I'm going to post this now and edit for mistakes later.
This is a challenge to those who believe that we are nothing but matter, chemistry in action and so on, or that a human can be completely reduced to chemical components. It is also a counterexample to those who suppose the natural sciences compose a complete epistemology, that is a theory of knowledge. Such a position leaves much out that is essential to the human experience and it is ultimately self defeating since there is no scientific experiment that can prove that all knowledge should be justified by science, hence the truth of the adequacy of a completely scientific epistemology cannot be verified within that epistemology. This is more or less the same problem that logical positivism ran into in the early 20th century. Logical positivism claimed that all knowledge must somehow be based upon observable facts. The problem is that there is no observation that can validates this requirement, thus logical positivism invalidated itself.
The form of the argument for an immaterial mind is based upon a classical argument for libertarian freedom, or freedom that is not compatible with determinism.
The argument goes something like this:
1. If I am morally responsible for an action, then that action is within my control.
2. If determinism is true, then everything I do is a result of events that took place long before I was born.
3. I am not in control of anything that happened prior to my birth.
4. If determinism is true, then I am not in control of my actions(2,3)
5. If determinism is true, then I am not morally responsible. (1,4)
6. Moral responsibility is a necessity of human nature.
7. I am human.
8. Since there are humans who are morally responsible, determinism is false. (5,6,7)
The argument against materialism and for an immaterial mind/soul follows a similar form:
1. If I am morally responsible for an action, then that action is within my control.
2. If materialism is true, then everything that I do is a result of the laws of physics.
3. I am not in control of the laws of physics.
4. If materialism is true, then I am not in control of my actions. (2,3)
5. If materialism is true, then I am not morally responsible. (1,4)
6. Moral responsibility is a necessity of human nature.
7. I am human.
8. Since there are humans who are morally responsible, materialism is false. (5,6,7)
Perhaps the most important claim here is that we are morally responsible. If one wants to suggest that we aren't, I'd like to see him argue that after getting punched in the nose for a birthday present. But if he still insisted as if it wasn't true that he shouldn't have gotten punched in the nose, then these arguments do not work. And that's okay. The arguments are intended only for those who believe in moral responsibility, that there are ways that we ought to behave.
As of the 17th or 16th posts, this thread is under scrutiny and off topic posts will be deleted. And it's no trouble to me to do some house cleaning every now and then.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
20th and 21st CENTURY PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS--Let's not forget the heroism of the martyrs!
Info from Citizen Magazine:
His story, as follows, is found at: www.persecution.com/about/index.cfm?action=WurmbrandStory"
The Voice of the Martyrs has been around since 1967. It was founded by Jewish Christian Richard Wurmbrand who was in prison for 14 years for being the pastor of an underground church in the U.S.S.R. He spent 3 years in solitary confinement. He said, "It was in the midst of suffering I experienced the everlasting love of Christ."
His story, as follows, is found at: www.persecution.com/about/index.cfm?action=WurmbrandStory"
Richard Wurmbrand was born the youngest of four boys in a Jewish family on March 24, 1909, in Bucharest, Romania. Gifted intellectually and fluent in nine
languages, Richard was active in leftist politics (WOW, there is hope for leftists!) and worked as a stockbroker.
After their marriage, Richard and Sabina were converted to Christ in 1938, chiefly because of the influence of a German carpenter, Mr. Wolfkes. They joined the Anglican Mission to the Jews in Bucharest. Richard was ordained, first as an Anglican, and then after World War II, as a Lutheran minister.
During World War II, Richard and Sabina saw an opportunity for evangelism among the occupying German forces. They preached in the bomb shelters and rescued Jewish children out of the ghettos. Richard and Sabina were repeatedly arrested and beaten and, at least once, were nearly executed. Sabina lost her Jewish family in Nazi concentration camps.
In 1945 Romanian Communists seized power and a million ‘invited’ Russian troops poured into the country. Pastor Wurmbrand ministered to his oppressed countrymen and engaged in bold evangelism to the Russian soldiers.
That same year, Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand attended the Congress of Cults organized by the Romanian Communist government. Many religious leaders came forward to praise Communism and to swear loyalty to the new regime. Sabina said, “Richard, stand up and wash away this shame from the face of Christ.” Richard warned, “If I do so, you’ll lose your husband.” She replied, “I don’t wish to have a coward as a husband.” Thus Richard declared to the 4,000 delegates, whose speeches were broadcast to the whole nation, that their duty is to glorify God and Christ alone.
Between 1945 and 1947, Richard distributed one million Gospels to Russian troops, the books often disguised as Communist propaganda. Richard also smuggled Gospels into Russia. On December 30, 1947, the People’s Republic of Romania was proclaimed.
Richard Wurmbrand kidnapped
On February 29, 1948, the secret police arrested Richard while on his way to church and took him to their headquarters. He was locked in a solitary cell and assigned as ‘Prisoner Number 1.’
In 1950, his wife Sabina was also imprisoned. She was forced to serve as a laborer on the Danube Canal project, leaving their nine-year-old son Mihai alone and homeless. Following her release in 1953, the Romanian authorities informed her that Richard had died in prison.
A doctor masquerading as a Communist Party member discovered Richard alive in prison. In a general amnesty, Richard was released in 1956 after serving eight-and-a-half years in prison. He was warned never to preach again. While in prison, he went through horrific tortures at the hands of the brutal secret police. Despite the treatments and the warnings he received from his persecutors, Richard resumed his work with the ‘underground’ churches after his release.
He was re-arrested in 1959 through the conspiracy of an associate, and sentenced to 25 years. He was accused of preaching ideas contrary to Communist doctrine. Due to increased political pressure from Western countries, Richard was granted another amnesty and released in 1964.
In December 1965, the Norwegian Mission to the Jews and the Hebrew Christian Alliance paid $10,000 in ransom to the Communist government to allow the Wurmbrand family to leave Romania. Reluctant to leave Romania, Richard was convinced by other underground church leaders to leave and become a ‘voice’ to the world for the underground church. Richard, Sabina, and their son Mihai left Romania for Norway and then traveled on to England.
The birth of a unique ministry
Richard began his ministry of being a voice for persecuted Christians in England with Rev. Stuart Harris, where he also wrote his testimony of persecution, Tortured for Christ. Later, Richard moved on to the United States, and in 1965 he appeared before a U.S. Senate Internal Security Subcommittee, where he stripped to the waist and revealed eighteen deep torture wounds on his body. His story spread rapidly, leading to more and more speaking engagements.
In 1967, the Wurmbrands officially began a ministry committed to serving the persecuted church, called Jesus to the Communist World (later named The Voice of the Martyrs). In the same year, Richard released his book, Tortured for Christ.
In October, the first monthly issue of The Voice of the Martyrs newsletter was published in the USA. By the mid-1980s his work was established in 80 restricted nations with offices in 30 countries around the world.
In 1990, after the fall of Nicolae Ceausescu in December 1989, Richard and Sabina returned to Romania after 25 years in exile and were warmly received. A printing facility and bookstore were opened in Bucharest, and the officials of the city offered storage below the palace of Ceausescu, the very site where Richard had been held in solitary confinement.
Richard retired from the day-to-day work of The Voice of the Martyrs in 1992, but he continued as a consultant and member of the board of directors, maintaining a keen interest in the work until his death.
During his ministry, Richard wrote 18 books in English and others in Romanian, some of which have been translated into 38 different languages. His most well-known book is Tortured for Christ. He received numerous honors and citations for his work during his lifetime.
Richard will be remembered with great affection as an outstanding man of God, passionate for the cause of Christ, powerful in evangelism, and persevering in suffering for the sake of Jesus who he loved. Sabina, who passed away August 11, 2000, will be remembered as a woman of great integrity, mighty faith and serene godliness.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Home School Basketball Greats! Whaddaya Know!!??
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/16/sports/16homeschool.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1206036177-+I/2gqKR8MMxY6vtYx5mNg
This is a great article in The New York Times, of all places! I found it on the Religion Clause blog.
