Politics for Ordinary Radicals

Leave it to the CNN Politics.com news site to share a story about two, politically leftist writers (of course!) - who happened to name their book, "Jesus for President" - to gleefully claim that these two men are endorsing "what is at the heart of Jesus."

Oh really???

As I had mentioned briefly in a previous post, how strange is it that the authors chose to only have part of the title of their book "Jesus for President" on the cover. They eliminated the "Politics for Ordinary Radicals" phrase! Hmmm......

Sorry fellas - but your book (with it's unfortunate use of Jesus' name in the title) is, for the most part, focused on getting their typical Bush-hating, anti-war, pro-Marxism screed out into the hands of other young evangelicals.

For shame!

How sad it is that these men have chosen to use Jesus, and God's Word, the Bible in ways that distort the true message of the gospel. How unfortunate that their own minds have skewed hundreds of Bible verses in order to promote their own worldview. There are just too many errors in their writing to list them all here.

How terribly sad it is to read that they compare Harry Truman with Hitler! This, as well as the many examples of hate-mongering done towards traditional Bible-believing, Christ following, true gospel sharing, church fellowship and Bible studying evangelicals (which, of no surprise, includes the rejection of their own parents beliefs) are quite evident in their ranting contained within the pages of this book. It is the Bush-hating, far-left secular humanist's dream to have them on their side of the political spectrum!

Do these authors know that they are using God to promote their own, anti-American political agenda?

True Christians allow God to use THEM! And, not to use His Son to promote a Marxist political agenda!!

Everyone has a worldview. Some worldviews are better than others. The Biblical worldview is having "the mind of Christ" as Paul reiterates in his epistle.

How can I judge these young men so harshly - you may ask? Because they have been deceived, that's why.

For example. In the article link above we read:

But these voters say views on abortion and homosexuality won't define them in November. The environment and social justice are moving to the forefront of their discussions.

Now, in their book we read:

"We are dying and killing for abstract nouns like freedom and democracy...but this is not the gospel of Jesus Christ." - Letter from a U.S. soldier in Iraq

So...let's see now. One disgruntled soldier in Iraq skews their "Christian" worldview to agree with a statement like that? Nouns like freedom and democracy are abstract nouns?

These authors won't let "abortion nor homosexuality define them in November." Abortion has killed 52,275,770 BABIES since that horrible ruling in 1973. That amount of babies killed through abortion will have increased by the time you view the site. THAT is the evil of our time! If you listen to, and view, the brief video at that link, you will discover that abortion has killed ONE THIRD of Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw's (authors of "Jesus for President") generation! This is FAR MORE, MILLIONS MORE than the deaths of our brave military men and women fighting valiantly in the current war against radical Islamic terrorism!

What is wrong with this picture?

What would Jesus say about that?

But the book gets worse people - MUCH WORSE.

The authors compare our great nation, liberators of millions of oppressed peoples around the globe, to Rome's empire! I can see where they get their skewed theology. They read books written by John Dominic Crossan.

Excerpt:

In the introduction of his book In Search of Paul: How Jesus' Apostle Opposed Rome's Empire with God's Kingdom, biblical scholar John Dominic Crossan asks this haunting question: "Who now is Caesar and where now is Christ?" As we consider the theology being preached from the pulpits by both pastors and politicians (and these days, its hard to tell them apart), we need to contemplate this question. Fortunately, more and more Bible-literate Christians are deeply disturbed by the skewed theology of empire. It is becoming more and more clear that the Pax Americana is not helping the world get any closer to understanding the crucified Christ and his gospel of grace. 29

O.K. We can see where they are getting their theological opinions from. But take a look at the authors' footnote. It's quite the eye-opener to their true agenda in writing this book!

29 The essence of our book is not dependent on whether the United States is truly a prideful empire. Christianity proclaims an alternate allegiance even to citizens of humble nations. And the point is certainly not that only the United States is one of the beastly powers. Among Russia, China, Rwanda, Belgium, and countless others, it would be quite a competition as to which dictatorship tops the list of most blood shed and worst publicly legitimated insanity. But to see the bad fruits of power is an important connection to make for those who have a white-knuckle grip on both the cross and the flag. When we take a good look at the history of the United States, we must face the reality that the U.S. is not, as Barak (sic) Obama (and countless others) said, "the last great hope for humanity." This not only is false according to the standards of secular history but also is heretical for us in the church. This is the kind of stuff that made John of Patmos seethe (not to mention God). And in the scope of history, the United States is a young project that doubtlessly will fall--whether in a few or in many years.

Quite the patriots...aren't they? /sarcasm

Notice how the CNN article LIED about their "neutrality" concerning the upcoming election!

CNN article:

They endorse no candidate and make no effort to sway the voters for one party or another.

Think that's bad enough? It's only the beginning. On another page, the authors discuss "idols and images". They quote Exodus 20:4, Lev. 26:1, and 4 Ezra 4:11:

"Therefore, you will surely disappear, you eagle...so that the whole earth, will be freed from your violence." The Eagle will not live forever, blessed be the Lamb.

Can you guess what is pictured next to these verses? You'll never guess so I'll tell you. They have sketches of three bombs dropping from the sky with "Made in U.S.A." stamped on them!

Some of the additional things written on the page do not even make sense. In one box, they quote Crossan as stating that, "over 50 percent of the Roman budget went towards the Roman military." Next, they write, "Of each dollar paid in taxes, 36 cents goes toward the military of the United States.

Duh!! Do these guys even know history? Do they know that military (and police) protection was the original (and only) reasons for taxes in the first place??

Here's the quote that reads a bit convoluted:

"Only God can make an image of God's self...and God did. Look in the mirror or look in the slums.

ONLY SOMETHING SACRED CAN BE DE*SACRATED.

Is "de*sacrated" even a genuine word? It's obviously misspelled.

Desecrated:
–verb (used with object), -crat·ed, -crat·ing.

1. to divest of sacred or hallowed character or office.
2. to divert from a sacred to a profane use or purpose.
3. to treat with sacrilege; profane.

[Origin: 1665–75; de- + -secrate, modeled on consecrate]

What on earth are they talking about? Sounds like gibberish to me!

Then, we have evidence of their "youthful" views:

"It was once said, if you want to know your idols, consider what you are willing to kill for. WHAT ARE IDOLS?"

Next to that quote, they have a crude drawing of a television with "KILL YOUR TV" written on it. Quite the non-sequitur, isn't it?

It gets worse! On another page in the book they have a drawing of Jesus carrying the cross with a soldier holding a bazooka sitting on the cross behind Jesus!

Are you getting the picture of their skewed thinking yet?

Do they represent many of our young evangelicals today? I hope not! I PRAY NOT!!

Now, the authors aren't crazy. I just think that they are sorely misguided. For instance, read this quote:

Aelius Aristides: "Now the earth itself and its inhabitants have been granted universal security which is evident to all. Every war begins with fear."

Ah ha! That explains it! "Every war begins with fear." Period. Nothing else? What about being attacked? What about defending our nation and our peoples from further attacks?

I could go on and on and on. There is so much skewed theology applied to anti-war rhetoric in this book it would make your head spin!!

Lastly, I will share just why these authors (and their followers, presumably) do not concern themselves with the proliferation of the homosexual agenda in the political, social, educational, judicial, and church arenas:

What was so evil about Sodom? "Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned: they did not help the poor and needy" (Ezek. 16:49). That's not what we learned in Sunday school.

Whoo boy! Talk about leaving out some of the other equally important details!! Ah, but, if they included any other details about The Days of Lot and the Days of Noah, then they would have to address their errant theological opinion that the homosexual agenda "doesn't define them" or influence their voting preferences.

Look at the skewed way they describe the meaning of being "born-again" :

"So being born again redefines family: it grants a new way to see the world, a way to see right past the artificial borders we create and proclaim a deeper allegiance and affection. For those who pledge allegiance to the kingdoms of this world, Jesus preached good news: repent and become born again, "see the kingdom," and find a new identity. This is not a set of political suggestions for the world; this is about invoking and embodying the alternative. handwritten: (More on that later.) All of this is an invitation to join a peculiar people--those with no king but God, who practice jubilee economics and make the world new. This is not the old-time religion of going to heaven; this is about bringing heaven to the world."

