Talk Wisdom: 08/01/2006

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Why Christians Are Called To Bless Israel and the Jews

In the comment section of my former blogpost called And The Criticism Goes On...And On... which was a discussion about the documentary Darwin's Deadly Legacy, one commenter named Boo said the following:

Because, as everyone knows, Jewish survival depends on fundamentalist Christians slandering Darwin. If Darwin is not slandered, the Jews shall surely perish from this earth. Someone's being a lapdog alright, but I don't think it's the ADL.

and this:

Lapin's comments only make sense if he sees fundamentalist Christians as "the priceless vase of Jewish survival." One might concede that he doesn't recognize Coral Ridge Ministries' false witness as slander, but that only means he didn't bother to educate himself, but just let himself be trotted out as The Jewish Token. And that is quite lapdoggish.

These comments show a complete misunderstanding of God's Word regarding the special part that the Jews are involved in Biblical history and the proper relationship that should exist between born-again believers in Jesus Christ, our call to support Israel's survival, and the special blessings that are given by God upon the Gentiles towards those who bless Israel and the Jewish people.

In chapter 16 of John Hagee's book Jerusalem Countdown, there is an excellent summary that points out the fact that God blesses gentiles who bless Israel.

Hagee starts out with some history and writes:

The inability of the Jewish people to recognize Jesus as Messiah benefitted the Gentiles by bringing them the opportunity of salvation.

Rom 11:11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.

Rom 11:12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!

The salvation of the Gentiles was intended by God to "provoke the Jews to jealousy," exciting them to seek and claim a share in the blessings of the new covenant.

In Luke chapter 7, a centurion's servant was healed by Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth, who, being an observant Jew, would not enter the house of a Gentile. The Roman centurion asked the Jewish elders what he could do to get Jesus of Nazareth to enter his house and pray for his sick servant. The elders went to Jesus and pled with Him earnestly, saying that the Roman centurion deserved to be helped. (See Luke 7:1-10.) Why did he deserve to be helped?

The elders said to Jesus, "For he [the centurion] loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue" (v. 5).

The point is this: a practical act of kindness on the part of a Gentile provoked Jesus to enter the centurion's house to heal his sick servant, fulfilling Jesus' covenant with Abraham: "I will bless those that bless you..."

The tragedy of history has been that for two thousand years, recognized Christianity has not provoked Jews to jealousy by their kindness but has produced a harvest of hatred that caused the Jewish people to recoil in fear from those who waged war beneath the cross.

When the Roman Catholic Crusaders entered the city of Jerusalem in 1099, they trapped more than nine hundred Jewish women and children in their synagogue and burned them alive while they sang "Christ We Adore Thee." This kind of "Christianity" is no different from a member of the Taliban who straps himself with a bomb and murders Jews who refuse to believe in Islam.

In the twentieth century, six million Jews were systematically slaughtered by Adolf Hitler. Hitler and his Nazi monsters were never even slightly scolded by the pope, let alone excommunicated from the church for their crimes against humanity.

It's time for Christianity to reach out to our Jewish brothers and sisters, demonstrating the unconditional love of God, which is what Saint Paul commended in Romans 15:27:

It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. (NKJV)

What riches came to the Gentiles because the Jewish people stumbled over the stumbling stone, which was Jesus of Nazareth?

Riches for the Gentile Believer

* As Gentiles, we recieve the unsearchable riches of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

* We receive the riches of the blessings of Abraham, which know no measure and have no limit.

* We receive the riches of repentance through which each of us becomes a child of God.

* We receive the riches of His love, joy, and eternal peace in the Holy Spirit.

* We receive the riches of salvation by grace through faith.

* We receive the riches of adoption and the riches of being heirs and joint heirs with Jesus Christ.

Now. Contrast these "riches" which were brought to the Gentiles because of the Jewish people "stumbling over the stone," which was Jesus Christ, with the "human tradition and waged war" that the Catholic Church happened to use as an excuse to hate the Jews (and thus), misuse the Christian religion in attempting to convert the Jews! They didn't listen to the Scriptures, and thus took matters into their own (unfortunately, bloody!) hands!

God has an eternal purpose in the Jewish people stumbling over the identity of Jesus Christ. Christians who know the Word of God know and recognize this! How do we know? The Bible reveals it!

Hagee continues:

Life From The Dead

For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? - Romans 11:15

Saint Paul is making a prediction that in Israel's future there will be a national spiritual resurrection that will be so dramatic it will be like someone coming back to life from the dead. How could such a thing happen? Remember, my friends, "With God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26). How and when God will cause a spiritual resurrection to come to Israel is known only to God.

In Ezekiel 37, Ezekiel describes that very thing when God showed him the nation of Israel as a valley full of very dry bones. The bones were "very dry," meaning they had been dead a long time. Israel as a nation was dead for almost two thousand years. God commanded Ezekiel to prophesy to the dead bones. Ezekiel instantly obeyed the voice of the Lord, for obedience is better than sacrifice.

The valley of dry bones began to come together miraculously as Ezekiel spoke. Then came the sinews, the flesh, and skin, and those bones stood up an exceedingly great army. There is no doubt this is national Israel, for the the scripture reads:

Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel - Ezekiel 37:11

Israel is reborn and thrives today as a mighty democratic nation. We are now awaiting the Jewish people's spiritual resurrection. Ezekiel describes it as follows:

Eze 37:23b... so shall they [Israel]be my people, and I will be their God.

Eze 37:24 ¶ And David my servant [shall be] king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.

Eze 37:25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, [even] they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David [shall be] their prince for ever.

Eze 37:26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.

Eze 37:27 My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Eze 37:28 And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.

Count on it! God's love for Israel and the Jewish people is boundless for the patriarch's sake. This spiritual awakening, which is very clearly predicted by Ezekiel, is now beginning and will soon explode into a global reality. It is God's time to pour out the spirit of grace upon the house of Israel and the Jewish people.

I wish I had time to include the sections in the book that discuss The Jewish Root Is Holy (Romans 11:16) and The Wild Olive Tree (Romans 11:17-24) But you can look up these verses for yourself.

Hagee offers a review of the spiritual anatomy of this olive tree:

First, its roots are the patriarchs Abrahan, Isaac, and Jacob. The branches that have been broken off are generations of unbelieving Jews, and the branches that have been "grafted in" are the believing Gentiles. Please remember that there are Jewish branches that are still attached to the olive tree (e.g. like Rabbi Daniel Lapin).

Theologians debate that wild olive branches (Gentiles) cannot be grafted into a natural olive tree. While this is true as a fact of nature in horticultural science, Paul clearly states in verse 24 that the wild olive branch being grafted in is "contrary to nature." This means the grafting in of the Gentiles is a supernatural act from the hand of God.

It's interesting to me that during a segment on Larry King Live, Larry was asked by Billy Graham that if Jesus Christ returned today and Larry had the chance to ask him one question, what would he ask? Larry said something similar to this, "I would ask him if this was his first or second visit to the earth." I thought that was a fascinating answer to that question; especially coming from a Jewish person! I must confess, I don't know how religious King is, but he has stated that one of his favorite guests has been when Billy Graham has sat in the guest chair! I'm sure that if Larry felt threatened in any way, including any "fear of conversion," he wouldn't have invited Rev. Graham back so often!

There is a huge trust developing between Christians and Jews. I think that the Jewish people are gradually realizing that the support of evangelical Christians is not so much for the purpose of attempting to convert them, but for the purpose of obeying God's Word regarding their nation and people. The misunderstandings (and, unfortunately, horrors) of the past have, for the most part, dissipated, and more trust and bonding has been the result.

I'm skipping over a lot, but I hope you will get the idea of what I am trying to show through these verses.

Hagee writes:

In Romans 11:30-31, Paul is referring to the salvation of the Jewish people at some point in the future.

Paul makes it clear in Romans 11:25 that Israel's blindness to the identity of Messiah will end when "the fullness of the Gentiles has come in." The fullness of the Gentiles will endure until Christ returns to earth. Then Paul plants the blockbuster verse of all the Book of Romans: "All Israel will be saved" (v. 26)

Notice the progression in Romans 11:

Pattern Of The Future For The Jews

* The possibility that the Jewish people could be grafted in at some point in the future: "God is able to graft them in again" (v. 23)

* The probability that the Jewish people will come to redemption in the future: "How much more will these, who are natural branches [the Jewish people], be grafted into their own olive tree?" (v. 24).

* The absolute fact that, at a time in the future, redemption will come to all righteous Jews: "And so all Israel will be saved" (v. 26).

Isn't this fascinating!? But there is so much more to share!

Next time, I will share the mystery of Israel's future and the seven mysteries of God. A mystery in Scripture concerning a future event can be known only through divine revelation. These seven mysteries recorded in Scripture are explained, and they should be known by the body of Christ. Yet they are strangely ignored by the vast majority of Christians.

I will end with a personal story. Isn't it true that there are some events in one's life that can easily and clearly be recalled while others just fade away and a friend or relative has to remind you when, where and how it happened?

This may seem trivial to readers here, but it made a profound impact on me. When I was a teenager (yeah...back in the caveman days heh heh! ;-) ), I can recall being invited by a girl friend to another high school's dance. I met a really handsome Jewish boy there and he offered to walk me home! He was really cute (must have had the "good looks genes" from Joseph of Biblical fame!), friendly and very likable. As we walked home, we got to know each other a bit. When he found out that I was Catholic, his entire demeanor changed. It was like a Romeo and Juliet moment...our families would never allow us to date! I didn't know why, but when I walked in the door and told my mom about this Jewish boy, it was like I commited a type of sacrilege or something! Her attitude changed from a happy one that I had such a good time to an angry one that I would do such a thing! I was only "guilty" of just talking and walking home with him! I didn't understand why at the time, but my studies in the Bible (and in history) have shown me why both of our parents would not allow us to date.

It was sad. I never saw him again. We talked on the phone a few times but then one day he got caught by his mom and that was the end of it.

That relationship just wasn't meant to be, but it stirred my curiosity to examine Roman Catholicism, as well as other religions (in later years).

But it was studying the Bible that changed my life completely because that is where I met my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! I continue to learn about Him every day and the more I learn, the more grateful and humble I am for the forgiveness, grace and mercy bestowed upon me through Him!

Until next time...

Christine

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Outright, Blatant Assault on Religious Freedom

Remember the old line used by thieves, "It's your money or your life?" Well. Now, in California, ALL schools (including private, Christian, and religious schools!!) must follow a new adage that basically states:

"If you want your child to get state money for his/her schooling, you must completely ignore and leave your heartfelt Biblical beliefs behind and you must condone/accept/embrace/celebrate homosexuality at your school or NO STATE MONEY FOR YOU!"

Remember Seinfeld's "soup nazi?" If Jerry said something wrong at the counter the soup nazi guy would yell, "No soup for you!" That was funny! But this new bill signing by RINO Arnold here in California is poised to have devastating consequences for traditional, Biblical worldview Christians and their families.

We, unfortunately, have been attacked by The Homosexual Agenda Legislative Nazis in Sacramento! And I'm NOT KIDDING about calling them that! For it is exactly what they are! Arnold too! What a turncoat...

Homeschooling the children and grandchildren...here we come!!

My friend Dani....you were correct all along!!

Christine

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Tuesday, August 29, 2006

LAW OF THE LAND
Gov. Arnold tosses school moral codes
Bill forces condoning of homosexuality, critics say 'the gates of hell are prevailing'

Excerpts from Gov. Arnold tosses school moral codes.:

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has tossed out all sexual moral conduct codes at colleges, private and Christian schools, daycare centers and other facilities throughout his state, if the institutions have any students who get state assistance.

The governor yesterday signed a bill that would require all businesses and groups receiving state funding -- even if it's a state grant for a student -- to condone homosexuality, bisexuality and transsexuality.

There is no exception for faith-based organizations or business owners with sincerely held religious convictions, critics note.

Isn't this a blatant violation of religious freedom of association? I would think that an immediate and stronge challenge to this terrible example of so-called, "tolerance," under the guise of fighting "hate and discrimination" for the sake of "safe schools" will be forthcoming by the Alliance Defense Fund.

"The gates of hell are prevailing against the church," Randy Thomasson, president of the Campaign for Children and Families, told WorldNetDaily. "It's because Christian colleges and churches have ignored the political process for so long. Now the political process, absent religious values, is coming back to assault the church."

"This isn't even a veiled attempt at subtly advancing the radical homosexual agenda," said Karen England, executive director of Capitol Resource Institute. "SB1441 is an outright, blatant assault on religious freedom in California."

This bill is an outright, offensive attempt to silence any and all religious disagreements with the loony leftists promotion of homosexuality as "normal," "natural," "healthy." Now, it is not only something that must be tolerated (already got that ad nauseum in schools!!!), but something that cannot be dissented against or else that child will lose his/her government financial assistance and aid! Why? Just because he/she does not accept what the loony legislators and arrogant Arnold think should pass as a "non-discrimination issue." It's nothing more than what David Kupelian told us in the first chapter of The Marketing of Evil book!

"Equating sexual preference with the immutable characteristics of age, national origin or race will result in other variable behaviors being added to the list of invariable classes rightfully protected," she said.

Constitutional assurances of freedom of assembly and freedom of speech both are destroyed by the action, CRI said. And Thomasson believes it is "setting up a tremendous church-state conflict in the courts."

It is so obvious that the 6 or so homosexual legislators in Sacramento would rather push their own personal agenda than represent the majority of Californians (63% !!) who voted against "gay" marriage and, if given the opportunity, would most certainly oppose such a bill if they had their chance to vote against it!!

Why do you think that they didn't put this on the ballot??

Because most Californians would vote against it!! So they do an end-run within the legislature with their personal biases trumping what Californians really would want when it comes to the education of their children and grandchildren. With a radical leftist democratic majority in both the state house and senate, these terrible bills fly through without one thought for the people who are against them!

Randy Thomasson tells it like it is:

"Arnold Schwarzenegger has two faces," said Thomasson. "He speaks at churches and says he believes in religious freedom and family values, yet he's stabbing pro-family Californians in the back."

"This bill is yet another attempt to prevent citizens with moral and religious principles from expressing their beliefs and educating their children according to those beliefs," said England. "On behalf of California families, private schools and other private organizations, I express our outrage at this attack on our freedom."

"Today's disastrous action by Schwarzenegger means Christian and other faith-based colleges in California will be forced to promote transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality if they accept students with Cal Grants," concluded Thomasson's organization.

He said the governor "has trampled religious freedom to satisfy hyperactive sexual activists."

"He's not the lesser of two evils, he's doing evil," Thomasson said.

And, you might ask, where is the evidence that thousands opposed the signing of this bill?

CCF earlier had publicized the situation, and generated thousands of telephone calls, e-mails and faxes opposing the plan.

That's where!

But do you think that the legislators even cared about those who were against this bill; a bill that belonged in the trash can rather than on Arnold desk? Oh no...of course not! They are the little Hitlers that want to dictate to parents what their children are taught; and if they don't walk lock-step with the homosexual agenda crud, then their children won't get any state money!

Isn't this a not-so-subtle case of bribery?

Isn't this like a communist style, socialist-agenda-wielded-sword being waved at and against people of faith who don't want their homosexual behavior licentiousness shoved down our throats??

Where are our constitutional rights of dissent against such manipulation of school children through the Kirk and Madsen playbook of forced "desensitization," "jamming," and "conversion?"

It gets worse, though, my friends, for it will lead to:

But it was supported by Democrats in the state legislature and specifically requires "any program or activity that receives any financial assistance from the state" to support the alternative sexual lifestyle choices.

CCF said the change also will affect any program or activity at the local level that gets any state funding from programs including Medi-Cal, State Disability Insurance, CalWORKS, food stamps, Unemployment Insurance, Workers' Compensation, child support services, veterans services, home loan assistance programs and others.

We've got to fight against this, and the other indoctrination bills still sitting on RINO Arnold's desk:

And as bad as the single bill is, the CCF said, several other "sexual indoctrination bills" are heading to the governor. One would prohibit textbooks or school-sponsored activities from "reflecting adversely" on a certain list of sexual choices.

Another would allow the California superintendent of public instruction to arbitrarily withhold state funds from any district that does not adequately promote the State Department of Education's "model policy" promoting transsexuality, bisexuality or homosexuality in its school policies.

Still another would spend state money promoting transsexual, bisexual and homosexual lifestyles.

As WND reported, James Dobson, president of the action affiliate of Focus on the Family ministries, earlier broadcast an urgent call to the millions of radio program listeners to contact Schwarzenegger about the homosexual promotions.

Mona Passignano, the state issues analyst for Focus, told WND the combination of bills would reinforce homosexuality and a limited number of other sexual choices but also prevent people from reflecting on their religious beliefs that may address those choices.

"You cannot preach the Gospel. If you want to preach about Romans 1, you can't. Someone could say, 'That makes me feel bad,'" she said. "You cannot preach what the Bible says.

