A new fashion trend has women wearing ties. But, when it comes down to it, I think it looks terrible on a woman. Am I a chauvinist?
Be Holy Because I Am Holy
9 years ago
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Ties
Sometimes I have to wear a tie. I like the way they look, but they are not comfortable for me to wear and I only wear them if I have to.
A new fashion trend has women wearing ties. But, when it comes down to it, I think it looks terrible on a woman. Am I a chauvinist?
A new fashion trend has women wearing ties. But, when it comes down to it, I think it looks terrible on a woman. Am I a chauvinist?
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Wake Up America
I wanted to re-print an article from NRO. It's right on and worth sharing:
Soul Survivors
The meaning of Mumbai.
By Thomas Sowell
Will the horrors unleashed by Islamic terrorists in Mumbai cause any second thoughts by those who are so anxious to start weakening the American security systems currently in place, including government interceptions of international phone calls and the holding of terrorists at Guantánamo?
Maybe. But never underestimate partisan blindness in Washington or in the mainstream media where, if the Bush administration did it, then it must be wrong.
Contrary to some of the more mawkish notions of what a government is supposed to be, its top job is the protection of the people. Nobody on 9/11 would have thought that we would see nothing comparable again in this country for seven long years.
Many people seem to have forgotten how, in the wake of 9/11, every great national event — the World Series, Christmas, New Year’s, the Super Bowl — was under the shadow of a fear that this was when the terrorists would strike again.
They didn’t strike again here, even though they have struck in Spain, Indonesia, England, and India, among other places. Does anyone imagine that this was because they didn’t want to hit America again?
Could this have had anything to do with all the security precautions that liberals have been complaining about so bitterly, from the interception of international phone calls to forcing information out of captured terrorists?
Too many people refuse to acknowledge that benefits have costs, even if that cost means only having no more secrecy when making international phone calls than you have when sending e-mails, in a world where computer hackers abound. There are people who refuse to give up anything, even to save their own lives.
A very shrewd observer of the deterioration of Western societies, British writer Theodore Dalrymple, said: “This mental flabbiness is decadence, and at the same time a manifestation of the arrogant assumption that nothing can destroy us.”
There are growing numbers of things that can destroy us. The Roman Empire lasted a lot longer than the United States has lasted, and yet it too was destroyed.
Millions of lives were blighted for centuries thereafter, because the barbarians who destroyed Rome were incapable of replacing it with anything at all comparable. Neither are those who threaten to destroy the United States today.
The destruction of the United States will not require enough nuclear bombs to annihilate cities and towns across America. After all, the nuclear destruction of just two cities was enough to force Japan to surrender — and the Japanese had far more willingness to fight and die than most Americans have today.
How many Americans are willing to see New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles all disappear in nuclear mushroom clouds, rather than surrender to whatever outrageous demands the terrorists make?
Neither Barack Obama nor those with whom he will be surrounded in Washington show any signs of being serious about forestalling such a terrible choice by taking any action with any realistic chance of preventing a nuclear Iran.
Once suicidal fanatics have nuclear bombs, that is the point of no return. We, our children, and our grandchildren will live at the mercy of the merciless, who have a track record of sadism.
There are no concessions we can make that will buy off hate-filled terrorists. What they want — what they must have for their own self-respect, in a world where they suffer the humiliation of being visibly centuries behind the West in so many ways — is our being brought down in humiliation, including self-humiliation.
Even killing us will not be enough, just as killing Jews was not enough for the Nazis, who first had to subject them to soul-scarring humiliations and dehumanization in their death camps.
This kind of hatred may not be familiar to most Americans but what happened on 9/11 should give us a clue — and a warning.
The people who flew those planes into the World Trade Center buildings could not have been bought off by any concessions, not even the hundreds of billions of dollars we are spending in bailout money today.
They want our soul — and if they are willing to die and we are not, they will get it.
© 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.
Soul Survivors
The meaning of Mumbai.
By Thomas Sowell
Will the horrors unleashed by Islamic terrorists in Mumbai cause any second thoughts by those who are so anxious to start weakening the American security systems currently in place, including government interceptions of international phone calls and the holding of terrorists at Guantánamo?
Maybe. But never underestimate partisan blindness in Washington or in the mainstream media where, if the Bush administration did it, then it must be wrong.
Contrary to some of the more mawkish notions of what a government is supposed to be, its top job is the protection of the people. Nobody on 9/11 would have thought that we would see nothing comparable again in this country for seven long years.
Many people seem to have forgotten how, in the wake of 9/11, every great national event — the World Series, Christmas, New Year’s, the Super Bowl — was under the shadow of a fear that this was when the terrorists would strike again.
They didn’t strike again here, even though they have struck in Spain, Indonesia, England, and India, among other places. Does anyone imagine that this was because they didn’t want to hit America again?
Could this have had anything to do with all the security precautions that liberals have been complaining about so bitterly, from the interception of international phone calls to forcing information out of captured terrorists?
Too many people refuse to acknowledge that benefits have costs, even if that cost means only having no more secrecy when making international phone calls than you have when sending e-mails, in a world where computer hackers abound. There are people who refuse to give up anything, even to save their own lives.
A very shrewd observer of the deterioration of Western societies, British writer Theodore Dalrymple, said: “This mental flabbiness is decadence, and at the same time a manifestation of the arrogant assumption that nothing can destroy us.”
There are growing numbers of things that can destroy us. The Roman Empire lasted a lot longer than the United States has lasted, and yet it too was destroyed.
Millions of lives were blighted for centuries thereafter, because the barbarians who destroyed Rome were incapable of replacing it with anything at all comparable. Neither are those who threaten to destroy the United States today.
The destruction of the United States will not require enough nuclear bombs to annihilate cities and towns across America. After all, the nuclear destruction of just two cities was enough to force Japan to surrender — and the Japanese had far more willingness to fight and die than most Americans have today.
How many Americans are willing to see New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles all disappear in nuclear mushroom clouds, rather than surrender to whatever outrageous demands the terrorists make?
Neither Barack Obama nor those with whom he will be surrounded in Washington show any signs of being serious about forestalling such a terrible choice by taking any action with any realistic chance of preventing a nuclear Iran.
Once suicidal fanatics have nuclear bombs, that is the point of no return. We, our children, and our grandchildren will live at the mercy of the merciless, who have a track record of sadism.
There are no concessions we can make that will buy off hate-filled terrorists. What they want — what they must have for their own self-respect, in a world where they suffer the humiliation of being visibly centuries behind the West in so many ways — is our being brought down in humiliation, including self-humiliation.
Even killing us will not be enough, just as killing Jews was not enough for the Nazis, who first had to subject them to soul-scarring humiliations and dehumanization in their death camps.
This kind of hatred may not be familiar to most Americans but what happened on 9/11 should give us a clue — and a warning.
The people who flew those planes into the World Trade Center buildings could not have been bought off by any concessions, not even the hundreds of billions of dollars we are spending in bailout money today.
They want our soul — and if they are willing to die and we are not, they will get it.
© 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
1975?
Ok, so my posts tend to be on the serious side. To show those of you who don't know me that I am truly a clown at heart, here is something I hope you enjoy. The good thing about blogs is that you never know where they’ll take you.
