(Suicide Bomb Bus in Front of Wall – By Dennis Prager on Trip to Israel in 2004)

Some disturbing results from a new survey by Frank Luntz regarding students views towards Israel. Here’s a brief overview…but please click on the above link to view the full article by Gary Rosenblatt at New York Jewish Week.

• New survey by Frank Luntz about attitudes toward Israel among graduate students at top U.S. universities offers a disturbing if not frightening picture of increasing sympathy for the Palestinian cause and blame on the Jewish state for the lack of peace.
• “Tomorrow’s leaders… are hostile to the Jewish state,” a growing trend that could jeopardize American foreign policy toward Israel in the near future.
• Many of the students come from homes sympathetic to Israel.
• Through exposure to university professors and mainstream media have grown “impatient” with Israel and emotionally connected to the Palestinian cause.
• To the point of rationalizing Palestinian suicide bombings and coming to see Israel as a “burden” to the United States rather than “an ally.”
• Students “view any U.S. support of Israel as generated by wealthy Jewish special interests rather than as a reflection of the national interest.”
• Many of the students said they changed their attitudes toward the Mideast conflict during their college and post-college years as they “learned more,” in their words, about the situation from professors, Palestinians they met on campus and the media. The New York Times is their top source of news information, and the BBC is widely watched as well.
• The students believe the American media is biased toward Israel, according to the report, and that Palestinians are making a greater effort toward peace than Israel.
• According to Luntz’s findings, the graduate students “know nothing about the history of the Middle East,” including the fact that the United Nations was involved in Israel’s founding or that Israel is a democracy.

Also check out the Israel Project a site devoted to winning hearts and minds for Israel.

Today was a rather uneventful day with Gayle. She was in a good mood but on bit on the non-verbal side. She did a lot of the humming today. Was eating really slow again…and needed reminders to chew and swallow. Slept through most of our movie “The Neverending Story”.

I showed her some pictures I had taken earlier in the day at the Fullerton Arboretum. The picture with the big bright sunflowers is one that she liked best. Gayle’s favorite color has always been yellow…so it’s appropriate.

News that Emma one of the residents died last week. She was a sweet and quite person…and frequently cried easily.

Confidence in my God,
Knowing He is able.

Prayers uttered in faith,
For wholeness and healing.

Yet with humility and surrender,
Not mine, but Thy will be done.

Susan Bunts
7/10/05

Notes from Chuck Obremski’s sermon 7/10/05

Today’s sermon was appropriately named. Not so much in the content that was spoken…but it was a living example, a lesson in how to live and die…for Christ.

Below is the outline from Chuck’s sermon…but today’s sermon was not on point, but instead it was from the heart. While cancer has robbed my beloved Pastor of so much…it has not and can not rob him of his deep abiding love for his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ nor take his faith and trust in God.

1. Jesus died with the right attitude. (Matt 26:38 & 42)
2. Jesus died at the right time. (John 13:3-4)
3. Jesus died in the right way. (John 21:18-19)
4. Jesus died for the right purpose. (John 17:11 and 19:30)
5. Jesus died with the right commitment. (Luke 23:46)

Are you living each day with no regrets? With nothing remaining unfinished at the end of each day? Nothing left undone?

Even when a Christian dies at the hands of a disease or evil man…a seemingly untimely death…it is under the plan and the hand of God. God who knows the number of hairs on our head is the same God who sees the sparrow that falls. He has every one of our days in his loving hands.

Each one of us is unique…like a snowflake. God knows every detail of our life…and has it planned out. How awesome is our God!

In the midst of a difficult times, long though they may be, at the end of the day…it’s doesn’t matter. God is in control!

Have you trusted in Christ as your Savior? Trusted in Jesus Christ, his life, his death on the cross for your sins, his resurrection? That all that matters.

God is our only hope…not what we experience.

The cross of Jesus:
A symbol of humility
Died in the right way…according to scripture.
Every one of God’s purposes and plans will be fulfilled.
Death is the grand entrance that let’s God’s children into heaven.
God’s plan is right on target.

Get busy doing what God wants us to do…or do nothing. We have to do what God wants us to do, what he has planned for us to do.

What have you got planned today…that has to do with what God has planned and is for his purposes? What do you do with your time? We have a selfish attitude that gets in the way of what we should be doing for God. Pray…“God, is this what you want me to be doing today?”

Jesus whole life, his whole heart…everything that he did had an end result in mind. Everything he did, had a purpose.

Do you have some things in your life that are unfinished? People in your life with whom you have unfinished business? Life is too short…to leave it that way.

I’d better have the same sense of urgency that Jesus had. Get up, get moving and be a pig for Jesus. Be doers of the Word, get busy…and do things.

If you think you are gifted in one area, but you are the only one that thinks it, perhaps you are not gifted in that area.