"If you're a Christian, it's got to be alarming. If you are not a Christian, it's got to be alarming," she said. "Because what comes next?

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Where Life Makes Up Its Mind

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23

That is a great verse to consider when faced with current cultural issues these days. I have found that "guarding my heart," in particular, as well as guarding the hearts of our children, in general, can be considered as bias, intolerance, discriminatory, bigoted, holier-than-thou etc. from people who do not agree with the Biblical worldview. I have seen this on other blogs, as well. No matter what the topic, if a person doesn't totally embrace another person's _______ and ungodly lifestyle (fill in the blank!), then the moral relativists of this world will hate you.

Hollywood is like that. Immorality generally reigns like a crowning achievement in that crowd. It's an attitude of anything goes; except for anything (or anyone) that reveals conservative views and/or Christian truth. Then, the person who holds us views is often subjected to being an object of ridicule. This was quite evident from the "jokes" leveled at certain people during the Emmy awards broadcast.

In addition, it seems that actors/actresses who get caught during a DUI who happen to not be Christians (like Nick Nolte) are not nearly as persecuted for their actions as, say, someone like Mel Gibson who is a Christian. That whole incident concerning Mel was just an opportunity for those who hate him (and were obviously resentful and jealous of the success of his film The Passion of the Christ) to get back at him. Despite the fact that he apologized for his drunken rant against Jews, the criticism goes on through the likes of Rob Reiner; who obviously thinks of himself as a "better person" than Mel. Yeah...a guy who used to play the role of a character named "meathead" (sorry, had to throw that in there)! Instead of showing empathy for, forgiveness and concern for a fellow actor in the industry who had fallen back into a former alcohol addiction, debasement and ridicule ruled the day (and weeks afterwards, too). Why did they focus on his "fall from grace" in his unfortunate verbal rant rather than express empathy towards him because he succombed to a former addiction that he had been battling for several years of his life?

I'm not trying to give Mel an automatic pass here. What he said was wrong and terribly offensive to Jewish people. I'm not attempting to push that aside. However, sometimes we don't know the root causes and kinds of "demons" that people have battled against in their lives. We know that Mel's father was an anti-Semite. Growing up with his father's ranting probably infected Mel's mind to some extent. But when Mel came to his senses, again, he stated that such an attitude towards the Jewish people is against his Christian faith. But when he apologized (several times in fact) it appeared to never be enough for his detractors. We must ask why.

I seems to me that people had more sympathy and empathy towards that woman who drowned her three kids in a bathtub! A much more serious type of crime. Why is this so? Why is sympathy and empathy given to one person and not the other?

I didn't mean to get too far off topic. But I think that the following post, Where Life Makes Up Its Mind could offer us some insight and possible answers to these questions.

In Ray Pritchard's book called The ABC's of Wisdom, he presents short daily devotionals that are meant to help build character through the writings of Solomon. The following one deals with guarding the heart.

The term "heart" in the Bible generally refers to the innermost part of life. It is the decision-making center, the source of motives, the seat of the passions, and the center of the conscience. It is truly the place "where life makes up its mind."

Proverbs has a great deal to say about the heart. It is the source of wisdom (2:10) and understanding (8:5, KJV), the origin of both deceit (6:14) and joy (15:30). The heart may backslide (14:14, KJV) or trust in God (3:5). It may be cheerful (15:13), prideful (16:5), bitter (14:10), haughty (18:12), or prudent (18:15, KJV). The heart may lust after an adulterous woman (6:25), rage against the Lord (19:3), and eventually be hardened against God altogether (28:14). The Lord tests the heart (17:3) because He knows what is in it (24:12), which is why the heart must be guarded all the time (4:23).

Jesus almost certainly had this verse in mind when He spoke to the Pharisees in Matthew 12:34b: "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." This verse cuts both ways. Whatever is on the inside will eventually come out - whether good or bad (v. 35). If a person's heart is dirty, he cannot produce purity in his life. Likewise, if the heart is stayed on the Lord, it will be seen on the outside eventually. The King James Version of Proverbs 23:7 reads, "As [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he."

* If you think angry thoughts, angry words are sure to follow.

* If you fill your mind with sexual fantasies, your body will find a way to fulfill those desires.

* If you dwell on your problems, they will soon overwhelm you.

* If you feel like a victim, soon you will become one.

* If you give way to worry, don't be surprised when you get ulcers.

* If you focus on how others misunderstand you, you will soon become angry and bitter.

What goes in must come out. Sooner or later your thought translate into reality. You're not what you think you are, but what you think, you are.

The flip side is true.

* If you focus on the truth, you will speak the truth.

* If you look on noble things, nobility will mark your life.

* If you seek out lovely things, your life will be lovely to others.

* If you dwell on the right, the wrong will seem less attractive to you.

* If you look for virtue, you will find it.

* If you search for higher things, you will elevate your own life.

Recently a friend sent me this prayer from the Book of Common Prayer. It seems a fitting way to apply the words of Proverbs 4:23.

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your Holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Humanity Misunderstands God, Creation

I'm currently reading a great book written by Cornelius G. Hunter, author of Darwin's God. I like this one so much that I am motivated to buy and read Darwin's God too.

Darwin's Proof: The Triumph of Religion over Science is an astonishing perceptive analysis of the Darwinian controversy. In the first few chapters, Hunter covers many of the controversies surrounding Darwinism. Chapters like Darwin's Deceptive Idea, Swallowing a Camel (part 1 & 2), and Straining at the Gnat (part 1 & 2) cover the fundamental arguments against Darwinism, as well as the fact that the traditional evidences for evolution are not very convincing.

Chapter 6, called Blind Guides covers the philosophical argument against evolution.

Chapter 7, called Another Gospel discusses the theological argument against evolution.

But it was chapter 9, What Has Been Made, that caught my undivided attention and is the chapter that I want to summarize and post today. I found it quite fascinating...startling, in fact. I found it to be information that put a lot of the pieces together for me about why much of humanity misunderstands God.

Hunter shares how the mockers and the skeptics at the cross of Jesus were a fulfillment of prophecy. Most Bible scholars and students would probably recognize this. But Hunter also reveals that such skepticism and mocking of the Christian faith (evidence of which we have seen numerous times here at this blog), could also be attributed to man's misunderstanding of creation.

One of the things that evolution believers often mock about the concept of creation is the personal, biased opinion called the "paradigm of perfection.'

Been there! Have heard that! Numerous times, in fact.

But Hunter has an absolutely brilliant answer for such mockers! However, in order to reveal it, I believe it might be necessary to start back at the beginning of the chapter. Then, Hunter's answer will make more sense and will be clearly revealed after we go step by step through what he has written.

Christine

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I will begin by paraphrasing so that this post doesn't get too long.

Hunter shares that during the day of Jesus' crucifixion, many of the people mocked and insulted the dying Savior. They desired to see him "come down from the cross, if you [he] are [is] the Son of God." They jeered at him because of Jesus' previous claim to have the power and ability to "destroy this temple and build it in three days." Obviously, they didn't understand Jesus' statement was referring to his own body. They yelled at him to "save yourself!" They shouted, "Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him." (see Matthew 27:35-42).

In a previous post at my message board, I discussed that when humanity is faced with the realization of its separation from God through our sinful condition, it comes down to a battle between grace and pride. Accepting the mercy, grace, forgiveness and salvation of Christ requires recognition of our sin, confession of sin and repentance for sin. Pride of sin and self can block one's ability to humble oneself at the foot of the cross of Christ.

In that previous post I stated, "When we try to rationalize away any sin or ask for dignified recognition of "pride of self" in this life, it is like we are saying, "If you are the Christ, save Yourself and us."

This is similar to what Hunter hints at in this chapter. The chapter demonstrates the recognition of the fact that many will choose not believe because their expectations of what God should be, Who He should be, and what He should do for us, as people (who are supposed to be made) "in His image and likeness" do not match up with what we might want our own version of a "god" to be like; including our expectations of His creation and plan of salvation for us.

In reference to the skeptics and mockers at the crucifixion of Christ, Hunter writes:

They were witnessing the most profound event in history, yet they expected something more. They so misunderstood God and his plan that the suffering Messiah made no sense to them. Why would a king so empty himself? If Jesus were the Son of God, they thought, he should have made a display of it then and there. Then they would believe.

Those witnesses had very particular expectations of God. The true spiritual meaning of Jesus' suffering and death was lost on them. They had witnessed so many of his miracles, and in three days he would rise from the dead, but they still would not believe.

Jesus had even told them a revealing parable of a beggar named Lazarus and a rich man to illustrate their situation. After the two men died, angels carried Lazarus to Abraham's side, and the rich man suffered in hell. The rich man called to Abraham and asked him to send Lazarus to warn his five brothers so they would not also be put in that place of torment. Abraham replied that his brothers have Moses and the Prophets, let them listen to them. "No, father Abraham," the rich man cried, "but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent." "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets," Abraham replied, "they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead."

Jesus had performed an abundance of miracles. he had even brought dead people back to life. But none of this would sway the skeptics. Even when he rose from the grave they would not believe. The crucifixion was for them a justification for their rejection of Jesus. If he was the Christ, then why not display his powers at that moment?

What an incredible example of humanity misunderstanding God. But it is just an example; all humanity has made the same mistake in generation after generation. We are in no position to judge those witnesses of the crucifixion when we are just as guilty.

Humanity Misunderstands God

What lesson can we learn from this? What mistakes do we make in our generation when it comes to understanding God and his plan? Those skeptics witnessing the crucifixion may have been thinking of biblical prophecies foretelling God coming with power. They probably expected a conquering king rather than a suffering servant. But the Scriptures are full of prophecies that tell of the Messiah taking on our sins and bearing the punishment that we are due.

Centuries before, the prophet Isaiah had explained how the Messiah would come. He would be "despised and rejected by men." He would take up our infirmities and carry our sorrows, and yet we would consider him stricken by God. Isaiah could not have been more blunt:

Isa 53:5 But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isa 53:7 ¶ He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Isa 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

Those skeptical witnesses of the crucifixion were probably not thinking of thses verses. and they were probably not thinking of a psalm of David that foretold the very events surrounding them. Written a thousand years earlier, centuries before crucifixion was used as a means of execution, David's illustration of the scene is graphic, complete with the mockers and skeptics:

Psa 22:7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, [saying],

Psa 22:8 He trusted on the LORD [that] he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

Psa 22:9 But thou [art] he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope [when I was] upon my mother's breasts.

Psa 22:10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou [art] my God from my mother's belly.

Psa 22:11 Be not far from me; for trouble [is] near; for [there is] none to help.

Psa 22:12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong [bulls] of Bashan have beset me round.

Psa 22:13 They gaped upon me [with] their mouths, [as] a ravening and a roaring lion.

Psa 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

Psa 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

Psa 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

Psa 22:17 I may tell all my bones: they look [and] stare upon me.

Psa 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

The mockers and skeptics were a fulfillment of prophecy. had they loved God's word more than their own opinions, then perhaps they would have understood the real meaning of the crucifixion. Perhaps they would have stood in wonder and awe rather than in contempt.

Therefore, a lesson we can learn is to be good students of God's Word. The apostle Paul wrote that "all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." We need to humble ourselves to God's Word, testing all things, even our own intuition, against it.

The Paradigm of Perfection

But like those skeptics at the crucifixion, modern thinkers have also imposed their own ideas about how God would work. When it comes to the study of origins, there has been a strong tendency to view God as the perfect craftsman. After all, the book of Genesis tells us that God created the world and that it was "very good." And David wrote that the "heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

But the story is more complicated than this. Creation may be "very good," but Paul tells of how it was subjected to frustration. That it is in bondage to decay and is groaning as in the pains of childbirth. And God tells Job of how the donkey does not hear the shoults of the driver and of how the ostrich treats her young harshly for he did not endow her with wisdom.

The Scriptures plainly tell us not to expect a perfect world. God has not made the world to be always optimal in a material sense, and the fall of humanity brought about its own destructive forces. Nonetheless, optimality is just what many believers expect from God's creation.

Hunter goes on to describe what great thinkers (e.g. philosopher, mathematician and logician Gottfried Leibniz; and Thomas Malthus) thought about the good-to-evil ratio etc. There were natural theologians before Darwin's time who described the world and everything in it as perfectly designed and arranged to work as a perfect machine. As Paley put it, God "wills and wishes the happiness of his creatures." Paley extolled creation as a perfect machine, for it was "a happy world after all. The air, the earth, the water, teem with delighted existence.

Hunter writes:

Darwin inverted Paley's bright optimism, but not his assumptions about God:

"We behold the face of nature bright with gladness, we often see super-abundance of food; we do not see or we forget that the birds which are idly singing round us mostly live on insects or seeds, and are thus constantly destroying life; or we forget how largely these songsters, or their eggs, or their nestlings, are destroyed by birds and beasts of prey; we do not always bear in mind, that, though food may be now superabundant, it is not so at all seasons of each recurring year." (source: Anthony D. Baker, "Theology and the Crisis in Darwinism," Modern Theology 18, no. 2 (2002): 192)

Darwin's point of course, was not that Paley's view was nonscriptural, but rather that God's creative acts ought to be reconsidered. Darwin proposed a mechanistic creative process, not a different view of God. And with the acceptance of Darwinism, this view of God has been, in turn, all the more accepted. Evolutionists, as we saw in chapter 6, have continued to rely on this nonscriptural view of God to justify their theory.

So when evolutionist Ken Miller asks if God would "really want to take credit for the mosquito," he is echoing a long-standing tradition, not some biblical truth. The idea that God would create only a perfect or optimal world, in a material sense, has been a dominant paradigm among naturalists and philosophers for centuries.

We might call this the paradigm of perfection. From Kepler and Leibniz to Paley and Darwin, the assumption that creation is an end unto itself and a thing that God would certainly strive to make perfect if it were possible, has driven our thinking in the historical sciences.

But this perspective has failed us. It has no basis in Scripture and has led to absurdity. We need to reconsider this view and consider replacing it with a historic doctrine that theologians have known about all along - the doctrine of general revelation.

General Revelation

The universe may have many purposes, but the church has always taught that, as God's creation, it complements God's Word. The Scriptures are called special revelation, and the world is called general revelation. As the apostle Paul wrote:

Rom 1:18
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

Rom 1:19
because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

Rom 1:20
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

Paul explains that creation itself makes plain what may be known about God. And certainly throughout the Bible we find analogies in creation for spiritual truths. We are told that the blessed man is like a tree planted by streams of water, but the wicked are like chaff that blows away in the wind (see Psalms 1). God's incredible providence is displayed by the beauty and intricacy of the lilies (see Matthew 6:28), and the kingdom of heaven is like a little bit of yeast that works through a large amount of dough (see Matthew 13:33). But false teachers are like a brood of vipers (see Matthew 23:33), and the fool who comes back to them is like a dog that returns to its vomit (see Proverbs 26:11).

Did God have to search for these analogies? Was it serendipity that creation just happened to be full of analogies to spiritual truths that are given in the Scriptures? Or did God create the world to contain signs of his truth?

[Note: Please see a former post entitled The Trinity All Around You for another astounding example of the world serving to communicate some of God's revelation. ]
The eighteenth-century theologian Henry Drummond held the view that natural laws are analogous with spiritual laws. We can learn something about the spiritual world from the natural world. Before him, Johann Goethe claimed that transitory things are but parables. These are different ways of reflecting on the doctrine of general revelation. Nature has, as Herman Bavinck put it, "lain in the thought of God before it came into being."

Creation, at least in part, contains revelation for us to consider. In other words, Scripture tells us not only that God created the world, but that the world serves to communicate some of his revelation. Perhaps the caterpillar, imprisoned in its cocoon and then emerging as a butterfly is symbolic of the crucified and then resurrected Christ.

If creation serves as part of God's revelation, then why should we think it must be designed to be perfect or optimal in a material sense? Paley's premise that God "wills and wishes for our happiness" seems at odds with Scripture, which tells us to consider it "pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4).

We should view creation's purpose as communicating truths and contributing to our salvation, not as gratification of our senses. Instead of considering the paradigm of perfection, we should consider the paradigm of revelation. Of course other factors have influenced creation. We are told that creation has been subjected to futility and that the fall altered creation for the worse. Yes, the heavens declare the glory of God, but we should also expect to see creation in decay (Romans 8:21).

We should expect to find God's revelation in nature, not in material perfection. I am amazed, however, how often I see people adhering to the paradigm of perfection. If God made the world, shouldn't we expect it to be perfect? Like those skeptics at the crucifixion, we so easily hold opinions about God without carefully investigating his Word.

The paradigm of perfection is more a human tradition than a biblical concept. It has led to a great many unfulfilled expectations about creation. Consider again the pentadactyl pattern, which is considered evidence for evolution because it is said to reveal imperfect design. Darwin argued that the same pattern should not show up where the need is different. Surely the tasks of grasping, digging, paddling, and flying should call for different designs. Darwin doubted that all this was the product of God's design.

