Zone Alarm Fix

Zone Alarm has an update to fix the Microsoft issue in their update.

It can be downloaded at LossOfInternetAccessIssue.

Windows Update Problems

Last night Microsoft’s automatic update forced upon me many hours of grief. In case your computer suddenly became unable to access the Internet and E-mail, here is what happened.

The latest security update for Windows XP caused a lockup of Security Suites, in my case, Zone Labs.

After many frustrating attempts to receive help from a service technician in India, the problem was finally located.

Here is the solution, if you would prefer not to spend an hour or more on the phone with someone who is very dedicated but does not understand English well enough to be dealing with such issues.

1. Open “Control Panel”.
2. Open “Add or Remove Programs”.
3. Click on the check box for “Show Updates” in the header region.
4. Scroll down to Security Update for Windows XP (KB951748).
5. Click on “Remove”.

The gentleman from Microsoft assured me that Zone Labs had the necessary information to upgrade their Security software and that a new upgrade was to be available by the next day.

We’ll see. Nevertheless, such irresponsible action on the part of Microsoft is reprehensible. Their first solution was that I should turn off my Security software until the issue would be resolved! Microsoft obviously does not care about its customers and their loss of time. Leaving my computer open to attack for a day or more is not acceptable.

Anyway, if you find this helpful, great!


= = =

By the way, here is the Microsoft link regarding this update, including Microsoft’s disclaimer, denying any responsibility for whatever problems and costs that the update will cause its customers.


= = =

I also contacted Zone Labs through their forum and chat line. They suggest the above procedure. They also suggest temporarily changing the Internet setting in the security suite to "Medium" until they manage to find a solution to the problems that Microsoft caused. This will allow using the new update rather than removing it through the Control Panel. The computer will not be "hidden" in the medium setting, but they assure that it will still be protected from hackers.

For what it may be worth.

Old Glory

Independence day will be a day of displays of the American Flag and of fireworks, which lit the sky so that Francis Scott Key could see the Flag during the dark hours of battle.

When I was in grade school, I was permitted to help take down the flag that was flown on our flag pole. I was instructed as to the proper lowering and folding of the flag. Part of those instructions included the warning that if the flag should be permitted to touch the ground that it would have to be burned, for the flag was never to be dishonored by letting it touch the ground.

To me this was terrifying!

The thought of having to burn my nation’s flag was a terrifying thought. I had been taught to know what this flag represents. Such a precious symbol should be held in the highest regard.

After all, my grandfather left Germany and became a naturalized citizen, devoted to all that the United States of America was founded to be. He told his household, “We speak English in this house, for it is the language of this country!”

When Old Glory flies, it shows that the bounties of God are still upon this nation. Not only is it beautiful in design, but glorious in the standard that it represents.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Both this pledge and the Flag have come under attack by those who do not love this nation nor the standards under which it was founded. This pledge makes clear what the United States of America is and what it means to those who flee to her from all over the world. Men and women have bled and died for these precious gifts in order to help insure them to our posterity.

Consider the words of this pledge.

“I pledge allegiance.”

This is a voluntary pledge that flows from being taught to understand what the Flag and Nation are. It flows from a love of others, one’s fellow countrymen, and even for those who will benefit worldwide from the existence of a nation that stands for the things declared in our Declaration of Independence and in our Constitution. It is a pledge to stand firmly upon and unmoved from those principles that place the liberty and justice above even one’s own life and rights and freedoms. It is a pledge that moves one to sacrifice on behalf of others. It is a pledge that flows from a shared faith in what is right and good.

“. . . and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, . . .”

This flag stands for a united republic with a clear definition and identity. This republic is united in understanding the basis for the blessings and privileges and rights and security that its citizens enjoy. It is a nation that is founded upon the confident faith that the God of love who created and redeemed the world has established His goodness for all to enjoy, goodness that the founders of this nation did their best to secure in the founding documents. They realized that such goodness does not generate from the hearts of men but must come from above and then flows from a people grounded in this knowledge.

Such a nation is truly indivisible, as history clearly shows. But as history is also showing, when a nation loses this grounding, it becomes deeply divided.

“. . . with liberty and justice for all.

