Here is another example of the open mindedness and tolerance of the left. (HA). I mean no one any harm. Quite the opposite I hope and work for health and healing of everyone.
This is one more example of the fact that one side's morality must prevail. You cannot have two opposing views that are equally treated or preferred without one prevailing over the other. This is an example:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/07/27/georgia-university-tells-student-lose-religion-lawsuit-claims/
Instead of judicial fiat or executive order ruling our public policy we have to force the discussion publicly.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
American Freedom is Unique and Distinctly Christian
I was sitting in church yesterday during our song service which included our usual patriotic hymns. The Battle Hymn of the Republic came up and we sang all four verses. After reading the words of all four verses of the song the name of the song peeked my interest. I did a search as soon as I got to a computer. WOW, what a bizarre trip through Americana. (Apparently this song stirs up some deep, dark convictions. Google it and see for yourself.) Anyway, I did find some consensus. This song was the theme of the Union Army and adopted by the Republican Party in one of their conventions. It distinctly refers to Christian doctrine:
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me:
As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.
I just couldn't imagine the apoplectic reaction we would get from the left if this were once again the song our warriors sang going into battle. This is clearly a violation of the "separation of church and state" clause of the Constitution by the military and political leaders of the time. Why didn't someone shut this down?
(This is a trick question.)
America's Founding was inspired by Christianity. The First Amendment was not to limit Religion's influence on public life and Government but to limit Government's influence on religion. (In the 1700's "religion" almost always meant Christianity.)
The Declaration of Independence is the document that declared our birth as a nation and it makes us the first nation in history to claim the God granted inalienable right of liberty and establish a governmental system based on it. To say there is a separation between church and state is to lose this God given right and leave liberty in the hands of men and governments to barter out. It means we have to abandon the Declaration's founding claims of the self evident truths. Americans used to know this.
Alexis De Tocqueville in his Democracy in America notes of Americans in the 1830's:
"The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other; and with them this conviction does not spring from that barren, traditionary faith which seems to vegetate rather than to live in the soul." Democracy in America vol 1 p 306
He added on the next page:
"Despotism may govern without faith, but liberty cannot."
Our President and a prominent leader in the Republican party (Carl Rove) have been quoted as saying that we are not a Christian nation. Do they really understand what this means? Do we get to vote on it? I realize that our morality does not live up to the standards of the Bible but do we want to leave the philosophies of Christianity that inspired the birth of our country and it's unparalleled freedoms without a vote, forum or even a discussion?
Christianity gave us, as a nation, more than we realize. One of the most important things it gave us was a sense of right and wrong that transcends the experience of all mankind. We need a refresher of values that guide families and nations through troubling times as well as prosperous ones.
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me:
As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.
I just couldn't imagine the apoplectic reaction we would get from the left if this were once again the song our warriors sang going into battle. This is clearly a violation of the "separation of church and state" clause of the Constitution by the military and political leaders of the time. Why didn't someone shut this down?
(This is a trick question.)
America's Founding was inspired by Christianity. The First Amendment was not to limit Religion's influence on public life and Government but to limit Government's influence on religion. (In the 1700's "religion" almost always meant Christianity.)
The Declaration of Independence is the document that declared our birth as a nation and it makes us the first nation in history to claim the God granted inalienable right of liberty and establish a governmental system based on it. To say there is a separation between church and state is to lose this God given right and leave liberty in the hands of men and governments to barter out. It means we have to abandon the Declaration's founding claims of the self evident truths. Americans used to know this.
Alexis De Tocqueville in his Democracy in America notes of Americans in the 1830's:
"The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other; and with them this conviction does not spring from that barren, traditionary faith which seems to vegetate rather than to live in the soul." Democracy in America vol 1 p 306
He added on the next page:
"Despotism may govern without faith, but liberty cannot."
Our President and a prominent leader in the Republican party (Carl Rove) have been quoted as saying that we are not a Christian nation. Do they really understand what this means? Do we get to vote on it? I realize that our morality does not live up to the standards of the Bible but do we want to leave the philosophies of Christianity that inspired the birth of our country and it's unparalleled freedoms without a vote, forum or even a discussion?