This week I faced the long overdue, inevitable, arduous, humbling task of buying new jeans. The last time I bought jeans was probably 10 years ago and they (all 2 pairs) have finally reached a stage that every 16 year old envied. Many people told me that at least it was good that I still fit in them after 10 years, but I understand the miracle of jeans where they tend to stretch “with you” over time.
The first store I went into was the Gap because that is where I always bought jeans before. The main reason for my loyalty to the Gap was because their jeans do not advertise the waist size on a big exposed tag right over my right rear pocket (take note of this Levi Strauss and Co.!). As I entered the Gap for the first time in a decade, I noticed that they are no longer the store I remember. This makes sense because I don’t understand teenagers and the Gap clearly evolved right along with the age group. It took all of about 5 minutes for me to walk out of the Gap thinking, “Great, now what?”
Next stop, a store that I could go to and not stand out like..well, like Ed at a Young Jeezy concert; Dillards. Once in Dillards I was faced with a huge wall of, yes, Levis. Ugh. Will I have to pay $35 per pair for the privilege of advertising my waist size to the world? I tried on a few and thought, “Well, I’m in a mall. I’ll shop around a little”.
Here is where the blog takes you somewhere you didn’t expect…As I walked through the mall I passed a store I hadn’t been in since Jimmy Carter was president; JC Penney. Nothing says “Shop here if for no other reason that you are not cool any more” like JC Penney. And yes, I bought two pair of jeans at a great price and they fit! So, to honor JC Penney (MY new store for jeans), let’s take a trip down memory lane and visit the JC Penney catalog from 1975. Enjoy.
This week I faced the long overdue, inevitable, arduous, humbling task of buying new jeans. The last time I bought jeans was probably 10 years ago and they (all 2 pairs) have finally reached a stage that every 16 year old envied. Many people told me that at least it was good that I still fit in them after 10 years, but I understand the miracle of jeans where they tend to stretch “with you” over time.
The first store I went into was the Gap because that is where I always bought jeans before. The main reason for my loyalty to the Gap was because their jeans do not advertise the waist size on a big exposed tag right over my right rear pocket (take note of this Levi Strauss and Co.!). As I entered the Gap for the first time in a decade, I noticed that they are no longer the store I remember. This makes sense because I don’t understand teenagers and the Gap clearly evolved right along with the age group. It took all of about 5 minutes for me to walk out of the Gap thinking, “Great, now what?”
Next stop, a store that I could go to and not stand out like..well, like Ed at a Young Jeezy concert; Dillards. Once in Dillards I was faced with a huge wall of, yes, Levis. Ugh. Will I have to pay $35 per pair for the privilege of advertising my waist size to the world? I tried on a few and thought, “Well, I’m in a mall. I’ll shop around a little”.
Here is where the blog takes you somewhere you didn’t expect…As I walked through the mall I passed a store I hadn’t been in since Jimmy Carter was president; JC Penney. Nothing says “Shop here if for no other reason that you are not cool any more” like JC Penney. And yes, I bought two pair of jeans at a great price and they fit! So, to honor JC Penney (MY new store for jeans), let’s take a trip down memory lane and visit the JC Penney catalog from 1975. Enjoy.
let the teasing begin:
What you wore when you wanted to be beat up at school:
What you wore when you wanted to be beat up around the neighborhood: (The catalog had lots of men and women in matching outfits. Evidently that was popular in 1975)
What you wore when you wanted to be beat up ate the gym:
What you wore if you are a white guy and want to get beat up while out for the evening: (JC Penney was going for the Super Fly look)
What you wore when you wanted to get beat up at the office: (Man Mates...hmmmm)
Here are some of those matching outfits I mentioned:
Chips, Ace? Don't mind if I do Gary.......
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Politics and the English Language
From an Article written by Liam Julian called Entering Casablanca November 13, 2008 - National Review Online:
President elect Obama is selecting his staff and readying himself for the challenges he will meet when he assumes the presidency in January and Americans will soon see truthfully what type of president we’ve elected. But before Campaign 2008 recedes into history and is, as our modern way would have it, erased from our memories, it’s worth reflecting on the words of the man who will now inhabit the White House, on how those words inspired so many, and on whether the person who spoke them meant them — and whether the words actually mean anything at all
President elect Obama inspired the nation with a campaign focused on change and hope. He energized an electorate with his words, and I doubt there is hardly a person around who would disagree that Barak Obama campaigned on this idea of Hope; Hope for change. Here are just a few of the thousands of quotes regarding this theme:
Hope is his thing! He communicated it to the thousands — sometimes hundreds of thousands — who attended his rallies. He wrote a book called “The Audacity of Hope”. Dr. David Spiegel, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral science has been recently quoted on NPR as saying,
In Obama’s memoir, Dreams from My Father, you’ll find this remarkable passage:
Astounding, isn’t it? He didn’t know what to say then, so he just blurted out “change.” One has sufficient reason to wonder whether Obama didn’t employ this exact strategy, of evoking amorphous change in lieu of solid substance, throughout the past two years and thereby ascend to the highest office in the land.
If you have the time I recommend you read an essay written in 1946 by George Orwell, called Politics and the English Language. Its subject is the depreciation of the English language — more specifically, how bad writing leads to poor thinking leading to more bad writing and, eventually, begets a society that cannot distinguish meaningful words from empty ones. To bait you into reading it, here is the opening paragraph:
Here is the link: Orwell 1946 Politics and the English Language
President elect Obama is selecting his staff and readying himself for the challenges he will meet when he assumes the presidency in January and Americans will soon see truthfully what type of president we’ve elected. But before Campaign 2008 recedes into history and is, as our modern way would have it, erased from our memories, it’s worth reflecting on the words of the man who will now inhabit the White House, on how those words inspired so many, and on whether the person who spoke them meant them — and whether the words actually mean anything at all
President elect Obama inspired the nation with a campaign focused on change and hope. He energized an electorate with his words, and I doubt there is hardly a person around who would disagree that Barak Obama campaigned on this idea of Hope; Hope for change. Here are just a few of the thousands of quotes regarding this theme:
“In the end, that’s what this election is about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or a politics of hope?” July, 2004 – Keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention
“All odds — all odds — said I shouldn’t be standing here. But I am because of love and education and lots of hope. That’s what we can stand for in four days. That’s what you can stand for.” – January, 2008 at New Hampshire Primaries
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” - 2008 Democratic National Convention
Hope is his thing! He communicated it to the thousands — sometimes hundreds of thousands — who attended his rallies. He wrote a book called “The Audacity of Hope”. Dr. David Spiegel, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral science has been recently quoted on NPR as saying,
It is unquestionable that Obama inspired millions, but on what is their inspiration based? Is their hope perhaps "too far off the mark"? At the end of his report, the host of the show on NPR said,”If hope gets too far off the mark, it’s more likely to hurt you than help you. Hope works when the person who is promising you something is genuine about trying to deliver it.” (Emphasis mine)
“Barack Obama inspired me. . . . His promise sits like a weight on his shoulders.”If I think back on the campaign I cannot remember one instance where he ever tried to temper the Hope. But now, as the transition to the White House has begun, I’ve seen two news conferences where that temperance of hope is being communicated. Today, his staff claims to be startled that their man’s preaching hit home! Here is a link to one of the many news reports on this: NY Times - Obama Aides Tamp Down Expectations
In Obama’s memoir, Dreams from My Father, you’ll find this remarkable passage:
“When classmates in college asked me just what it was that a community organizer did, I couldn’t answer them directly. Instead, I’d pronounce on the need for change. Change in the White House. . . . Change in the Congress. . . . Change in the mood of the country, manic and self-absorbed.”