Clearly, liberty and justice must be for All, or else it crumbles. Liberty and justice flow from one source, from the One who IS Love and is just.

This is the source of the liberty and justice which have been enjoyed for generations. Any nation that recognizes this and abides by it enjoys the same freedom and beneficence.

Truly this is a pledge worthy of those who would live in unity and harmony together for the benefit of all. This is what the Flag of the United States of America represents.

Yes! I love this flag and I love this nation! God preserve us from seeing either being dragged down to the ground to be defamed or destroyed.

God bless America and cause her to continue as a blessing to all!

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Baldwin/Castle ’08

A different message,
a message unlike what we hear
day after day in the media.

Baldwin/Castle ’08

Cell Phone Power

Here is a demonstration of the power that is emitted by that little device that so many of us hold less than an inch from our brains.



Perhaps the speaker phone option is a good idea!

Too Much Ozone?

Remember when the Federal government took away our efficient Freon and forced us to spend loads of money saving the Ozone because we were supposedly destroying the Ozone levels in the planet’s atmosphere?

Well, now the Federal government wants to restrict us even further with the claim that we are producing too much Ozone!

Today’s Wichita Eagle reports in Local leaders see a $10 million choice: Cut smog or lose that now the Federal government is blaming our gasoline usage for producing too much Ozone!

Yes, they claimed long ago that the Ozone produced at lower levels does not reach the upper levels where the Ozone is being destroyed. But they also claim today that Carbon Dioxide is causing global warming to such degrees that the world is going to be destroyed.

Each of these claims then seeks to institute new laws that take away additional freedoms from the citizens of free countries. Each of these claims ignores China and other countries that are polluting at unrestricted and phenomenal levels never before observed in the world. Each of these claims directs the citizens of free countries to become more dependent upon electricity, which further restricts their independence and freedom of movement and travel and productivity.

How are we to believe that the little releases of Freon from our air conditioners and aerosol spray cans were destroying the Ozone in the atmosphere and yet remarkably our little lawn mowers are producing so much Ozone that we are destroying our atmosphere and that same Ozone remarkably does not replenish that which supposedly is depleted in the upper levels?

Well, isn’t it obvious? Manmade Carbon Dioxide can rise to the upper atmosphere and destroy the world but Manmade Ozone cannot rise to the levels where it protects the world.

When will Americans wake up and rise up to take back our government from those who are destroying our nation and taking our freedoms from us? All it takes is to vote for someone who actually believes in the US Constitution and genuine science rather than science fiction. Is it really such a hard concept to grasp?

Father’s Day

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
(Ephesians 6:1-4)

After St. Paul explains that God designed the husband and wife relationship to be a pattern of the relationship of Christ and the Church, then he further explains how this extends to each and every person as children who have been blessed by God to be ruled over by parents.

Obey your parents in the Lord.

Each and every person after the first couple have been brought into existence by God through parents. Parents are God’s gift of life to the world through whom we each receive the life that God gives and through whom we each receive the nurture and care by which we grow to be come adults who live under God’s blessing in this world. Thus we are commanded to obey our parents in the Lord.

This means that in every way that our parents do not counter what God has ordained as right and good, we are to obey. With this commandment the promise is given that obedience to our parents keeps us from wandering from their protection and guidance so that we live lives that are full of goodness and longevity.

The word that is used for honor also means to prize or treasure. We are to count our parents as a treasure from heaven, a blessing from God Most High. This is especially true of our fathers, through whom God keeps the family as one.

The fathers stand as God’s foremost representatives on earth. As a husband draws near to his wife in love, God unites them and blesses them with children. These children are entrusted to their oversight, to nurture and care for them. Most importantly of all, the fathers are entrusted with the teaching of the children in the Lord. The fathers are given the authority of God, to rule over the family in love.

Often Christian fathers seek to learn how to be good fathers. Often they torture themselves in search of the meaning of true fatherhood. But St. Paul declares that true fatherhood is very easy to understand. To know and understand how to be a true father is as simple as looking to Our Father which art in heaven. If earthly fathers examine themselves so as to be certain of their place in God’s Holy Communion, then they also know the love of God in their lives so as to bestow God’s love to their wives and children.