Christianity gave us, as a nation, more than we realize. One of the most important things it gave us was a sense of right and wrong that transcends the experience of all mankind. We need a refresher of values that guide families and nations through troubling times as well as prosperous ones.
Friday, May 14, 2010
When God Borrows Your Life
If you have lived long enough you have certainly had a time when you looked at a wrecked situation around you and said, "Why is this happening to me?" I've been there. It can be the result of a thousand small problems at one time or one big life changing painful event. Sometimes these situations are the result of our own doing but many times they fall upon us without warning and without our being able to do anything about them. "Why?" comes out involuntarily.
As a christian I believe these times are known by God. He may even be the author of them. That's harsh. God is supposed to love you right? Why would He bring something painful into your life that you can't do anything about? Why would He have someone to lose their job, get transferred away from their family, allow the loss of a loved one, allow a businessman to go bankrupt, allow a serious illness? Why would He allow someone who loves and follows Him to experience such a painful loss or failure?
I am sure that many times it is to correct a wrong motive or attitude. That's a given, but I am persuaded that He has much more in mind. When things are changing in your life beyond your control God is taking the wheel. You may have come to a level of maturity or devotion that God can work with. It could be that your training has been completed and your are being transferred to the front lines.
The life of Joseph in the Bible is so rich with instruction for this kind of life experience. Joseph found himself in the bottom of a pit at the hands of his brothers one day. I'm sure he could hear them debating about killing him. (It could be said he was there because of an attitude of arrogance toward his brothers that was fed by his father's favoritism -Gen 33:2.) I bet Joseph had a "why me" moment. We have the benefit of looking back on the whole of his life to see that God was just beginning Joseph's life work. It was harsh to be sure but great deeds require equally great sacrifices. Joseph got the nod in Heaven for the job. From the pit, into slavery, into prison Joseph got a crash course in training he would not have gotten at home under his father's favoritism. God was borrowing Joseph's life.
What Joseph's achieved on loan to God was far beyond what he could have achieved on his own in his own wisdom. His own wisdom would have left him wondering aimlessly through life with an elevated opinion of himself (Gen. 37:14-15.) God had a much bigger picture in mind. Eventually Joseph himself came to see God's purpose. He states it in Genesis 50:20.
"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today." ESV
He didn't white wash his brother's intent but he didn't miss God's sovereignty in the situation either. He saw how God used him to save hundreds of thousands of peoples lives from starvation. God had a bigger plan. He took Joseph's life on a wild ride through rough circumstances to use him in a great way to save many lives.
Is it possible that's what is happening to you? Maybe you are just in the rough circumstances that take you to His purpose for you in His kingdom, "to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today." Don't disqualify yourself. Don't quit. Don't refuse it. Don't doubt God has a plan to bless and use you.
Jer 29:11-13 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart,"
As a christian I believe these times are known by God. He may even be the author of them. That's harsh. God is supposed to love you right? Why would He bring something painful into your life that you can't do anything about? Why would He have someone to lose their job, get transferred away from their family, allow the loss of a loved one, allow a businessman to go bankrupt, allow a serious illness? Why would He allow someone who loves and follows Him to experience such a painful loss or failure?
I am sure that many times it is to correct a wrong motive or attitude. That's a given, but I am persuaded that He has much more in mind. When things are changing in your life beyond your control God is taking the wheel. You may have come to a level of maturity or devotion that God can work with. It could be that your training has been completed and your are being transferred to the front lines.
The life of Joseph in the Bible is so rich with instruction for this kind of life experience. Joseph found himself in the bottom of a pit at the hands of his brothers one day. I'm sure he could hear them debating about killing him. (It could be said he was there because of an attitude of arrogance toward his brothers that was fed by his father's favoritism -Gen 33:2.) I bet Joseph had a "why me" moment. We have the benefit of looking back on the whole of his life to see that God was just beginning Joseph's life work. It was harsh to be sure but great deeds require equally great sacrifices. Joseph got the nod in Heaven for the job. From the pit, into slavery, into prison Joseph got a crash course in training he would not have gotten at home under his father's favoritism. God was borrowing Joseph's life.