We can agree with some of what is written in that paragraph. However, the ultimate point of being born again in Jesus Christ is to humble ourselves, confess and repent of our sin; then, invite Jesus Christ into our hearts where he will reside through the power of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God.

Question. Do the authors even mention this? No. It is no where to be found. Notice that the cross isn't mentioned in the above paragraph, either. Finding a "new identity" isn't defined either. Whose identity are they emulating? We are not told. Plus, that last sentence sounds more like Oprah's New Age theology rather than genuine Christianity.

Your thoughts?

*******
P.S. Apparently, Shane Claiborne is 33 years old and Chris Haw is 27. However, it appears that their radicalism is appealing to 20-something-year old evangelical Christians. God help us!

*******
Update: SJ Camp has a somewhat related post regarding skewed theology and how important it is to stick to biblical truth over at Camp On This

Excerpt:

"Gifted men of God, like Keller, know this and know better than this. When they flirt with pushing the edge of biblical truth by redefining God in today's postmodern terms out of the pragmatic emerging church framework, they make it difficult for the many of us who want to trust them in how they handle God's Word to do so. But as in this case, orthodoxy it seems was not the prime consideration; but relating to an audience, being clever, and cutting edge. IOW, pragmatics again.

Biblical terminology should not be stretched to a place that is foreign to the meaning of those words as found in God's Word. It can be very confusing for younger believers in the Lord, it can be gangrenous to the body of Christ in general, and the fallout to maintaining a right view of God compromised. "

(bold mine)

Who Has Dominion?

I love it when I meet new Christian blogging friends! This morning, I found a wonderful blog filled with encouraging and inspirational posts. Check out Tamela's Place.

I met Tamela through Blog Catalog. She recently asked this question in a discussion forum there:

I would like to hear everyone's thoughts on: "Who has dominion in the earth satan or man"? If you wouldn't mind please use scriptures to back your answers up. Thanks.

Tamela provided a great answer to her own question!

I know in the beginning in Gen. 1:28 God said let man have dominion over everything in the earth. And the way i understand it is that when Adam and Eve sinned they were cast out of the garden and then dominion was handed over to satan. Thusly sin entered the world by one man.

But after the finished work of Jesus and the cross the way I understand it is that dominion was taken back from satan and now Jesus has dominion in and through the church body. For those that are in Christ are His body here in the earth. i understand this because of what Eph. 1:19-23 says. (19) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to USWARD who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, (20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, (21) Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in THIS world, but also in that which is to come: (22) And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the CHURCH, (23) Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

The church body is now the fullness of Him in this earth. So if we are in Christ and Christ is in us and He is the head over all things to the church which is His body and if He has dominion wouldn't those that are in Him have dominion through Him in this earth? WOW! did you get that? What are your thoughts on that and any one elses please.

My reply:

I tend to agree with what you have written, Tamela. When we look up the term "dominion," there are several slightly different definitions of the word. However, the one that fits in this argument must be "rule or power." God has given the ultimate rule and power over the earth to Jesus Christ. We know this through what is written in Scripture.

However, we also know that because of the unregenerate condition of sinful, fallen man, there is the free will choice not to recognize Jesus (or his accompanying rule and power) for who he really is. The unsaved are blinded (by the things of this world) and don't know their own, God-given purpose in this life. They don't see their proper role on this earth. Neither do they recognize their need for salvation. Therefore, Satan's lair of deception can greatly, and negatively, influence unregenerate man (men). Satan's influence causes much evil and havoc on this earth. Scripture inform us that "the whole earth groans for redemption."

In the midst of this, each person is offered the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Once a person genuinely repents of their sin and invites Jesus into their heart to live and reign there, this born-again experience answers Jesus' call in John 3:3. We then live, by faith, in and for Him.

Yet, the earth has millions of unsaved people where Satan can wreak havoc in their lives.

Scripture informs us that once born again in Christ, "no one can snatch them (us) out of his hands." Therefore, transcendent evil has been defeated. (see my blog post about this at Talk Wisdom). The trouble or tribulation that Jesus warns us about in John 16:33 is of the non-transcendent kind. It is temporary (until Jesus returns) and not final in any one's life unless they reject the gospel of Jesus - which is the only way to be saved (a.k.a. transcendent good).

The verses that come to mind regarding this discussion are:

Jhn 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

1Jo 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Christianity On Own Terms?

Excellent essay over at Possessing The Treasure called, The Offense of the Cross. It cuts to the heart of the matter between those who would be inclined to "preach another gospel" and those who hold to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The author, Mike Ratliff, shares the fact that "the offense of the cross never has ceased and never can cease." Those who refuse to recognize that they are sinners in need of the Savior, Jesus Christ, will most likely view the cross of Christ as utterly offensive.

What a paradox! The act of repentance through Christ's cross is the only hope for their salvation and reconciliation with God. Yet, they are offended by such an act of love, mercy, grace and forgiveness?

The fact remains that confession of sin and the repentance thereof, releases those held in bondage to sin.

Think about this.

A former slave to sin who has been released from the suffering and punishment through Jesus' death and resurrection to life at the cross never forgets such love!

Being released from the wrath that we all deserve, and the suffering, death and separation from God for all eternity (which is the transcendent good discussed in a former post) is the ultimate purpose and reason that Jesus came to the earth!

Yet, the result of both sin and the unrepentant heart that refuses to confess at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ keeps one in bondage. Why would anyone reject Christ's offer of salvation and want to stay in such bondage?

Proof that the cross of Christ is offensive is the fact that Christianity - the genuine kind that is Bible-based and requires being born-again in Jesus - is virulently attacked from all sides of the political, social, religious, and spiritual spectrum. Why is that?

Ratliff shares the answer regarding the cross of Christ:

"It is clearly offensive to the unregenerate mind."

Those who do not have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God to illuminate their minds to the truth in the Bible cannot discern what is written there correctly. Paul tells us that as new creations in Christ, we move towards having "the mind of Christ."

I have had non-Christian visitors comment that what I share here is similar to "speaking another language." They don't comprehend what is being shared from the Bible. Thus, the unregenerate are clearly offended by those of us involved in genuine evangelism - following the command of Christ to go forth with The Great Commission.

Ratliff writes:

Even though men such as Rob Bell or Brian McLaren scoff at the concept of absolute, knowable truth, and sell their message to an eager post-modern generation, the fact is that the genuine Gospel has not been changed any more than the world has changed. They may claim to have some new ‘perspective,” but all they are doing is proclaiming a very old repackaged message of doubt.

If you go to Ratliff's link, you will find examples of "preachers" who are attempting to downplay (or, in some cases eliminate) the need for the cross of Christ. He mentions how Rob Bell actually teaches that repentance is not necessary; just do good works, love Jesus and love others. Bell goes so far as to even "discourage Christians from sharing that part of the Gospel about sin and separation from God without the atoning work of Christ on the Cross."

Sound familiar? It does to me! Can you think of other examples of reprobate and false teachers who do the exact same thing to promote a sinful lifestyle in their churches? I can! Recall the post and video of Oprah Winfrey who was "offended" because she misinterpreted Scripture (i.e. "God is a jealous God") as meaning that God is jealous of her? In the process of such a ill-perceived offense, she then went on to find a New Age guru that fit her own thoughts and wisdom of philosophy and theology. Now, she is spreading heresy via the Internet. What's truly sad is that just because she is a well-known celebrity, her minions of fans are following her blindly - right into the pit of spiritual oblivion.

One of the best sentences in Ratliff's essay is this one:

"God is not angry about anyone’s sin."

What a lie from the pit of hell!

Yet, this is what pseudo-Christian churches and their pastors embrace in order to preach another gospel of Jesus with the emphasis on "love alone."

