Category Archives: World View

by | July 9, 2011 · 12:46 pm

Starting Something that Won’t Die

“Dinosaur Bones Found on the Moon”

That was the title of a post I wrote a while back. Funny thing is, though I only wrote it as a joke to catch people’s attention, I have had more people read this than most anything else. 

Little did I know that when I posted the article about finding bones on the moon there would be so many people who were wondering if it was true. Nearly everyday I get a visitor to my blog because they are searching for information about “dinosaur bones on the moon.” What’s the deal?

I don’t know if it was popular before my article, but I know it is popular now. I just hope I didn’t start something that won’t die.

Wait a minute…What am I saying?!! Let the rumor live on! As long as people keep finding this blog, maybe they’ll learn about the Son of God. If so, it wont’ matter if bones are on the moon. 

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. – Revelation 4:1

Click here to read the original post. https://therecoveringlegalist.com/2010/10/29/dinosaur-bones-found-on-moon/

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by | June 6, 2011 · 1:16 am

Beware of False Cookies

The Chinese Restaurant

This afternoon, after Sunday morning services, we went to a Chinese restaurant. There with some of our youth and their parents, we made multiple trips back and forth to the only kind of bar a Baptist is expected to frequent – one that has food.

Usually I eat a little of everything at a Chinese restaurant, except sushi – that stuff is just plain nasty. But today, because I decided I had not eaten fish in a long time, I felt compelled to stay with just one subset of the universal set of oriental cuisine: seafood…(how’s that for a math reference?). I’d had my share of deep-fried battered chicken, beef, and whatever.

Sweet and Sour What?

On a side note, have you ever stopped to think about how much trust one puts in the food he is eating? Just because a label says “Sweet and Sour Chicken,” does it mean “Sweet and Sour Rat, Cat, Snake, Penguin, Leopard, Iguana, etc.” taste any different? From what I have been told, everything not pork, beef, or duck tastes like chicken. Put enough breading on little pieces of meat and it’s all the same.

I say let’s become legalistic about this issue, if nothing else. Certain meats should have certain shapes, or at least keep the skin on it. How else are we supposed to know what has been deep fried and covered in some exotic sauce that smells so good you forget your neighbor’s chihuahua went missing. Everything chicken should look like a chicken or have a feather sticking out of it. If I’m gonna be eating rattlesnake, at least give me a rattle to take home and play with. If they don’t start doing this, I may have to quit eating at Chinese restaurants and stick with the BBQ place – you know, the one conveniently located next to the emergency animal clinic?

Edible Fortunes

Seriously, I can’t stop eating at the the  Numba Won Happy Mandarin Peking Garden of Panda Love Restaurant. Where else could I find a cookie with wisdom? Chinese Restaurants are the only places I know with fortune cookies, and somehow they really know me.

Now, some people open up a fortune cookie only to find stupid stuff like, “The sky will be blue for you today, unless you cloud it with doubt.” Riiiight. Like, could you be any more vague?

On the other hand, my wife got one today that said, “Soon you will inherit land.” What? From whom? If she has a relative that has land to give away that’s not already promised to whiter sheep, then I’ll be really amazed. But mine are different. Mine are…

Scary Fortunes

One time I was just finishing up my road training before I started driving school buses in Tennessee. I went to a Chinese buffet for lunch, after which I got a fortune cookie. I am not lying, the piece of paper said, “You are about to enjoy success at a new job.” But what was more creepy was the Chinese word of the day was the word for “school bus.” N o  j o k e !

Today was another example of scary cookie wisdom. Would you believe that it knew I was a pastor? Would you believe that it knew I like to speak in front of large crowds? Amazingly, it knew that I am “the center of attention” whenever I am in a crowd (which is true at least three times a week). What is it supposed to mean?

False Cookies

It means that even a stupid cookie can get something right every now and then, especially if the statement enclosed is vague enough. On the other hand, it should be a reminder that there are forces at work in this world trying to deceive those with “itching ears” (2 Timothy 4:3).

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” – 1 John 4:1

“For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.” – Mark 13:22

Don’t believe ’em, just eat ’em.

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Filed under baptist, Food, Future, General Observations, the future, World View

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by | May 31, 2011 · 8:15 am

Where, Oh Where Could He Be?

A Disturbing Poll

Recently, I came across a poll that was disturbing, while at the same time humorous. Let me share it with you.

The Public Religion Research Institute published a survey that asked Americans, among other things, whether or not Osama bin Laden went to hell. Believe it or not, only around 62% believed that he is suffering in hades {click here for poll}. Where else could he be?