This is a great article in The New York Times, of all places! I found it on the Religion Clause blog.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Dobson on Christian Leadership
Dr James Dobson hopes for new leaders to be raised up --no doubt in every family, every church, every community, every city, state --and yes, the nation. We always benefit from godly leadership, men of integrity and character, who can resist the temptations that are inundating people through media of all kinds --adversely shaping their character --such that we now celebrate licentiousness in the name of liberty, thinking people ought to be legally allowed to do absolutely anything they want to --short of theft and murder.
Those are the only taboos left --and judging by the numbers of people in jail for those two crimes alone --plus drugs and rape --too many have lost ALL sense of conscience, self-control, and commitment to live rightly--good character.
Add to the prison population, the hypocrites in high places such as the church and gov't, the degenerate pop icons/celebrities, -- and then all the people who celebrate freedom to do absolutely anything they want sexually as a civil right -- well, don't be surprised if God brings us to our knees through terrorists and economic depression.
Dobson and others hope it doesn't come to that --and we Christians pray for leaders to preach God's truths which motivate discipleship and conversion and righteous lifestyles --which do include charity as well as a return to moral chastity.
On a hopeful note, there was a pretty girl guest on Leno tonight with her father in the audience and she said she had never had a boyfriend, or been kissed --because she believes that "true love waits." I was surprised that many in the audience applauded this. We aren't dead yet! I can't help but wonder if a European audience would have seen anything in her statement to applaud! I rather doubt it. I think they would jeer. From what I've observed in Europeans, they have no respect for chastity as an ideal of value at all. Thank God, we aren't there yet.
Those are the only taboos left --and judging by the numbers of people in jail for those two crimes alone --plus drugs and rape --too many have lost ALL sense of conscience, self-control, and commitment to live rightly--good character.
Add to the prison population, the hypocrites in high places such as the church and gov't, the degenerate pop icons/celebrities, -- and then all the people who celebrate freedom to do absolutely anything they want sexually as a civil right -- well, don't be surprised if God brings us to our knees through terrorists and economic depression.
Dobson and others hope it doesn't come to that --and we Christians pray for leaders to preach God's truths which motivate discipleship and conversion and righteous lifestyles --which do include charity as well as a return to moral chastity.
On a hopeful note, there was a pretty girl guest on Leno tonight with her father in the audience and she said she had never had a boyfriend, or been kissed --because she believes that "true love waits." I was surprised that many in the audience applauded this. We aren't dead yet! I can't help but wonder if a European audience would have seen anything in her statement to applaud! I rather doubt it. I think they would jeer. From what I've observed in Europeans, they have no respect for chastity as an ideal of value at all. Thank God, we aren't there yet.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
EASTER PAGEANT --The Cross of Love --at Fremont Christian Missionary Alliance Church --on Brush St. off of US 20
The 10th annual season and this year's 3rd and final performance of this drama will take place on Good Friday at 7 PM.
The Cross of Love is an annual drama written, revised and produced by the pastor's wife at the Fremont MCA Church. An excellent, condensed account of Jesus's ministry, the Last Supper, the Betrayal of Judas at the Mount of Olives, the appearance before Pilate, Peter's denial, the crucifixion, the resurrection, the encounter with the doubting Thomas -- all are reenacted most convincingly in this local production.
The Jesus figure is very convincing (as are others) --and gives his personal testimony --how he came to this church without any church background or Christian experience, witnessed this production 8 years ago and has been playing the Jesus role ever since. Now he is undergoing trial by fire in his own personal life, afflicted with a serious disease, resulting in a recent depression as well --but the Lord assured him in scripture and through His Spirit that He would be faithful to him through the difficulties that lie ahead. How comforting are Christ's words, "Because I live, you shall live also."
This is well worth seeing. It makes the story literally come to life --excellent for youth and doubters. Before the graphic crucifixion scene, parents are given the option to send their children to the library for the 2nd act. Refreshments are served following the free performance.
There is some excellent vocal and dramatic talent in the little town of Fremont --found in this production. Much of the action, by the way, takes place in the aisles --and all close to the audience. So you will not doze off, believe me. (One of the soloists/actors is our son, who splits his time between this church, his wife's, and ours.)
Take 20East from Toledo, go into Fremont, turn right at the Beer Point Convenience Store (do not stop for beer) and right on Brush St. and on the right is the church.
I was so impressed, I'm going to try to bring our CLC kids there on an outing next year.
FOR THOSE WHO DON'T WANT TO TRAVEL SO FAR FOR A GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE, COME TO OUR TENEBRAE SERVICE AT THE SAME TIME IN HOLLAND. SEE PREVIOUS BLOG ARTICLE.
The Cross of Love is an annual drama written, revised and produced by the pastor's wife at the Fremont MCA Church. An excellent, condensed account of Jesus's ministry, the Last Supper, the Betrayal of Judas at the Mount of Olives, the appearance before Pilate, Peter's denial, the crucifixion, the resurrection, the encounter with the doubting Thomas -- all are reenacted most convincingly in this local production.
The Jesus figure is very convincing (as are others) --and gives his personal testimony --how he came to this church without any church background or Christian experience, witnessed this production 8 years ago and has been playing the Jesus role ever since. Now he is undergoing trial by fire in his own personal life, afflicted with a serious disease, resulting in a recent depression as well --but the Lord assured him in scripture and through His Spirit that He would be faithful to him through the difficulties that lie ahead. How comforting are Christ's words, "Because I live, you shall live also."
This is well worth seeing. It makes the story literally come to life --excellent for youth and doubters. Before the graphic crucifixion scene, parents are given the option to send their children to the library for the 2nd act. Refreshments are served following the free performance.
There is some excellent vocal and dramatic talent in the little town of Fremont --found in this production. Much of the action, by the way, takes place in the aisles --and all close to the audience. So you will not doze off, believe me. (One of the soloists/actors is our son, who splits his time between this church, his wife's, and ours.)
Take 20East from Toledo, go into Fremont, turn right at the Beer Point Convenience Store (do not stop for beer) and right on Brush St. and on the right is the church.
I was so impressed, I'm going to try to bring our CLC kids there on an outing next year.
FOR THOSE WHO DON'T WANT TO TRAVEL SO FAR FOR A GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE, COME TO OUR TENEBRAE SERVICE AT THE SAME TIME IN HOLLAND. SEE PREVIOUS BLOG ARTICLE.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Sunday, March 16, 2008
TENEBRAE SERVICE AT HOLLAND FREE METHODIST CHURCH
REFLECT ON CHRIST’S DEATH ON THE CROSS AT A TENEBRAE SERVICE AT HOLLAND FREE METHODIST CHURCH, on Good Friday, at 7 PM. The church is located at 6605 Angola Road, WHICH IS north of Spring Meadows Mall, in Holland, Ohio.
Tenebrae is the Latin word for “darkness” or “shadows.” This special Good Friday service features music, chimes and readings with the gradual extinguishing of candles until only a single candle symbolizing the life of our Lord remains. As it grows darker, we reflect on the emotional and physical pain of our Lord’s sacrifice. Toward the end of the service, the Christ candle is hidden, signifying His death. At the end, a loud noise represents the earthquake at the time of his death which is followed by the restoration of the Christ candle, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. We depart the sanctuary in silence. Holy Communion for all believers present will be presided over by Pastor Keith Simpson with Rachel Simpson providing music on the clarinet.
Other music will include the choir, choir and congregation on Were You There? featuring soloist Jon or Rob Rohrs, soloist Paula Swann on The Via Doloroso and Patty Bersinger singing Watch the Lamb. A Rohrs trio will perform a contemporary arrangement of There is a Fountain Filled with Blood.
Easter Sunrise Service on Easter Sunday at 7 AM followed by a light breakfast.
Easter/Resurrection Service at 10:45AM featuring choir numbers, Rhoda Roloff on Was it a Morning Like This? and the Rohrs Trio on Last Night.
Come worship with us!