How do you demonstrate your passion for service to God and his people? Is God not worth your best?

Our future existence is not in the hands of a doctor, or a disease or a murderer. It’s in the hand of our God.

What does it really mean to worship God? Satan hates it when our God receives worship. There are many ways to worship God…and each one is right. What does the word of God say about worship? It addresses our attitude, peace and harmony between the brethren.

Today service was one that broke everyone’s heart. We continue to see our beloved Pastor Chuck Obremski be devastated by an unrelenting disease. Yet at each stage, he and his wife Linda have been an example to us all. Trusting God and knowing that He has a purpose and plan in allowing this cancer in Chuck’s life. Because of this living example…we as a congregation have been able to trust God, praise God and worship Him at every step. In the midst of tears…we are able to say “Praise God from whom all blessings flow”. We are able to thank Him for his unending grace and mercy sufficient for all circumstances that He allows in our lives.

Confidence in my God,
Knowing He is able.

Prayers uttered in faith,
For wholeness and healing.

Yet with humility and surrender,
Not mine, but Thy will be done.

Susan Bunts
7/10/05

Early reports and rumor has it that Grandpa Pete is already firmly wrapped around Baby Danica’s little finger.

He may try to deny it…but he’s always been a sucker for a pretty face. I have a feeling that Grandma Denise isn’t far behind.

Now Grandpa Pete may look a little bit ragged in this picture…but keep in mind that Danica chose to make her grand entrance in the wee hours of the morning.

On the eve of his 60th birthday…David Fisher at Pilgrim Scribblings posted the following. David…I wish you a very Happy Birthday…and pray that God will continue to use you mightily.

The other day I unearthed an old “gem” I had written a couple of years ago. It had been saved in some obscure location on my computer. I trust it will remind you of the great cost of our salvation.

Forgiven by Thomas Blackshear

I Held the Hammer

I held the hammer
He ransomed me;
I caused Him so much pain
He set me free.
I mocked His holy name,
He still loved me;
My sin had nailed Him there
On Calv’ry’s tree.

Then one day by faith,
I saw Him there;
Bearing my sin and shame
My load of care.
His kind and loving glance
Had caught my eye;
It should have been me
Condemned to die.

He spoke so tenderly,
It pierced my soul;
Why did He care so much
To make me whole?
With tender, loving arms
He embraced me,
Gently He whispered soft…
“Son, come to me.”

Which of our great Presidents utter these words in their inaugural address?

“And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe–the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God.”

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”

“We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.”

Democrat or Republican? Liberal or Conservative?

Timeless thoughts and sentiments from a great American President.

“It’s through terrorism that the people who have committed this terrible act express their values and it’s right at this moment that we demonstrate ours.

I think we all know what they are trying to do. They are trying to use the slaughter of innocent people to cow us, to frighten us out of doing the things we want to do, to try to stop us going about our business as normal as we are entitled to do, and they should not and must not succeed.

When they try to intimidate us, we will not be intimidated, when they seek to change our country, our way of life by these methods, we will not be changed. When they try to divide our people or weaken our resolve, we will not be divided and our resolve will hold firm.
We will show by our spirit and dignity and by a quiet and true strength that there is in the British people, that our values will long outlast theirs.

The purpose of terrorism is just that, it is to terrorise people and we will not be terrorised.”

Mr. Blair your unwavering leadership would make Winston Churchill proud. The British people are most fortunate to have you as their leader. We are proud as Americans to stand with such a courageous people. May our God watch over and protect the good citizens of England.

“The Gitmo Award” hands down goes to Madonna for her performance at Live 8 this past Saturday. We thank you for giving us material that we can use to torture the Gitmo detainees. Your performance can only be described as ear drum splitting…as such it can be employed quite handily to break these terrorists and gain useful information to protect America.

Madonna…just one word for you…”Retirement”. You might want to give it a thought. In place of that…perhaps a vow of silence. Anyway…thanks for the material…and congratulations!

The time is fast approaching when President Bush will be naming a nominee to replace Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on the Supreme Court. Also a good chance that Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist will be announcing his retirement shortly.

With this in mind…I was perturbed when I heard the President Bush tell conservative Republican supporters to hush and “tone down the heated rhetoric” about potential judicial nominees.

Mr. President I respect you greatly. I supported your campaign, I gave money and I voted for you because I have confidence in you and your values. While what you do as President is of great and lasting importance…in some respects it pales in comparison to the impact you will make on our country with the appointments you make to the Supreme Court. We were motivated to go out and battle and win the election in large part because the nominations that will be made to the Supreme Court. That’s why we won!

So now is not the time to be quiet. Now it the time to speak out…not only to you, but to our Senators and Representatives, the main stream media…and the American public. We need to make know what type of judicial appointment we want and why.