But why should we see this as a sign that these species were not created by God? Could not God's consistent use of this pattern be a sign that they were created by the same hand? After all, if the designs were all different and somehow optimized for their respective appications, then evolutionists would point to that as evidence of natural selection, just as they do with the other amazing designs in biology. If God created the species, they could argue, wouldn't we see some pattern? Instead, all we see is adaptation. Why wouldn't God leave some sign that they were created, instead of making the speicies appear to have evolved by natural processes?

Indeed, there are multitudes of incredible designs in nature, perfectly fitted to the need. Consider Anableps anableps, a fish that swims with eyes half in and half out of the water. As with bifocal lense, its eyes are divided into two parts, giving it the remarkable abiltiy to look simultaneously above and below the water line. Or again, there is the ancient trilobite. It had eyes that were perhaps the most complex of all. One expert called them "an all-time feat of function optimization."

There certainly is an abundance of perfections to be found in nature that reveal the glory of God. Literally volumes upon volumes could be written on biology's designs that can be said to be optimal or perfect. Whey then are repeated designs, such as the pentadactyl pattern, such strong evidence for evolution? Is the vast abundance of perfections and contrivances insufficient to believe that God made the species? Do we need yet one more proof?

At the crucifixion they called for yet one more proof. Jesus was to save himself. Then, they declared, they would believe. But as Jesus had pointed out in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, this was not true. There already was an abundance of reasons to believe. One more miracle would change nothing. Three days later Jesus would prove it.

[Source: Darwin's Proof - The Triump of Religion over Science by Cornelius G. Hunter; Brazos Press, 2003 pp. 109-115.]

Coming soon: Report and analysis of Darwin's Deadly Legacy broadcast.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

And the Criticism Goes On...And On...

With all the hyper-ventilating going on in the liberal, Darwinianiac religionists circles, evolutionists are gonna end up bursting their blood vessels! So is, apparently, Abe Foxman of ADL.

Which brings to mind a pertinent question. When is Abe going to realize that born-again, Bible believing Christians are on the side of Israel and not against the Jewish people like some people from history??

Sheesh!!

If Hitler used Darwinism (and history shows this to be a fact!) as an excuse (and the bolded parts of the article below clearly demonstrates that he was a Darwinist!!) to slaughter Jews during the Holocaust, why is Abe Foxman of the ADL ridiculing D. James Kennedy for citing historical truth about that fact??

Foxman's statement (below) is ludicrous!

He's attacking the wrong side in this culture war!!

Good grief...

Ah!! This explains it:

Foxman: ""It must be remembered that D. James Kennedy is a leader among the distinct group of 'Christian Supremacists' who seek to 'reclaim America for Christ' and turn the U.S. into a Christian nation guided by their strange notions of biblical law," he said."

Strange notions of biblical law? Like those in the Jewish Torah??

Yikes...it's a sad day...truly a sad day when a Jewish defamation organization appears to be more threatened by Christian belief (which was derived from Jewish beliefs and gives rise to freedom of religion...including the Jewish faith!) than they are by REAL anti-semites like Radical Islam0-Facists who want to convert the world to Islam and kill any and all infidels who refuse conversion; and also have their own loathsome, specially-charged-hatred for Jews and Zionism!!!

Wow!! Is the ADL in bed with the ACLU OR WHAT??

Guess so...

Ugh!!!

Perhaps that is a topic for another day...

Christine

*******

Wednesday, August 23, 2006
EVOLUTION WATCH

ADL joins in criticism of evolution expose

Coral Ridge defends Darwin-Hitler show as review of history

Posted: August 23, 20061:00 a.m. Eastern

A yet-to-be broadcast television special created by Coral Ridge Ministries has been targeted for criticism by the Anti-Defamation League.

Just one day after bloggers took their shots at "Darwin's Deadly Legacy", which features more than a dozen experts in various fields talking about the connections between Darwin's theories, eugenics, Hitler and abortion, ADL National Director Abraham H. Foxman issued a statement.
"This is an outrageous and shoddy attempt by D. James Kennedy to trivialize the horrors of the Holocaust. Hitler did not need Darwin to devise his heinous plan to exterminate the Jewish people. Trivializing the Holocaust comes from either ignorance at best or, at worst, a mendacious attempt to score political points in the culture war on the backs of six million Jewish victims and others who died at the hands of the Nazis."

Kennedy, an author and Christian broadcaster, had just announced the inquiry into Darwin’s "chilling" social impact, a production set to air nationwide on Aug. 26-27 on "The Coral Ridge Hour."

Then the comments started appearing on the Pharyngula website, among others, offering stinging criticism of those on the show.

One of those targeted was Human Genome Project Director Francis Collins, whose book, "The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief," was published only a few months ago.

"I have no idea what role Collins is going to play in this dishonest piece of trash, but I hope he is properly ashamed of being associated with it," one critic said. "Unfortunately, we're going to have to watch it to find out."

Collins explained that he had been interviewed by Coral Ridge about his book, and the taping was inserted into the program without his advance knowledge.
Then came Foxman's criticism.

"It must be remembered that D. James Kennedy is a leader among the distinct group of 'Christian Supremacists' who seek to 'reclaim America for Christ' and turn the U.S. into a Christian nation guided by their strange notions of biblical law," he said.

Coral Ridge responded with a call for "more history and less hysteria."

"When ADL National Director Abe Foxman, who has not viewed our television program, calls it 'twisted' and asserts that 'Hitler did not need Darwin to devise his heinous plan to exterminate the Jewish people,' he ignores the historical fact that Adolf Hitler was an evolutionist," the ministry group said.

"Among German historians, there's really not much debate about whether or not Hitler was a social Darwinist," said historian Richard Weikart, author of "From Darwin to Hitler" and a guest on the television special.

"The German Fuhrer, as I have consistently maintained, is an evolutionist. He has consciously sought to make the practice of Germany conform to the theory of evolution," said British evolutionist Sir Arthur Keith in the 1940s.

Even Niles Eldredge, curator at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, said there's a link.

"Social Darwinism," he wrote, "has given us the eugenics movement and some of its darker outgrowths, such as the genocidal practices of the Nazis in World War II – where eugenics was invoked as a scientific rationale to go along with whatever other 'reasons' Hitler and his fellow Nazis had for the Holocaust."

"We have had nearly 150 years of the theory of Darwinian evolution. And what has it brought us – whether Darwin intended it or not? Millions of deaths, the destruction of those deemed 'inferior,' the devaluing of human life, and increasing hopelessness,' said Kennedy.

The documentary was done to "show why evolution is a bad idea that should be discarded into the dustbin of history," according to Wikipedia.

WorldNetDaily columnist Ann Coulter also was a target for the critics who have yet to see the program.

She has, the critic contended, "no knowledge of science or history," and others on the program are nothing but "creationists."

Producer Jerry Newcomb said the show is about the social effects of Darwinism, and the bloodshed that can be attributed to those beliefs. He said before Darwin, the basic concept was that man was made in the image of God, and was therefore valuable. But Darwin changed all that.

Coulter, who also wrote the bestselling "Godless: The Church of Liberalism," said Hitler simply was taking Darwinism from the theoretical to the practical.

"He thought the Aryans were the fittest and he was just hurrying natural selection along," she said.

Coral Ridge Ministries said it also has published a companion book to the television special, called "Evolution’s Fatal Fruit: How Darwin’s Tree of Life Brought Death to Millions."

This is a WorldNetDaily printer-friendly version of the article which follows. To view this item online, visit http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=51643

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Incapacitated Because of Sin

God's R&R

And [Jonah] said, "I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, and He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and You heard my voice."Jonah 2:2

Monday, August 21, 2006

Faithful to God, Science

Found this article link called Faithful to God, Science through SmartChristian.com.

I particularly liked the following excerpts:

He urges his fellow scientists to give up the arrogant assumption that the only questions worth asking are those science can answer. He entreats his fellow believers to recognize it's not blasphemous to learn about the world.

One day last summer, in the basement office of his suburban home here, Collins dictated this manifesto into a tape recorder: "Science is not threatened by God; it is enhanced. God is most certainly not threatened by science; He made it all possible." It became the central thesis of his book — with this addendum: "Abandon the battlements."

This plea for a truce encourages some veterans of the culture wars.

Polls routinely show that about half of all Americans believe God created man, fully formed, within the last 10,000 years, as the Bible recounts. The vast majority of scientists find that ludicrous, but their account of man evolving from primordial muck does not resonate broadly, especially with Christians who believe in a personal God, deeply concerned about each human life.

"I had a great concern that this would be portrayed as though we were taking away room for spirituality, making us out to be nothing more than a mechanical instruction book — robots, machines, victims of our DNA," Collins said.

Invited to the White House to announce the triumph, Collins tried to signal that those concerned with the soul and the spirit should not take the new science as a threat. "It is humbling for me, and awe-inspiring," he said, standing at Clinton's side, "to realize that we have caught the first glimpse of our own instruction book, previously known only to God."

I do feel, however, that this idea is questionable:

Collins, some hope, might bridge this gap by reassuring Christians that they can buy evolution without selling out their faith.

I agree with this:

Some Christians accuse Collins of denying the foundation of faith when he calls the Biblical creation account an allegory.

"Not accepting the history in Genesis undermines the entire gospel," said Ken Ham, president of a ministry called Answers in Genesis, which promotes creationism. "The Bible says from dust we come and to dust we return. We don't return to an ape-man when we die."

In my conversations with Darwinists, I have found this to be true also:

From the other camp, some scientists ridicule Collins' effort to find a place for God in the scientific framework.

"I could just as well say that there are 70 pink elephants revolving around the Earth," said Herbert A. Hauptman, a Nobel laureate in chemistry. Science and faith "are simply incompatible," he added. "There's no getting around it."

It appears (to me, at least) that the "two camps" will always be like boxers in a ring, going back into their own corners...

The last few paragraphs were very telling; especially the Collin's last sentence:

Outsiders sometimes ask, with alarm, whether this knowledge will allow scientists to "play God" — to manipulate and enhance man's genetic code in ways nature never intended. Collins urges public debate to set boundaries, or as he puts it: "How far down the line do we go [before] we start to affect what it means to be human?"

But he never feels as though he's on the verge of usurping God with his discoveries in the lab. The more he learns, the more he's humbled.

As he explores each intricate rung of DNA, Collins said, "it's like I'm glimpsing a little of God's mind."

*******

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:1

In chapter four of D. James Kennedy's book, "Why I Believe,", Dr. Kennedy shares why he believes in Creation.

While doing an internet search, I ran across a Darwinist's refutation of several things that Kennedy stated in this chapter. What was disturbing to me, though, was the fact that the Darwinist left out six, very important paragraphs from the chapter and also claimed that Kennedy "started the chapter" with this statement:

"It means that we live in a time when there are only two religions competing for the minds, hearts, and loyalties of Western man. The future of this world will be determined, humanly speaking, by Western man. One of those religions is Christianity; the other religion is evolution."

That is blatant intellectual dishonesty! Seems typical, though, since we now know the truth of the "Icons of Evolution" that had been (and some still are!) passed off as "fact."

The following is the part that the Darwinist left out. After reading it, I'm sure you will recognize why he didn't want to "refute" that particular portion.

Examining creation will bring us closer to the Creator. That is what the earliest founders of science believed, or as the founder of astronomy put it, we would be merely thinking God's thoughts after Him.

But something happened on the way to the twentieth century. In the middle of the nineteenth century when modern science began to develop, the entire scientific enterprise was hijacked.

I am referring to Darwin's theory of evolution. Canada's leading scientist, who was chosen to write the Introduction to the centennial edition of The Origin of the Species, said that the greatest evil Darwin has brought upon the world is to somehow divide science from God and, in fact, set the two at each other's throats.

The theory of evolution has had enormous and devastating impact upon the modern world in which we live. Michael Denton, author of a fascinating book titled Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, wrote:

The voyage on The Beagle [Darwin's ship on which he set sail from England in 1831] was a journey of awesome significance. Its object was to survey Patagonia; its result was to shake the foundations of western thought. The Origin of the Species [which followed] has been referred to as "one of the most important books ever written" [it is because it seeks to shake the foundation of the most important book ever written]. As far as Christianity was concerned, the advent of the theory of evolution and the elimination of traditional teleological thinking was catastrophic.

Teleological thinking is the thinking you and I engage in every day. To think teleologically is to believe life has purpose and an end. The evolutionist believes nothing has purpose or an end. Consequently, life has no significance or meaning or importance. The whole scientific enterprise, however, has been hijacked into a naturalistic or materialistic view of the world. Naturalism believes that there is nothing in the universe but nature, nothing supernatural; materialism believes that there is nothing in the world but matter.

What does that mean?

*******

You can read the rest at Alex Matulich's "refutation" site. But wait! Can we be sure that he has honestly quoted Dr. Kennedy?

Oops! Found another convenient part of Kennedy's quote missing from Matulich's post!

Matulich wrote:

"K> They would get up and walk out, and rightly so. But that is the way men accept evolution."

But I have Dr. Kennedy's book and this is the entire quote:

"They would get up and walk out, and rightly so. But that is the way men accept evolution-by blind faith!"

Hmmm....and Matulich accuses Kennedy of misquoting? You know what they say about people in glass houses?? Look in the mirror Matulich!!

It would be quite a project to counter-refute Matulich's drivel. But it might be fun to count the misquotes that he's guilty of. Any volunteers out there? ;-)

Lastly, I want to post a link to Joe Carter's 10 Ways Darwinists Help Intelligent Design: Addendum -- PZ Myers Proves My Point over at the Evangelical Outpost. [Click on link and scroll down to it.]

Lots of comments too!

Happy reading!

Hat tip: Evangelical Outpost

SmartChristian

Saturday, August 19, 2006

God Never Contradicts What's in His Word.

I missed last week's message at The Rock church. It is a very good message that can help us in our Christian walk. The part that really spoke to me most was the fact that God will never contradict what He has said in His Word.

That one fact is where absolute truth vs. "man's idea of what is truth" can be compared, measured and decided upon. In my conversations with other Christian believers (namely, those who often disagree with Bible based, born again Christians and are mostly of the liberal-left ideology), I have found that this is often the stumbling block that sits before them. Many choose to ignore, twist, change, or disagree with portions of Scripture that interfere with what THEY want (or, want to believe) Scripture is saying. The trouble is, they often end up contradicting what God has already said on the issue(s).

We could all heed Pastor Miles admonition:

"If, at any time, anything you feel God is calling you to do does not agree with His word, STOP and reevaluate what you are sensing in your Spirit. God will never contradict what He has said in His Word."

Here's a summary of the message:

Road Trip - Part 3, I Got Shotgun

Miles McPherson - August 13, 2006

Remember when you used to go out, with your friends? The first one to call "shotgun!" got to sit in the front seat as a passenger.

In our relationship with God, He wants to be the driver, but has given us the great opportunity to ride "shotgun" with him. He won't force us to ride alongside Him. But, if we choose to drive our own lives, He will not be in the car with us.

How do we ensure that we are letting God drive, while we ride "shotgun" in our lives?

1. SECURE God's guiding presence

In the Old Testament, God used the Tabernacle to show how following Him was the way to move through life. When the New Testament came, Jesus took over where the Tabernacle left off. The Tabernacle was made of wood and gold and couldn't affect change from the inside of a person; Jesus - through the power of the Holy Spirit - now leads from inside of our hearts.

The Tabernacle required sacrifice of bulls, rams, goats, and even doves. Jesus now asks for simple obedience. Obedience opens the way for securing God's guiding presence.

It is through obedience that we show God that we are serious about letting Him take over our lives and drive. Obedience is our way of saying, "I'm riding shotgun."

2. SUBMIT to God's unexpected but perfect travel schedule

Even when we are living in obedience, things never go like we plan or hope. There are changes, setbacks, problems and just plain LIFE! But, God, who is eternal and who knows the future as well as the past, knows where we are headed and how best to help us through the changes. He has a map and will lead us.

Knowing all of this doesn't help unless we are submitted to where God is taking us. Many Christians are living their lives out of duty. They go to church and do all the "churchy" things because they are supposed to. But, submission is not slavery, it is a willful bending of our will to what God is doing in our lives.
God will always take care of you in the best way possible. Remember, He is never late and never early; God is always on time.

3. FOLLOW God's directions, not yours

After we have submitted ourselves to God, we then have to actually DO what He is showing/telling us to do.

Following God is hard because
1) He's invisible and we can't use our eyes to see where He is heading (or use any of our other senses, for that matter) and
2) God isn't taking you where you want to go; He is taking you where He wants you to go.

Remember, God already knows what's coming up and He has a purpose He wants to fulfill in you. In order to do that, you've got to take every step He places in your path - one step at a time.

Following God is not easy. But, it gets easier with each step.

4. Use God's WORD to confirm God's direction

God will never contradict what He has said in His Word.