Astounding, isn’t it? He didn’t know what to say then, so he just blurted out “change.” One has sufficient reason to wonder whether Obama didn’t employ this exact strategy, of evoking amorphous change in lieu of solid substance, throughout the past two years and thereby ascend to the highest office in the land.
If you have the time I recommend you read an essay written in 1946 by George Orwell, called Politics and the English Language. Its subject is the depreciation of the English language — more specifically, how bad writing leads to poor thinking leading to more bad writing and, eventually, begets a society that cannot distinguish meaningful words from empty ones. To bait you into reading it, here is the opening paragraph:
Most people who bother with the matter at all would admit that the English language is in a bad way, but it is generally assumed that we cannot by conscious action do anything about it. Our civilization is decadent and our language -- so the argument runs -- must inevitably share in the general collapse. It follows that any struggle against the abuse of language is a sentimental archaism, like preferring candles to electric light or hansom cabs to aeroplanes. Underneath this lies the half-conscious belief that language is a natural growth and not an instrument which we shape for our own purposes.
Here is the link: Orwell 1946 Politics and the English Language
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Veterans Day
It is the day after Veterans Day. I wanted to wait a day before I wrote something because the actual day is so full of emotion for me I wanted to digest those thoughts and feelings first and then write whatever came to my mind.
First, I want to thank my fellow veterans for serving. We are a small minority of the American citizenry, roughly 7.2% of all American men and only 0.6% of American women are veterans. No group more proud, yet humble.
Thinking back on my experiences and what I learned, I had a few thoughts:
The Flag – The flag holds a special meaning for the veteran. While serving in the military you quickly learn that the flag stands for home and is your “home base”. No matter where you are in the world, seeing that flag brings an indescribable feeling of home and more than that, it contains the ideals of America and the countrymen we serve. This is why veterans have the special privilege to be able to salute the flag whether in uniform or not, rather than what all other citizens are called to do; place your hand over your heart when addressing the flag.
The Smell of an Envelope – I am sorry to say, but the newest generation of service men and women may never experience this. Because of ever advancing communication technology like email, text and video messaging, you’ve probably never received a hand written letter from home. I can remember receiving letters from family and (especially) girl friends and the first thing you would do is smell the inside of the envelope. That wisp of air contains memories of home.
Elderly Veterans – I can hardly control my emissions even as I write this! For me, looking into the eyes of an elderly veteran, especially one who has been in battle, is more than I can bear. Getting to meet a veteran of WWII or Korea, is tough for me. It’s something about the years they’ve lived after their service that means so much to me. Veterans day is probably the only day of the year these heroes are actually appreciated.
That’s about it. Only one last thing; did you know that TAPS has lyrics? Here they are:
Fading light dims the sight
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright
From afar drawing nigh, Falls the night.
Day is done, gone the sun
From the hills, from the lake, from the sky
All is well, safely rest;
God is nigh.
Then goodnight, peaceful night;
Till the light of the dawn shineth bright.
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, goodnight.
First, I want to thank my fellow veterans for serving. We are a small minority of the American citizenry, roughly 7.2% of all American men and only 0.6% of American women are veterans. No group more proud, yet humble.
Thinking back on my experiences and what I learned, I had a few thoughts:
The Flag – The flag holds a special meaning for the veteran. While serving in the military you quickly learn that the flag stands for home and is your “home base”. No matter where you are in the world, seeing that flag brings an indescribable feeling of home and more than that, it contains the ideals of America and the countrymen we serve. This is why veterans have the special privilege to be able to salute the flag whether in uniform or not, rather than what all other citizens are called to do; place your hand over your heart when addressing the flag.
The Smell of an Envelope – I am sorry to say, but the newest generation of service men and women may never experience this. Because of ever advancing communication technology like email, text and video messaging, you’ve probably never received a hand written letter from home. I can remember receiving letters from family and (especially) girl friends and the first thing you would do is smell the inside of the envelope. That wisp of air contains memories of home.
Elderly Veterans – I can hardly control my emissions even as I write this! For me, looking into the eyes of an elderly veteran, especially one who has been in battle, is more than I can bear. Getting to meet a veteran of WWII or Korea, is tough for me. It’s something about the years they’ve lived after their service that means so much to me. Veterans day is probably the only day of the year these heroes are actually appreciated.
That’s about it. Only one last thing; did you know that TAPS has lyrics? Here they are:
Fading light dims the sight
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright
From afar drawing nigh, Falls the night.
Day is done, gone the sun
From the hills, from the lake, from the sky
All is well, safely rest;
God is nigh.
Then goodnight, peaceful night;
Till the light of the dawn shineth bright.
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, goodnight.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Obama the Abortionist
While everyone is focusing on the economy as we near Election Day, the issue of abortion has moved to a point of obscurity. If the average person knew and understood the position of Senator Obama, I can hardly understand why anyone, even a moderate “Pro-Choicer”, wouldn’t gasp.
A dangerous bill that will increase abortions by an enormous amount is being resurrected by abortion advocates: the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) H.R. 1964 and S.1173. FOCA is usually reported as “codifying Roe v. Wade,” but it is much more. Since the Webster and Casey decisions in 1989 and 1992, the Supreme Court has allowed states to limit abortion somewhat by such things as requiring parental involvement and informed consent, prohibiting government funding of most abortion, and more recently outlawing most partial birth abortions.
But FOCA tolerates none of this. Advocates and opponents of FOCA all agree that the bill would nullify every legal limit on abortion, state, federal or otherwise. Americans United for Life, as well as the Family Research Council, explain this fact in great detail. Abortion advocates who want FOCA concur: NOW, NARAL, Planned Parenthood, and FOCA sponsor Senator Barbara Boxer all contend that FOCA will strike down all state pro-life laws.
Senator Obama has said that singning FOCA will be the first thing he does as President. Click on the following link to see for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf0XIRZSTt8
Considering current reduction factors, parental involvement laws lead to 0.54 fewer abortions per 1000 women of childbearing age, informed consent laws lead to 0.92 fewer, and state restrictions on Medicaid funding lead to 2.08 fewer. Both pro-life and pro-abortion organizations tell us which states have these laws in place: 36 states have parental involvement laws, 26 states have informed consent laws, and 34 states have funding restrictions.
The U.S. Census Bureau gives us projections for 2009 of females age 15-44 in each of these states. Then it’s a simple matter of cross-referencing the number of women of childbearing age in each state with each abortion restriction. The grand total number of abortions reduced by these laws is 124,947.6, per year. This is a minimum. FOCA will strike down other laws, state and federal, that reduce abortions, and will force states to facilitate abortions.