If by rhetoric you mean name calling and loud, ineffective, exaggerated dialogue…I agree. But it is necessary that we put together an intelligent and persuasive argument to combat the lies and pressure that will come from the left and their mouthpiece, the main stream media.

Mr. President…what we want is for you to keep your campaign promises. To appoint a person, based on the education, experience and a track record, that has demonstrated they will make judicial decisions based on the Constitution.

We don’t want another Justice who thinks the Constitution is a living, breathing, changing document. One that says we should take in account world opinion…and what is right today may change depending on society and how it changes tomorrow.

Instead we want a Justice who is rooted and grounded in the Constitution. One that doesn’t read rights into the Constitution that aren’t there. One that respects States rights…and the rights of individuals…when it’s not otherwise addressed in the Constitution.

In other words…Mr. President…we want you to fulfill your campaign promise to nominate someone who is a constitutional conservative…in the mode of a Scalia or Thomas.

You can be certain that you will be vilified in the press…but that’s when you need to take the case to the American public. Ask them to contact their Senators and Representatives and let it be known what they want.

The battle will be ugly Mr. President. I am confident of that…because I’ve already seen an unrestrained Senate unable and unwilling to put forth a balanced rational argument and then vote.

So gear up and get ready for battle Mr. President. Please know that the American public who hold conservative values stand with you and will back you. But that also means that you must not back down and not give an inch.

Hold the line!

The numbers listed below are taken from the State Departments list…showing significant terror incidents from 1961 to 2003. This is not a full, detailed and comprehensive list..it is brief overview. Yet the numbers are stunning:

Number of Significant Terror Incidents – 245

Number of Persons Kidnapped – 3,379

The word injured doesn’t even begin to convey the extent of people’s injuries. The word kidnapped is inadequate to describe the torture and what these people endured while being imprisoned by these monsters. These numbers are taken from “significant terror incidents”. What about all the other “minor” terror incidents?

When do we say enough, no more, that’s it…now you are going to pay the ultimate price? I say today is that day!

I awake this morning to images and reports of Islamic terror in London. Terror that has claimed more lives and caused injury to 100’s.

And I stand back and wait…I wait to hear Islamic citizens, good decent, and God fearing Islamic believers around the world to speak out, cry out and condemn these acts of terrorism by members of Islam.

I charge you; I implore you to speak out now!

Yet I know…there will only be silence from Islamic leaders and believers against these monsters. Why do I know that…because in all these years…I can’t recall one time in which an Islamic leader loudly, resoundingly spoke out. I can’t recall one incident in which Islamic believers in mass cried out against the terrorists. Never once. YOUR SILENCE IS DEAFENING!

These are my charges against you:

Munich Olympic Massacre, September 5, 1972
Entebbe Hostage Crisis, June 27, 1976
Iran Hostage Crisis, November 4, 1979
Assassination of Egyptian President, October 6, 1981
Assassination of Lebanese President, September 14, 1982
Bombing of U.S. Embassy in Beirut, April 18, 1983
Bombing of Marine Barracks, Beirut, October 23, 1983
Temple Seizure, June 5, 1984
Assassination of Indian Prime Minister, October 31, 1984
TWA Hijacking, June 14, 1985
Air India Bombing, June 23, 1985
Achille Lauro Hijacking, October 7, 1985
Egyptian Airliner Hijacking, November 23, 1985
Berlin Discothèque Bombing, April 5, 1986
Downing of Airliner, November 29, 1987
Pan Am 103 Bombing, December 21, 1988
Bombing of UTA Flight 772, September 19, 1989
World Trade Center Bombing, February 26, 1993
Attempted Assassination of President Bush by Iraqi Agents, April 14, 1993
Hebron Massacre, February 25, 1994
Saudi Military Installation Attack, November 13, 1995
Egyptian Embassy Attack, November 19, 1995
HAMAS Bus Attack, February 26, 1996
Khobar Towers Bombing, June 25, 1996
Israeli Shopping Mall Bombing, September 4, 1997
Yemeni Kidnappings, October 30, 1997
Tourist Killings in Egypt, November 17, 1997
U.S. Embassy Bombings in East Africa, August 7, 1998
Attack on U.S.S. Cole, October 12, 2000
Manila Bombing, December 30, 2000
Bus Stop Bombing, April 22, 2001
Tel-Aviv Nightclub Bombing, June 1, 2001
HAMAS Restaurant Bombing, August 9, 2001
Suicide Bombing in Israel, September 9, 2001
Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Homeland, September 11, 2001
Attack on a Church in Pakistan, October 28, 2001
Suicide Bombings in Jerusalem, December 1, 2001
Shooting Incident in Israel, January 17, 2002
Kidnapping of Daniel Pearl, January 23, 2002
Numerous Suicide Bombing in Israel 2002
Hostage Rescue Attempt in the Philippines, June 7, 2002
Bombing at the Hebrew University, July 31, 2002
Car Bomb Explosion in Bali, October 12, 2002
Chechen Rebels Seize a Moscow Theater, October 23-26, 2002
Bombing of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad, August 19, 2003:
Rocket Attack on the al-Rashid Hotel in Baghdad, October 26, 2003
Wave of Car Bombings in Baghdad, October 27, 2003
Attacks on Other Coalition Personnel in Iraq, November 29-30, 2003

This is quite an extensive list, isn’t it? This is just some of the terrorist incidents I recall over the years. You should see the full list yourself…and it only goes up to 2003. Yet it continues, and goes on and on and on.

