Just 3 days to v day. What are our major concerns should Barak Obama be elected? socialism? enemies abroad might be emboldened to attack as Joe Biden warned? increased taxes that might even do more damage to the economy? These are legitimate concerns, but none of these are my number one concern.
My number one concern may be illustrated by the following:
(1) Joe the plumber challenges Obama's plan to raise taxes and suddenly Ohio begins an in depth background check on Joe. Is he behind in child support? Is he up to date on all his loans and taxes? Who are his friends? etc..(2) dozens of investigators upon the announcement of Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate land in Alaska to do in depth research to see what problems they can find with Palin's past. (3) Three newspapers endorse John McCain and suddenly the Obama plane no longer has space for reporters from these papers to accompany the Obama parade. Obama's bridge building rhetoric becomes hollow when you find that those who don't agree with him will be punished rather than engaged in discussion. Will this be the way he negotiates with Iran, Russia and China? And Bush is a cowboy!
Over and over voices opposing Obama encountered discipline rather than discussion. Do you think talk radio has any chance of survival when Obama is president and the senate and house are in the control of his colleagues in the same party?? I have problems with some talk shows because I think they have more air than thought, but we are still better off by having freedom of speech as opposed to controlled speech. Do you think talk radio will be the only victim? What about the internet? What about churches? Already the IRS watches over churches and parachurch organizations to make sure they don't become involved in elections. Of course many do and have for a long time, but in the future will certain kinds of churches become more of a threat than others? Jeremiah Wright will probably be viewed as a wonderful example of freedom of religion, but those like James Dobson who consider homosexuality as a sinful behavior might want to be extra careful.
The previous paragraph would be considered by many as trading in fear. We're told "it would never happen here". Canadian churches would have said that a few years ago, but now laws exist in Canada that designate certain bibical texts as hate speech and one who cites those texts in public places is in danger of being placed behind bars. Some have already suffered that fate.
AN ACT FOR ESTABLISHING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM authored by Thomas Jefferson in 1786 includes the following: "to suffer the civil magistrate to intrude his powers into the field of opinion and to restrain the profession or propagation of principles, on the supposition of their ill tendency is a dangerous fallacy, which at once destroys all religious liberty....it is time enough for the rightful purposes of civil government for its officers to interfere when principles break out into overt acts against peace and order....truth is great and will prevail if left to herself.. she is the proper and sufficient antagonist to error, and has nothing to fear from the conflict..unless disarmed of her natural weapons, free argument and debate, errors cease to be dangerous when (truth) is permitted freely to contradict them.
May we pray that free argument and debate will always be unhindered by political power of the left or the right. If religions we don't agree with can be silenced then those we do agree with can be silenced by the same powers and if political argument we don't embrace can be silenced so can the argument that we endorse. Pray for our country's decision and for the candidates even the one we may not endorse. Truth can handle itself if allowed the freedom to express itself.
rd
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
To be or not to be, to blog or not to blog, that is the question. The popularity of my blog is evident by the comments I receive. Linda has asked that I continue and I appreciate her loyal following and I guess as long as I have two followers, Linda and the blog's author, its worth it. After all, as an introvert, I'm not much into crowds anyway. Today's blog presents me as the counsellee and my reader as the counsellor. In other words I need to vent and I know you will want to read my story.
In March of 2007 I bought a pre-owned Toyota Avalon. In June of 2008, I received a message from the Illinois Tollway that included a picture of my Avalon having passed through a toll booth without paying the toll. I was informed that I owed a fine of $104.00. At first I was puzzled then I noticed that the violation occurred in June of 2006. I thought "Oh this will be easy to resolve, I'll just call them and inform them that I did not purchase the car until 9 months after the violation". Wrong! I called and they informed me that I would have to provide proof.
I asked them how they had determined me to be the owner. They said the information was supplied by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. I then called the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and they said. Our records show clearly that you purchased the auto in March 2007 and did not own the vehicle at the time of the violation. They suggested I ask the representative of the tollway to call TDMV and they would correct any misunderstanding the tollway might have. When I called my helpful Tollway representative, they said I would have to provide proof. By now a principle is at stake for me. I asked why I should have to correct their error and that all it would take was for them to make a simple telephone call. I was informed that they don't involve third parties. When I asked how that could be true, since they had involved them in acquiring the data that supposedly listed me as the owner of the car. They said they had policies to follow.
Meanwhile I had received another notice warning me that the fine is now 375.00 and climbing.
I spoke to five different people at the tollway and spent 3 hours of their time and mine when a two minute conversation between them and the TDMV could have solved the problem. I pointed out that the crime was committed by the car, not by me and that it seemed rather obvious to me that I am being assumed guilty rather than innocent and that the burden of proof should be on them. Furthermore I pointed out to them that even the TDMV representative said they would look awfully silly if they came after me since it is so evident that the truth is on my side. Surprizingly, they were not impressed and reminded me that I must provide documentation proving that I didn't own the auto or I would remain in violation.
What's wrong with our country? Policies and bureaucracies that spend 4 hours of taxpayers money on something a two minute telephone call could resolve. Automated telephone answering systems and dialing systems intrude upon our privacy and eat up our time. I think operations like the Illinois tollway operate by the assumption that if they can waste enough of your time and hassle you long enough you will pay whether you owe it or not. They may be right, for I don't want my license taken away or have to appear before an Illinois judge or serve time in the slammer.
I know, I know , why don't I just send the documentation they are asking for? Did I mention there is a principle at stake, although at the moment I can't remember what it is.
In March of 2007 I bought a pre-owned Toyota Avalon. In June of 2008, I received a message from the Illinois Tollway that included a picture of my Avalon having passed through a toll booth without paying the toll. I was informed that I owed a fine of $104.00. At first I was puzzled then I noticed that the violation occurred in June of 2006. I thought "Oh this will be easy to resolve, I'll just call them and inform them that I did not purchase the car until 9 months after the violation". Wrong! I called and they informed me that I would have to provide proof.
I asked them how they had determined me to be the owner. They said the information was supplied by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. I then called the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and they said. Our records show clearly that you purchased the auto in March 2007 and did not own the vehicle at the time of the violation. They suggested I ask the representative of the tollway to call TDMV and they would correct any misunderstanding the tollway might have. When I called my helpful Tollway representative, they said I would have to provide proof. By now a principle is at stake for me. I asked why I should have to correct their error and that all it would take was for them to make a simple telephone call. I was informed that they don't involve third parties. When I asked how that could be true, since they had involved them in acquiring the data that supposedly listed me as the owner of the car. They said they had policies to follow.
Meanwhile I had received another notice warning me that the fine is now 375.00 and climbing.
