Thanks to our youth pastor for pointing out this video. You can find out more about I Am Second here. The specific link for Lecrae is here.
January 22, 2012
January 19, 2012
An Evangelical’s Case Against Romney … not what you think.
A friend recently emailed to ask whether Sapphire Sky would venture an opinion on whether an evangelical Christian should support Mitt Romney in his bid to be president. My friend admitted reservations about whether a vote for Romney would be an implicit endorsement or validation of Mormonism.
I do not plan on voting for Romney in the primary, but not because of his Mormon faith. His Mormonism should not be a liability in the view of this evangelical. To the contrary, in this day, Romney’s devout Mormon faith should be an asset for an aspiring political leader.
To be sure, I strongly disagree with the Mormon religion. Mormon teaching on the identity of Jesus Christ is heretical to long-held evangelical, Catholic, and Orthodox beliefs. Mormonism is also an apologetics train wreck with peculiar traditions.
While there is much in Mormonism to offend an evangelical, Mormon values or ethics are firmly planted in Judeo-Christian morality. Mormons believe strongly in the reality and centrality of the God of Israel, the moral laws disclosed to Moses, and that we live our lives before an omnipresent and eternal God who will pass judgment on how we live if we deny his grace. Mormonism departs from orthodox Christianity, not in its view of the law, but in its view of Christ. Like evangelical Christianity, Mormonism rejects post-modernism and, inherently, rejects secular humanism. Practically, Mormonism teaches the importance of strong families, dedication, hard work, perseverance and temperance. In this, Mormons share the traditional protestant work ethic, in fact, better than many modern protestant churches.
The moral foundations of Romney’s Mormon faith share the fundamental Judeo-Christian values that gave birth to the western liberalism we take for granted and that led to unprecedented human freedom and prosperity in the West. Judeo-Christian morality champions the worth of the individual, the objective nature of truth and morality, the importance of justice and the rule of law (Lex Rex), and that our lives should aspire to a higher calling, pleasing to the Creator of the universe, to whom we will all one day answer. As I said above, such a religious foundation is an asset for a political leader in this age. Our political leaders exist to help craft and enforce effective laws. They are not tasked nor in this country do we want them to be our spiritual leaders.
But, as I also said, Romney is not my primary candidate. There is an ongoing moral offense that must be remedied. Fifteen trillion dollars worth of national debt, and growing, is a moral blight that threatens the very existence of our Republic. There is no relief in site. Even if we avoid financial collapse, we’re leveraging our children’s future for our present comfort and to wage foreign wars. The avoidance of financial collapse is not a certainty. To me, our present course is utter madness. While I think Romney is a tremendously talented individual, I don’t think he’s the best candidate to address the debt. The debt is caused entirely by out of control spending, particularly on social welfare and on international defense. Mitt Romney has been a large government statist his entire career in politics. As governor, he designed the government healthcare program that was the blueprint for ObamaCare. Not surprisingly, Romney’s solution isn’t to dramatically cut spending. His solution is to implement a more powerful tax – the Value Added Tax. No thanks.
The biggest surprise for me this election cycle is the realization that statists and neo-cons dominate the Republican establishment. This should have been clear from the party standard bearers over the past two decades: George Bush, Bob Dole, George W. Bush and then John McCain. Republicans and Democrats have largely shared in contributing to our national debt. Romney, Gingrich and Santorum appear cut from the same statist cloth. (Leaving one candidate that is not. See here and here.) More war and more federal programs will not turn this Republica around. In any event, in answer to the inquiry, I don’t view Romney’s devout Mormon faith as a reason to vote against him.
January 17, 2012
Identity Crisis – who are we?
I remember as an officer in the US Army, I regularly took the following oath:
I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God.
My oath was premised on the promise to support and defend our Constitution. I must admit, however, I had not really studied the document. Aside from high school civics, it just was not a topic of discussion or of particular interest. It said what it said. When I first took the oath in 1986, as a cadet, I knew then it meant at the very least I was promising not to be a communist.