What Joseph's achieved on loan to God was far beyond what he could have achieved on his own in his own wisdom. His own wisdom would have left him wondering aimlessly through life with an elevated opinion of himself (Gen. 37:14-15.) God had a much bigger picture in mind. Eventually Joseph himself came to see God's purpose. He states it in Genesis 50:20.
"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today." ESV
He didn't white wash his brother's intent but he didn't miss God's sovereignty in the situation either. He saw how God used him to save hundreds of thousands of peoples lives from starvation. God had a bigger plan. He took Joseph's life on a wild ride through rough circumstances to use him in a great way to save many lives.
Is it possible that's what is happening to you? Maybe you are just in the rough circumstances that take you to His purpose for you in His kingdom, "to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today." Don't disqualify yourself. Don't quit. Don't refuse it. Don't doubt God has a plan to bless and use you.
Jer 29:11-13 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart,"
Friday, May 7, 2010
Social Justice = Socialism Injustice II
To build on the last post...
The first stated injustice #1, has been a matter of practice in our government for quite some time. The government has been stepping between individuals and the natural consequences of their unwise or harmful behavior for over 60 years now. I am all for helping someone after a mistake or bad turn of events. That's one thing, but to not address a problem, as a problem or mistake, and continue to fund it is not helpful for anyone.
Intervening to stop the natural consequences of bad behavior is (for the government) to play God, and contradict nature's laws. It is costly, frustrating and futile.
Whether you believe it or not we have been semi-socialist since FDR. To the extent we have been socialist we have demonstrated the folly of socialism. The war on poverty has failed miserably. Social Security officially runs out of money this year. Even with Welfare Reform the system is failed at best.
The current administration is now proposing the institution of the second injustice (#2 in previous post) to its fullest extent (see link in previous post.) Charging the "high producers" a fee to reduce their income enough to make them "equal" to the "low or non-producers" will make "low or non-producers" of us all and demonstrate once again the flaws of socialism.
The first stated injustice #1, has been a matter of practice in our government for quite some time. The government has been stepping between individuals and the natural consequences of their unwise or harmful behavior for over 60 years now. I am all for helping someone after a mistake or bad turn of events. That's one thing, but to not address a problem, as a problem or mistake, and continue to fund it is not helpful for anyone.
Intervening to stop the natural consequences of bad behavior is (for the government) to play God, and contradict nature's laws. It is costly, frustrating and futile.
Whether you believe it or not we have been semi-socialist since FDR. To the extent we have been socialist we have demonstrated the folly of socialism. The war on poverty has failed miserably. Social Security officially runs out of money this year. Even with Welfare Reform the system is failed at best.
The current administration is now proposing the institution of the second injustice (#2 in previous post) to its fullest extent (see link in previous post.) Charging the "high producers" a fee to reduce their income enough to make them "equal" to the "low or non-producers" will make "low or non-producers" of us all and demonstrate once again the flaws of socialism.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Socialism In-Justice
I couldn't leave this one without comment. Socialism is based on injustice. It insures injustice in two ways.
1 It steps between an individual and the natural consequences of their bad decisions and passes the cost of those decisions on to those not responsible for them. And further those not responsible for those bad decisions cannot do anything to right the situation (stop bad behavior.)
2 It steps between a responsible, industrious, individual and the rewards for their good behavior, to pay for the irresponsible behavior of others, offering no redress for this grievance.
This is what is meant by making "everybody equal."
Everyone deserves an equal opportunity.
Making everyone equal is foolish and unjust. Transfering "wealth" from the one who has worked and sacrificed for it to someone who knows nothing of the stresses involved to get it is a crime.
http://www.breitbart.tv/al-sharpton-we-wont-have-true-social-justice-until-everything-is-equal-in-everybodys-house
1 It steps between an individual and the natural consequences of their bad decisions and passes the cost of those decisions on to those not responsible for them. And further those not responsible for those bad decisions cannot do anything to right the situation (stop bad behavior.)