I spoke to five different people at the tollway and spent 3 hours of their time and mine when a two minute conversation between them and the TDMV could have solved the problem. I pointed out that the crime was committed by the car, not by me and that it seemed rather obvious to me that I am being assumed guilty rather than innocent and that the burden of proof should be on them. Furthermore I pointed out to them that even the TDMV representative said they would look awfully silly if they came after me since it is so evident that the truth is on my side. Surprizingly, they were not impressed and reminded me that I must provide documentation proving that I didn't own the auto or I would remain in violation.
What's wrong with our country? Policies and bureaucracies that spend 4 hours of taxpayers money on something a two minute telephone call could resolve. Automated telephone answering systems and dialing systems intrude upon our privacy and eat up our time. I think operations like the Illinois tollway operate by the assumption that if they can waste enough of your time and hassle you long enough you will pay whether you owe it or not. They may be right, for I don't want my license taken away or have to appear before an Illinois judge or serve time in the slammer.
I know, I know , why don't I just send the documentation they are asking for? Did I mention there is a principle at stake, although at the moment I can't remember what it is.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Sunday morning following the morning worship a young man who is in a rehab center for drug addiction, asked me to define virtue. I had mentioned virtues in my sermon. It dawned on me that we are familiar with values but not virtues. In our discussion of the coming elections we hear a lot about the values of the candidates, but not much is said concerning their virtues.
In its classical definition "virtue" means the power to accomplish a particular function. Hemlock could be referred to as a "deadly virtue". Some older translations rendered Mark's words "Jesus, immediately knowing that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press and said, Who touched my clothes" in a way that illustrates the classical definition of virtue as power
Eventually, virtue came to mean a man who is whole and strong, one who can fulfill his moral function in society. The Greek virtues included were four in number: justice, prudence, self control and courage. These four are embraced in the New Testament, and specific
Christian virtues of faith, love and hope were added to these so that in later history, these were the characteristics usually used to describe a virtuous man from a christian standpoint, while at least the first four were essential to all men and women. Virtues were about character formation and were learned in childhood from family and faith communities. In modern times virtue has fallen out of favor and has been relegated to a Victorian past. Instead "values" are in favor today. Values are fluid and depend upon the eyes of the beholder. Just as the buyer and seller will disagree about the value of a car, so we disagree about morality and neither of us can prove the other wrong because values are personal and subjective.
Virtue was not just a concern of Christians. Plato, Aristotle and Socrates discussed it. Confucius said (and he really did)that the superior man thinks always of virtue while the common man thinks of comfort.
I'm afraid most of us are more common than superior. Because the family is crumbling so are the foundations. Our children know the price everything and the value of nothing. It takes virtue to shape values.
To paraphrase C .S. Lewis, I would rather play cards against a man who is skeptical about ethics, but bred to believe that "a gentleman does not cheat" that one who has a phd in moral philosophy but grew up among card sharks.
If you see an application to anything going on in the election process, well good for you. You might be virtuous after all.
rd
In its classical definition "virtue" means the power to accomplish a particular function. Hemlock could be referred to as a "deadly virtue". Some older translations rendered Mark's words "Jesus, immediately knowing that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press and said, Who touched my clothes" in a way that illustrates the classical definition of virtue as power
Eventually, virtue came to mean a man who is whole and strong, one who can fulfill his moral function in society. The Greek virtues included were four in number: justice, prudence, self control and courage. These four are embraced in the New Testament, and specific
Christian virtues of faith, love and hope were added to these so that in later history, these were the characteristics usually used to describe a virtuous man from a christian standpoint, while at least the first four were essential to all men and women. Virtues were about character formation and were learned in childhood from family and faith communities. In modern times virtue has fallen out of favor and has been relegated to a Victorian past. Instead "values" are in favor today. Values are fluid and depend upon the eyes of the beholder. Just as the buyer and seller will disagree about the value of a car, so we disagree about morality and neither of us can prove the other wrong because values are personal and subjective.
Virtue was not just a concern of Christians. Plato, Aristotle and Socrates discussed it. Confucius said (and he really did)that the superior man thinks always of virtue while the common man thinks of comfort.
I'm afraid most of us are more common than superior. Because the family is crumbling so are the foundations. Our children know the price everything and the value of nothing. It takes virtue to shape values.
To paraphrase C .S. Lewis, I would rather play cards against a man who is skeptical about ethics, but bred to believe that "a gentleman does not cheat" that one who has a phd in moral philosophy but grew up among card sharks.
If you see an application to anything going on in the election process, well good for you. You might be virtuous after all.
rd
Monday, October 27, 2008
Another beautiful morning in the neighborhood. The skies are clear, the air is crisp and God is on the throne.
Eight days to go and then we learn our fate for the next four years. There are encouraging trends that suggest that the race may be tightening. More recent polls suggest that the difference between candidates may be 5% or less. Several swing states show a tightening. The discovery yesterday of a tape of Obama on a radio talk show advocating the courts and congress should do more to redistribute the wealth confirms the comment he made to Joe, the plumber. The radio show was from 2001 and proves that his views have been consistent. Will it make a difference to the American voters, who knows. Our heritage has been freedom and justice with the defense of property rights. Class envy has not been considered a good thing. Rather individual responsibility and self determination have been the virtues thought to lead to success. We have rejected the maxim "from each according to his means to each according to his needs.". In rejecting the maxim, we have not been indifferent to the needs of our fellow human beings.
In 2006 Arthur Brooks, a professor of public administration at Syracuse University, wrote a book containing his extensive research in Americans giving patterns or charitable giving. The bookWHO REALLY CARES is an eye opener. He thought when he began his research that he would find that left leaning voters would be more charitable because of their articulated concern for the underprivileged and poor. However, what he found was that while America has more charitable giving than any country in the world, the majority of the giving comes from conservatives. Why? Because conservatives believe it is their responsibility to help their neighbors and that more money will reach the needy through local and bureaucracy free giving than will reach them through government. Those who believe the government should redistribute the wealth are not nearly as likely to actually come to the rescue of the needy. Of course there are plenty of conservatives who are not liberal givers and plenty of liberals who are generous, but as groups the conservatives are more charitable.
When government takes over our health care, do you think the quality of care will remain the same. Check out the quality of care available in England. There are long waiting lists for major surgery and rationing of care based upon age. The older we get the less appealing is government controlled health care. As someone has said "Anyone who is not a socialist before age thirty has no heart, but anyone who is still a socialist after age 30 has no head".
