http://youtu.be/5MoWJnvYFDg
How's that hope and change working out for you? The Fox video above gives straight statistics about how it is not working for most Americans. Yet I fear that the promise of more hope and change will people to vote for President Obama again.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
The Duties of Church Leaders
Gary DeMar wrote a three volume set called God and Government. I am reading through the first one now. In the second chapter, I found the most clearly articulated summary of what elders' duties are. This a paraphrase from p. 41.
Elders are to
1. Guide the church away from sinful behavior.
2. Guide the church to doctrinal purity.
3. Guide people to repentance.
4. Expel those unwilling to repent.
5. Restore those who are truly repentant.
6. Settle disputes among believers.
I would love to hear opinions on this list and whether you think that your elders, bishops, pastors, shepherds (or whatever you call them) spend most of their time doing these things.
Elders are to
1. Guide the church away from sinful behavior.
2. Guide the church to doctrinal purity.
3. Guide people to repentance.
4. Expel those unwilling to repent.
5. Restore those who are truly repentant.
6. Settle disputes among believers.
I would love to hear opinions on this list and whether you think that your elders, bishops, pastors, shepherds (or whatever you call them) spend most of their time doing these things.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Prize of My Heart
Prize of My Heart is a great read by Lisa Norato. I enjoyed this story for three reasons. It wasn't as predictable as many Christian historical romance novels are; there were plot turns that surprised me. The setting (1815 near Boston) was not as familiar to me as the more typical frontier setting. I enjoyed learning about the American privateer an aspect of history I'd not thought much about. The last thing I enjoyed were the life lessons shown through the characters: God can use any evil in your life to bring about good, God is always with you, and family is connected by love not blood. I encourage others to give this book a try. I do not think you will be disappointed. I am grateful to Bethany House for letting me review this book.
Friday, May 4, 2012
The Fools Who Follow Him
Godfather Politics has a great article about wealth "redistribution". The ending quote translated from a Czech paper is the kicker.
“The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America. Blaming the prince of fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools, such as those who made him their President.” — Translated from Czech Republic Newspaper Prager Zeitung (April 28, 2010.)
The lack of common sense and good judgement found in the people of this nation is due in large part to the failure of the church to educate and train people in cultural issues such as government, law, and economics. My own church, for example, refuses to take a stand on any cultural issue that is controversial. Now, mind you, they don't mind taking stands on theological issues that are (at least in our denomination) controversial. But cultural issues. . . well that's another story. Those might make us seem divisive or legalistic or something else unpleasant. And so of the 2-3,000 voting age people at our church, I am sure that hundreds if not a thousand of them voted for Pres. Obama. In general the church has no concept of the different authorities God has given the various governments (self, family, church, civil). For example, they will site that we are to take care of the poor. But this is a function of the family first (the poor within your family), then the church, then the community, and not the civil government. Many Christians have the skewed view that if its a good idea (marriage counseling, healthy food, saving money for retirement) that the civil government should do it. But this leads to a massive, corrupt, godless government. And then the church moans, "If only the government would do something!"
So I applaud Prager Zeitung for their insight and wonder if it is the year they spent under communism that allows them to have this insight and state is so well. And will we have to spend some time under an equally tyrannical regime before we can realize the same and begin the change staring with ourselves (how educated are you on the biblical perspective of law, government, and economics), our families (what are you teaching your kids), and our churches (if you are in a place of influence are you using it to spread the truth).
“The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America. Blaming the prince of fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools, such as those who made him their President.” — Translated from Czech Republic Newspaper Prager Zeitung (April 28, 2010.)
The lack of common sense and good judgement found in the people of this nation is due in large part to the failure of the church to educate and train people in cultural issues such as government, law, and economics. My own church, for example, refuses to take a stand on any cultural issue that is controversial. Now, mind you, they don't mind taking stands on theological issues that are (at least in our denomination) controversial. But cultural issues. . . well that's another story. Those might make us seem divisive or legalistic or something else unpleasant. And so of the 2-3,000 voting age people at our church, I am sure that hundreds if not a thousand of them voted for Pres. Obama. In general the church has no concept of the different authorities God has given the various governments (self, family, church, civil). For example, they will site that we are to take care of the poor. But this is a function of the family first (the poor within your family), then the church, then the community, and not the civil government. Many Christians have the skewed view that if its a good idea (marriage counseling, healthy food, saving money for retirement) that the civil government should do it. But this leads to a massive, corrupt, godless government. And then the church moans, "If only the government would do something!"
So I applaud Prager Zeitung for their insight and wonder if it is the year they spent under communism that allows them to have this insight and state is so well. And will we have to spend some time under an equally tyrannical regime before we can realize the same and begin the change staring with ourselves (how educated are you on the biblical perspective of law, government, and economics), our families (what are you teaching your kids), and our churches (if you are in a place of influence are you using it to spread the truth).
Friday, March 30, 2012
Sixty Acres and a Bride
I was privelidged to receive a copy of Sixty Acres and a Bride by Regina Jennings from Bethany House Publishers. The fabric of this story is as finely embroidered as the clothes the main heroine (Rosa) wears. Set in post Civil War south Texas, there enough historical flare to keep the story interesting. You will find the story reminiscent of the Biblical account of Ruth and Naomi, but with enough twists and turns to keep it interesting. This book is about love and loss, finding one's place in a new community, sticking with friends and family in need, and trusting in the Lord. I really enjoyed reading it and hope you will give this debut novel a try.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
What Grows from Your Heart? makes it to the front page of Etsy!
And I already got a commitment to buy from a lady in Australia, but I had to update the shipping for that country. An exciting way to start a Saturday!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Something to Celebrate
There is a great post from FRC about Texas cutting off the flow of money to Planned Parenthood and how clinics are closing left and right. I think this is in part because prayer in TX has increased against abortion especially via 40 Days for Life. Despite the bleakness out there, there are still things to celebrate and praise God for!
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