Did readers here see Sean Hannity's exclusive interview with Sarah Palin last night? You certainly need to see it yourself in order to understand that the leftist vitriole against her is unfounded, yet will continue to be spewed by the hateful far left crazies and the Media of Mass Deception for the simple reason that they fear her. The left fears her wonderful connection with, and influence of the American people who agree with her ideology, policies, political views, staunch support for our military, and love for our country.
Glenn Beck's January 17th T.V. show reveals tha "Reality Doesn't Match the Script." Glenn demonstrates, and with video proof of Frances Fox Piven, shows just how far the left will lie and utilize the awful Cloward and Piven strategy - which will continue to be used in order to cause chaos and negative change in America. If you happen to be unfamiliar with Cloward and Piven and how this administration is using such evil strategy, please see my previous posts on the subject:
1. Obama Matrix: Cloward Piven & Alinsky Rules for Radicals.
2. Cloward Piven Strategy of Orchestrated Crisis.
3. Make A Choice Before It's Too Late.
Through rabid vitrole and death threats against Sarah and her family, the left hopes to silence her. Well guess what? She WILL NOT BE SILENCED! Good for her! The woman has an iron constitution and nerves of steel to go with it! More likely, she is well connected through prayer to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She even said so during her interview with Sean Hannity.
Palin to Democrat-Media Complex: “I Am Not Going to Shut Up” (Video)
posted by Jim Hoft at The Gateway Pundit - 10 hours ago
Sarah Palin told Sean Hannity tonight that despite the constant attacks by the democratic-media complex, “I am not going to shut up.” Palin defended herself on Hannity tonight from the awful attacks and sm...
Sarah Palin is a believer who obviously takes Romans 8 seriously:
Rom 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
Rom 8:33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
Rom 8:34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
Rom 8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Why do they fear Sarah so greatly and continue to bombard her and her family with angry rants and death threats? Because they know that she represent those who cling to the Lord Jesus Christ and they hate all that she represents for the American people! Sarah isn't using God - He is using her, instead.
That is truly what the rabid leftist thugs and venom-spewing commentators can NEVER TAKE AWAY FROM SARAH AND HER FAMILY!
God bless you Sarah! You stand up against the powers of darkness because the Rock of Ages indwells your heart and soul. You are the Esther of our age! Praise God that you are here for us fellow Americans for such a time as this!
Hat Tips to all links
Showing posts with label Freedom in Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Freedom in Christ. Show all posts
Rejection Of Need For Repentance & Redemption Of One's Soul
Consider this a different kind of blog post. I want to make some statements and then ask some brave readers to give examples in the comment section. With your agreement to participate (please make a note that it is O.K. with you to have your comment re-published in this post), I will copy and paste your comments into this original blog post. Also, feel free to share a link to a blog post that you may have written that coincides with this subject matter.
If you just want to sound off (please, no cursing, swearing or taking the name of the Lord in vain) on the topic, please indicate that you only want your comment to remain as a comment.
My statement:
There appears to be a recurring theme of rejection by the liberal, progressive left towards recognizing the need for repentance of sin and thus redemption of one's soul through God.
Take almost any issue heralded by the left as "good," which at the same time is opposed by Conservative Christians who follow Jesus Christ and His Word, the Bible, and you will see that the rejection of the need for repentance of sin and the rejection of the need for redemption of one's life and eternal soul is one of the big reasons why the left will inevitably always clash with the right.
Agree or disagree?
Care to share some examples?
Christine
The Word of God -
Ephesians 1:7 - 23
Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Eph 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him:
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Eph 1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
Eph 1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19 And what [is] the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places],
Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph 1:22 And hath put all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Freedom Is Not Free
Before I get to the explanation of the topic "Freedom Is Not Free," I want to share a personal story that led me to think about, and write about that phrase.
From February 6th through the 17th, I was in the midst of the Blizzard of 2010. Yes. This California gal was visiting her mom back east. I ended up being smack dab in the middle of several snow storms that wreaked havoc on the east coast.