Even with this minimum, that’s 125,000 children that were not killed this year because we have these laws, and 125,000 children (added to the existing 1.3 million abortions) who will be killed in 2009 and every year after if FOCA is passed. FOCA is indeed a staggering expansion of abortion, both in principle and in actual lives lost
125,000 more abortions is only the tip of the FOCA iceberg. It will also make criminals of Doctors and Nurses who refuse to perform abortions and will allow for tax dollars to be used to fund abortions. Don’t forget that since Roe v Wade abortion has become a $1 Billion industry in this country and Planned Parenthood is the leader in the abortion business.
A dangerous bill that will increase abortions by an enormous amount is being resurrected by abortion advocates: the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) H.R. 1964 and S.1173. FOCA is usually reported as “codifying Roe v. Wade,” but it is much more. Since the Webster and Casey decisions in 1989 and 1992, the Supreme Court has allowed states to limit abortion somewhat by such things as requiring parental involvement and informed consent, prohibiting government funding of most abortion, and more recently outlawing most partial birth abortions.
But FOCA tolerates none of this. Advocates and opponents of FOCA all agree that the bill would nullify every legal limit on abortion, state, federal or otherwise. Americans United for Life, as well as the Family Research Council, explain this fact in great detail. Abortion advocates who want FOCA concur: NOW, NARAL, Planned Parenthood, and FOCA sponsor Senator Barbara Boxer all contend that FOCA will strike down all state pro-life laws.
Senator Obama has said that singning FOCA will be the first thing he does as President. Click on the following link to see for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf0XIRZSTt8
Considering current reduction factors, parental involvement laws lead to 0.54 fewer abortions per 1000 women of childbearing age, informed consent laws lead to 0.92 fewer, and state restrictions on Medicaid funding lead to 2.08 fewer. Both pro-life and pro-abortion organizations tell us which states have these laws in place: 36 states have parental involvement laws, 26 states have informed consent laws, and 34 states have funding restrictions.
The U.S. Census Bureau gives us projections for 2009 of females age 15-44 in each of these states. Then it’s a simple matter of cross-referencing the number of women of childbearing age in each state with each abortion restriction. The grand total number of abortions reduced by these laws is 124,947.6, per year. This is a minimum. FOCA will strike down other laws, state and federal, that reduce abortions, and will force states to facilitate abortions.
Even with this minimum, that’s 125,000 children that were not killed this year because we have these laws, and 125,000 children (added to the existing 1.3 million abortions) who will be killed in 2009 and every year after if FOCA is passed. FOCA is indeed a staggering expansion of abortion, both in principle and in actual lives lost
125,000 more abortions is only the tip of the FOCA iceberg. It will also make criminals of Doctors and Nurses who refuse to perform abortions and will allow for tax dollars to be used to fund abortions. Don’t forget that since Roe v Wade abortion has become a $1 Billion industry in this country and Planned Parenthood is the leader in the abortion business.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Obama the Postmodernist
Ok, I couldn’t come up with a better title than the one the author of a very good article I want you to read, so I just used it as my title as well. I’m so glad I came across the piece in USA Today written by Jonah Goldberg. It sums up perfectly the worldview of Barak Obama, and that of so many people today, and not only in our country. The link to the article is at the end of this post, but if you’re not sure what postmodernism is then this quote from Mr. Obama is a good example. Mr. Obama was asked if he could define sin and his reply was that
“Sin is being out of alignment with my values ."
Read the article to get the full extent of Mr. Obama’s view on Truth. What scares me is that his view is very popular in this day and age. You see the postmodernist doesn’t believe in absolute Truth. To him there is no standard outside of ourselves that determines objective Truth. There are truths, but no Truth; values, but no ultimate Value.
This is how the worldly man copes with his sin; how the postmodernist thinks - If I convince myself there is no objective Truth; nothing outside of myself to hold me accountable then I can determine what is right or wrong. AND, the more people I convince to agree with “my” truth, the better I can feel about it. Case in point, abortion. How this horror can be carried out in our country legally escapes me. Yet it is; why? Because people have exchanged the Truth of God for a lie and have the nerve to call that lie truth. They say, “A woman should have the right to do with her body what she wants”. Question: Does God ever give anyone the right to do that which is wrong? NO, of course not! So what we have here is the redefining of the concept of ones “Rights”. If you ask where they got that right, they’ll say from the government, the Supreme Court. And how was it that the government made that decision? Did God say it was ok? No. In fact that decision to grant the “right” to an abortion is in actuality based on the peoples preference. It all comes down to preference. If it’s the people preference to allow same sex marriage, or the sale of child sex slaves or whatever is the preference of the day, then that is determined to be a right. In other words, truth is subjective.
Shame on us; every one of us.
Here is the link to the article: http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/08/obama-the-postm.html
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
By Chance Given Time
Ok, I haven't written in a while, but I was just reading some online articles and one caught my eye called New Research Suggests Simple Approach to Beginning of Life, by Michael Schirber of LiveScience.com. In the article, which I've quoted below, we once again find the popular scientific formula for the formation of life. It goes like this: Space+Time+Chance=Life.
In a previous post I wrote called The Soft Pillow of Science (Wednesday, July 11, 2007), I wrote how scientists today ascribe power to the word chance; and not just any power, but the power to create something from nothing. You can go back and read that post to understand what I mean. Here is the quote found in the article:
That quote (emphasis mine) shows the prevailing alternative to the idea of life being created by a self existent, eternal, purposive Being who is the cause of all effects; the Unmoved Mover as Aristotle called Him. Chance is not a thing! It can not create anything no matter how much time is allowed.
Oh, and by the way, if I were around in 1953 I would have asked Stanley Miller and Harold Urey if they could recreate their primordial soup experiment once again, only this time they first need to also create their own hydrogen, methane, ammonia and water starting with nothing. How did those chemicals get in place before a stray lightning bolt caused the supposed reaction? Ex nihilo nihil fit!
In a previous post I wrote called The Soft Pillow of Science (Wednesday, July 11, 2007), I wrote how scientists today ascribe power to the word chance; and not just any power, but the power to create something from nothing. You can go back and read that post to understand what I mean. Here is the quote found in the article:
Primordial soup
Many scientists believe the origin-of-life story is that complex biological compounds assembled by chance out of an organic broth on the early Earth's surface. This pre-biotic synthesis culminated in bio-molecules being able to make copies of itself. The first support for this idea of life arising out of the primordial soup came from the famous 1953 experiment by Stanley Miller and Harold Urey, in which they generated amino acids — the building blocks of proteins — by applying sparks to a test tube of hydrogen, methane, ammonia and water. If amino acids could come together out of raw ingredients, then bigger, more complex molecules could presumably form given enough time.
That quote (emphasis mine) shows the prevailing alternative to the idea of life being created by a self existent, eternal, purposive Being who is the cause of all effects; the Unmoved Mover as Aristotle called Him. Chance is not a thing! It can not create anything no matter how much time is allowed.
Oh, and by the way, if I were around in 1953 I would have asked Stanley Miller and Harold Urey if they could recreate their primordial soup experiment once again, only this time they first need to also create their own hydrogen, methane, ammonia and water starting with nothing. How did those chemicals get in place before a stray lightning bolt caused the supposed reaction? Ex nihilo nihil fit!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Awesome!
