Isn't It Strange?
It IS strange that some people want a small god: a god that they aren't threatened by; that they don't have to fear & reverence.
But the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. I'm thankful that THE God of The Bible is not a small god. The Lord is a big God, the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, the great I Am, the Beginning and the End!
No better than Humanism, which elevates man to a god-like status,
man's "churchianity" and "religiosity" seeks a god that is manageable.
No better than the Romans and Greeks, who constructed gods that share man's frailties and proclivities,
"sin-condoning churchianity" seeks a god that understands our sins and overlooks them.
God created us in His image, not the other way around. God doesn't need a make-over from us! He is the same today, tomorrow and forever! God isn't "manageable" and He isn't OK with our sin. He commands us to be holy.
Satan's message to Adam and Eve was basically, "Yeah, I know God said don't, but what do YOU want? You can become like God, knowing good and evil." It's the same today in our society of "I want what I want and I want it now."
But what God want's for us is sooo much better than what we want.
One of my Heroes
Recently, I reconnected (on Facebook) with one of my heroes, Steve Smoker.
In 1985, I had only been a Christian for a short time when my family moved to the coast of North Carolina. Looking for a place to worship, I visited a little church where Pastor Steve had recently joined the staff as youth pastor.
Now, here was a guy who is exceptionally talented and creative. With his management ability and skill in graphic design, he could have done very well in the corporate world. Any advertising agency would be lucky to have him. In fact, I think Disney once had an interest in him. But, instead of seeking worldly success, he and his wife (who has an angelic singing voice) chose to minister to a motley group of kids in a little neighborhood called Crab Point.
Surely, there were moments when Steve and Linda wondered what they had gotten into. As one of the kids, I remember some times when we would have made the Bad News Bears look like a cohesive team by comparison. You could say we put the “fun” in dysfunctional.
With Pastor Steve’s leadership, we had the most amazing youth group events. There was snow skiing, river rafting, theme parks, mystery retreats, conferences, concerts, summer camps and even a missions trip to Costa Rica. One of our group, Frank Kinsey, serves as a missionary in Costa Rica today.
It wasn’t all fun and games (though there was an incredible amount of fun). Pastor Steve taught us by example what it means to be a prayer warrior. He also taught us the importance of: having a firm foundation in Christ, seeking the approval of God rather than people, choosing what’s right instead of what’s popular, and looking for the opportunities for God to use us.
I remember the Bible passages that we memorized, the songs of worship that we learned in Spanish and sign language, the prayer meetings we had, and the prayer journals we kept that detailed what we were praying about and how God answered those prayers. I referred back to my prayer journal for years afterwards and marveled at what God had done.
There’s something else I remember that may seem trivial to many, but it really stuck with me. I called Pastor Steve one day to ask him a quick question – I don’t remember what it was, but I remember that it wasn’t very important. Probably a 15 second conversation.
At the end of the call he said in an earnest tone, “Thanks for calling.”
I know it’s not earth-shattering, but no-one had ever said that to me before. I bugged the guy about something unimportant and he thanked me for calling! At that moment, I felt more appreciated, more wanted and more worthwhile than ever before. God’s love was demonstrated through such a simple act.
I’m pretty sure that Pastor Steve prayed for opportunities to be a Godly hero in our lives.
Pastor Steve, thank you for being willing to be used by God.
A True Friend
A friend is someone who’s willing to share
The folding hand that’s dealt your way;
Someone who shows they really care
With each elapsing day.
A friend is someone who is easy to talk to
And you know you can confide therein;
Someone who also can talk to you
About their problems or praises or sin.
A friend, when you’re feeling down and low,
Will help you cope with your battles and win.
A friend will surely help you to know
That you’re only going through a bend.
There are many bends in this road of life
In which, Christians seemingly get caught;
But a friend will help you pull out the knife
And heal the wounds the world has wrought.
It’s hard to find a friend so true
Who would make such a sacrifice;
That’s why I’m glad I found a friend in You,
My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
by Dan Young, at age 14
Validation
Sweets To The Sweet
Message From Father of Columbine Student, Rachel Scotts
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Guess our national leaders didn't expect this, hmm?
On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee.
What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful.
They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal.
There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness.. The following is a portion of the transcript:
"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women.. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.
"The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart.
"In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent.
”I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy -- it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best.
”Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You've stripped away our heritage,
You've outlawed simple prayer.
Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question "Why?"
You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!
"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refus
e to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history.
”Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs – politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.
"As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium wi
th a sacred disregard for legislation
that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA -- I give to you a sincere challenge.. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!
”My daughter's death = will not be in vain!
”The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"
Do what the media did not - - let the nation hear this man's speech. Please send this out to those you think would appreciate it.
God Bless
The Impact of Words
Just consider these statements:
"You're worthless."
"How dumb can you be?"
"You'll never amount to anything."
"Are you that stupid?"
"Get your head out of the clouds."
"Why don't you use your brain."
Have you ever heard these words?
Have you ever said them to someone else? To a child?
The thing is, people often believe our assessment of them. Children (especially) wear our words like a label.