It has been several years since I have shoveled snow. Well, over the course of several days, I ended up shoveling snow five times! I hate when the snow plow comes along and drops those large chunks of icy snow right in front of the driveway!
Anyway, I had a great visit with my mom. She is very frail now. Each year when I go back for 10 days to stay with her, it ends up being such a sweet time.
Fortunately, we were able to get out of the house before one snow storm, and then again in between the second and third one.
I discovered that the mall a few miles from her home offers free rental of wheelchairs. This enabled us to spend several hours at the mall without her tiring too easily. My mom can still walk, but she gets pain in one leg if she walks long distances.
Since her birthday was coming up in April, I asked her to shop for her own gift. I thought that when we reached the clothing racks, she would get up and look around. Nope! She enjoyed looking at the clothes sitting in the wheelchair, while directing me to push her all around the Macy's women's department.
A beautiful pants suit caught her eye. The jacket was lime green with black piping around the collar. The pants were black. The sales lady was kind enough to pick out some shell tops for her to try on under the jacket. She looked beautiful in it!! I was so excited to buy it for her. The pants needed hemming, but other than that it was a great fit!
We enjoyed lunch at the Nordstrom Cafe. We had soup and salad, and split a delicious frosted carrot cake. I loved that cake so much, I asked the lady at the register if I could purchase a whole cake to take home. She told me she could order it and it would be $40.00. Forty dollars? Must be one of those fancy bakery-type cakes! Still, I should have bought one more piece to take home!
One Saturday evening, I invited my Aunt Alex to join us for dinner at one of our favorite Italian restaurants. We got there very early (4:30 p.m.), before the crowd would get there.
My Aunt Alex is the older sister of my mom. She is sharp as a whip, funny, active, still drives and still bowls once a week! She might not like me to share her age, so I won't. She is a great person and I love her so much!
Aunt Alex is a senior leader of the Lady's Auxiliary in her town. They hold annual spaghetti dinners to benefit war vets who are recovering from their injuries and/or need prosthetic limbs. During the event, people buy raffle tickets to win prizes. Many of the prizes are small blankets from USA Cares - the same organization that comedian Dennis Miller (often seen on The O'Reilly Factor show segments) promotes. My mom has won several of these blankets from past fund raisers. She had one at home that read: "Freedom Is Not Free." I asked her if I could have it. She said yes. It was nice to have that little blanket in my carry-on bag so that I could rest my head against it during the long plane flight home. More about that saying in a moment.
One of the funniest moments at the restaurant was when I told both of them that this dinner is my treat. My Aunt Alex was hesitant to order the scallops dinner that she wanted because it was so expensive (wasn't really - only $17.00). I told her, "Go ahead and order it! My husband gave me lots of spending money for this trip! I'm getting the crab-stuffed shrimp ($18.00)." Next, it was time to see what my mom wanted. She said, "Spaghetti and meatballs." Now, my aunt rolled her eyes. She said, "we both have freezers full of leftover spaghetti and meatballs! Don't you dare order that!" We both spent the next 15 minutes trying to get my mom to order something different. To no avail. Finally, my aunt said (kiddingly, of course), "Helen, if you order spaghetti and meatballs I'm gonna kill you!" I laughed so hard!! Meanwhile, the original waiter gave up on us and a new waitress came over to get our orders. We must have been sitting there laughing and talking for half an hour!
Our meals were delicious! My mom was stubborn and went ahead and ordered her spaghetti and meatballs. Aunt Alex did the familiar family hand wave of disgust. What a riot!
When we dropped off Aunt Alex at home, she gave her sister a kiss and said, "Love you!" I chuckled to myself. A few hours ago she was humorously irritated with her sister.
Unfortunately, my mom ended up with a bit of heartburn from the meal. I saw her pop two tums chewables when we got home. She shoulda listened to us!
If you have been patient enough to read through the personal account above, thank you! I am now leading up to discussing the title of this post.
