I have never bought a single lottery ticket, never inherited an undisclosed sum of money, never found the green guy at the end of the rainbow, never struck gold at Vegas- but I am a wealthy man. What about you? Are you rich? The way you can know if you are rich or not is very simple. It is not about how much money you have or what you can buy. It is the answer to one question:
Is there anything in your life that you would not take money for?
If you can answer yes then you too are rich. This year I give thanks to God for the things I would not sell for any amount of money: my health, my salvation, my wife, my children, my family, my church family, my close friends, my camaro (well maybe scratch that last one for the right price)
Count your blessings!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Ready...Aim...Shoot yourself in the foot!
Nobody likes a whiner or a sore loser. In fact, most times it makes you look bad and makes people glad you lost. That is why we see Dr. Dobson, Dr. Lutzer, Chuck Colson, and other Christian leaders who voted against Obama now being gracious and saying we all need to work together and pray for our leaders etc. Fine-that is what we should do and will do. Now contrast that to the seemingly endless protests over the passing of Proposition 8 in California. Just what are these people protesting? How can you protest the outcome of a fair and free vote? How can you protest the will of the people? Yet there they are; ripping signs from the hands of old ladies, putting graffiti on churches, stomping on crosses and the like.
A little history here would help us see how ridiculous this is. Four years ago an amendment to define marriage as between one man and one woman was on the ballot in California. It passed 61%. Then activists judges two years later deemed that the will of the people in that vote was "unconstitutional." That cleared the way for all of the gay marriages to take place (even the one where public school children were taken on a field trip to see it!). The people of California went through the proper channels to challenge the decision of the court and got a ballot measure put on this time to "take away" the right for the homosexual to marry. They still have civil unions. The legislators intentionally worded it to sound as if these rights were being stripped from these citizens in order to make it less likely to pass. That and actors like Brad Pitt and Drew Barrymore giving tons of money to fight against it; and yet it still passed. Now we see the protesters claiming discrimination and so forth. If California is against gay marriage, what do you think the vote would be in the rest of the country? The overwhelming will of the people is that traditional marriage be upheld. It is our country's immune system and must be protected.
That brings us back to the protesters. In my opinion, they need to put down the Starbucks, step away from picket lines, go back to work and be productive citizens. They are free to do whatever they want. However, they are clearly hurting their image and their cause by their recent actions. They are harming the way they are viewed in our society much more that Prop 8 ever could. They are shooting themselves in the foot.
A little history here would help us see how ridiculous this is. Four years ago an amendment to define marriage as between one man and one woman was on the ballot in California. It passed 61%. Then activists judges two years later deemed that the will of the people in that vote was "unconstitutional." That cleared the way for all of the gay marriages to take place (even the one where public school children were taken on a field trip to see it!). The people of California went through the proper channels to challenge the decision of the court and got a ballot measure put on this time to "take away" the right for the homosexual to marry. They still have civil unions. The legislators intentionally worded it to sound as if these rights were being stripped from these citizens in order to make it less likely to pass. That and actors like Brad Pitt and Drew Barrymore giving tons of money to fight against it; and yet it still passed. Now we see the protesters claiming discrimination and so forth. If California is against gay marriage, what do you think the vote would be in the rest of the country? The overwhelming will of the people is that traditional marriage be upheld. It is our country's immune system and must be protected.
That brings us back to the protesters. In my opinion, they need to put down the Starbucks, step away from picket lines, go back to work and be productive citizens. They are free to do whatever they want. However, they are clearly hurting their image and their cause by their recent actions. They are harming the way they are viewed in our society much more that Prop 8 ever could. They are shooting themselves in the foot.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Slavery, Shellfish, and Stoning
A Christian politician (is that an oxymoron?) was asked about his view on whether the Christian principles from the Bible should guide legislation. Here was his answer: "Which passages of scripture should guide our public policy? Should we go with Leviticus, which suggests that slavery is ok and that eating shellfish is an abomination? Or should we go with Deuteronomy which suggests stoning your child if he strays from the faith?" This has become a mantra for atheists and is all over youtube and on the web. But does the Bible really promote these things? No-and here is evidence to back that up.
The Bible is a book about redemption. It's purpose is not to speak out against every moral and social evil in the world. The Bible simply recognizes the reality of slavery. Slavery flourished in the ancient world but it had nothing to do with racism. It was mainly an economic issue. You could not file for bankruptcy and so many people allowed themselves to be slaves or bond servants to pay off a debt. In fact, thieves could even pay of their debt in this way and make restitution. That part of the practice still exists today and we call it "community service".
Some slavery was also tied into political arenas. When a invading country overtook another country they would often either exile or enslave the conquered regardless of race or gender. Furthermore, the Bible explicitly condemns the practice of slave-trading in 1 Timothy 1:8-10. It is listed in a group of evil practices alongside those who kill their parents, adulterers, liars, and perverts. In fact, the application of Christian principles have been the catalyst for emancipation of slaves throughout history. The Bible also clearly teaches equality when in Galatians 3:28 it says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave or free, male or female, for you are all one in Christ."
So what about shellfish? The Old Testament laws were instituted to keep the Hebrew race pure and separate. God was illustrating his purity by the laws of clean and unclean. When Jesus came he fulfilled those intentions-revealing God in the flesh. Numerous places in the New Testament instruct us that we are no longer living under the Mosaic Law. One example is Galatians 3:28-29 which reads, "So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law." Context is key when interpreting the Bible. We should also note that many of the cleanliness laws were more necessary in the past because of sanitation and hygiene issues. As for shellfish, to their chagrin, Christians can eat them without remorse or going against the scriptures. In the NT God declares that all foods are clean and acceptable to be eaten. (Acts 10:10-15)
The assertion that the Bible teaches us to stone our child when they stray from the faith is ridiculous. The son in question is not a child but rather a person able to perform extremely wicked behavior-the kind that threatens the health and well being of the entire community. The parents desire for the son shows the built in provision for unjust judgement to be enacted on anyone. The elders were conferred with and the conclusion was made that the son was a threat to their community and spiritual well being. Just because in our country inmates spend dozens of years on death row does not mean that the guilty should not be punished. The law of the land must be upheld-even if the guilty is a friend, a brother, or even a son.