How arrogant can one get? That one sentence negates the entire purpose of Christ's suffering on the cross for our sins, his atoning death, and subsequent resurrection to life. How can they explain the purpose of the cross in their beliefs? They can't! So, what do they do? They simply eliminate it from the conversation!

Ratliff:

This sort of teaching or preaching or whatever it is no different than that of those who were troubling the Galatians. It is a works based salvation that decries the need to repent of sin. Instead, just do good works and love Jesus. I pray that you noticed the pride evident in the Bell’s comments. They both insist that their “religion” is on their own terms. They refuse to submit to the narrowness of the Word of God. They attempt to defeat what it tells them by insisting that no one can understand it.

What makes up the offense of the Cross? Its doctrine of atonement offends man’s pride. Its simple teaching offends man’s wisdom, and artificial taste. Its being a remedy for man’s ruin offends his fancied power to save himself. Its addressing all as sinners offends the dignity of Pharisees. Its coming as a revelation offends “post-modern thought.” Its lofty holiness offends man’s love of sin.

The Cross of Christ offends man's love of sin. Eliminate the necessity of the atonement and you've got an unoffensive form of pseudo-Christian beliefs.

I will end with J.C. Ryle's awesome quote:

The cross is the strength of a minister. I, for one, would not be without it for the world. I should feel like a soldier without weapons, like an artist without his pencil, like a pilot without his compass, like a laborer without his tools.

Let others, if they will, preach the Law and morality.

Let others hold forth the terrors of hell and the joys of heaven.

Let others drench their congregations with teachings about the sacraments and the church.

Give me the cross of Christ. This is the only lever which has ever turned the world upside down hitherto, and made men forsake their sins.

And if this will not do it, nothing will. A man may begin preaching with a perfect knowledge of Latin, Greek and Hebrew; but he will do little or no good among his hearers unless he knows something of the cross. Never was there a minister who did much for the conversion of souls who did not dwell much on Christ crucified. Luther, Rutherford, Whitefield, M’Cheyne, were all most eminent preachers of the cross. This is the preaching that the Holy Ghost delights to bless. He loves to honor those who honor the cross.–J.C. Ryle

HT: Possessing the Treasure

Are You Dead To Sin?

While composing a comment reply to my Christian blogging friend Carlotta, I began to think about the connection between my last two blog posts on the subject of homosexuality and Christians.

I mentioned to Carlotta that it can be difficult to keep a civil tone when others mock, disparage, and curse at us. Tom (a gay man with whom Carlotta recently had a pleasant dialogue with) was different. The two of them had a very good conversation.

I have had a few good conversations with self-identifying lesbians and gay men at this blog over the years. However, we usually part having to "agree to disagree."

This recent discovery (for me) of the connection between the "Days of Noah" and the "Days of Lot" (re: homosexual behavior and homosexual "marriage" in ancient times) is stunning enough (I think so, anyway) for any gay person to rethink their gay-behavior-affirming theology.

I think that when it is connected with what is revealed in the post called "Transcendent and Non transcendent Good and Evil," we find the exact reason why Bible-based Christian believers must continue to fight against the heresy and error that is inherent in the "gay Christian movement."

My message board friend Sothenes did a series of posts regarding the question, "Can you be homosexual and Christian?" He makes many excellent points and backs them up with Scripture.

I believe that the reason why we must fight against the gay-behavior-affirming heresy and error in the Christian churches is precisely because unrepentant homosexuals will miss heaven and the ultimate realization of transcendent good.

What is left for them?

Transcendent evil.

They are so caught up in the flesh that they don't even realize it is evil in the first place! What's more, they refuse to ever acknowledge it and, instead, re-name it as a "blessing from God."

This is heresy, apostasy, idolatry, false doctrine, false prophesying and rejection of recognition for repentance from our sinfulness. The Holy Spirit of God cannot indwell the unrepentant heart!

Jesus clearly told us that the false gospel 'prophets' and teachers will be sent away from him. In fact they are specifically called "evildoers" by Christ!

So many people who do not realize the gravity of the situation think that they are being tolerant, loving, inclusive, and non-bigoted by accepting the sinner and the sin! We are to preach the true gospel of Christ's cross which tells us to reject the sin, repent of it, and live for Jesus Christ!

The account where Jesus, (speaking of the other disciples) asks Peter, three times, "do you love me more than these?" Peter answers, "yes Lord." Then Jesus tells him to "feed my sheep."

This was an act of mercy for Peter - to counter the three times when he denied Christ before Jesus went to the cross.

Doesn't Jesus ask us the same question? Do you love Me more than these - (fill in the blank!).

When we love the Lord above all else - above anyone else - it is then that we can humbly come to the cross, confess our sin, ask for forgiveness, and request that Jesus indwells our hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Does the Holy Spirit indwell someone who self-identifies as a homosexual Christian? Honestly, I can't know for sure. However, Jesus himself instructs us to see "the fruit" of those who claim to be believers.

Look at what comes first when a person labels themselves as a "gay Christian" ...the homosexual identity...not the identity of Christ within the person.

However, a person who is born again in Christ is eager to be sanctified in the Lord. Their first love is Jesus! They are a new creation in Christ so that the old identity is replaced by a new one!

Everything and everyone else comes second! Jesus affirms this! The first commandment is to "love the Lord thy God." The second one is to "love your neighbor as thyself."

We could apply all of this towards any one's sinful condition. We all were lost in sin before Christ's saving mission on the cross gave us the opportunity to get out of such bondage!

Yes. We are not perfect. Christians can, and do, backslide into sin. Yet, the indication that we are truly saved is the fact that we are to be faithful to confess our sin and repent of it - not continue willfully in it or blasphemously celebrate any sinful condition or lifestyle.

This is Satan's subtle deception. He wants to keep as many people in bondage as he can!

Look at the way the secular, heterosexual world celebrates and even promotes homosexuality. Does a day go by in your life where you don't hear about homosexuality either on T.V. shows and movies, news programs, radio, or the Internet?

Now, Satan has infiltrated the churches with the celebration of sodomy! Who would have thought such a thing would ever come to fruition? Could such a thing have happened years ago? Of course not! It would have been considered unthinkable! But today, it has been normalized.

Because of this manipulation and brain-washing (dirtying) of the masses towards total acceptance and celebration of homosexual behavior and activism, those who still believe God's Word and call such aberrant behavior what it is - a sin and abomination in the eyes of God - are unfairly labeled in negative ways. No tolerance allowed for Bible-believing Christians!

Years ago, I posted a prayer for unrepentant homosexuals on this blog. Another blogger (who was a secular humanist) put up a post at her blog mocking it.

Just as in Noah's day, the mockers and non-believers continue to disparage God's Word, the Bible; as well as the Christians who share the gospel of salvation message of Christ with this fallen world. However, in the case of the homosexual agenda, the mocking has turned more virulent - even to the point of criminalizing Christian free speech, freedom of association, and freedom of expression.

The "final goal" in Satan's plan is to silence the church and the gospel message in this world.

What is included in Satan's plan? He wants you to "lose your own soul."

How does he accomplish this? By keeping you dead in trespasses and sin.

I will conclude with a portion of Sothenes' message board (link above) post:

John 8:33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

John 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: [but] the Son abideth ever.

John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

" 'Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin' is in the present tense. If you continue in a life of sin, you are a servant of sin."

"A servant may come and work for you during the day, but when evening comes, he gets his hat and goes home. The son comes in, pitches his hat in a corner, sits down and relaxes because he is the son. The Lord was telling these rulers that they are not really God's children. They were in the temple then, but they wouldn't be there long. In A.D. 70 Titus came and took every one of them away and sold them into slavery. The five o'clock whistle had blown, and the servants left the house."

"The Son makes us free indeed. We do not have to be the servant of sin."-141, John Chapters 1-10, J Vernon McGee

And my question to you is, if a Homosexual struggles with continual sin then how does he or she purify him or herself? Please reflect on 1 John 3:3 in your answer.

1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

John 8:36 led me to Romans 6:12-14.