At this point, many people will say, "How can anyone follow an invisible God who's taking me where He wants me to go, in His timing, His way?"

That's where God's Word comes into play. Remember, you've already got the Holy Spirit inside of you (if you've accepted Jesus' invitation to become a member of His family). You will be nudged by the Holy Spirit as to who, what, when, where, why and how. But, you're not taking stabs in the dark. God's word will agree with what He is telling you to do.

If, at any time, anything you feel God is calling you to do does not agree with His word, STOP and reevaluate what you are sensing in your Spirit. God will never contradict what He has said in His Word.

Sound crazy? Well, God's ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than ours. But, if we align ourselves by
1) Securing His guiding presence,
2) Submitting to His unexpected but perfect travel schedule,
3) Following His direction and not our own and
4) Using His Word to confirm His direction, we will be safely inside God's will and plan for our lives.

And that is the best way to travel anywhere in life.

"Okay God, I'll ride shotgun!"

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The Obsession of Radical Islam

This morning, I saw a gripping interview between an MSNBC News reporter and Nonie Darwish, an Arab Muslim woman who appeared as herself in a documentary film called Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West.

Apparently, the film was released in 2005, but I had not heard about it until today. From what Nonie shared with the reporter, it is a must see film to be better informed about what we are facing in our battle with Islamo-facist Terrorism.

I went to the above site this morning, and read the four film reviews there. I was surprised that there were only four comments on the film! Are many people not aware that this movie is out there? Here is the first review:

Critically important and terrifying, 1 August 2006

Author: Cronenfly from Los Angeles

Obsession is a chilling call to action for everyone who cares about the survival of western democratic principles. We are very near the brink of an all-out world war for the soul of civilization and many of us are too distracted, cowardly or p.c. to see it. Don't trust anyone who says this film isn't true or tries to downplay its vitality.

This is one of the most persuasive documentaries I've ever seen. It's perfectly paced, rigorously backs up its claims and is breathlessly dramatic.

We know what Islamo-fascists want because they keep telling us, but we fail to hear: death to Israel, death to America, and worldwide Islam. Islamic violence and atrocities are very well documented -- we have cameras all over the world, and still we fail to see. Well this film will open your eyes.

Things are going to get much, much worse between Islam and the west, and very soon. This film is a commanding testament to that fact. See it. Make everyone you know see it.

Isn't it true that history has shown that most of our battles with the "isms" such as Communism and Nazism had taken 30 to 50 years ( or more) to eradicate?

The Arab Muslim/Jewish Israeli battle has been going on for hundreds of years! Now, it has come to several lands in the West. It can no longer be ignored by the West!! Appeasement, negotiating, U.N. resolutions do not work against radical Islamo-facist terrorists!!

How long do you think that Israel's ceasefire with Hezbollah will last? How many days has it been already? I just heard that Israel was forced to attack Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon. What makes us think that Hezbollah won't retaliate? Then it will go back and forth from there. The U.N. cease-fire is already old, useless news! Israel should have been left alone to complete their fight to irradicate Hezbollah from the Lebanon border!

Who are we going to rely on to complete Hezbollah irradication?

French troops?

Take a look at this post at Roscoe Daley's blog. Scroll down to the "google" search results for "French military "victories!"

The suicide bombing and crashing planes into buildings techniques of Islamo-fascist terrorists eerily reminds us of the Kamikaze units of World War II.

According to Wikipedia:

The first kamikaze unit
Commander Asaiki Tamai asked a group of 23 talented student pilots, whom he had personally trained, to volunteer for the special attack force. All of the pilots raised both of their hands, thereby volunteering to join the operation. Later, Tamai asked Lieutenant Yukio Seki to command the special attack force. Seki is said to have closed his eyes, lowered his head and thought for ten seconds, before asking Tamai: "please let me do that." Seki thereby became the 24th kamikaze pilot to be chosen.

"Transcend life and death. When you eliminate all thoughts about life and death, you will be able to totally disregard your earthly life. This will also enable you to concentrate your attention on eradicating the enemy with unwavering determination, meanwhile reinforcing your excellence in flight skills."

- A paragraph from the Kamikaze pilot's manual, located in their cockpits.

[bold-mine]

During Nonie's TV interview, she stated that what is being taught to Muslim children and young adults in the Madrassahs of Islam are "values" of hate, destruction, and death to the "infidels" of the West.

We might think that they are brainwashed. I think it's even scarier and more radical than that. They are being brain-eviled! There minds have been hijacked and trained into believing that what they desire (kill the infidels) is a "value" held in high regard by their god, "Allah."

Who is it in the Bible who is named as coming to "kill," "steal," and "destroy?"

Next comment:

More people need to see this, 14 August 2006

Author: saigodaisuki from United States

Following an astoundingly liberal college education, I traveled halfway around the world for a job and spent the next 5+ years getting caught up on the real world. Along the way, I learned a foreign language, let go of a little cynicism, and also realized that liberals don't know everything. The attacks on September 11th, followed by attacks on Bali, Madrid, and London, really brought that home to me. I found this film after doing a lot of independent research on my own, and wish it had been available earlier. Radical Islam and the ideology that goes with it is a frightening thing, no longer isolated to one country, one region, or one group of people- and that is clearly shown in this movie. It is thorough, interesting, and informative. I highly recommend this film to anyone curious about world politics, religion, or a subject often labeled too risqué for discussion in the mainstream media.

Wow! Doesn't this statement speak volumes about the Liberals in Congress in the Democratic party as well as the Cindy Sheehans, George Soros, Howard Deans of our country?

"Following an astoundingly liberal college education, I traveled halfway around the world for a job and spent the next 5+ years getting caught up on the real world."

One has to wonder if those with the mindset of Sheehan, Soros, Dean and other Bush-haters will ever wake up and get caught up on the real world!!??

Next comment:

Excellent: Stresses the crucial moment we are in!, 14 August 2006

Author: off2hell from Israel

You must understand. Iran, together with the funding of many Arab Muslim countries, is responsible for most of the terror actions against the west in it's war and struggle to Islamize the world (by putting fear and ignorance into the brain of thinking Humans all over the world). Right now, for all as we know, they haven't acquired yet nuclear weapons, like North Korea. If they won't be stopped, it will be used, first to put fear and pressure upon who they perceive as their enemies, and since they only really care about the "next world", they won't be afraid to use their nuclear weapons, unlike the Russians and the Chinese.

There's much more I can say but there's a word limit, and the issues are a little more complex to fit into one sentence the way ignorant people like it, so do yourself a favor and go read some honest decent history books, and try to really understand in what world you are living in (and in what kind of world do you want to live!). And do that quickly, before the elections, so you won't make a fatal mistake! P.S Ain't that funny, the Muslims complaining all the time that the west wants to take over their world, that America is an imperialistic power and they don't like empires but it's OK for them to be an empire and conquer the world because they are committed to that by Allah and the Islam. What can they do? A god tells them to conquer the world, spread the Islam, they have no choice…

Thursday, August 17, 2006

The Ramsey Case

It appears that the killer of Jon Benet Ramsey has been found. The news reports claim that he had confessed to "accidentally" killing the girl. Is that going to give him positive points in the eyes of the jury?

The suspect is a "school teacher" who raped a 6 year old girl!! That's awful enough!! Since she was old enough to talk, he would have been identified by her. What makes us think he's telling the truth about "accidentally" killing her? If his DNA matches the DNA found in the little girl's underwear, then we will have positive proof that this man is guilty of the crime.

Speculation abounds, however. One report that I heard is that he is guilty of another crime in Thailand and just confessed to the Ramsey case so he could get 3 decent square meals a day in a U.S. prison. I know. Quite a speculation.

Is it premature to release the parents from the "umbrella of suspicion" in the girl's death? They have been victims of the public's (especially the media's!) speculation of guilt that has been hanging over them for 10 years.

I'm sure that they went through absolute hell on earth because of it.

I can't blame Mr. Ramsey for not wanting to appear before the cameras of the media again after the despicable treatment he and his wife received from them over the last 10 years.

One has to wonder if all that psychological damage didn't hasten the death of Patsy Ramsey as she suffered from ovarian cancer.

God rest her soul.

I also wonder if Mr. Ramsey will ever get any apologies from the media giants. Don't hold your breath...

*******
Update 9:15 a.m. : News conference going on now on Fox News Channel.

9:34 a.m. : Suspect fascinated by her death.

Links to additional articles.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

New Blog!

I have started a new blog called The Way of God in Truth. I have been thinking about including an additional blog along with Talkwisdom for quite some time. It is my hope that it will serve to be more of a "Bible study discovery" type blog that will combine the usual conversational structure of Talkwisdom, with the added feature of inductive Bible study.

My first post over there is on Matthew 22. I love this portion of Scripture! It reveals how those who would question Jesus for the specific purpose of attempting to "trip up" our Master, Jesus Christ, ended up speechless after hearing His question!

There are days, weeks and even months of study in this chapter! And that is what I would like to do. Take a verse or two at a time and expound upon the words of Jesus.

Comments and questions are most welcome. Application to current day circumstances, problems, situations etc. are also welcome. This blog will be a "growing one" and new posts will most likely add to our knowledge of Biblical truth that can be gleaned from Scripture.

Check it out today!

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Everybody's Got To Love Somebody*

I always enjoy reading Greg Laurie's articles over at World Net Daily. In today's article, everybody's got to love somebody, Greg points out how much can be learned from that little word "I."

He states:

Note the wording that the Lord uses here: "I AM the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." It is amazing how much can be revealed by a simple little word such as "I." This little pronoun, only one letter long, conveys a profound and fundamental truth about who God is.

When God says, "I am the Lord," He is refuting all other belief systems, including pantheism, polytheism, deism and New Age thinking. As James Kennedy points out in his book on this topic, "Why the Ten Commandments Matter":

Pantheism teaches that all is God. The universe is God. Everything is God. But when God said, "I AM" (Exodus 3:14), He revealed that He is a Person. He was in essence saying, "I feel, I act." God is not, as pantheism teaches, an impersonal cosmic force. No, the Lord says, "I and I Alone am God, there is no other!"

Polytheism teaches that there are many gods. Hinduism is a polytheistic belief system. But God didn't say, "WE are the Lord, your Gods." No, He said, "I AM the Lord, your God." "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5)

Deism proposes that God created the world, "wound it up like a clock," and then went off and forgot all about it. A deist would say that God is "on vacation" and has no interest in the affairs of men. But when God "brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage," He expressed His desire for a personal relationship with them as a God who sees, hears and cares. And the God who led, protected and blessed His people still wants to do that for us today.

New Age thinking says the answer is inside of you. YOU are God! But New Age thought is nothing but the old lie of the devil. Remember, he said to Eve, "YOU shall be as gods." (Genesis 3:5) But the God of the Bible alone is the Creator. He and He alone saves. This means that He is in charge of your life, not you. "You are not your own, you have been bought with a price" – but New Age thinking denies this and claims WE can do whatever we please, with whomever WE want, and whenever WE want. In short, New Age thinking gives us an excuse to live any way we want, without answering to God in our lives.
In short, when God said I AM the LORD your God, He revealed Himself as a distinct, unique and personal being who intimately cares for His people. This is the God "who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." He doesn't start His Top Ten list by threatening them or scaring them, but rather by reminding them of what kind of God He was: A loving, caring God who delivered them from misery!

You might respond, "Well, that's great for them. But I wasn't a slave in Egypt!" True, but you were a slave to sin on your way to hell. But God loved you so much He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross in your place. If we really appreciate what He has done, if we know anything of His all-encompassing forgiveness, it should be our privilege and pleasure to seek to live a life that is pleasing to Him, not because we have to but because we want to! "We love Him because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19)

He next points out that everyone has someone as "a god," some kind of an "idol" that they love.

An idol is anything or anyone that takes the place of God in our lives. And know this: Everybody has a God. Even atheists have a god. It is not the true God, but a god nonetheless that they worship and serve. Everybody's got to love somebody – whether it be the true God or themselves. Everybody makes something of ultimate concern in their hearts.

The real question, then, is "Who or what is your ultimate concern? What gets you excited? What gets you out of bed in the morning? What do you think about most of the day? What do you dream about? Plan for? Hope for? In short, what are you really passionate about? Now, that is your God.

Back to that question, "Is it an alarm or a calling that gets you out of bed in the morning?" Many of you reading these words might say, "The LORD is God!" And maybe He is. But then again, maybe He isn't. God is not just merely whom we name, but whom we serve. What is the focus of your life? What occupies your attention and affection? What directs your interest and concern? Is it your career? Your family? Time for yourself? Your answer will reveal to yourself who is your God!

*******
*It's kinda funny...when I was typing the title, at first, I accidentally typed:

"Everybody's God To Love Somebody!"

Why I Can't Accept Evolution As Evidence of God

Found this article titled In evolution, Americans are big non-believers quite interesting. One of the questions in the comment section motivated me to register with the Globe and Mail website in order to answer it. The email message that I received said that it might take up to 24 hours for approval before the comment is posted. I wonder if my two comments will ever be posted? Time will tell, I guess. Meanwhile, I will post my response here; just in case it doesn't get published at the comment spot.

Before I post it, I wanted to say that the people here in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia have been so nice, welcoming and personable. Maybe it's because they don't know that we are Americans? I say this because if you go to the above link to the comment section, you will read what they really think of Americans; and they express particular disdain for Christians!!

Darn. I'll have to report this to my husband when he returns from golfing. I'm sure he'll be disappointed to hear about this. It will burst his bubble of Canadian hospitality for sure!

Here was the question:

I don't understand why religious fanatics can't accept evolution as evidence of God.

Notice the label of fanatics attributed by the commenter. It gets even worse. Christians are labeled as "illiterate," "ignorant," "uneducated," "superstitious," "myth-believers," etc. You get the picture.

However, I liked what the commenter J Luft from Calgary, Canada wrote:

Once again Canadians are showing their profound arrogance in thinking that their beliefs are the only correct ones. It is really more of a display of how completely Canadians have been indoctrinated in being unwilling to accept the views of others. Typical, though.

My answer included links to several blogposts here:

Evolution Is Often The "Religion" Of The Unbeliever

Debate? Or Talking Past Each Other?

I also included a summary from the first link that directly answers the question:

Let me share with you why my investigation of theistic evolution turned me away from such a concept.

In addition to this, there are some articles written by Greg Koukl on the subject of theistic evolution in the archive section at my message board. This may provide more detailed reasons for you to see my points.

Why I reject theistic evolution:

Jesus believed in and spoke about the Genesis account of Creation. That alone should be enough for Bible-believing, Word of Truth Christians.

Theistic Evolution involves the notion that God initially began creation and then used evolution to produce the universe as we know it. The big issue is with macroevolution which claims that all of life evolved fortuitously from a single cell made up of amino acids, RNA, DNA etc.; then through chance there were mutations that allowed lower, simplistic forms of life to become more complex specimens. We all emerged over time, from the slime into our present humanity. Is man in his origin the product of a purposive act of divine intelligence, or is man a cosmic accident? Are we creatures of dignity or creatures of cosmic insignificance?

Microevolution, the indication that there is a change, a progression involving different directions among various species that we can track historically is of no consequence with respect to biblical Christianity. It's the unsubstantiated myth of macroevolution that presents rational, logical as well as theological objections. One day this unmitigated nonsense will be totally rejected by the scientific community.

In this post, I will focus in on the theological objections to theistic evolution. A Christian (IMHO) cannot believe that he is a cosmic accident and at the same time believe in the sovereign God and the Creator God. Theistic evolution must make a complete allegory out of Genesis 1:1 - 2:4, for which there is no warrant. The suggestion that humanity is derived from a non-human ancestor cannot be reconciled with the explicit statement of man's creation in Genesis 2:7. Man did not evolve but rather was created from the dust of the ground. How can I know for sure? As a Bible believing Christian, I recognize that if Adam was not a real historical person, then the analogy between Christ and Adam in Romans 5:12-21 utterly breaks down.

Certainly Christ believed in a literal creation of Adam and Eve (Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6). (Christ would know, for He is elsewhere portrayed as the Creator- (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2,10.) Jesus Christ's words have the authority to be trusted in this particular matter as surely as His words can be trusted in other matters.

Romans 5:8 and John 3:16 reveals God's love for us through Christ the Redeemer. As far as Christianity is concerned, if there's no creation, then there's nothing to redeem. If we come from nothing and go to nothing, then we are nothing under any objective analysis. Nehemiah 9:6 explicitly rejects such a notion.

Friday, August 11, 2006

Truth Is A Vital Element

I found an interesting article on "workplace behavior" in the Globe and Mail newspaper this morning. It's entitled The truth, the whole truth...

Even though it was written with the typical workplace in mind, I found that much of the advice (and warnings) could also be applied to blogging.

The article link shares much more detail, but in summary, I found the following points applicable to blogging:

* Before trying to change anything, understand the dynamics that cause people to withhold the truth.