It really is that easy. Love truly is the answer. This is not the fairy tale love that elevates emotional attachment as that which conquers all. This the love that originates with God and is made complete in His Holy Communion. After all, what greater gift can any father give than the gift of the certainty of everlasting life in God’s Holy Communion of everlasting peace and joy? Since God is the source of every good and perfect gift, a true father will direct his wife and children always to the fear and love of God. Then, all things shall be theirs. What else that a father can do can even come close to this?

Truly, all good things that a father will desire to do for his family will be found in God’s love and flow from His love.

Our Daily Bread

Smack in the middle of the Our Father the Lord Jesus placed the Fourth Petition: “Give us this day our daily bread.”

What did the Lord Jesus mean by this? We usually hear from this the wonderful explanation that Dr. Luther supplies in the Small Catechism.

However, considering the context of the entire prayer, could it be that the Lord was teaching much more to us as His disciples?

Consider His declaration to the Jews in John 6:26-35.

Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? What dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

With this declaration from the lips of the Lord, does the Fourth Petition sound richer and fuller? Is there a reason that this sits in the middle of the prayer that He gave, saying, “When you pray, pray this”? Could it be that the Lord means for us to receive this petition as more than the center of the prayer but also the very foundation of our life of faith?

Since Jesus declares that faith in Jesus is the work of God, does it not seem fitting that He would teach us to pray that our Father in heaven would daily give us this bread of faith for our life in Him?

Wouldn’t you agree that this is “food” for thought?

Battle at Kruger

My brother made me aware of this very interesting video from You Tube.



Certainly this incident has some valuable lessons to teach for those who are perceptive.

New Life

With spring comes new life to the world. Three days ago I found this baby robin in our flower bed. Upon my first discovery of this little baby it showed no fear. Now it hides in the bushes while Daddy and Momma do their best to draw my attention to them.

New Sermon Archive Format

I have redesigned the 2007-2008 sermons archive page in the hope of making access to the year’s sermons easier. Now all the sermons for the year are available for selection from one page rather than selecting by seasons of the Church Year.

What Will I Find Today?

Yesterday, as I was trimming bushes for a customer, I encountered what is pictured below.



Before finding this litter of five kittens I heard a very disconcerting sound. Momma kitty growled with such a low pitch and fierce growl that a shiver ran up my spine. Such sounds are not what I generally encounter coming from a bush! She ran half way across the yard, stopped to stare at me, and then disappeared. I told her that she scared me, but also acknowledged that I probably scared her even more. She turned and disappeared.

I wondered why she would act as she did and began to look for an answer, very cautiously, not knowing what to expect. Then I saw the five little balls of fur wriggling and trying to look up. Their eyes were not yet fully opened, mere slits staring up at me. Their little legs were too weak and frail for them to stand and run away. I was glad to discover them, for I could easily have stepped on them unaware of their presence, as Momma had carefully hidden them under the branches of the bushes. One step from within my big boot would surely have injured all five.

As I began speaking to the little ones, they became comfortable with my presence, even attempting to crawl to me by the end of our encounter.

This makes me ponder how it is with the Lord and us. We are unable to find Him, but He comes to us and comforts us with His voice through the preaching office. We hear His Fatherly attitude toward us and we learn that the fear that we are to have of Him is not one of terror, but a holy fear that engenders trust. Sadly, however, because we often have such poor discernment, other voices can be mistaken as His. Thus we need to be cautious, working out our salvation with fear and trembling. Always alert, we will search the Scriptures concerning every voice, to be certain that we are being led always and only to the pure administration of the Gospel and Sacraments. Then we may rest peacefully in God’s tender care.

Chuck Baldwin Interview

Finally, an intelligent, articulate, constitutional, and credible candidate!



This video and other discussions are also available at Chuck Baldwin For President Forum and Freedom Money Bomb.

Public Educational Institutions versus Faith in God

In an article at WorldNetDaily entitled:

BRAVE NEW SCHOOLS
Prof to student: Keep the faith, lose the grade
Teacher thinks it's his job to get class to change personal beliefs

it is reported that a student at Suffolk County Community College, Gina DeLuca, is being punished by her professor for her consistent expression of her belief in God.

