manhattandeclaration/press_kit/manhattan_declaration_signers.

For more information, go to ManhattanDeclaration.org.

Sarah Palin on The 700 Club

David Brody — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:05:41 GMT

My one on one interview with Sarah Palin aired across the country this morning on The 700 Club. You can watch it below. Unlike in other interviews, we talked extensively about her faith and how God has not only been the major presence in her life but it was the major presence in the book as well.

Part two of my interview will air on The 700 Club on Friday. In that piece, we will delve into more political issues including the 2008 campaign, abortion and what she would have done differently during her VP run.

Sarah Palin on The Brody File

David Brody — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:02:56 GMT

Hey everyone....below are a few quick clips from my one on one interview with Sarah Palin Wednesday in Grand Rapids Michigan. There is much more on the way but this gives you a little taste.

On the double standard for conservative Christian politicians:

Palin: I do absolutely notice that some of the conservative Christians who are members of Congress or who are serving in state legislatures, yes it seems like certainly like the leftist media treats them a little bit different. There are some double standards. It gets kind of frustrating, but at the same time I think it makes us work harder. I think it forces us to be clearer and more articulate in what are positions are.

On forgiving her enemies and those who spread rumors about her and her family:

Palin: My momma's heart breaks when the kids are attacked so it is through a lot of prayer and a lot of reliance on prayer warriors all across our country though praying God's hand of protection over my kids. ...These are probably some lonely people, some shallow people who want to take a shot like that. And we need to pray for these people for one and we also need to keep things in perspective.

In the book she asks people to consider inviting God into their lives:

Palin: Give it a shot, put your life in God's hands and see what He's going to do for you, and He will reveal for you, too, these providential happenings throughout your life that surely can not be coincidences.

Brody: You realize when you say things like that the liberal media, people within the liberal media, they're going to blow a gasket.

Palin: Okay, this is what's going to happen, too. CBN, you guys are going to be Googled all over the place, and the liberal media will take things out of context. So lets just kind of acknowledge what's going to happen here. Their heads are gonna be spinning. So be it , though. Let's get some truth out there. Lets get some candid talk about a person's faith. That's part of what I'm all about and I don't hesitate to let people know where I am on it.

Reacting to Nicole Wallace who says Palin hated her from the beginning of the campaign:

Brody: She said on the Rachel Maddow show last night that Sarah Palin has hated me from the very beginning.

Palin: That's not true at all but I have gone a year with a lot of Americans having a lot of questions about the media strategy in the McCain campaign and this was my opportunity to answer those questions. This is how it worked, this is why we did the Katie Couric interview instead of doing an interview with maybe someone who would be more objective and perhaps not have an agenda. So I just laid it out and answered the questions.

But no it's certainly not a book seeking vengeance or any kind of vindication. It's answering questions that people have asked of me. And after a year of a lot of false reports out there, I'm excited to have the truth out there.

The Palin Interview: Thoughts and Observations

David Brody — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:26:06 GMT

The Brody File is writing this blog entry at 3am on Thursday morning. I'm traveling back on an early morning flight from Grand Rapids Michigan to Washington DC. My one on one interview with Sarah Palin airs across the country on The 700 Club later this morning. I will post the 6 minute piece on The Brody File around 11am so check back. As for individual clips, expect those to move here shortly after 12pm Thursday.

As for quick impressions from the interview, (mind you I'm writing this on an hour sleep in the middle of the night) let me just say that she seemed very comfortable and at peace. The last time I interviewed her during the campaign in October of 2008 you could tell that while she was in good spirits the stress of the campaign was wearing on her. Not this time. She definitely has the "shackles" off.

The interview focuses quite a bit on the faith aspects of her book including the fascinating part in the book about how she asks readers to invite God into their lives. Wait until you see the part where she looks directly into the camera and calls out the "leftist media" (her words)when it comes to her Evangelical faith and how she sees a double standard in how the media treats conservative Christian politicians. She also is very candid when I ask her about how tough it is to forgive her enemies. I also talk to her about abortion and healthcare, her poor poll numbers,what she would have done differently in the campaign and her harsh words about campaign aide Nicole Wallace.

We've decided to break up the Palin interview into two parts. Thursday's 700 Club piece will focus more on her faith. Friday's piece will have more of a political/campaign feel to it.

The interview took place at Zondervan Publishing in Grand Rapids on Wednesday afternoon. We were the only camera there to not only interview her but get exclusive pictures of her meeting and greeting employees outside. (with Trig in her arms)

By the way, her bus has a picture of a moose on the front of it. That is classic Sarah Palin. I'm not sure that there's really much to say after that.

Leiberman: Iran 'Failed the Test'

Chris Mitchell — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:27:13 GMT

Sen. Joe Leiberman said Iran has "failed the test." The Democrat from Conneticut made his statement as he led a U.S. Congressional delegation to the Saban Forum here in Jerusalem, Monday.

The delegation included Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Sen. Ted Kaufman (D-DE) and Congressman Howard Berman (D-28th CA). They all addressed the Iranian nuclear threat.

Kaufman said Iran's nuclear program raises a "great deal of concern, while Berman said there's a "short time clock" and Graham said if Iran got a nuclear device, it would be a "game changer."

Watch a collection of their comments below.

They made strong comments, but whether there is the political will or the military might to stop Iran remains to be seen. The future of the Middle East and the world seems to be resting on how the West, the U.S. and Israel deal with this issue.

Rosenberg on Current U.S.-Israel Relations

Chris Mitchell — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:19:37 GMT

Last week, Israel's Prime Minister visited U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House. In an unprecedented move, the meeting took place at night with no press, no photos (other than the White House photographer) and little fanfare.

The meeting seemed symptomatic of the strained relations now between the Netanyahu government and the Obama administration. We asked author Joel Rosenberg-- here in Israel leading a Jerusalem prayer summit-- for his analysis of the current state of U.S.-Israel relations.

Watch his comments below.

Brody File to Interview Sarah Palin Wednesday

David Brody — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:03:33 GMT

The Brody File is set to do a sit-down interview with Sarah Palin Wednesday afternoon in Grand Rapids Michigan. Her book tour starts in this city tonight. The interview with Sarah Palin will air across the country on The 700 Club Thursday morning and you can expect to see clips of the interview starting Thursday on The Brody File.