Now, keep in mind that the majority of Americans believe in heaven (80%), or at least some version of it (mostly unbiblical). And for most Americans, there is a belief that evil people will be punished in the afterlife. The numbers, from what I have seen in the past, are more than 62%. So, if this is the case, where should we expect to see bin Laden? If not in hell, I have some ideas….

Potential bin Laden Abodes…

  • Heaven – yes he could have gotten there by the grace of God. Who knows? Maybe one of Seal Team 6 was an evangelical that convinced Osama he needed a Savior, prayed with him, offered him communion, and then tripped over his rifle? It coulda’ happened, I suppose.
  • Disney World – As part of a special, top-secret interigation technique, the CIA has forced him to shave and put on Mickey Mouse ears, while also being forced to ride the It’s a Small World ride. Eventually, he would break, because what else could be considered “hell on earth,” if not that?
  • Again, Heaven – maybe all of the Christians are wrong and the Muslims are correct? Maybe he is partying with his 72, 71, 70, wait…how many virgins are left? Maybe Muslim heaven really is hell. After the 72 are no more, eternity is going to be a long, long time.
  • Wal-Mart – if Osama is not dead, or even if he is, then spending time at Wal-Mart is not unlikely. Just think, hasn’t Elvis been spotted there plenty of times? And have you seen the type of people that shop there? He wouldn’t look out of place, especially in California.
  • Heaven, yet again – Rob Bell could be right, so bin Laden and Hitler may be sharing a mansion and talking about the good ole’ days.
  • Under da Sea! – “Under da sea/ under da sea/ I can blow bubbles/ don’t need no doubles/ under da sea/ ….under da sea/ under da sea/ can’t get to heaven, cause of 9-11/ under da sea…  See ole’ bin Laden tossin’ the turban/ catchin’ a ride on a suicide blue fin/ tossed from a ship and just taking a dip/ under da sea”

The Truth

Seriously though, where can we find the truth? The Word of God – the Bible. Regardless of what 39% of the population think, if Osama bin Laden never accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and King, then his future does not look good. It doesn’t matter what kind of atrocities he committed or encouraged.

Jesus was very clear about what awaits those who deny Him and choose their own path. Even though Osama might have been a sincere man of faith, his faith was misplaced. THAT is why, if he died without Christ, he is in hell.

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. – John 3:36

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. – Acts 4:12

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. – Revelation 20:15

Truth is not changed by polling data.

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Filed under America, cults, General Observations, salvation, World View

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by | April 10, 2011 · 4:23 pm

There IS Purpose

To Begin With…

The world is in a state of turmoil. Pain and suffering are everywhere. Worry and fear are some of the more common emotions among men and women these days. In the midst of all this unforgiving stress, the hurting need comfort; yet, where are they to find it?  I believe that comfort can be found in the belief that this world is not the result of an accident, but design. I believe that there is more to life than what we can see. I believe in a Creator. I believe in God. This belief gives me comfort in the midst of pain and suffering.

But…

Many (but not all) scientists, however, do not believe in a Creator, so they pursue meaning and purpose through the discovery of new things, improving mankind’s situation, and better anticipating the future of the universe. Even though great scientists of the past viewed science as a means to further understand God’s creation, leading them to give God praise for His magnificent design, many modern scientists see the universe through a naturalistic worldview. They tend to comfort themselves in the supposed fact that this universe, made of matter, is all that there is – nothing more. They reason that since life is just a natural process and that matter is all that there is, what does it matter (pun intended) if there is no purpose to life? To the naturalist (the typical scientist), it is all about the here-and-now, occasionally sprinkled with purposeless wonder and meaningless awe.

Science?

A recent “scientific” study was conducted that shed some interesting light on the reasons why people choose to believe that there is a Designer of the universe, rather than purposeless existence after death. Just consider the title of the study: “Death and Science: The Existential Underpinnings of Belief in Intelligent Design and Discomfort with Evolution.” (Tracy, Hart, Martens) This study showed that when faced with the ultimate reality of death, most choose to find comfort in the belief that there is a design to everything, which would suggest purpose, rather than hold to Darwin’s theory of evolution. When faced with what was called “mortality salience,” even the unreligious tended to be “uncomfortable” with the theory of evolution. The conductors of the experiment were amazed (I found it perfectly logical), even indignant at times (which I thought was funny). Sadly, the researchers who conducted the study were obviously predisposed to atheism and the idea that the universe is un-designed. Surely they included themselves in the category of “certain individuals who are more deeply invested in the scientific worldview (e.g., scientists),” and, like Carl Sagan, viewed “naturalism as providing human life with meaning and purpose.” (Tracy, Hart and Martens 10)