Paul uses three words to designate the three spiritual classes of men: The natural man (1 Cor. 2:14) or the unsaved person, the carnal man (1 Cor. 3:1) the Christian not living the Christian life and the spiritual man (1 Cor. 2:15).

Romans 6:1 ¶ What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

Romans 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Paul's answer is "God forbid". How are we that are dead to sin, live in sin any longer? Has the Son made us free and are we free indeed??

" 'Are dead' is from a past tense verb, which tense also speaks of finality, and we translate 'died once for all.' "--P.81, Kenneth Wuest, An Exposition of the Greek Text of Romans VI

Phil 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.

If God is working salvation in the individual then how is God working His good pleasure in that person?

It is a rhetorical question. Are we dead to sin or not? Paul says we are dead to sin.

How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? - Romans 6:12

" 'Live' is from a word which speaks here of the life principle, not the actions of the person."-p, 82 Kenneth Wuest, An Exposition of the Greek Text of Romans VI

HT: Sothenes at Talk Wisdom message board

Transcendent/Nontranscendent Good and Evil

I am currently reading "To Everyone An Answer: A Case for the Christian Worldview" and the book shares the fact that there are two kinds of evil: moral evil and natural evil.



Quote:

Moral evil results from the choices and actions of human beings. When the question why is asked about some moral evil, the answer will include a reference to something that humans did or did not do. Moral evil sometimes results when humans act, for example, by shooting a gun. But moral evil may also occur as a result of human inaction. Perhaps someone could have prevented the person from getting the gun and didn't. So moral evil is evil brought about by human choices and actions; any other kind of evil is what we call natural evil. The class of natural evils includes such things as earthquakes, tornadoes and diseases not resulting from human choices. Many wise people believe the two types of evil require different kinds of answers. (from pp. 207-208)

To summarize -

The authors state that millions of people have worldviews that deny the existence of evil and affirm that such evils as pain and death are illusory. Pantheism and Christian Science are two examples.



Christian theism deserves credit for not running away from the problem of evil.



The chapter is long, so I am skipping to the final observations about evil from the perspective of the Christian worldview.



Two kinds of good. Defining transcendent good and nontranscendent good .

Transcendent good is that good than which a greater good cannot be conceived. From the perspective of the Christian worldview, there can be no greater good than eternal fellowship with the God who made us, loves us and redeems us through the salvific world of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God. It should not be difficult to see that all other goods that humans seek are nontranscendent.



Two kinds of evil.



Using the same terminonology, then, we can think about transcendent and nontranscendent evils. Suppose we define a transcendent evil as that evil than which a greater evil cannot be conceived. From the perspective of the Christian worldview, that kind of transcendent evil would be losing one's soul and being forever separated from the source of love, righteousness and goodness of the God who created us and the universe in which we live. As horrible as many evils in the history of the world have been, the biblical worldview tells us that there is one transcendent evil that makes all other evils nontranscendent.



Romans 8:28. People who regard themselves as Christians ought to seek a better understanding of their worldview. That understanding requires them to know what their ulitmate rule of faith and practice, the Christian Scriptures, have to say about their worldview. And finally they need to show that they have the strength to put the beliefs they profess into practice. One important passage in the New Testament that speaks to this point is Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose." (NKJV)



Many of us know people who believe the verse reads like this: "All things work together for good, period." And because of this error, millions of people mistakenly think the promise in this verse applies to them. But the proper audience for this verse is the large company of people who not only love God but who are called according to God's own purpose. The full understanding of who these people are requires a fairly competent grasp of the entire New Testament.



One more comment is needed. Does Romans 8:28 promise that everything works for good during the earthly existence of the people who are described in the latter part of the verse? Many competent expositors of the text think not. They believe the text reports that all things work together for good when viewed from the perspective of eternity. Then and only then, they suggest, will believers fully recognize how the trials and travail of the Christian pilgrimage in this life have worked together for good.



Romans 8:18



I trust it is clear that all I am doing here is explaining important teachings of the worldview that millions of people believe. It is worth remembering that this is the same worldview that most proponents of the problem of evil hope to show unreasonable. A companion text to Romans 8:28 is Romans 8:18, which says, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Here the apostle Paul acknowledges the pain, grief and suffering that often afflict believers in this life. He implies that a day will come when believers can look back and say, "That was a really tough time in the life of my family. We cried a lot. We miss those who died before us. Those things really hurt. But when I am finally in the presence of the God who has always loved me, that earlier suffering just cannot be compared with the glory of what God has prepared for me."



Paul's points can be expressed in terms of my earlier distinctions between transcendent and nontranscendent goods and evils. Is he not saying that all of the sufferings he experienced, which finally ended in his being stoned to death, were nontranscendent evils? And when finally compared to his ultimate standing in the presence of the the triune God, when he attains that transcendent good than which no greater good can be conceived, he will know that all things did work for good.



Conclusion



Do I believe that I have answered the problem of evil? I know better than to think I could or should do this for everyone. I began this chapter by noting that every reader will approach this issue from the perspective of a worldview, many of which are incomplete, confused and incoherent. I explained my worldview and pointed out that many opponents of my worldview think the problem of evil is its greatest challenge. While I have admitted that I know no one who can explain every evil that occurs, it seems unreasonable to demand that people who share my worldview be able to do this. It is one thing to attack a worldview; it is far more demanding to offer a competing worldview such as naturalism or dualism or pantheism or anentheism that answers more questions and leaves fewer questions unanswered than the worldview of the Christian faith.

Author of chapter 12: Ronald H. Nash


Source: To Everyone An Answer: A Case for the Christian Worldview, edited by Francis J. Beckwith, William Lane Craig, and J.P. Moreland. 2004, InterVarsity Press, Downer Grove, Illinois, pp. 221-223

Note: This is also posted at my Talk Wisdom message board under the thread called, Rationalizing God's Latest Felony .

It is a very LONG thread, but lots of interesting points and counterpoints according to the worldview(s) of the comment poster(s).

Obama Birth Certificate a Photoshopped Fake!

It's amazing what a little investigating can do. This election is far too important for the radical left to get away with overt deception.

When I previously posted concern about Barack Hussein Obama's birth certificate, some naysayers came to this blog posting nasty comments to pooh-pooh my suspicion about the secrecy surrounding it.

Then, that rabidly evil and despicable blog called the Daily Kos, magically came up with a copy of Hussein's birth certificate. The Obama campaign promptly placed it on their "Fight the Smears" website.

Well guess what? It is fake! It was photoshopped at Photobucket.

Israeli Insider

Go to that link and see for yourself! Besides the very convincing article, there is a comparison between a genuine birth certificate issued by the state of Hawaii, and the fake one that Kos and the Obama campaign are attempting to pass off as real.

Excerpt:

The failure of the Obama campaign to do so, and its willingness instead to put up an invalid, uncertified image -- what now appears to be a crude forgery -- raises the dramatic question of why the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate might have to hide.

Until now, it has been thought that there might be some embarrassing information on the real certificate: was the candidate's name something other than Barack Hussein Obama II, as it is claimed? Was no father listed because of the uncertainty over Obama's paternity? Was his father's race listed as Arab, or Muslim, rather than African? These revelations might be embarrassing, and further undermine his credibility, but he could disavow and downplay their significance. Would revealing such embarrassment outweigh the far greater risks involved in perpetuating a palpable forgery, or passing off an uncertified official document as being certified?

There is one possibility, however, which alone might justify the risk that Obama and his campaign seems to be taking in putting forward the uncertified document image: Obama was not in fact born in Hawaii and may not be an American citizen at all, or at least not a "natural born citizen" as the Constitution defines the requirement for the nation's chief executive. Real original birth certificates, circa 1961, have all kinds of verifiable information that would confirm Obama's origins, or throw them into doubt should they be lacking.

How many more reasons do we need to add to the list of negatives as to why Obama isn't fit to be president?

HT: Israeli Insider

The "Days of Noah" Are Here

While reading a new post over at GCMWatch, I learned something new! The post is called Gay "marriage": The Days of Noah Returns.