So far her interviews with the big time media stars have been more about politics and policy but after reading her book the one prominent theme throughout is her faith in God. You can't flip through a couple of pages without reading either a reference to God or her saying a prayer to God or just how God has laid out all of these circumstances in her life. It's all there in black and white.

You want an example of this? Check out the Acknowledgments section at the end of the book. She asks readers to think about inviting God into their lives. That's right. I'm not kidding. The quote is below:

"I do know there is a God. My life is in His hands. I encourage readers to do what I did many years ago, invite him in to take over...then see what He will do and how He will get you through. Test him on this. You'll see there's no such thing as a coincidence."

The Homeless Angel

Jackie Overpeck — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:55:21 GMT

“Volunteers. We need volunteers!” My youth pastor’s voice clapped with conviction.

I sat in the back of the church and watched as the shuffle began. Young people got up from their seats, and took their places under signs that read: “Nursing Home,” “Hospital Visitation,” and “Coffee House.”

My friend Alyssa and I made our way over to the Coffee House group. The community outreach leader was passing out directions to the downtown location. I prayed beneath my breath:

Lord, this type of outreach is not familiar to me, but I know that it is familiar to you. Please help me express your love to someone special who needs it. Amen.

The dirt parking lot outside the coffee house was full as Alyssa and I pulled up. A long line of people stood outside waiting for the dinner bell to ring. Warmth swept over me. All these people are hungry. Hungry, right here in my hometown.

Alyssa and I entered the Coffee House through a ripped screen door. A few modest-sized rooms greeted us inside: a kitchen, a dinner hall, and a make-shift meeting area. I watched as busy women placed dinner rolls on large silver platters in the kitchen. Meanwhile, men rushed about setting up mix-matched folding chairs in the direction of a beat up piano.

A tall man in a denim shirt greeted Alyssa and I. “I’m Dan. Are you here to help serve?”

We nodded, yes. He turned towards the kitchen. “Follow me.”

Before I had a chance to ask what to do, a woman with a net scarf on her head, slid a serving spoon into my hand.

“Two spoons of beans per person,” she said. Her voice was strong and centered.

I looked down the serving bar: bread, meat, salad, vegetables, macaroni and cheese, and there before me sat the largest bowl of pork and beans I’d ever seen in my life. I stirred the beans as I looked out the front window. The long line of hungry people continued to grow.

A clock on the wall chimed seven, and Dan unlocked the door. A steady stream of people of all races and ages entered. Each person smiled with appreciation as they walked through the food line with their paper plates extended. I served two large portions of pork-n-beans to each person. A sense of purpose like I’d never felt before filled my heart.

An elderly woman stood in line. I asked, “Are you doing well today?”

Her face was wrinkled and she appeared to be in her mid-70s. She looked like someone’s grandma. Her clothes didn’t match, her shoes were worn, and her hair was unkept. Yet, her eyes held a subtle and alluring glow.

“Yes, I’m doing very well, dear.” She answered with a crackled voice.

I spooned two helpings of beans onto her plate, and she passed by.

“Can I help you carry something?” I asked.

She didn’t say a word. She simply handed me her plastic lemonade glass.

My heart broke as I followed her over to a table. How had this gentle grandma ended up here? Hungry and homeless?

“I’m Jackie,” I said.

“I’m Margaret,” she replied.

“Are you here alone?” I asked.

“Yes, my husband died. We never had any children. It’s just me.” She lifted her sloppy joe sandwich to chapped lips.

Conversation continued around the dinner table where Margaret sat. “Supper’s good tonight, isn’t it Mama?” the man across the table said to Margaret as he sopped up some sauce with his dinner roll.

Another man bit into a doughnut, “Yeah, but I bet Mama knows how to cook better vittles than this.”

I could hardly believe what I was hearing. Margaret was having dinner at a mission house, yet she continued to reach out like the mother in a family to those around her. Margaret was a glowing figure of God’s hope despite her difficult circumstances.

Half an hour later, Margaret sat at the front of the meeting room where a worship service was scheduled to begin after everyone was done eating.

“Can my friend Alyssa and I sit with you?” I asked.

“Yes, I would like that.” Margaret said.

The worship leader began to play the old piano, plunking out tunes. Margaret lifted her head and sang the hymns as if she’d spent her entire life going to church. Her face lit brightly as she worshipped God.

Tears filled my eyes as I considered the purity of Margaret’s heart.

I whispered into Alyssa’s ear. “I have an idea. I want to get a gift for Margaret. Would you mind saving my seat?”

I quietly slipped out the back door of the coffee house, got in my car, and headed for the closest store that I could find. I was unfamiliar with the downtown area so I settled for a nearby convenience store. I searched for something special to give to Margaret. Then, I saw it sitting beside the cash register—a long-stem, red rose. I quickly purchased the rose and headed back to the Coffee House.

Margaret continued to sing with broken voice: I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee…

I presented the rose to Margaret. “This rose is for you Margaret. I want you to know how special you are to God.”

Margaret’s wrinkled hands reached out, not only for the rose, but for me too. She held me tight and cried. She clutched the rose to her chest for the remainder of the service. Then, she gave me a final hug and walked away.

Margaret may never know what an angel she is and how she reveals something of Heaven on Earth that cannot be told, but only seen. Sometimes I hear people reason about angels and question whether or not they are real.

I saw a real angel—a hungry and homeless angel. Her name is Margaret, and the hope she had in her heart despite hardship brought Psalm 119 to life:

Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed. Uphold me, and I will be delivered; I will always have regard for your decrees (verses 116-117, NIV).

Have you ever reached out to help serve a meal in your community or been on a mission trip? What amazing things did you experience as you shared God’s love with others?

This week Loren Cunningham was a special guest on The 700 Club. He’s the founder of YWAM (Youth With A Mission). It is an international movement of Christians from many denominations dedicated to serving Jesus throughout the world.

Learn more about Loren Cunningham, YWAM and ways that you might be able to help those in need by watching The 700 Club special broadcast, Loren Cunningham: God is Transforming Nations.

