Wilmington or Pottersville?

What's God got to do with it?

How many times have you wondered or heard another speculate (or expostulate) upon the role of the Deity concerning world events: He brought this or that judgment or blessing. More often, in modern times, we are more inclined to ascribe credit to this Being (pardon my old-fashioned reverential use of the upper case to honor Him, and pardon my presumption that He is a he) for the good things and would rather credit "fate" with responsibility for bringing us bad things as if to protect His integrity as a benevolent One.

Permit for a moment consideration of a casuistic proposition: The Temptation of the Casino and the Judgment of the DHL Pull Out. I believe He is involved in all of history and His hand is engaged in the good and evil which comes in response to human actions; He blesses and He curses. That is Christian orthodoxy. (Apologies to Kathy Griffin and other Emmy Award acolytes who think He is not really around or that if He is, His involvement is as frequent and benign as visits from Santa Claus.)

Last fall in the Advent season while watching again It's a Wonderful Life, the story of what Bedford Falls could have been if George Bailey had not been born, I thought of Wilmington and the casino threat. It has been a family tradition established from the beginning and all eleven children were home for the holidays to participate in the event. (The VHS tape seems to have joined with its owners in suffering the pains and the wear of repeated activity, but, thankfully, the message came through - again: do the right thing and it all comes out well in the end.)

George (Jimmy Stewart) is visited by an angel in response to the prayers of his family and friends. To convince him that he ought not commit suicide, the angel shows him what life would have been like for Bedford Falls without him. Rather than a productive community with happy families owning and living in their own homes, Bedford Falls is overrun by the avaricious Mr. Potter (Drew's great grandpa, Lionel Carey) who has hedged out all the lending institutions in the wake of the Depression, bought up all the property, and degraded the town with sleazy bars and various indicators of general debauchery.

The similarities leaped off our non-high definition, small screen TV. Should George sell out to the wicked Potter so that he can live a better life? Should George allow his community to suffer the ravages of the greedy and exploitative Potter so that George can be a Potter employee with a comfortable income? And should Wilmington sell out to Cleveland casino men?

Sometimes, when we have no hope for justice in particular situations (poverty, ignorance, jail, war, disability, death) we are left to contemplate an "end" beyond the end of this life for rectification. And in this hope, with no solution in view, we find solace. We find contentment in doing the right thing even when we cannot see the salvation we need. We persevere. George does the right thing, goes through rough times, but ends up well blessed. He perseveres.

State Representative David Daniels writes about a "prayer rally" held at the Courthouse on 20 July sponsored by the Wilmington Area Ministerial Association concerning the impending disaster regarding employment at the Wilmington Air Park (WNJ, 23 July). "It was" according to Daniels, "a successful (and moving)" event and it was listed along with all the other political options which are being pursued to find relief (federal relief, anti-trust action against DHL, etc). No. We must cover all the bases and do some praying.

Now, I am not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet (although I was for many years employed by a non-profit organization). I don't presume to interpret infallibly the events of history and explain what God is doing. Jesus corrected those who presumed that certain disasters came from particular sins of particular peoples (Luke 13:3-5). But if I may speculate and propose a suggestion, it is this: Public repudiation of the casino intrusion by our County Commissioners and City Council.

What was needed at that prayer rally was more than petitioning God for a solution to the DHL problem. Leaders of the people owed a confession to God and to the people for their role in leading this county into a miserable alliance with the casino gangsters. Confession precedes forgiveness and perhaps, if this DHL mess is the judgment He has ordained, He will bring us relief. But even if He does not bring us relief and even if there is no spiritual connection between these two entities, such a confession and a repudiation of the casinos is still the duty of the civil leaders in this community.

23 July 2008
Michael Bray

Does Anyone Know what "Protest" is?

Fort Madison, IA

One of the common points of confusion among those who craft city ordinances is the difference between "noise" and protected speech & expression. One man's noise is another man's music. That being true, it is also true that the Police Chief of any town is going to have pressure from the people who complain about what they perceive as noise regardless whether or not the complaints are legally founded. It is also true the Police Chief in most towns doesn't really care too much about the legality, and are pushed by the sentiment of those complaining. That's a real problem!

Knowing the above is true, what do we make of Police Chief Niggemeyer's comment that the recent modification to the public demonstration ordinance to include a single individual "protesting" wasn't because of Donna Holman's public protesting in front of Planned Parenthood?