From the Army I went to law school. We studied Constitutional law our first year (and second and third), and did I ever feel like a rube. I studied that document. I read it and knew it. It did not take me long to realize that the document I had promised to defend, and as an infantry officer that inherently meant pledging my life, had been mutilated, distorted and twisted to mean whatever the political branches in general, and the Supreme Court in particular, wanted it to mean. Military officers pledge their lives to defend a document without realizing that our highest judges and political leaders ignore and distort that same document to allow them whatever largesse and grant of power they want. While we defended the document from foreign threats, it appeared to me that the document was ravaged from within. Books have been written on the topic of how far we’ve strayed from the Republic laid out in our Constitution.
It was not until recently, however, that the consequences of this domestic dereliction of duty have become apparent. Perhaps the most pressing and obvious, our 15 trillion dollars of debt and intractable social disputes are due directly to our abandoning the fundamental checks, balances and limits on our federal government that were established by our founders in what is allegedly our foundation legal document that our Armed Forces swears to uphold and defend.
Please review the Constitutional grant of powers below. Curiously, there’s no federal power for establishing a national health insurance, healthcare, or prescription drug coverage; there’s no basis for a national education policy or for “No Child Left Behind”; there’s no federal authority for protecting the environment, building housing for the poor, or for assisting urban development. There’s no mention of administrative bureaucracies controlled by the President that pass thousands of laws each year and then adjudicate those laws a.k.a. regulations. There is no mention of the President having the power to send troops into combat operations for undeclared war. Only Congress was given the power to declare war. How many wars have we now fought since the last declaration of war? These powers were not given to the federal government through the Constitution. Instead, federal politicians take or vote these powers unto themselves and the federal judiciary condones them. These policies were nice and/or important, so aside from a few cranks and loons, the vast majority of the body politic did not care, for decades.
If we’re not a Constitutional republic, what are we – besides bankrupt? Does it matter? In this election cycle, this issue is of central relevance. Unfortunately, only one candidate sounds the alarm. The four other Republican candidates and our POTUS plan on more of the same. We’ve largely abandoned the system of government on which this nation was founded. The federal government has completely exploded past the limited powers granted to it, denying itself hardly anything. Now, like many a glutton, we find ourselves bankrupt. We’re also politically gridlocked and largely ruled by an unelected extra-Constitutional federal administrative state. Both the so-called left and the so-called right participated in creating this mess. An incompetent and grossly ideologically biased press corp and educational establishment enabled decades of federal misconduct. We all now share in paying the consequences. Our future generations will also be paying the consequences, literally, presuming our Republic persists. We’re broke and we’ve broken the system of government handed down to us.
THE ENUMERATED POWERS OF CONGRESS
U.S. Constitution – Article 1 Section
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
To establish Post Offices and Post Roads;
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations;
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
To provide and maintain a Navy;
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; And
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
THE POWER OF THE PRESIDENT
Article II
Section 2 – Civilian Power over Military, Cabinet, Pardon Power, Appointments
The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.
The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.
Section 3 – State of the Union, Convening Congress
He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.
FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, THE NOW-IGNORED POST-SCRIPT: THE TENTH AMENDMENT
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
(which means that the only prerogatives of the Congress (as well as the Executive Branch and the Judicial Branch) are limited to those granted by the Constitution of the United States)
January 11, 2012
Are chocolate chip cookies the perfect food?
Of course chocoloate chip cookies are not the perfect food. Only cheeseburgers, the big warm bun with a huge hunk of meat, can make (and have made) claim to being Heaven on earth with an onion slice. If there were, however, runner-up awards for culinary perfection, chocoloate chip cookies would warrant consideration. To wit:
(no live animals were injured or otherwise traumitized in the filming of this video)
January 9, 2012
Catching Interest In Denver
While I don’t subscribe to the idea that God takes an active interest in the outcome of sports games, I’ve admired Tim Tebow’s open display of faith in Christ. I also like the fact this Heiseman Trophy winner was homeschooled.
For many if not most games, Tim Tebow writes 3:16 under his eyes, standing for his favorite Bible verse, John 3:16.
Well in his first play off appearance and win yesterday, he set a personal record of passing for 316 yards and set a playoff record by averaging 31.6 yards per completion. See here. And against the NFL’s number one defense. Very cool. 3:16 cool.