The Power of Cooperation

Dr. David Hawkins — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:37:27 GMT

“We’ve got to learn to fight fair,” a young woman said to me recently. Sitting across from her husband of five years, Laurie complained that her husband, Zach and she didn’t know how to fight in a healthy way.

“What do you mean by ‘fighting fair,’” I asked.

“Well, you know,” she insisted. “We’ve got to learn how to have healthy arguments.”

Zach looked on, nodding his head in agreement. He then jumped in.

“We know you have to fight to clear the air, but it’s no fun.”

“Why do you have to fight to clear the air?” I asked. “And what do you both mean by ‘healthy arguments?’”

Both seemed surprised by my questions.

“You know,” Laurie said again. “Learning how to fight fair instead of yelling at each other. We get mean at times, and that’s not healthy for us or for our kids to see.”

I looked at Laurie and Zach and shared an important truth about fighting.

“You know, the idea of ‘fighting fair’ is not really a good practice. It sounds good, but the idea isn’t scriptural. Scripture encourage us to speak kindly to one another—to always speak the truth in love. We are to cooperate with one another, not battle and get into power struggles.”

“But, that’s impossible,” Laurie said. “Every couple has to fight sometime.”

“Do they?” I asked. “I’m not sure about that.”

Laurie and Zach struggle to get along, and they are in good company. Nearly every couple I work with—and I specialize in couples counseling—struggle with getting along. As the Apostle James says: “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but you don’t get it.” (James 4: 1-2)

The Apostle James is clear; we are not to be fighting and quarreling. We are not to be stuck in trying to get what we want, coercing others into submitting to our point of view or will. Yet, fighting fair seems to be built upon the premise that we will fight; we just must follow some rules for how to fight fairly. But “fighting” and being “fair” about it are generally mutually exclusive.

A recent email shares the agony that comes from fighting.

Dear Dr. David,

I am sick to death of fighting with my husband. We are both Christians, but you wouldn’t know it if you saw what happens behind the closed doors of our home. When things are going well, we really love each other. But, when we don’t get along, we fight like cats and dogs. We each try to talk the other into our point of view, and even resort to calling names at times. We’re always sorry later, but at the time we lose our tempers and say things we don’t really mean. We need to learn how to fight fair, but I’m not sure where to start.

-- Tired of Fighting

This email illustrates the point I want to make—"fighting fair" is not the answer we all believe it might be. While I certainly believe in being fair, I don’t think fighting is healthy. What would happen if we approached conflict from a different point of view?

First, we are to have a humble attitude. The Apostle Paul challenges us: “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” (Romans 12:3) We are not simply to act humbly once in a while, but are challenged to “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.” (Colossians 3:12) Nothing is said here about "fighting fair."

Second, we are to practice putting other’s needs before our own. Not only are we not encouraged to "fight fair," but we are to consider other’s needs ahead of our own. We are not to fight and battle with each other to win. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition and vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4) How often do you focus on listening carefully to what your mate needs?

Third, seek to cooperate rather than dominate. Instead of trying to "win" or even "‘fight fair,’ seek what is best for your mate. Listen to them, seeking to build them up. Meet them at their point of need and watch them flourish. Pay attention to the matters that concern them, and seek to help them in any way you can. In return, you will be loved and appreciated. Love is never selfish and never fails. (I Corinthians 13)

Finally, we can only accomplish this by the power of the Spirit. Our egos want to rule, fight, battle,and conquer. When we add a bit of emotional TNT to the scenario, our egos become even more unruly. When we allow the Holy Spirit to tame our emotions and desires, we stop trying to win and instead seek to cooperate. That is real strength! “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” (Ephesians 3:16-17)

. . . . . . . . . . .

Share your feedback or send a confidential note to me at therelationshipdoctor@gmail.com and read more about The Marriage Recovery Center on my Web site, www.marriagerecoverycenter.com and yourrelationshipdoctor.com. You’ll find videos and podcasts on saving a troubled marriage, codependency, rejection by your mate, and affair-proofing your marriage.

The Fourth Step: Can I tell Right from Wrong?

Beth Livingston — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:39:17 GMT

“We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.” Alcoholics Anonymous

Each step away from our addiction or destructive behavior is a step closer to looking at the real problem – US! We need to come face-to-face with our character defects, our emotional makeup, and identify our flawed thinking.

This is not the time that we start pointing the finger at our parents, our spouses, our circumstances. That would be an inventory of our excuses and justifications for our addiction. This is entirely different. It takes work!

If you are doing inventory for a retail business, you do a thorough item by item count of what you have in stock. When taking a moral inventory of ourselves, we identify the rights and wrongs in our lives. For example, if I’m spending a good portion of my income on my addiction and failing to pay bills, repay loans, and not buying enough healthy food for myself and my family, I’ve identified several moral shortcomings. This inventory would include selfishness, irresponsible behavior, deception, misplaced priorities, and negligence.

When you begin your inventory, what are the most obvious moral shortcomings you can identify? Are you violent? Have you hurt people with your words or your callousness? Each of us is different and each of us have moral defects whether we are able to admit it or not.

Conducting this inventory becomes the cornerstone and foundation for rebuilding our lives. We see what’s not right and why it’s not right. We do the best we can to isolate our behavior without blaming others and holding onto resentment or the victim mentality. Once we have our first inventory list, we have a starting point for change.

Pride can often be a huge obstacle for some people in defining their moral issues because at this point in recovery it is common for us to say that the alcohol, the crack, the internet porn, or whatever our addiction causes the moral defect and believe that once we abstain from our addiction, there will no longer be a problem. The end result of that thinking is a “dry drunk.” This is someone who no longer uses, but has all the personality traits as if they still did. How do you feel about this? Do you think that the problem exists in the substance or within the person?

Are you ready and willing to search your actions and life choices and begin your moral inventory?

If recovery ended with the inventory and there were no further steps, we’d be awfully depressed. However, just like the retail store, items that don’t sell well are identified and eventually phased out to make room on the shelves for items that do sell well. It is in this phase that we figure out what we do that doesn’t serve us well and needs to phase out of our lives. Through faith and adopting new moral codes, we can begin to see small victories that set us on the path to freedom.