Eight days to go and then we learn our fate for the next four years. There are encouraging trends that suggest that the race may be tightening. More recent polls suggest that the difference between candidates may be 5% or less. Several swing states show a tightening. The discovery yesterday of a tape of Obama on a radio talk show advocating the courts and congress should do more to redistribute the wealth confirms the comment he made to Joe, the plumber. The radio show was from 2001 and proves that his views have been consistent. Will it make a difference to the American voters, who knows. Our heritage has been freedom and justice with the defense of property rights. Class envy has not been considered a good thing. Rather individual responsibility and self determination have been the virtues thought to lead to success. We have rejected the maxim "from each according to his means to each according to his needs.". In rejecting the maxim, we have not been indifferent to the needs of our fellow human beings.
In 2006 Arthur Brooks, a professor of public administration at Syracuse University, wrote a book containing his extensive research in Americans giving patterns or charitable giving. The bookWHO REALLY CARES is an eye opener. He thought when he began his research that he would find that left leaning voters would be more charitable because of their articulated concern for the underprivileged and poor. However, what he found was that while America has more charitable giving than any country in the world, the majority of the giving comes from conservatives. Why? Because conservatives believe it is their responsibility to help their neighbors and that more money will reach the needy through local and bureaucracy free giving than will reach them through government. Those who believe the government should redistribute the wealth are not nearly as likely to actually come to the rescue of the needy. Of course there are plenty of conservatives who are not liberal givers and plenty of liberals who are generous, but as groups the conservatives are more charitable.
When government takes over our health care, do you think the quality of care will remain the same. Check out the quality of care available in England. There are long waiting lists for major surgery and rationing of care based upon age. The older we get the less appealing is government controlled health care. As someone has said "Anyone who is not a socialist before age thirty has no heart, but anyone who is still a socialist after age 30 has no head".
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Its a beautiful morning in the neighborhood. Its 37 degrees and has the fall feel. Great to be alive and blessed to live in America. However, for those of us who believe God rules in the kingdoms of men, there has to be grave concern about the future, not because our faith in God is weak, but because we trust God's word.
From a human standpoint, there are serious problems in our land. Our economy according to Greenspan is going through a "once in a century" tsunami that is destined to lead to escalating unemployment, increase in homeless population, less profits from businesses, and more government control of our economy. Retirees have seen their savings disappear. I could have finished paying for my house with the money I've lost in the last two months. I'm not alone.
The world scene is no more promising the the domestic. Russia continues to flex its remaining muscles, Iran threatens a pre-emptive strike on Israel, North Korea threatens to continue its military build-up and China progresses toward a financial take-over of our country.
The media has proved itself to be aiding and abetting in a move toward silencing certain voices in our country. Congress is most likely going to reinstate the fairness doctrine and silence radio talk shows that have in recent years offered an alternative to the msm. The left and the right have grown more shrill with the passing of time, but the right is going to see itself squeezed out of the conversation. All that will be left is the left. Oh conservatives can write books, but the populace seems more influenced by sound bites then by books.
Unions will no longer have a secret ballot which will give far more power back to union leaders.
Big business has shown itself to be more interested in gold fixtures in the private bathrooms of the CEOs tha the well being of their employees and the country as a whole. Small businesses are closer to the people, but will have a harder time surviving because of increased taxes placed on them.
However, these problems are but the tip of the iceberg. They are but symptoms of far bigger problems that may seal our fate. Two recent reports get closer to the real problems. According to a survey of the American people, 80% of those polled say there is a dirth of leadership in our land. Our founding generation produced Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. How could our founding generation have so many great minds and dedicated leaders while today we search as Jeremiah did for a few true leaders and all we find for the most part are partisan politicians who will say anything and take any position just to get elected and once elected, campaign promises and positions become irrelevant until its time to run for re-election.
Another report informs us that children of Americans are less likely to graduate from high school than their parents were. Our graduation rate is the lowest of any industrialized country in the world. Why is this so? Well, look at our homes. Divorce rate is about 50%. Single parent homes are growing much faster than two parent homes. Children spend far more time alone than I did when I was growing up. I doubt if those hours are filled with study time. In a sports saturated society, many minority students grow up idolizing T.O. and dreaming of their own professional football career and the money and lifestyle that will be theirs. When it doesn't work out, they turn to "whatever". Until more black leaders like Bill Cosby and Thomas Sowell emerge to help instill the values of education, faith, and family, many will continue to go down a path that will lead to ruin and dropouts. Let not whites think we are doing better, many of our daughters are following such icons as Paris Hilton and Brittany Spears. Have you seen Brittany's latest video, it hardly encourages education!
The point is----our problem is a moral crisis that reached the point that may be beyond return. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and other founding fathers realized that the form of government they were instituting would only work when people policed themselves by morals growing out of religious convictions. Though many of the fathers were deists and not conservative "evangelicals" they still realized the importance of faith to the future of the American experiment in liberty. That's why our founding documents spoke of inalienable rights granted us by our Creator, and sought to protect religious freedom. Modern courts have largely undone what the founding fathers put in place. The Christian voice is being systematically removed from the market place of ideas by "separation of church and state". As a result ultimate moral truths are being surrendered for relativism and pragmatism.
Where are the voices of God who will stand in the breach and call for a return to the old paths of absolute moral truth such as the truths expressed in the 10 commandments. God is....marriage and family must be valued and preserved( marriage as a man and woman )... property rights must be preserved (thou shalt not steal and that applies to government also)...Truth must be the coin of our currency( Thou shalt not bear false witness ). Think of some of the things that have been said about Sarah Palin. Above all life must be protected. These values will define a nation. These values are not restricted to Jews and Christians. Read Amos, chapters one and two. Countries without a revealed law were still expected to maintain self evident values that come from natural revelation. All men everywhere should see the wisdom of defending life, marriage and truth even if they don't recognize God. That's why God held accountable nations who knew not God.
Our country has been super blessed and we have a heritage that includes God as the source of permanent moral truths. Yet we've allowed our country to evolve into a selfish, lifeless, truthless culture that is now confused about what to do and seeking everywhere for an exit strategy. Hosea said if you sow to the wind, you will reap the whirlwind. I pray that we will survive the reaping.
Read Micah 7:1-7 and practice verse 7. God bless.
From a human standpoint, there are serious problems in our land. Our economy according to Greenspan is going through a "once in a century" tsunami that is destined to lead to escalating unemployment, increase in homeless population, less profits from businesses, and more government control of our economy. Retirees have seen their savings disappear. I could have finished paying for my house with the money I've lost in the last two months. I'm not alone.
The world scene is no more promising the the domestic. Russia continues to flex its remaining muscles, Iran threatens a pre-emptive strike on Israel, North Korea threatens to continue its military build-up and China progresses toward a financial take-over of our country.