GCMWatch excerpts:

A new article released by Janet Folger, president of Faith2Action says what a lot of people who are aware of the times have been thinking. In her article “How same-sex marriage points to the end of the world”, Folger recounts how what we are seeing happen now before our very eyes is the beginning fulfillment of what Jesus said would happen before his return. Moreover, the people had sunken into such a perpetually degenerative moral condition these things were celebrated and viewed as normal.

That describes today quite accurately. Those who have normalized homosexual behavior have done so to the point of thinking anyone who opposes it are "crazy," "homophobic," "intolerant," and "bigots."

For Bible believing, Christ following born-again Christians, such derogatory views and labels are only perpetuating deception about this dangerous behavior. Furthermore, homosexual activism (both secular as well as in the church) distracts people from what is truly most important in this life - that is - confessing and repenting of sin and knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The Bible tells us that we are to live "holy and righteous" in this age. We are to be actively sharing the gospel in order for other to be redeemed - precisely because "the days are evil."

Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

It is no accident within the cosmos that homosexual behavior participation, advocacy and activism cause significant problems in our culture - but especially for the Christian church. We all know about the scientifically-backed and determined health risks; but an indifferent blind eye is turned in order to successfully put a positive spin on the "gay" lifestyle.

However, God is not mocked!

The double-edged sword battling against God's Word is this:

1. Homosexual activity brings God's judgment upon a people.
2. The homosexual agenda (legal and church advocacy related) is a huge threat to religious freedom today.

Jesus told us that he is "not of this world." If this world is filled with homosexual advocacy and activism, do you think that he would sanction, no less "sanctify" such activity? Of course not!

This world is filled with lust, murder, theft, adultery, fornication, lying, idol worship and the list could go on and on. Yet, most sane people do not advocate for churches to accept such concepts as "sanctified." However, this is exactly what is being done in liberal "Christian" churches throughout America! Claiming that a particular sin should be allowed to be "sanctified" within Christ's church body (meaning, all believers) is an abomination to God! It is a form of idol worship. It is, in fact, as the Scriptures inform us, "exchanging the truth for a lie!"

Now, on to what I found new at GCMWatch and in Janet Folger's article.

Excerpt from Folger article:

As I wrote about in my book, “The Criminalization of Christianity,” Jeffrey Satinover, who holds an M.D. from Princeton and doctorates from Yale, MIT and Harvard, was on my radio program one day and I asked him about where we are in history. He explained that according to the “Babylonian Talmud” – the book of rabbis’ interpretation of the scriptures 1,000 years before Christ, there was only one time in history that reflects where we are right now. There was only one time in history, according to these writings, where men were given in marriage to men, and women given in marriage to women.

Want to venture a guess as to when? No, it wasn’t in Sodom and Gomorrah, although that was my guess. Homosexuality was rampant there, of course, but according to the Talmud, not homosexual “marriage.” What about ancient Greece? Rome? No. Babylon? No again. The one time in history when homosexual “marriage” was practiced was … during the days of Noah. And according to Satinover, that’s what the “Babylonian Talmud” attributes as the final straw that led to the Flood.

GCMWatch shares new information (for me):

Folger’s article also contains astonishing commentary by Rabbi Aryeh Spero on what the Talmud reveals about homosexuality, state sanctioned homosexual weddings and the coming judgment of God.

Folger article:

25But first must He [Christ] suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man:
27They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28“Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30“Even thus shall it be in the Day when the Son of Man is revealed.

I have already posted, many times, that one of the many prophecies shared by Jesus regarding his return included the "Days of Lot":

"Likewise also as in the days of Lot"

However, until now, I didn't realize that the Jewish Talmud revealed that "man lying with man as with a woman" and "woman lying with a woman" were marrying before the flood!

The fact that Jesus combined both times in history - "The Days of Noah" and "The Days of Lot," unequivocally links homosexuality to the destruction of both.

Don't get me wrong - it wasn't ONLY homosexual sin that brought about God's wrath. There were plenty of sinful acts going on other than sodomy. Homosexuality was included in the reasons for God's wrath at the time of the flood and in the fire and brimstone destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Folger concludes:

As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. – Mathew 24:37 (NIV)

I used to read this verse and think: It was bad at lots of points in history; it doesn't necessarily mean now, but if these Jewish writings are true, we are uniquely like the "days of Noah" right now – and only right now.

But it can't be yet, you say. You have a lot going on in your life? You're getting married? Here's how the New Living Translation describes that very sentiment in Luke:

When the Son of Man returns, the world will be like the people were in Noah's day. In those days before the Flood, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat, and the flood came to destroy them all. – Luke 17:26-27

Happily going about as if everything was fine was what they did, too.

You don't like this possibility? Don't even believe in the Flood? Doesn't matter. Some things are true whether you believe them or not. How can you be sure? There's a way. Did you know that about one-fourth of the Bible is prophecy? A quarter of the Bible is a lot – it's a big book. And did you know God's standard? Perfection. That means that if even one of those prophecies is wrong, you can discount the whole thing. Kind of like a prophet who makes a false prediction – that made him a false prophet and a candidate for stoning. Did you know that 4,000 prophecies in that Bible have already come true down to the last detail? That leaves about 1,000 left to be fulfilled – those are the ones regarding the last days before the return of Christ, which are being checked off the list right now.

If 4,000 out of 5,000 prophecies have already occurred exactly as the Bible predicted they would, you might want to pay attention to the rest.

The good news is that 1.1 million people across California have signed a petition to bring marriage to a vote of the people through a state constitutional amendment (just like 27 other states have done). And guess what? An amendment to a state constitution trumps even the most out-of-control state judiciary. We'll likely know if these signatures are validated before this tyrannical ruling goes into effect, and I predict they will be since they gathered 400,000 more signatures more than they needed to qualify. Besides, they already voted – eight years ago where more than 61 percent of Californians declared marriage as the union of a man and a woman. Now they just need to turn that same language into a constitutional amendment.

I don't live in California, so why am I sounding the alarm? Here's why:

But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand. – Ezekiel 33:6

I'm praying and working to protect marriage in California (and the rest of the country) not only because I care about marriage, but because I care about civilization. And, if we obey God, he just may spare us from the judgment we deserve.

Well, I DO live in California! This is why so many Christians are working hard to get the word out to vote for the upcoming ballot measure to declare marriage as the union of a man and a woman and write it into the Constitution!

Previously I had quoted from the book, "The Homosexual Agenda: Exposing the Principal Threat to Religious Freedom Today" by Alan Sears and Craig Osten in my post called Allow Gospel To Be Silenced?:

"We cannot allow [a false understanding] of love to trump truth." In our hope of being accepted, we have often backed away from the spiritual battle for the hearts and souls of men. Rather than confront the culture, we have often chosen to conform to it. Instead of promoting self-fulfillment in our churches, we must get back to modeling self-sacrifice. Christ made the ultimate sacrifice for us, and like him, we must be humble servants and not haughty judges. We need to point the individual trapped in homosexual behavior to the true cross, not a revised, meaningless gospel that require no sacrifice, no repentance, and provides no real lasting deliverance from sin and its pain and sorrow.

We must be willing to be salt and light in our culture, no matter what.

[We] must not remain silent, we must speak up, when Christ and his teaching are ridiculed and sexual deviancy is exalted. This includes the media, our public schools, our elected officials, and our workplace. There may be a price that we will all have to pay, but whatever that price is, we must remember it pales in comparison to the price Christ paid for us. If we stay silent, our children and grandchildren will reap the consequences of our apathy.

Our voice must be consistent: we must love homosexual men and women, and because of this love for them we must want to see them redeemed from a lifestyle of certain, ultimate despair.

[So] many are living testaments to the joy and healing--through faith in Jesus Christ--available to the person who escapes from homosexual behavior.

[For] many years, the church and Christians were essentially AWOL from the courthouse while dozens of legal cases were litigated, setting precedents the homosexual activists rely on today. We can no longer ignore the legal realm.

[Reverend Peter Jensen] said, "...The Christian Gospel is the insertion of truth into the untrustworthy discourse of the world."

