Burger King and Corporate Inversion

By: Dale Weckbacher

Matthew 22:21

And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

NKJV

For those not wishing to pay taxes, this verse may be bad news for God does want His people to pay their taxes.  However, the verse tells us to render unto Caesar what is Caesars but also unto God what belongs to God.  Yes, God does want us to pay our taxes but He does not require us to pay more than the law requires.  Finding legal ways to pay less in taxes is not going against God’s Word and is something I as an accounting and tax professional advise people to do.  Even though it is August and taxes are the furthest thing from most of our minds, taxes were a whopper of a topic in this week’s news.

Inversion is a process where a business headquarters outside of a country in order to avoid high taxation.  (1)  Recently the process has been occurring with increased frequency as companies seek to maximize profits in the current economic climate.  Liberals view companies that engage in the process as lacking “economic patriotism.”  I guess these anti-capitalist liberals would prefer companies cut jobs and profits in order to pay higher taxes instead of inverting so they can continue to provide jobs and cheaper products for the customers.  (2) 

Listening to these anti-capitalist liberals one would believe that Burger King will be continuing to do business in the United States but will avoid paying any U.S. income tax.  However, this is not true and the reason for their merger with Tim Hortons has other benefits for both companies besides taxation.  If we take the time to look at the bigger picture, we can gain an understanding of what is going on with this merger. 

If Burger King follows through on its intentions to relocate its corporate offices to Canada, it will become a foreign corporation doing business in the United States.  This does not excuse the corporation from paying U.S. Income Taxes on income it generates from its U.S. operations for foreign corporations doing business in the United States are required to file form 1120F with the IRS.  (3)  On this form, the corporation declares its income from operations within the United States and pays the appropriate taxes.  I am not familiar with Canadian tax law but they may qualify for tax credits in Canada to help pay their U.S. tax liability, which would be a tax benefit for the corporation but would not reduce tax revenues received by the U.S. Treasury.  The only possible reduction in tax revenues to the United States would be that Burger King would no longer pay payroll taxes for its employees working at the relocated corporate offices since they would no longer be working in the United States but in Canada. 

Since Burger King Restaurants are franchise operations, the restaurants are actually privately owned businesses whose owners are required to claim their income on either their individual tax return or corporate return if they are incorporated.  (4)  The Burger King Corporation does not receive any direct profit from the sales of Whoppers and has never been required to claim these profits on its corporate tax return for these belong to the owner of the franchise.  The Burger King Corporation, however, does receive revenue from franchise fees paid by franchise owners.  However, since franchise fees received from U.S. based franchises are part of its U.S. operations, the corporation will be required to pay U.S. income taxes on these fees.  However, as Ben Shapiro wrote in his August 27 article (2), the potential tax savings incurred from potential Canadian tax credits and reduced payroll taxes for corporate employees will enable the corporation to keep its franchise fees at their current level thus potentially saving franchises and the jobs and tax revenues they create in the U.S.  

However, tax savings are only one consideration in the merger of Burger King and Tim Hortons.  Tim Hortons, considered the Dunkin Donuts of Canada, represents a great acquisition for Burger King.  Because of this acquisition, Tim Hortons will expand into the United States and be able to compete with Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme.  (5)  Upon completion of the merger, consumers will be able to go to a U.S. Burger King and purchase a Tim Hortons coffee and donut with their breakfast sandwich.  In Canada, they will be able to visit a Tim Hortons and purchase a Whopper with their coffee and donut. 

In addition, one of the benefits in a merger is the consolidation of corporate operations.  One of the decisions the newly formed merged corporation must make is where to locate their corporate operations.  When the two corporations have corporate headquarters in two different countries, anyone with any business sense would expect them to locate corporate operations in the country with the lower tax rate, which is what Burger King is proposing to do. 

For those still not convinced that Burger King is making the best decision for their business, and who intend to boycott Burger King, I want you to  remember you are not actually boycotting the Burger King Corporation but the independent franchise.  The only persons you will be punishing are the person that waited on you at the window and the franchise owner who provides jobs and pays taxes in your local community.  The answer to stopping corporate inversions outside the United States is for the United States to lower its corporate tax rate and become competitive in the global market place. 

Even after inversion, Burger King will still be rendering unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar for what they are doing violates no current tax laws.  The question is will the United States government do the wise thing and reduce its corporate tax rate lessoning the incentive for corporate inversion outside the United States or pass some law taxing corporations that choose to invert thus requiring them to pay higher taxes leading to the cutting of jobs in the U.S. and closure of some franchise operations. 

1. Investopedia. Corporate Inversion. www.investopedia.com. [Online] Investopedia. [Cited: August 29, 2014.] http://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/corporateinversion.asp.

2. Shapiro, Ben. DOZENS OF BUSINESSES MOVE HQS OUTSIDE AMERICA UNDER OBAMA. www.breitbart.com. [Online] Breitbart News, August 27, 2014. [Cited: August 29, 2014.] http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/08/27/businesses-move-inversion.

3. Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form 1120-F. www.irs.gov. [Online] U.S. Treasury. [Cited: August 29, 2014.] http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1120f.pdf.

4. Franchise Direct. Burger King Franchise Cost & Fees. www.franchisedirect.com. [Online] Franchise Direct. [Cited: August 29, 2014.] http://www.franchisedirect.com/foodfranchises/burger-king-franchise-07118/ufoc/.