The media has proved itself to be aiding and abetting in a move toward silencing certain voices in our country. Congress is most likely going to reinstate the fairness doctrine and silence radio talk shows that have in recent years offered an alternative to the msm. The left and the right have grown more shrill with the passing of time, but the right is going to see itself squeezed out of the conversation. All that will be left is the left. Oh conservatives can write books, but the populace seems more influenced by sound bites then by books.
Unions will no longer have a secret ballot which will give far more power back to union leaders.
Big business has shown itself to be more interested in gold fixtures in the private bathrooms of the CEOs tha the well being of their employees and the country as a whole. Small businesses are closer to the people, but will have a harder time surviving because of increased taxes placed on them.
However, these problems are but the tip of the iceberg. They are but symptoms of far bigger problems that may seal our fate. Two recent reports get closer to the real problems. According to a survey of the American people, 80% of those polled say there is a dirth of leadership in our land. Our founding generation produced Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. How could our founding generation have so many great minds and dedicated leaders while today we search as Jeremiah did for a few true leaders and all we find for the most part are partisan politicians who will say anything and take any position just to get elected and once elected, campaign promises and positions become irrelevant until its time to run for re-election.
Another report informs us that children of Americans are less likely to graduate from high school than their parents were. Our graduation rate is the lowest of any industrialized country in the world. Why is this so? Well, look at our homes. Divorce rate is about 50%. Single parent homes are growing much faster than two parent homes. Children spend far more time alone than I did when I was growing up. I doubt if those hours are filled with study time. In a sports saturated society, many minority students grow up idolizing T.O. and dreaming of their own professional football career and the money and lifestyle that will be theirs. When it doesn't work out, they turn to "whatever". Until more black leaders like Bill Cosby and Thomas Sowell emerge to help instill the values of education, faith, and family, many will continue to go down a path that will lead to ruin and dropouts. Let not whites think we are doing better, many of our daughters are following such icons as Paris Hilton and Brittany Spears. Have you seen Brittany's latest video, it hardly encourages education!
The point is----our problem is a moral crisis that reached the point that may be beyond return. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and other founding fathers realized that the form of government they were instituting would only work when people policed themselves by morals growing out of religious convictions. Though many of the fathers were deists and not conservative "evangelicals" they still realized the importance of faith to the future of the American experiment in liberty. That's why our founding documents spoke of inalienable rights granted us by our Creator, and sought to protect religious freedom. Modern courts have largely undone what the founding fathers put in place. The Christian voice is being systematically removed from the market place of ideas by "separation of church and state". As a result ultimate moral truths are being surrendered for relativism and pragmatism.
Where are the voices of God who will stand in the breach and call for a return to the old paths of absolute moral truth such as the truths expressed in the 10 commandments. God is....marriage and family must be valued and preserved( marriage as a man and woman )... property rights must be preserved (thou shalt not steal and that applies to government also)...Truth must be the coin of our currency( Thou shalt not bear false witness ). Think of some of the things that have been said about Sarah Palin. Above all life must be protected. These values will define a nation. These values are not restricted to Jews and Christians. Read Amos, chapters one and two. Countries without a revealed law were still expected to maintain self evident values that come from natural revelation. All men everywhere should see the wisdom of defending life, marriage and truth even if they don't recognize God. That's why God held accountable nations who knew not God.
Our country has been super blessed and we have a heritage that includes God as the source of permanent moral truths. Yet we've allowed our country to evolve into a selfish, lifeless, truthless culture that is now confused about what to do and seeking everywhere for an exit strategy. Hosea said if you sow to the wind, you will reap the whirlwind. I pray that we will survive the reaping.
Read Micah 7:1-7 and practice verse 7. God bless.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Don't give up on McCain, there remains hope as long as Joe the plumber and Joe the bumbler are being covered by the news media. Joe the plumber seems more effective in communicating the message that resonates with mainstreet America than John McCain is, but since Joe showed up too late to win the nomination we must support his surrogate.
If we had a few more weeks, I would feel extremely confident that Joe Biden could deliver America to the McCain camp. His comments on an international crisis within 6 months of Obama's election provides one of the best arguments I've heard against Obama's election.
Did you see Sarah on Saturday Night Live? Apparently most of America did and was impressed.
This election may not be as important as the Constitutional Convention that gave birth to America, but words spoken concerning that event bring comfort and hope to me. Let me share just a few words from one of our founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin. One of only a few fathers without a formal education, but by all accounts one of the wisest of the fathers.
As the convention approached Franklin wrote the following words in a letter to Thomas Jefferson:
I hope Good from their meeting. Indeed, if it does not do good, it must do Harm, as it will
show that we have not Wisdom enough among us to govern ourselves; and will strengthen
the opinion of some Political writers that popular Governments (governments
determined by the votes of the people) cannot long support themselves.
America was to be an experiment in liberty, one that many doubted could work because of the ignorance of the masses. Elections even today tend to contrast those who believe power should be left to the people and those who believe decisions can best be made by an elite group of politicians and educators.
When the convention bogged down in controversy and delegates were about to disband in hopeless division, Benjamin Franklin stood up before the august assembly and spoke these words:
Have we forgotten our powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need its
assistance? ...And the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God
governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice
is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?....Except the Lord build the house,
they labor in vain that build it."
It seems from that time forward that the convention began to make progress and we remain the bendficiaries of their labor and God's blessing.
At the end of the convention, a lady asked Frankling what kind of government the convention had given them, and Franklin answered: "A republic, if you can keep it".
Such is the task for Americans today. Can the people be trusted to keep it, we shall see. In the meantime we should pray. Franklin's faith and mine would differ in many ways, but he knew who governs the nations. (cf. Dan. 4:32). Pray for our republic and pray that our people will make the right decision come election day. Whatever the outcome, realize that ultimate power belongs not to McCain or Obama.
If we had a few more weeks, I would feel extremely confident that Joe Biden could deliver America to the McCain camp. His comments on an international crisis within 6 months of Obama's election provides one of the best arguments I've heard against Obama's election.
Did you see Sarah on Saturday Night Live? Apparently most of America did and was impressed.
This election may not be as important as the Constitutional Convention that gave birth to America, but words spoken concerning that event bring comfort and hope to me. Let me share just a few words from one of our founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin. One of only a few fathers without a formal education, but by all accounts one of the wisest of the fathers.
As the convention approached Franklin wrote the following words in a letter to Thomas Jefferson:
I hope Good from their meeting. Indeed, if it does not do good, it must do Harm, as it will
show that we have not Wisdom enough among us to govern ourselves; and will strengthen
the opinion of some Political writers that popular Governments (governments
determined by the votes of the people) cannot long support themselves.
America was to be an experiment in liberty, one that many doubted could work because of the ignorance of the masses. Elections even today tend to contrast those who believe power should be left to the people and those who believe decisions can best be made by an elite group of politicians and educators.