2 It steps between a responsible, industrious, individual and the rewards for their good behavior, to pay for the irresponsible behavior of others, offering no redress for this grievance.
This is what is meant by making "everybody equal."
Everyone deserves an equal opportunity.
Making everyone equal is foolish and unjust. Transfering "wealth" from the one who has worked and sacrificed for it to someone who knows nothing of the stresses involved to get it is a crime.
http://www.breitbart.tv/al-sharpton-we-wont-have-true-social-justice-until-everything-is-equal-in-everybodys-house
Monday, April 26, 2010
Neutrality is not an Option
A paragraph from Mark Levin's book Liberty and Tyranny:
"Attempts to stigmatize as "religious zealots" or marginalize as "social extremists" those individuals who resist the Statist's secular impositions- for they are the coercion behind America's moral and cultural decline - is to condemn conservatism, the Founders, and the civil society. How can it be said, as it often is, that moral order is second to liberty when one cannot survive without the other? A people cannot remain free and civilized without moral purposes, constraints and duties. What would be left but relativism manifesting itself in anarchy, followed by tyranny and brute force."
There are consequences to what you believe. The battle between Good and Evil is still raging in our time. If you claim neutrality, Evil wins. There is no neutral ground in this fight. Dr Jason Lisle has two rules to remember when someone asks you to meet them on "neutral ground"
1. They are not neutral.
2. You shouldn't be.
Freedom is at stake.
"Attempts to stigmatize as "religious zealots" or marginalize as "social extremists" those individuals who resist the Statist's secular impositions- for they are the coercion behind America's moral and cultural decline - is to condemn conservatism, the Founders, and the civil society. How can it be said, as it often is, that moral order is second to liberty when one cannot survive without the other? A people cannot remain free and civilized without moral purposes, constraints and duties. What would be left but relativism manifesting itself in anarchy, followed by tyranny and brute force."
There are consequences to what you believe. The battle between Good and Evil is still raging in our time. If you claim neutrality, Evil wins. There is no neutral ground in this fight. Dr Jason Lisle has two rules to remember when someone asks you to meet them on "neutral ground"
1. They are not neutral.
2. You shouldn't be.
Freedom is at stake.
Friday, April 23, 2010
When It is Wrong to Point Out Harm
So Franklin Graham was disinvited to the Pentagon for the national day of prayer. I guess I'm not surprised but certainly disappointed.
Read the article at: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/21/army-weighs-rescinding-invitation-evangelist/#
His crime or disqualification was to have pointed out that Islam is a religion that has promoted violence and harmful teachings. It seems we have reached a place in our history where it is punishable to point out error or something harmful.
There are consequences to what you believe.
The philosophies and principles that guide a movement or nation determine its success. It is the same for companies. One of my truisms is that the higher your standards are the greater your potential will be. If you found a nation or movement on excellent, proven standards your chances of success will be astronomically higher than starting with poor or nonexistent standards.
Having said that, let me point out the contrast of two very prominent examples. The principles and beliefs that inspired the American Revolution and founding of the U.S., were distinctly Christian. In the very document that began the conflict, we find the principles stated that all men were created equal, and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These are distinctly Christian in origin and were absolutely novel as principles of self government in world history at the time they were written. (See also Celebrate Liberty and Original Intent chapter 11- Barton.)
The principles and truths that under gird a nation or movement determine its destiny. Christianity provided our Founders with the wisdom to construct this great nation that has met with unrivaled success. The two core principles of Christianity being:
Mat 22:36-40 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." (ESV)
Now consider Nazi Germany for contrast. The principles that inspired Adolf Hitler and his national socialist movement were predominantly from the atheist German philosopher Frederick Nietzsche. He essentially believed that only the strongest deserved to live. The strong had the right to do with the weaker whatever they wished and were obligated to destroy the weakest. Let the most ferocious of nations devour the rest. When you understand this it is no surprise what Adolf Hitler did to Europe in the nineteen thirties and forties. Consider further, Mao Tse Tung, Stalin and Pol Pot. Their under girding, guiding philosophies led to holocausts of political purging. The consequences to what you believe can be severe.