What has God shown you that you need to admit is a moral problem in your life? This is a safe place to share and begin your inventory.

Sarah Palin and Evolution

David Brody — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:55:01 GMT

The media is gonna hate this one. In her new book, Going Rogue, Sarah Palin talks about evolution and her conclusion? She's not buying it. It seems as if she discounts Macroevolution but has no problem with Microevolution. Hey folks, Palin joins the millions of Evangelical Christians who believe exactly the same thing.

You know it's funny. People who believe in Evolution think Evangelicals like Palin are wacky. Yet who's the one that believes I’m related to Nemo? Nemo is real right or was Disney lying to me?

Actually, if truth be told, I look more like I'm related to Abe Vigoda from the 1970's sitcom "Fish"

The story on Palin is below right after you take in this scintillating picture of sex symbol Abe Vigoda:

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) vice presidential running mate, signals in her new book Going Rogue that she doesn't believe in evolution, panning it as theory that human beings "originated from fish that sprouted legs and crawled out of the sea."

According to a review published Sunday in The New York Times, Palin knocks evolution in her new book.

Elsewhere in this volume, she talks about creationism, saying she “didn’t believe in the theory that human beings — thinking, loving beings — originated from fish that sprouted legs and crawled out of the sea” or from “monkeys who eventually swung down from the trees.” In everything that happens to her, from meeting Todd to her selection by Mr. McCain for the Republican ticket, she sees the hand of God: “My life is in His hands. I encourage readers to do what I did many years ago, invite Him in to take over.”

(More)

MSNBC notes that Palin also discusses a conversation she had with McCain's campaign advisor, Steve Schmidt, in her book.

"But your dad's a science teacher," Schmidt objected. "Yes." "Then you know that science proves evolution," added Schmidt. "Parts of evolution," I said. "But I believe that God created us and also that He can create an evolutionary process that allows species to change and adapt." Schmidt winced and raised his eyebrows. In the dim light, his sunglasses shifted atop his hear. I had just dared to mention the C-word: creationism. But I felt I was on solid factual ground.

Newsweek Photo of Palin Shows Media Bias and Sexism

David Brody — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:34:50 GMT

For all of you who live in a dream world and think the mainstream media isn't biased, get a load of the latest cover of Newsweek below:

You've got to hand it to the folks at Newsweek. They have accomplished being biased and sexist at the same time. Quite a feat. This cover has got to be a new low right? They don't use a photo of Palin on the campaign trail. No instead they take the sexy Runners World photo. Yes she posed for it but don't tell me they didn't purposely use that photo to make a point? I predict this cover will become a bigger story over the next 24-48 hours and let's face it. This isn't JUST about media bias. This cover should be insulting to women politicians. Where's the sexy photo of Mitt Romney? Why not a picture of Tim Pawlenty with an unbuttoned shirt relaxing on a couch in the Twin Cities?

By the way, where's the Newsweek headline that says, "Going Rogue and Going Places?" No instead we get Newsweek covers throughout the years like this one:

Conservative women are portrayed as nuts and dopey. Liberal women are heroes for the next generation.

Oy-vey. Someone get me a sedative.

Abortion, Catholics and President Obama

David Brody — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:38:59 GMT

President Obama may be playing with fire on the healthcare abortion issue. If abortion continues to be a major issue in this healthcare reform fight(it already has been and there is no reason to believe it won't continue to be) then we already have one of the big potential storylines of the 2012 presidential race. Will President Obama be able to maintain the inroads he made with Catholic voters during the 2008 election? The last thing the President needs is the powerful U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops picking a fight with the President in 2012. But there's a chance it could happen.

Read below from Politico:

By teeing up a public battle over abortion in the health care bill now before the Senate, Congressional Democrats could be risking more than just the fate of the legislation.

Hanging in the balance are millions of Catholic swing voters who moved decisively to the Democrats in 2008 and who could shift away just as readily in 2010.

According to exit polls, President Barack Obama won the support of 53 percent of Catholic voters, a seven-point increase over the showing of the Democrats’ 2004 nominee, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), who is a Catholic. Among Latino Catholics, who are often more conservative than their white counterparts on social issues, Obama did even better, winning more than two-thirds of their support, a 14-point improvement over Kerry’s totals, according to an analysis by the Pew Research Center.

Those gains will be at risk if a polarizing abortion fight takes place in the Senate.

“There could be political repercussions in the election. It could be harder for the Democrats to keep those Catholics voters they gained and they may put some of their members at risk,” said John Green, a religion and politics expert at the Bliss Institute at the University of Akron.

Moreover, said Green, Catholics are a constituency that backs the reform effort itself. “To alienate them on abortion could be to alienate them on health care reform,” he said.

The abortion issue, practically dormant during the 2008 campaign, was reignited in the last hours of the health care debate in the House because of an amendment offered by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) that would prohibit the use of federal subsidies to pay for insurance that covers abortion, except in the cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is threatened.

The amendment, after heavy lobbying by the Catholic church, eventually passed despite the furious objection of the abortion rights advocates who have long been a key part of the Democratic base. Now the fight goes to the Senate, where there will be a sharp division on the issue between party liberals and moderates.

Already it’s become an issue in the primary to choose a Democratic candidate for the Massachusetts Senate seat of the late Ted Kennedy

In a local television interview, one of the candidates, state attorney general Martha Coakley , said that if she had been in the Senate she would have killed the health care reform bill rather than support the Stupak amendment.

One of her opponents, Rep. Michael Capuano defended his House vote for the bill by saying he wanted to keep the reform effort moving. But he vowed to vote against a final bill if it still contains the abortion funding amendment.

In the neighboring and equally Democratic and Catholic state of Rhode Island, the abortion amendment has played out another way. Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin, an outspoken critic of prominent Catholic politicians he believes are acting against church tenets, is engaged in a public feud with Rep. Patrick Kennedy, who voted against the Stupak amendment.

Anger over the church’s lobbying for the amendment prompted Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Ca.), an abortions rights supporter, to call for an Internal Revenue Service investigation of the church’s tax status.