When the convention bogged down in controversy and delegates were about to disband in hopeless division, Benjamin Franklin stood up before the august assembly and spoke these words:
Have we forgotten our powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need its
assistance? ...And the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God
governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice
is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?....Except the Lord build the house,
they labor in vain that build it."
It seems from that time forward that the convention began to make progress and we remain the bendficiaries of their labor and God's blessing.
At the end of the convention, a lady asked Frankling what kind of government the convention had given them, and Franklin answered: "A republic, if you can keep it".
Such is the task for Americans today. Can the people be trusted to keep it, we shall see. In the meantime we should pray. Franklin's faith and mine would differ in many ways, but he knew who governs the nations. (cf. Dan. 4:32). Pray for our republic and pray that our people will make the right decision come election day. Whatever the outcome, realize that ultimate power belongs not to McCain or Obama.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Big things are happening. Obama vs. McCain. Joe the plumber. Vicki's daughter Catherine preparing for Saturday wedding. I'm posting when I should be preparing for wedding also, oh well, there is never any anxiety at wedding time, all is calm, cool, and collected.
Linda, you asked that I provide a synopsis of last Sunday's sermon on THOU SHALT NOT MURDER. The following is a brief review of the themes.
The sermon sought to answer 3 questions:
1. what constitutes murder
2. what does Jesus and NT. add to Moses' words
3. how does the commandment speak to us today
I. What constitutes murder?
Numbers 35 distinguishes between accidental killing and intentional killing. The latter is not punishable by death, but the former is. Yet even the latter does not go without consequences the killer must be confined to a city of refuge, otherwise the avenger(normally a family member) has the right to enact vengeance on the perpetrator. Our laws make similiar distinctions. Also killing in military service or police action is not murder even if the intent is to kill. In those instances the individual is a servant of the state and acting as its representative and not as an individual citizen (Rom. 13:1-7).
2. What does Jesus and the NT add?
In the Sermon on the mount Jesus said even anger can be a murderous attitude. Thus Jesus warns us of the danger of anger and Paul adds that we must learn to be angry without sinning.
(Eph. 4:25ff.). Paul urges us to deal with anger on a daily basis rather than allowing it to develop like a cancer.
3. How does it apply today
Few of us and I assume none of us have knowingly killed a innocent person. Murder assumes that the victim did not deserve to die and that an injustice has taken place. Today the question of murder has to be attached to the question of life. In other words, we need a clear definition of both, because abortion for instance is justified by many because what is destroyed is not considered life by many. Thus the question of when life begins is the question of the day. Abortion is usually premeditated and thus intent is involved.
Barack Obama said the answer to when life begins is beyond his pay grade. A course in biology or genetics should be required for a presidential candidate. Plenty of scientists approve of abortion; however, none can deny that from the time the egg is fertilized by the sperm a new entity that is no part of the mother exists. We know this because the genetic code of this new entity is different from every cell of the mother's body. The new code is that of a new person. Just because it does not yet look like a fully developed adult human does not mean that it is not human life. An acorn doesn[t look like an Oak tree, but it will never be anything else. The life of the Oak tree is alive in the acorn. Those few cells that constitute the earliest stages of the embryo are not dead, they are multiplying and developing and represent the same beginning of human life that we all experience in our mother's womb. To intentionally destroy those cells is to murder human life just as to intentionally kill an adult human is murder.
Sunday, I was asked about those who once upon a time thought life began with the first movement of the baby in the womb and thus provided legal protection for life in the womb only after quickening. It is true that such was the assumption for hundreds of years and that it has only been in relatively recent history that we have become aware of when life begins from a scientific point of view. My answer is that we obey God's will to the best of our human understanding whether 1st century or 21st century. Today we know better than our ancestors knew and thus we should live accordingly.
To create human embryo for experimental purposes with the ultimate goal of destroying the embryo is again to create human life with the goal of murdering the life.
When life ends is a more difficult question because we now have a diffent definition than once prevailed. Its no longer a question of when the heart stops pumping blood through our body, but now its when brain wave activity ceases, in both the higher and lower parts of the brain. Some would opt for death when only a part of the brain activity has ceased. Because of modern technology we can keep organs functioning after brain wave activity has ceased. This issue carries us into the question of what it means to be "in the image of God". What does it mean to be a human etc.. If I were teaching a class on this subject I would want to explore those questions, but in a sermon time does not allow.
We must distinguish between prolonging life and prolonging the dying process. Sometimes that's a difficult call. However, one certainty can be determined and that is if a doctor or anyone injects anything into a patient that has no aim other than producing death, then one is killing with an intent to kill. Thus there is no biblical grounds for mercy killing or assisted suicide. If pain management ends in death as an unintentional consequence that is a gray area for which I have no easy answer, but my opinion is that such would not be murder. However, in such instances I think we would do well to talk to God before and after such treatment.
One thing further and that is that many of us (pro-lifers) seem to be interested only in life in the womb. Once a child is born, we don't seem to have nearly as much concern about whether he has food, clean water, and medicine. We offer money to many causes but often ignore the starving and abused children of the world. God will not smile upon us if we are pro life only as one enters the world and as one is about to depart the world.
Linda, you asked that I provide a synopsis of last Sunday's sermon on THOU SHALT NOT MURDER. The following is a brief review of the themes.
The sermon sought to answer 3 questions:
1. what constitutes murder
2. what does Jesus and NT. add to Moses' words
3. how does the commandment speak to us today
I. What constitutes murder?
Numbers 35 distinguishes between accidental killing and intentional killing. The latter is not punishable by death, but the former is. Yet even the latter does not go without consequences the killer must be confined to a city of refuge, otherwise the avenger(normally a family member) has the right to enact vengeance on the perpetrator. Our laws make similiar distinctions. Also killing in military service or police action is not murder even if the intent is to kill. In those instances the individual is a servant of the state and acting as its representative and not as an individual citizen (Rom. 13:1-7).
2. What does Jesus and the NT add?
In the Sermon on the mount Jesus said even anger can be a murderous attitude. Thus Jesus warns us of the danger of anger and Paul adds that we must learn to be angry without sinning.
(Eph. 4:25ff.). Paul urges us to deal with anger on a daily basis rather than allowing it to develop like a cancer.
3. How does it apply today
Few of us and I assume none of us have knowingly killed a innocent person. Murder assumes that the victim did not deserve to die and that an injustice has taken place. Today the question of murder has to be attached to the question of life. In other words, we need a clear definition of both, because abortion for instance is justified by many because what is destroyed is not considered life by many. Thus the question of when life begins is the question of the day. Abortion is usually premeditated and thus intent is involved.