Only a fool could look at a working machine that had every feature capable of performing a particular task and call that machine a random collection of atoms without purpose or meaning. Even the Psalmist said, “the fool hath said in his heart, [there is] no God.” On the other hand, the logical person would conclude, at some point, that the universe machine must have been designed by a Designer. To illustrate this, William Paley (1743-1805) used a pocket watch as an analogy to describe what one should conclude when he looks at the universe. Like a lone watch found on a beach, the universe should be to the observer an intricate work of art made for a purpose. People that are logical also see themselves as instruments of purpose, because they can recognize things that bear the marks of design. Why should it be a surprise to anyone, that when faced with death, the need for meaning would be important to the same, thoughtful, logical observer? “When we see evidence of intelligent design…we naturally assume that an intelligent designer was responsible for constructing the object.” (Phillips, Brown and Stonestreet 78)

Ten Words

The Christian can find his whole sense of purpose in the ten words that make up Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” The Christian scientist can also read these words and find confirmation to his observations. It is the naturalistic scientist that looks at William Paley’s watch analogy (teleological argument) and comes to the illogical conclusion that “chance plus time” created a beautifully intricate machine out of nothing.

If the universe is Godless, and it was not designed for a purpose, then meaning is irrelevant. The thing that is designed for a purpose, even if only to amuse, has a purpose, which gives meaning to every aspect of its being. Something that was not designed, created, or brought about either in reality or in the abstract, exists, at best, by accident. There is no purpose inherent within an accident (accidents are by definition unplanned), unless, of course, the accident was caused. If an accident is caused, even if it was not purposeful, then it was at least caused, was it not? So, either way, it could be argued that whether the universe was designed or came about by accident, there was a Something that brought it about, for both are objects of a Creator, else neither would have existed.

Waxing Philosophical

In conclusion, I would now argue that if the universe was either designed or the result of an accident, and if both design and accident have to have a cause; and, since accidents usually don’t result in the promotion of life-sustaining details, but rather carnage; and, since the universe mirrors best an intricate machine full of life; therefore, it must be designed, not an accident. If, then, the universe was the product of a Designer, then there must be a purpose inherent in the design. In other words, there is a reason for everything we see. It may be hidden somewhere in the workings of this great machine. Or, it could be found in the revelation of the Designer – the Bible.

There is, according to Scripture, a purpose for everything. Even amidst all the turmoil of the Vietnam War era a song came out by a group call The Byrds entitled, “Turn, Turn, Turn.” The lyrics included a line from Ecclesiastes 3:1 which said, “a time to every PURPOSE (emphasis mine) under heaven.” To everything there is a purpose, even though it may not be plain to the observer. For example, unless they are meant to be a prank, buttons and levers on a machine usually have a purpose. Even if they don’t do anything, they had the purpose to illicit a response of some kind from the observer. That being understood, if there seems to be any design to the universe, wouldn’t it make the most sense to assume there was a Designer? If there was a Designer, then there was a purpose for the design. And the Bible says that the purpose, if for no other reason, was to cause “…all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him [the LORD]. For he spake, and it was [done]; he commanded, and it stood fast.” – Psa 33: 8-9 KJV

God made everything for a reason. You have a purpose. There IS hope in Jesus Christ.

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. – Psalm 31:24 KJV

Works Cited

Tracy, J. L., J. Hart and J. P. Martens. 2011. Death and Science: The Existential Underpinnings of Belief in Intelligent Design and Discomfort with Evolution. PLoS ONE. 6 (3): e17349.

Phillips, W. Gary, William E. Brown and John Stonestreet. Making Sense of Your World, A Biblical Worldview. Salem, Wisconsin: Sheffield Publishing Company, 2008.

Here is a link to the Institute for Creation Research article addressing the study mentioned above: http://www.icr.org/article/6039/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+icrscienceupdate+%28Science+Update+from+ICR%29&utm_content=FaceBook


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by | March 25, 2011 · 6:12 pm

Prostitots?

Not a Flattering Term

At some point a few years ago, someone coined the phrase, prostitot. As you may have figured out, the word is a combination of “prostitute” and “toddler.” It refers to young girls dressing like older girls, but not in appropriate ways. More often than not it is meant to refer to middle school girls who dress like 21 year olds out to “hook up.”

Sad Reality

Sadly, there ARE moms who WANT their little girls to look like prostitots.  An example can be seen on a reality TV show that glorifies the insanity of baby beauty queens. Little girls, young enough to have the maternity ward bracelet still on their ankles, are turned into ruthless little competitors obsessed with everything from makeup to staying thin. Sadly, if it were left up to the kids, they would be out on the playground getting dirty. But with mentally disturbed mothers and fathers exhibiting twisted parental skills, the only thing these little girls are allowed to play are the judges and crowds. Frankly, I don’t care what people submit as reasons for this – it’s still wrong, unwise, and dangerous. The picture to the right does not do justice to the rampant sexuality that these little girls are being trained to exude, all in the name of being popular.