Did you know that today, March 10th, is (was) the International Day of Awesomeness? Isn’t that awesome! Check it out at http://dayofawesomeness.com/ and then come back and read on.
If you read the first page of the website, you would see that the day really has a comical side to it. But still, it also is the straw that broke the camel's back for me in terms of the use of the word itself. Unfortunately, the word awesome must now be entered onto the official list of words whose actual meaning has been dumbed-down, changed, ruined and otherwise rendered unrecognizable because we decided the original definition wasn’t good enough for us.
Awesome! I just got Halo 3. That football game was awesome! If you were to ask someone what the word awesome means, they would tell you that awesome means cool, exciting, or amazing. But the real definition of awesome is an adjective describing awe. Now what is awe?
Awe (noun) - an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, or the like: in awe of God.
Can that definition ever accurately be applied to a sport, a video game, a steak, a TV show, a job, a car, a vacation, a joke, a new computer, my blog, etc?
Think about how awesome God is. Have you ever looked at the night sky in a really dark place? Have you seen one of those science shows showing the process of human conception and development in the womb? Think about God’s plan of redemption? This only scratches the surface.
Our lives are full of all kinds of exciting games, delicious food, entertaining TV shows, interesting jobs, cool cars, fun vacations, funny jokes, fast computers and intellectually stimulating blogs. I for one plan on doing my best to keep the word awesome restricted to describe those things that inspire awe.
If you read the first page of the website, you would see that the day really has a comical side to it. But still, it also is the straw that broke the camel's back for me in terms of the use of the word itself. Unfortunately, the word awesome must now be entered onto the official list of words whose actual meaning has been dumbed-down, changed, ruined and otherwise rendered unrecognizable because we decided the original definition wasn’t good enough for us.
Awesome! I just got Halo 3. That football game was awesome! If you were to ask someone what the word awesome means, they would tell you that awesome means cool, exciting, or amazing. But the real definition of awesome is an adjective describing awe. Now what is awe?
Awe (noun) - an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, or the like: in awe of God.
Can that definition ever accurately be applied to a sport, a video game, a steak, a TV show, a job, a car, a vacation, a joke, a new computer, my blog, etc?
Think about how awesome God is. Have you ever looked at the night sky in a really dark place? Have you seen one of those science shows showing the process of human conception and development in the womb? Think about God’s plan of redemption? This only scratches the surface.
Our lives are full of all kinds of exciting games, delicious food, entertaining TV shows, interesting jobs, cool cars, fun vacations, funny jokes, fast computers and intellectually stimulating blogs. I for one plan on doing my best to keep the word awesome restricted to describe those things that inspire awe.
Monday, March 03, 2008
What's The Difference?
The people I work with all know I’m a Christian and I do my best to show them exactly what being a Christian is. The opinions vary. One person I work with always challenges me in various ways, mostly concerning science and evolution. Recently he posed a new challenge; one concerning right and wrong.
This person’s opinion is that since us Christians have all the answers we must also have a “holier than thou” attitude. In reality I can see how he could get that opinion with the way some Christians act. Anyway, my friend came to me and asked my opinion on something that had happened to him over the weekend. He had gone to the Home Depot and paid for his items with his debit card. As he was leaving the store a clerk ran up to him and said “Sir. You forgot your change.” The clerk was holding $50 in cash. My friend said that he knew he didn’t select to receive any cash back and he knew that the money wasn’t his, but he took it anyway. Here is how the conversation went (I’ll call my friend “Rod”):
Rod: So, would you have taken the money?
Ed: No I wouldn’t have. If I looked at my receipt and saw that I didn’t accidentally choose cash back, then I would not have taken it. That’s stealing.
Rod: Do you know how much those stores make in a single day? $50 isn’t going to ruin their business.
Ed: That doesn’t matter. It’s still wrong.
Rod: Oh like you’ve never stolen. Have you ever taken money that wasn’t yours?
Ed: Yes.
Rod: So what’s the difference?
Ed: None. I am equally as guilty as you are. The thing is that you need to understand why some people go to hell because of their sin and some people go to heaven in spite of their sin. The reason that happens is because of Jesus. Jesus is the difference.
Jesus is the difference. Jesus. Jesus!
This person’s opinion is that since us Christians have all the answers we must also have a “holier than thou” attitude. In reality I can see how he could get that opinion with the way some Christians act. Anyway, my friend came to me and asked my opinion on something that had happened to him over the weekend. He had gone to the Home Depot and paid for his items with his debit card. As he was leaving the store a clerk ran up to him and said “Sir. You forgot your change.” The clerk was holding $50 in cash. My friend said that he knew he didn’t select to receive any cash back and he knew that the money wasn’t his, but he took it anyway. Here is how the conversation went (I’ll call my friend “Rod”):
Rod: So, would you have taken the money?
Ed: No I wouldn’t have. If I looked at my receipt and saw that I didn’t accidentally choose cash back, then I would not have taken it. That’s stealing.
Rod: Do you know how much those stores make in a single day? $50 isn’t going to ruin their business.
Ed: That doesn’t matter. It’s still wrong.
Rod: Oh like you’ve never stolen. Have you ever taken money that wasn’t yours?
Ed: Yes.
Rod: So what’s the difference?
Ed: None. I am equally as guilty as you are. The thing is that you need to understand why some people go to hell because of their sin and some people go to heaven in spite of their sin. The reason that happens is because of Jesus. Jesus is the difference.
Jesus is the difference. Jesus. Jesus!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
It's Thanksgiving
I received an email from t-shirts.com telling me there is a 10% off “turkey day” sale. I see that term from time to time, now more and more. I want to scream “It’s not Turkey Day, it’s Thanksgiving! It’s about giving THANKS not about turkeys!!”
Ok, I’ve got that out of my system.
Look up Thanksgiving on Wikipedia and you’ll find “Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a traditional North American holiday to give thanks at the conclusion of the harvest season. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November”.
Hmm, “to give thanks at the conclusion of the harvest season.” Ok I suppose. But here in America there is no harvest season for us to be really thankful for. We live in a perpetual harvest season. So it’s not really that special, is it?
If you want a real laugh go to www.happyturkeyday.org - “This Thanksgiving, when you sit down at the dinner table, please take a full 5 minutes of silence and/or prayer to acknowledge the millions of lives that were ended for this Day of Thankfulness.”
The lives their talking about are the turkeys (oi vai!), but at least happyturkeyday.org and Wikipedia acknowledge this is a day of thankfulness.
Today I want you to not only think about what you are thankful for, but to whom you are thankful to. Or should I have written, to Whom.
Yes, once again time and “progressive” thinking have separated us from the original intent of the holiday (Christmas is currently under this same attack). The folks at happyturkeyday.org want you take 5 minutes for silence and/or prayer and contemplate the fate of the turkey. I would like to ask you to take 5 minutes and read the two presidential proclamations that brought about Thanksgiving Day in America.
The first was written by President George Washington in 1789 which set aside one day that year as a day of Thanksgiving. The second written by Abraham Lincoln in Oct. 1863 proclaimed the day as an annual holiday. By the way, when reading the Lincoln proclamation, remember this is 1863 at the height of the civil war.
There is no doubt that this day of Thanksgiving was intended to be a day of thanksgiving and praise to God Almighty. May we all not only contemplate that, but share it as well.