Barack Obama said the answer to when life begins is beyond his pay grade. A course in biology or genetics should be required for a presidential candidate. Plenty of scientists approve of abortion; however, none can deny that from the time the egg is fertilized by the sperm a new entity that is no part of the mother exists. We know this because the genetic code of this new entity is different from every cell of the mother's body. The new code is that of a new person. Just because it does not yet look like a fully developed adult human does not mean that it is not human life. An acorn doesn[t look like an Oak tree, but it will never be anything else. The life of the Oak tree is alive in the acorn. Those few cells that constitute the earliest stages of the embryo are not dead, they are multiplying and developing and represent the same beginning of human life that we all experience in our mother's womb. To intentionally destroy those cells is to murder human life just as to intentionally kill an adult human is murder.
Sunday, I was asked about those who once upon a time thought life began with the first movement of the baby in the womb and thus provided legal protection for life in the womb only after quickening. It is true that such was the assumption for hundreds of years and that it has only been in relatively recent history that we have become aware of when life begins from a scientific point of view. My answer is that we obey God's will to the best of our human understanding whether 1st century or 21st century. Today we know better than our ancestors knew and thus we should live accordingly.
To create human embryo for experimental purposes with the ultimate goal of destroying the embryo is again to create human life with the goal of murdering the life.
When life ends is a more difficult question because we now have a diffent definition than once prevailed. Its no longer a question of when the heart stops pumping blood through our body, but now its when brain wave activity ceases, in both the higher and lower parts of the brain. Some would opt for death when only a part of the brain activity has ceased. Because of modern technology we can keep organs functioning after brain wave activity has ceased. This issue carries us into the question of what it means to be "in the image of God". What does it mean to be a human etc.. If I were teaching a class on this subject I would want to explore those questions, but in a sermon time does not allow.
We must distinguish between prolonging life and prolonging the dying process. Sometimes that's a difficult call. However, one certainty can be determined and that is if a doctor or anyone injects anything into a patient that has no aim other than producing death, then one is killing with an intent to kill. Thus there is no biblical grounds for mercy killing or assisted suicide. If pain management ends in death as an unintentional consequence that is a gray area for which I have no easy answer, but my opinion is that such would not be murder. However, in such instances I think we would do well to talk to God before and after such treatment.
One thing further and that is that many of us (pro-lifers) seem to be interested only in life in the womb. Once a child is born, we don't seem to have nearly as much concern about whether he has food, clean water, and medicine. We offer money to many causes but often ignore the starving and abused children of the world. God will not smile upon us if we are pro life only as one enters the world and as one is about to depart the world.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Do we all feel somewhat better? The Dow is up nearly 1,000 points. We still have a couple of thousand to go, before we breathe a real sigh of relief, but we have at least a temporary break in the trend.
Those who read this blog have seen comments by Linda. She is my niece and her husband Bob has had a recent hospital stay because of a gall bladder surgery. At the time Doctors discovered a spot on his pancreas. Further testing has revealed a mass, but the nature of it is still un-determined. Please pray for Bob and Linda.
My sister is still recovering from her heart attack and stint. In addition, her heart beat is only about 40 beats per minute. Sounds like the problem may run in our family. Please pray for her also.
Vicki, I trust that preparations are running smoothly for the Saturday extravaganza we call a wedding.
Yesterday my sermon concerned "Thou shalt not murder". I thought about asking for a show of hands and if no one was guilty then I could sit down, but I was concerned that someone would question my being paid for such a presentation, although I'm sure some would have recommended a raise.
However, if you spend time defining murder as distinguished from accidental death as discussed in Num.35, it does take a few minutes. Then when you sort through capital punishment, military action that leads to death, abortion , euthanasia and other such issues you can wind up with a rather lengthy sermon. I think I may have had one person upset with me. My guess is he thought it was too political, since his conclusions on the above issues would probably be different from mine. He and I have privately discussed the issues before. Oh well, whatcha gonna do? I feel a little like Jeremiah some time. Its a bit shameful to even compare myself with Jeremiah, when most of the people seemed pleased with the presentation and only one had a problem.
Eight years from now I could easily feel more like Jeremiah. Homosexuality will be briefly discussed as we explore marriage in the next week or so. If reading Rom1:26-28 can be declared hate language which many would like, then I suppose I would have to either identify with Jeremiah or discover a new hermeneutic. If Jeremiah could have lived in the modern era and had access to some of our great Ivy league theologians he would have found that it would have been unnecessary to take many of the stands that he took.
Those who read this blog have seen comments by Linda. She is my niece and her husband Bob has had a recent hospital stay because of a gall bladder surgery. At the time Doctors discovered a spot on his pancreas. Further testing has revealed a mass, but the nature of it is still un-determined. Please pray for Bob and Linda.
My sister is still recovering from her heart attack and stint. In addition, her heart beat is only about 40 beats per minute. Sounds like the problem may run in our family. Please pray for her also.
Vicki, I trust that preparations are running smoothly for the Saturday extravaganza we call a wedding.
Yesterday my sermon concerned "Thou shalt not murder". I thought about asking for a show of hands and if no one was guilty then I could sit down, but I was concerned that someone would question my being paid for such a presentation, although I'm sure some would have recommended a raise.
However, if you spend time defining murder as distinguished from accidental death as discussed in Num.35, it does take a few minutes. Then when you sort through capital punishment, military action that leads to death, abortion , euthanasia and other such issues you can wind up with a rather lengthy sermon. I think I may have had one person upset with me. My guess is he thought it was too political, since his conclusions on the above issues would probably be different from mine. He and I have privately discussed the issues before. Oh well, whatcha gonna do? I feel a little like Jeremiah some time. Its a bit shameful to even compare myself with Jeremiah, when most of the people seemed pleased with the presentation and only one had a problem.
Eight years from now I could easily feel more like Jeremiah. Homosexuality will be briefly discussed as we explore marriage in the next week or so. If reading Rom1:26-28 can be declared hate language which many would like, then I suppose I would have to either identify with Jeremiah or discover a new hermeneutic. If Jeremiah could have lived in the modern era and had access to some of our great Ivy league theologians he would have found that it would have been unnecessary to take many of the stands that he took.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
The Restoration Project was a good experience. The hotel was quite nice and the food was for sophisticated palates, but I ate it anyway. There were about a thousand in attendance which means someone or ones contributed a couple of hundred thousand dollars to sponsor the event. I hope the investment in a down time like we find ourselves will not leave the sponsors penniless.
Among the speakers were Governor Perry, Mike Huckabee, Bob McEwen and Newt Gingrich (by video). The two speakers who were most impressive were historian David Barton and Representative Bob McEwen. Barton emphasized how many of our founders were preachers who left the pulpit with their congregations following them to participate in the revolution. McEwen provided one of the most impressive explanations I've ever heard for less government taxes and more moral accountability of our people and its leaders.