5. Ferdman, Roberto A. Tim Hortons makes more money than Burger King and Dunkin’ Donuts, combined. www.washingtonpost.com. [Online] The Washington Post, August 26, 2014. [Cited: August 29, 2014.] http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/08/26/tim-hortons-makes-more-money-than-burger-king-and-dunkin-donuts-combined/.

Passport to the Promised Land

By: Dale Weckbacher

Numbers 15:27-29

'And if a person sins unintentionally, then he shall bring a female goat in its first year as a sin offering. 28 So the priest shall make atonement for the person who sins unintentionally, when he sins unintentionally before the LORD, to make atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him. 29 You shall have one law for him who sins unintentionally, for him who is native-born among the children of Israel and for the stranger who dwells among them.

NKJV

When traveling to a foreign country, a person is required to have a passport.  In ancient Israel, the passport was offering up a sin offering.  Everyone living in the land was required to present a sin offering.  This requirement was for both native-born people and foreigners.  God was interested in there being only one law in the land for both natives and foreigners.  Without this uniformity in the rule of law, it becomes impossible to distinguish lawbreakers from those obeying the laws. 

The sin offering is also symbolic of the ultimate sin offering, Jesus Christ, whose death on the cross provided salvation to anyone that asks (Hebrews 9:23-28).  Belief in Jesus Christ and acceptance of His sacrifice on the cross provides is passport to eternal life in the presence of God and is provided to anyone that asks free of charge for the price was paid for with the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:8). 

For anyone that has ever traveled to Mexico, it is not difficult to understand why Mexico's citizens would look across the border and see the United States as a land of opportunity or Promised Land.  However, just as no one could stay in Israel without the offering of a sin offering or have eternal life with God without acceptance of God’s gift of salvation, people must have proper documentation to enter the United States.  Citizens of the United States have no problem with extending a hand to those desiring to pursue their dreams for most citizens of the United States are descendants of immigrants that came to pursue their dreams.  However, in order to insure the security of the country, we must know who they are and whether they intend to obey the laws of the country. 

There is a need for immigration reform but that does not include amnesty.  Like most parts of the government, the immigration system is a bloated bureaucracy.  People desiring to enter the United States can plan to spend close to $15,000 and the process can take up to three years according to Nick Adams, an Australian author.  (1)   This expensive and lengthy process is hardly something a poor person living in Mexico can afford.  However, this is no excuse for our nation to just open the door of the border letting anyone enter. 

Governor Perry of Texas has taken a lot of heat for his statement that Terrorists from ISIS may have already slipped across our open southern border with Mexico.  (2)  Governor Perry did state there was no clear evidence anyone from ISIS had crossed the border and was only stating the obvious, an open border is an invitation for anyone desiring to commit an act of terrorism in the United States.  This is precisely why nations have requirements for those desiring to live in their country. 

We live in the digital age, an age where we can access knowledge with a simple click of our mouse or a few swipes on our smart phone or tablet.  Granted, much of the information may be false or misleading but with a little work, one can sort through the data and determine the truth about almost anything.  In the digital age there is no reason why entering the country legally should cost thousands of dollars and take almost three years.  Immigration reform is not about amnesty but the introduction of technology that will streamline the bloated immigration bureaucracy and make it easier for those genuinely pursuing the American dream to enter our nation legally as our ancestors did. 

Unfortunately, government bureaucracies take on a life of their own and those working in them will resort to almost anything to preserve their existence.  Add to that the fact that these employees are unionized and their union will financially support any politician resisting efforts to reduce the immigration bureaucracy and we can see why politicians continue to speak of amnesty instead of streamlining the bureaucracy.  However, we the people have the power of the vote and must support candidates supporting real immigration reform that does not include amnesty but instead introduces 21^st century technology to the process. 

Legally entering the United States requires proper documentation.  I understand the desire of those seeking a better life and that they view the United States as a land of opportunity just as my ancestors did.  In the digital age, there is no reason why we cannot use technology to make it less expensive and faster for someone to enter the United States legally while insuring the nation’s security.  The only thing standing in our way is willingness of our leaders to break-up the current bloated immigration system and replace it with a 21^st century system that works more efficiently.

1. WND. Entering America legally a long, costly process. www.wnd.com. [Online] WND, July 26, 2014. [Cited: August 26, 2014.] http://www.wnd.com/2014/07/entering-america-legally-a-long-costly-process/.

2. Ollstein, Alice. Rick Perry: Iraqi Terrorists Likely Crossing The Texas Border. thinkprogress.org. [Online] ThinkProgress, August 21, 2014. [Cited: August 26, 2014.] http://thinkprogress.org/election/2014/08/21/3474264/rick-perry-immigration-2/.

The Power of Words

By: Dale Weckbacher

As we witness the moral decline of our world, it is obvious that what our world needs is a revival.  Spreading the good news of the Gospel has never been easier for today we possess tools such as Facebook, Twitter, blogging, texting, and email.  Of course we can still share the Gospel face-to-face as well.  Based on the power of these tools we would expect to be witnessing a great revival in our world but unfortunately, that does not appear to be the case.

That is why I wrote Empowered Evangelism.  Empowered Evangelism is a call to action designed to help believers in Jesus Christ overcome their fears and lack of knowledge of secular philosophies dominating our culture.  It also tells us how to effectively use the tools of prayer, the Word, and the assurance that Jesus is Messiah to empower us as we share the Gospel.  I am a self-published author and my books, “Jesus Trial” and “Empowered Evangelism” are available on EBay.  I have provided a link at the upper right portion of this page to purchase the books.  I accept all major credit cards so don’t hesitate for our world is primed and ready for revival.  All that is missing is for us to be empowered to share the good news with them.  Now for this Saturday’s posting.