Tenebrae is the Latin word for “darkness” or “shadows.” This special Good Friday service features music, chimes and readings with the gradual extinguishing of candles until only a single candle symbolizing the life of our Lord remains. As it grows darker, we reflect on the emotional and physical pain of our Lord’s sacrifice. Toward the end of the service, the Christ candle is hidden, signifying His death. At the end, a loud noise represents the earthquake at the time of his death which is followed by the restoration of the Christ candle, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. We depart the sanctuary in silence. Holy Communion for all believers present will be presided over by Pastor Keith Simpson with Rachel Simpson providing music on the clarinet.
Other music will include the choir, choir and congregation on Were You There? featuring soloist Jon or Rob Rohrs, soloist Paula Swann on The Via Doloroso and Patty Bersinger singing Watch the Lamb. A Rohrs trio will perform a contemporary arrangement of There is a Fountain Filled with Blood.
Easter Sunrise Service on Easter Sunday at 7 AM followed by a light breakfast.
Easter/Resurrection Service at 10:45AM featuring choir numbers, Rhoda Roloff on Was it a Morning Like This? and the Rohrs Trio on Last Night.
Come worship with us!
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
ROCK BAND VOLUME --in churches and anywhere --deafening people! There oughtta be a law!
Inspired by a news item from Ann Arbor, written about today on Religion Clause website (see my link in blogroll at right of my home page.)
I think it's a problem when churches are so huge that if they do an outdoor festival, it has to be loud enough to bother a neighborhood--but that shouldn't be all the time --that the noise would permeate the neighborhood. Neighborhoods in the past have enjoyed the large parish festivals of the Catholics. They shouldn't suddenly get prejudiced against the socially conservative Religious Right churches.
As for VOLUME, there ought to be a limit to the decibels and a way to measure them when rock bands are amplified ANYWHERE, indoors or out, because these overly zealous (and probably deaf) sound techs are DEAFENING people --especially young people --for a lifetime of hearing loss. I've been at my own church's international youth conference and complained that I could hear perfectly well in the indoor arena with my ears totally stuffed with cottonballs! What are we thinking? And so we complained --and the leadership said, "but the kids like it this way!" SO WHAT! The kids like all day candy and ice cream and tv consumption, too!
Why in this area of sound, do we think teen volume preferences MUST be tolerated? to their detriment?
I think communities should be tolerant of outdoor festivals on special occasions--as The Church on Strayer holds around the 4th of July, but even then, volumes shouldn't be damaging to the people in the near vicinity of the speakers --and if they are not THAT loud, I bet they won't be so objectionable in the neighborhood either.
AS for THE CHURCH ON STRAYER --which used to be The Cathedral of Praise --what did they mean by calling themselves "The Church on Strayer" as though they were the only one? Strayer Road has 2 churches that take up most of one side of the street, and the other was there first. (I know musical leadership at both churches, I'm proud to say --as both came from our church.) But it seems pretty rude to call yourself "THE church..." when there is another right beside you which was there first. And the other is also a dynamic church with healthy attendance. Pastor Tony Scott, what were you thinking?
I suggest the other church, Heritage Church of God, rename themselves as "First Church on Strayer!" But then they'd get their mail all mixed up.
I think it's a problem when churches are so huge that if they do an outdoor festival, it has to be loud enough to bother a neighborhood--but that shouldn't be all the time --that the noise would permeate the neighborhood. Neighborhoods in the past have enjoyed the large parish festivals of the Catholics. They shouldn't suddenly get prejudiced against the socially conservative Religious Right churches.
As for VOLUME, there ought to be a limit to the decibels and a way to measure them when rock bands are amplified ANYWHERE, indoors or out, because these overly zealous (and probably deaf) sound techs are DEAFENING people --especially young people --for a lifetime of hearing loss. I've been at my own church's international youth conference and complained that I could hear perfectly well in the indoor arena with my ears totally stuffed with cottonballs! What are we thinking? And so we complained --and the leadership said, "but the kids like it this way!" SO WHAT! The kids like all day candy and ice cream and tv consumption, too!
Why in this area of sound, do we think teen volume preferences MUST be tolerated? to their detriment?
I think communities should be tolerant of outdoor festivals on special occasions--as The Church on Strayer holds around the 4th of July, but even then, volumes shouldn't be damaging to the people in the near vicinity of the speakers --and if they are not THAT loud, I bet they won't be so objectionable in the neighborhood either.
AS for THE CHURCH ON STRAYER --which used to be The Cathedral of Praise --what did they mean by calling themselves "The Church on Strayer" as though they were the only one? Strayer Road has 2 churches that take up most of one side of the street, and the other was there first. (I know musical leadership at both churches, I'm proud to say --as both came from our church.) But it seems pretty rude to call yourself "THE church..." when there is another right beside you which was there first. And the other is also a dynamic church with healthy attendance. Pastor Tony Scott, what were you thinking?
I suggest the other church, Heritage Church of God, rename themselves as "First Church on Strayer!" But then they'd get their mail all mixed up.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Why Hetero Marriage Should Have the Parades
On another blog, I posted the following --when a commenter said that the social conservatives are just "too interested in the personal behaviors of others" --this pertained to gay marriage.
It isn't their behaviors that are at issue. It's the re-defining of marriage as between any two people --regardless of sex. It's an absurdity we never thought possible when I was growing up.
Homosexual behaviors have always been with us --just like adultery, pedophilia, pre-marital sex and pregnancy, sex-slavery, incest, rape, bigamy, polygamy, the desire to transgender, transvestitism, prostitution, porn --and a very few "shacked up" without marriage. There really used to be a lot of shame on losing virginity and pre-marital pregnancy and living together "without benefit of clergy," which is how they described "shacking up." Most rare of all in American society, I trust, was bestiality. All of these are forbidden in the Bible and many have been frowned upon and discouraged in every HUMANE civilization and culture since the dawn of time. Wherever these behaviors were prevalent, the culture has not been admired by history today.
None of these other deviations from the preferred ideal of hetero-marriage have sponsored pride parades in America or asked for legal sanction through the institution called "marriage."
Why should hetero marriage be favored? Simple. It's the institution that brings children into the world with a father and mother who are married to each other, stay together to be the grandparents together, provide male and female role modeling for their sons and daughters. Hetero marriage provides a stable, emotional and economic support system in which to bear, raise, nurture, protect, supervise and educate the next generation. Thus, we will have a future --future military and workers and family members to support the older generations --future married parents to bring on the future generations.
Homosexual relationships are comparatively the end of the road --they don't make children and just don't need the perks of the hetero married who volunteer to take on the burdens of bearing and rearing kids. If they have kids, they didn't make them as a gay couple. There is a father in the case of lesbian parents who needs to pay child support. When two men adopt a child, they both work and afford a nanny. And that mother figure typically changes through the years. The child truly has no mother.
We are crazy to tamper with the definition of marriage to include people of the same sex.
It isn't their behaviors that are at issue. It's the re-defining of marriage as between any two people --regardless of sex. It's an absurdity we never thought possible when I was growing up.
Homosexual behaviors have always been with us --just like adultery, pedophilia, pre-marital sex and pregnancy, sex-slavery, incest, rape, bigamy, polygamy, the desire to transgender, transvestitism, prostitution, porn --and a very few "shacked up" without marriage. There really used to be a lot of shame on losing virginity and pre-marital pregnancy and living together "without benefit of clergy," which is how they described "shacking up." Most rare of all in American society, I trust, was bestiality. All of these are forbidden in the Bible and many have been frowned upon and discouraged in every HUMANE civilization and culture since the dawn of time. Wherever these behaviors were prevalent, the culture has not been admired by history today.
None of these other deviations from the preferred ideal of hetero-marriage have sponsored pride parades in America or asked for legal sanction through the institution called "marriage."
Why should hetero marriage be favored? Simple. It's the institution that brings children into the world with a father and mother who are married to each other, stay together to be the grandparents together, provide male and female role modeling for their sons and daughters. Hetero marriage provides a stable, emotional and economic support system in which to bear, raise, nurture, protect, supervise and educate the next generation. Thus, we will have a future --future military and workers and family members to support the older generations --future married parents to bring on the future generations.