There was a great deal of Christian music with a powerful sound system to transmit the instrumental accompaniment. Vicki, I felt like Pastor Inkfest at the ministerial conference in Orlando, Florida. We looked a lot like the pastors Garrison described as attending that conference. There were a lot of Baptists and Assembly of God attendees and a sprinkling of churches of Christ and other evangelicals.
It was a good experience and I'm glad I attended, but Linda I couldn't work Perry and Huckabee into my schedule for coffee and private counselling. Maybe next time. I'm in such demand.
Until next time, Worship the Lord and pat your preacher on the back.
Among the speakers were Governor Perry, Mike Huckabee, Bob McEwen and Newt Gingrich (by video). The two speakers who were most impressive were historian David Barton and Representative Bob McEwen. Barton emphasized how many of our founders were preachers who left the pulpit with their congregations following them to participate in the revolution. McEwen provided one of the most impressive explanations I've ever heard for less government taxes and more moral accountability of our people and its leaders.
There was a great deal of Christian music with a powerful sound system to transmit the instrumental accompaniment. Vicki, I felt like Pastor Inkfest at the ministerial conference in Orlando, Florida. We looked a lot like the pastors Garrison described as attending that conference. There were a lot of Baptists and Assembly of God attendees and a sprinkling of churches of Christ and other evangelicals.
It was a good experience and I'm glad I attended, but Linda I couldn't work Perry and Huckabee into my schedule for coffee and private counselling. Maybe next time. I'm in such demand.
Until next time, Worship the Lord and pat your preacher on the back.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
turn out the lights
"Turn out the lights the party's over" and the headaches begin. The weather's beautiful.
Tomorrow Rodney Watson and I will be going to Austin at the invitation of the governor. My readers probably didn't realize that my circle of friends extends to the governor's mansion. He's paying for my stay at the Hilton, providing me with meals and entertainment. Its sorta like being an officer at AIG. The event is called "The Restoration Project". Somehow I don't think he's talking about restoration as in churches of Christ. Oh well, it should be interesting as the governor, Mike Huckabee and others will be sharing with us their vision of the future.
Tomorrow Rodney Watson and I will be going to Austin at the invitation of the governor. My readers probably didn't realize that my circle of friends extends to the governor's mansion. He's paying for my stay at the Hilton, providing me with meals and entertainment. Its sorta like being an officer at AIG. The event is called "The Restoration Project". Somehow I don't think he's talking about restoration as in churches of Christ. Oh well, it should be interesting as the governor, Mike Huckabee and others will be sharing with us their vision of the future.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
I'll be leaving the office in an hour or so. I hope all will view the debate this evening. Time is running out, and God needs to hear our prayers. Sounds like I'm instructing God, let me re-phrase and say we need to pray more earnestly.
Another day with little good news from Wall Street. We are told that McCain does well in the townhall format. It will be interesting to see if tonight confirms that to be true. It seems to me that McCain must become specific in the areas where he disagrees with Obama and must document Obama's positions and affiliations. Obama will have less pressure to perform well. It appears if the polls are correct that its Obama's election to lose. Thus if he can maintain the status quo, he will win. McCain must knock it out of the ball park if he is to win. Without a seismic shake up the polls may continue to show a growth in support of Obama as McCain supporters become discouraged and Obama supporters begin see the finish line drawing nearer.
I'm not sure that McCain's decision to attack Obama is going to bear much fruit. The populace seems more concerned about the economy than about Bill Ayers or Jeremiah Wright. If McCain doesn't show why Obama's policies will be disastrous and his own successful, I'm afraid he will be found to be fighting a slippery shadow that others are not able to see.
Speculation today is that those approaching retirement have already lost as much as two trillion dollars in their investments. These numbers become personal and compelling and whether we like it or not make 9-11 seem irrelevant to many people. Unfortunately any candidate who has admitted to not knowing much about the economy is in trouble and while Sarah Palin has brought excitement to the conservative base, there must be a growing number who are now wishing that Romney were there to bring financial expertise to the McCain candidacy.
What cha think?
Another day with little good news from Wall Street. We are told that McCain does well in the townhall format. It will be interesting to see if tonight confirms that to be true. It seems to me that McCain must become specific in the areas where he disagrees with Obama and must document Obama's positions and affiliations. Obama will have less pressure to perform well. It appears if the polls are correct that its Obama's election to lose. Thus if he can maintain the status quo, he will win. McCain must knock it out of the ball park if he is to win. Without a seismic shake up the polls may continue to show a growth in support of Obama as McCain supporters become discouraged and Obama supporters begin see the finish line drawing nearer.
I'm not sure that McCain's decision to attack Obama is going to bear much fruit. The populace seems more concerned about the economy than about Bill Ayers or Jeremiah Wright. If McCain doesn't show why Obama's policies will be disastrous and his own successful, I'm afraid he will be found to be fighting a slippery shadow that others are not able to see.
Speculation today is that those approaching retirement have already lost as much as two trillion dollars in their investments. These numbers become personal and compelling and whether we like it or not make 9-11 seem irrelevant to many people. Unfortunately any candidate who has admitted to not knowing much about the economy is in trouble and while Sarah Palin has brought excitement to the conservative base, there must be a growing number who are now wishing that Romney were there to bring financial expertise to the McCain candidacy.
What cha think?
The last couple of days have been rather busy. My sister, Wilna, had a heart attack Saturday evening and was taken by ambulance to Baylor in Dallas. The introduced her heart to a stint and the heart seems pleased and we are grateful for the blessing. In the process they did discover a slight blood problem that will require more testing to determine the seriousness of that issue, hopefully it is just the body's response to the heart attack.
I appreciate the prayers of those who read this blog. The number has doubled from 2 to 4. Please understand that qualifications for readers are quite strict.
Sunday I departed from my sermon series on the 10 commandments to discuss our financial crisis in America. The theme of my sermon concerned the basis of our security. 9-11 and the recent financial crunch have revealed that many of our assumptions about American security are false and even idolatrous. Neither Obama or McCain can guarantee Americans that all will be o.k. after the election. We Americans have a tendency to trust our institutions as though they were gods.
So far, we hear amens, right? Then I discussed the Christian's basis of security. We are believers in the one true God, we've been baptized and partake each week of the Lord's Supper;We sing acapella(at least some of us do) if we sing at all, and we pray each first day of the week. In our prayers, we applaud the fact that God is with us.