We use common sense, and say "BUNK!"

That's exactly why those changes were required. It is clear to any thinking person Chief Niggemeyer is playing politics and saying what he thinks most people will just accept. Sadly, he's probably right – most will just accept it. The problem is that he's lying.

"With free speech, there probably still won't be much we can do about that (the pictures of the victims of abortion displayed on the sides of the Holman's van) but we've had complaints from people saying they were harassed and spoken to while trying to go into facilities. That it might help," Niggemeyer said.

Let me offer an interpretation of that strange tongue: 'that pesky free speech anyhow!'

So let me ask a question: if the complaints Chief Niggemeyer has received include "harassment," why is the public protest ordinance being modified and instead Donna Holman not charged for harassment? Harassment is already illegal and actionable by law enforcement.

Now let's ask the more basic question that sits in the room like an 800 lb gorilla: what is "protest?" Can it be defined?

Hmmmmm, perhaps this is a veiled attempt by Chief Niggemeyer and his other Catholic chronies to bring back the Inquisition, outlawing all PROTESTants? Does anyone know what the Chief and the City Council's view on The Inquisition is? It would be interesting to find out, wouldn't it? We wouldn't want to live in another Theocracy would we? We can't be too careful to find these important factoids out. [/sarcasm]

One must ask: considering that the Chief received complaints, could we now consider them as "protestations" and violating the protest ordinance? After all, I'm sure Dan and Donna Holman would feel "harassed" by them?

Here's another one to consider: why are the printed portrayals on the Holman's van considered "free speech" (pesky though it is) and not protestation? After all, people's sensibilities are aroused by them, feeling harassed as a result, are they not? Hmmmmmm, what is "protest?"

Here's another one: when a person speaks in protest out in public, what is the volume that carries harassment in its tones? How will a person know they are too loud and harassing to another person? If our "protest" is written in our facial expressions and body language, have we now become guilty of illegal protesting?

Oh, wait, yet another question: if I want to wear a T-Shirt that says "Abortion Sucks" out in public, do I have to get the Chief's prior approval? Would I be cited for violating the newly modified ordinance if it drew a complaint that someone felt "harassed?" After all, do we know what "protest" is?

Does the Chief, the Mayor, the City Council, the City Legal Department, the Receptionist at the front desk, anyone > >>someone call the Governor << < know what "protest" is?

Uncle Raisin

www.UncleRaisin.com

"Raisin" the Standard Against Injustice

Turn-About is Fair Play - St Paul City Council Evicted from Office

Every other Wednesday evening, the ST Paul City Council has a scheduled "Open Meeting" that begins at 5:30 PM, chaired by Linda Lantry and at which any resident can bring up issues being considered by the Council. These "Open Meetings" are governed by State law in order to assure the citizenry has not only access to, but redress from, those individuals and committees that are responsible to administer on their behalf. The State takes this right to present at "Open Meetings" very seriously, and if anyone intentionally prevents public presentations, they have forfeited their post on the governing body. That's right. You read that correctly - forfeited their post on the governing body!

In the State of MN the law says:

www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/statutes/?id=13D
CHAPTER 13 D - Open Meeting Law 13D.06 CIVIL FINES; FORFEITURE OF OFFICE; OTHER REMEDIES. Subd. 3. Forfeit office if three violations. (a) If a person has been found to have intentionally violated this chapter in three or more actions brought under this chapter involving the same governing body, such person shall forfeit any further right to serve on such governing body or in any other capacity with such public body for a period of time equal to the term of office such person was then serving.

In this video clip video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2889722505597651505 you'll see a third unsuccessful attempt by a member of the public to speak at an Open Meeting chaired by Kathy Lantry of the St Paul City Council. This effort to speak was intended to present an argument against the practice of condemning and foreclosing city dwellings, taking peoples' homes away from them, which have had utilities turned off and are not up to current building code standards.