Can everyone (well, almost everyone) agree that bias is a strong component which can hinder getting to the truth in the blogosphere? I know that this is true in my discussions. One person's "study" or "poll" vs. another person's counter "study" or "poll" are all the rage!

There are organization that live by a biased viewpoint and therefore, their "studies," "polls," and even their conclusions could be wrought with error due to their own bias.

How many times have we seen this?

Hundreds!

So how do we discern truth from error?

From whom (or, in my case Whom) does absolute truth come from?

Ask an atheistic evolutionist and you will probably learn that he/she gets his/her "truth" from science and man's knowledge about the physical world.

Ask a born-again, Biblical worldview Christian and you will find that he/she holds that God's Word and Jesus Christ are where Truth is ultimately found. Man's knowledge is secondary and science is a discipline that is always just "catching up to God."

*Train people to communicate with evidence and facts, rather than conjecture.

But it depends on a person's bias as to what constitutes "conjecture" and how, where, why, and what such evidence and facts are revealed.

* Demonstrate honesty and plain-speaking, starting with senior management.

Heh heh. I love this one as it applies to my Talkwisdom blogspot. In the land of worldviews, doesn't it make a huge difference from whence such a worldview comes from? I know that my Senior Manager is Jesus Christ and His Word.

Who is yours??

I have been accused, at times, of not sharing topics "honestly." Usually, this is a direct result of the person's bias against the Biblical worldview on such issues. Many of my worldview opponents have expressed dislike (or ridicule) for sharing Bible verses in my responses. Their claim is that the Bible doesn't mean anything to them so why should I try to convince them that it has any merit in the discussions? The reason is just because they may not consider the Bible as God's Word and ultimate Truth, doesn't mean that it isn't!

* Talk up the advantages and successes of truth-telling and let everyone know it is expected and valued.

Admittedly, this can be difficult. People do not want their biases countered; even if the truth is being shared with them! The subjects of this blog concern morality, ethics, Godly living, traditional family, and the subject of "rightly dividing the Word of Truth" that is, the Bible.

Unfortunately, people can twist the meanings of Scripture to suit their own needs, desires and biases. But the correct interpretation of Scripture has indeed survived the test of time because most scholars adhere to Sola Scriptura, exegesis, and hermenuetics in their commentaries.

Want to know what I have found?

There is a striking similarity of agreement amongst born-again Christian believers (who, btw, have never even met except through the blogosphere ) because they each commit themselves to Bible study. They follow each of the elements (above) that most scholars use when writing their commentaries. Isn't that amazing? No. It's the Holy Spirit's leading!

* Consider and evaluate what the consequences would be if you spoke candidly. Are they grounded in reality?

Depends on which worldview a person adheres to, doesn't it? There are commenters who post here that maintain a secular humanistic worldview so they generally claim that the "Bible-thumpers" are not grounded in their view of reality.

I wonder if they ever saw the movie, the Matrix??

There is a reality that is unseen; as Jesus told his disciples many times over the course of his three year ministry on earth.

Doubting Thomas was given the lesson of a lifetime when he had the opportunity to place his fingers in the crucifixion scars of Jesus after Jesus' resurrection. What was his conclusion? He realized that Jesus was, "his Lord and his God." Jesus told Thomas, "you believe because you have seen me; blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

Speaking candidly can often be difficult when it comes to evangelism. There are consequences to the non-believer that we must share and it often doesn't sit well with the unregenerate hearer. No one likes to be told the bad news of their sinful condition and how it will keep them from reconciliation with God in eternity if they don't confess, repent, and invite Jesus Christ to be the Lord and Savior of their lives. However, each of us must face this fact. It is only then that the mercy, grace, regeneration, and sanctification process can begin within the life of the new believer. Yes. It takes but a moment to make the decision, yet a lifetime to sanctify the believer.

* Speaking the truth requires knowing the truth. Get your facts straight before addressing any situation.

Knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior enables the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to guide the believer unto all truth. Study of the Bible and applying it in our lives enables us to (as Jesus said) "know the truth and the truth shall set you free."

There are so may worldviews that one could follow.

How do we determine the truth of God if we don't know and understand what is in His Word??

I have studied the Bible for over 18 years now and I could study it till I'm 100 and still not know all of the truth it reveals. However, I know enough to be solidly confident in my faith and to share it with others.

That's the beauty of it. You don't need to "know it all" you just need to know Jesus Christ and Him crucified. That's why even a "baby" Christian can help lead someone to salvation through the Gospel of Christ. It is simple enough for a child to comprehend, but God's Word is eternal, ongoing in it's knowledge so that one could never be satisfied that "he/she knows it all." Isn't that phenomenal to realize? There is no other book like it on earth!

* Expect to feel uncomfortable. Often truth-telling creates short-term discomfort for you and others, but over the longer term, it creates better relationships and results.

Wow! Does this describe our evangelism efforts to non-believers or what fellow Christians!! The Holy Spirit was working this morning between the lives of myself and my dear sister in Christ, Susan Smith from Jerusalem. She sent me an awesome newsletter on this very subject. I'm awaiting her answer (she's probably sleeping now!) to blogpost about it. When I hear back from her, I will post it in a new blogpost. *

Truth-telling in Christian evangelism makes the recipient uncomfortable. No doubt about that! But such "uncomfortableness" is necessary in order to hear, receive and ultimately (hopefully, prayerfully) have the recipient accept what Jesus Christ has done for them at the cross! The joy of salvation and the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ cannot be experienced until the "bad news" of our sinful nature is exposed. That's just the way it is!

* Use straightforward language and check the impact of what you have said with the recipients.

Again, this is very valuable to those who are involved in the "Great Commission" of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have had Christian friends and aquaintances tell me not to be so harsh, abrasive and contrary towards non-believers. Then, I hear testimonies of those who were trapped in former sinful lifestyles who actually needed the Bible thumped on their head (figuratively speaking, of course) in order to "get it" and be born again.

All types are needed to minister to all types out there in the world...amen?? Of course we could all use tempering in our approaches towards people. I do appreciate my Christian brothers and sisters who share opinions and ideas too help me grow stronger in my relationship with the Lord and in my ministering efforts with people. We must each keep in mind that we are not perfect (and won't be on this side of heaven), just forgiven by the God of the universe who is!

Straightforward language is often preferable when attempting to evangelize the non-believer rather than quoting the Bible. I an still learning that it is often more successful to write in simpler language and give a reference to the verse or just place quotes around the portion of the verse that I am sharing.

* Address situations with the truth early, when issues are relatively small, rather than letting them fester into a full-blown confrontation.

Ha! Easier said than done! My blog has often become a log of full-blown confrontations!

I will need to elaborate on this more when I return. Would love to read your comments, impressions, agreements, disagreements, confrontational rants, etc. when I return!

Comment away!

*******
*Update, 5:52 p.m. Decided to post it here!

Here is Susan's newsletter.

I am posting it in the comment section and also in the original blogpost.

Christine

*******

Welcome to a new reader from the United Kingdom. He is the first reader of this newsletter from the country of England and he works with my organization's guest and group relations here in Jerusalem. This young man exhibits humility and a maturity in Christ I have seldom seen in Christians his age.

Is there any person on earth who does not need salvation? Is there a single person physically alive today who does not need deliverance from one sin or another? We all need salvation, deliverance, healing and wholeness in life that only God can give. Is this a one-time event when it happens in our lives or is it a lifetime experience? Every single time it happens, we can say it is a one-time event, yet it continues to happen in my life over and over again as a daily experience. Does this make sense? It is a paradox as so many things are in God's plan for your life and for mine. It seems like a contradiction in terms. It seems illogical and impossible, but it is a reality in my life. It is unscientific and it is unreasonable to the worldly way of thinking, but it is true.

Jesus the Messiah is the Truth. This sentence alone seems illogical, impossible, unscientific and unreasonable to those who are not true believers. Jesus of Nazareth is the Way and the Life. That idea is preposterous to one who is not a member of the one Church body. Truth appears silly and laughable to unbelievers. This fact can set you up for ridicule, mockery and derision at your job, in the marketplace and even in your local church. Has this ever happened to you? If not, then just how solid is your faith? Do you really believe what you claim to believe in your thoughts?

Could you be a "closet" Christian? By this I mean are you ashamed of your faith or ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Are you afraid to share your personal testimony with others? Do you fear embarrassment or ridicule? Do you have a testimony? Do you really believe?

Wow! Take it easy, and give me a break. Can you not understand I shudder at the thought of sharing my faith and belief in the Lord Jesus? I am shy and timid and I want to keep the few friends I have. It hurts to be ridiculed and for others to laugh when I am serious. Do you not understand I believe, but I do not think we should force our beliefs on others? We should "live and let live" and not pretend we know it all. After all, others have a right to their own opinion too! Let them live the way they want to live and I will do the same. This argument sounds logical and reasonable. It sounds great! It also gets me off the hook about being embarrassed and trying to talk to others about Jesus. Who are you to tell me what to do anyway?

The above paragraph gives you my thoughts for many years. I recall listening to a number of "hot shot" evangelists who would visit my local church for a "revival" during my teen years in Zephyrhills, Florida. My mind always thought they were "big shots" in the Christian community. They were always "on fire" for the Lord and seemed to have all the answers. When they would preach about the "great commission" my emotions were uncomfortable. It was always a super guilt trip. I felt condemned. Was this the Holy Spirit convicting me or was it the enemy sending fiery darts of guilt and condemnation? Were they trying to make evangelists or missionaries out of everyone? How do you feel when you hear someone telling you to share the gospel with others and if you do not, then you are not obeying God?

The Holy Spirit is our teacher. Can you hear Him? Are you listening? Have you asked God to give you ears to hear the voice of the Spirit? He will answer your prayer. The Lord will give you the desires of your heart when your delight is in Him (see PSALMS 37:4). God has and is giving me the desires of my heart. Two weeks ago, my best friend on earth testified that God has answered all her prayers right after she was diagnosed with lung cancer. My friends, that is the power of God. This friend has no fear. God is her refuge and her fortress (see PSALMS 91:2). She knows His voice and she follows the good Shepherd (see JOHN 10:4). She has ears to hear.

Next week you will read about the weeklong evangelistic outreach of Stephen Bennett Ministries here in the capital city this past week for World Pride 2006. What a blessing to meet these amazing evangelists who were sent by God to Jerusalem. They are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They all have amazing testimonies and they know the gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone.

Thinking back about the "big shot" evangelists gives me cause for thought today. We all know a "big shot" is nothing but a "little shot" away from home. The way of the Master is to walk in love. Those who do not believe are not his sheep, because the sheep hear His voice and follow Him (see JOHN 10:26&27). Can you hear? Are you following the Messiah? God bless you from Jerusalem. (ss)

written by Susan Smith, Jerusalem

Thursday, August 10, 2006

UK Terror Plot Foiled

Update at 10:11 a.m.

Via Michele Malkin's blog, I found Ace of Spades HQ.

Here's an excerpt from the blog (Caution: Site above contains some bad language).

Although there has not been a terrorist attack on America itself, no one has given Bush credit for this. The assumption, sometimes expressly stated, by liberals is that Al Qaeda just isn't even trying -- that's why there have been no attacks. (Yes, this contradicts their other claim that Al Qaeda is growing stronger due to Bush's "miserable failures," and etc., but they never cared much for "internal coherence.")

So, politically, if it is the case the name was spotted on the American side, than this is a plot on the level of 9/11, to blow up twenty airplanes of 200-400 people each, OVER American and British cities as they descended to land, thus causing casualties on the ground as well, and THE CURRENT SECURITY REGIME OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION STOPPED IT.
Apparently mere days before it happened.

Questions that arise:

Was it a good idea to try to repeal the Patriot Act?

If the names came from America-- what y'all think of NSA wiref**kingtaps now?

Kind of nice to know the people a terrorist is calling, huh? You can round them up in a hurry, eh?

If one of these bastards wouldn't give up his allies, would it have been justified to use "coercive interrogation practices" on him?

Shall these bastards necessarily be tried in civilian courts? Are they really deserving of the full protections of law? They don't really seem to be "British citizens" to me, no matter what their passports say.

Was Bush reading "My Pet Goat" when this happened?

A lot of commenters have been saying we wouldn't get serious about terror again until, unfortunately, a massive chunk of a city was destroyed.But there is a less destructive wake-up call-- the mega-terrorist plot that is not successful, but thwarted days (or hours) before it is implemented.

Let's hope people finally get it that we can't just "go back to normal" and pretend there is no terrorist threat, no matter how childishly some may like to pretend 9/11 never happened.'

Hat Tip: Ace of Spades HQ and

Hot Air

*******
Updates:

1:16 p.m. - Terror Plot Thwarted; U.K. to U.S. Flights on Red Alert

2:58 p.m. - UK plot resembles 1995 al-Qaida plan Liquid explosives, timers part of 'Bojinka,'attempt to bomb 12 airliners over Pacific.

3:11 p.m. - Thwarted plot may have been ‘the Big One' ‘Classic al-Qaida’ plan biggest in scope, ambition since Sept. 11.

*******
Updates 8/11/06:

7:00 a.m. - Rampage was just days away
Impending bombings were thwarted, U.S. and Britain say in cautioning that more conspirators are likely at large.

Help The Fight Against Homosexual Indoctrination Bills

Campaign for Children and Families Randy Thomasson, President

savecalifornia.com saveamerica.net

Please forward this Emergency California Alert to your California friends

CALL YOUR CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLYMEMBER RIGHT NOW

Only Republican voices can sway Arnold Schwarzenegger to veto school indoctrination bills headed to his desk!

AUGUST 9 UPDATE FROM CCF PRESIDENT RANDY THOMASSON:

Today, after spending hours at the California State Capitol, I returned to my office concerned that hardly any Republican assemblymembers plan to speak against SB 1437 (one of the Democrats' FOUR school sexual indoctrination bills) when SB 1437 is voted upon on Thursday morning, August 10. As it stands right now, many Republican assemblymembers (there are 31 total) seem unwilling to speak against SB 1437 and be a voice for children and families in this battle. You'd think they'd want to do better, especially since most Assembly Republicans blew it Monday by voting with the Democrats to slightly water down SB 1437. These amendments are tempting Arnold Schwarzenegger to change his mind and sign SB 1437, turning every California school into a transsexual-bisexual-homosexual school. Don't let this happen!

Here's the immediate need: California Republican assemblymembers must be urged to SPEAK OUT against this year's raft of anti-family bills. Only Republican legislators can represent family values with their voices on the floor of the Assembly. Why is speaking out so important? Because their voices will get in the media. And their voices will be heard by Arnold Schwarzenegger. If enough Republicans speak out, they'll convince our election-year Governor keep his promise to veto SB 1437 when it arrives on his desk. They can make Arnold veto SB 1437.

The only question is, will Republican assemblymembers have enough backbone to speak out against anti-family bills on behalf of you, your children and grandchildren? They should use the voice God gave them, to get the attention of the media and the Governor. They should speak for you and your family. You should expect no less.

Republican legislators should also speak against three other sexual indoctrination bills that are headed to the Assembly floor, AB 606, AB 1056, and SB 1441. Because Republicans are a numerical minority in the California Legislature, and because California has a liberal Republican governor, Republican legislators' voices actually matter more than their votes!

STEP 1: Please call your own Republican state assemblymember right now. Tell him or her to "Speak out against all four sexual indoctrination bills, SB 1437, AB 606, AB 1056, and SB 1441. I expect the member to speak out on my behalf against these bills on the Assembly floor."

IMPORTANT: If the assemblymember's office tells you the member is VOTING "no" on SB 1437, as if that's enough, don't settle for this response or ANY excuse to be silent on the Assembly floor. Just say, "That's not good enough. There's no reason not to be part of this important debate. The member needs to speak out on the floor to send Governor Schwarzenegger a clear message that Republicans and families oppose SB 1437." (If no one answers your phone call, leave a message or call first thing Thursday morning.)