Now, odds are not many women are submitting their little girls to this kind of abuse (yeah, that’s what I call it). On the other hand, actual trends should be quite disturbing, nevertheless. Young girls today are more sexually expressive than ever before. Access to the internet and smart phones is allowing them to post and receive adult material (including self-made stuff). Clothing is becoming more revealing and makeup more alluring as time goes on. Yet, many moms are just going along with the fun, while daddy is either clueless, or forced to go along for the ride. The need to be popular, pretty, and sexy is invading the middle school.

And it’s getting bad.

It is getting so bad that even liberal women, like Jennifer Moses, are writing in the Wall Street Journal about their concerns. In an article entitled, “Why Do We Let Girls Dress Like That?” Ms. Moses lamented the fact that many moms are allowing their 12-and 13-year-olds to dress “like prostitutes,…but pay for them to do it with [their] AmEx cards…” She wonders what kind of message parents are sending to their children when they encourage children to look like girls on the prowl.

[It’s] easy for parents to slip into denial. We wouldn’t dream of dropping our daughters off at college and saying: “Study hard and floss every night, honey—and for heaven’s sake, get laid!” But that’s essentially what we’re saying by allowing them to dress the way they do while they’re still living under our own roofs.

According to Jennifer Moses, the reason for all of this is, “with the exception of some Mormons, evangelicals and Orthodox Jews, scads of us don’t know how to teach our own sons and daughters not to give away their bodies so readily.”  Now THAT’S an interesting thing to say, isn’t it?

I don’t want to speak for the Mormons, Jews, or Muslims (especially the Muslims who just burned 50 churches in Ethiopia this week), but in spite of what all the liberals have to say, the Bible has some good advice when it comes to rearing children. It even instructs against dressing like a prostitute. Imagine that!

The Bible?

The problem is that many parents have no idea what the Bible says about anything. They never read it, much less attempt to apply its principles to parenting. Too often parents want to let their children make their own decisions with regard to clothing, friends, sexual choices, etc. Rarely is it the case that they stop and consider the reasons for sexual purity before marriage. Rarely do they consider why girls should dress modestly, not seductively. Today, even Christians are having a hard time distinguishing between what is culturally acceptable or socially popular, and what is actually destructive.

Question

[GIRLS]Why do women want their daughters to dress seductively? Do they want the boys to look at them? Do they want the boys to think inappropriate thoughts? Why is it that so many women are allowing their daughters to play with fire? King Solomon advised his son, “Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids” (Proverbs 6:25). The reason was pretty simple: there are always consequences to lust.

Stop and think about it, moms. When you allow your girls to dress like eye candy, what do you expect boys with racing hormones to do? They sin. As a matter of fact, Jesus said,

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. – Matthew 5:27-28 KJV

Does it make you comfortable to think that your daughter in a miniskirt and high-top boots just may be causing another mother’s son to commit adultery? It is that serious, you know. Of course, let it be said that it takes two to tango. Boys should be taught to keep their hormones in check. They should learn from Job who said “I have made a covenant with my eyes…”

The Answer

Now, more than ever before, I believe it is time for the mature and godly men and women to step up to the plate.  The younger men and women need to know what this world is really about. So many mothers and fathers are unaware of the dangers that lie in wait for their little boys and girls. They need some mature men and women to come alongside them and say, “look, dear, this is what will happen if you continue down this path.” The Apostle Paul told Titus that the people of Crete needed the same thing.

You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self‑controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self‑controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self‑controlled. – Titus 2:1-6 NIV

A Final Thought

In response to the article by Jennifer Moses, a  critical piece appeared in Salon magazine. Mary Elizabeth Williams labled Moses as “guilt-wracked.” She also said of her own daughters:

I want them to believe that their sexuality isn’t something to be afraid of, to be doled out stingily and grudgingly…And I wish someday for my daughters — and their friends, both the girls and the boys — what plenty of us not named Jennifer Moses have been able to achieve: a lifetime of healthy self-esteem, varied experiences and zero regret. (emphasis mine)

Well, I guess we know who else hasn’t read Proverbs 5, 6, and 7, huh? Good luck with that “zero regret” thing.

Links:

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052748703899704576204580623018562-lMyQjAxMTAxMDIwMzEyNDMyWj.html

http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2011/03/21/wall_street_journal_tween_sluts/index.html

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by | March 18, 2011 · 3:29 am

Speak Out While You Still Can

What I am about to write is definitely dangerous.