Homosexual relationships are comparatively the end of the road --they don't make children and just don't need the perks of the hetero married who volunteer to take on the burdens of bearing and rearing kids. If they have kids, they didn't make them as a gay couple. There is a father in the case of lesbian parents who needs to pay child support. When two men adopt a child, they both work and afford a nanny. And that mother figure typically changes through the years. The child truly has no mother.
We are crazy to tamper with the definition of marriage to include people of the same sex.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Monday, March 10, 2008
WHEW! Thank God! So far so good!
Hallelujah, some good news! The MA at the gynecology/oncologist's office said no cancer! I said, "Are you SURE!?" Because the doc was pretty sure I did have it from the ultrasound and symptoms. But she said not according to the biopsy. One more test has to come in. The Family Doc with whom I had appointment today, said it worried him tht the gyn expert thought the test would be positive, as he sees a lot of cases and would know how to predict usually. He suspects that surgery may be recommended anyway as a preventative measure. He said you always have to wonder if maybe they didn't biopsy the diseased part of the tissue. Since I have been through this diagnosis and testing before, with the same result, I'm thinking positively.
The surgery is a common procedure for women and I'll cross that bridge when the expert says.
Meanwhile, it was interesting the responses you all gave me
Jeanette thinks God might change a lab sample in the lab as well as in your body in answer to prayer. That's OK with me, but I'm inclined to think otherwise. But if God did it for me, "I'm forever grateful" --as the song says.
Christian Apologist says whatever happens is God's will. I'm not that much of a fatalist. Though there is one verse that says "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of Christ concerning you."
Mudrake says --go watch funny movies and take a walk in the sunshine. And implied it's ridiculous to pray or to think that the more people praying for you, the more efficacious the prayer. Actually, Mudly, it's not the prayer of many people that is effectual; [It's] "the fervent effectual prayer of a righteous man [that] availeth much." Although there is Biblical precedent for God to act when a whole nation or tribe or group repents and looks to Him for deliverance. Prophets and punishment were used to bring Israel to their knees repeatedly.
I am grateful for the good news --and wish the same for all.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
The surgery is a common procedure for women and I'll cross that bridge when the expert says.
Meanwhile, it was interesting the responses you all gave me
Jeanette thinks God might change a lab sample in the lab as well as in your body in answer to prayer. That's OK with me, but I'm inclined to think otherwise. But if God did it for me, "I'm forever grateful" --as the song says.
Christian Apologist says whatever happens is God's will. I'm not that much of a fatalist. Though there is one verse that says "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of Christ concerning you."
Mudrake says --go watch funny movies and take a walk in the sunshine. And implied it's ridiculous to pray or to think that the more people praying for you, the more efficacious the prayer. Actually, Mudly, it's not the prayer of many people that is effectual; [It's] "the fervent effectual prayer of a righteous man [that] availeth much." Although there is Biblical precedent for God to act when a whole nation or tribe or group repents and looks to Him for deliverance. Prophets and punishment were used to bring Israel to their knees repeatedly.
I am grateful for the good news --and wish the same for all.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Friday, March 7, 2008
Facing Mortality --He is Risen! And So Shall We Be also!
I am contemplating my next stage. I am glad for the Resurrection of the dead to eternal life. I am glad that Jesus rose again and walked the earth after being dead. I am glad that he raised Lazarus from the dead and promised the same for us who trust in Him as our Savior.
I await test results on Tuesday regarding what my doctor, after an ultrasound, thinks is a likely case of cancer. He did a biopsy.
I am surprised at how un-fazed I am at this stage of waiting --and how my life is proceding as usual. How I'm still going to have that root canal later this month!
I will ask for your prayers after I find out if it's serious or not.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
I await test results on Tuesday regarding what my doctor, after an ultrasound, thinks is a likely case of cancer. He did a biopsy.
I am surprised at how un-fazed I am at this stage of waiting --and how my life is proceding as usual. How I'm still going to have that root canal later this month!
I will ask for your prayers after I find out if it's serious or not.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
See the Religion Clause Blog --and Where is Kooz?
www.religionclause.blogspot.com
This is the place to go for up-to-date articles on religious legal cases. The host is a professor emeritus from UT School of Law. I would really enjoy discussing these cases with people of various views.
ALSO, where is Kooz who recently opened and closed an excellent blog? again. Are you getting threats of intimidation or anything like that, Kooz? affecting your career path?
This is the place to go for up-to-date articles on religious legal cases. The host is a professor emeritus from UT School of Law. I would really enjoy discussing these cases with people of various views.
ALSO, where is Kooz who recently opened and closed an excellent blog? again. Are you getting threats of intimidation or anything like that, Kooz? affecting your career path?
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Obama vs. Hillary
Obama is after Hillary for NAFTA and the fact that union jobs have gone overseas.
As we all know, NAFTA was supported by Republicans and signed in by Bill -- who is still a Democrat's Darling --popular with his party. So Hillary's problem has little to do with differences between Clintons and Obama on policy issues (they're both liberals) - and more to do with her being a woman and vulnerable to lose in the fall because of her bad history and her bad press, I suspect.
I haven't thought of her in such negative terms as a person --as the media and comedians have --blaming Bill's infidelities on her alleged coldness and lesbian tendencies, etc. (which tendencies are fictional, I believe. I think she really IS some Tammy Wynette standing by her man! But baking cookies would have been good for her image! ) I just think she is too liberal on the social issues and wants socialism --wants gov't to have the power. She said that. "We are going to take away the power of the...." health care industry, I believe it was. The WE was the federal government --taking away the power of the people, in my opinion.
The Republicans are just waiting to bring out the fact that Obama has these real estate and investment items in his history that show him to be another shady, self-serving, free-enterprising dirty capitalist with questionable ethics like the Clintons--or at least financial ties to people of dubious character.
When all sides get through with negative campaigning, there will be no heroes left. If Obama and McCain are smart enough, they will stay above the fray --even if their parties and supporters don't --because they both have skeletons hanging out of their closets.
As we all know, NAFTA was supported by Republicans and signed in by Bill -- who is still a Democrat's Darling --popular with his party. So Hillary's problem has little to do with differences between Clintons and Obama on policy issues (they're both liberals) - and more to do with her being a woman and vulnerable to lose in the fall because of her bad history and her bad press, I suspect.
I haven't thought of her in such negative terms as a person --as the media and comedians have --blaming Bill's infidelities on her alleged coldness and lesbian tendencies, etc. (which tendencies are fictional, I believe. I think she really IS some Tammy Wynette standing by her man! But baking cookies would have been good for her image! ) I just think she is too liberal on the social issues and wants socialism --wants gov't to have the power. She said that. "We are going to take away the power of the...." health care industry, I believe it was. The WE was the federal government --taking away the power of the people, in my opinion.
The Republicans are just waiting to bring out the fact that Obama has these real estate and investment items in his history that show him to be another shady, self-serving, free-enterprising dirty capitalist with questionable ethics like the Clintons--or at least financial ties to people of dubious character.
When all sides get through with negative campaigning, there will be no heroes left. If Obama and McCain are smart enough, they will stay above the fray --even if their parties and supporters don't --because they both have skeletons hanging out of their closets.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Monday, March 3, 2008
Obi-Wan Obama --This is Not a Renaissance of Reason --says Parker
Columnist Kathleen Parker said of Barack Obama:
I saw two people at the intersection of Airport Highway and Reynolds Road today with home-made placards for Obama asking people to honk if they were for him. There was some honking.
Democrats are so excited about him --the great brown hope! Candidates who promise Utopia and the people who believe they can bring it are scary! Obama is going to bring "hope and change!" WOW!
I wish we had some hope and change, alright. I wish I had some hope that this next administration would be Huckabee's!