It’s a hollow threat. No law prohibits religious organizations from lobbying Congress, provided the bulk of their budget expenditures are spent on other programs.

But the Woolsey retaliatory attack, published in POLITICO, generated fresh headlines about the dispute and could drive a deeper wedge between the party and a key electoral constituency.

Tad Devine, a Democratic political consultant, said the party would be better off downplaying the disagreement.

“Voters who consider themselves Catholic are able to see the church teachings in ways that can be pro-Democratic Party or pro-Republican Party,” said Devine, noting that the church is also a strong advocate for immigrants in the health care debate.

But smoothing over the conflict isn’t likely to become an option. In fact, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is just now surveying his members to measure passions on the issue, a spokesman said.

Sen. Ben Nelson, an abortion rights opponent, has said language banning taxpayer-backed abortion coverage is essential to winning his support. But a spokesman for the Nebraska Democrat told POLITICO Thursday that he has no plans now to introduce an amendment and he is not wedded to the exact wording in the House bill.

Pennsylvania Sen. Robert P. Casey, who also opposes abortion rights, said legislation should contain “strong language” to prohibit federal funds from being used to pay for abortion insurance coverage. Beyond that, however, he hasn’t said what his intentions are since Reid has yet to unveil a final bill.

Palin Going Rogue: Brody File Going On The Road

David Brody — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:32:14 GMT

The Brody File hits the road Tuesday on our way to Grand Rapids, Michigan. I'll be reporting on the beginning of Sarah Palin's book tour.

Watch for coverage this week. You never know what you might see here on The Brody File. By the way, going rogue for me heading to Chuck E Cheese for some pizza! I better make sure I pack this hat below before I leave.

Will Demography Determine Geography?

Chris Mitchell — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:24:11 GMT

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is often framed by the numbers. The conventional wisdom is that many more Palestinians are being born than Israelis. Given this “fact,” many analysts - and world leaders for that matter - presume Israel must give up land (the West Bank) because the number of Palestinian Arabs will simply overwhelm Israeli Jews.

This obviously was former President Bill Clinton’s presumption when he declared on Sunday at the Saban Forum in Jerusalem that Palestinians are having children at a faster rate. He declared the only two things that haven’t changed since 1993 are geography and demography.

Since Palestinian demography (birth rate) exceeds Jewish demography, he said the Jewish state must concede geography (Judea and Samaria or the West Bank), in order to secure demography. He concluded, “If you (Israel) want to be a democracy and a Jewish state, you have to cut a deal.”

Not so says the American-Israel Demographic Research Group. Contrary to Clinton’s assertion and conventional wisdom, they provided CBN News with numbers that present an entirely different picture.

For example, they document the following statistics:

• The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) inflated its census. For example, they say the PCBS inflated the number of Arabs in Judea and Samaria from 1.5 million to 2.5 million. Their census also includes about 400,000 overseas residents. The World Bank documents a 32 percent gap between the numbers given by the PCBS and the Palestinian Ministry of Education.
• The Arab fertility rate has “decreased below 4.5 births” in the West Bank.
• The number of Israeli Jewish births from 1995 to 2008 has increased, while the number of Arab births has stabilized.
• Arab and Jewish fertility rates are the same in Jerusalem, 3.9 births per woman, the first time that has happened since 1948.
• In Judea and Samaria there has been a net annual Arab emigration of more than 10,000 On the other hand, Israel has benefitted from its immigration, or “aliya,” since 1882. Even Israel’s demographers haven’t projected waves of immigration; yet this phenomenon has added millions of Jews from around the world to Israel’s population.
• They conclude that “There is a demographic problem, but it is not lethal. They demographic trend is Jewish. Anyone claiming that Israel must concede geography in order to secure demography is either mistaken or misleading.”

Off to Illinois to Investigate Homegrown Jihad

Erick Stakelbeck — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:03:00 GMT

I'll be in Illinois from Monday, November 16th until Thursday, November 19th. While there, I'll be spending time in Chicago investigating the recent arrests of two Pakistani nationals accused of plotting to conduct attacks against targets In Denmark and of working with Pakistan-based Islamic terrorist groups. I'll also spend time in Springfield, IL exploring the case of Michael Finton, a white convert to Islam who allegedly plotted to blow up a federal building in the city. I'll check back in with my findings when I return to the office later this week.

Morale and Meaning

Chuck Holton — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:03:12 GMT

The AP recently published an article calling on two recent studies from the U.S. Army Medical Department's Mental Health Advisory team. These reports polled soldiers in combat and non-combat units in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and found that unit morale is dropping in Afghanistan and holding steady in Iraq.

As President Obama continues to mull his response to General McChrystal's request for more troops, and in the wake of the cowardly killings of 13 Soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, the media is asking lots of questions about the mental health of America's military. And these reports seem to be more fuel for the theory that our men and women serving overseas are being stretched to the breaking point.

I read both reports. Some of the statistics in them fall neatly into the, "Well, Duh!" category. Soldiers on their third or fourth overseas deployments are more likely to have marital problems, and are more likely to be planning to get out of the military than those on their first or second deployment. Okay, that's a no-brainer.

But other findings had me scratching my head. The morale of individual soldiers seemed to be holding steady, but reported "unit morale" (the term wasn't defined) was dropping in Afghanistan but fine in Iraq. The AP writer speculates that this has to do with the "record violence" that combat troops are experiencing in the country, and with a sharp drop in combat seen in Iraq.

In my own experience in Afghanistan, I didn't meet a single American who said the war wasn't worth winning. What affected their morale the most was the perception that their government wasn't willing to give them what they needed to win.

My friends currently deployed to Iraq, on the other hand, report being bored out of their skulls and feelings of worthlessness because they all know the real fight is in Afghanistan. And if they have to be away from their families for a year they'd rather be doing something worthwhile rather than guarding concrete barricades on bases in Iraq.

Some other interesting tidbits from the studies: combat troops reported that a little time to "off-gas" by playing video games or surfing the internet provided a significant amount of stress reduction, but too much (more than 2 hours daily) had the opposite effect. I would venture to say the same goes for young men and women back at home.

