CAR PACKED, CLEARED FOR TAKE-OFF! The Great Western Rockies beckon. Blogging will continue lite till I arrive in Wyoming late next week. Meanwhile, honk if you like Rick Perry and Michelle Bachmann. I'll be ruminating on whether I'm beginning to like Michelle B better than Sarah P.

Later Alligator!

Photos WSJPhotos (see sidebar)

Ryle: Expecting Trials and Tribulations In Our Lives

TRIALS, we must distinctly understand, are a part of the diet which all true Christians must expect. It is one of the means by which their grace is proved, and by which they find out what there is in themselves. Winter as well as summer–cold as well as heat–clouds as well as sunshine–are all necessary to bring the fruit of the Spirit to ripeness and maturity. We do not naturally like this. We would rather cross the lake with calm weather and favorable winds, with Christ always by our side, and the sun shining down on our faces. But it may not be. It is not in this way that God’s children are made “partakers of His holiness.” (Heb. 12:10). Abraham, and Jacob, and Moses, and David, and Job were all men of many trials. Let us be content to walk in their footsteps, and to drink of their cup. In our darkest hours we may seem to be left–but we are never really alone.

~ J.C. Ryle

Religious Freedom and Inseverability Provision In New York Gay Marriage Law

WITHOUT DOUBT ALLOWING ORGANIZATIONS AND CLERGY to recuse themselves from performing and supporting gay marriage was a key ingredient in the New York bill's passage of the gay marriage act this week. The other vital ingredient is the inseverability of this provision. In other words, if any part of the religious freedom clause is over-turned in court, the entire bill goes down in flames and is null and void. This from the Daily Beast:

Governor Andrew Cuomo and three Republican senators negotiated language changes in the gay marriage bill that pushed it over the hump. Republicans wanted legal protection for religious organizations that refused to allow their buildings to be used for same-sex marriage ceremonies. The provision also prevents those organizations from being penalized by state government and provides protection for clergy or other employees who refuse to participate in such ceremonies. Perhaps most importantly, the final law included an inseverability clause that will prevent these protections from being overturned: if any part is ever found to be invalid, the rest will go down as well.

So whether you're for or against gay marriage---and let me make it clear that I am against it---these provisions are a bright spot in our country's shocking decline from Biblical principles on which it was founded. I believe that God loves all sinners, gay and straight, and I am chief among them. I also believe the practice of any and all sex outside of one-man/one woman marital sex is an abomination to the Creator. Our country will be judged sooner or later for this downward spiral.

It's also interesting to note that several heavy-hitting, wealthy hedge fund managers, especially Paul Singer who has a gay son, helped push, prode and fund this bill into law.

May God help us all.

Ridin' Commotion Toddy

@ THE RENO RODEO. Not for the faint-hearted.

I got western rodeos---moreover The West in general---on my mind.

Can His Fawning Media Save Mr. Obama From Being a One-Termer

IT'S THE BILLION $ QUESTION JOHN TAMNY ANSWERS this week in Forbes.

The short answer is no matter how much the MSM adores President Obama and portrays the economy as improving, people aren't fooled by the hype as our money buys less and less at the gas pump, the grocery store and the bank.

What can defeat the incumbency of Obama is the continual slide of the value of the dollar. Which is to say the slide of our buying power.

Nobody chronicles the fall of the dollar and its effects on presidential politics better than Tamny. It's why Jimmy Carter was a one-term president in spite of an adoring liberal hype. The public wasn't fooled because we felt the low-dollar policies in our shrinking wallets. However, Tamny qualifies his bets by saying the GOP better have a clue of how the falling dollar affects commodity prices across the board, or they don't deserve to be elected either.

It's all about the dollar, all the time. If you'll pardon my French, We need to get it up and keep it up.

Meanwhile, Gallup slumps.

Getting Real In the Whole Foods Parking Lot

Sunday, The Most Important Thing A Father Can Know

GOD CREATED HUSBANDS AND FATHERS to be the moral/spiritual leaders and role models of their families and households in a fallen world. To the extent a man, any man, abdicates his role of spiritual leader and defers it to his wife, or to no one, he will most certainly lose respect with of the women and children he purports to love. Sometimes his leading seems like a lonely uphill climb, but keeping his reservoirs filled for moral excellence, godly living and fortitude is far preferable to the alternatives. A man who submits himself to his Maker in front of his family, grows in stature and respect with his children.