January 6, 2012
December 31, 2011
2011 Sapphire Sky in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 23,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 9 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
December 29, 2011
December 25, 2011
December 24, 2011
Peace On Earth
“ Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
We expect Christmas season to be a time of happiness and celebration. Sadly, it is also a time of grief and disappointment to many. We mourn the loss of loved ones, and the tragedy of “what might have been”.
Thankfully, we have hope. Our pain and grief will have an end. God has not forgotten us.
One of the popular Christmas carols was born out of great tragedy. The American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, lived in Massachusetts during the time of the American Civil War. Longfellow’s personal tragedy was combined with the national tragedy during this war: his wife was killed during an accidental fire at their house, leaving Longfellow himself badly burned. In addition to this, his oldest son had gone off to war and returned severely wounded. Specific details are here.
The war was nearing its end on Christmas day 1864 when Longfellow was finally able to pen these words of hope: “God is not dead, nor does he sleep.”
The words of Longfellow’s poem have been revised for the popular Christmas carol, “I heard the bells on Christmas Day”. The stanzas regarding the Civil War are omitted from the carol and the third stanza regarding “night to day” is moved to the end. Yet for any readers of American history, the original poem below illustrates the despair that birthed these words of hope:
“Christmas Bells”
“I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!Then from each black accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!”
December 22, 2011
God Came in the Appearance of an Illegitimate Child from Nowhere
He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. John 1:10
The infinite and awesome creator of the cosmos took the form of his own creation and subjected himself to the laws of time and death, to save those who rebelled against him. God’s voluntary subjection to the rebellious brutality of His creation demonstrates the degree to which God hates original sin – pride and conceit. He did not take the form of an invincible champion to subdue this treacherous and wicked world. He did not condescend in regal majesty to awe mankind. Although a tiny nation of chosen people anticipated his arrival, he did not arrive as a heralded conqueror.
Jesus came in the middle of the night as a helpless child. To the world, God was born a poor child, not in a palace, but in a feeding trough, among livestock, on dirt and straw. Instead of conceived by God, they saw a shameful pregnancy. Instead of the Son of God, the World saw him as illegitimate. Only Joseph, a poor carpenter, helped Mary through the pain of Jesus’ birth. She did not lie on a clean bed. No servants or doctors attended young Mary. Her water and blood mixed with the manger dirt. Instead of gold and trumpet blasts, he arrived in poverty, surrounded by manure. Heaven sang, but beyond a very few peasants, no one heard. His first visitors were shepherds, who were of the lowest social cast of the time, men who were not deemed fit for entry into the Temple. Mary and Joseph raised Jesus in Galilee, a remote backwater of Judea, which itself was a remote conquered territory of the Roman Empire. He was the adopted son of a carpenter. To the world, God incarnate was a nobody from nowhere.
When this apparent nobody left to fulfill his purpose on Earth, he surrounded himself with uneducated fishermen. At the height of his ministry, he shared wine in fellowship with prostitutes, tax collectors and fishermen. His acquaintances cannot be understated – tax collectors were vermin. They were corrupt traitors who squeezed the wealth from their fellow countrymen on behalf of a pagan conqueror. Jesus quickly made enemies of the important Jewish religious and legal leaders – the Pharisees and Sadducees. He spent his time in the countryside and villages teaching commoners, healing the sick, and washing the feet of the fishermen and tax collectors who followed him. He talked with prostitutes and gentiles.
Jesus Christ demonstrated that he did not come to conquer the rebellious heart of man, but rather he came as a humble servant to lay down his life for the rebellious sons of Adam and fallen daughters of Eve. Along the way, he taught the heart of God’s law, cared for the poor and sick, displayed God’s wrath against the proud, changed the face of mankind, and performed countless miracles for those who placed their faith in him.
In the end, he was arrested, beaten, stripped, scourged, mocked, spat upon, abandoned by his closest friends, nailed to a cross and killed with common criminals on a barren hill outside the gates of Jerusalem. They killed him outside the walls of Jerusalem because he was “unclean” for being crucified and therefore unfit to be within the walls of the holy city. (Heb. 13:12-13.)