James 3:5-6

 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

NKJV

James 3:5-6 is a warning.  It is like the yellow warning sticker we see warning us of something dangerous.  It is interesting that James compares the tongue to a forest fire.  In Arizona where I live, we were saddened last year by the death of nineteen firefighters in the Yarnell Hill Fire.  (1)  These brave firefighters understood the power of a forest fire and even though they took all the necessary precautions, tragically lost their lives.  (2)

Our words can be equally destructive and are something we must use wisely.  The pastor at my church has recently been teaching on learning to think before we speak using the acronym T.H.I.N.K

T) Is what I am about to say truthful – the rarest commodity in today’s culture is not some precious metal or precious stone, its truth.  Lies do indeed seem to spread like a forest fire and can erupt into riots as we now see in Ferguson MO.  Now that we are beginning to see the full story of what happened in Ferguson, it is becoming clear that the officer was in a struggle for his life and the situation escalated into the tragic shooting.  However, the media and race hustlers did not stop to think about the truthfulness of what they were saying and the result was the conflagration of riots, violence, and destruction in Ferguson Mo.

H) Helpful – If truth is rare, destructive speech that cuts individuals down is plentiful.  Once again, campaign season is in full swing and with it comes the negative advertising.  If all of these ads were truthful, we would not vote for anyone on the ballot.  However truthful or not, these ads are not helpful to those of us focused on the issues.  We do not want attack ads for we want to know is what the candidate will do when elected to office.

I) Inspirational – Confidence is critical to success in any endeavor.  Quite often in professional sporting events, where all the participants are highly skilled professionals, the difference that affects the outcome of the game is confidence.  Our society would be better served if we took the time to think about what we are about to say and said something inspirational instead of critical.  If you do not know of anything inspirational to say, use the Bible.

N) Necessary – Silence is golden but as an author, not very profitable.  However, we can do much damage when we say something that is not necessary.  Even when we may be trying to say something to comfort someone in need, we may talk too much and say something unnecessary that actually hurts them.  Sometimes the best thing we can say and do is to listen and pray for them.

K) Kind – Is what I am about to say kind.  Unkind speech pollutes our airwaves, Facebook, and Twitter.  The shooting in Ferguson has shown us that this unkind speech can start a forest fire of rioting and violence.  The best way to win a fight is to avoid it.  A kind word in a time of strife can calm tempers and prevent the conflagration of a fight or argument.  We should therefore seek to say something kind, even when our temper is flaring for the Bible tells us that doing so is like heaping hot coals on the heads of our enemies (Proverbs 25:21-22).  Granted this scripture tells us to give them a piece of bread or water to drink but I believe a kind word will also have the same effect. 

This however, is not a call for political correctness for I believe political correctness actually prevents us from saying something truthful that may help someone.  I am only saying that words can be destructive but if we learn to think before speaking, our words can also be constructive.  This is why the Bible says,

James 1:19

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

NKJV

Stopping to think before speaking will make us slow to speak.  While we are not speaking we can listen to what someone is saying and the time we spend thinking can cool tempers and prevent arguments, violence, or even riots.  We need smart, not politically correct speech so I urge everyone to remember the acronym T.H.I.N.K. before speaking.

1. azcentral.com. Yarnell Hill Fire: Remembering the fallen firefighters. www.azcemntral.com. [Online] The Arizona Republic, July 9, 2013. [Cited: August 22, 2014.] http://www.azcentral.com/news/free/20130701yarnell-hill-fire-firefighters-names.html.

2. Fox News. Portable shelters couldn't save 19 members of elite hotshots firefighting crew killed in Arizona blaze. www.foxnews.com. [Online] Fox News, July 2, 2013. [Cited: August 22, 2014.] http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/07/02/19-firefighters-killed-battling-arizona-blaze/.

Honoring Laws and Customs of the Land

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Deuteronomy 16:13-14

"You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress. 14 And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant and the Levite, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow, who are within your gates.

NKJV

Deuteronomy 16:13-14 is speaking of the observation of the Feast of Tabernacles.  The scripture stresses the importance of not only the Jews observing this feast, but servants, foreigners, widows, and everyone within the gates of the city were required to observe this feast.  To understand the importance of this requirement, we must put it into its proper context.

Unlike in our country where Constitutional law prohibits the government from establishing a religion or preventing anyone from practicing their religion, the religious laws in ancient Israel were the law of the land.  Therefore, someone living in the land, failing to observe this feast would have been breaking the law.  The contextual interpretation of Deuteronomy 16:13-14 would be that all people living within the gates of the city are required to obey the law through the observance of the Feast of Tabernacles.  We could also interpret this scripture to mean that people should obey the customs of the land they choose to live in. 

God included this requirement in Jewish law to encourage Israel to remain firm in their obedience of Gods law and not adopt the customs and laws of those choosing to remain in the land, many of whom were not followers of the ways of God.  Unfortunately, the nation of Israel did not heed these laws and ordinances and eventually fell as the nation turned its back on God and adopted the pagan practices of the nations around them. 