They could be words like: lazy, fat, stupid, worthless, pig, retarded, short, clumsy, failure, selfish, and ugly.
OR
words like: brilliant, beautiful, insightful, creative, funny, smart, bright, kind, and promising.
Which of these descriptions did you buy into as a child?
Which ones do you believe today?
If we buy into the negative descriptions, it becomes a vicious cycle. On the other hand, if we buy into the positive descriptions, it becomes a victorious cycle.
Here's what I mean: Our thoughts about ourselves become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Events in life are interpreted in a way that reinforces our preconceived notions. After going through adversity, someone with a negative self image might think, "I wonder what's going to happen to me next! I'm sure it won't be good." Someone with a positive self image might think, "Look at what I've overcome! Nothing can keep me down."
You know, God taught us this long before any psychologists understood it:
"Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts." (Proverbs 4:23)
and, also,
"As a man thinketh, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7)
The philosopher Goethe aptly said, “The way you see people is the way you treat them and the way you treat them is what they become.” He taught that if we treat people as if they were what they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of being! I believe this wholeheartedly.
Research has shown that when you give someone a compliment, they will strive to live up to it.
Want to conduct your own research? Do what a popular cartoonist did. He decided to amuse himself by sending telegrams to twenty acquaintances selected randomly. Each message contained only one word: “Congratulations!” As far as he knew, not one of them had done anything in particular to be congratulated on. However, each one took the message as a matter of fact and wrote him a letter of thanks. Everyone who received the message had done something that they regarded as clever and worthy of congratulations.
The impact of encouragement is limited only by its lack of use.
So, think about this for a second: how often do you encourage other people?
One of my mentors, Zig Ziglar, explains that "most people go around finding fault like there's some kind of prize for it, but I'd rather be a ‘good-finder.’" I agree with Zig, but encouragement doesn't come naturally. It takes practice.
Try this: put 7 coins in your left pocket and as you go through the day today, move one of the coins over to your right pocket each time you encourage someone. It can be pretty eye-opening when you empty your pockets at the end of the day. If the coins are still in the left pocket and you can't specifically remember any words of encouragement that day, you have a lot of work to do tomorrow. If all the coins made it over to the right pocket, try adding a few more tomorrow.
Every successful person can remember a time when someone saw greatness in them and told them so.
As a child, I bought into some negative descriptions. Thankfully, my perceptions changed when other people told me they saw something worthwhile in me.
I remember when a teacher told me that I was smart; when an uncle told me I had a good head for business; when a pretty girl told me I was interesting; and when a friend told me I had a good voice.
I also remember when I found out what God thinks of me. Just think, if there were a price tag on you or me, that price tag would have to read "Jesus" because that was what God was willing to pay for us.
You know the verse. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. It reminds me of a sign that read, “when I asked Jesus ‘how much do you love me’ He said ‘this much’ as He stretched out His arms on the cross and died.”
When we think about how much God values us, does it really make sense to keep carrying any of the limiting beliefs that we have bought into?
What limiting beliefs do you still have?
It might be helpful to know that YOUR PAST DOESN'T DETERMINE YOUR FUTURE.
Consider this:
* Beethoven’s music teacher once said, “As a composer, he is hopeless.”
* When Thomas Edison was a young boy, his teacher told him he was too stupid to learn anything and suggested that he pursue a field where he might succeed by virtue of his personality.
* When he was 21, F.W. Woolworth got a job in a dry goods store, but his employer would not permit him to wait on customers because he “didn’t have enough sense to close a sale.”
* Michael Jordon was cut from his high school basketball team.
* A newspaper fired Walt Disney because he, “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.”
* Einstein was 4 years old before he could talk.
* Isaac Newton did poorly in school and was said to be “unpromising”.
Like these folks' accomplishments show, our past doesn't determine our future. They believed in themselves because somewhere along the way, they met someone who saw greatness in them, expected it from them, and let them know it.
I see greatness in you and so does God!
"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6
"You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." 1 John 4:4
~Dan
A Great Day for Americans; A Dangerous Day for America, Part 2
A Great Day for Americans; A Dangerous Day for America
Part 2
November 6, 2008
In Part 1, we celebrated the positive things that can come from an our recent historic election. Now, it’s time to turn our attention toward the dangers we may face from the next presidential term.
President Elect Obama appears to be the most liberal candidate ever elected to be the leader of the free world. Though we can’t be sure how he will govern until it happens, he has given us some clues about his ideology that have many fearing a “Euro-socialist” or even “Marxist” bent.
In the past, when a President’s party also controlled Congress, the legislature was made up largely of moderates – but not this time. This is the first time since the 60s that liberal, not moderate, Democrats are dominant.