I am having a hard time finding the words to say. I have written and re-written stuff for the last 5 hours. The problem is that there is no easy way to say what I want to say. I am not a radical. I am not a conspiracy kook. What I am is someone who watches what is going on in the world, in light of history, and is terribly disturbed by what potentially lies ahead. Please watch the following video, and then read my thoughts on the matter.

Nobody wants to label the whole religion of Islam as dangerous. To do so runs the risk of being labeled “Islamaphobic.” But just in case no one noticed, the reason the police didn’t stop the peaceful Muslims from clogging the streets of France is because of the fear that some radical will burn a police station, behead a cop, or start a riot that leaves the city in ruin. Why shouldn’t that make me nervous? Since when did the police of any country run in fear of Christians?

The Norm?

What will we allow to become the norm in this country? Sure, there are the humanists and the atheists who would like to see no public display of religion; but most Americans would just prefer that a person be able to hold whatever belief their conscience dictates, exercising their faith in peace. However, if the norm becomes fear of speaking out or questioning anything about any religion; fear to enforce certain laws because it may offend a Muslim; or fear to even draw a cartoon depicting a particular “prophet” (that got a lot of people killed, you know); then freedom will cease to exist. That is not the norm I want to get accustomed to.

Another video.

You see, it is coming to a point where we are going to have to speak out for freedom, or we will not be able to speak out at all. Fear and intimidation is running rampant all over the world.  Just look at how people are being jailed for speaking out in Europe against Sharia law.

<object style=”height: 390px; width: 640px”><param name=”movie” value=”http://www.youtube.com/v/sPmURANLiHw?version=3″><param name=”allowFullScreen” value=”true”><param name=”allowScriptAccess” value=”always”></object>

No Sharia!

To not speak out in this conflict of cultures is to allow Islam the opportunity to replace our Western form of government with a system of laws that go against everything our forefathers fought for.  There will be no place in an Islamic state, should it go that far, for those who seek freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of thought, or equal rights for all. Freedom of religion is a core value in American society, but we should beware of those who would use that freedom to usurp the freedom of all others. Already, intimidation and the fear of retribution is robbing us or our of public discourse in the arena of ideas.

A concluding thought

As a concluding thought, the above videos spoke of laws in other countries that limited religious expression outside of the home, church, synagogue, or mosque. We should be thankful we are still allowed to express our faith anywhere, not just inside the walls of our own homes and churches. But make no mistake, there are those in this country who would love to have us be just like France and Austria. They have already succeeded in removing many expressions of faith from the public arena in the name of “separation of church and state.” Understand that unless we have the right to full, unrestrained discussion, only the most intimidating bullies will be aloud to speak. Speak out while you still can.

Related Articles (just in case you want to read the other side of the argument)

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by | January 31, 2011 · 11:24 am

Be “Careful” for Nothing…

I am sitting at my computer and thinking of all the things about which I want to write, but all of them really seem trivial at this point. Life must go on, but sometimes world events make everything personal seem, well, trivial.

At the time of this writing, Egypt is in a state of turmoil. The people, led by students (like always), are demanding the president of

Unrest in Egypt

Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, to give up power. Muslims all over the world are taking their side, even burning pictures (like always) of the president in the streets. The leading opposition group in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood, is calling for the government to be handed over to them (like always). And once again, the world is feeling the tremors of this shake up in the price of oil and the falling stock markets. Things are getting really tense all over the world.

 

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20110131/D9L39P7O0.html

In case you are reading this and have no idea of the ramifications of what is going on, let me just tell you what could potentially happen.

1)   Egypt, one of the few Arab countries at peace with Israel, is about to change its form of government, from a “dictatorship” to a hastily formed “unified” government, not a democracy.

2)   The government that is being called for by the “people” of Egypt will, in essence, be nothing more than a theocratic-themed, Islamic-controlled, religiously-based government. Even though the protesters on the street just want an end to the 30 year reign of Mubarak, the Muslim Brotherhood wants anything but a democratically-elected, religiously open-minded, pro-Western government. They want one more domino to fall in the long stack of countries they want to conquer in the name of Allah.

3)   If Egypt falls into the hands of Muslim extremists and jihadist-sympathizers, then they will have the ability to control all traffic through the Suez Canal. It is through this waterway that a majority of the world’s oil is transported. To cut access to the Suez would cripple the United States economy overnight.  Oil prices would go through the roof, along with every thing that the increased prices could affect. Everyday staples, such as food and electricity would be triple in cost, if not more. Businesses would fail.

4)  If Egypt falls into the hands of Anti-American extremists, Suadi Arabia will be in trouble.  The Muslim Brotherhood has already stated that it wants to see the Saud family removed from power. If that were to happen, then the majority of the world’s oil would be in the hands of those who want to see America and the West fall. Because of the demands and restrictions placed on our energy-making industries by Liberals and global-warming nuts, we will not have the capability of meeting the fuel and energy demands of this nation. Our economy will come to a standstill.