Well, tomorrow's the day --D-day--for Disaster! When a man who has done almost nothing in life except be a law school lecturer (what is that? not a full-fledged prof??)who missed his votes as a legislator --will be one step closer to the White House--committed to liberalism. I hope he doesn't share either of his parents' religions--Mom's atheism or the Islamic faith of his two absentee Daddys. Because what I've seen from both of these "-isms" cannot be guaranteed favorable toward people of the Judeo-Christian faith. The Supreme Court is in jeopardy.
I understand that Obama did NOT vote against the Iraq war since he wasn't even in the U.S. Senate then? So why does he blast Hillary for voting for it --suggesting that he didn't --when he didn't even have the opportunity--nor the info that she had when she agreed we should go in. The inference is that he voted against the war --not so.
Jack Kelly of the Blade said Obama "took a walk more than 130 times" and failed to vote in the Illinois Senate "every time there was a tough vote in the Illinois State Senate."
Gee Whiz!
As for Obama's membership in a Church of Christ, liberals criticize McCain for accepting the endorsement of Hagee while Obama accepts the support of Farrakhan, a black Muslim who made anti-Semitic remarks. As for McCain's support, he wouldn't even know what Hagee is about-or how he differs from any other evangelical ministers.
"One of his TV ads, set to rock 'n'roll, has a Woodstock feel to it. Text alternating with crowd scenes reads; "We Can Change the World" and "We Can Save the Planet."
"Those are some kind of campaign promises. the kind no mortal could possibly keep, but never mind. Obi-wan Obama is about hope --and hope, he'll tell you , knows no limits...he's a telegenic, ultra-bright redeemer fluent in the planetary language of a cosmic generation. The force is with him....Whatever the Church of Obama promises, we should not mistake this movement for a renaissance of reason. It is more like, well, like whoa."
I saw two people at the intersection of Airport Highway and Reynolds Road today with home-made placards for Obama asking people to honk if they were for him. There was some honking.
Democrats are so excited about him --the great brown hope! Candidates who promise Utopia and the people who believe they can bring it are scary! Obama is going to bring "hope and change!" WOW!
I wish we had some hope and change, alright. I wish I had some hope that this next administration would be Huckabee's!
Well, tomorrow's the day --D-day--for Disaster! When a man who has done almost nothing in life except be a law school lecturer (what is that? not a full-fledged prof??)who missed his votes as a legislator --will be one step closer to the White House--committed to liberalism. I hope he doesn't share either of his parents' religions--Mom's atheism or the Islamic faith of his two absentee Daddys. Because what I've seen from both of these "-isms" cannot be guaranteed favorable toward people of the Judeo-Christian faith. The Supreme Court is in jeopardy.
I understand that Obama did NOT vote against the Iraq war since he wasn't even in the U.S. Senate then? So why does he blast Hillary for voting for it --suggesting that he didn't --when he didn't even have the opportunity--nor the info that she had when she agreed we should go in. The inference is that he voted against the war --not so.
Jack Kelly of the Blade said Obama "took a walk more than 130 times" and failed to vote in the Illinois Senate "every time there was a tough vote in the Illinois State Senate."
Gee Whiz!
As for Obama's membership in a Church of Christ, liberals criticize McCain for accepting the endorsement of Hagee while Obama accepts the support of Farrakhan, a black Muslim who made anti-Semitic remarks. As for McCain's support, he wouldn't even know what Hagee is about-or how he differs from any other evangelical ministers.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Friday, February 29, 2008
Why Go to Church When I Think I Can be a Solo Christian
A young acquaintance on another forum said he didn't feel the need for church and didn't like being in a situation where he had to stand up and sit down every few minutes. My reply follows:
Well, you don't have to sit or stand every few minutes in our church --just sit in the back or on the edge and you can sit the whole time without feeling conspicuous--assuming sitting is preferable to standing the whole time?
It's a delightful experience, our worship music. We do it because the Bible says we should sing praises to our Maker --and He gave us the gift of music, gave people talents with which to make it. Music is entertaining to us and to God --inspiring to us. Pleasant to the ears. Enjoyable to do. We listen to preaching and teaching and make music because these activities are all part of the New Testament church --a means through which the Holy Spirit makes us wiser and stronger than we would otherwise be. We are motivated to do right and be good through a church's teachings/preachings. We hear of examples and are reminded of what is in the Bible --we are taught what God considers to be evil --and good.
As for church involvement, the Bible says "forsake not the assembly of the brethren." The disciples came together on the first day of the week to do what we do in churches today --to worship God, encourage one another in the faith, listen to teachers and preachers, and sometimes to hear testimonies of what God has done in our lives.
Also, we are to be known for our compassionate works and our love for each other --two things for which churches provide opportunity. We take on projects together to fulfill Christ's commissions --to help the needy, to minister to one another in love, to reach out to the community with God's love--and to tell others that Jesus Christ came to save us for Heaven.
Moreover, the church is the "discipling place" --a place where disciples are made --if the church is doing its job to bring people in and teach them what it means to be "Christian."
Biblically, we are the sheep of the Shepherd and belong in His sheepfold with the other sheep; we are members of Christ's body, each having a function; the Body of Christ includes all the believers together; we are the branches on the vine --and we are to "abide in the vine." Jesus said, "Behold I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and will open the door, I will enter and dine with him (fellowship.)"
We find God on HIs terms --not our own. After all, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him?"
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Well, you don't have to sit or stand every few minutes in our church --just sit in the back or on the edge and you can sit the whole time without feeling conspicuous--assuming sitting is preferable to standing the whole time?
It's a delightful experience, our worship music. We do it because the Bible says we should sing praises to our Maker --and He gave us the gift of music, gave people talents with which to make it. Music is entertaining to us and to God --inspiring to us. Pleasant to the ears. Enjoyable to do. We listen to preaching and teaching and make music because these activities are all part of the New Testament church --a means through which the Holy Spirit makes us wiser and stronger than we would otherwise be. We are motivated to do right and be good through a church's teachings/preachings. We hear of examples and are reminded of what is in the Bible --we are taught what God considers to be evil --and good.
As for church involvement, the Bible says "forsake not the assembly of the brethren." The disciples came together on the first day of the week to do what we do in churches today --to worship God, encourage one another in the faith, listen to teachers and preachers, and sometimes to hear testimonies of what God has done in our lives.
Also, we are to be known for our compassionate works and our love for each other --two things for which churches provide opportunity. We take on projects together to fulfill Christ's commissions --to help the needy, to minister to one another in love, to reach out to the community with God's love--and to tell others that Jesus Christ came to save us for Heaven.
Moreover, the church is the "discipling place" --a place where disciples are made --if the church is doing its job to bring people in and teach them what it means to be "Christian."
Biblically, we are the sheep of the Shepherd and belong in His sheepfold with the other sheep; we are members of Christ's body, each having a function; the Body of Christ includes all the believers together; we are the branches on the vine --and we are to "abide in the vine." Jesus said, "Behold I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and will open the door, I will enter and dine with him (fellowship.)"
We find God on HIs terms --not our own. After all, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him?"
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
IF CHRIST HAD NOT RISEN....WHAT WOULD CHRISTIANITY BE?
If Christ had not risen from the dead, what would the disciples have developed as Christianity? A religion about love and forgiveness, perhaps, but not about resurrection and a sure promise of Eternal life from a Resurrected human. I don't think the disciples would have been brave enough to start any religion.
But in fact, 20 centuries ago, they saw the risen Jesus Christ --and there was no stopping the news --and the boldness of their claim. They knew what they had seen --and believed their eyes. If Jesus rose from the dead, then everything He said --and everything the first century followers wrote --is worthy of our study. And I have no compelling reason to disbelieve their testimonies.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
But in fact, 20 centuries ago, they saw the risen Jesus Christ --and there was no stopping the news --and the boldness of their claim. They knew what they had seen --and believed their eyes. If Jesus rose from the dead, then everything He said --and everything the first century followers wrote --is worthy of our study. And I have no compelling reason to disbelieve their testimonies.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Go HUCK! Is there any numeric possibility he can get the nomination now?