Through all this…I can not recall one time in which Islamic leaders or ordinary Islamic citizens speak out against and condemn these terrorists.

Why? Are you afraid for your own safety and lives? Do you not care? Or do you quietly support these acts? Are you a silent partner? Or do you openly support the terrorists? Which is it?

I recall quite clearly the images of Palestinians celebrating the terror of September 11th.

We will fight these terrorist and destroy them. However…until such time as you speak out against them, take away their support, not offer them the platforms in your mosques to spew forth hatred, undercut their support at every level, the acts of terror will continue. And there will remain the question as to why you are silent. I call on Islamic citizens to publicly condemn these acts or terror and the terrorists.

Since 1972 I’ve seen images of terror, death and destruction perpetrated by Islamic fundamentalist terrorists. Yet…fellow Islamic believers remain silent. At what point are you going to speak out?

You think they won’t turn against you? Why don’t you ask Iraqi citizens who just want to build a better life…and are murdered in the process. These terrorists want to give your life, your all, for their cause. They will come after you next. Being Islamic will not give you a pass with the terrorists.

I beg of you, I implore you…Islamic citizens…now is the time for you to speak out against the Islamic terrorists. Undercut every bit of their support. Let them have no place to turn, no safe haven, and no financial support. If you are decent, if you are God fearing…there is no other option.

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

To the British citizens…we American’s stand beside you at this time…and we will fight with you as these terrorists are hunted down and destroyed. May the Lord keep you, comfort you and protect you at this time and always.

When I saw Gayle yesterday…she was very alert..bright and chipper. She was having a very good day. By time I got there she had finished her lunch. More often than not…she’s playing with her food, pushing it around on the plate or taking a bite…and playing chipmunk by hiding it in her cheek.

Jennie…one of the nurses said that earlier that morning Gayle had been crying because she thought I hadn’t been to see her in a long time. But when I questioned her…she recalled I had been there the past Sunday.

We did our usual movie watching. I put on the movie Jaws…a really good movie for summer time…and especially around the 4th of July. When I showed Gayle the DVD cover…I asked her what the picture was of. She wasn’t sure…but kept referring to it a horse…the monster in the ocean that eats people. Just the thought of that…the image that comes to mind…makes me laugh.

That’s actually one of the positive things with Alzheimer’s. If you are willing to loosen up a bit…it surely does have it humorous moments. Those moments to help to lighten the load a bit.

All in all…Gayle likes it at Brighten Gardens…and for the most part I think the staff likes her. Now she surely does have a mouth that can not be restrained…and comes out with some doosies. But compared to how difficult some of the other patients are…it’s minor. Some of them are physically violent to the staff…when they are just trying to help them get up, clean up or go to the bathroom. I wouldn’t have the patience to work with them.

By time the movie was over…Gayle was anxious to have me leave…and said, “Don’t you want to go home now?”. And indeed I did…and it was nice to know that I could leave without her it being an ordeal.

My beloved Pastor
Washed in the Blood of the Lamb
Powerfully transformed
A walking, living, breathing sermon

Firsthand knowledge of the Power of God
The Word of God
The enabling power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within

Powerful love for his Lord and Savior
For his congregation
For a lost and dying world

Grateful for each day
Using the gifts from God
Selfless, Giving and Caring

Courageous sacrifice
Radically committed
Poured out like a drink offering

Outward beauty and strength that is fading away
Inward beauty, character and strength
Growing stronger and deeper day by day

Straight shooter
Steady aim
Sharp unwavering focus

Focused on his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the eternal rewards to come
Looking forward to hearing those words, “Well done good and faithful servant.”

By Susan Bunts – July 3, 2005

This poem is my attempt to capture, to put into words, what it’s been like over the past few years…and each week to witness my beloved Pastor, Chuck Obremski as he is fully trusting in God and obedient to Him while immersed in desperate circumstances. My heart breaks as I see Chuck’s physical health continue to decline. To a world focused solely on the outward appearance…they will not see the immeasurable beauty that I see as I behold Chuck. While his outward beauty fades, it is being replaced with inner beauty of his soul that can never be taken away. I covet your continued prayers for Chuck and Linda.