After being humiliated and savagely slaughtered, he proved his divine authority by defeating death. He rose from the dead, demonstrating also that he paid the price of sin for all who would accept his sacrifice – all while being a servant of his Father’s will. God came into His creation to serve and to die for those who rebelled against Him, to satisfy His law, so that we could live in the eternal presence of our creator and escape the penalty of our fallen nature.
Jesus completely and humbly poured himself out for those who did not deserve it. Jesus changed the face of humanity and defeated death and sin, all as a nobody from nowhere. Christ’s time on Earth was a miraculous demonstration of love, compassion, grace, and justice intertwined. (Eph. 5:1; Phil. 2:1-3.) Jesus changed the course of history and changes our eternal destination. God’s ways are not the ways of the world, yet God calls us to his table, to be his family, and to act like Him through the strength of his Holy Spirit.
The birth of Christ will always be the foremost and greatest miracle for mankind.
Merry Christmas.
December 19, 2011
Misplaced Conservative Angst Over Paul’s Iranian Policy
The Great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign Nations is in extending our commercial relations to have with them as little political connection as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements let them be fulfilled, with perfect good faith. Here let us stop. . . .
‘Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent Alliances, with any portion of the foreign world. So far, I mean, as we are now at liberty to do it, for let me not be understood as capable of patronizing infidelity to existing engagements (I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is always the best policy). I repeat it therefore, let those engagements be observed in their genuine sense. But in my opinion, it is unnecessary and would be unwise to extend them.
Taking care always to keep ourselves, by suitable establishments, on a respectably defensive posture, we may safely trust to temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies.
Pres. George Washington, 1796 (farewell address)
This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence — economic, political, even spiritual — is felt in every city, every State house, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.
In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.
Pres. Dwight Eisenhower, 1961 (farewell address)
I’m a former Airborne Ranger. My first full-time job after college was as a rifle platoon leader in the 82d Airborne. As readers of this blog know, I’m also a believer in the fundamental truths of Christianity: sola Christa, sola fide, sola scriptura, sola gratia, and Soli Deo gloria. Accordingly, I’m no fan of the Islamic Republic of Iran and believe the world would be a much better place if it ceased to exist. Iran is economically, politically, technologically, and morally a decrepit nation-state. It’s a repressive regime and their Islamic-political leadership is openly anti-semitic. Their leadership is deluded and dangerous.
In contrast, I like Ron Paul. I dismissed him last election cycle because of his outspoken criticism of the Iraq war. Now, four years later with the blood of our soldiers paying the price to establish Islamic regimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, insane levels of federal debt with no relief in sight, and spiraling western economies, I find myself much more open to criticism of those wars. What’s surprised me is how hostile my colleagues on the right are to Paul’s utter disinterest to continuing our mideast war policies and the apparent anger over his refusal to entertain a preemptive war against Iran to stop it from becoming a nuclear state.
Although dangerous, Iran is not the greatest strategic threat to the United States. Not even close. Its military is third-rate, if that. To the extent Iran is within reach of nuclear warheads, however, North Korea has nukes and a formidable army. Today, it is more unstable than ever. Unstable Pakistan has nukes, as do the Russians and Chinese. Turkey has nuclear technology and likely warheads and is increasingly trending itself away from US interests and toward political Islam. In comparison to these military threats, Iran is a basket case.
Iran is also not a global “leader” of international terrorism. It’s a terrorist state, but there are dozens of such. Iran’s Persian ethnicity in general and brand of Shia Islam in particular is not popular throughout the Islamic world, to include throughout most of the mid-East. Iran is not the primary or even a primary source for inspiring international Jihad. Our “ally”, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia exports the dangerous Wahhabism Islam, built the Pakistani madrassa system and is the majority financier for Hamas. Saudis started al-Qaeda, and 15 of the 19 attackers on 9/11 were Saudi citizens. Bin Laden was a Saudi. Saudi’s are the heart of Arabia. They are neither fans nor allies of the Persian Iranians. Our “ally” Saudi Arabia is much more dangerous when it comes to global terrorism.