[We] cannot shy away from this task, regardless of the price. We need to ask ourselves: Are we willing to take a stand, to keep the door open for the gospel, or are we going to allow it to be silenced? Are we willing to share Christ's love with the person trapped in homosexual behavior, or will we simply walk by them like the Levite and the priest on the road to Jericho and not offer a helping hand? (see Luke 10:25-37)

The book concludes:

The answers to those questions will determine the future of marriage, the family, culture, and the gospel in America, and of America itself. They will determine the futures of millions of hurting individuals in need of a loving Father who alone can provide them with the true affirmation, true fulfillment, and the true love they so desperately need. And the good news --even a nation's heart can turn in a single day (Jonah 3:10).

HT's: GCMWatch

World Net Daily

ADF - The Homosexual Agenda: Exposing the Principal Threat to Religious Freedom Today

Why Is Fox News Protecting Obama?

Why Is Fox News Protecting Obama?

That's what I would like to know! It is so eerie to see that channel change the way that it has. Has Obamanation mania reached this former "fair and balanced" cable news channel as well? Seems like it to me!

My comment there:

Great article and comments - at least most of the comments were really good. The commenter who mocked Laura Ingraham for “wearing her religion on her sleeve” and so obviously had disdain for those who wrote so excellently about their Christian viewpoint and worldview - here’s a polite warning - don’t visit my blog! The rest of you may, in fact, like it.

Now to the subject at hand.

This article caught my attention precisely because I wanted answers to that same question!

Something has drastically changed at Fox News.

When E.D. Hill had her show dropped from the schedule (was she also fired?) just because she questioned whether or not the fist bump that Barack and Michele did after a campaign speech could, perhaps, be similar to a terrorist type of action, I knew that the namby-pamby Barack Obambi kid gloves were now officially on at Fox.

Hill’s comment could have just been laughed off. Why so sensitive? Why punish her so harshly?

Why the removal of the flag pins from their lapels? Our fight against Islamo-fascist terrorism is not over! If they were forced to do this because the bosses at Fox thought it might show favoritism towards John McCain...GIVE ME A FREAKIN’ BREAK!! It shows PATRIOTISM TOWARDS OUR NATION AND SUPPORT FOR OUR TROOPS FIGHTING FOR OUR FREEDOM IN HARMS WAY!

After reading this article and the comments, I can’t help but wonder if George Soros is secretly working behind the scenes at Fox. He’s got every other news outlet bought...doesn’t he?

I have switched to watching local news reports. I also now listen to Talk Radio and read blogs instead of viewing the Fox shows that I used to watch. Fox has officially lost my once loyal viewership.

*******

I was wondering...who made them start drinking the Obama Kool-Aid? I did go back and read some of the comments a second time and noticed this very interesting tidbit of information from "Ann":

Al-Waleed, A Saudi Arabian prince, has major stocks in NewsCorp which owns Fox. Now it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure that one out.

Fox's Saudi Prince

Murdoch is just looking to make money on both ends of the political spectrum.

One of the first things in a communist takeover: Control the media and all communications

That certainly explains it.

UGH!!!!

Wake up people and smell the rotten stench of communism and jihadism...combined!


HT's: Accuracy in Media

FrontPage Magazine

'Last days' are imminent - by Jonathan Falwell

There is no doubt that the drama is mounting in the Middle East, and the eyes of the world are again focused on this volatile region. This week, AP reported that a recent Israeli military exercise may have been intended to show the nation's abilities to attack Iranian nuclear facilities. The prophetic "last days" are rapidly approaching!

read more digg story

If you go to the Digg site, you will read some posts by scoffers. I tried to share the truth of God's Word with them. We will soon see what their responses will be.


Digg commenter "seala" wrote:

I have been hearing these words from preachers and pastors for over 30 years. It leads to an uncaring apolitical approach to life by too many Christians.A" Who cares about what the world will be like in our grandchildrens' time, Jesus will have come by them" attitude to the world. As Billybob28 put it "focus on living out your faith through love as Paul tells us" -including Love for those yet to be born

My reply:

seala - What about Jesus' admonition to watch for His return? He mentioned the signs of the times would be as in the days of Noah and the days of Lot. What do we know about those days? Hearts grew cold towards God. Noah's warnings were ignored by the violent, sexually immoral people. Sodom and Gomorrah was filled with the sin of homosexuality.

Look at today! Do you see similarities? Even your attitude shows disdain for fellow Christian believers that are still sharing the gospel and warning about the judgment that is to come.

You are correct that we are to live out our faith through love. But wouldn't you agree that one way we love nonbelievers is to warn them of dying without Jesus and being separated from God forever as a result?

We are to live, work, watch and pray. Jesus told us that all of these things are important. It is my hope that you will study your Bible more so that you will be prepared to evangelize the unsaved until Jesus returns. That is our duty as Christians. Remember the Great Commission given by Jesus before his ascension into heaven to be with the Father?

end of comment to seala

My comment to the scoffers who posted there:


How ironic. The scoffers here - most likely unbeknownst to them - are also involved in the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy.

2Pe 3:1 ¶ This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in [both] which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:


2Pe 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:


2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,


2Pe 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation.


2Pe 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:


2Pe 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:


2Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Christians may not know the day nor hour, but we have absolute confidence that Jesus will one day return. Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies in his first coming. Our faith is a reasonable and evidential one. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. We must believe that God is. Jesus asks each of us, "Who do you say that I am?"

I think that the fulfillment of hundreds of Old Testament prophecies by one Man - the Son of God who is Jesus the Messiah - ranks up there in mathematical probability for his return to fulfill the rest of the prophecies about Him as well as His promises to those who confess Jesus as Savior and Lord!

Despite your current rejection of Jesus and His Word, the Bible, there is still hope for non-believers! - That is, if you repent in time...

2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.


2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

The rest of 2 Peter informs us of how suddenly "the Day of the Lord" will come upon the earth.

2Pe 3:10 ¶ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

In the next verse, we are also informed that as followers of Jesus, we are to be in "[all] holy conversation and godliness." Such a thing is definitely counter-culture! The secular humanist's "god" is tolerance, moral relativism, sexual immorality, and the "anything goes" type of attitude. No one is supposed to make any judgments. THAT IS THE MYTH! It is one of Satan's best schemes...tolerate evil and sin to our detriment - to our physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual death.

2Pe 3:11 [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness,

If the following verse does not say "judgment" all over it, then you are not reading it correctly!

2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

That's right. Believe the enemy of our souls and don't even worry about it all! /sarcasm

The following is a promise of our reward for being faithful.

2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Just Whom is the One that we may be found of him in peace? Who is without spot? Who is blameless? Jesus Christ!

2Pe 3:14 ¶ Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Think about what Jesus endured on the cross for you and your sins! The gospels and epistle writings are in the Bible to teach you "according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you."

2Pe 3:15 And account [that] the longsuffering of our Lord [is] salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

We may not understand everything. No one does. But the Bible provides everything that we need to know about Jesus and salvation! Those who do not study the Bible and apply it to their lives are FOOLISH! They will end up "unto their own destruction."

2Pe 3:16 As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

The next verse is a warning to nominal Christians. Without stedfast faith in Jesus Christ - being born again as Jesus tells us in John 3:3, one can fall for "the error of the wicked."

2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know [these things] before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

We are to have "the mind of Christ." How do we do that? First, by being born again. Second, by studying and applying Scripture and growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ!

2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Some People Are Free to Speak, Others Should Not Be?

This is another in a series of blogposts where I state at the outset:

Talk Wisdom reports...you decide.

FINALLY a journalist is discussing the fact that the Larry Sinclair National Press Club News Conference" that was held on Thursday, June 18th 2008 was, for the most part, ignored and not reported by the MSM.

There is a lot of suspicion surrounding the attempt to block Larry Sinclair's National Press Club Conference. The deafening silence of the MSM after the fact is quite disturbing. I sincerely hope that the reason for the MSM silence is because there is a gathering of evidence going on behind the scenes in order to fact check Sinclair's allegations.