The United States is currently experiencing an invasion at its southern border.  The fact that these individuals have illegally entered the United States and violated the nation’s immigration laws demonstrates a desire to ignore the rule of law in the land.  In ancient Israel, Jewish law would not have allowed these individuals to remain in the land.  If we continue to allow these lawless individuals to remain in our country, like Israel, we too could experience a loss of our nation and its culture.  If we do not act, we could experience,

1)      Loss of our language – I often get frustrated when calling some company and the first thing I encounter is an automated system telling me that if I want to conduct my business in Spanish, press one.  Our nation has functioned since 1776, and even before when we were the colonies, by speaking English.  My family immigrated to this country in the 1800’s and did so wishing to take advantage of the opportunities this nation offered.  They took the time to learn English for they understood failing to learn the language of the land would hinder their ability to take advantage of the opportunities the United States has to offer.  Of course, this was before the growth of entitlements that we now have in our society.  Now, people are coming into the United States illegally to take advantage of entitlements such as free education, housing, and now health care.  There is no longer any need to learn English for government officials who have job security due to expanding entitlement programs will accommodate them by hiring employees that speak their language.  The danger here is we are no longer seeing immigrants desiring to make a positive contribution to our nation and instead are seeing illegal immigrants looking for freebies. 

2)      Bankruptcy of our nation through exploitation of its generous safety net – This growing group of illegal immigrants seeking free benefits from generous entitlement programs are causing deficits and increasing the national debt of the United States.  Just as occurs in someone’s personal finances when they keep spending more than they make and continue to incur debt, the United States faces higher taxes, declining economic opportunities meaning that future generations will see their opportunities for success disappear as the economy collapses. 

3)      Loss of security as we allow criminals and terrorists to cross our open border – The reason nations like the United States have immigration laws is not to prevent people from coming into the nation but to know who is crossing the border.  The number one job of government is the security of its citizens.  The flood of people illegally crossing the southern border of the United States means border patrol has no idea who is crossing.  We do not know if they have any diseases, criminal backgrounds, or if they are actually terrorists with intentions of launching some terrorist attack on the United States.  This is why I support deporting these individuals and encouraging them to come back into our country through the proper process.  This will weed out those who entered the country with criminal or even terrorist intentions and open the door for those coming to pursue the American dream.  If the United States needs any immigration reform, it is the need to use technology to streamline the process and cost of legally entering the United States.

Just as God required foreigners to obey His law if they wanted to stay in Israel, we must require those desiring to come to the United States to obey its laws.  This means first showing good faith by entering the country legally.  When someone fails to obey immigration laws by entering the nation illegally, we have reason to believe they do not intend to obey the other laws of the land.  The United States is a nation governed by the rule of law.  It is the adherence to the rule of law that has allowed us to maintain a civil and prosperous society.  Enforcement of immigration laws will insure the continuation of civility and prosperity in our society.  

Culture of Hatred and Violence

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Matthew 5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers,

For they shall be called sons of God.

NKJV

One of the names of Jesus in scripture is Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).  In Matthew 5:9 Jesus is in essence inviting those interested in making peace to join him in being called sons of God.  Our world unfortunately is a world of violence that began when Cain killed Abel (Genesis 4:8).  Since then violence and hatred have escalated to where today it seems to dominate our culture.  In fact, three examples of the culture of hatred and violence have dominated this week's news. 

1)      Hamas v. Jews in Israel – Even though Palestinian factions agreed to a cease-fire, hostilities continue between the Jews and Hamas in Israel.  (1)  I was at a retreat this weekend and one of my friends asked why Hamas hates the Jews so much.  I tried my best to answer the question by trying to explain that the culture of radical Islam is a culture of hatred towards anyone not choosing to believe in Allah.  As a Christian who has chosen to believe in Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, as my Lord it makes no sense to believe that someone’s religion would teach murder is okay.  After all, one of the 10 commandments is thou shalt not kill or murder.  However, Islam is not a religion of peace like Christianity or Judaism and calls for the elimination of the infidel.  Those choosing to adopt the radical or fundamentalist interpretation of the Koran believe this is a call to kill all the infidels.  Their belief is so extreme that they believe death by a suicide bomb that kills infidels is a death with honor.  Generations of individuals raised in this culture have no desire for peace until the elimination of all the infidels.

2)      ISIS v. Christians in Iraq – The same level of hatred directed at Jews by Hamas is what is driving the Christian Holocaust currently occurring in Iraq.  (2)  Radical Islamists see no difference between Jews and Christians and view both in infidels.  Now that our troops have left Iraq, they are emboldened, believing they will face little resistance as they attempt to establish a radical Islamist state in Iraq.  I believe the government of the United States that abandoned the people of Iraq by leaving before the job was completed, have a duty to assist the Christians facing martyrdom by doing everything that is necessary to destroy ISIS and remove them from power in Iraq. 

3)      Riots in Ferguson MO – Once again the tragic shooting of a young African-American has escalated into riots and as usual, the racial ambulance chasers have come on the scene.  (3)  These race hustlers seek opportunities to stir up violence by finding issues or events that offend people and exploit these issues.  In addition to stirring up violence and hatred by using the tragic shooting of an African-American young man, they also exploit issues like the name of the Washington Redskins as a means of raising funds, much of which most likely ends up lining their own pockets.  (4)  The most dangerous contribution to our culture by race hustlers is that they have created a culture among minorities where they believe they are victims of racial discrimination and cannot succeed without the assistance of men such as Al Sharpton or Jessie Jackson.  If the late Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. were alive today, he would be at odds with these race hustlers for his vision was of a nation where people judged others on the merits of their own labors and abilities and not the color of their skin.  His vision was not the creation of a culture of victims through which he could profit but a culture of opportunity where anyone of any race could succeed.  The culture of victims created by the race hustlers has created a culture of hatred and violence.  A culture that seems to erupt any time a shooting of a minority occurs. 