The Iranian issue is not, however, really about Iran. Iran is about Israel, supposedly. The argument is that a nuclear Iran would launch a nuclear weapon on Israel. There are several problems with that claim though, particularly the facts that Israel possesses hundreds of nuclear weapons and several means for delivering them over all of Iran. Israel has one of the best armies and top air force in the world. It has for a long time, which is why the Six Day War lasted days. Further, Israel’s narrow borders are filled with millions of Muslims and numerous Islamic holy sites.
I’ve read some claim that Iran would welcome Israel’s nuclear retaliation, that the destruction of Iran would be a national martyrdom of sorts. If Iran wanted martyrdom, they’ve had decades to attack Israel, but have chosen instead asymmetrical means, entirely for purposes of avoiding the consequences of overtly confronting Israel. Put simply, when confronted by Isreal’s superior strength, for decades Iran has acted like a rational state, even if it’s rhetoric has often been irrational. While an Iranian nuclear attack would be theoretically possible, citing relying upon that risk to dimiss Paul misses a key point and an important part of Paul’s policy. Israel is an independent nation with a highly sophisticated and skilled military. Paul correctly charges that we should get out of their way and “allow” them to protect themselves as they believe appropriate. As Iranian nuclear research facilities continue to spontaneously combust and top nuclear scientists meet sudden and tragic ends, one cannot help but suspect the Mossad. I believe Israel could defend herself quite well if we allow them the same autonomy that we ourselves expect (and practice) worldwide.
Equally important, we simply cannot afford another prolonged military engagement that is not critical to our security. We are living grossly beyond our means and destined to quickly become the latest republic in history to bankrupt itself. Further, even if we avoid a complete financial and corresponding national collapse, we are grossly encumbering our children’s generation. We are racking up substantial debt for our children to pay. You think Greece is bad? The German socialist sugar daddies are certainly not going to bail us out. The US needs to immediately contract federal spending in all areas, to include defense and nation building, particularly nation building for cultures that fundamentally reject our ideas of western liberalism and human rights. We need to end welfare and warfare largesse. We simply cannot afford not to. And we simply cannot balance our books without reducing military expenditures, along with all the other expenditures. Paul is the only candidate that has taken on spending and an immoral fiscal policy and made those issues the center of his campaign.
By the Numbers:
December 16, 2011
Christmas Town
Last Saturday, we visited Christmas Town at the Creation Museum. This all volunteer production by Answers in Genesis was fantastic – fun, interesting, and well planned. Our kids particularly enjoyed it. True to the AiG brand, the fun is blended with God honoring content. It’s the first time I’ve watched a live manger scene coupled with an archeologist explaining the circumstances surrounding Christ’s birth and the evidences for believing the Bible. The lights display is beautiful. The presentations and shows are entertaining and true to Scripture, with one exception that was glaring to our southern sensibilities - the 27 degree Northern Kentucky weather once the sun went down. Many shows are, however, inside, and even in the arctic-Bethlehem outside, there are fires, heaters and lots of hot chocolate with which to keep warm. Christmas Town is well worth the trip.
Catch a glimpse of the amazing events that surrounded the wonder of our Savior’s birth when you visit the Creation Museum during the annual Christmas event, “Christmas Town.”
Featuring a live nativity, dazzling lights, and live dramas, Christmas Town is becoming an annual tradition for families all across the region (17,000 visitors came in 2009 and 22,000 in 2010). All of the wonderfully made presentations are free and there were substantial discounts on AiG products being offered for sale. See schedule here.
Merry Christmas!
December 12, 2011
The Christ Within
One of the more difficult things to do as a Christian is to follow God. It is rather easy to believe in him; but following has proven to be more challenging. When Jesus calls a person, he never calls someone to simple belief; he always calls one to become a follower.
Unfortunately many people have a hard time understanding this. They go to church, serve on committees, participate in the programs of the church, and believe that all is well with their spiritual condition. But so do Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Scientologists and a host of other “churches.” Is all well with their spiritual condition?
The reality is that our spirituality is not defined by what we necessarily do. It’s not even defined by what we believe. It is ultimately defined by WHO we follow. Jesus warned against false Christ’s. They abound in the world. Some are readily obvious. Others are harder to discern. One in particular is the hardest.