PHONE NUMBERS FOR CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLYMEMBERS
Enter your zip code to find who your assemblymember is

Greg Aghazarian (Stockton) 916-319-2026
Tim Leslie (Roseville) 916-319-2004
John Benoit (Palm Desert) 916-319-2064
Bill Maze (Visalia) 916-319-2034
Sam Blakeslee (San Luis Obispo) 916-319-2033
Kevin McCarthy (Bakersfield) 916-319-2032
Russ Bogh (Yucaipa) 916-319-2065
Dennis Mountjoy (Monrovia) 916-319-2059
Dave Cogdill (Modesto) 916-319-2025
Alan Nakanishi (Lodi) 916-319-2010
Lynn Daucher (Brea) 916-319-2072
Roger Niello (Sacramento) 916-319-2005
Chuck DeVore (Irvine) 916-319-2070
George Plescia (San Diego) 916-319-2075
Bill Emmerson (Redlands) 916-319-2063
Keith Richman (Granada Hills) 916-319-2038
Bonnie Garcia (Cathedral City) 916-319-2080
Sharon Runner (Lancaster) 916-319-2036
Ray Haynes (Riverside) 916-319-2066
Todd Spitzer (Orange) 916-319-2071
Shirley Horton (San Diego) 916-319-2078
Audra Strickland (Camarillo) 916-319-2037
Guy Houston (San Ramon) 916-319-2015
Van Tran (Costa Mesa) 916-319-2068
Bob Huff (Diamond Bar) 916-319-2060
Michael Villines (Clovis) 916-319-2029
Rick Keene (Chico) 916-319-2003
Mimi Walters (Laguna Niguel) 916-319-2073
Doug La Malfa (Redding) 916-319-2002
Mark Wyland (Carlsbad) 916-319-2074
Jay La Suer (La Mesa) 916-319-2077

STEP 2: Please call your own Democrat assemblymember -- and especially call the following Democrats who could be persuaded to oppose SB 1437 on Thursday. Urge them to "Oppose SB 1437. The effect of this bill will be all kinds of sexual lifestyles depicted in school textbooks. That's wrong. Our children don't need SB 1437." (If no one answers your phone call, leave a message or call first thing Thursday morning.)

IMPORTANT: If a Democrat staffer says you have it wrong and SB 1437 is only about "non-discrimination" or anything else, stop them and say, "I'm not here to debate you. Please do your job and give my message to the member. I will be watching his/her vote."

Read the truth about SB 1437

PHONE NUMBERS FOR "SWING" DEMOCRAT ASSEMBLYMEMBERS

Enter your zip code to find who your assemblymember is

Juan Arambula (Fresno) 916-319-2031
Gloria Negrete McLeod (Chino) 916-319-2061
Joe Baca, Jr. (San Bernardino) 916-319-2062
Cindy Montanez (San Fernando) 916-319-2039
Ed Chavez (La Puente) 916-319-2057
Nicole Parra (Bakersfield) 916-319-2030
Jerome Horton (Inglewood) 916-319-2051
Alberto Torrico (Fremont) 916-319-2020
Barbara Matthews (Tracy) 916-319-2017
Juan Vargas (San Diego) 916-319-2079

Want to do more?

> Send a pre-written email message opposing SB 1437, AB 606, and AB 1056

> Give a helpful donation to strengthen Campaign for Children and Families in the battle> Print and distribute CCF's Action Flyer in your church, neighborhood, or workplace

# # #
CAMPAIGN FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (CCF) is a leading West Coast pro-family organization empowering citizens to live out their values. Sign up today for CCF's FREE Email Bulletins at http://www.savecalifornia.com/. Your partnership empowers CCF's innovative work on behalf of children and families in culture, media and government. Please support CCF by making a secure online donation or by sending your tax-deductible gift to:

Campaign for Children and Families

Randy Thomasson, President

P.O. Box 511, Sacramento, CA 95812

(916) 265-5650

www.savecalifornia.com

www.saveamerica.net

*******

Add -On:

If you don't think that these bills are harmful, please read the following two analyses. If you are a born-again, Bible-believing Christian follower of Jesus Christ, I'm sure you will change your mind about that!

Christine

*******

Legislation: California Bills: SB 1437 Analysis

Too often, bill alerts and legislative bulletins tell you what a bill does, but not how it does it. It's important to understand exactly how SB 1437 will destroy the traditional family in California public schools. CCF's legal analysis goes straight to the source of SB 1437, by looking at the text of the bill itself.

To read CCF's legal analysis of SB 1437, scroll down.

To read the full text of SB 1437, click here.

Related bills (summary and analysis): AB 606 AB 1056

Get the status of SB 1437 and voice your opposition at CCF's Action Center.

SUMMARY: SB 1437 expressly prohibits textbooks, instructional materials, and school-sponsored activities from “reflecting adversely” on transsexuality, bisexuality, or homosexuality. Instructional materials could not only say “a husband and wife,” but must include “two wives who are married lesbians.” Sex education assemblies would have to include information on sex changes (to avoid “reflecting adversely”).

ANALYSIS OF SB 1437, AS AMENDED AUGUST 7, 2006

The August 7 amendments of SB 1437 merely removed the duplicative section requiring study of transsexual, bisexual, and homosexual historical figures, and the subjective requirement that the instruction be "age appropriate." The core of the bill remains as the requirement that all California public schools do not portray negatively but positively portray transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality in all textbooks, instructional materials, and school activities.

As amended, here is what SB 1437 will do:
1. SB 1437 will force all California public schools to promote transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality to schoolchildren as young as kindergarten.

SB 1437 is a sexual-agenda bomb dressed up as a child-caring Easter egg. Lesbian legislators such as the bill’s author, Sheila James Kuehl, a Santa Monica Democrat, would have you believe that SB 1437 merely updates school anti-discrimination policies. To that end, the bill incorporates the explosive terms "gender" (which includes transsexuality and transvestitism) and "sexual orientation" (meaning bisexuality and homosexuality) in a long list of anti-discrimination clauses.

But the bill is ultimately about requiring transsexual, bisexual, and homosexual textbooks, instruction, and school activities – because not promoting these sexual lifestyles would "reflect adversely" on them:

"No teacher shall give instruction nor shall a school district sponsor any activity that reflects adversely upon persons because of their race or ethnicity, gender, disability, nationality, sexual orientation, or religion." -- SB 1437 Sec. 1.

Contrast this to the current Education Code, which doesn’t require textbooks to promote "gender" (transsexuality and transvestitism) or "sexual orientation" (bisexuality and homosexuality):

“No teacher shall give instruction nor shall a school sponsor any activity which reflects adversely upon persons because of their race, sex, color, creed, handicap, national origin, or ancestry." -- CA Education Code Sec. 51500.

A close before-and-after examination shows that the only substantial change in the Education Code is the addition of "gender" and "sexual orientation." After all, "ethnicity" equals "race"; "nationality" equals "color" and "national origin or ancestry"; "religion" equals "creed"; and "disability" is merely another word for "handicap."

Clearly, SB 1437’s changes existing law by inserting transsexual, bisexual, and homosexual language. By forbidding schools from adopting educational material that "reflects adversely" on these sexual lifestyles, SB 1437 mandates these sexual lifestyles be taught and promoted to impressionable schoolchildren.

2. SB 1437 will require textbooks to promote transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality to schoolchildren.

To fully understand the impact of SB 1437 on your local neighborhood school, you must realize that, for the first time, state law places "gender" and "sexual orientation" into school textbooks. SB 1437 says:

"No textbook or other instructional materials shall be adopted by the state board or by any governing board for use in the public schools that contains any matter reflecting adversely upon persons because of their race or ethnicity, gender, disability, nationality, sexual orientation, or religion, as those terms are defined in Section 422.56 of the Penal Code." -- SB 1437, Sec. 2.
An examination of California Penal Code, Section 422.56, reveals a direct, spelled-out link: "Gender" includes transsexuality; "Sexual orientation" includes homosexuality and bisexuality:

For purposes of this title, the following definitions shall apply:

(c)"Gender" means sex, and includes a person's gender identity and gender related appearance and behavior whether or not stereotypically associated with the person's assigned sex at birth.
(h)"Sexual orientation" means heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality. -- California Penal Code, Section 422.56.

The intent and effect of SB 1437 could not be clearer. By indirectly forcing curriculum changes, SB 1437 will result in every California public school teaching children to support transsexual, bisexual, and homosexual lifestyles.

3. SB 1437 prohibits schools from sponsoring traditional school activities.

SB 1437 specifically targets school-sponsored activities that currently make a distinction between "boy" and "girl", by stating:

As a result, several school activities will be deemed to "reflect adversely" on transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality:

• School proms (Prom "kings" and "queens" could not be gender-specific) • Gender-specific sports ("Boys Basketball" would be "discriminatory" against transsexuals) • Cheerleading (Can you say "transsexual cheerleaders"?)

4. SB 1437 prohibits public schools from teaching there is a natural family -- a father, a mother, and their children.

Just as it attacks school-sponsored activities, SB 1437 also assaults school curriculum on the basis of sex-related discrimination, asserting:

"No textbook or other instructional materials shall be adopted by the state board or by any governing board for use in the public schools that contains any matter reflecting adversely upon persons because of their race or ethnicity, gender, disability, nationality, sexual orientation, or religion, as those terms are defined in Section 422.56 of the Penal Code." -- SB 1437 Sec. 2.
The California Education Code defines “instructional materials” as:

"'Instructional materials'" means all materials that are designed for use by pupils and their teachers as a learning resource and help pupils to acquire facts, skills, or opinions or to develop cognitive processes. Instructional materials may be printed or nonprinted, and may include textbooks, technology-based materials, other educational materials, and tests." -- California Education Code, Section 60010(h).

In short, instructional materials can be anything, including guest speakers, informational handouts, and other curriculum talking about and promoting transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality. Under SB 1437, non-discriminatory instructional materials related to "gender" and "sexual orientation" would include:

• Sex-change handouts (Omitting sex-change material in sex education class would "reflect adversely")• Transvestite speakers (Limiting classroom speakers to biologically-born men and biologically-born women would "reflect adversely")• Transsexual, bisexual, and homosexual videos (Showing videos depicting the traditional family or man-woman relationships would "reflect adversely")

If you don’t think the liberal California Department of Education will enforce SB 1437, think again. Because parental units are gender-specific, married couples or a family with a "father and a mother" would be portrayed as mere stereotypes – outdated ideas – and could be prohibited from textbooks because their discriminatory inclusion "reflects adversely." Under SB 1437, school curriculum in every public school throughout California, in every grade K-12, would have to portray transsexual and bisexual "parents" as normal. SB 1437 would teach schoolchildren that there is no such thing as the natural family.

VOICE YOUR OPPOSITION: Now that you understand exactly how SB 1437, disguised as an anti-discrimination bill, would sexually indoctinate impressionable schoolchildren and trample local school district control, make your voice heard now. Go to CCF's Action Center and do your part to oppose this bill. Act now!

ORIGINAL ANALYSIS OF SB 1437 -- SPRING 2006

1. SB 1437 will force all California public schools to promote transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality to schoolchildren as young as kindergarten.

SB 1437 is a sexual-agenda bomb dressed up as a child-caring Easter egg. Lesbian legislators such as the bill’s author, Sheila James Kuehl, a Santa Monica Democrat, would have you believe that SB 1437 merely updates school anti-discrimination policies. To that end, the bill incorporates the explosive terms “gender” (which includes transsexuality and transvestitism) and “sexual orientation” (meaning bisexuality and homosexuality) in a long list of anti-discrimination clauses.

“No teacher shall give instruction nor shall a school district sponsor any activity that reflects adversely upon persons because of their race or ethnicity, gender, disability, nationality, sexual orientation, or religion.” -- SB 1437 Sec. 1.

Contrast this to the current Education Code, which doesn’t require textbooks to promote “gender” (transsexuality and transvestitism) or “sexual orientation” (bisexuality and homosexuality):

A close before-and-after examination shows that the only substantial change in the Education Code is the addition of “gender” and “sexual orientation.” After all, “ethnicity” equals “race”; “nationality” equals “color” and “national origin or ancestry”; “religion” equals “creed”; and “disability” is merely another word for “handicap.” Clearly, SB 1437’s changes existing law by inserting transsexual, bisexual, and homosexual language. By forbidding schools from adopting educational material that “reflects adversely” on these sexual lifestyles, SB 1437 mandates these sexual lifestyles be taught and promoted to impressionable schoolchildren.

2. SB 1437 will require textbooks to promote transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality to schoolchildren.

To fully understand the impact of SB 1437 on your local neighborhood school, you must realize that, for the first time, state law places “gender” and “sexual orientation” into school textbooks. SB 1437 says:

“No textbook or other instructional materials shall be adopted by the state board or by any governing board for use in the public schools that contains any matter reflecting adversely upon persons because of their race or ethnicity, gender, disability, nationality, sexual orientation, or religion, as those terms are defined in Section 422.56 of the Penal Code.” -- SB 1437, Sec. 3.
An examination of California Penal Code, Section 422.56, reveals a direct, spelled-out link: “Gender” includes transsexuality; “Sexual orientation” includes homosexuality and bisexuality:

“For purposes of this title, the following definitions shall apply:

It could not be more clear. Undoubtedly, SB 1437 is written to deceive, while its impact is to indoctrinate. Quite simply, SB 1437 will turn public schools into anti-family, sexual indoctrination centers. This bill must not be allowed to become a reality in California.

3. SB 1437 prohibits schools from sponsoring traditional school activities.
SB 1437 specifically targets school-sponsored activities that currently make a distinction between “boy” and “girl”, by stating:

As a result, several school activities will be deemed to “reflect adversely” on transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality:

School proms (Prom “kings” and “queens” could not be gender-specific)

Gender-specific sports (“Boys Basketball” would be “discriminatory” against transsexuals)

Cheerleading (Can you say “transsexual cheerleaders”?)

4. SB 1437 prohibits public schools from teaching there is a natural family -- a father, a mother, and their children.

Just as it attacks school-sponsored activities, SB 1437 also assaults school curriculum on the basis of sex-related discrimination, asserting:

“No textbook or other instructional materials shall be adopted by the state board or by any governing board for use in the public schools that contains any matter reflecting adversely upon persons because of their race or ethnicity, gender, disability, nationality, sexual orientation, or religion, as those terms are defined in Section 422.56 of the Penal Code.” -- SB 1437 Sec. 3.
California Education Code defines “instructional materials” as:

"’Instructional materials’" means all materials that are designed for use by pupils and their teachers as a learning resource and help pupils to acquire facts, skills, or opinions or to develop cognitive processes. Instructional materials may be printed or nonprinted, and may include textbooks, technology-based materials, other educational materials, and tests.” -- California Education Code, Section 60010(h).

Sex-change handouts (Omitting sex-change material in sex education class would ”reflect adversely”)

Transvestite speakers (Limiting classroom speakers to biologically-born men and biologically-born women would “reflect adversely”)

Transsexual, bisexual, and homosexual videos (Showing videos depicting the traditional family or man-woman relationships would "reflect adversely")

If you don’t think the liberal California Department of Education will enforce SB 1437, think again. Because parental units are gender-specific, married couples or a family with a “father and a mother” would be portrayed as mere stereotypes – outdated ideas – and could be prohibited from textbooks because their discriminatory inclusion “reflects adversely.” Under SB 1437, school curriculum in every public school throughout California, in every grade K-12, would have to portray transsexual and bisexual “parents” as normal. SB 1437 would teach schoolchildren that there is no such thing as the natural family.

If AB 606 seeks to tell school districts what pro-trans-bi-homosexual textbooks they must use, SB 1437 is even more specific as it dictates what California schools may not use (anything “reflecting adversely” on transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality). These bad bills will brainwash schoolchildren into accepting and experimenting with transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality.

5. The March 28 amendments to SB 1437 openly REQUIRE that California public schools teach children to accept and embrace transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality.

In the March 28 amended version of the bill, the author strengthens the damage her bill would do to impressionable schoolchildren. Not content with prohibiting curriculum from “reflecting adversely” on any sexual behavior, Senator Sheila Kuehl now openly and specifically requires positive portrayals of transsexual, bisexual, and homosexual lifestyles in ALL curriculum, for children as young as kindergarten.

SB 1437 places the following bolded language into Education Code Section 51204.5:
“Instruction in social sciences shall include the early history of California and an age-appropriate study of the role and contributions of both men and women, black Americans, American Indians, Mexicans, Asians, Pacific Island people, and other ethnic groups, and people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, to the economic, political, and social development of California and the United States of America, with particular emphasis on portraying the role of these groups in contemporary society.”

Clearly, these new, sexually-charged words mean history and other social science classes would be mandated to teach schoolchildren that they should accept, and perhaps embrace for themselves, all types of sexual lifestyles -- specifically, transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality.

Then, extending beyond social science classes, SB 1437 mandates that transsexual, bisexual, and homosexual lifestyles must be included in ALL textbooks and instructional materials at ALL public schools. SB 1437 does this by placing the following bolded language into Education Code Section 60040:

“When adopting instructional materials for use in the schools, governing boards shall include only instructional materials which, in their determination, accurately portray the cultural, racial, gender, and sexual diversity of our society, including:

(a)The contributions of both men and women in all types of roles, including professional, vocational, and executive roles.

(b)The role and contributions of Native Americans, AfricanAmericans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, European Americans, and members of other ethnic and cultural groups to the total development of California and the United States.

(c)The contributions of people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender to the total development of California and the United States.

(d)The role and contributions of the entrepreneur and labor in the total development of California and the United States."

By requiring everything in California public schools to accept, embrace, teach, and promote transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality, SB 1437 penetrates the academic purpose of schools with sexual, social engineering targeting children as young as kindergarten.