With the NY Times story suggesting moral impropriety--and other news outlets reporting on the McCain temper, why is the GOP stuck with him???
If the Times story is true, then McCain may be a serial adulterer --that's how he got Cindy, isn't it? At least, he dumped a wife --and married the cheerleader half his age --I'm not sure if there was overlap--but there was the midlife crisis that characterizes a man of bad character -- yes, like King David of Israel. Can an immoral man be a good leader? When David was chosen, he was a good man annointed by Samuel--God's choice --but lust and power corrupted. We hear McCain has a really bad temper and a sharp tongue, too. Who needs it?
Because there ARE men of good character --I know so many --why do we have to have one who isn't of good character to lead the country? or my party?
Go, Huck! He'll be far more interesting, lively, sharp in rhetoric, entertaining, and wise --than any of the others. Granted, Obama's powers of rhetoric --but what has he done except be a popular politician? What has Obama or Hillary administrated --she couldn't even control Bill! How will she lead the nation? He is her achilles heel --a real heel at that.
Hillary as presenting herself today is an appealing figure to me, actually, but I know her past positions on issues and she is way too radically liberal for me --of course. And the SUPREME COURT IS AT STAKE. Five or six may retire during the next 4 to 8 years --or keel over--and a liberal president will give us their Yale and Harvard Liberals on the court and gay marriage, etc.
So this is the worst choice for pres. we've had in years --except for the colorful man of principle --Huckabee--who put a triple wide mobile home on the governor's property when they were refurbishing the mansion one year.--as featured on the Jay Leno show. Now there's a man with the common touch! We could use one with a REAL sense of humor --and a joy for life --that's what Reagan had. It comes with principles and real spirituality.
If the Times story is true, then McCain may be a serial adulterer --that's how he got Cindy, isn't it? At least, he dumped a wife --and married the cheerleader half his age --I'm not sure if there was overlap--but there was the midlife crisis that characterizes a man of bad character -- yes, like King David of Israel. Can an immoral man be a good leader? When David was chosen, he was a good man annointed by Samuel--God's choice --but lust and power corrupted. We hear McCain has a really bad temper and a sharp tongue, too. Who needs it?
Because there ARE men of good character --I know so many --why do we have to have one who isn't of good character to lead the country? or my party?
Go, Huck! He'll be far more interesting, lively, sharp in rhetoric, entertaining, and wise --than any of the others. Granted, Obama's powers of rhetoric --but what has he done except be a popular politician? What has Obama or Hillary administrated --she couldn't even control Bill! How will she lead the nation? He is her achilles heel --a real heel at that.
Hillary as presenting herself today is an appealing figure to me, actually, but I know her past positions on issues and she is way too radically liberal for me --of course. And the SUPREME COURT IS AT STAKE. Five or six may retire during the next 4 to 8 years --or keel over--and a liberal president will give us their Yale and Harvard Liberals on the court and gay marriage, etc.
So this is the worst choice for pres. we've had in years --except for the colorful man of principle --Huckabee--who put a triple wide mobile home on the governor's property when they were refurbishing the mansion one year.--as featured on the Jay Leno show. Now there's a man with the common touch! We could use one with a REAL sense of humor --and a joy for life --that's what Reagan had. It comes with principles and real spirituality.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
More From the Liberal U.S. Campus Scene --Just Like Liberal Blogs
MORE ABOUT THE WM AND MARY CHAPEL CROSS-- Pres. Gene Nichol "secretly" ordered the removal of that cross from the school chapel. Fortunately, The Virginia Informer, a publication of a campus affiliate with the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, brought national attention to the story and the Wren Chapel cross has been returned to the chapel.
JOHN HOPKINS U-- administrators funded an event featuring a porn movie director and then confiscated copies of a student newspaper reporting on the event--claiming the school had the right to remove "offensive materials," (but, of course, no right to remove porn, truly "offensive material," anywhere on campus, probably, or to prevent such a seminar by a porn director. Free speech is negatively selective at JHU.)
U. OF WISCONSIN--Tony, an A student, e-mailed Professor John Betton 2 articles with viewpoints differing from the prof's about the impacts of immigration. Prof. Betton took offense and accused Tony of making an "insulting assumption that you have the right to teach my class" and called his articles "right-wing racist crap." Tony went to the dean and was referred to a complaints committee headed by none other than Prof. Betton. (I have no update on this.)
TUFTS UNIVERSITY -- Intercollegiate Studies Institute has a network of campus affiliates with conservative newspapers produced by students on various campuses. At Tufts, The Primary Source is one of these papers. The editor, Douglas Kingman, said there was a "Soviet-style show trial" in which the paper was found guilty by the administration of "harassment and creating a hostile environment simply for publishing political satire --a ruling that completely IGNORES explicit school policies that protect controversial expression." The Committee on Student Life recommended that Tuft's student government "consider the behavior" of the magazine when allocating activities money --clearly paving the way for the shool to cancel funding and recognition of the paper. Presumeably, this doesn't happen when liberal views are expressed by papers or clubs applying for the student activities funds.
ONLY 12 PER CENT OF UNI'S REQUIRE STUDENTS TO TAKE EVEN ONE COURSE IN AMERICAN HISTORY OR GOVERNMENT--and many others water down such classes from a fear of being offensive --except when it comes to offending Christians, conservatives or long dead patriots who can't defend themselves against revisionist historians.
MANY UNI'S HAVE BLOCKED STUDENTS WHO WISHED TO SET UP MEMORIALS for victims of 9/11 attacks on the anniversaries of that tragedy.
TWO OUT OF THREE CAMPUSES DENY FREE SPEECH RIGHTS --acc'g to a poll in 300 schools. They "explicitly prohibit speech that the First Amendment protects off campus and all but eight have policies that could easily be interpreted as restricting speech."
Let me hasten to say here, that I think schools DO have a right to restrict some kinds of speech that our constitutional framers would have recognized as institutional right. I think vitriolic hate speech, obscene and pornographic material SHOULD be restricted in academic institutions, the same as slander and libel --especially in Christian and other religious schools which promote traditional Judeo-Christian-Western beliefs about morals. "Politically incorrect" speech, however, should not be restricted when it is reasoned with either religious rationale or factual concerns for public health and societal and individual well-being.
I've found this to be true of some liberal blogs, if not most. They consider the Bible irrelevant as a guide for morality and wise decision-making. They cannot stand a good rationale behind intelligent design theory or creationism. They hate you if you don't think homosexuality is inevitable, healthy, necessary, or good. It's fair game to offend and censor the Christian and all his dearly held beliefs.
JOHN HOPKINS U-- administrators funded an event featuring a porn movie director and then confiscated copies of a student newspaper reporting on the event--claiming the school had the right to remove "offensive materials," (but, of course, no right to remove porn, truly "offensive material," anywhere on campus, probably, or to prevent such a seminar by a porn director. Free speech is negatively selective at JHU.)
U. OF WISCONSIN--Tony, an A student, e-mailed Professor John Betton 2 articles with viewpoints differing from the prof's about the impacts of immigration. Prof. Betton took offense and accused Tony of making an "insulting assumption that you have the right to teach my class" and called his articles "right-wing racist crap." Tony went to the dean and was referred to a complaints committee headed by none other than Prof. Betton. (I have no update on this.)
TUFTS UNIVERSITY -- Intercollegiate Studies Institute has a network of campus affiliates with conservative newspapers produced by students on various campuses. At Tufts, The Primary Source is one of these papers. The editor, Douglas Kingman, said there was a "Soviet-style show trial" in which the paper was found guilty by the administration of "harassment and creating a hostile environment simply for publishing political satire --a ruling that completely IGNORES explicit school policies that protect controversial expression." The Committee on Student Life recommended that Tuft's student government "consider the behavior" of the magazine when allocating activities money --clearly paving the way for the shool to cancel funding and recognition of the paper. Presumeably, this doesn't happen when liberal views are expressed by papers or clubs applying for the student activities funds.
