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?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)