Far too many men, for whatever reasons----peace at any price, cultural correctness, busyness and other priorities, feminism---have shrunk from their fundamental role of spiritual leader in their families: leading blessings at meals, leading prayers and Bible readings,setting standards for what is read and watched at home, family and community worship, praying for children and loved ones. When this abdication happens, it's only a matter of time before cracks in family life begin to manifest and things begin to fall apart. Sooner or later there's a disintegration when a father fails to lead spiritually.

Men are not marginalized by women so much as by their own unwillingness to lead morally and spiritually in their families---whatever the costs. Being a financial provider isn't enough. Being a spiritual/moral provider in loving, firm ways covers a multitude of other wrongs and weaknesses. Even when the rest of the family grumbles, being that kind of spiritual leader brings him growing respect---and every man must earn respect---in the eyes of his loved ones, especially his children. Would that more men would step up to the plate, and live there. God designed it that way. This world and its progeny would be much better for it.

Happy Father's Day!

Leaving Manhattan

WEINER HAS A DEATH WISH, NONETHELESS PLOTS COMEBACK
HOME BUT TIRED.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Monday Update

AM BACK IN MANHATTAN WITH G-BOY AND GIRLY-G. My focus has been solely on them in Rhinebeck and here since I'll be leaving soon for the Rockies for the rest of the summer. In addition, the Internet at my European-style little hotel has mostly gone down so I'm forced off-line. Hope to be back as I can soon. Will link a few things before it crashes and kicks my off again.

Sarah Palin Takes President Obama To Task For Wanting To Give Away Our Missile Defense Secrets to Russia

.....IN THE NAME OF FRIENDSHIP, YOU UNDERSTAND...

GOD LOVE HER. Whether she ever holds elected office again, political celebrity superstar Sarah Palin has a very important role to play in checks and balances, especially by calling out President Obama for wanting to have a smoozefest with the Russians on missile defense. Here's what she wrote on Facebook a>yesterday:

As Governor I fought the Obama Administration’s plans to cut funds for missile defense in Alaska. So imagine how appalled and surprised I was to read this article by former Clinton CIA Director James Woolsey, appropriately titled “Giving Away the Farm,” concerning President Obama’s latest bizarre actions relating to missile defense.

President Obama wants to give Russia our missile defense secrets because he believes that we can buy their friendship and cooperation with this taxpayer-funded gift. But giving military secrets and technologies to a rival or competitor like Russia is just plain dumb. You can’t buy off Russia. And giving them advanced military technology will not create stability. What happens if Russia gives this technology (or sells it!) to other countries like Iran or China? After all, as Woolsey points out, Russia helped Iran with its missile and nuclear programs. Or what happens if an even more hardline leader comes to power in the Kremlin?

Don't know about you, but I think this kind of exposure is very important to our national security and thank her for her timely political blast. Read more on her Facebook page or at Business Insider.

Roaring 2000s, When Discretion, Dignity, Leaving Some Things to the Imagination Came To Die A Thousand Deaths

KRISTIN POWERS: WEINER LIED TO ME, THE COUNTRY AND SHOULD STEP DOWN

TASTELESSNESS UPON TASTELESSNESS

IT'S EARLY MORNING IN WESTERN WASHINGTON on the D.C.-Bethesda border. Pre-dawn songbirds sing through my open window as early light slowly rolls into the our nation's capital. Will be a scorcher of a day here--- as well as up and down the East coast---with temperatures soaring into the high 90s. I'm leaving in an hour for Rhinebeck on the Hudson to join family for a visit outside Manhattan. Within a couple of days temperatures should settle back down into a more comfortable mid-70s range.