Also, it was reported that physical conditioning of any kind or duration had a substantial stress-reducing effect on the troops.

Men don't join the military to be political chesspieces moved around the global board. When they begin to feel like they can't make a difference, they get dissatisfied and disillusioned. Those who feel they are making a positive difference tend to want to stay.

Last week I attended the funerals of two special operators who were killed in a helicopter crash recently. While there, I met some of their fellow warriors who had returned from the war zone to pay their respects. These men told me "We came back to hug the families of our fallen brothers, but we made [our leaders] promise to send us back to finish out our tour."

Despite their tragic losses, the morale of these special operations units remains very high - that's because they know they are making a difference.

As usual, the media doesn't get that.

Praying for Your Enemies

Chris Mitchell — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:31:25 GMT

Jesus exhorted His followers to "... Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." Luke 6:27, 28 Many of us know that scripture but seldom have to live it out before the world. David, Leah Ortiz and their son Ami have had to walk through this scripture since March 2008. At that time, then 15 year old Ami Ortiz opened a Purim gift basket disguised as a bomb. The explosion nearly killed him. Since then, he and his family have had to walk through an excruciating physical and emotional ordeal. Their story has gone around the world. Now after eighteen months, Israeli police apprehended the bomber "Jack" Teitel. On Thursday, he was arraigned in court for the Ortiz bombing and several other attempted murders and murders. He was asked by a reporter, "You are completely pure in what you did?" His reply? "Absolutely. It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve my God."

Earlier today, we interviewed Ami Ortiz for an upcoming story. We asked him if he had forgiven "Jack" Teitel. He said he did and bore no hatred for him. It was remarkable to hear his reply. Before we left, we got to see the Ortiz family praying. Leah Ortiz prayed for both Jack Teitel and his wife. It moved me to hear Ami's mother pray for the man who tried to kill her son. As noted before, many of us know what Jesus said about how to treat our enemies. However, few of us seldom have to live it out in such a public and visible way.

The Ortiz's continue to ask for prayer, that the Lord will sustain them during this time. And please pray for "Jack" Teitel and his family. The Ortiz family is.

Last Minute Miracles

Lee Warren and Julie Ferwerda — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:41:56 GMT

One of my all time favorite seasons in my relationship with God was when I was single after divorce. Bear in mind this was after 13 years of marriage. I had two young girls and had been a stay at home mom for seven years. I faced the insecurity of going back to work to try to support myself, and at this lonely period many of my church friends had deserted me. But, what should have been a dark, gloomy time turned into the greatest season of blessings of my life. How is this possible?

I saw the last minute miracles. I learned more about God’s character as my Protector and Provider in those two years of being single—when He was my only hope—than I ever had in the 32 years before when I always had a backup plan.

One of the first miracles happened with a car. My ex had taken our newer large family car and left me with an old two-door clunker that was neither practical nor particularly safe for carting around two small children. I prayed about it for a few weeks and one day felt God direct me to a used roomy Ford Explorer in the classified ads. The only catch was that I did not want to be in debt but I had to take out a short-term loan until I could sell my other car to pay off the newer one, and the loan would be due in 30 days.

During the first 29 days, I put ads in the paper, signs on the car windows, and tried everything I could think of to sell that car. Nothing. Not even one phone call inquiry. On day 29, I told God, “You led me to buy a better car. You also promised You would take care of me. What are you going to do to sell this car by tomorrow?”

That evening, at 8:00 p.m., I heard a knock at the door. I opened it to find my neighbor from across the street, an elderly man, explaining that he wanted to buy my car. No he didn’t want to test drive it. No he didn’t want to haggle over the price. I couldn’t believe it. He hadn’t said anything for 29 days, and here he was, holding out a check for the full selling price. “Lord, my neighbor is buying this old car. You better keep it running!” That was 10 years ago, and do you know, that dinosaur is still running!

The second miracle came when I had all of five dollars in my checking account and needed a mortgage payment by the end of the week. I was only working two days a week at the time as a hair stylist, and I had serious doubts that I would be able to get enough clients in two days to make my payment. Besides, this was early on after the divorce and I didn’t even have a regular clientele built up yet. I called my boss before heading into work to see what was on my schedule for the day. She told me, “It’s been really slow! You don’t really have anything on the books today—sorry.”

I hung up the phone and prayed once again. “Lord, you promised! What are you going to do to solve this financial need before Friday?”

As soon as I got to work, my boss announced excitedly, “I don’t know what happened, but as soon as we hung up, the phone started ringing off the hook. You are completely booked today…I hope you brought your running shoes!”

You can guess what happened from there. I made just enough to pay my mortgage in full that week.

I had many such miracles and reassurances those two years of being thrust out on my own. Because of that, I wouldn’t trade those years for anything. God became more real to me than ever, and His provision became an understanding between him and me. In the years since, I have a foundation of simple trust that He will take care of me during difficult times. I would never have this trust had it not been tested and had He not had the opportunity to prove Himself.

I encourage you to think of your single years as one of the greatest times of opportunity to grow in intimacy and trust in your Jehovah Jireh (provider). If you take your needs to Him, you will learn God’s character like never before. It would be contrary to His nature not to provide for and protect you when you ask. He wants to show you who He is. He wants to become real to you through last minute miracles.

~ Julie

New Pro-Choice Ad Campaign Against Pro-Life Healthcare Amendment

David Brody — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:37:50 GMT

The battle to remove the Pro-Life Stupak-Pitts healthcare reform amendment is on. The pro-choice group Center for Reproductive Rights just announced that they will be launching a new ad campaign called, "Abortion Coverage is No Joke".

Read more from their release below:

The Center for Reproductive Rights is launching its new ad campaign “Abortion Coverage is No Joke,” following passage of a health bill in the House of Representatives banning abortion coverage for women participating in the Health Exchange. The Senate is expected to begin debate on its bill next week. The campaign calls on pro-choice constituents to contact their senators and demand that they not ban the coverage of abortion services that millions of American women already have. Center for Reproductive Rights President Nancy Northup will unveil the ad. Ms. Northup will be joined by DJ Feldman*, a woman who was diagnosed with a fatal fetal abnormality and was refused insurance coverage for an abortion."