The principles that under gird our nation are vital to its survival too. Christianity has provided us with the means to determine good from evil; good being what is wholesome, evil being what is harmful. This is invaluable (see earlier post dated Oct 2, 2009.) Knowing what is harmful alone is vital to survival. I should add that our guiding Christian principles were vital to the survival and freedom of the nations of Europe and many countries in Asia. We saw evil for what it was and fought against it under the guidance of Good. Millions are alive and free because we did.
It is not wrong or inappropriate to favor the teachings of Christianity over all other philosophies and principles. They have lead us well and are historically the basis for our Founding. Despite popular belief it is not unconstitutional to have a Christian Prayer Service at the seat of our military power, indeed it is necessary. Islam's teachings did not make us great, inspire us to fight Nazism or Imperialistic Japan. Hindu principles do not teach life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness for all or that all men are created equal. Christian principles are what under girded our founding and guided us to greatness.
I implore my fellow countrymen to search the Bible and consider its wisdom and worth for yourselves first hand.
Read the article at: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/21/army-weighs-rescinding-invitation-evangelist/#
His crime or disqualification was to have pointed out that Islam is a religion that has promoted violence and harmful teachings. It seems we have reached a place in our history where it is punishable to point out error or something harmful.
There are consequences to what you believe.
The philosophies and principles that guide a movement or nation determine its success. It is the same for companies. One of my truisms is that the higher your standards are the greater your potential will be. If you found a nation or movement on excellent, proven standards your chances of success will be astronomically higher than starting with poor or nonexistent standards.
Having said that, let me point out the contrast of two very prominent examples. The principles and beliefs that inspired the American Revolution and founding of the U.S., were distinctly Christian. In the very document that began the conflict, we find the principles stated that all men were created equal, and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These are distinctly Christian in origin and were absolutely novel as principles of self government in world history at the time they were written. (See also Celebrate Liberty and Original Intent chapter 11- Barton.)
The principles and truths that under gird a nation or movement determine its destiny. Christianity provided our Founders with the wisdom to construct this great nation that has met with unrivaled success. The two core principles of Christianity being:
Mat 22:36-40 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." (ESV)
Now consider Nazi Germany for contrast. The principles that inspired Adolf Hitler and his national socialist movement were predominantly from the atheist German philosopher Frederick Nietzsche. He essentially believed that only the strongest deserved to live. The strong had the right to do with the weaker whatever they wished and were obligated to destroy the weakest. Let the most ferocious of nations devour the rest. When you understand this it is no surprise what Adolf Hitler did to Europe in the nineteen thirties and forties. Consider further, Mao Tse Tung, Stalin and Pol Pot. Their under girding, guiding philosophies led to holocausts of political purging. The consequences to what you believe can be severe.
The principles that under gird our nation are vital to its survival too. Christianity has provided us with the means to determine good from evil; good being what is wholesome, evil being what is harmful. This is invaluable (see earlier post dated Oct 2, 2009.) Knowing what is harmful alone is vital to survival. I should add that our guiding Christian principles were vital to the survival and freedom of the nations of Europe and many countries in Asia. We saw evil for what it was and fought against it under the guidance of Good. Millions are alive and free because we did.
It is not wrong or inappropriate to favor the teachings of Christianity over all other philosophies and principles. They have lead us well and are historically the basis for our Founding. Despite popular belief it is not unconstitutional to have a Christian Prayer Service at the seat of our military power, indeed it is necessary. Islam's teachings did not make us great, inspire us to fight Nazism or Imperialistic Japan. Hindu principles do not teach life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness for all or that all men are created equal. Christian principles are what under girded our founding and guided us to greatness.
I implore my fellow countrymen to search the Bible and consider its wisdom and worth for yourselves first hand.
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