Proverbs 22:6 tells us “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.”  (NKJV)  I grew up in a Christian home where my parents taught me to pray and seek peaceful solutions to problems.  My parents taught me to be a peacemaker and not someone stirring up hatred and violence like the radical Islamists and race hustlers of our world. 

The culture of hatred and violence has been with us since the fall of man in the Garden.  The only solution is for men and women to follow the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.  This is just one more example showing that what our world needs to end the culture of violence and hatred is a revival.  Our world definitely needs a revival where people give their lives to Jesus and make him Lord of their lives.  This is the only thing that brings the peace of the Prince of Peace into the hearts of men and women and removes the heart of violence and hatred. 

Every believer in Jesus Christ has the privilege and duty to share the Gospel with those God has placed into our lives.  I urge every Christian reading this to join me and begin sharing their faith with those around them and begin ridding our world of the culture of hatred and violence and bring in the peace that comes from the Prince of Peace.  To empower my fellow Christians in sharing their faith, My new book “Empowered Evangelism” will soon be available and I will be providing a link to purchase it on this blog so I encourage everyone to return to this blog in a couple of weeks for more details.

May God Bless you all. 

1. Calamur, Dana Farrington and Drishnadev. Amid Reports Of Cease-Fire Extension, Hostilities Continue. www.npr.org. [Online] National Public Radio, August 13, 2014. [Cited: August 14, 2014.] http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/08/13/340077172/palestinians-consider-egyptian-proposal-as-cease-fires-end-looms.

2. Blair, Leonardo. ISIS 'Systematically Beheading Children' in Iraq; They Are 'Killing Every Christian They See,' Says Chaldean Leader. www.christianpost.com. [Online] The Christian Post, August 10, 2014. [Cited: August 14, 2014.] http://www.christianpost.com/news/isis-systematically-beheading-children-in-iraq-they-are-killing-every-christian-they-see-says-chaldean-leader-124594/.

3. Chandler, D.L. Rev. Al Sharpton Calls For St. Louis Police Restraint In Ferguson. newsone.com. [Online] Newsone, August 14, 2014. [Cited: August 14, 2014.] http://newsone.com/3044479/al-sharpton-ferguson-protests/.

4. Sowell, Thomas. The Business of Being Offended: The race-hustling industry exploits the “Redskins” issue. www.freerepublic.com. [Online] Free Republic, October 23, 2013. [Cited: August 14, 2014.] http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3082501/posts.

The Power of The Love of God

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Romans 8:35-36

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:

"For Your sake we are killed all day long;

We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."  

NKJV

We must not forget those around the world that suffer persecution and risk their lives for expressing their faith in The Lord Jesus Christ.  This is especially true for those ISIS is slaughtering in Iraq.  (1) (2)  Jewish people are also suffering persecution at the hands of Hamas who have as their expressed goal the total elimination of the Jews.  (3)

However, even in the middle of great tribulation, persecution, and risk of live, God’s people have the assurance of Romans 8:35 promising that these horrific things will not separate us from the love of Christ.  Even in death, we have the assurance that we will be in the presence of the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8).  Even Stephen, the very first Christian martyred for his faith said, "Look!  I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"  (Acts 7:56, NKJV). 

Citizens of the United States have escaped physical persecution and risk of loss of life because the Constitution protects religious liberty in the First Amendment.  However, even though citizens of the United States do not risk loss of life for their faith, they do suffer persecution in the form of the risk of losing friends, alienation by family members, of having to go to court to be able to waive government mandates that violate someone’s faith as Hobby Lobby recently had to do.  Even though these forms of persecution do not cause one to risk their lives, they do cause mental, emotional, or financial risk. 

However, whether our persecution comes in the form of physical, mental, emotional, or financial risk or loss, it will not separate us from the love of Christ.  Because of the love of Christ we have,

1)      Eternal Life (John 3:16) – Every person has an eternal destiny, with Satan in hell or in the presence of God.  God, in his infinite love for mankind, sent his only son to die for all mankind however, God honors our right to choose.  We therefore must choose God’s gift of eternal life by believing in God’s son Jesus Christ in order to enjoy eternity in the presence of God. 

2)      A ticket out of the Great Tribulation coming upon this world (1 Corinthians 15:50-58) – The world has always suffered tribulation of some form.  However, there is a time of Great Tribulation coming upon the world.  This is the period of time spoken of in the Book of Revelation.  This will be a time of great famine, pestilence, earthquakes etc.  However, those choosing to believe in God’s son will be among those spoken of in 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 that will be changed and caught up or raptured at the sound of the last trumpet. 

3)      Peace and confidence even during these chaotic times (John 16:33) – Once again in John 16:33 Jesus reminds us that tribulation is a part of life in this world but Jesus also reminds us that He has overcome the world.  The greatest threat to anyone’s life is death but when Jesus rose from the grave, he overcame death and with His resurrection, every potential obstacle that could stand in the way of mankind has been overcome.  We can therefore enjoy peace and confidence knowing that our current tribulations and persecutions are temporary and will end when Jesus returns and establishes his kingdom on earth. 

I urge everyone reading this to pray for those suffering persecution in places like Iraq where being a Christian means risking one’s life.  We also must continue to petition our government leaders in the United States to do whatever is necessary to stop the murdering of these people.  After all, our government abandoned them by pulling out of Iraq before the job was completed. 

We also must pray for peace for the Jews, Gods chosen people, for God has plans for them in his kingdom as well.  We also must pray that mental, emotional, or even financial persecution and tribulation does not slow or stop the spread of the Gospel.  In our chaotic world, the only stability is a relationship with Jesus Christ and it is our duty to share the Gospel with everyone so everyone has an opportunity to have that stability in his or her life. 