I have questions.

If this were about John McCain, what do you think that the liberal media would have done with it?

If the man's allegations are false, then why would anyone want to hush it up? Prove that they are false!!

Back in 2004, the MSM ran with the FALSE allegations against President Bush re: the National Guard fiasco. They didn't bother to check the facts or to see if the allegations were REALLY true before they broad casted it all over the news wires.

Why?

Because the MSM hates Bush! Always has, and probably always will.

Now, we have the "darling" of the MSM in Barack Obama. No matter WHAT the man has done in the past, no matter WHICH questionable and downright awful characters that he has had associations with, no matter HOW much he flip flops on issues, he's treated with kid gloves!

What's even more disturbing is that no matter HOW MANY inquiring minds there are that think that it is so odd that questions about the murder of Donald Young and two other members of Obama's former church are being asked and not answered - WHY does the MSM turn a blind eye to it all?

If this happened at John McCain's church, what do you think that the media would do with it?

Look at the hatred and angst spewed by the MSM at McCain just because John Hagee - a pastor that simply endorsed him, (but was not his personal mentor or pastor like Rev. Wright was to Obama) - said something (that was misconstrued as anti-Semitic, btw) that got the leftists and MSM all up in arms? Did you notice how far the vetting of that situation went?

Ask yourself these questions.

1. Isn't it strange that Obama didn't bother to attend Donald Young's funeral? Supposedly, they had been "friends" for 15 years!!

2. Isn't it odd that a paltry $1,000.00 reward for the killer of Donald was offered by the Trinity Church? Yet, Rev. Wrong, who has a multi-million dollar mansion plus a bank account that could feed hundreds of thousands of starving children around the world can only put up that cheap $1000.00 "reward" for the capture of the killer?

3. Doesn't sound to me like they really want the perpetrator captured...does it?

4. Does it even sound like they want the investigation carried forward?

I'm just asking questions...

Something is TERRIBLY WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE PEOPLE!!

I'm not afraid to speak out about it - either.

Here are links to what happened at the News Conference. There is a transcript link and a video link. I suggest that you watch the video - then make your own decision regarding Sinclair's allegations.

BTW, the Youtube video out there eliminates some of the most important parts of the conference. The link I have shared here is the complete conference video.

Transcript of the Conference at Citizen Wells

Press Conference Video

Now, on to the article:

Is 1st Amendment on life support?

This article and subject matter is far to important to ignore. Here's a copy of the entire article:

Commentary by Sylvia A. Smith
Washington editor
WASHINGTON – After a week of relentless e-mails and phone calls from people who were outraged at the prospect of a guy scheduling a press conference to make allegations about Barack Obama, I’m not sure extreme CPR could resuscitate the idea of free speech in some Americans’ minds.

The message they sent was that the guy is a crackpot and a felon and therefore should be prevented from speaking.

Let me fill you in on what happened.

As you might know, I’m the president of the National Press Club this year. The Press Club is a major venue for newsmaking in Washington. We invite lots of interesting, provocative and newsy people to speak here.

But we also rent our meeting rooms to people and groups. They might have a private event (a wedding reception or a conference limited to their own members). Or they might rent space to conduct a press conference.

When that happens, the NPC functions essentially as a conference center.

A couple of weeks ago, one of our meeting rooms was reserved by a customer for a press conference. As it turned out, Larry Sinclair wanted to say he had done illegal things with Obama.

There’s lots of stuff going on in Washington that competes for journalists’ time and attention. The likelihood of much media coverage for this fellow was pretty low because of the outlandishness of his claims and (if anyone had done a Google search on him) his dicey background.

But then a few blogs got wind of the event. They huffed and they puffed that Obama was being unfairly attacked. They detailed Sinclair’s allegations. They stoked their readers to try to force the National Press Club to silence him.

The messages were along the lines of: “How can you allow a criminal to speak?” “Please deny Mr. Larry Sinclair the opportunity to lie to the public.” “Can anyone just buy media coverage?”

Hundreds of phone calls and e-mails poured in to my NPC office from people who saw Sinclair’s rental agreement as evidence that the national media condoned his allegations.

Had Sinclair paid a PR firm $150,000, he wouldn’t have gotten nearly this much attention.

“It’s dumbfounding,” one caller said about the idea that the NPC would allow someone “to make an outlandish statement.”

I don’t for a minute think the people who called shouldn’t have. But I was astounded at the conviction the callers expressed that someone who has something nasty to say should be silenced.

The First Amendment was created to prevent the government from butting into Americans’ ability to have an uninhibited, robust and wide-open debate about the nooks and crannies of society. It doesn’t give individual people the right to say anything about anybody. There are laws against slander, after all. But the underlying notion is that people can speak their minds and that sunshine is the best disinfectant.

When the press conference rolled around, legitimate news outlets – the mainstream media – were extremely circumspect in their coverage of Sinclair and his allegations. Articles in the Washington Post? New York Times? Associated Press? L.A. Times? Not a word the day of or after the event.

Not so the advocacy blogs. Sinclair’s accusations were listed by blogger after blogger, who went on to decry that those accusations were “allowed” to be voiced.

The day after the press conference, I got a call from a woman who scolded the National Press Club for permitting an “obviously mentally ill person” to speak. “For you folks to support this and have the videotape shown everywhere – I’m incredulous.”

The videotape was posted on blogs not associated with media outlets.

And therein lies the difference between most journalists and some bloggers: Professional journalists don’t print or air startling allegations without first investigating their credibility.

This is not meant to be a slap-down of blogs. There are plenty of bloggers who research and think before they post. And bloggers who just want to opine have a role in our national conversation.

My point is that the very thing the people who advocated blocking Sinclair’s press conference said they feared – widespread media coverage – simply didn’t happen because no credible news outlet would publish those kinds of allegations without first verifying them.

The underlying message I got from the callers and e-mailers was that the First Amendment and free speech are an impediment to the way they think things ought to be. Or that while some people are free to speak, others should not be.

That way of thinking is a lot scarier than allegations from Larry Sinclair.

Sylvia A. Smith has worked at The Journal Gazette since 1973 and has covered Washington since 1989. She is the only Washington-based reporter who exclusively covers northeast Indiana. Her e-mail address is sylviasmith@jg.net. Her phone number is 202-879-6710.
Copyright © 2008 The Journal Gazette. All rights reserved. News service copy is used with permission. The information contained in the report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Journal Gazette or granting news service.


*******
Again I ask - Is anyone else out there highly concerned about this??? Why so silent, people???

HT's: Citizen Wells
American Free Press.net
Journal Gazette.net

*******
More evidence of Obama's real feelings vs. the fake, plastic ones being manufactured and spun out through his campaign!

*******

Oh and...don't believe all of the political polls out there. Look at how Newsweek's was fixed!

Yahoo! Hypes Newsweek Poll With 15-Point Obama Lead

The Newsweek poll questioned more Democrats than Republicans: 231 Republicans to 324 Democrats, plus 307 independents. How convenient.

Where's MSM Fairness in Vetting Candidates?

Zachjonesishome has some very important and pertinent questions for the obviously rabid, messiah-like-worshipping, pro-Obama MSM:

Where is the concept of fairness within the MSM when it comes to vetting the candidates?

Excerpt:

If These Three Strikes Were Committed By Sen. John McCain
The United States Main Stream Media Would Have Called Senator John McCain OUT!



The Critical Question:

Do we have an impartial umpire calling the 2008 Presidential Election?


It is clear from the actions of Senator Obama, that he has little or no appreciation for the laws, customs and traditions of The United States of America.


It is clear from his actions that he believes that any such laws, customs and traditions should only apply to the bitter people who cling to their guns and religion.

Curious? Continue reading here.

HT: Zachjonesishome

*******
Update:

Oh my...our namby-pamby Barack Obambi* press is absolutely clueless!!

HT: *Credit goes to The Obambi.com blog for my borrowing of the term "Obambi." It just fit so well!

P.S. Warning...bad language at the "Obambi" link. But the photos and commentary are hilarious!