Read Jeremiah chapter seven, especially verses 1-15. Also check out Amos 5:14ff. and Micah 3:9ff., as well as Isaiah chapter 1. I know these, are the old guys from that Old Testament, they hadn't heard of grace or a personal relationship with God. We know God. Check out Hosea chapers 4 and 6. However, if you insist as I know some of my large body of readers will, see if you can locate John 14:15 and James 2, as well as Rom1:5 and Gal.5:6.
Bonhoffer warned us about cheap grace, but I'm concerned that we happy, happy Christians have found great joy in just that. I am eternally grateful for the grace of God. Only through the death and resurrection of Jesus will a single soul enter eternal fellowship with God. However, grace places under the lorship of Jesus, and we evidence his lordship in our lives by the way we live.
Isaiah, Micah, Amos, and Jeremiah tell their readers that their worship makes God want to vomit. Jesus said the same thing in a letter to Asia, "I will spew you from my mouth".
If only Americans know what we know? If only we lived what we know
Of course that sermon just appliied to those present Sunday not to me and my readers. The goal of my blog is that we might be happy, happy, happy. Put on a happy face. I actually have a bit of a temperature today, and don't feel so good, but I'm gonna be a happy warrior wearing a happy face because that's my goal in life.
Bottom line: Be faithful and have fun , these two aren't polar opposites, although the latter does need to take a back seat to the former.
I hope after this blog I still have my faithful four.
rd
I appreciate the prayers of those who read this blog. The number has doubled from 2 to 4. Please understand that qualifications for readers are quite strict.
Sunday I departed from my sermon series on the 10 commandments to discuss our financial crisis in America. The theme of my sermon concerned the basis of our security. 9-11 and the recent financial crunch have revealed that many of our assumptions about American security are false and even idolatrous. Neither Obama or McCain can guarantee Americans that all will be o.k. after the election. We Americans have a tendency to trust our institutions as though they were gods.
So far, we hear amens, right? Then I discussed the Christian's basis of security. We are believers in the one true God, we've been baptized and partake each week of the Lord's Supper;We sing acapella(at least some of us do) if we sing at all, and we pray each first day of the week. In our prayers, we applaud the fact that God is with us.
Read Jeremiah chapter seven, especially verses 1-15. Also check out Amos 5:14ff. and Micah 3:9ff., as well as Isaiah chapter 1. I know these, are the old guys from that Old Testament, they hadn't heard of grace or a personal relationship with God. We know God. Check out Hosea chapers 4 and 6. However, if you insist as I know some of my large body of readers will, see if you can locate John 14:15 and James 2, as well as Rom1:5 and Gal.5:6.
Bonhoffer warned us about cheap grace, but I'm concerned that we happy, happy Christians have found great joy in just that. I am eternally grateful for the grace of God. Only through the death and resurrection of Jesus will a single soul enter eternal fellowship with God. However, grace places under the lorship of Jesus, and we evidence his lordship in our lives by the way we live.
Isaiah, Micah, Amos, and Jeremiah tell their readers that their worship makes God want to vomit. Jesus said the same thing in a letter to Asia, "I will spew you from my mouth".
If only Americans know what we know? If only we lived what we know
Of course that sermon just appliied to those present Sunday not to me and my readers. The goal of my blog is that we might be happy, happy, happy. Put on a happy face. I actually have a bit of a temperature today, and don't feel so good, but I'm gonna be a happy warrior wearing a happy face because that's my goal in life.
Bottom line: Be faithful and have fun , these two aren't polar opposites, although the latter does need to take a back seat to the former.
I hope after this blog I still have my faithful four.
rd
Friday, October 3, 2008
Savvy Sarah vs Joe Blow and the winner was John McCain. "There you go again Joe..dog gone it"
The two debaters appealed to different audiences with different approaches. Joe tried to impress with his experience and command of the facts, but with Joe you need a "fact check" with you all of the time. Sarah reached out to main street with her down to earth, "I'm one of you" style. Those trained in debate might have given the edge to Joe, but those trained in living probably gave the edge to Sarah. After the Katie Couric interview, expectations were so low that she easily won because she wasn't debating Joe as much as she was the MSM image of Sarah. My guess is that today, McCain is ecstatic and Obama is status quo.
McCain clearly has an uphill battle, but should he make the top of the hill, it will because he took a gamble on a little known Governor from Alaska.
........................................................................................................................................................................
Currently I am preaching a series on the 10 commandments and this week's sermon concerns "Thou shalt not murder". Should any murderers be reading this blog, please feel free to give me your confession so that I can supply my sermon with an illustration or two. I was thinking about asking for a show of hands from those who have ever commited this sin, but I decided that might not be very productive. We "Church of Christ" people are mostly introverts and are not much into therapeutic behavior.
On Wednesday we finally finished our study of Revelation. A lot of people were bettin that the end would come before the end of the study would come.
What can one study next after we have studied "the end"? Any thoughts, I'm always open?
The two debaters appealed to different audiences with different approaches. Joe tried to impress with his experience and command of the facts, but with Joe you need a "fact check" with you all of the time. Sarah reached out to main street with her down to earth, "I'm one of you" style. Those trained in debate might have given the edge to Joe, but those trained in living probably gave the edge to Sarah. After the Katie Couric interview, expectations were so low that she easily won because she wasn't debating Joe as much as she was the MSM image of Sarah. My guess is that today, McCain is ecstatic and Obama is status quo.
McCain clearly has an uphill battle, but should he make the top of the hill, it will because he took a gamble on a little known Governor from Alaska.
........................................................................................................................................................................
Currently I am preaching a series on the 10 commandments and this week's sermon concerns "Thou shalt not murder". Should any murderers be reading this blog, please feel free to give me your confession so that I can supply my sermon with an illustration or two. I was thinking about asking for a show of hands from those who have ever commited this sin, but I decided that might not be very productive. We "Church of Christ" people are mostly introverts and are not much into therapeutic behavior.
On Wednesday we finally finished our study of Revelation. A lot of people were bettin that the end would come before the end of the study would come.
What can one study next after we have studied "the end"? Any thoughts, I'm always open?
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Thomas Jefferson wrote to the frenchman Lafayette and said: "We are not to expect to be translated from despotism to liberty in a feather bed". The truth of his appraisal of the conflict going on in America is equally true of the present situation of our economy. Greed, politics and "something for nothing" mentality has gotten us into this mess. There are few if any innocent parties in our society. Credit cards, Mortgage companies, politicians, Joe Six Pack have all wanted to encourage spending more than we earn and now the chickens are coming home to roost. There is not a feather bed in our immediate future! Financial discipline, personal discipline and spiritual discipline don't come on feather beds, but without them we reap disastrous consequences. The Bible speaks of sin and the salvation offered through Jesus is the only rescue package we can count on. Some consequences can't be undone but the ultimate consequence can be replaced by something better than a feather bed.
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