President Obama says this is a healthcare bill, not an abortion bill. Well, actually this bill is very much about the abortion language and if it remains a problem then healthcare reform (in its current form) is in serious jeopardy.

Folks, put on your culture war gear.

Is Ben Nelson The New Olympia Snowe?

David Brody — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:07:58 GMT

When it comes to healthcare reform in the Senate, Senator Ben Nelson may be the new Olympia Snowe. I can see the conversation now in the Senate dining room:

Harry Reid: Ben, can I get you anything?
Ben Nelson: Yes Harry can you pick up my napkin. It fell.
Harry Reid: Sure Ben. Would you like me to clean it too?
Ben Nelson: Yes Harry and while you're at it get me some extra fries at the buffet.

Oy-vey. Watch my story on this below.

Palin Goes Rogue: Media Goes Nuts

David Brody — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:28:49 GMT

Sarah Palin and her Bus are getting ready to hit the road. Palin's book tour starts next Wednesday evening in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Time's Mark Halperin has some tidbits about what's in the book but before you read that below let me just say a few things.

As I watch the mainstream media cover this story, their arrogance, loathing and haughtiness is fully on display. It feels so snobbish as if these bunch of Yale educated media elites just can't believe that she is so popular. Well folks, get used to it.

Palin has struck a nerve with Americans because she comes across as an ordinary American. She doesn't talk like a politician and while her sentence structure drives the media elite crazy, maybe they should spend a little less time on trashing her and a little more time on understanding the connection she has with common people in this country. You can make the argument that we haven't seen this type of excitement about a Republican candidate since Reagan.

Time's tidbits are below:

Nervous and curious McCain-Palin staffers have been buzzing for weeks with speculation about what Sarah Palin has chosen to include in “Going Rogue.”

Books have begun being shipped out in advance of the November 17th release date. Last week, some of Palin's associates received copies.

Based on discussions with various sources who have seen or been briefed on the book's contents, here's what you can expect from “Going Rogue”:

* just five chapters—but they are very, very long.

* some score settling with McCain aides she believes ill-served her (names will be named).

* a hearty bashing of the national media.

* an account of how her upbringing shaped her maverick sensibilities.

* a testimonial to the importance of faith in her life.

* a warm and personal tone, written in Palin's own voice, despite the involvement of a collaborator.

Two things not in the book:

* Don't look for hefty policy prescriptions.

* Once source who has seen “Going Rogue” says it does not include an index. That would give Palin a subtle revenge on the party's Washington establishment, whose members tend to flip to the back pages and scan for their own names. If they want to know what Sarah Palin has to say about them, they will have to buy the book—and read the whole thing.

When Will President Obama Decide on Afghanistan?

David Brody — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:15:58 GMT

The way things are going on this Afghanistan strategy decision I'm going to be doing TV live shots with dentures and a bald head before we get a decision from President Obama. My good looks eventually will fade. (some will say they faded after I turned 3)

The Associated Press is reporting this morning that President Obama isn't thrilled with any of the Afghanistan options presented to him. He wants some new ones. Read below:

President Obama has decided to reject all four war options for increased troop involvement in Afghanistan.

He wants more information on the options, and most important, he wants more information on the viability of the Karzai government.

The president has severe reservations about troop escalations in light of confidential cables sent to the State Department by America's ambassador to Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry.

According to the Washington Post, Ambassador Eikenberry has expressed deep reservations about Afghan president Hamid Karzai's erratic behavior and corruption and has strongly recommended that the president not increase American troop involvement until the Karzai and the Afghan government demonstrate a willingness and ability to deal with that corruption and govern their own country.

My TV analysis is below:

Stupak Amendment Gets Help From Liberal Columnist

David Brody — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:57:00 GMT

I can just see it now. House and Senate Republicans reading parts of liberal Washington Post Columnist E.J. Dionne Jr. on the House and Senate floor. Have you seen his editorial on abortion and healthcare? He doesn't do Nancy Pelosi, Diana DeGette and the House pro-choice liberals any favors with his latest column. Read a couple excerpts below:

From the outraged comments of the abortion-rights movement, you'd think that Rep. Bart Stupak's amendment to the House version of the health-care bill would all but overturn Roe v. Wade. No, it wouldn't.

More

Whatever else is true, Stupak's amendment is unlikely to have a significant effect on the availability of abortion. And most abortions are not paid for through health insurance. The Guttmacher Institute, for example, reported that only 13 percent of abortions in 2001 were directly billed by providers to insurance companies -- although the institute has cautioned that the proportion of women whose abortions were covered by insurance could be higher because the figure did not include those "who obtain reimbursement from their insurance company themselves."

Umm, can you say "Pro-Life talking points"?

Bart Stupak: They'll be "Hell To Pay" If His Pro-Life Amendment is Removed

David Brody — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:49:08 GMT

Get used to the name Bart Stupak. His pro-life amendment in the House healthcare reform bill is giving pro-choice liberals ulcers. Now he says that there will be "Hell to pay" if lawmakers in either the Senate or in conference committee yank his pro-life amendment out of the bill.

More below from Lifenews.com

Bart Stupak is now a household name thanks to the amendment he sponsored to the House health care bill that bears his moniker. The House approved his amendment to de-fund abortions in the government-run health care program and he is warning abortion advocates not to remove it.

Pro-Life lawmakers teamed up with Stupak, a Michigan Democratic congressman, for the amendment to stop abortion funding in the public option and affordability credits.

However, as they and pro-life groups expected beforehand, abortion advocates have threatened to remove the amendment in the conference committee that produces the final bill both the House and Senate will eventually have to approve.

Stupak warns them not to do that.

"We are in contact with senators to make sure our language holds," Stupak told the Detroit News. "The other side is playing with fire."

"We are sticking to our principles," Stupak said in defense of his amendment.

In previous comments shortly after the vote, Stupak was more forthright.

"We won because [the Democrats] need us," says Mr. Stupak. "If they are going to summarily dismiss us by taking the pen to that language, there will be hell to pay. I don't say it as a threat, but if they double-cross us, there will be 40 people who won't vote with them the next time they need us—and that could be the final version of this bill."