The false Christ that is the most challenging to discover is the false Christ found within oneself. Consider for a moment who you follow. Are you following the Jesus revealed in the Bible? Are you submitting to his commands? Are you shaping your life according to his teaching? Do you recognize his authority? Have you relinquished control of your loves, desires and dreams to him? Are you allowing him to shape you? Do you allow him to move you out of your comfort zone? Do recognize that he will sometimes do things you don’t like, or feel comfortable with? Will you follow during such times? Or in reality are you going through all the things you do at church because they are the things YOU like?
If you have ever left the church because the programs no longer met YOUR needs, then you are most likely following the false Christ within. If you have left the church because you do not like the music, then you are most likely following the false Christ within. If you have ever left the church because the youth minister did not give your kid enough attention, then you are most likely following the false Christ within. If you left the church because you no longer have the control you feel entitled to, then you are most likely following the false Christ within. In short, if you serve, worship, and or participate in any other aspect of church life because they suit you and or meet your needs, then you are most likely following the false Christ within.
The question we all need to ask ourselves is this? Am I doing this for me, and am I making decisions based on what I want? Or am I truly following Jesus Christ? Am I serving Jesus, or am I serving myself? This is not an academic issue. It gets to the heart of what it means to be a Christian. A Christian is a follower of Jesus. And Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
Who are you serving? The Lord Jesus Christ, or the Christ within?
December 9, 2011
A choice between two Rockefeller Republicans? Really?
One of Newt’s former staffers, Yuval Levin, and David Brooks correctly point out both the moderate, north-east, country club nature of Newt and Romney’s “conservatism”, as well as Newt’s serious and deep flaws. David Brooks admires Gingrich’s zeal for smarter, targeted government, and not necessarily less government. See Brook’s assessment here. George Will recently made the same observation about Gingrich, but as pointed criticism, even commenting that Gingrich would have made a great Marxist. See here. Levin observes that from a policy perspective, Gingrich and Romney are practically indistinguishable, however, Romney presents a much more stable character. See here.
It seems to me that another Bush-Rockefeller president would keep us on the fast track to Europe’s present location: economic stasis and slow financial collapse. Unlike Europe, we’re not going to have the United States to help prop us up. Instead, we will have to rely upon the good intentions of the Chinese. Good luck with that.
If either of these men win the Republican nomination, the Republican Party is no longer the party of decentralized limited government and liberty. (Or maybe I’ll finally admit that’s been the case for some time.) Dr. Paul still offers the strongest cure for the soft despotism of the nanny state and ongoing fiscal insanity. See my case for Paul here. Bachman and Huntsman also offer correct solutions to these problems.
Obama is not the cause of our current malaise. He was popularly elected and may well be re-elected. He’s the symptom of poor political thinking within our republic, and only worse by degrees, not type, than the errant statist policies of his predecessors, Republican and Democrat.
We pray and have civilized discussions on these issues in an effort to convince our friends and neighbors. Our faith, however, is in another ruler.
November 30, 2011
Dr Nanny State Knows Best … or not.
I just learned of Michael Farris’ ongoing lawsuit defending the rights of a homeschool family to make difficult medical decisions on behalf of their children. This story involves some of my favorite issues: push back against the Nanny State, “experts” who upon examination prove to be more arrogant than informed, excellent lawyering, and Grand Rapids, MI. In his own words:
Who Makes the Really Tough Decisions: Parents? Or Doctors?
by Michael Farris
HSLDA Chairman
Who should make very difficult decisions for children? Parents or doctors?
In March of this year, 8-year-old Jacob Stieler was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, a dangerous bone cancer. His parents took him to a highly-rated children’s oncology center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Jacob had surgery to remove the tumor, which was followed by several rounds of chemotherapy. The treatment was incredibly difficult, and Jacob’s mom, Erin, told me that when she looked her son in the eyes, she knew in her heart that he simply could not survive many more rounds of these drugs.
Erin and Ken, Jacob’s mom and dad, joined by hundreds of others, prayed for Jacob and his complete recovery.
After all of these rounds of chemotherapy were completed, there was a PET scan done to check on the status of the cancer. There was no evidence of cancer detected in Jacob’s body. Jacob’s family and friends rejoiced in his healing—praising God for this wonderful outcome.