ONLY 12 PER CENT OF UNI'S REQUIRE STUDENTS TO TAKE EVEN ONE COURSE IN AMERICAN HISTORY OR GOVERNMENT--and many others water down such classes from a fear of being offensive --except when it comes to offending Christians, conservatives or long dead patriots who can't defend themselves against revisionist historians.
MANY UNI'S HAVE BLOCKED STUDENTS WHO WISHED TO SET UP MEMORIALS for victims of 9/11 attacks on the anniversaries of that tragedy.
TWO OUT OF THREE CAMPUSES DENY FREE SPEECH RIGHTS --acc'g to a poll in 300 schools. They "explicitly prohibit speech that the First Amendment protects off campus and all but eight have policies that could easily be interpreted as restricting speech."
Let me hasten to say here, that I think schools DO have a right to restrict some kinds of speech that our constitutional framers would have recognized as institutional right. I think vitriolic hate speech, obscene and pornographic material SHOULD be restricted in academic institutions, the same as slander and libel --especially in Christian and other religious schools which promote traditional Judeo-Christian-Western beliefs about morals. "Politically incorrect" speech, however, should not be restricted when it is reasoned with either religious rationale or factual concerns for public health and societal and individual well-being.
"Liberal academics duck genuine debates on the history of the West or ideology like the plague --they can't stand watching their ideas being shredded and exposed." --T. Kenneth Cribb, Jr. --Intercollegiate Studies Institute
I've found this to be true of some liberal blogs, if not most. They consider the Bible irrelevant as a guide for morality and wise decision-making. They cannot stand a good rationale behind intelligent design theory or creationism. They hate you if you don't think homosexuality is inevitable, healthy, necessary, or good. It's fair game to offend and censor the Christian and all his dearly held beliefs.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Monday, February 18, 2008
Something Not Seen on Liberal Blogs : Liberal Campuses Run Amok
NO CHRISTIAN CROSS IN WILLIAM and MARY'S CHAPEL -- the college president, Gene Nichol, took out the cross in Wren Chapel, a chapel dating to 1699. He said it "sends an unmistakable message" that is "contrary to the best values of the College."
SEX WORKER ART SHOW --"A Celebration of Whore Culture" ALSO at Wm. & Mary College, funded by tax dollars. 100 students were REQUIRED to attend the show for their classes. The President's rationale, "It's not the practice and province of universities to censor or cancel performances because they are controversial."
Oh? then why remove a cross from a chapel? That WAS the province of the university? Retaining a cross as part of the history of a school's religious tradition going back to 1699 is deemed contrary to the school's values? But this school cannot find any good values on the basis of which to reject such an art show???
U. OF DELAWARE REQUIRES 7000 DORM STUDENTS TO HAVE THEIR THOUGHTS REFORMED -- The RA's led these sessions to help students achieve "competencies" to reach the education goal of "citizenship." Their training sessions for RA's included this statement, "A racist is one who is both privileged and socialized on the basis of race by a white supremacist (racist) system. 'The term applies to all white people (i.e., people of European descent) living in the U.S., regardless of class, gender, religion, culture, or sexuality. By this definition, people of color cannot be racists.'"
U. of Wisconsin-Madison and Edgewood College prof Kevin Barrett teaches that the 9/11 attacks were likely orchestrated by the U.S. gov't. to start a war with radical Islam. The pres of the Board of Regents, David Walsh, says Barrett's "academic freedom" must be protected.
(Source: Intercollegiate Studies Institute)
There oughtta be a law against such nonsense on college campuses --which have federal funding.
SEX WORKER ART SHOW --"A Celebration of Whore Culture" ALSO at Wm. & Mary College, funded by tax dollars. 100 students were REQUIRED to attend the show for their classes. The President's rationale, "It's not the practice and province of universities to censor or cancel performances because they are controversial."
Oh? then why remove a cross from a chapel? That WAS the province of the university? Retaining a cross as part of the history of a school's religious tradition going back to 1699 is deemed contrary to the school's values? But this school cannot find any good values on the basis of which to reject such an art show???
U. OF DELAWARE REQUIRES 7000 DORM STUDENTS TO HAVE THEIR THOUGHTS REFORMED -- The RA's led these sessions to help students achieve "competencies" to reach the education goal of "citizenship." Their training sessions for RA's included this statement, "A racist is one who is both privileged and socialized on the basis of race by a white supremacist (racist) system. 'The term applies to all white people (i.e., people of European descent) living in the U.S., regardless of class, gender, religion, culture, or sexuality. By this definition, people of color cannot be racists.'"
U. of Wisconsin-Madison and Edgewood College prof Kevin Barrett teaches that the 9/11 attacks were likely orchestrated by the U.S. gov't. to start a war with radical Islam. The pres of the Board of Regents, David Walsh, says Barrett's "academic freedom" must be protected.
(Source: Intercollegiate Studies Institute)
There oughtta be a law against such nonsense on college campuses --which have federal funding.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Another Grand Night for Singing! A Valentine Love Feast at HFM Church
Ninety people (including the 16 entertainers, but not counting the dozen cooks and servers)) gathered for the annual Valentine Banquet at the Holland Free Methodist Church last night.
Foil hearts on ribbons hung from the ceilings; the room had a rosy glow with candles and towers of Christmas lights covered by tulle. Better than a Prom! All red and white with chocolates at each place setting, with a Divine Valentine with scriptures comparing our Lord to an earthly Valentine --He is ever faithful and true, constant in love. He will never fail us. My friend Patty provided the Valentines and Sue Conklin was again the decorator.
The chapel annex featured a chocolate fountain and fruit and marshmallows, etc. for dipping; also, shrimp, cheese and crackers. Sparkling juice was already poured into champaign glasses (well, plastic!) and the guests mingled for fellowship before the dinner was served.
The Mayor of Holland was the emcee and the musicians were the blue, sparkly-clad Royal Troubadours, from Elmwood H.S., directed by Christine Rohrs, accompanied by Dean Bell. They sang romantic solos throughout the evening and did a fantastic sparkling "love show" after the dinner --the highlight of which was the choreographed "In the Mood," with the dancing of the Glenn Miller era. We could hear them so well; our mics and speakers were working! Also circulating the room with his crystal ball and card tricks during the dinner was student and magician, Brandon Coleman.
Following the show, the audience sang a couple of songs about Christian love and God's love for us, as a segue into Pastor Keith Simpson's brief devotional about God's love. He told how Teddy Roosevelt lost both his mother and his wife to illnesses on the same day, a Valentine's Day, reminding us that real love will include sadness --but God will give us the love and strength to go on in our hope of Heaven --thanks to the Love of Christ on the cross.
The students concluded with a choral number called "The Greatest Gift" --which is love.
The area Youth for Christ director, Jim Franks, was there to give a benediction.
The roast beef dinner by Kathy Heisinger and her crew was fabulous and the teens did a great job serving with Andrea Conklin's direction. Dessert was strawberries on Chocolate merangue cookies with whipped topping. Lucious to look at and to eat.
Proceeds for the banquet and table tips went to the youth fund of the church for their summer trips.
Foil hearts on ribbons hung from the ceilings; the room had a rosy glow with candles and towers of Christmas lights covered by tulle. Better than a Prom! All red and white with chocolates at each place setting, with a Divine Valentine with scriptures comparing our Lord to an earthly Valentine --He is ever faithful and true, constant in love. He will never fail us. My friend Patty provided the Valentines and Sue Conklin was again the decorator.
The chapel annex featured a chocolate fountain and fruit and marshmallows, etc. for dipping; also, shrimp, cheese and crackers. Sparkling juice was already poured into champaign glasses (well, plastic!) and the guests mingled for fellowship before the dinner was served.
The Mayor of Holland was the emcee and the musicians were the blue, sparkly-clad Royal Troubadours, from Elmwood H.S., directed by Christine Rohrs, accompanied by Dean Bell. They sang romantic solos throughout the evening and did a fantastic sparkling "love show" after the dinner --the highlight of which was the choreographed "In the Mood," with the dancing of the Glenn Miller era. We could hear them so well; our mics and speakers were working! Also circulating the room with his crystal ball and card tricks during the dinner was student and magician, Brandon Coleman.