Hey! Sometimes we need to laugh at the goings-on during this election circus...er... circuit!

*******
And....
No matter where you stand and/or what you think about Larry Sinclair's accusations against Barack Obama, Zach Jones has written an excellent op-ed piece regarding the far left's effort to squelch free speech that they don't like:

What Right Is There That Is Greater And More Precious Than The Right Of Freedom Of Expression? None!


Just look at the new push for the oxymoronic and deceptively titled, "Fairness Doctrine."

Related blog posts:

Audacity of Hypocrisy: Did Obama Commit Crime with Faux-Presidential Seal?

Buyers Remorse: An Obama Supporter Now Has Doubts Video

*******
Update 6/22/08

Loyal Obamatons zapped if their blogs get "out of line"

How creepier can this get???

Excerpt:

Diane,I have found this warning message only today.

I am perplexed with confusing thoughts.

A blogger wrote yesterday “they give you only one warning before removing an account” Is this correct?

I checked ACTIVITY in my profile, and NO comments are marked there as REMOVED

I have not posted anything obscene or offensive. But I made about 30 comments on 6/3. between calling to South Dakota. So could you send me the comment which was removed? Such procedure certainly would help people like me. Infiltrators know very well WHY they get a warning. I truly don’t. I would learn from it.

On 6/2 and 6/3 I spent CONSIDERABLE amount of time sending alerts about INFILTRATOR POSTS which I judged as injurious to our purpose. (I see them today as well but am reluctant to act at all on anything). I made a mention of that in a comment, so may be I was reported as revenge. BTW alerting is time consuming and I do not get points for the alerts.

Seeing this comment of mine which someone deemed offensive would enable me to verify it was really mine – and not made by someone else by infiltrating my account. I have read several stories in the last 3 days of just that happening.. No one has access to my computer at my place.

I have NOTED “something going on” with people accounts and emotions in these last 3 or 4 days. This is discouraging and distressing. Accounts busted and (nice) people afraid to comment and leaving. Do not let it happen.

7. The campaign is very well aware that behind every TRUE supporter of Barack on this blog there is an incredible amount of emotions. I cannot tell you how I am feeling today. I gave you my LIFE in these last 4 months as well as 1/7th of my earnings this year. I went broke in February but donated.

To finish – if supporters like me are under a threat of termination on the basis of what I have described, this means that there is something very very wrong happening to the campaign and its future goals. I think my profile can be a clue. And I have done much more.

Here are some more Obamatons, freaking out that a person using the name “JFKFan” was banned: Barack Obama : : Change We Can Believe In Independent support: Really!

Marxism is not only the future with Obama...it's already reigning in his campaign!

HT: LGF

*******
Update @ 8:03 a.m. PT 6/22/08

Right Wing Nut House: Obama Starting To Creep Me Out

Apparently, I'm not the only one who thinks Obama is CREEPY!

LOTS of great additional posts at that blog!

Your Sin Will Find You Out

Num 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

Chuck Smith commentary on that verse:

II. MOSES' COMMAND AND WARNING.
A. "You have sinned against the Lord."
1. "All have sinned" "None righteous."
B. Be sure your sins will find you out.
1. Conscience.
a. Treasury Dept. conscience fund.
2. Face.
3. In the end.
a. You might be clever in concealing from men. You cannot hide from God.
b. You might deceive men. you cannot deceive God. "All things are open and revealed before Him with whom we deal."

Matthew Henry commentary on that verse:

3. He warns them of the danger of breaking their word: "If you fail, you sin against the Lord (v. 23), and not against your brethren only, and be sure your sin will find you out;’’ that is, "God will certainly reckon with you for it, though you may make a light matter of it.’’ Note, Sin will, without doubt, find out the sinner sooner or later. It concerns us therefore to find our sins out, that we may repent of them and forsake them, lest our sins find us out to our ruin and confusion.

More detailed commentary by Pastor Chuck Smith

Excerpt:

B. Sin will find you out in your face.
1. God put a mark on Cain, after he killed his brother. Just what mark was we are not told.

2. It is interesting how that sin leaves its mark on a person's face.

3. Take a person who has given his life over to sin, it begins to leave its mark.

4. When you are young, it is barely recognizable, but the older you get, the more obvious the marks become.

C. Sin will find you out before the judgment seat of God.

1. It is possible that you may have committed the perfect crime. There is absolutely no way it can be traced to you.

2. At this point you feel that you have gotten by with it. It is a secret that only you know, it has never been shared. You may die keeping that secret.

3. The Bible tells us that it is appointed unto man once to die, and after that, the judgment.

4. We are told that all of the dead small and great will stand before God in that day, and the people will be judged for the things that are written in the books.

HEB 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

PSA 44:20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;
PSA 44:21 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

LUK 12:2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
LUK 12:3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

5. Like the hard drive on a computer, every access to the internet has been stored, and a person with a little computer knowledge can retrieve it.

6. In the books, everything has been recorded, and you will have to answer to God for it.

Fortunately, this bad news is not final! Now, for the Good News:

Continuing with Pastor Chuck Smith's commentary:

D. Have I ever got good news for you! God has made provision to erase your ledger.

1. God said to the nation of Israel, "Come now, let us reason together saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, you can be as white as snow, though they be red as crimson you can be as white as wool.

2. The Bible tells us that if we will confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Reference: Smith, Chuck. "Numbers 32:23," Sermon Notes. Blue Letter Bible. 28 Jul 2005. 20 Jun 2008.

*******

Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him alone we can know God personally and experience God's love.

He Died In Our Place - "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

He Rose From the Dead - "Christ died for our sins...He was buried...He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures... He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred..." (1 Corinthians 15:3-6).

He Is the Only Way to God - "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me' " (John 14:6).

God bridged the gulf that separates us from Him by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sins.

It is not enough just to know these truths...see Becoming a Christian

Why Obama Against Iraq War?

In his latest editorial piece, Jack Cashill asks the question, But Why Was Obama Against the War?

Excerpt:

Nearly six months before the war began, Obama had already sniffed out "a cynical attempt by Richard Perle and Paul Wolfowitz," the only two officials so named, "to shove their own ideological agendas down our throats."

Aiding and abetting the neo-cons, of course, was the inevitable Karl Rove. As Obama told it, Rove was banging the war drum to distract America from, among other things, "a stock market that has just gone through the worst month since the Great Depression."

This is the kind of intelligence that Obama could not have drawn from Jeremiah –"America's chickens are coming home to roost" – Wright. As much as Wright might have admired Obama's newfound moxie, he lacked the sophistication to supply the speech's central tropes.

For those, Obama would have turned to his pals in Chicago's unrepentant radical community. In fact, the key organizers of the anti-war rally were two proud veterans of the militant Students for a Democratic Society, Carl Anderson and Marilyn Katz. This helps explain why the website is silent on the speech's origins.

As Katz tells it, she was one of a group of five individuals who put the rally together, and they did so on just 10 days' notice. Left unsaid, of course, is how they so quickly recruited Obama, in Katz's words, "the most senior elected official at the first popular rally."

The most likely connection is Bill Ayers, the former Weatherman bomber and fugitive. Ayers and his Weatherwoman bride, Bernadine Dohrn, helped launch Obama's first campaign for the state senate in the mid-1990s and have stayed close to him since. Katz admittedly had known Ayers since she was 17 – 40-some years earlier.

One senses the radical contribution to the speech. On his own, Obama would not have made the quietly anti-Semitic reference to Perle and Wolfowitz, two names in common parlance only on the hard left.

As to the "worst month" claim about the stock market, this too rings of hand-me-down Marxist hysteria, given that the Dow Jones had been fairly flat since July 2002 and would gain more than 10 percent in that very October of Obama's discontent.

Ah! More dots are being connected through this well researched article! Plus, it reveals the fact that Obama doesn't always know, beforehand, the details of what his teleprompter speech writers place in his speeches! Now that's eye-opening news!

Just one more important reason added to the ever-growing laundry list of why Obama is not qualified to be president!

HT: WorldNetDaily