What is at issue in this effort to be heard is the City's illegal imposition of this eviction process by enforcement of recently declared illegal inspection standards. On May 15, 2008 the MN Supreme Court ruled in Morris v. Sax that no municipality can force current building code standards upon structures that were built satisfactorily to then-current building code standards (issues of dangerous conditions excepted). Morris v. Sax www.lawlibrary.state.mn.us/archive/supct/0805/OPA061188-0515.pdf

Even though people are being illegally thrown out of their homes and their property stolen by the city of St Paul, MN, and then try to present an appeal to their City Administrators at a lawfully required forum (State Stature 117.0412 LOCAL GOVERNMENT PUBLIC HEARING REQUIREMENTS) they are being stonewalled. What is the remedy? Follow the law (as referenced above) and evict them from Office. Then tell the whole world what you've done and why.

Turn-about is fair play isn't it? They evict you from your home - you evict them from their government post. It's the American way!

Pro-life Pretention

"But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." 2 Timothy 3:13

This is a most difficult topic to write about largely because of the severity and enormity of the problem, and the willful neglect and ignorance of most Americans.There is great deception all around us and most people do not see it or understand it. The most obvious evidence of this deception is the slaughter of 4000 children per day. Few Americans care about this holocaust; fewer still look behind the scenes to see the actors, directors, and stage men managing this production.Like watching a Hollywood movie, they see only the show and not those handling the set. People are upset when we reveal the truth, but this is what our unpopular newsletter is about.Pro-life leaders from around the country were recently invited to participate in a confidential project to air their concerns and opinions about the problems within the pro-life movement. Our goal was to form a strategy to end aborticide. Few of the big ministries bothered to participate. Twenty seven leaders who did participate wrote essays. Writing an essay gave me pause to reflect on what we are doing. Reading the essays of others gave me insight into what they are doing and their reasons for doing it.

Why has the pro-life movement failed to end aborticide? The answers might surprise you.

The pro-life movement has no vision to end baby-murder.

"Where there is no vision the babies perish" Proverbs 29:18

Very few pro-life organizations operate or consistently operate, from a biblical world-view. Unbiblical world-views are in error both in word and in deed. Their authority usually lies in American Jurisprudence. Their goal is to get the U.S. Supreme Court to somehow repent, and turn back the clock to 1972.

An unbiblical pro-life ethic supports the aborting mother, rather than the pre-born. They are two separate individuals. There is certainly a conflict of interest between an aborting mother and her unborn child.

Those who allow exceptions have an unbiblical world-view. Life of the mother exceptions dehumanizes baby. Should we accept rape, incest, fetal deformity, life of the mother exceptions to deny life to post-born children? If we allow a separate standard for Pre-born children are we not admitting that the pre-born are somehow worth less than post-born children? If pre-born children are worth less than post-born children, they must be somehow inferior or subhuman. If the pre-born child is not fully human, than a mother does have a right to an abortion!

Pro-lifers are loathed to blame the aborting mother for killing her child; they would rather treat her as a victim. How can we call abortion murder if the mother is a victim? Aborticide should be punished as any other murder.

National Right-to Life

National Right to Life (NRTL) is a shill for the Republican Party. In Almost every election they consistently support the most winnable Republican candidates over less viable pro-life candidates. I could give many examples of this; I shall mention but two which should be familiar to all. NRTL supported GH Bush and GW Bush over Howard Phillips and Michael Peroutka. On a state level I could mention many more. Should we support anyone who would enable the death of even one child?

The Republican Party is not motivated to end baby-murder. If the Republican Party were to end aborticide they would lose their financial support and their control of the pro-life movement. Thanks to the ongoing treachery of NRTL no candidate running for office will seriously try to end abortion.

"The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil" 1 Timothy 6:10

NRTL state chapters rake in hundreds of millions dollars annually in conscience money, they pay their directors handsomely. They have no motivation to end abortion.

Smaller pro-life organizations

Those organizations not motivated strictly by money often have other agendas apart from Christ and the babies. They are like pastors that refuse to work with people outside their church in getting others saved. Their church is their kingdom. They fight to keep others from infringing on their little piece of the action.

An extreme example of this is Dan and Angela Michaels of "Small Victories." The Michaels are notorious for attacking pro-life picketers at the Granite City death camp (Hope Clinic) While the Michaels focus their physical and verbal attacks on picketers, the babies are neglected, and the devil laughs. The Michaels make fantastic claims of success in their ministry, but those who frequent this clinic remain doubtful. The Michaels picket pro-life churches that do not support them. Those who have been targeted by the Michaels know that I am understating the gravity of this situation.

Troy Newman is being sued by Randall Terry for using the Operation Rescue (OR) name.