But the doctors wanted to give Jacob several more rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, despite the clean PET scan. When asked why they wanted to keep giving Jacob these incredibly dangerous drugs, the doctors replied that this was “the standard of care” for his illness.
Jacob’s parents begged the doctors to make an individual diagnosis, rather than simply following unbending standards. But the doctors were steadfast. All children with this cancer needed multiple rounds of these drugs—regardless of PET scan results, the doctors contended.
Jacob’s parents did extensive study of the side effects of the five different chemotherapy drugs that the doctor wanted to administer. And they believed that the risk of the drugs was far greater than the risk of recurrent cancer, since Jacob had a clean PET scan. They said no to the doctors. No more chemotherapy treatment for now.
But the doctors would not take no for an answer. They called child protective services in Jacob’s county and asked the agency to file charges against the family for medical neglect.
After looking into the matter, both the local CPS agency and the local prosecuting attorney refused to file charges. They believed that the parents were making reasonable decisions for Jacob.
The doctors still would not take no for an answer. They called higher authorities in the state level CPS agency. The doctors had to make several calls before they finally found someone who would agree with them.
As a result of all of these calls, the local CPS agency was pressured into filing medical neglect charges against the parents.
The local prosecutor still refused to take a case against the family, so the state level CPS officials hired an independent private lawyer to serve as the prosecutor against Ken and Erin Stieler.
A jury trial is scheduled for early January to determine if the doctors will be given the authority to take over the medical decision-making for Jacob.
When I heard about this case—and checked out the facts—I knew that I could not sit on the sidelines and watch this family be overrun and parental rights be trashed by well-meaning but overzealous doctors.
I recently flew to Michigan and took the depositions of all three doctors who were scheduled to testify against the family.
Jacob’s treating physician is the key.
I prepared for the depositions by obtaining copies of the official “package inserts” that the FDA requires all drug companies to give to physicians and patients. Undoubtedly, you have seen these inserts when you have picked up prescriptions for your children.
The inserts tell you several things: (more…)
November 23, 2011
Proclamation of Thanksgiving
Proclamation of Thanksgiving
By the President of theUnited States of America.
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.
I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of theUnited States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of theUnited Statesto be affixed.
Done at the City ofWashington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of theIndependenceof the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln
See also, Refuting the Seven Myths of the Radical Left About Thanksgiving By Douglas W. Phillips and Elijah Brown, November 23, 2011
What Lies Beneath
Churches are funny places. When I was young I made it my goal to stay away from them. My experience with church people was not positive. When I grew up I (thankfully) met Jesus Christ. He really is alive! In Him I found a new love and joy. He did something, however, that was unexpected. He sent me to the church. He called me to be a pastor. I have been in that position for ten years now. At times I still want to run from the church as fast as I can.
Over the last ten years I have noticed something. There is a difference between churched people and saved people. Sure, saved people are in church, but not all churched people are saved. When Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom, many joyfully followed and became believers. However, the churched people of the day became bitter enemies. He offered life, love and liberty, and above all salvation. The churched people only saw a threat.
Today little has changed. Churched people still see Jesus as a threat. The reality is that there are only two types of people in the world: those who have bowed the knee to Jesus as Lord and savior, and those who have not. There are many churched people who have not. They like the idea of Jesus. They love the idea of being saved. They like to hear how loved they are. But when Jesus actually shows up, bitter enmity quickly surfaces. I have seen what appeared to be nice people turn into ferocious antagonists with a drop of a hat. What caused seemingly nice people to change so drastically? The Word.
The Bible never flatters us. It only reveals us. Just beneath the surface of us all lies our true nature. Unfortunately many people have covered themselves in a thick layer of religion. When they go and look in their spiritual mirrors they see the elegance and refinement of religion. Religion can be so beautiful. But religion is not spirituality. It is the gloss that shines. I once spilled lacquer on a concrete floor covered in dirt. It was the shiniest dirt I ever saw! As an old rock song says, “Not all that glitters is gold.”
If a person does not have Jesus as Savior and Lord, then when the thin layer of religion is removed, what is revealed is a heart that steadfastly refuses to have Jesus rule over them. Religion can be calming, soothing and comforting. But when Christ shows up he begins to remove the varnish to reveal what lies beneath.