Persecution and tribulation are a part of this fallen world we live in but Jesus has called us to come out from the world and be different (2 Corinthians 6:17).  In doing so, we become a light in this dark world, a light that exposes their sins and points them to the source of eternal life and stability on their lives, Jesus Christ.  When we find ourselves suffering any form of tribulation or persecution, remember that no matter how bad it gets, even if it means death, abandonment, or financial bankruptcy, it cannot separate us from the love of God. 

May God bless you all.

1. Wilde, Robert. SEBASTIAN GORKA: CHRISTIAN HOLOCAUST UNDERWAY IN IRAQ, USA AND WORLD LOOK ON. www.breitbart.com. [Online] Breitbart News, July 19, 2014. [Cited: August 12, 2014.] http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2014/07/19/Christian-Holocaust-Underway-in-Iraq-as-USA-and-World-Looks-On.

2. Shapiro, Ben. OBAMA'S ISLAMIST SPRING LEADS TO CHRISTIAN WINTER IN THE MIDDLE EAST. www.breitbart.com. [Online] Breitbart News, July 22, 2014. [Cited: August 12, 2014.] http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2014/07/22/OBAMAS-ISLAMIST-SPRING-LEADS-TO-CHRISTIAN-WINTER-IN-MIDDLE-EAST.

3. Information Division, Israel Foreign Ministry - Jerusalem. THE COVENANT OF THE HAMAS - MAIN POINTS. fas.org. [Online] Israel foreign Ministry - Jerusalem. [Cited: August 12, 2014.] http://fas.org/irp/world/para/docs/880818a.htm.

God’s not Dead, He’s Alive and Working Miracles:

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Matthew 28:5-7

But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you."

NKJV

During Jesus ministry on earth, he performed many miracles.  As he told Johns disciples in Matthew 11:4-5, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:  5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.  (NKJV)  However, the greatest miracle in the ministry of Jesus was when he arose from the grave.  Jesus resurrection demonstrates His victory over death and gives everyone the opportunity to have eternal life but does God work miracles today. 

This week, we witnessed two examples of the miracle working power of God that serve as a reminder that God does indeed still perform miracles.

1)      Concern over two doctors that contracted the Ebola virus while treating patients in Africa has turned into a miracle, a miracle that may lead to a cure for this deadly disease.  (1)  I understand that atheists will claim that this is not a miracle from God for the serum was developed by medical science but I believe that God directed the scientists to discover this and many other miracles of medical science that allow us to cure once deadly diseases and live longer, higher quality lives.  This Ebola miracle also demonstrates the Godly principle of God turning something intended to destroy people into something beneficial. 

2)      A missile getting through the Iron Dome miraculously diverts into the Mediterranean Sea.  (2)   The Iron Dome defense system in Israel is a miracle in itself and has no doubt prevented the death of potentially thousands of innocent Israeli civilians.  However, the system is not perfect and sometimes a missile gets through.  This was the case last week when the Iron Dome failed to intercept an incoming missile.  The projected trajectory of the missile placed it on a path to hit the Azrieli Towers, the Kirya (Israel’s equivalent of the Pentagon) or a central Tel Aviv railway station.  (2)  If this missile were to hit any of these targets, potentially hundreds could have died.  However, God was not going to allow that to occur.  Part of the Iron Dome technology involves calculating wind speeds.  The wind speeds at the time of this attack show a major wind gust coming from the east that was strong enough to change the trajectory of the missile and send it harmlessly into the sea.  During the ministry of Jesus, he was able to calm a storm on the Sea of Galilee and I guess God is still able to control the forces of nature, which in this case involved calling up a wind gust instead of calming a storm. 

God’s miracles however are not limited to major things like Ebola or missile attacks in Israel.  The greatest miracle of God is still that Jesus died on a cross.  That he was in the grave for three days, and that he arose from the dead.  This is the greatest miracle for it has the potential to save anyone that is willing to believe (John 3:16).  If you have not already done so, I strongly recommend asking Jesus to forgive you of your sins and make Him Lord of your life. 

For those of us who have made Jesus Lord of our lives and are currently struggling I want to encourage you.  If you are sick, the Bible tells us that by His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24).  If you are struggling financially, God wants to meet your needs (Matthew 6:33, Luke 6:38).  If you are lonely, Jesus has promised never to leave you (Hebrews 13:5). 

God still works miracles and this week chose to demonstrate his miracle working power to the world.  I believe God is reminding us that in these trying and chaotic times, we must turn to God and learn to rely on his miracle working power. 

1. Sarah Knapton, Peter Foster. Hope for Ebola miracle as serum 'reverses' disease. www.nzherald.co.nz. [Online] The New Zealand Herald, August 5, 2014. [Cited: August 7, 2014.] http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11304326.

2. Kovacs, Joe. Hand of God Sent Missile Into Sea . www.wnd.com. [Online] WND faith, August 5, 2014. [Cited: August 7, 2014.] http://www.wnd.com/2014/08/hand-of-god-sent-missile-into-sea/#pDLczhqM5hweyvT4.03.

Lessons from the Sabbath

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Exodus 20:10

but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.

NKJV

In last Wednesday’s posting, we looked at what the Bible has to say about foreigners entering the land or Israel.  We learned that the Israelites were to treat foreigners in their land humanely but that there were also five requirements these foreigners were to follow.  Over the next five Wednesdays we will be looking at each of these requirements and see how they apply to our society today.  The first of these is the requirement to observe the Sabbath or Shabbat as it is called in Hebrew. 