As I contemplate being with grandchildren soon, my thoughts turn to the sickening news of the past few weeks (and months and years) involving sexual exposures and scandal that have to boggle even the most jaded minds. As Arnold and Lady Gaga lead the way and set the complete lack of moral tone, can John Edwards, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Anthony Weiner--just to name a very few---be far behind? I shudder to think how some of these people will follow up their latest outrageous behaviors with even more. How much air and media time they consume; how they are setting the tragic role-model tone for our impressionable young people. Sadly, it's not just one political party or group; it's on both sides of the aisle.

Rep. Anthony Weiner's press conference yesterday was a low point for our country. Tearfully admitting his guilt on this and other occasions, that he had lied to save his skin wasn't enough. No, no! he followed up his mea culpa with regret (that he'd been caught) and determination that he won't resign from office. What a pathetic show.

We seem to be stuck on stupid and getting more so all the time.

One thing about social media and Twitter is it gives all of us more rope to hang ourselves even faster with poorer and poorer taste. I hope society will give each of these flagrant men---and women---what they deserve sooner rather than later---not to be re-elected, hired and profit off their depravity.

If we think they've injured themselves and families, think what it does to the law-making process here in D.C. I used to think the greatest threats to our national well-being is the threat of terrorism and financial collapse. I've changed my mind. I think moral decay is unwinding our country and moral fiber at warp speed. We should be extremely concerned. We should be extremely protective of our young people and our lives too. Sometimes, often, we need to walk away from the news and take a rest from the depravity that seems to assault us at every turn. God help us all survive another round of sexual profit-taking and indiscretion.

Sunday, Angel of the Lord Then Incarnation of The Messager

EMMANUEL---GOD WITH US. GOD WITH YOU, WITH ME.

Kate's Fabulous and Adorable Fascinator

ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING THINGS about British fashion, not found in the states, is the high hat couture which is so deeply embeded in their culture. Prince William's beautiful bride Kate, a trend setter down to her little toe, embodies it with this adorable fascinator. Her look here works so well as she continues to make white the fashion color of the year.
Meanwhile, not to be outdone on another occasion, the Prince ups the ante for the hat brigade,

Why Such A Virulent Strain of E. Coli In Europe Now?

DR. MARC SIEGEL WRITES TODAY a perceptive and prescient piece at Fox News addressing why this deadly, extremely toxic strain of E. Coli is spreading throughout Europe at the moment. His answers are right on, in my opinion. If he's correct, we can expect to see much more of this in the future unless some critical 'lifestyle' changes are implemented soon for both cows and humans.....

It's doubtful these much needed changes will happen in our instant gratification culture except on a very small scale. Still it's worth noting what Siegel---and I--- think make ripe the conditions for this scary outbreak:

First, most cattle today are grain fed, rather than grass fed.

A grain diet--- fast food for cattle---is unnatural and changes the pH of cows' intestines. The changed intestinal pH causes E. Coli---the 'unfriendly' bacteria---to proliferate while killing off friendly flora/bacteria that keep cattle healthy. This phenomenam often creates toxic meat products----especially those processed and used in fast food chains----as well as toxic manure that's over-ladened with various evolving strains of E. Coli.

When toxic manure is used to fetilize fruits and vegetable crops, produce becomes contaminated. When eaten contaminated food can make us sick or kill those with weak immune systems.

To review, factor # 1 causing this deadly E. Coli outbreak spreading through Europe is toxic manure over-burdened with E. Coli from grain-fed cattle.

I will continue with Factor 2 later.

Knowing When To Leave: Bearnice King Leaves 'Prosperity Gospel' Eddie Long's Church In Atlanta

ANN COULTER: ANTHONY WEINER'S WEINER ROASTSAYING IT HAS NOTHING TO DO with 'Bishop' Eddie Long's legal machinations involving four young men who've accused him of coercing them into underage sex with him, Rev. Bearnice King--MLK's daughter---has announced she's leaving Long's church in Atlanta where she attended and occasionally preached. Her announcement has come shortly after the news that Long has settled out of court with his four accusers.

(No news as to what that settlement entailed; however, it's rumored the four young men each have new houses, new wardrobes, new cars, new flat-screened TVs and cell phones and 401Ks funded for life from Long's prosperity fund.)

Whew! just in the nick of time, I'd say. She's wise to leave and never look back. Surely there's a more appropriate mission for her in the future than there.

More here.