This just goes to show us the need for understanding the Bible in it's context. Far too often snippets are taken and twisted to make it say things that in does not say. To hear how all this got started click here: http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=rIrrGqckSQg&feature=related
Warning: you may not want to know
The Bible is a book about redemption. It's purpose is not to speak out against every moral and social evil in the world. The Bible simply recognizes the reality of slavery. Slavery flourished in the ancient world but it had nothing to do with racism. It was mainly an economic issue. You could not file for bankruptcy and so many people allowed themselves to be slaves or bond servants to pay off a debt. In fact, thieves could even pay of their debt in this way and make restitution. That part of the practice still exists today and we call it "community service".
Some slavery was also tied into political arenas. When a invading country overtook another country they would often either exile or enslave the conquered regardless of race or gender. Furthermore, the Bible explicitly condemns the practice of slave-trading in 1 Timothy 1:8-10. It is listed in a group of evil practices alongside those who kill their parents, adulterers, liars, and perverts. In fact, the application of Christian principles have been the catalyst for emancipation of slaves throughout history. The Bible also clearly teaches equality when in Galatians 3:28 it says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave or free, male or female, for you are all one in Christ."
So what about shellfish? The Old Testament laws were instituted to keep the Hebrew race pure and separate. God was illustrating his purity by the laws of clean and unclean. When Jesus came he fulfilled those intentions-revealing God in the flesh. Numerous places in the New Testament instruct us that we are no longer living under the Mosaic Law. One example is Galatians 3:28-29 which reads, "So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law." Context is key when interpreting the Bible. We should also note that many of the cleanliness laws were more necessary in the past because of sanitation and hygiene issues. As for shellfish, to their chagrin, Christians can eat them without remorse or going against the scriptures. In the NT God declares that all foods are clean and acceptable to be eaten. (Acts 10:10-15)
The assertion that the Bible teaches us to stone our child when they stray from the faith is ridiculous. The son in question is not a child but rather a person able to perform extremely wicked behavior-the kind that threatens the health and well being of the entire community. The parents desire for the son shows the built in provision for unjust judgement to be enacted on anyone. The elders were conferred with and the conclusion was made that the son was a threat to their community and spiritual well being. Just because in our country inmates spend dozens of years on death row does not mean that the guilty should not be punished. The law of the land must be upheld-even if the guilty is a friend, a brother, or even a son.
This just goes to show us the need for understanding the Bible in it's context. Far too often snippets are taken and twisted to make it say things that in does not say. To hear how all this got started click here: http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=rIrrGqckSQg&feature=related
Warning: you may not want to know
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Remembering Evil
As a child of the seventies, I was enthralled by Star Wars, I thought Stretch Armstrong was the coolest thing I had ever seen (until I suplexed the little guy right into the wall-punching a hole in the sheetrock in my room!) and I loved The Dukes of Hazzard. However, there was one famous person I admired the most- Evil Kneival. I had the toys, the suits, the shirts, and yes... the official bike. I jumped so many home-made ramps that it is amazing I am here to tell about it. I rode that bike until it literally broke in two. I jumped the curve and said, "Dad, something doesn't feel right about this bike," as it broke from the forks and literaly actually broke into two pieces. My Dad was laughing so hard that I am not sure if he even stopped to see if I was ok. Good thing mom was there! I loved that bike so much we got a welder to weld it back together. Only problem with that was that it was 10 pounds heavier which was not good for jumping so I had to give it up.
As I grew older I was saddened to learn what a rotten life my hero had lived. He was very hostile against God and lived like the prodigal son-but seemingly without regret and not returning home. I heard it on the news that he died a year ago this month. What I did not know (shocking the media wasnt reporting it too much) was that Evil came to Christ near the end of his life. An experience with God on the beach and reading the book "A Case for Christ" were the instruments God used. Evil was so sincere he gave his testimony at a large church in California. He also had an inscription etched into his tombstone that read: "Accept Jesus Christ."
We are all sinners. Our "evils" are no different than his. What a joy to know we too can be forgiven. I thank God to know that I will be able to meet him in heaven as a fan and as a brother in the Lord.
View his testimony here:
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=cf6a6e0e8731c72a0021
View his testimony here:
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=cf6a6e0e8731c72a0021
The Pun Meister using his pulpit: the press
Pun-miester Bill Maher has made an extraordinary claim on his talk show curciut as of late. He asserts that evolution by natural selection from a common ancestor is the consesus view of the scientific community and only religious zealots doubts Darwin.
Pretty strong claim for someone who is not a doctor, biologist, geologist, paleontologist, anthropologist, philosopher, or even a scientist! In fact, many intelligent poeple with many degrees behind there name are admitting to the serious flaws in the theory. See this link and see their signatures- all EIGHTEEN pages worth!
http://www.dissentfromdarwin.org/
Pretty strong claim for someone who is not a doctor, biologist, geologist, paleontologist, anthropologist, philosopher, or even a scientist! In fact, many intelligent poeple with many degrees behind there name are admitting to the serious flaws in the theory. See this link and see their signatures- all EIGHTEEN pages worth!
http://www.dissentfromdarwin.org/
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