Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Truth to Power
"The corruption of sin comes to light in a wide variety of ways: business practices that take advantage of trusting customers or investors; laws and regulations that license sinful behavior and constrain the progress of righteousness; entertainment that exploits prurience and vaunts having fun as the chief end of life; cheating and lying in the marketplace and schools; false teaching in churches and universities; violence against innocent people; relationships that are fouled by sinful self-interest; and whole industries committed to the degradation of women, children, and weak-willed men. We all encounter evidence of the effects of sin every day in a world that keeps God at arm’s length from the public square and holds up His Law to contempt and scorn. How can Christians keep silent in the face of such widespread offensiveness to the holiness, justice, and beauty of God?"
Truth to Power, a new study from the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview
Truth to Power, a new study from the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview
Wonder of Creation
"WonderOfCreation.org (WOC) is a website that seeks to explore the majesty of God’s creation and celebrate its beauty and wonder. Through creation, God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—are clearly seen and serve as a motivation for our worship and for acknowledging our responsibility to be good stewards (caretakers) of His good creation (Romans 1:20). Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours (1Chronicles 29:11)."
Sunday, September 18, 2011
in simplest terms
author unknown
In Simplest Terms: Why The U.S. Was Downgraded
Let's remove 8 zeros and pretend it's a household budget:
author unknown
In Simplest Terms: Why The U.S. Was Downgraded
- U.S. Tax revenue: $2,170,000,000,000
- Fed budget: $3,820,000,000,000
- New debt: $ 1,650,000,000,000
- National debt: $14,271,000,000,000
- Recent budget cut: $ 38,500,000,000
Let's remove 8 zeros and pretend it's a household budget:
- Annual family income: $21,700
- Money the family spent: $38,200
- New debt on the credit card: $16,500
- Outstanding balance on the credit card: $142,710
- Total budget cuts: $385
author unknown
Thursday, September 15, 2011
taking sexual sin lightly is a trap
Pastor Rocks Church With Sexual Sins Sermon
I've never heard it put like this, and he draws a great comparison.
"Noble said he has been studying homosexuality for a year and emphasized that it is never endorsed in the Scriptures. "Anytime it's mentioned ... it's always condemned." He also pointed out that he doesn't disagree with homosexuals who say they were born this way. "I believe it," he said. "Because the Bible says that we were all born sinners." Heterosexuals were born into heterosexual sin, the pastor added.
"I was born with a desire to have sex with every pretty girl that would let me have sex with her and so was every man," he said. "Just because you were born that way doesn't make it right for you to act on the way you were born."
The temptations we are born into, the sinful acts are a choice, and it doesn't matter which side of the fence you're leaning on. Homosexual sin and Heterosexual sin fall into the exact same bucket, according to the God who loves us.
"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." ~ 1 Cornthians 10:13
It always has been and always will be about choice. Our "pro-choice" God makes it clears to us.
"Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:14-15
It is time for the "Christian" community to stop throwing rocks at the homosexual community. Should we tolerate and make allowances for them? No. Should we stop speaking the Truth of God, in love? No. Should we stand our ground against the wave of "tolerant" legislation penned to make intolerance of sin a "hate crime"? Absolutely. If the homosexual community chooses to wage a battle of for "gay rights" in the public arena then we must also stand for our rights in this same arena, but only in the same manner that we would in the battle against the legalization of all sin, be it abortion or the promotion of sexual freedom to our children in the school system; in truth and in love. Not one of us shall carry the "first stone" of aggression but we all must stand in defense of righteousness.
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." ~ Ephesians 6:10-17
I take exception with a point Pastor Noble makes, "For those who take sexual sins lightly, he made it clear to them: "You're not saved.".
Its not up to one man to make a declaration to another of the state of one's salvation. That's up to God. God gives us a way to become righteous in His eyes; through Jesus and Jesus alone. The style of sin we choose to struggle with is between us and Him alone.