Oh, one other thing about the Lincoln proclamation; please take notice of the second sentence. It is a thousand times better than any sentence I could ever write if I had all the time in the world to think and reflect on what I wanted to say. Lincoln probably scribbled it out as if it were no big deal.
Washington's Prolamation
Lincoln's Prolamation
Ok, I’ve got that out of my system.
Look up Thanksgiving on Wikipedia and you’ll find “Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a traditional North American holiday to give thanks at the conclusion of the harvest season. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November”.
Hmm, “to give thanks at the conclusion of the harvest season.” Ok I suppose. But here in America there is no harvest season for us to be really thankful for. We live in a perpetual harvest season. So it’s not really that special, is it?
If you want a real laugh go to www.happyturkeyday.org - “This Thanksgiving, when you sit down at the dinner table, please take a full 5 minutes of silence and/or prayer to acknowledge the millions of lives that were ended for this Day of Thankfulness.”
The lives their talking about are the turkeys (oi vai!), but at least happyturkeyday.org and Wikipedia acknowledge this is a day of thankfulness.
Today I want you to not only think about what you are thankful for, but to whom you are thankful to. Or should I have written, to Whom.
Yes, once again time and “progressive” thinking have separated us from the original intent of the holiday (Christmas is currently under this same attack). The folks at happyturkeyday.org want you take 5 minutes for silence and/or prayer and contemplate the fate of the turkey. I would like to ask you to take 5 minutes and read the two presidential proclamations that brought about Thanksgiving Day in America.
The first was written by President George Washington in 1789 which set aside one day that year as a day of Thanksgiving. The second written by Abraham Lincoln in Oct. 1863 proclaimed the day as an annual holiday. By the way, when reading the Lincoln proclamation, remember this is 1863 at the height of the civil war.
There is no doubt that this day of Thanksgiving was intended to be a day of thanksgiving and praise to God Almighty. May we all not only contemplate that, but share it as well.
Oh, one other thing about the Lincoln proclamation; please take notice of the second sentence. It is a thousand times better than any sentence I could ever write if I had all the time in the world to think and reflect on what I wanted to say. Lincoln probably scribbled it out as if it were no big deal.
Washington's Prolamation
Lincoln's Prolamation
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
The Soft Pillow of Science
I was channel surfing the other night and as I did I came across a program on the Discovery Channel called Miracle Planet: The Evolution of Our World. The channel guide that describes what the program is about read, “Earth was born out of chaos, disaster and completely by chance. Travel back into the violent past to discover how the fragile conditions of life were created.”
Did you get that? This show will explain how the earth and even life itself were created by chance. Created BY chance? What IS chance? How can anything be created BY chance? Don’t get me wrong; chance is a perfectly good word to describe mathematical probabilities. For example we listen to the weather in order to find out if there will be a chance of rain. The weather guesser tells us that tomorrow there will be a 30% chance. Or if I ask you what the chances are, when I flip a coin, that it will come up tails? The answer is that there is a 50% chance it will come up tails. But tell me, when I flip the coin how does chance influence the outcome? What force does chance exert on the coin which causes it to come up tails? None! It can’t! It isn’t possible because chance is not a thing. It’s nothing! It’s simply a word used to describe mathematical possibilities. Yet some scientists, many scientists, have given chance magical powers; even the power to create.
I’ve read it and heard it so many times, Space+Time+Chance=The Universe. What is time? How much does it weigh? When I see that formula, which is the formula ascribed to by all believers in the big bang theory, I see this: nothing+nothing+nothing=everything; =me. This to me is logically untenable, yet these otherwise brilliant people use the term chance as a soft pillow to explain affects for things that they simply have not, or can not, find a cause for. I would respect them if they would just say that. Just say we haven’t found the cause yet, but with more experimentation and study we hope to discover what the causes are.
The day after I saw that program description I came into work and flipped the page on my “Bible Verse a Day” calendar and here is what the scripture was: Hebrews 11:3
Did you get that? This show will explain how the earth and even life itself were created by chance. Created BY chance? What IS chance? How can anything be created BY chance? Don’t get me wrong; chance is a perfectly good word to describe mathematical probabilities. For example we listen to the weather in order to find out if there will be a chance of rain. The weather guesser tells us that tomorrow there will be a 30% chance. Or if I ask you what the chances are, when I flip a coin, that it will come up tails? The answer is that there is a 50% chance it will come up tails. But tell me, when I flip the coin how does chance influence the outcome? What force does chance exert on the coin which causes it to come up tails? None! It can’t! It isn’t possible because chance is not a thing. It’s nothing! It’s simply a word used to describe mathematical possibilities. Yet some scientists, many scientists, have given chance magical powers; even the power to create.
I’ve read it and heard it so many times, Space+Time+Chance=The Universe. What is time? How much does it weigh? When I see that formula, which is the formula ascribed to by all believers in the big bang theory, I see this: nothing+nothing+nothing=everything; =me. This to me is logically untenable, yet these otherwise brilliant people use the term chance as a soft pillow to explain affects for things that they simply have not, or can not, find a cause for. I would respect them if they would just say that. Just say we haven’t found the cause yet, but with more experimentation and study we hope to discover what the causes are.
The day after I saw that program description I came into work and flipped the page on my “Bible Verse a Day” calendar and here is what the scripture was: Hebrews 11:3
“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Only!
When Jesus was being tempted by Satan in the Judean wilderness He fended off every attempt of Satan by quoting scripture. The last recorded temptation involved Satan, the prince of this world, showing Jesus all of the kingdoms of earth and trying to get Jesus to worship him by promising all of it to Jesus. Jesus responds by quoting Deuteronomy, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only’.”
Serve Him ONLY. Christ knew that in order to fulfill His mission he would absolutely without fail serve the Father and Him only. If God said it, then Jesus trusts it and it doesn’t matter what Satan or anybody else says. What a difference between the second Adam and the first! And every son of the first Adam that has ever lived since!! We tend to take Satan up on that deal by serving God on Sunday and the world the rest of the week. So often Christians are afraid to serve God ONLY because that would mean we would have to be politically incorrect. Stand up for the Truth of God as it is written in His Bible. We have a real hard time trusting what God tells us.
Serve Him ONLY. Christ knew that in order to fulfill His mission he would absolutely without fail serve the Father and Him only. If God said it, then Jesus trusts it and it doesn’t matter what Satan or anybody else says. What a difference between the second Adam and the first! And every son of the first Adam that has ever lived since!! We tend to take Satan up on that deal by serving God on Sunday and the world the rest of the week. So often Christians are afraid to serve God ONLY because that would mean we would have to be politically incorrect. Stand up for the Truth of God as it is written in His Bible. We have a real hard time trusting what God tells us.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
When Fish Catch Men
In Romans 8:37 we read, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Brother Danny always asked the question, how we could be more than conquerors? I know what it is to conqueror, but to be more than a conqueror?”I am sure that God has some unimaginable ways to show us the meaning of that and there are many ways the meaning may be manifest in our lives. But, last week He showed it to me in a small, but significant way.