6. The May 1 amendments regarding “age-appropriate” are a deceptive attempt to argue that SB 1437 won’t sexually indoctrinate young children.

In a weak attempt to claim that SB 1437 will not affect impressionable schoolchildren as young as kindergarten, the bill’s author, Senator Sheila James Kuehl, inserted the words “age-appropriate”:

“Instruction in social sciences shall include the early history of California and an age-appropriate study of the role and contributions of both men and women, black Americans, American Indians, Mexicans, Asians, Pacific Island people, and other ethnic groups, and people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, to the economic, political, and social development of California and the United States of America, with particular emphasis on portraying the role of these groups in contemporary society.”-- SB 1437, Sec. 1.

But what is and who determines what is “age-appropriate?” Nowhere in SB 1437 is this term defined. It’s clear that local schools and parents will NOT be able to decide that teaching children about transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality is inappropriate. Therefore, the sexual information regarding transsexuality, bisexuality, or homosexuality is not limited. For example, this year a Massachusetts teacher read her second-grade class a book celebrating same-sex “marriages,” apparently because she believed it “age-appropriate.” This undefined phrase is essentially meaningless. What we do know is the sexual indoctrination of SB 1437 will reach children as young as kindergarten. Even the Senate Education Committee’s official analysis acknowledges that children in 1st grade will be affected:

“Under the state Constitution, and statutory law, the State Board of Education adopts instructional materials to be used in grades 1 through 8 and local governing boards adopt materials for grades 9 through 12.” -- Senate Education Committee, SB 1437 Analysis.
The additional fact that SB 1437 adopts broad, fully-encompassing terms such as “all” or “any” and “shall” to describe the scope of its mandate, proves that, whatever its supporters claim, SB 1437 will undeniably affect our youngest schoolchildren.

CONCLUSION

There’s no mistaking that the California Department of Education will use SB 1437 to erase all traditional distinctions of gender or sexual standards. Those who doubt the ultimate impact of this bill, thinking “It isn’t that bad,” proves how the trans-bi-homosexual movement is already establishing a foothold against the traditional family.

Above analyses from:

Save California/ Get Active!

Foiled Plot To Bomb U.K.-U.S. Flights

British police say foil plot to bomb U.K.-U.S. flights

By Michael Holden and Adrian Croft

Excerpt:

LONDON (Reuters) - British police on Thursday said they had thwarted a plot to blow up aircraft in mid-flight between Britain and the United States, and were holding 21 people after overnight raids.

"We are confident we have disrupted a plan by terrorists to cause untold death and destruction," said London police Deputy Commissioner Paul Stephenson. "Put simply, this was intended to be mass murder on an unimaginable scale."

Armed police patrol Gatwick international airport on the outskirts of London following the introduction of heightened security measures August 10, 2006. British police said on Thursday they had thwarted a plot to blow up aircraft in mid-flight between Britain and the United States and arrested more than 20 people. (REUTERS/Kieran Doherty)Both countries stepped up security, causing severe delays at airports following the announcement of the plot, which a police source said was believed to involve a "liquid chemical" device.

Unconfirmed media reports said anywhere from six to 10 planes had been targeted in the plot.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security raised the threat level for all commercial aircraft to "high" and U.S. authorities banned liquids, including drinks, from U.S. commercial flights.

(Article continued at link above)

Much more including dozens of links at
Michele Malkin's site!

*******
Update at 10:11 a.m.

Via Michele Malkin's blog, I found
Ace of Spades HQ.

Here's an excerpt from the blog (Caution: Site above contains some bad language).

Although there has not been a terrorist attack on America itself, no one has given Bush credit for this. The assumption, sometimes expressly stated, by liberals is that Al Qaeda just isn't even trying -- that's why there have been no attacks. (Yes, this contradicts their other claim that Al Qaeda is growing stronger due to Bush's "miserable failures," and etc., but they never cared much for "internal coherence.")

So, politically, if it is the case the name was spotted on the American side, than this is a plot on the level of 9/11, to blow up twenty airplanes of 200-400 people each, OVER American and British cities as they descended to land, thus causing casualties on the ground as well, and THE CURRENT SECURITY REGIME OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION STOPPED IT. Apparently mere days before it happened.

Questions that arise:

Was it a good idea to try to repeal the Patriot Act?

If the names came from America-- what y'all think of NSA wiref**kingtaps now?Kind of nice to know the people a terrorist is calling, huh? You can round them up in a hurry, eh?

If one of these bastards wouldn't give up his allies, would it have been justified to use "coercive interrogation practices" on him?

Shall these bastards necessarily be tried in civilian courts? Are they really deserving of the full protections of law? They don't really seem to be "British citizens" to me, no matter what their passports say.

Was Bush reading "My Pet Goat" when this happened?

A lot of commenters have been saying we wouldn't get serious about terror again until, unfortunately, a massive chunk of a city was destroyed.

But there is a less destructive wake-up call-- the mega-terrorist plot that is not successful, but thwarted days (or hours) before it is implemented.

Let's hope people finally get it that we can't just "go back to normal" and pretend there is no terrorist threat, no matter how childishly some may like to pretend 9/11 never happened.'

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Clash of Convictions

My message board friend Sothenes, sent the following article via email. It certainly reveals just what the title says...a clash of convictions! What I find quite ironic throughout the article is the claim that one side is labeled as "hate speech" and the opponents are trying to squelch the newly found free speech rights of the Christian Slavics; while claiming that their gay rights parades are free speech rights that should not be countered in the way that the immigrants have chosen.

What is wrong with this picture?

It is central to the culture war going on between evangelicals who are willing to speak out against the sin of homosexuality and the homosexuals and their supporters who are willing to display any type of behavior, no matter how offensive it might be to religious people and call their gay pride antics "good" while frowning upon the opposition's choice of expression.

Isn't that intolerant??

Why are only certain kinds of "tolerance" allowed by the gay community?

I personally think it is because the term "tolerance" is misused. It's supposed to mean disagreeing with the other side but allowing that side a right to disagree. But "tolerance" to the gay community has been hijacked into meaning total acceptance without allowing the other side to protest it's agenda.

How do homosexual activists get to squelch the protest of anyone who is against their agenda? You can clearly see how in this article because they use the usual propagandistic mantra against these Slavic Christians; however, they are brave enough not to back down! But the gay activists tried their usual technique by labeling these Christian immigrants and their protest as "hate speech."

Is that fair?

Of course not.

Read this article and see what you think.

I think that these Slavic Christians are putting many of our timid, "fear of being labeled a bigot" American Christians to shame for exposing the fact that Christians here are so willing to leave their heads in the sand; shying away from the political issues that can deeply and negatively affect our children and grandchildren in the public school cesspool where they could literally drown in sinful depravity...

Christine

*******

Thousands of religious refugees mass in the streets of Sacramento to shout "Shame!" Their targets, with their own history of persecution still fresh and raw, retort: "Go back to Russia!"

How did it come to this?

In the last few months, the growing conflict between Sacramento's Slavic Christians and its politically savvy gay community has erupted on campuses, at school board hearings, and on the grounds of the Capitol.

Russian-speaking hecklers lined the march of this year's gay pride parade downtown. At least 15 Slavic students were suspended in April for wearing shirts proclaiming, "Homosexuality is sin." This spring, Slavic Christians packed board meetings in three local school districts to make their position clear: Being gay is not OK.

Gays are starting to respond in kind. A dozen staged a counterprotest in July, demonstrating outside the region's largest evangelical Slavic church during Sunday morning services.

Gays say the Slavic protesters have hit them with signs, spit on them and displayed a menacing lack of civility. Gay leaders have met with local police and press to say they're worried about violence, and now they're forming a "Q Crew" -- a new political activism group -- to tell the public their fears.

"They're more and more brazen with their signs and their numbers," said Tina Reynolds, a lesbian activist and owner of a gallery in downtown Sacramento. "It's much more in our face, and I'm beginning to feel like something's going to happen."

Beyond the surface animosity, this is a collision of two powerful forces: a deeply held religious conviction and the determined march of homosexuals toward equal rights.

The region's large Russian-speaking Christian community, usually shy of publicity, is stepping into the public eye, saying they have to save California from a dangerous moral decline. Gay leaders worry that these protests will erode their community's political progress and spoil the security they have come to feel in Sacramento.

Free speech or hate speech?

The evangelical Slavs, refugees who fled religious persecution in the former Soviet Union, are finally hitting their stride in the land of the free. They came for the freedom to worship. Now they say they're exercising the freedom of speech to spread a fundamental belief: Homosexuality is a sin and a choice.

"We have tasted the power of democracy -- now we go and protest," said George Neverov, a Baptist who emigrated from Uzbekistan in 1991 and lives in Carmichael. The father of three young daughters, he is a vocal opponent of any endorsement of homosexuality in the public schools.

"Am I against tolerance?" said Neverov, 33. "God forbid, no. But my whole belief system is based on the Bible. I say homosexuality is a sin. Why are you offended by that?"

Gay activists contend that this sentiment, when aggressively expressed in public protests, is nothing less than hate speech. The demonstrations seem suffused with a frightening rage, they say.

"At their protests, it's all about God, burning in hell and sodomy," said Darrick Lawson, president of Sacramento's Stonewall Democratic Club, a gay political organization. "They want to use their rights and freedoms to suppress another community. It goes against the reasons they moved here. The Bible never taught this kind of hatred."

Lawson, himself the son of an evangelical pastor, spent nearly three years in therapy trying to overcome his own homosexuality before accepting it.

"We have no problem with them saying this in their churches," Lawson said. "Do I want to ban them from Gay Pride? No. I don't. In no way do I want to infringe upon the right they came here for. But they need to consider our safety and play by the rules."

These refugees say they understand rules. They fled from an officially atheistic society where the rules discriminated against the religious. People of faith sometimes were imprisoned, their children wrenched from them, their careers stalled.

Some harbor memories of a grandfather executed, a grandmother who died in jail.

Community leaders estimate 100,000 Russian-speaking residents live in the Sacramento region, about a third of them evangelical Christians. Mostly Ukrainian Baptists or Pentecostals, many came here in recent decades believing the United States was a Christian nation -- a place where their literal interpretation of the Bible would be the rule.

Instead, they landed in freewheeling California and encountered a culture of widespread divorce, premarital sex, and -- almost unheard of in their home countries -- open homosexuality.

Political clout downplayed

Even more offensive to them is the increasingly strong push by gay leaders to bring acceptance of homosexuality into public life and public schools.

State Sen. Sheila Kuehl, the Legislature's first openly lesbian member, has spent her political career fighting for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. She has little patience for the anti-gay feelings of these immigrants.

"This kind of aggressive homophobia is nothing new," said the senator, a Democrat from Santa Monica. "This is just one in a long line of communities who have become convinced that they have a moral obligation to discriminate."

One of Kuehl's bills, Senate Bill 1437, has aroused special consternation among the Slavic Christians. As drafted, the bill would require the public school curriculum to note the contributions of gays and lesbians to society.

Conservative Christian groups across the state -- as well as several mainstream newspapers and the governor -- have criticized the bill. But Sacramento's Slavs are its most visible opponents.

On June 12, whole families showed up at the Capitol to demonstrate against SB 1437 and other pro-gay bills. One little girl held up a sign that said "Homosexuals Do Not Touch My Kids." A young boy waved a hand-painted message: "I'm NOT learning about gay people."

Kuehl downplays the Slavs' political clout, saying they are puppets of the right who are not taken seriously by the Legislature. But one of her staunchest opponents, conservative lobbyist Randy Thomasson, gives them a lot more credit.

"When it comes to parental rights and family values, Russia may just save California," said Thomasson, president of the Sacramento-based Campaign for Children and Families.

Thomasson notes that the Slavs are fast becoming citizens, registering to vote and learning how to make themselves heard. He credits them for playing a major role in gaining Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's pledge to veto SB 1437.

Bible believed absolutely

The power and size of Sacramento's Slavic evangelical community is evident any Sunday morning at 75 churches across the region.

At the Russian Baptist Church of West Sacramento, a Sabbath service fills the huge nave with 2,000 worshippers. The two-hour service rings with music -- trumpet, grand piano, organ and hundreds of sweet voices. Headsets translate the sermons and prayers into English.

On one recent Sunday, a young couple, married here one year before, kneel before the congregation to present their baby, Victoria. Tears stream down the young mother's face. In the pews, children sit quietly beside their parents, barely fidgeting.

The décor is simple, but bold stained-glass windows bathe the room in blocks of primary colors. At the end of the service, Pastor Paul Khakimov reads individual prayer requests: peace in Israel, safe flights, help in finding a job, that a daughter be protected from bad influences.

In an interview, Khakimov explained what their faith means to this community.

"Religion is our life, it's not just words," he said through a translator. He said he believes the Bible is absolutely, literally true.

"Our people suffered for their Bible teaching -- they were put in jail just for following the Bible," the pastor said.

As for gays, he cites from memory several Bible verses he says declare homosexuality to be a sin, but adds: "First of all, we don't hate them. We pray for them. They are also people. They are sinners and they need help. This is like any other sin."

His community has rallied against gay issues, he said, because gay advocates are making political inroads. If Christians don't defend their beliefs, he said, God will rain down wrath as he did on Sodom.

A familiar refrain for gays

This is a tenet of faith that Darrick Lawson has heard all his life.

"My father is an evangelical minister," said Lawson, who is 39 and came out as a homosexual a decade ago. "I have personally fought this battle a long time."

Sitting in the cozy surroundings of his midtown chiropractic office, Lawson spoke of the heartache he experienced as the gay son in an evangelical Christian family.

"Growing up in a Christian household, I know that people have their opinions. They think we're all pedophiles. They think we're promiscuous. … I didn't come out till I was 28, I was so scared. For every person from my Christian world, it took a while to accept me. It took my dad an incredibly long time."

Lawson said he is living proof that being gay is not an option but an orientation he was born with. "The 'choice' thing cracks me up," he said. "I wanted to be straight. I went to 2 1/2 years of therapy. It did not work."

Now comfortable with his identity, he has his own message for the Christian fundamentalists: "Frankly, I refuse to go back in my closet or tolerate misbehavior because they have a cultural issue. Honestly, they need to get over it."

That message doesn't play well with people who have clung to their beliefs in the face of imprisonment or death. One young protester, Nadiya Chorney, will tell you her grandmother was tortured and died in jail.

"People were coming and searching our house during the night," said Chorney, the daughter of a Baptist pastor. "A couple times, they tried to kill my father." The family fled Ukraine two years ago and Chorney, now 18, enrolled at Sacramento's Mira Loma High School.

She was a vocal leader in the protests that followed the annual Day of Silence in April, a nationwide event during which students support their gay and lesbian peers. A number of Slavic teens were suspended from area schools for wearing T-shirts declaring that "Homosexuality is sin" and "Jesus can set you free."

"We were sharing the Gospel," Chorney said. "Not because we hate them, but we want to warn them that homosexuality can be cured."

About 100 people, Russian-speaking adults and children, picketed Mira Loma for days afterward to protest the suspensions. The words "persecution" and "First Amendment" flew through the crowd.

Local educators said any shirt that sends a negative message about a particular group isn't allowed in school.

"If you had the words 'football player' or the word 'Slavic' or 'cheerleader' or any other name, and then you put that inside a red circle with a line through it, you are (against) a person or a group," said Oakmont High School Principal Kathleen Sirovy, who suspended 13 Slavic students.

Because it took place in schools, the very concept of the Day of Silence touched a nerve in the Slavic Christian community.

Jade Baranski, a 20-year-old lesbian who lives in midtown Sacramento, was present when the Sacramento City Unified School District board voted in April to support the Day of Silence. Hundreds attended the meeting to speak on both sides of the issue; many Slavic parents urged the board to vote no.

As Baranski and some friends celebrated outside the board room, "these two older (Slavic) women, probably in their 50s or 60s, turned to us and, puh" -- Baranski mimed spitting -- "right at our feet. It was atrocious."

She said she experienced a similar shock at the June protest spurred by the Kuehl legislation. She and a friend, she said, were encircled by Slavic men and women who stood inches away screaming at them for committing "sodomy."

"I was shaking. I was walking away thinking, 'If anyone is going to hurt me, it's going to be someone from this community,' " she said.

Disturbing epithets

Darrell Steinberg witnessed the culture clash firsthand in June, when he rode as a dignitary in the city's annual gay pride parade. A longtime political figure in Sacramento and Democratic nominee for state Senate, Steinberg is known as a town mediator. He says he was concerned by the attitude of the Slavic protesters who picketed the parade.

"There were some epithets used -- well, I was shocked, and I was disturbed," Steinberg said. "I believe strongly that this issue should be a real concern to the community. We have a history in this community of hate crimes. Given our history, it is essential that we use our past experience to educate people -- especially new immigrants -- that we are one."

As a gay leader, Darrick Lawson said he is looking for points of connection with the Slavic community. Already, he said, quiet inroads have been made.