Following the show, the audience sang a couple of songs about Christian love and God's love for us, as a segue into Pastor Keith Simpson's brief devotional about God's love. He told how Teddy Roosevelt lost both his mother and his wife to illnesses on the same day, a Valentine's Day, reminding us that real love will include sadness --but God will give us the love and strength to go on in our hope of Heaven --thanks to the Love of Christ on the cross.
The students concluded with a choral number called "The Greatest Gift" --which is love.
The area Youth for Christ director, Jim Franks, was there to give a benediction.
The roast beef dinner by Kathy Heisinger and her crew was fabulous and the teens did a great job serving with Andrea Conklin's direction. Dessert was strawberries on Chocolate merangue cookies with whipped topping. Lucious to look at and to eat.
Proceeds for the banquet and table tips went to the youth fund of the church for their summer trips.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING ~ CLC (Christian Life Club) for Kids ~ Valentine Party
The amazing Sue Conklin hung large flags of various European nations in our church's chapel (the former sanctuary.) She set up big round tables with decorations and flag centerpieces for each nation we are studying during this Missions Month. Europe is a mission field where the Free Methodist Church has missionaries. She had photos of these missionaries as part of the centerpieces. This was the annual Missions Food night for the children.
My assistant teacher took charge of all the food and our squad (the Trail Blazers of the CLC) helped to set it up on serving tables decorated by Sue with stripes in the primary colors of the European flags --they stood behind the table to identify and help serve the food for the other squads as they came through. I brought the Belgian truffles actually made in Belgium (Did you know the Lindor candies from Switzerland are actually made here now? --that's global economy for you --working in our favor. Churchills had them. ) I took the crust off the bread for some dainty cucumber sandwiches. Patty Bersinger made little tastes for 50 kids plus teachers -of recipes from European nations --cinnamon icecream, sorbet, pizza, little raspberry crepes, and other things I missed the names of because I had to accompany the worship team and leave her the work. But she had other help and she's good at being in charge of party food, games, etc. She likes to do everything I don't.
For the party, our 14 children, 3rd and 4th graders, first decorated and ate a Valentine cookie --baked by one of our teacher/mothers, Deb Claytor. Then Patty took them on a "spy walk" --she gives them each secret code names and they go stealthily through the hallways and downstairs to the music room --where I was waiting with Miss Valentine (Chrissy Rohrs) --who led them in a round --a new song for them: "Love, love love love, The Gospel in one word is love, Love your neighbor as your brother, Love love Love."
To get cooperation of people with spacy attention spans, we bribed them. (Did you know that somewhere in the Bible it does say something like, "A wise man useth a bribe!") So I gave each a zip lock bag and some Valentine treat for having successfully made the Spy Walk --and promised more if they all looked at Miss Valentine or me and participated in the singing, engaging with the words --and they all did! To Miss Valentine's amazement. And they sounded quite harmonious singing the round quite well. I had prepared the lyrics on Valentine stationary. Some asked if they could keep theirs.
We closed with "For God so Loved the World, he gave His only son, to die on Calvary's tree, from sin to set me free. Some day He's coming back --what glory that will Be! wonderful His love to me." The song is based on John 3:16 which was their January memory verse. And more candy was given --and they seemed to think they had had a good time.
Challenges-- we are busing kids in and need more van drivers. We could probably use another van. We are reaching the place where we need to split classes and aren't sure we have the teachers. We have some disciplinary problems but not so much in our squad. The younger kids' class is a bit too big, so we are getting more assistants in there. The older kids' class has a couple of unruly comedians and it is also a little bit larger than ours. So the minister and another young husband are planning to take the boys out for a separate class.
Patty and I are relieved that, so far, we don't have anyone telling us we are boring or giving us bad attitudes. We are experienced mothers of 4 kids each ourselves. So we aren't real strict --and we like all of them. And they know it. And I love to teach and get excited about some of our projects and goals. This is true of all our CLC staff. We just need to know how to deal with our growth and with students who are pretty impulsive, very lively, and very rude to each other, loud and wild, on the vans and in the halls and stairwells especially. An hour and a half with them weekly isn't much influence compared to the rest of children's lives.
The bus driver, Paula Swann, told me that one of my students asked her, "Does God see you all the time?" She assured him He does. First, he had asked, "Does God live at the church?" Paula told him that God lives in the hearts of those who believe in Him and so He is everywhere they are. And everywhere in general. He said, "Does that mean He could see someone in the Boys' coat room even if they were very careful to not be seen?" She assured Him God sees everything. He said, "O NO."
You know, a conscience can be a very good thing to cultivate in children.
My assistant teacher took charge of all the food and our squad (the Trail Blazers of the CLC) helped to set it up on serving tables decorated by Sue with stripes in the primary colors of the European flags --they stood behind the table to identify and help serve the food for the other squads as they came through. I brought the Belgian truffles actually made in Belgium (Did you know the Lindor candies from Switzerland are actually made here now? --that's global economy for you --working in our favor. Churchills had them. ) I took the crust off the bread for some dainty cucumber sandwiches. Patty Bersinger made little tastes for 50 kids plus teachers -of recipes from European nations --cinnamon icecream, sorbet, pizza, little raspberry crepes, and other things I missed the names of because I had to accompany the worship team and leave her the work. But she had other help and she's good at being in charge of party food, games, etc. She likes to do everything I don't.
For the party, our 14 children, 3rd and 4th graders, first decorated and ate a Valentine cookie --baked by one of our teacher/mothers, Deb Claytor. Then Patty took them on a "spy walk" --she gives them each secret code names and they go stealthily through the hallways and downstairs to the music room --where I was waiting with Miss Valentine (Chrissy Rohrs) --who led them in a round --a new song for them: "Love, love love love, The Gospel in one word is love, Love your neighbor as your brother, Love love Love."
To get cooperation of people with spacy attention spans, we bribed them. (Did you know that somewhere in the Bible it does say something like, "A wise man useth a bribe!") So I gave each a zip lock bag and some Valentine treat for having successfully made the Spy Walk --and promised more if they all looked at Miss Valentine or me and participated in the singing, engaging with the words --and they all did! To Miss Valentine's amazement. And they sounded quite harmonious singing the round quite well. I had prepared the lyrics on Valentine stationary. Some asked if they could keep theirs.
We closed with "For God so Loved the World, he gave His only son, to die on Calvary's tree, from sin to set me free. Some day He's coming back --what glory that will Be! wonderful His love to me." The song is based on John 3:16 which was their January memory verse. And more candy was given --and they seemed to think they had had a good time.
Challenges-- we are busing kids in and need more van drivers. We could probably use another van. We are reaching the place where we need to split classes and aren't sure we have the teachers. We have some disciplinary problems but not so much in our squad. The younger kids' class is a bit too big, so we are getting more assistants in there. The older kids' class has a couple of unruly comedians and it is also a little bit larger than ours. So the minister and another young husband are planning to take the boys out for a separate class.
Patty and I are relieved that, so far, we don't have anyone telling us we are boring or giving us bad attitudes. We are experienced mothers of 4 kids each ourselves. So we aren't real strict --and we like all of them. And they know it. And I love to teach and get excited about some of our projects and goals. This is true of all our CLC staff. We just need to know how to deal with our growth and with students who are pretty impulsive, very lively, and very rude to each other, loud and wild, on the vans and in the halls and stairwells especially. An hour and a half with them weekly isn't much influence compared to the rest of children's lives.
The bus driver, Paula Swann, told me that one of my students asked her, "Does God see you all the time?" She assured him He does. First, he had asked, "Does God live at the church?" Paula told him that God lives in the hearts of those who believe in Him and so He is everywhere they are. And everywhere in general. He said, "Does that mean He could see someone in the Boys' coat room even if they were very careful to not be seen?" She assured Him God sees everything. He said, "O NO."
You know, a conscience can be a very good thing to cultivate in children.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
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