When I stand in church on Sunday morning and seek to worship God in corporate fellowship my mind should be on him and on my own sinful state, not on the state of the man, woman or child standing next to me. We all seek Him for restoration and we will all need to continue to seek restoration on a daily basis until the day of our home going.
I've never heard it put like this, and he draws a great comparison.
"Noble said he has been studying homosexuality for a year and emphasized that it is never endorsed in the Scriptures. "Anytime it's mentioned ... it's always condemned." He also pointed out that he doesn't disagree with homosexuals who say they were born this way. "I believe it," he said. "Because the Bible says that we were all born sinners." Heterosexuals were born into heterosexual sin, the pastor added.
"I was born with a desire to have sex with every pretty girl that would let me have sex with her and so was every man," he said. "Just because you were born that way doesn't make it right for you to act on the way you were born."
The temptations we are born into, the sinful acts are a choice, and it doesn't matter which side of the fence you're leaning on. Homosexual sin and Heterosexual sin fall into the exact same bucket, according to the God who loves us.
"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." ~ 1 Cornthians 10:13
It always has been and always will be about choice. Our "pro-choice" God makes it clears to us.
"Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:14-15
It is time for the "Christian" community to stop throwing rocks at the homosexual community. Should we tolerate and make allowances for them? No. Should we stop speaking the Truth of God, in love? No. Should we stand our ground against the wave of "tolerant" legislation penned to make intolerance of sin a "hate crime"? Absolutely. If the homosexual community chooses to wage a battle of for "gay rights" in the public arena then we must also stand for our rights in this same arena, but only in the same manner that we would in the battle against the legalization of all sin, be it abortion or the promotion of sexual freedom to our children in the school system; in truth and in love. Not one of us shall carry the "first stone" of aggression but we all must stand in defense of righteousness.
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." ~ Ephesians 6:10-17
I take exception with a point Pastor Noble makes, "For those who take sexual sins lightly, he made it clear to them: "You're not saved.".
Its not up to one man to make a declaration to another of the state of one's salvation. That's up to God. God gives us a way to become righteous in His eyes; through Jesus and Jesus alone. The style of sin we choose to struggle with is between us and Him alone.
When I stand in church on Sunday morning and seek to worship God in corporate fellowship my mind should be on him and on my own sinful state, not on the state of the man, woman or child standing next to me. We all seek Him for restoration and we will all need to continue to seek restoration on a daily basis until the day of our home going.
Monday, September 12, 2011
food is essential
There was a reminder on Facebook today that there are 24000 people daily who die from hunger. I don't know, or care, where this number came from. It works as a catalyst.
For those who might want to do something, might I suggest Heifer International, Feed The Children, Samaritan's Purse, American Red Cross, ANY local food bank, ANY local homeless shelter, if you attend a church ask your pastor/priest/rabbi/monk/sectaria
Your local utility probably also accepts donations of any amount to be added to your monthly payment that will go to local shelters and assistance with utility payments for those in dire need. Also Meals On Wheels can hook you up with local opportiunities to assist elderly shut-ins.
For those who might want to do something, might I suggest Heifer International, Feed The Children, Samaritan's Purse, American Red Cross, ANY local food bank, ANY local homeless shelter, if you attend a church ask your pastor/priest/rabbi/monk/sectaria
Your local utility probably also accepts donations of any amount to be added to your monthly payment that will go to local shelters and assistance with utility payments for those in dire need. Also Meals On Wheels can hook you up with local opportiunities to assist elderly shut-ins.
Please don't hate me
I am rattled by those who are so religious in their hatred of all thing "religious".
I read and examine web sites, blogs, etc. of folks who are "liberal" in their thinking and philosophy; I enjoy the discovery and am curious to the thought processes of "liberal minded" people and programs.
Far too often I come across folks who seem to be, by their own definition, "haters". They espouse a certain hatred and bigotry toward "religion", God, conservatism and, anyone who disagrees with their personal philosophy of life on this planet; an intolerance toward those who they deem intolerant.