The Sabbath is an important part of Jewish tradition.  Its observance is so important that everyone in the family, the servants, the animals, and even strangers living in the city are forbidden from doing any work.  This is a principle going back to the creation where God rested from His work on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2).  So let us take a moment to look at why the Sabbath is so important in Jewish law and tradition and what that means for our nation today. 

God understood the need to take one day in the week and rest.  Not that God needs to rest for he is, God, but God understood man and woman would need a day of rest each week in order to maintain their physical, mental, and spiritual health.  He also knew that His people would face numerous challenges as they entered the Promised Land and needed to be strong and healthy. 

However, perhaps the main reason for the Sabbath is that it demonstrates obedience to God.  It would be tempting to believe that the extra day of work each week would mean they could make more income or have larger crops.  Honoring the Sabbath is a way of saying “I am going to sacrifice any extra income I could produce by working on the Sabbath and trust God to take care of me.” 

The reason foreigners and strangers were required to honor the Sabbath is to demonstrate obedience to the God of the Israelites.  Failure of a requirement for strangers to observe the Sabbath would have tempted the Israelites to begin working on the Sabbath believing the foreigners might gain an economic advantage.  This would have led to disobedience of other parts of God’s law and eventually to the breakdown of Jewish society, something that actually did occur as Israel began worshiping the gods of their neighbors. 

In Israel, they still observe the Sabbath today.  I remember the first Sabbath on our visit to Israel in 2008.  We were driving through Nazareth at sundown on Friday evening and observed that all the businesses in town were closing.  This is because the Sabbath goes from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.  In the Hotel they had one elevator that was designated the Shabbat elevator.  This elevator stopped at every floor so you would not have to press the button for your floor as orthodox Jews consider that work. 

Christians today are not under a legal requirement to observe the Sabbath for Christians find their rest in the Lord Jesus Christ and his finished work on the Cross.  However, there are still benefits to taking one day each week to rest and recharge.  Even though we are not under any legal requirement to observe the Sabbath, the Sabbath still provides lessons that can help preserve our society today. 

The Sabbath demonstrated obedience to God, which was, and still is, critical to the preservation of the Jewish society.  Likewise, the United States has a rule of law outlined in the Constitution and statutes passed by Congress throughout the history of our nation.  This rule of law has allowed the United States to maintain a civil and prosperous society throughout its history.  Adherence to the Constitution and rule of law are critical to the future preservation and prosperity of our society. 

However, our open southern border currently threatens our rule of law for it is allowing people to break our immigration laws, illegally entering our country.  Since we do not bother to check the background or health of these people, we cannot insure the security of our nation and we may be allowing felons, people with deadly contagious diseases, and even terrorists into our nation.  We are leaving ourselves open to lawlessness, terrorism, or some deadly disease outbreak if we continue to leave our border open. 

Just as Israel was required to observe the Sabbath to demonstrate obedience to God and preservation of their society, we too must return to our constitutional principles and rule of law.  We must secure the border and only allow people to enter our nation that choose to obey our immigration laws.  Failure to do so will result in a spike in criminal activity, acts of terrorism, or even some deadly pandemic in our nation, endangering the citizens of our nation. 

Our Constitution and rule of law are our nation’s version of the Sabbath and it is critical for everyone in our nation to observe them.  Just as Israel began to slip from its adherence to God’s laws leading to the exile of its people in Babylon, our nation risks losing its civility if it throws out its rule of law.  Our nation may not physically go into exile as Israel did, but we risk losing our position of power and prosperity in the world.  I for one am not willing to surrender our nations position of leadership and economic strength in the world and thus, am going to fight for border security in order to preserve our nation.  The question is how many of you are with me in this belief.  

To Impeach or not to Impeach, That is the Question

By Dale Weckbacher:

Proverbs 19:5

A false witness will not go unpunished,

And he who speaks lies will not escape.

NKJV

Leaders may believe they can use the power of the state to cover their lies and deceit but this scripture reminds us that we cannot escape our lies and we will suffer consequences for them.  Jesus put it this way in Mark 4:22, “For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.”  (NKJV)  God knows all and sees all so anyone believing they can get away with lies and deceit is only fooling themselves, their sins will become known.

I am no Shakespeare but perhaps that is how he would title this post.  Understanding that there may come a time in our nation’s history when the people would elect a president who would not follow the Constitution and lie to the American people, the founders provided a means of removing a president from office.  That means is impeachment.  However, many today do not understand why impeachment is in the constitution and its importance in maintaining checks in balances in our republic.  Impeachment has also become a political tool instead of a method of preserving the integrity of the republic.

Impeachment is constitutional and is outlined in article 1 of the Constitution which states,

The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.  (1)

In section four, the Constitution outlines the grounds of impeachment,

Section 4.  The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.  (1)

In the recent discussions regarding impeachment, questions have arisen as to what constitutes a high crime or misdemeanor.  In order to do this, we must look at what the original authors of the Constitution believed constituted a high crime or misdemeanor, which differs from what we define it as today.  For most of us, we think of a high crime as something criminal like murder, robbery, assault, etc.  However, the founders meant violation of the constitution and defined high crimes and misdemeanors as an abuse of power or a serious breach of trust.  (2) 

Contrary to media hype, the grounds for the impeachment of President Bill Clinton had little to do with sex and everything to do with abuse of power.  Members of the media attempted to downplay Clinton’s impeachment accusing Republicans of broadening the definition of high crimes and misdemeanors to fit their agenda.  (3)  However, lying to a grand jury about an affair he was having with an intern constitutes an abuse of power and thus, is an impeachable offence when we apply the originalist definition for we see it as an egregious breach of trust.  (4)  If a leader can lie about an affair, the public has reason to believe he or she can lie about anything.  