5) If the economy of the United States comes to a halt, there are plenty of groups poised and ready to bring riots to our own streets, just like has been seen in Europe (France, England, Greece, etc.) and the Middle East.  At that point, say good bye to the America of our forefathers (what’s left of it, anyway).

6)  Of course, don’t forget, before the world economies give up in defeat to the folks in the desert, there will be, as the protesters call it, “blood for oil.” War in the Middle East over the control of its stock of resources would no doubt include the self-interests of every major power, including China and Russia. Very easily, we could be on the brink a major global conflict.  Worried, yet?

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God (Phl 4:6 KJV).

What does it mean to “be careful for nothing?” Well, the word translated “careful” in the KJV is a Greek word that means:  to be anxious; troubled with cares (merimnaō – Strong’s G3309). To “be careful for nothing” would mean to not be anxious, or overly troubled by anything. Now, with all the bad news above, how in the world are we supposed to not be anxious? “By prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let [our] requests be made known unto God.”

What happens when we put our faith and trust in the God of the Bible?

[The] peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Phl 4:7 KJV).

But my problems are not trivial. They are real – as real as the problems in Egypt. I’ve got my own issues that tend to make me anxious.

Yesterday, my wife and one of our girls drove to Chicago. They went there because of a family emergency. Lo and behold, Chicago is expecting up to 2 feet of snow and winds close to 60 miles an hour – a blizzard.  Do you think that makes me happy? Not only is the world falling apart, but MY world is in danger.

What am I to do?

Pray and give thanks to the God who made this world and holds it in the palm of His hand. Only His peace can keep our hearts in these troubled times. Only He can give the peace that passes all understanding. I resolve “to be careful for nothing.”

Phl 4:4, 6-7 NLT – Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again–rejoice! … Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

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by | January 26, 2011 · 1:03 pm

Make the Light Bulb Deadly and You’ll Feel Better

Remember when life used to be simple? Remember when you use to be able to break things and say, “Oh, well?” Remember when you could accidentally break a light bulb, and as long as your were careful to not get cut, just pick up the big pieces, sweep up the rest, then go about your business?

NOT ANY MORE!

Gone are the days of simplicity. Gone are the days of simple broken glass and a couple of stray, dangling filaments. Welcome to the era of insanity and stupidity. Welcome to the age of “Greener is better, unless you’re human.”

In case you haven’t heard, unless you’re in the mood to call a Haz/Mat team to your house for an afternoon of green tea and organic cookies, you’d better be careful when changing your new CFL light bulbs (you know, the little curly ones that are the craze). Used to be that when you accidentally broke a light bulb, like when you dropped it while changing it, the only thing you had to worry about was getting cut. Now, because of the hazardous materials used in the new bulbs, you have a lot more to worry about…..like mercury poisoning.

I don’t want to take the time to write out all of the instructions that our own government wants you to follow when you clean up your broken curly-que green-earth bulb – you can follow the link, below. I would use more energy in the process of typing it out than the amount saved from these new bulbs. Regardless what the advocates say, stop and think about the overall costs associated with the new CFL bulbs. They may use less energy when lighting up your earth-friendly house, but the economical and environmental costs involved in their production and disposal, including the undiscussed ramifications of millions of improperly disposed bulbs filled with mercury, contaminating everything from garbage cans to dump truck and land fills, could be astronomical. But hey, you can feel better knowing you’re “going green” while you go through the 15 steps of cleaning up the hazardous mercury in your home (again, see link below).

How much are we really saving?

Not much. Why? I say, “follow the money.” It is already becoming evident that many crooks are behind schemes to bilk the public (and the world) out of ungodly amounts of money through this global warming hoax. Even Al Gore is in trouble. But when it comes to these new bulbs, who is profiting from their introduction and destruction of the incandescent light bulb industry? Honestly, when you just look at the construction of one this these little wonders, they obviously cost a lot more in material and labor to create than the old-fashioned one. Somebody is making a killing while potentially killing us in the process.

Reality Check.

Remember, this is our Father’s world. “THE earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein” – Psalm 24:1 (NKJV). God made this world and He has a plan for it. Even though man may make living on it a challenge at times, man is not in charge of the seasons and the climate, GOD is (Daniel 2:21; Job 5:10; Psalm 147:8). No matter what the egotists say, the ones who think that man is bigger than God, big enough to even destroy His creation, our little creations can’t compare to the wonders of God’s Creation. If anything, the makers of these CFL bulbs should be held accountable to their Mother Earth for the damage all of that mercury is going to do to the fish in the streams when it finally gets into the water supply…….So there!