There are also those "religious" folks who are just as intolerant and spout the same hatred and bigotry toward others. The stories of church congregations and their leaders spouting putrid filth and hatred toward fellow creations of God are legendary. I am quick to point out that these folks do not speak of our God, the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, the God of the Holy Bible. These folks have twisted "God" to suit their personal bias, may have "Christian" on their door and wall, but certainly do not fit my definition of a "follower of Jesus".
Madness falls in all categories and walks of life on this planet we call our temporary home. Anyone who believes that our God "hates" any one person on this planet just simply doesn't understand the message of the Bible. God hates the sin, not the man. Every person on this planet is a personal creation of God, and God loves His creations.
I'm willing to bet that, just like me, on any given day, each one of us falls into one or more of these categories of the sin that God detests.
"Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them." ~ Romans 1:22-32
I wish I could find a way, in loving patience, to better express myself and to better express God's love and mercy toward all mankind. Along that way, I'll just have to work harder at walking the walk, before I talk the talk. In the meantime, don't hate me for believing the Bible is true, attending a "Christian" congregation, for believing that life is sacred, or for believing you can enjoy God's Gift of Grace. I don't hate those who believe the opposite.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him." ~ John 3:16-17
I read and examine web sites, blogs, etc. of folks who are "liberal" in their thinking and philosophy; I enjoy the discovery and am curious to the thought processes of "liberal minded" people and programs.
Far too often I come across folks who seem to be, by their own definition, "haters". They espouse a certain hatred and bigotry toward "religion", God, conservatism and, anyone who disagrees with their personal philosophy of life on this planet; an intolerance toward those who they deem intolerant.
There are also those "religious" folks who are just as intolerant and spout the same hatred and bigotry toward others. The stories of church congregations and their leaders spouting putrid filth and hatred toward fellow creations of God are legendary. I am quick to point out that these folks do not speak of our God, the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, the God of the Holy Bible. These folks have twisted "God" to suit their personal bias, may have "Christian" on their door and wall, but certainly do not fit my definition of a "follower of Jesus".
Madness falls in all categories and walks of life on this planet we call our temporary home. Anyone who believes that our God "hates" any one person on this planet just simply doesn't understand the message of the Bible. God hates the sin, not the man. Every person on this planet is a personal creation of God, and God loves His creations.
I'm willing to bet that, just like me, on any given day, each one of us falls into one or more of these categories of the sin that God detests.
"Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them." ~ Romans 1:22-32
I wish I could find a way, in loving patience, to better express myself and to better express God's love and mercy toward all mankind. Along that way, I'll just have to work harder at walking the walk, before I talk the talk. In the meantime, don't hate me for believing the Bible is true, attending a "Christian" congregation, for believing that life is sacred, or for believing you can enjoy God's Gift of Grace. I don't hate those who believe the opposite.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him." ~ John 3:16-17
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Feeling Down?
Mart De Haan asks, "What can we do when we’re out of sorts, not ourselves, and lost in emotions of inexpressible heaviness? What if, on top of it all, we’re feeling guilty for not being able to think or pray ourselves out of whatever is consuming our focus and energy?"
Read the Article Feeling Down
Read the Article Feeling Down
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
the world conflicting
Sticking one's head in the sand results in clogged ears, blindness and suffocation.
Atlas Shrugs
F L A M E
Atlas Shrugs
F L A M E
Saturday, September 03, 2011
Trust. (knock myself in the head)
I am realizing more and more how trust and love go hand in hand. If I say I love someone or that I am a loving person, there needs to be freedom in my relationships. Freedom to allow them speak the truth. Freedom to let them be who they are. Freedom to let them go and do, always believing the best. Freedom to take them at their word. Now, all this to say, when someone has breached trust in a relationship , there are new boundaries and expectations that need to be put in place. It's never ok to become a doormat to someones inability to be trustworthy. However, forgiveness and a second & third chance is consistent with the kingdom of God, and this response brings the freedom to my, and others lives that God intended.
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