This leads to President Obama and the question of whether he has committed an impeachable offense.  If one applies the popular belief that a high crime or misdemeanor is a crime such as murder, robbery, or assault, President Obama has not committed such a crime and thus has done nothing worthy of impeachment.  However, when he took office he swore to uphold the Constitution, the authors of which held to a definition of high crimes and misdemeanors as an abuse of power or breach of trust.  Based on this definition, President Obama has committed numerous impeachable offences, such as,

1)      Threatening to act as a legislator instead of the nation’s executive (5)  – Article 2 of the Constitution outlines the duties of the President, the Nation’s chief executive.  (1)  In no portion of this article does it say that the President can enact legislation in the event Congress fails to do so. 

2)      Changing legislation already enacted by Congress (6) (7) – When Congress enacts legislation and it is signed by the President, it is the duty of that president and all future presidents to enforce that legislation.  By choosing to change Obamacare, a piece of legislation passed, and even upheld by the Supreme Court, President Obama is in essence acting as a judge and not an executive.  Interestingly, Obama is changing a piece of legislation he supported and actually signed.  Apparently, he had to sign the legislation before he could know what was in it.

3)      Using the IRS to attack political opponents (8) – Part of the impeachment proceedings that Congress intended to bring against President Nixon was his intention to use the IRS against political enemies.  (9)  Nixon only intended to abuse his executive power by using the IRS, it appears Obama may have actually done it. 

4)      His failure to protect our people in Benghazi – As commander and chief, the president has a duty to protect this country and those who swear to protect our country through their service.  President Obama’s failure to provide the additional protection requested by embassy personnel in Benghazi, plus his failure to respond during the attack on the embassy is a breach of trust. 

I am sure there are other instances of abuses of power and breaches of trust we could bring up, but the four listed above are ample evidence that Obama has committed impeachable offences.  Therefore, Congress would be right in bringing up articles of impeachment.  However, I believe that right now is not the time to do it. 

We currently do not have the numbers in Congress or control of the Senate in order to bring impeachment, and conviction of the President.  However, there is an election this November.  We therefore need to focus on gaining a greater conservative majority in the House and a new conservative speaker.  We also need to win a Republican majority in the Senate and relegate Harry Reid to just one vote out of 100 in the Senate. 

Once accomplishing this, we can begin the impeachment proceedings and put the Obama Administration on defense.  This will prohibit him from enacting executive orders out of fear of angering members of the House and Senate during the impeachment proceedings. 

In answer to the question to impeach or not to impeach, I believe the answer is yes but wait until the timing is better, after the election. 

1. Hillsdale College. The Constitution of the United States of America. [book auth.] Hillsdale College. The U.S. Constitution: A Reader. Hillsdale MI : Hillsdale College Press, 2012.

2. Holly on the Hill. High Crimes and Misdemeanors. hollyonthehill.com. [Online] [Cited: August 1, 2014.] http://hollyonthehill.com/high-crimes-and-misdemeanors/.

3. Katyal, Neal K. Impeachment as Congressional Constitutional Interpretation. scholarship.law.georgetown.edu. [Online] Georgetown University Law Center, January 2010. [Cited: August 1, 2014.] http://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1121&context=facpub.

4. Nelson, Sara. Monica Lewinsky: Bill Clinton lied under oath about our relationship. www.dailymail.co.uk. [Online] Mailonline, December 18, 2009. [Cited: August 1, 2014.] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1236938/Monica-Lewinsky-Bill-Clinton-lied-oath-relationship.html.

5. Logiurato, Brett. OBAMA ANNOUNCES HE'S BYPASSING CONGRESS ON IMMIGRATION REFORM. ww.businessinsider.com. [Online] Business Insider, June 30, 2014. [Cited: August 1, 2014.] http://www.businessinsider.com/obama-statement-immigration-reform-executive-action-2014-6.

6. Adler, Jonathan H. Another day, another illegal Obamacare delay. www.washingtonpost.com. [Online] The Washington Post, February 11, 2014. [Cited: August 1, 2014.] http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2014/02/11/another-day-another-illegal-obamacare-delay/.

7. Tyler Hartsfield, Grace-Marie Turner. 42 Changes to Obamacare...So Far. www.galen.org. [Online] Galen Institute, July 18, 2014. [Cited: August 1, 2014.] http://www.galen.org/newsletters/changes-to-obamacare-so-far/.

8. (R-KY), Sen. Mitch McConnell. EXCLUSIVE—MITCH MCCONNELL: OBAMA, IRS FIGHT TO KEEP CONSERVATIVE NONPROFITS FROM FORMING. www.breitbart.com. [Online] Breitbart News, January 30, 2014. [Cited: August 1, 2014.] http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/01/30/Exclusive-Mitch-McConnell-Obama-Attempts-to-Prevent-Conservative-Nonprofits-from-Forming.

9. Krauthammer, Charles. Krauthammer: Second Article of Impeachment Against Nixon Was For Abusing The IRS. www.realclearpolitics.com. [Online] Real Clear Politics, June 16, 2014. [Cited: August 1, 2014.] http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2014/06/16/krauthammer_second_article_of_impeachment_against_nixon_was_for_abusing_the_irs.html.