My suggestions? First, buy all of the old fashioned, incandescent bulbs that you can, before they’re gone. Secondly, get some people with common sense and no ties to the environmentalists’ purse strings back in Washington.  It would make me feel better knowing the “little light bulb” over their heads wasn’t deadly…or loopy.

Link to EPA http://www.epa.gov/cfl/cflcleanup.html (If you don’t believe me).

Link to descriptions of mercury poisoning http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002476.htm (remember, this is in the cute, curly things).

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by | January 6, 2011 · 10:13 am

The Raelians are Coming!!

About the time that I thought the only thing I had to worry about was Islam and LGBT marriages, along comes a new threat –

UFO cults. It’s not science fiction, folks.

As times change, pastors are having to battle change. It’s not that we oppose changing styles, or stuff like that. We oppose those who are attempting to change the truth of Scripture in order to accomplish their own goals.

People have always tried to twist the words of the Bible to meet their own needs. That is nothing new. The problem that we face today is the ever growing desire to make those changes legal; to force pastors, under threat of lawsuits, to accept sin and place a stamp of approval on it. An example of this would be a gay or lesbian couple trying to force a pastor to marry them, rather than face discrimination and/or human rights charges. If you don’t think they are serious, just check out this article from NPR written just a couple of years ago (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91486340). Things haven’t gotten better.

"I come to sue."

Now, get this, a Catholic school in Canada had been forced to pay damages to a group of UFO cultists! Even though you can go to their site, let me print it below (http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/ontario-tribunal-finds-catholic-school-board-guilty-of-religious-discrimina).

TORONTO, Ontario, December 20, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Ontario Human Rights Tribunal has ordered a Catholic school board to compensate three members of a prominent UFO cult after finding the board guilty of religious discrimination.

Daniel, Michel, and Sylvie Chabot, members of the Raelian cult, were hired in November 2006 by the Conseil Scolaire Catholique Franco-Nord to offer ‘emotional pedagogy’ training sessions for teachers.  They delivered such sessions through what they call the Academy of Pleasurology and Emotional Intelligence (APEI).

The Catholic board chose to end the contract in January 2007 after discovering their membership in the cult, which claims that humans were planted on Earth by benevolent extraterrestrials.

On December 15th, Tribunal vice president Michelle Flaherty ruled that the board had discriminated against the three siblings on the basis of their beliefs.  The parties had agreed to mediation, but asked the Tribunal to determine if the human rights code was violated.  The decision does not reveal how much the board must pay in penalty.

The Raelian sect was founded by former French sports journalist Claude Vorilhon, now known as ‘Rael’, in 1973 after he claimed that he had an encounter with aliens.  The cult is known for its strong support of human cloning, which is based on their belief that cloning will usher in a paradise where people live forever.

Daniel Chabot, who calls himself a bishop, said they have filed dozens of human rights complaints, but this is the first to side with them.  “It took us 17 years of relentless battles and one case before a Human Rights Tribunal in Ontario to finally have our voices heard,” he stated in a press release.  “This sentence was ironically delivered on Human Rights Day, December 10, 2010 and was, needless to say, a sweet victory.”

Ronald Demers, the school board’s chairman, told the Catholic Register that they will not appeal.  LifeSiteNews.com did not hear back from the board by press time.

The aliens, I mean the Raelians are coming! The Raelians are coming!

P.S.   I don’t want to bash the poor Catholic folks in Canada, but why didn’t anyone see a HUGE RED FLAG when the board hired people from the “Academy of Pleasurology and Emotional Intelligence (APEI)” to conduct “emotional pedagogy” training? Just asking. What ever happened to Theology?

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by | January 5, 2011 · 2:37 pm

“Let God be True, and Luther a Liar”

Last week I went to Florida to perform a wedding. Here are some thoughts on God and Martin Luther, based on what I saw while sight-seeing.

Forgive me, but I am not a big fan of St. Petersburg, especially in the winter when it is 45 degrees. To me, Florida is supposed to be HOT. The warmest it got last week was in the low 70’s. The water on both coasts was terribly cold; therefore, sightseeing was more appropriate than sunbathing on the beach (which I don’t prefer, anyway). But aside from all of that, I still don’t think I would have liked St. Petersburg, even if it had been in the dead of summer.

However, they did have a few nice museums.

From books to IPhones

One museum we (Katie and I) enjoyed was the Museum of Fine Arts (http://www.fine-arts.org/). Believe it or not, it was the first time that I ever had the chance to stand in a room full of paintings by Monet. It was impressive, especially when you consider how close a teenager could stand next to objects worth multiple millions of dollars. Fortunately for the paintings, teenagers have touch-screen phones to keep their fingers occupied.