People want the comfort of religion and they want the serenity of hearing about God’s love for them. But what they don’t want is to have an encounter with what lies beneath, deep within the heart. When the heart is revealed, it instinctively lashes out. The heart wants self-justification. But when the Word works past the varnish and touches the heart it causes pain. It’s like when a doctor pulls back the bandage and touches the wound – it hurts!
The heart that has yet to be saved is a heart that has yet to be healed. And when the Word touches the unsaved heart, it is in fact touching a heart that is infected with the disease of sin. So the touch causes pain. The problem with religious people is that when they feel the pain, they blame the physician. So they recoil in horror and lash out at the instrument of God’s Word. But the reality is that as they lash out, they deny themselves the only thing available that can heal the wound.
The funny thing is that if a person will let the physician touch the wound, while it will initially hurt, it will certainly heal. The thing to do, is to acknowledge that it hurts; but then one must understand why it hurts. It hurts not because the doctor is touching it, but because it is diseased. Once a person can understand that, they can then acknowledge their need to be healed. The moment one acknowledges their need, the physician’s touch changes. The aching pain is replaced with a soothing caress. The heart transforms from being diseased to being made whole and complete again.
Salvation can be a painful process, but the results are the most wonderful thing in the world. It’s too bad so many people will not let the Lord heal their broken hearts. Instead they cling to their varnish – but they do so in vain.
The living God is not a God of religion. He is a God of life.
November 14, 2011
Why Ron Paul keeps talking about the Federal Reserve …
and others should also:
See also: Why Not Ron Paul?
November 12, 2011
Our Best Days Are Ahead
As an undergraduate at Purdue in 1987, one of my Professors, Harry Targ, lectured on the Cold War. He had just published his book Strategy of an Empire in Decline, in which he explained his belief in the moral, economic and political superiority of communism viz capitalism. In his mind, the USA Would not long withstand the inexorable and inevitable expansion of the Soviet Union. He was right regarding the collapse of an empire but wrong about everything else.
While Professor Targ is a run of the mill exemplar of the Marxist-Socialist bias in secondary education, he illuminates a larger point. He was a full time academic on the Soviet Union. In 1986, there wasn’t serious discussion or analysis regarding the forthcoming USSR implosion. Notwithstanding his expertise on the Soviet Union, Professor Targ didn’t see the collapse coming in a relatively few years. None of us did.
Life works like that. Major historical events rarely appear obvious or inevitable as they happen. They are only clear in retrospect, if ever.
In contrast to the failure swift and surprising nature of the USSR’s collapse, there are serious red flags that Western liberal democracies in general and the USA in particular have become financially, politically, and morally unhinged. Spending well beyond the available means is the norm not the exception for governments and families throughout the West. No leading political figure in any way advocates significant spending cutbacks.
We’re politically dysfunctional as the federal government divides fairly equally between those wedded to socialist statism and those that prefer corporate and military statism (while occasionally mouthing traditional conservatism).
Post-modernism has supplanted Judeo-Christian beliefs as our moral foundation. Regarding sex, sexuality and marriage, what had been regarded as immoral, perverse and often illegal in the 1950s, is now acceptable and often routine and laudatory. When the highly accomplished Coach Paterno was fired for harboring a child molester on his coaching staff, thousands of students at one of our most esteemed Universities protested … not over the sexual improprieties that had occurred between Paterno’s subordinate and boys, but over the fact Paterno was fired over it. These outraged students are some of our brightest minds and future of this country.
There are clouds on our national horizon.
We should however fear and fret not. One kingdom will last forever. That everlasting kingdom will provide perfect justice and governance. As much as I love the USA and what we stand for, that future perfect government has not yet been established on Earth.
The future King of nations will not be delivered via an election. He will arrive with the sound of trumpets. Instead of water, he will baptise with fire, providing terribly perfect justice and loving grace. Under his perfect reign, the curse will be lifted and a new world reborn. Death will no longer sting and eternity will be a reality. That day should be our hope for the future. In Christ and not the works of mankind should we place our faith. Jesus Christ return and his perfect reign will endure forever. Pray soon. Amen.