Stupak declined to say if he would vote for the final version of the health care bill if it did not include his abortion funding ban, but said he would definitely have voted no last weekend on the bill it approved without it.

Folks, here's the deal. Pro-Life Democrats are in the driver's seat here. Don't expect the Stupak-Pitts amendment to be pulled but it very well could be changed to forge some sort of middle ground. It will then be up to Stupak and those other Pro-Life Democrats in the House to determine if those changes are satisfactory.

How's Your Image?

Jackie Overpeck — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:14:08 GMT

Fashion, style, and charm. All of these make up a fine image… or do they? How we look matters, but maybe not in the way we might think.

Celebrities, for example, are deeply concerned about their image. They often work with a publicist to help clean up their appearance after they feel their image has been blemished. The hope is to sway the perception of the public eye and remain popular.

Image is a powerful tool. It represents you and the core source of your values. Your image is the visual representation that typifies you. It’s your likeness or what you bear resemblance to.

In the beginning of time God spoke about image:

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Gen. 1:27).

It is God’s desire to create within you and me the clear understanding that he wants us to be one with him as partakers of his blessing. Ephesians 4:24 encourages, “…put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Consider these five keys as you think about your image:

I – Who am I?

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works. Eph. 2:10

M – I am made in the likeness of God.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Gen. 1:26

A – I am accepted.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Eph. 1:4

G – I am greatly loved.

We are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Rom. 8:37

E – I am eternally redeemed.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. Eph. 1:7

Reflecting Life

Each time we fellowship with God we mirror our heavenly Father’s image. We bear the beauty of Heaven when we reflect God’s acceptance, love, and redemption to our family and friends.

As the hidden inner person of the heart outshines the exposed outer person of the flesh, we are able to proclaim with Paul:

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Gal. 2:20).

What are your ideas of ways in which we can reflect a Christ-centered image today?

* All Scripture references NIV.

~ Jackie O.

The Perfect Healthcare Remedy for Harry Reid: Pepto Bismol

David Brody — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:31:38 GMT

I have the perfect solution for Harry Reid's troubles in the Senate as he tries to get this healthcare reform bill through the Senate. See the picture below:

That picture just about sums it up.

The senate will take up their version of the health care bill early next week. It will include some language regarding abortion but you can expect a fight on the floor as pro-life senators try and make the wording in the senate bill stronger just like the house version. The key player here will be Democrat Ben Nelson who wants stricter pro-life language in there. That’s important because the Democrats will need 60 votes to pass a healthcare bill and if they lose nelson they've got problems.

Watch my analysis below:

Fort Hood the Latest in a String of Homegrown Jihad Plots

Erick Stakelbeck — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:05:28 GMT

Since May, I've written frequently about the steady and disturbing growth of homegrown Islamic jihadist plots broken up on U.S. soil. Unfortunately, some plots, like the Fort Hood massacre--which is the deadliest Islamic terror attack on U.S. soil since 9/11--have been successful. Now, the Long War Journal has a comprehensive rundown of all those plots that will absolutely floor you if you haven't been paying attention over the past six months. I have been paying very close attention, obviously, but seeing this list at LWJ is still jarring:

In recent months, the US has experienced an alarming rise in jihadist activity. In the last two months alone, five terror plots have been foiled by the FBI, and there have been dozens of other arrests for various related crimes, such as providing material support for terrorists. The plots have been directed at targets at home and abroad, both civilian and military. The arrests clearly demonstrate the potential for al Qaeda and other extremist groups to recruit and carry out attacks in the US.

The extent of influence by al Qaeda and allied groups is evident in their ability to convince potential terrorists in other countries to come to the US with the intention of carrying out attacks; it is also shown by the capacity of these groups to indoctrinate US citizens and nationals. The case of Najibullah Zazi, the Afghan national accused of plotting attacks in the US, stands out in what has been described as the biggest plot against America since 9/11.

Be sure to read it all. The piece goes on to chronicle a long list of jihadist activity on U.S. soil that has taken place in the last six months alone. By the way, you have to love how the mainstream media--well, some of them--is finally starting to acknowledge that, yes, the Ft. Hood massacre was motivated by Major Hasan's radical Islamic beliefs. Of course, they are only doing so begrudingly, after the evidence has become undeniable and overwhelming that Hasan was indeed an Islamic jihadist. But most MSM outlets, disgracefully, hung on to their politically correct, head-in-the-sand narrative as long as they could.

President Obama on Pro-Life Stupak-Pitts Amendment

David Brody — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:08:06 GMT

President Obama may say “This is a healthcare bill, not an abortion bill” and while he is technically accurate the truth of the matter is really more like this line created exclusively by The Brody File: “This may be a healthcare bill, but it’s now a bill that has run into trouble because of abortion”

The President's comments are below:

Look folks, let’s just cut through all the clutter ok?

What President Obama is basically saying is that he wants the stricter pro-life language to change. The problem is he's got 60 Democrats in the House who essentially agree with Republicans on this. Good luck making phone calls and whipping the vote on that one. Here's a rhetorical question: Why can't the liberals in the Democratic Party just accept the fact that the majority of this country is not into federal funds or subsidies being spent on abortions in any way, shape or form? You don't have to look at polls to figure that out. Just look at what Pro-Life Democrats did (representing their constituents) to Pelosi and company. That sends a powerful message.

If this pro-life abortion language makes its way into the final bill and President Obama signs it, the pro-choice lobby is going to be so disappointed and angry at this White House and the Democratic Party that all of them are going to pay some sort of price. It may be financial (donations) or it may be political (boots on the ground for re-election) but expect all out chaos and division if this Stupak-Pitts Amendment survives the final bill. As a matter of fact, look at the picture below as The Brody File envisions the following reaction of pro-choice activists if President Obama signs a bill with the Stupak-Pitts amendment:

Speaking of this pro-life amendment, I was speaking with a top Republican source on the Hill who tells me it is the consensus of Republican leadership staff that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid WILL include some sort of pro-life abortion wording in the bill that comes to the senate floor. It may be more moderate than the Stupak-Pitts language but that’s the expectation and the talk on the Hill at this point.

More updates to come.