VBS was beginning is a few days and my role was to play the part of a fisherman working in a fish market. As the first day of VBS approached I began making my costume and thinking about what props I would have. I was thinking I need a fish as a prop and wondered if I would have to strike a deal with my 4-year-old niece to borrow some of her toy fishies. As I was driving to work on Friday my thoughts again went to what I should do about a prop as VBS started on Monday. While at work I went to visit a colleague who had just moved into a new office. When I entered his office there on top of a bookshelf was a 4-foot long, beautiful, stuffed toy catfish. I asked if I could borrow it the following week and my friend said I could have it. It was there when he moved into the office. Leaving his office I thought how God is so wonderful and loving even in the small things. But, I would soon learn that God always has bigger things in mind and can always work them out even through the small things.
Now back at my desk I have to put this large stuffed catfish somewhere! I’m not in an office, I have a cube and just outside my cube wall is a short two-drawer file cabinet. So on top of the file cabinet Mr. Fish goes. He immediately began to draw attention as if he were casting lures out into the office and attracting schooling co-workers. Soon he got his first bite, “Hey Ed, what’s the fish for?” I replied, “It’s for VBS. This year our theme is Galilee by the Sea, and I am the fisherman. Why don’t you come on by?” One bite, then another and another. It was at that moment it hit me. God not only provides, He more than provides. Just as in Christ we are more than conquerors. Not only does God provide a way for us to be freed from death, but we also inherit the Kingdom of God.
My words can not explain this sufficiently, so I’ll use the words of the Holy Spirit found in Romans 8:36-39 “As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
VBS was beginning is a few days and my role was to play the part of a fisherman working in a fish market. As the first day of VBS approached I began making my costume and thinking about what props I would have. I was thinking I need a fish as a prop and wondered if I would have to strike a deal with my 4-year-old niece to borrow some of her toy fishies. As I was driving to work on Friday my thoughts again went to what I should do about a prop as VBS started on Monday. While at work I went to visit a colleague who had just moved into a new office. When I entered his office there on top of a bookshelf was a 4-foot long, beautiful, stuffed toy catfish. I asked if I could borrow it the following week and my friend said I could have it. It was there when he moved into the office. Leaving his office I thought how God is so wonderful and loving even in the small things. But, I would soon learn that God always has bigger things in mind and can always work them out even through the small things.
Now back at my desk I have to put this large stuffed catfish somewhere! I’m not in an office, I have a cube and just outside my cube wall is a short two-drawer file cabinet. So on top of the file cabinet Mr. Fish goes. He immediately began to draw attention as if he were casting lures out into the office and attracting schooling co-workers. Soon he got his first bite, “Hey Ed, what’s the fish for?” I replied, “It’s for VBS. This year our theme is Galilee by the Sea, and I am the fisherman. Why don’t you come on by?” One bite, then another and another. It was at that moment it hit me. God not only provides, He more than provides. Just as in Christ we are more than conquerors. Not only does God provide a way for us to be freed from death, but we also inherit the Kingdom of God.
My words can not explain this sufficiently, so I’ll use the words of the Holy Spirit found in Romans 8:36-39 “As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Monday, April 09, 2007
Teach Me O God
I learned a valuable lesson recently regarding the blessings of God. Many times in the past I have experienced great inner joy by being obedient to God’s will. Recently, however, I experienced something completely different based on my not being obedient to God.
Every year our congregation hosts what is known as Mission Sunday. There are months of build up for this very special Sunday dedicated to highlighting the ministries being supported by the congregation and the many individuals dedicating their life to the mission field. The focus is on the great work these selfless brothers and sisters perform in the service to Jesus. Equally important is the special contribution made that day which will continue to fund these missions for the upcoming year.
Prior to the day of Mission Sunday, the Shepherds usually set a goal for the contribution and communicate that goal to the brethren. The year before last the goal was set and as it turned out, we fell quite a bit short of hitting it. Because of that, our ability to fund some missions suffered. Although our falling short of the goal was disappointing, I personally felt the inner joy that comes from being obedient to God.
This year, as the day for Mission Sunday was far off the Shepherds set a goal that was lower than the one we set the year before. Perhaps it was just too much for a congregation that contributes regularly to many other needs? I decided in my heart an amount to give. As the date came nearer both myself and my wife were involved in very busy periods regarding our jobs as well as personal commitments. Travel was frequent during this time and sure enough our personal schedule had us out of town and unable to attend church on Mission Sunday. Still, I kept thinking to myself that I need to drop off my check before that Sunday. I kept thinking it, but never did it. Then I thought that I would call or email in a pledge. I never did that either. While I was away that weekend I kept thinking about how I failed to get my contribution in before I left and about how my lack of placing importance on Mission Sunday could possibly contribute to yet another year of falling short of the goal. I thought, for sure when we get back I will bring my check to the Shepherds. I didn’t.
The Sunday after, when we had returned and I had not yet made any contribution or even communicated a pledge to contribute, came a lesson from on high. I’ll never forget it. Our congregational goal for this year’s mission Sunday was $75,000. As the associate Minister went before the congregation to report what God had done through us, I felt disappointed in my lack of caring and expected to hear how we came so close to the goal, but just didn’t make it. Was I shocked when I heard that not only had the congregation exceeded the goal, but the goal was exceeded by an amount that could only be accounted for by saying “…but with God, all things are possible”. Over $115,000 was given that Sunday.
The lesson I learned WASN’T that the success of exceeding the goal was up to me. That was a lesson showing me how self centered I am, but not the real lesson.
Here is the lesson. Because of my lack of placing a priority on what I knew was something God wanted me to do I DID NOT AND COULD NOT SHARE IN THE JOY OF GOD’S VICTORY! I WAS NOT A PART OF THAT JOY. I WAS ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN!! This was far worse than any feelings of guilt or disappointment. I missed out on the joy that comes from being obedient to God. I’ve felt that joy before and now I was experiencing the polar opposite of that feeling. The joy I am speaking of is unlike any feeling you’ve ever had. It’s a joy that is felt in your inner most being and its absence was excruciating.
There are often appeals for contributions for many worthy needs and for some the Spirit tells me to give and for some He does not. This past Mission Sunday the Spirit clearly put on my heart that I should give. I didn’t do it and the feeling of not being able to share in the joy of the Lord is one I will never forget and one I never want to feel again.
Every year our congregation hosts what is known as Mission Sunday. There are months of build up for this very special Sunday dedicated to highlighting the ministries being supported by the congregation and the many individuals dedicating their life to the mission field. The focus is on the great work these selfless brothers and sisters perform in the service to Jesus. Equally important is the special contribution made that day which will continue to fund these missions for the upcoming year.
Prior to the day of Mission Sunday, the Shepherds usually set a goal for the contribution and communicate that goal to the brethren. The year before last the goal was set and as it turned out, we fell quite a bit short of hitting it. Because of that, our ability to fund some missions suffered. Although our falling short of the goal was disappointing, I personally felt the inner joy that comes from being obedient to God.