In 1991, after cutting a deal with the feds, Randall Terry quit OR giving its control to Keith Tucci. Tucci later resigned and passed its leadership to Flip Benham. Because of the threat of lawsuits, Benham changed the name to Operation Save America. The OR name was abandoned by everyone except Troy Newman. Newman continued to build on the name, now Terry wants it back.

I know you don't want to read this stuff. It is like sausage making, we do not want to look too close. We want to enjoy ourselves; we desire to be happy and cheerful. We like a rosy picture, a positive spin on a story, but we have been putting fresh paint on a decaying structure. Sooner or later we have to tear it down.

501 (c) 3's

A corporation is a legal body created by the state. Most American churches and religious denominations are 501 (c) 3 corporations. Because they are creatures of the state they agree to abide by state rule.

What the state creates the state rules, what the state rules the state controls.

Pro-life organizations which are 501 (c) 3's are also creatures of the state.

The state controls the ebb and flow of money corporations receive. The state limits the activities and political endorsements of corporations. All corporations ultimately answer to the state.

We cannot serve two masters. We must either serve Jesus Christ and the pre-born, or we must serve the state.

Are we not in a conflict? Is the world our friend? Is it possible for the state to be fair and impartial with baby defenders while permitting, protecting, and promoting baby-murder with our tax money? Is this not a conflict of interest? Pro-life corporations are in collusion with the state by virtue of their very existence!

Fruitless goals

Pro-life organizations have championed fruitless legal action in the very courts that deny the humanity of the pre-born. Half measures such as informed consent, parental consent, and fetal pain awareness tug at the leaves of the Tree of Death, making no attempt to tear out its roots. There continues to be resistance by pro-lifers in restoring the full rights, privileges, and protection to the pre-born child same as for post-born children. The only effort to recognize the humanity of the pre-born is the Colorado ballot initiative.

Sabotage

Ballot initiatives in up to 10 states including Michigan, Montana, and Georgia failed for lack of support or by sabotage. Citing bad timing, bad language (i.e. no exceptions), and purported flaws in those presenting it, Roman Catholic Bishops in every state opposed both ballot initiatives and legislation which recognize the personhood of the pre-born. Focus on the Family and its state affiliates also opposed these initiatives. Catholic Bishops in Colorado did not oppose the personhood initiative; they also did not support it. The duplicity of churches and organizations fool many into thinking that right actions will follow right declarations of truth. Jesus said: "You shall know them by their fruits." Matthew 7: 16 & 20 Duplicity says one thing but does another.

"A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go, work today in my vineyard.' He answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to Him, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you." Matthew 21:28-31

False Pro-lifers

Another disheartening aspect of this fight is the collusion of "pro-life Christians" with the abortion industry. According to Alan Guttmacher, Planned Parenthood's research arm, 70% of all abortions are performed on those who profess to be Christian.
http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_induced_abortion.html

Those of us who witness at the clinics see many abortion appointments with rosaries dangling from the rear-view mirror, Bibles on the dashboard, or Christian bumper stickers on their vehicles. Many pastors and religious workers bring in appointments for an abortion. Some of them bring their own children! They treat the blood of Jesus Christ as a license to sin. They believe God will forgive them no matter what they do. We are often viciously assaulted by "pro-life Christians" for showing the bloody reality of abortion.

On June 26, 2008, at the Fort Madison PP, I was assaulted by Devin Eaves. With the help of lying neighbors and angry Health Dept. workers I was arrested for Disorderly Conduct.

Devin Eaves had contacted us earlier by e-mail offering to help us so she might learn Donna's picketing schedule. She had spent hours harassing Donna while cozying up to Planned Parenthood supporters. Donna called me to the clinic to get video of her harassment. Devin came over to where I was standing and hit me with her sign breaking my camera. Devin sells expensive baby dolls on e-bay under the name "Midwest Miracles". Her string of profanity was revealing; she is not anti-abortion as she claims, nor is she a follower of Jesus Christ. She says she is pro-life, but her works contradict her. The naive will take her at her word.

The standard for being pro-life is so low that even George Bush qualifies.

We often have people complain to us about our activities and signs. They usually begin their complaint by saying "I am pro-life but...." We call them "pro-life butts."