The American Center for Law and Justice, ACLJ, is calling for concerned citizens to sign an online petition of protest.


The ACLJ has added this update.

Dean Martin & John Wayne Tribute

Today, while visiting the Kansans for Life PAC website, I saw this little nostalgic tribute by Dean Martin and John Wayne.

A Candidate for President

The Constitution Party had its nomination convention at the end of April and now has its nominee for the upcoming presidential election for the United States of America.

Chuck Baldwin was nominated for President and his Vice Presidential running mate is Darrell Castle, an attorney and Vietnam War Marine Corps veteran from Memphis, Tennessee.

Chuck has published a column in which he states what he will do if elected as the President of the United States. You can read his column at “If I Were President”.

Also of interest is the Constitution Party’s platform.

I have mentioned this platform in a previous post entitled, Constitution Party Platform. At that time I knew considerably less about the Constitution Party, but I have since learned more about it and I believe that I now have a party with which I agree in most areas. It certainly represents what I know of the Constitution far better than either the Democrat or Republican parties and their candidates do.

I offer this post and the accompanying links for any who would like to investigate Candidate Baldwin’s and the Constitution Party’s positions.

Pro-Choice

The so-called Pro-Choice movement leaves a person who ponders this objectively wondering how on earth such an atrocious lie could be blindly accepted by so many.

If at any stage the baby’s choice is considered, what would that choice be?

Those seeking to eliminate the baby’s choice had MANY opportunities to choose prior to the baby’s conception. But what choice is afforded the baby in this matter?

When you ponder this matter, at what point in your conception would you judge that your mother should have been granted the authority to terminate your development?

I have seen bumper stickers that say,

I’m PRO-CHOICE and I VOTE!

Bewildering!

Abortion Not Covered in the Constitution?

Scalia: Abortion not a court issue was the first headline in today’s Wichita Eagle.

This article gave very little actual context, in fact, it hardly quoted any complete sentences, so I checked a little further. The following is from Scalia Is Wrong About Abortion by Joseph Farah:

"The reality is the Constitution doesn't address the subject at all," he said. "It is one of the many subjects not in the Constitution which is therefore left to democracy. If you want the right to an abortion, persuade your fellow citizens it's a good idea, and pass a law. If you feel the other way, repeal the law."

This quote gives enough context to get the sense of what the acclaimed Supreme Court Justice is intending to convey. This is quite concerning, considering his claim and reputation as a “conservative” and “originalist” regarding the Constitution.

Consider these portions from the Constitution, which Mr. Farah also rightly quotes and applies the Preamble and the Fifth Amendment in his article.


Preamble:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a
more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic
Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote
the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to
ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America.

Amendment V.

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise
infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of
a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval
forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of
War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for
the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb;
nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness
against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law; nor shall private property be
taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment XIV.

SECTION 1.
All persons born or naturalized in the United States and
subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United
States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall
make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges
or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall
any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law; nor deny to any person within
its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.



The Preamble specifically declares that the entire Constitution is written for both those writing it and living under it at its writing AND for our Posterity, that is, the UNBORN.

How exactly does this not apply to providing “for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty” for our posterity? How is the protection of the unborn from being raped and tortured and ripped to pieces not covered by this Constitution?

Joseph Farah’s article Scalia Is Wrong About Abortion is a worthy read.

Additionally, Fetal Development gives a beautiful chronology of the development of the human baby or fetus. For example, do you know when your heart began to beat? Check it out!

Michael Clancy, a professional photographer, was present to observe and photograph a spina bifida corrective in utero surgery. When the mother’s uterus was incised, little Samuel Armas reached out toward the surgeon. Michael captured the event. The photograph below shows the tiny 21 week old reaching out with his hand and grasping hold of the surgeon’s finger. The full story with slide show is available at Samuel Armas’ hand.


Clearly this shows that little Samuel Armas was fully one who is included in the protection of the United States' Constitution.

But what would have happened to little Samuel if his mother had not loved him?

THIS is why the Constitution includes our posterity in the declaration of those for whom it is written.