This year, as the day for Mission Sunday was far off the Shepherds set a goal that was lower than the one we set the year before. Perhaps it was just too much for a congregation that contributes regularly to many other needs? I decided in my heart an amount to give. As the date came nearer both myself and my wife were involved in very busy periods regarding our jobs as well as personal commitments. Travel was frequent during this time and sure enough our personal schedule had us out of town and unable to attend church on Mission Sunday. Still, I kept thinking to myself that I need to drop off my check before that Sunday. I kept thinking it, but never did it. Then I thought that I would call or email in a pledge. I never did that either. While I was away that weekend I kept thinking about how I failed to get my contribution in before I left and about how my lack of placing importance on Mission Sunday could possibly contribute to yet another year of falling short of the goal. I thought, for sure when we get back I will bring my check to the Shepherds. I didn’t.
The Sunday after, when we had returned and I had not yet made any contribution or even communicated a pledge to contribute, came a lesson from on high. I’ll never forget it. Our congregational goal for this year’s mission Sunday was $75,000. As the associate Minister went before the congregation to report what God had done through us, I felt disappointed in my lack of caring and expected to hear how we came so close to the goal, but just didn’t make it. Was I shocked when I heard that not only had the congregation exceeded the goal, but the goal was exceeded by an amount that could only be accounted for by saying “…but with God, all things are possible”. Over $115,000 was given that Sunday.
The lesson I learned WASN’T that the success of exceeding the goal was up to me. That was a lesson showing me how self centered I am, but not the real lesson.
Here is the lesson. Because of my lack of placing a priority on what I knew was something God wanted me to do I DID NOT AND COULD NOT SHARE IN THE JOY OF GOD’S VICTORY! I WAS NOT A PART OF THAT JOY. I WAS ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN!! This was far worse than any feelings of guilt or disappointment. I missed out on the joy that comes from being obedient to God. I’ve felt that joy before and now I was experiencing the polar opposite of that feeling. The joy I am speaking of is unlike any feeling you’ve ever had. It’s a joy that is felt in your inner most being and its absence was excruciating.
There are often appeals for contributions for many worthy needs and for some the Spirit tells me to give and for some He does not. This past Mission Sunday the Spirit clearly put on my heart that I should give. I didn’t do it and the feeling of not being able to share in the joy of the Lord is one I will never forget and one I never want to feel again.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
The Windmills of Your Mind
I came across Proverbs 9:6 the other day. It reads "Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the ways of understanding."
Ted Turner once said that Christianity is religion for losers. Secular scholars say that the Bible is a book of myths and stories created by ancient people to help explain their world, but it is obsolete in the post-modern world. Now, I marvel at the advance of science over the years. From medicine to technology, the lives of some of the poorest people in America today far exceeds the comfort, convenience and quality of kings that lived just 200 years ago. Yet still, with all the great minds in the world, we continue to hear that science has "proven" that God does not exist. Science has solved it all and fulfills all our needs and the idea of a God is an illogical psychological dependency for weak minded people.
But God (I love that statement! ....but God..sorry, I got side tracked). But, God says that in His reality all of our super human thinking that brings us all of these great discoveries in fact points to His existence! Any idea or logic that we come up with that we use to try an kill God's existence He calls "simple ways" and we should leave them lest we die. Isn't that what He's told us right from the beginning? If we eat that fruit we will surely die and the wages of sin is death.
I think it's great that God loves us so much he gave us His Word. Our prideful ideas are simply deadly. But, walking in the ways of God is brilliant!
Ted Turner once said that Christianity is religion for losers. Secular scholars say that the Bible is a book of myths and stories created by ancient people to help explain their world, but it is obsolete in the post-modern world. Now, I marvel at the advance of science over the years. From medicine to technology, the lives of some of the poorest people in America today far exceeds the comfort, convenience and quality of kings that lived just 200 years ago. Yet still, with all the great minds in the world, we continue to hear that science has "proven" that God does not exist. Science has solved it all and fulfills all our needs and the idea of a God is an illogical psychological dependency for weak minded people.
But God (I love that statement! ....but God..sorry, I got side tracked). But, God says that in His reality all of our super human thinking that brings us all of these great discoveries in fact points to His existence! Any idea or logic that we come up with that we use to try an kill God's existence He calls "simple ways" and we should leave them lest we die. Isn't that what He's told us right from the beginning? If we eat that fruit we will surely die and the wages of sin is death.
I think it's great that God loves us so much he gave us His Word. Our prideful ideas are simply deadly. But, walking in the ways of God is brilliant!
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
True Truth
No, I don’t have a stuttering problem. I’m talking about objective truth.
What is truth? From a real sense, truth equals reality. That which is true is real and that which is real is true. There is a relationship between the two. My belief in God, no matter how strong, cannot conjure up a god that is not there. And, no matter how much someone is convinced that there is no God cannot destroy a God that is.
From a biblical sense truth is personal. Jesus didn’t say, “I tell the truth”, he said, “I am the truth.” Jesus said that when Pontius Pilate asked Jesus what is truth. Jesus is the only one who has always told the truth and has never lied.
What is truth? From a real sense, truth equals reality. That which is true is real and that which is real is true. There is a relationship between the two. My belief in God, no matter how strong, cannot conjure up a god that is not there. And, no matter how much someone is convinced that there is no God cannot destroy a God that is.
From a biblical sense truth is personal. Jesus didn’t say, “I tell the truth”, he said, “I am the truth.” Jesus said that when Pontius Pilate asked Jesus what is truth. Jesus is the only one who has always told the truth and has never lied.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
The Missing Link
As you may or may not know Katie Couric took over the position of anchoring the NBC Nightly News. Along with the new anchor, NBC began a free speech segment where ordinary folks can deliver commentary during the broadcast. With the recent tragic incident involving the shooting of children in a small Amish school house, NBC invited Brian Rohrbough to delive that nights commentary. Mr. Rohrbough, whose son was killed in the Colombine high school shootings, had this to say:
As time goes on, I believe this will only get worse. Yes, God can bring about revival in our country if it is His will and Christians should pray for the current state of affairs to be reversed. But, I honestly think this country will continue to decline steadily toward an ever greater state of immorality and that immorality will be looked upon as having nothing wrong with it.
For me, the teaching of evolution in public schools has fostered an environment that leads many students to believe that there is little or no meaning to life. As Mr. Rohrbough plainly understands, evolutionary indoctrination declares that we are only animals in the struggle for survival. This has created a mindset in many of our young people that life lacks purpose. Yet, otherwise intelligent people can not see the link between this teaching and the ever increasing violence in our country which is steadily devouring younger and younger victims."I am saddened and shaken by the shooting at an Amish school today and last week's school murders. When my son Dan was murdered on the sidewalk at Columbine High School on April 20th, 1999, I hoped that would be the last school shooting. Since that day, I tried to answer the question why did this happen? This country is in a moral free fall. For over two generations, the public school system has taught in a moral vacuum, expelling God from the school and from the government, replacing Him with evolution, where the strong kill the weak without moral consequences. And life has no inherent value. We teach there are no absolutes, no right or wrong. And I assure you, the murder of innocent children is always wrong, including by abortion. Abortion has diminished the value of children. Suicide has become an acceptable action and has further emboldened these criminals. And we are seeing an epidemic increase in murder/suicide attacks on our children."
As time goes on, I believe this will only get worse. Yes, God can bring about revival in our country if it is His will and Christians should pray for the current state of affairs to be reversed. But, I honestly think this country will continue to decline steadily toward an ever greater state of immorality and that immorality will be looked upon as having nothing wrong with it.
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