Lawyers are among the predatory class of society. Though some are sympathetic "to OUR cause," and have defended us in the past, they are officers of the courts which refuse to recognize the humanity of the pre-born. In open court, lawyers cannot mention the humanity of the pre-born this is our only true defense.

Christian legal organizations such as Thomas Moore, Alliance Defense Fund, American Center for Law & Justice, and American Family Association (AFA) have helped individuals in the past. It is expensive, time consuming, and often futile as the courts are increasingly unjust. AFA dissolved its legal defense arm early this year. The rest are taking easy t-shirt, and praying around the flag pole cases, turning down many who are being beat up with unconstitutional municipal ordinances such as sign sizes, and preaching permits.

The medical profession is irrevocably corrupt. The American Medical Association (AMA) and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) are greatly influenced by the moneyed men representing drug companies, and special interests groups such as Planned Parenthood. AMA and ACOG policies and medical protocols are aimed at enriching doctors. The course of recommended treatment is often detrimental to the physical, mental, emotional, psychological, and spiritual well being of their patients.

It is never in the best interest of the mother to kill her baby.

Those who did the ballot initiative petitioning experienced 1st hand just how unwilling most Americans are to outlaw baby-murder. Most Americans view child sacrifice as a Constitutional Right! Many who say "abortion is murder" believe it should be legal, they believe it is a woman's choice! God commands "Thou shall not murder", abortion is, was, and always will be murder. We do not change reality by conveniently changing the law.

Americans have brought up their children to believe that child sacrifice is normal. We see many children attending government schools who defend baby-murder.

The consequences

The state of Iowa has experienced its worst flood in recorded history. Thousands of homes, businesses, and buildings are destroyed! The damage is in the billions of dollars

California recently allowed same-sex marriage. At the time of this writing California is fighting over 1400 fires.

Some people recognize God's judgment upon our nation, most people ridicule this notion.

We find hearts hard and cold as did Jeremiah the prophet in the days of ancient Israel.

When I was an atheist, a rebel in the army, my 1st Sergeant had a cartoon on his locker. It was a caricature of a man sinking in quicksand out of sight except for one hand with middle finger extended in the air. The caption on the cartoon read "That's Holman, bitter to the end."

My heart has since grown tender toward the things of God. I cheerfully submit to His sovereign will. I have a sweet bitterness in my heart toward our nation. I keep looking for repentance but I do not see so much as "a cloud as small as a man's hand coming from the sea." 1 Kings 18:44

Jeremiah bore little fruit from his preaching. He warned the people of Israel for over 40 years repent or perish. Like my Sergeant's caricature, Israel was bitter to the very end. Most remained hard-hearted even in captivity.

The Bible is timeless in its instruction. Human nature is unchanged. The American dream, like Greece and Rome, shall end up on the ash heap of history. I expect very few of our generation shall escape the fires of hell.

Because of head knowledge, many fancy themselves saved. On the Great Day of Judgment they shall say:

'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

May you be found with Him on the Day of His appearing. So prays

dan & donna holman
Missionaries to the Pre-born, Iowa
P.O. Box 135
Keokuk, Iowa 52632
(319) 524-5587
truthvan@yahoo.com

With Public Servants Like That, Who Needs Thieves?

The home owner at 1033 Colne in St Paul, MN has been evicted because the previous owner voluntarily disconnected the electricity, which the city of St Paul interpreted as indicating the house was uninhabitable and therefore justified condemnation (for which eviction was ordered). Mrs. Evelyn Wallace, who purchased the house from the previous owner who, like normal prior to closing on the sale of the property, had the electricity turned off and is now out on the street facing all of the fall out of St Paul's condemnation order.

This might not be a noteworthy story and we could chock it up to mistake or bureaucratic folly if this was the only case - even if it was rare . . . however, it isn't. The city files are full of these cases, and perhaps the homeless shelters are too. Read on if you think this is a overly dramatic language.

On June 26, 2008, Judge Lindman of Ramsey County District Court ordered a that Mrs. Wallace could stay in her home until the issue could have a fair hearing in court on the full set of issues. However, the city is continuing on its order of condemnation by sending a crew to board up the windows, apparently ignoring Judge Lindman's order from the bench.

The City purports that because the owner of 1033 Colne had voluntarily suspended the utilities to the house, the house qualified as "unfit for human habitation" and thereby met the criteria as a "vacant building".