So, other than a blanket caveat of “bigger government” or “higher taxes”, what are some specific perils we should watch out for during the Obama Presidency? Here are a few:
Weakened National Defense
President Elect Obama said he “will cut … missile defense systems”, “not weaponize space”, “slow our development of future combat systems”, “not develop any new nuclear weapons”, and “achieve deep cuts in our nuclear arsenal.” vid Barny Frank is already calling for a 25% reduction of military spending, saying, “We don't need all these fancy new weapons.” Yes, you read that right, a 25% reduction while we’re fighting two wars. So much for being able to negotiate from a position of strength. Consider the words of President Reagan: “Every lesson of history tells us that appeasement does not lead to peace. It invites an aggressor to test the will of a nation unprepared to meet that test. And tragically, those who seemingly want peace the most, our young people, pay the heaviest price for our failure to maintain our strength.” article
Weakened Constitution - A Sharp Left-Turn for the Supreme Court
I believe this is the biggest danger from an Obama presidency.
President Elect Obama has promised to appoint very liberal (and specifically “pro-abortion”) Supreme Court Justices in order to guide constitutional interpretation. Many on the far left want such agenda-driven jurists to change national policy by simply reinterpreting the constitution and essentially legislating from the bench. The founding fathers never intended the judicial branch to legislate and they certainly never intended the constitution to be reinterpreted to suit current ideology or agendas. There is a proper way to change the Constitution when it needs to be changed.
President Elect Obama may have as many as three Justices to appoint during his four-year term. Their influence would weigh on our nation for decades to come.
Foreign Policy Faux Pas
There is a very real danger that our new President will be seen by our allies and adversaries as being week on foreign policy. Already Russia, Iran, Cuba, Israel, and Venezuela have each issued challenges to him in various ways. Of course, there is also always the possibility that he might act or react inappropriately. Remember the stern caveat that V.P. elect Biden gave: that this young President will be challenged and that it would not be immediately obvious that he reacted correctly.
Censorship
In an effort to silence the opposition, several Dem. leaders are proposing something they dubiously call “The Fairness Doctrine” that would require talk-radio stations to schedule the same amount air time for both liberal and conservative pundits. It should be called “The Censorship Doctrine” as its aim is to diminish the success that conservatives have on broadcast radio, the only medium they dominate. Liberal radio shows have largely failed. Even in the largest metropolitan markets, they don’t exactly thrive, but, merely survive. Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry, and Al Gore are among the proponents of the censorship. Predictably, they don’t think it should be applied to newspapers or other media where liberals dominate.
Other legislation they are kicking around involves mandating more local content and less syndicated content on radio stations (whether the market wants it or not).
article, article
Weakened Industry from unfair Union Influence
There is no doubt that we are going to see several initiatives intended to favor unions and make organizing against employers easier than it has ever been. One initiative proposed by President Elect Obama and his cohorts in Congress would get rid of private ballots which are meant to shield employees from pressure and retribution from coworkers, union organizers and employers. The diminished productivity that comes from rewarding tenure over performance would increase operation costs which would result in a mass exodus of US companies. It would effectively cripple our country’s economy long-term.
Redistribution of Wealth
Even if the taxes are only increased for the wealthiest 5%, it will still impact all Americans. Think for a minute about what will happen when Walmart’s taxes are raised. Will the owners and stockholders just absorb the decrease in profitability? Of course not! Like every other business, they will pass it on to their customers. Corporations don’t pay taxes; their customers do, since business costs are passed along to customers.
Nationalized Banks, Healthcare, and Utilities
Karl Marx taught these steps to usher in socialism.
We’re seeing the first (nationalized central banks) happen before our eyes and hearing promises of the second (nationalized healthcare). Could the third be far behind?
Price Controls
This can sound like a good idea until you really think it through. I’ll leave the long explanation for another post, but suffice it to say that there can be a very large price to pay for the use of price controls. To be sustainable, price controls must be accompanied by rationing and subsidizing (if not outright nationalizing) of the controlled commodity.
Rationing
Surely the free citizens of the USA couldn’t be required to ration our food and necessities. Could we? On May 16 (and a few times since) Obama said, "We can't drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times ... and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK. That’s not leadership. That’s not going to happen.” article It reminds me of when Michelle Obama said, “The truth is, in order to get things like universal health care and a revamped education system, then someone is going to have to give up a piece of their pie so that someone else can have more.” All this talk of rationing, eating less, and, well, pie makes me hungry… and a little scared.
Extreme Abortion Policies
As one of the most extreme proponents of abortion in the Senate, President Elect Obama supported late-term and partial-birth abortions and voted against providing care for infants that survived the abortion. Look for him to lift a ban on using foreign aid to fund abortions and eliminate requirements for abstinence education on his very first day on the job using executive orders.
Compulsory Service
President Elect Obama said on July 2, 2008 that he wants to institute a Civilian National Security Force that rivals the military in power and scope. vid Rham Emanuel, his Chief of Staff, described it as “universal civil defense training” where every young American would be compelled to complete a number of months of military type training. vid If you want to research this further, check out Israel’s compulsory service.
Stopping Domestic Drilling
Expect the new President to reinstate all restrictions on domestic drilling that were recently loosened in response to public outcry.
As these or any other dangers begin to materialize, we all need to be ready to enter the debate and voice our opinions to lawmakers.
______________________________
Dan Young is a citizen-turned-online-journalist who is fed up with the media's blatant bias, the Democrats' double-speak, and the Republicans' fiscal recklessness.