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Technorati Tags: +abortion, life, hope, Constitution, Scalia, protection, unborn, posterity

The Lord Is Good to Those Who Wait

From today’s Old Testament Reading, the concluding statement is made:

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the Lord.

The Lord is good to everyone, for the Lord IS good. But to those who wait, those who look to Him in faith, the goodness of the Lord is manifested.

Those who hear the Word of God and decide that they need to act for themselves, such people do not see the goodness of the Lord. Difficulties present themselves and people imagine that they must overcome them by themselves. They seek ways to avoid the troubles, avoiding the necessity of picking up their crosses daily. They invent for themselves avenues of escape. Often these even have the appearance of being very noble. Other times they involve compromise or even worse.

Faith is the activity necessary, but faith is not something that we do. Faith is what God works in us, a work by which God empowers us to believe, to trust both in Him and on Him. Faith is not a work that we do, but it does produce works in us.

We tend to confuse this matter for ourselves. We think that we must produce faith by certain works. Then we look to ourselves and our own efforts rather than looking to the Lord. Because of this we become impatient and rather than waiting for Him to act we try to make things happen for ourselves. We imagine that we must choose to follow Him and that we must decide to believe in Him. We imagine that we must make Him the center of our lives and that we must commit our lives to Him. This leads to frustration when we discover that we do not have the power to do these things for ourselves. Then we pray harder and devise schemes by which we hope to induce ourselves to be more devoted.

But these things that we seek to make happen for ourselves come only by faith, not by works. The works that we desire to do are fruits of Faith, not the other way around.

The reason that faith is effective is because it is the gift of God, and not of ourselves. It is given by God as our possession, but it is His work nonetheless. And that is why faith does not fail us.

When we wait on the Lord we learn this. When we wait quietly on Him we see that He truly is Good to those who wait.

Today’s sermon explains this text further.

Jayhawks and the Resurrection

Jayhawks and
the Resurrection

This week the KU Jayhawks had a very exciting time. Kansas still resounds with the exhilaration of the comeback that was experienced in the championship game. Down by enough points that KU fans thought that their team had been buried and were without hope, hope nevertheless lived on. With only a little more than two minutes remaining the chasm was narrowed to only three points. With only seconds remaining, a three pointer was made and the game was extended into overtime and with that a resurrection-like overturn developed before the eyes of the onlookers.

But already the excitement is beginning to fade. Before long this seemingly miraculous event will be only a memory. It will be a fond memory for Jayhawks, but nothing but a memory.

The Jayhawk chant will live on in future games and will periodically rise from the hearts and pass over the lips of loyal Jayhawks. If you are curious about the history of this almost liturgical chant, check it out here or to hear it click here.

As exciting as this game and victory are to Jayhawks, there is another victory that is not a game. There is a Resurrection that is more than a memory and does not fade in significance.

The Resurrection of our Lord must have been a surprise to the disciples. In fact, the Gospel accounts inform us that even upon seeing Him alive who once was dead, some still doubted. But hearing His voice they were comforted and they confessed His Resurrection.

For those who encounter the risen Lord through Word and Sacrament, this is far more than an emotional experience and far greater than a fond memory. The Resurrection of our Lord is life from death. He who gave Himself into death for us Has risen from the dead for us also. He who took the Sin of the world and suffered its condemnation has risen in glory never to die again. He has risen to rule in righteousness on our behalf. He has risen to guarantee that even the darkest moments of our lives in this world shall never become moments of despair and hopelessness. He has risen to guarantee that not only has He taken our sins away, but that He has also restored to us the life that was surrendered to the power of sin.

So we have the gift of salvation poured out in Baptism, as St. Peter declares in Acts 2:38-39 and 1 Peter 3:21. We have the ongoing Communion administered to us in the gifts of His body and blood. The Liturgy that we chant is more than a cheer that springs forth from emotions, but is the very Word and Promise of God given through the holy office and repeated in faith by those who receive it. Truly the Lord’s resurrection has changed the world and has restored life and hope for all to believe.

God grant that this blessed hope live on in you, not as mere sentimental symbolism, but as the means of grace that deliver what God has promised and fulfilled in Christ Jesus our Lord!