Another place we went, at my insistence, was the Florida Holocaust Museum (http://www.flholocaustmuseum.org/). I felt that it was important for the girls to see with their own eyes what true hatred and bigotry, even false religion can do. Not as big, nor as impressive as the museum in Washington, D.C., this museum still told the story well and featured an original cattle car that once carried Jews to the concentration camps.

When we left St. Petersburg, in order to find another beach to help Haley with her science project, at the advice of my brother-in-law, we went to Amelia Island in Fernandina, Florida. Now THAT was a change from St. Petersburg. Through priceline.com we even got a 3-star hotel for $52 a night! Not bad for a place with a huge, clean beach and a small-town feel.

“Big Guns on the Wall”

The highlight to the trip, for me, was when we got to visit Fort Clinch on Amelia Island. The fort was built back in the 1800’s and served both the Conferderate (1861) and the Union troops. It was a massive, red brick fortress overlooking the Atlantic ocean, and was meant to protect the Cumberland Sound. Fully restored, with reenactors playing the part, it was meant to give you the feel of stepping back in time to 1864.

I was really impressed with the fort. Even my wife was amazed. As I stood on its walls with huge canons, or on its proud bastions, I could not help but remember the words to the famous hymn by Martin Luther, “A Mighty Fortress.”

 

“A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing.
Our helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.”

Then a painful thought struck me.

Just the day before, my girls were able to read other words from Martin Luther in the Florida Holocaust Museum. You see, even though Luther has been regarded as the father of the Reformation, he was a rabid anti-semite. In one display chronicling centuries of hatred toward the Jewish people, the words from Luther’s book, “On the Jews and Their Lies,” was written in bold for every Christian to see. Here are some quotes from that book:

“He who hears this name [God] from a Jew must inform the authorities, or else throw sow dung at him when he sees him and chase him away.”

“If we wish to wash our hands of the Jews’ blasphemy and not share in their guilt, we have to part company with them. They must be driven from our country.”

“Moreover, they are nothing but thieves and robbers who daily eat no morsel and wear no thread of clothing which they have not stolen and pilfered from us by means of their accursed usury. Thus they live from day to day, together with wife and child, by theft and robbery, as arch-thieves and robbers, in the most impenitent security.”

“My essay, I hope, will furnish a Christian (who in any case has no desire to become a Jew) with enough material not only to defend himself against the blind, venomous Jews, but also to become the foe of the Jews’ malice, lying, and cursing, and to understand not only that their belief is false but that they are surely possessed by all devils. May Christ, our dear Lord, convert them mercifully and preserve us steadfastly and immovably in the knowledge of him, which is eternal life. Amen.”

What a contrast! One moment I am being inspired by a fortress that reminds me of the greatness of God, the next I am being reminded of the painful truth that men are sinners – all with the same song. How could the words of one man inspire both the Church and the Nazi party at the same time?

Martin Luther

Martin Luther wrote “A Mighty Fortress” based on Psalm 46:11, “The LORD of hosts [is] with us; the God of Jacob [is] our refuge. Selah.” God is our refuge and our hope in time of trouble. The Psalmist also said, agreeing with Luther,

I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. – Psa 91:2 KJV

What are we to make of this, then? Is my hope in God supposed to be dashed all because of the actions of some (or all) of his followers? Are we to assume the truth of God is a lie because of the hateful words of Luther, as opposed to his hymns and 95 theses? Martin Luther was terribly wrong in his observations of the Jews. For that matter, David wasn’t perfect, either. No, God is God. Man is man. That is why it is so important to keep in mind the following words from the Apostle Paul:

“…[Let] God be true, and every man a liar…” – Romans 3:4 KJV

When Peter got it right, Jesus called him “blessed” and praised the fact that the Father gave him the words (Matthew 16:17). However, when Peter spoke in the flesh, out of his own selfish desires, Jesus said, “Get thee behind me, Satan!” (verse 23). When we speak out of hand about God, that does not change the truth about God.  Luther got some things right.  Luther also got some things wrong in a very bad way.

My God IS a mighty fortress…and He loves the people of Israel.  He has made that abundantly clear, despite the ramblings and false doctrines of men. God said, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” – Gen 12:3 KJV  Nothing has changed.  Let God be true, and Luther be a liar. Let God be true, and Peter a liar. Let God be true, and every one of us a liar. God is Who He is, whether we get it right or not. But because of Luther’s mistaken words, may we be ever more diligent to heed these words:

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. – 2Ti 2:15 KJV

Why? Because Jesus said it right, and He ALWAYS got it right, when He said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” – Jhn 17:17 KJV

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar. – Pro 30:5-6 ESV

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