"Our alliances need to meet with their alliances," he said. "It's a matter of time. They will get it eventually -- that we can respect each other while disagreeing. It will trickle down as we get to know their leaders, and as their own children grow up and some come out as gay."

For his part, George Neverov is willing to tone down the debate by asking young Slavic Christians to be less confrontational.

"People screaming 'Shame' -- I will teach them not to do that and not to react to gays." He paused, then spoke of how he loves his new country. "There's a lot to learn from Americans as a people. There is acceptance."

There is, however, a line he will not cross.

"Live your lifestyle, do whatever you want to do in your bedroom," Neverov said. "But if you think we will ever agree with the homosexual lifestyle -- that will not happen."

http://www.sacbee.com/content/lifestyle/religion/

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Hey Friends!

I've been traveling over the last two days so that's why there have not been any new posts. I'm visiting in Whistler, British Columbia. It's really beautiful here and the people are all so friendly! Only have a moment to post right now, so I'll include more details tomorrow.

Hey Ubersehen, where in Canada do you live?

It's been....well...a bit different here. Have to adjust to the metric system and figure out what a blinking green light means! haha

I haven't seen many churches. In fact, the only one that I have seen so far was a kingdom hall of the Jehovah's Witnesses on the way from Vancouver to Whistler.

LOTS of construction going on along the route between the two cities. Maybe they are widening the road for the 2010 Olympics?

Welp...time for a nap with the hubby and then out to dinner!

Saturday, August 05, 2006

Covering The Shame of Sin

Weekend, August 5 and 6

The Garment District: Clothes for Adam and Eve

Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.
Genesis 3:21

Recommended Reading
Genesis 2:25; 3:7, 10-11

At one point, Adam and Eve enjoyed a totally transparent relationship with one another as symbolized by their physical nakedness. A few moments later, they had covered their bodies with fig leaves and had hidden from God. What happened? Their sin had destroyed their innocence. Their lack of fidelity to God and to each other had plunged them into a realm of hidden motives, shame, and suspicion.

Fig leaves were a temporary substitute only. After meeting with God and receiving His instructions on living with the curse of sin, a better solution to their nakedness was needed. God sacrificed an animal to provide skins for garments. But even those would wear out and need to be replaced - an ongoing reminder of their original sin and shame. In due time, God provided the sinless Lamb of God as a permanent sacrifice for the defiled consciences of all Adam and Eve's descendants (John 1:29). When we "put on" Christ, we wear His sinless righteousness forever (Romans 13:14).

Have you put on the Lord Jesus Christ to cover the shame of your own sin? You can do so by faith and never again have to hide from God's presence.

The precious Lamb of God gave up His precious fleece for us. Christopher Nesse

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 18:1 22:30
Jeremiah 23:1 25:38

Friday, August 04, 2006

Why They Left Jihad

The following is an amazing story. Many may find it hard to believe and/or wonder why these men aren't in a prison somewhere (one claims to have killed 223 people!) or dead in a coffin (you can "check in to jihad, but never check out"...except by death) ! But the story is truly compelling. This paragraph stunned me, but it is, unfortunately, typical of the world opinion that we live with today:

But he's disappointed that his message hasn't been well received by some in the West.

“Here's the ironic thing. The day that I hated Jews, I wanted to kill them, I wanted to blow them up -- I was called a freedom fighter by the world and by the press. The day that I turned around and said, you know what? I don't hate Jews, I don't hate blacks, I love everybody -- I love everybody equally; that's when I became a racist. Go figure,” Shoebat said.

Yep...it's cool to fight for anything but Christianity...

After reading the article below, would you care to share some thoughts?

Christine

*******

U.S. News

Why they left jihad
Born-Again, Ex-Islamic Terrorists Speak Out

By Erick Stakelbeck CBN News Terror Analyst

CBN.com – PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania - It's rare for an Islamic terrorist to break free from the jihadist lifestyle. It's even rarer for that same terrorist to then speak out against Islamic terrorism and become a devout Christian.

But CBN News recently spoke to two-ex-terrorists who've done just that, and they have lived to tell about it.

Military experts often say that to defeat your enemy, you need to first know him. When it comes to the war against radical Islam, Walid Shoebat and Zachariah Anani don't just know the enemy — they were the enemy.

As a young man, Shoebat was a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), a terrorist group headed by Yasser Arafat.

Shoebat said, “Our mission at first — we were growing up in the West Bank — was: kill as many Jews as you can.”

Anani belonged to several Islamic terrorist groups in Lebanon. By 14, he had already committed his first murder, and he was just getting started.

“Within four years, I had 223 points, which means 223 kills,” Anani recalled. “And two-thirds of them by daggers. I was trained in what we call body combat.”

Growing up in the Middle East, Shoebat and Anani were taught to wage jihad against all non-Muslims, especially Jews. For years, they did that.

And that makes their transformation into Christian witnesses for Israel all the more amazing. The two men have devoted their lives to speaking out against radical Islam and standing up for the Jewish state.

“I began to understand that I was really on quicksand. I was really sinking deep. The truth was not in the Koran. The Koran does not have any prophecies, does not have any predictive prophecies telling us the future in such detail. The Bible does,” Shoebat explained. CBN News caught up with Shoebat and Anani last month in Philadelphia, where they shared their stories at an event called "Three Ex-Terrorists Speak Out."

If you think this sounds dangerous, you're right. They were supposed to be joined by a third former terrorist named Ibrahim Abdallah. But Abdallah, also a convert to Christianity, backed out at the last minute because Muslim family members threatened to kidnap his children if he participated.

Shoebat said that's par for the course.

“Islam is like the song ‘Hotel California,’” said Shoebat. “You can check in, but you can't check out. You can check out if you want -- in a coffin.”

But Anani and Shoebat did check out, leaving years of cult-like indoctrination behind.

Anani's grandfather and great-grandfather were both high-ranking Islamic clerics in Lebanon. By the time he was 13, “Zack” had joined his first terrorist group -- with the full approval of his family.

The group was called "The Youth of Ali," named after the Islamic prophet Mohammed's cousin.

Anani says he became a killing machine. At times he even targeted fellow Muslims. He told us of one occasion when a Muslim tried to wake him in the middle of the night to pray.

“I said, in a very challenging way, 'You come and wake me up at 3 o'clock, I'll shoot you,'” said Anani. “Three o'clock, he knocks on my door. I pull out my pistol from under my pillow, look at the door, measure where his chest is, and then shoot him through the door and go back to sleep again.”

Shoebat also hailed from a prominent family. His grandfather was close to the grand mufti of Jerusalem -- who worked closely with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime. In Palestinian schools, young Walid learned that Jesus and Moses were Palestinian revolutionaries and that the Jews' day of judgment was coming.

“Most Americans think that terrorism starts by some group coming to recruit you. The recruitment already happens at the mosque,” Shoebat explained. “It already happens at the school. They're already part of the whole system of education. You don't need to recruit. The people are willing souls ready to die for martyrdom, or ready to die for Palestine. Ready to die for the cause of Allah.”

Shoebat was one of them.

“The assurance for salvation in Islam is via martyrdom,” he said. “That's the whole message. The Koran clearly stated it: ‘Do not think that the ones who die in the cause of Allah and martyrdom are dead, but are with Allah receiving their blessings.’ This is why my cousin went to his suicide mission and died. And my aunt Fatima, in the streets of Bethlehem, was passing out candy … because her son was now a martyr. After spending time in prison for attacking Israelis, Walid was ready to carry out missions for the PLO. On one run, he planted a bomb at a bank in Bethlehem right next to the Church of the Nativity.

Shoebat said, “As I was walking away from the bank, the Christian Nativity church -- where Jesus was born -- I heard this big explosion behind me. And I ran away. And I was never caught, and they never found out. And I never confessed these things until I became a Christian in 1993.”

The same Christian faith that Anani and Walid had once wanted to crush would eventually change their lives. After a chance encounter with a Christian preacher on a street in Lebanon, Zack left Islam and terrorism at the age of 17. His family reacted by disowning him.

Anani recalled, “My father took the small Bible from my hand and shredded it, and slapped me two or three times and stepped backward -- thinking I was [going to] jump him. I said, 'Nope. You hit me or you beat me, and I won't change a thing. I'll be a Christian.'”

Outside his home, things were even worse. He was dragged to the local mosque, beaten and excommunicated. There were also several attempts on his life.

“I was shot. I was knifed. I was poisoned. I was hit with a car. I was hit with sticks,” Anani said.
But Zack refused to be intimidated or be swayed from his new faith.

He said, “It took long years to study the Bible and the Christian faith. But in the beginning, like Paul said, I accepted Christ as an indigent. And wisdom came later on.”

Walid left Islam in 1993 after his wife, who was already a Christian, challenged him to prove the Bible wrong. He couldn't.

Shoebat said, “I began to understand the story of the fall of man, went all the way down to Revelation, and by the time I got to the prophets, I was fascinated to study Zechariah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Isaiah: 'For I am God and there is no Other -- for I am God and there is none like Me.'”
Shoebat's new-found faith cost him his father and his siblings. He now lives in an undisclosed location, where he heads the Walid Shoebat Foundation, a pro-Israel group. He's also written a book detailing his journey called Why I Left Jihad.

But he's disappointed that his message hasn't been well received by some in the West.

“Here's the ironic thing. The day that I hated Jews, I wanted to kill them, I wanted to blow them up -- I was called a freedom fighter by the world and by the press. The day that I turned around and said, you know what? I don't hate Jews, I don't hate blacks, I love everybody -- I love everybody equally; that's when I became a racist. Go figure,” Shoebat said.

Anani now lives in North America, where he's director of evangelism for an international ministry. His time in the West hasn't always gone smoothly either.

He's been assaulted and seen his life threatened by Muslims in the U.S. and Canada.
Shoebat said the best way to counter this jihad violence is as easy as turning a page.

“We need to send out Christian education, the truth from the Bible throughout the Muslim world,” Shoebat said. “And if we send out the message and tell them what the Bible already foretells about the outcome of what's going to happen to the Muslims, if they can understand that and see it clearly, then that faith, that false faith that they have their hopes on, is shaken.”

The ex-terrorists know their message isn't politically correct. Sure enough, they've had trouble getting coverage from the mainstream media. But they say they'll continue to tell the truth about what really drives Islamic terrorism.

As for their safety? They're leaving that in God's hands.

UPDATE: Watch the Video of this interview here.

Book Why I Left Jihad by Walid Shoebat

Pro-Israel Group Walid Shoebat Foundation

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VIDEO: NewsWatch coverage of the Middle East conflict, August 3
Hezbollah Vows to Keep Fighting
Iran: Israel’s Destruction Solution to Crisis
A Heated Front in the Clash of Civilizations

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Christian Themed Films More Dangerous than Sex and Violence?

© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

The movie ratings board run by Hollywood's six top studios is back-pedaling from a process that reportedly used to target movies for PG ratings if they carried an evangelical Christian message, WorldNetDaily has learned.

The move by the Motion Picture Association of America followed controversy over a rating for Sony Provident Films' "Facing the Giants," which was given the PG tag after officials told the movie's makers it was because it was so Christian.

"The scene that caught the association's attention was an exchange between a coach and a player," said Ted Baehr, chairman of the Christian Film & Television Commission in an op-ed piece published this week. "The coach assures the player that following Jesus Christ is a decision everyone makes for himself, but, if he accepts Christ, it will change his life."

The PG decision prompted 15,000 e-mails of protest, and now things have changed.

"The chairman of the MPAA's ratings board, Joan Graves, announced the association would no longer consider statements of faith or religious content as 'thematic element' that could trigger a rating of PG or higher," Baehr confirmed.

Graves, through spokeswoman Kori Bernards at the MPAA, insisted she only was clarifying that using Christian statements for a rating never happened, and the movie's rating actually was based on a conversation within the movie that refers to infertility.

But those involved with the film believe they understand.

"They're going to say they never consider a religious reference (in setting ratings)," said Tom Snyder, editor of MovieGuide, a publication that reviews and rates movies for their family values and quality content.

Baehr said that after the flood of protests over "Giants," many times the number of protests for any previous dispute, Hollywood was worried, and the result was a meeting among the power brokers where Graves provided her assurance a similar decision wouldn't be made again.
Bernards said Graves attended the meeting and simply "clarified" that religious content was not used for the rating.

But Nancy Lovell, a spokeswoman for the film company, said it was clear at the outset that was what had happened.

Kris Fuhr is vice president of marketing at Provident, which plans to release the film in the fall in hundreds of theaters nationwide. He told reporters the MPAA had decided the film carried too many messages from one religion and that might be offensive to those from other religions. He said the MPAA described the movie, which contains no profanity, no violence and no sex, as "proselytizing."

"That's exactly what happened," Lovell told WorldNetDaily.

Even Congress jumped aboard when the complaints were rolling in. U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said it was "disquieting" to consider that the MPAA "considers exposure to Christian themes more dangerous for children than exposure to gratuitous sex and mindless violence."

More at 'Proselytizing' Film Given 'PG' Rating for Calling on Jesus.

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Beyond Same-Sex Marriage??

We constantly heard that homosexuals were not out to redefine marriage for every kind of sexual union out there in the godless, secular humanistic world that reeks of some very awful kinds of sexual proclivities and licentiousness. Conservatives warned (including Independent Bill O'Reilly) that there is an underlying motive in the never-ending, annoying push for same-sex marriage.

O'Reilly pointed out that if "gay" marriage is made legal, then every other type of union could not be "discriminated" against. Thus, the term marriage itself would lose its meaning altogether. One by one, gay activists and their supporters would appear on The O'Reilly Factor show and claim that this is not their aim or goal. They told the TV audiences everywhere that if they got the right to marry, they'd be satisfied and that would be it.

Well guess what?

Since their current strategy of using the courts to tear down the dozens of state legislative decisions approved by the people (who, overwhelming voted by as much as 80% not to change the definition of marriage from its exclusive meaning of the union of one man and one woman) is not working, they have now decided to let their true colors show.

Christians have, all along, been 100% correct when we warned that this issue was not only about homosexual "rights." It is about destroying the traditional meaning of marriage and the traditional family structure right along with it!

We told you so...

Christine

*******

Gay Groups Announce Agenda 'Beyond Same-Sex Marriage'
by Pete Winn, associate editor

Marriage isn't the only 'worthy' form of relationship, statement says.

To try to counter the family-values agenda, lesbian, bisexual and homosexual activist groups joined hands recently to publicly announce a new agenda.

They issued a major statement called "Beyond Same-Sex Marriage: A New Strategic Vision for All Our Families and Relationships."

"Our strategies must be visionary, creative, and practical to counter the right's powerful and effective use of marriage as a 'wedge' issue that pits one group against another," it claims. "The struggle for marriage rights should be part of a larger effort to strengthen the stability and security of diverse households and families."

Dr. Janice Crouse of the Beverly LaHaye Institute at Concerned Women for America said the statement is clear evidence that there is not only a "gay agenda" -- activists have no intention of giving up on it.

"I think it's a declaration of war," Crouse said. "It's a warning for those of us that value the traditional family -- where there's a mother and a father and their children, either biological or adopted.

"This document very clearly says, 'Marriage is not the only worthy form of family or of relationships.' They are clearly going for redefinition of what it means to be a family."

Specifically, the groups advocate, in their words:

-- Legal recognition for a wide range of relationships, households and families regardless of kinship or conjugal status.

-- Access for all, regardless of marital or citizenship status, to vital government support programs including, but not limited to, health care, housing, Social Security and pension plans, disaster-recovery assistance, unemployment insurance and welfare assistance.

The statement cites single-parent households or cohabitation of unrelated elderly people as examples of relationships that need "protection."

Glenn T. Stanton, senior analyst for marriage and sexuality at Focus on the Family Action, said it's now very clear that most gay activists never really sought same-sex marriage. What they really want is "anything goes."

"This statement fails to take account of the fact that the government recognizes, or sees, certain relationships as legal, because those relationships are essential and necessary to society," Stanton said. "That is, the society needs these relationships in order to be productive, healthy and prosperous."

Interestingly, the gay activists and their supporters called for "separation of church and state in all matters, including regulation and recognition of relationships, households and families."

Stanton said, however, we don't find marriage just in Christian or religious cultures.

"You find marriage in all human cultures," he said, "Marriage, as a relationship between a man and a woman, is present in all human societies. It's a human thing. So, if they're going to 'set themselves free,' they are going to have to do it by the separation of humanity and state -- rather than the separation of religion and state. Religion is not what drives marriage, humanity is what drives marriage."

For Gary Bauer, president of American Values, the gay-activist message to America is clear. "Translated, it means they want to change the subject," Bauer said, "I don't blame them, after a series of humiliating defeats at the ballot box, and, at least in recent weeks, a series of debates in what has been their stronghold -- which is the judiciary of the country. So clearly, they are going back to the drawing board to try to come up with a different strategy."

Thursday, August 31, 2006

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