The city will allow the home owner to redeem habitable status but requires the building be brought up to current new construction code in order to do so. This municipal requirement is contrary to Morris v. Sax (City of Morris v. Sax Invest-A06-1188-MS16B.62,sub(1)2006, MN Supreme Court ruling), which states that municipalities cannot require retroactive compliance in such cases.

In a recent letter to Judge Lindman, Mrs. Wallace's legal team stated "We are bringing this action as private attorney generals on behalf of 'Other Similarly Situated Persons.' Many, many people have spoken at the St. Paul city council meetings and demanded the City comply with the restraints of Morris v. Sax. But the City refuses and they are throwing people out of their homes by condemnation that does NOT comply with the directives of the state building code.

These 'Other Similarly Situated Persons' need YOUR help.

How many people are out on the streets because of this ordinance? Dozens? Hundreds? Who knows - -the number is significant even if it were only one. It's fortunate for Mrs. Wallace that she has legal help, and that it might look good for her to keep her house. However, for the dozens (hundreds) of others, maybe not so much. This must stop and those responsible for such brutish behavior should be punished. The least we could do is stop calling those from the city of St Paul, MN public servants until this robbery is stopped.

3AM Police Intrusion in Minnesota

The following links will take you to a story about a Lakeville, MN man, Troy Molde, whose home the police came into at 3AM and whose reasons for doing so are full of contradictions. Even more importantly they are seemingly unaware that what they did was illegally intrusive.

News Story

http://www.twincities.com/news/ci_9641991?source=rss

Investigative 10 minute video

http://mnchange.org/3-am-reminder-or-4th-amendment-violation

Radio Interview with Troy Molde

http://uncleraisin.com/ur/audio/001 KSTP AM Interview w Troy Molde.mp3

The State of Iowa is Under Assault

The state of Iowa is under assault: four Boy Scouts killed by tornado, weeks of ravaging storms, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Des Moines, IA, along with dozens of smaller towns are under water, 83 of 99 counties given federal emergency status, roads and highways throughout the state are closed, water ways, railroads and airports cannot serve the transport needs of the people, courts and government services closed, and much more in addition. Does this mean anything beyond the obvious intrusions into the lives of the people in this region?

It was reported to me by a friend of mine (who happens to be from Iowa originally) and who lives part time in China, when the recent earthquakes happened there, the people asked what this meant. The people don't have a materialistic view of the world - that everything happens for reasons unrelated to anything outside of the cycles and patterns of the earth. The Chinese people, for all of the communist and atheist style of governing, are still a people that are connected to something greater than themselves and their material existence. They understand that nothing happens without a reason and that they should listen to it for what it would tell them. Call it mystical if you want to, but it seems to me they have a much greater likelihood of hearing what is being said than we Americans and in particular Iowans.

What are we hearing the Christians of Iowa pray? Are we hearing them pray for God's favor and help; or are we hearing them search out what this might mean - what God is saying to His people? Is there even a single Church that is crying out for mercy for having grown cold and listless? Is there a group that will awaken from this Divine pointing of chastisement toward Iowa? Will any of Iowa's dignitaries see the handwriting on the wall (as it were) and use his voice to call Iowa to her knees in humility and contrition? If there is one that does, will Iowa (will America) listen?

If you have been following the Holmans over the last 5 years or so as they have boldly shown Iowa the face of abortion, you'll know they do not see coincidence or simple earth cycles in these floods and calamity. I will say the Holmans have suffered injustice at the hands of the powers-that-be of Iowa. I will say the Holmans have uncovered some pretty smelly alliances of corruption among Iowa politicians and leaders. I will say the Holmans have exposed the crooked nature of local municipalities and their apathy toward the status quo. Is God trying to vindicate the Holmans? No. The Holmans signed up for the fight and knew they would suffer in the manner they have suffered. God is bringing this most recent form of judgment for those whom the Holmans personify - the preborn children that Iowans kill for convenience sake. It is fitting that the picture of the last 30 days in Iowa paints a perfect portrayal of the Divine distain - the floods are going to end up being not much more than an inconvenient interruption of the convenience they pursue and the death is likened to their murdering of the preborn and is a shot across the bow designed to send a message.

The only solace Iowans can take from this most recent barrage of rain is that God said He wouldn't destroy the earth with a flood again. That, however, should be enough to bring a shudder down Iowans' collective spine. Will they listen?