The saying, "Freedom Is Not Free" is very true. We all know how our brave military has been instrumental in keeping America free and protecting our homeland throughout our history. We know how they helped the cause of freedom around the world in World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the war in Afghanistan; just to name a few.
Former President Reagan said this classic quote:
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.
Ronald Reagan
40th president of US (1911 - 2004)
Did you read that? "It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same..."
Freedom Is Not Free.
I have recently become a member of The Heritage Foundation. I have donated to that worthy cause several times. I will do so again, especially after reading the latest awesome letter that I received from Edwin J. Feulner, Ph.D. - President of the foundation.
My next post will share the details of that letter [See Some Conservative Intellectual Wisdom]
For now, I want to talk about the fact that the saying "Freedom Is Not Free" can also be applied to the freedom that is offered to us through the Person of Jesus Christ.
The Christian faith is based on the Cross of Christ. The Gospel message is one that informs us (via the Bible) that Jesus Christ died for the sins of mankind, so that we could be free from the punishment of eternal death.
Again, Freedom Is Not Free. Someone had to pay the price. Jesus Christ paid the price on that cross at Calvary, over 2,000 years ago.
Non-believers often scoff at this idea. They take on the attitude that one Man, could not possibly have done what Christ claimed to do. One Man, could not possibly achieve what Christ claimed to achieve. To them, it's all "rubbish," "lies," "myth," "an impossibility" due to what we know about science...and the list could go on and on. Unfortunately, the physical world is all that they believe in. They say, "show me - then I will believe." Christian faith says, "Believe, then you will see." It's a spiritual thing that cannot be measured by science, man's wisdom, man's knowledge, man's personality, or man's thoughts.
In the Old Testament, God tells us through Isaiah:
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
So, the question becomes, how do we find out God's thoughts? This side of heaven, we cannot find out all of them. However, God has given us the Bible - His written Word, and Jesus Christ - His Living Word to inform us of what we need to know during our brief life on this earth in order to be reconciled back to God and spend eternity in heaven with Him.
The scoffers often try and point out errors and flaws in Scripture. They relish finding verses and quoting them out of context to support their own personal views.
Here's an example.
Over at my Talk Wisdom forum, GMPilot (a self-described non-believer in Christ) wrote this in the Che: The Evil Murderer thread:
I'd really like to know...if Guevara was an "evil murderer", who is a good murderer?
Apparently, GMPilot objected to my labeling of Che as an "evil" murderer.
My reply:
The point of this post was to show how people often follow a kind of "groupthink" about past revolutionaries - good, bad, or downright evil - without knowing the history of the person. How else could it be explained that so many young people who worked in the Obama campaign of 2008 allowed posters of Che to be up in the election headquarters? Why would they wear t-shirts and why would a model wear underwear with Che's face all over it?
It's either ignorance or complicity. Take your pick.
Then GM wrote:
Quote:
Christine: The point of this post was to show how people often follow a kind of "groupthink" about past revolutionaries - good, bad, or downright evil - without knowing the history of the person.
I could say the same about those so-called "TEA party-ers" who carry quotes from certain of the Founders without fully understanding their meaning. Or those who equate socialism with fascism, ignorant of the fact that the two systems are incompatible with each other, let alone with what we've got.
IMHO, true patriots never proclaim themselves as such; they don't need to.Quote:
Christine: How else could it be explained that so many young people who worked in the Obama campaign of 2008 allowed posters of Che to be up in the election headquarters?
How many election headquarters? Which one(s)? Where? All I hear is rhetoric, not facts.Quote:
Christine: Why would they wear t-shirts and why would a model wear underwear with Che's face all over it?
If you don't know why people wear t-shirts, it's too late to explain anything to you. If I were a model, I'd wear underwear with Che's face on it; I know all about Che Guevara, and he can kiss my ass. Literally. On my skivvies.Quote:
Christine: It's either ignorance or complicity. Take your pick.
I pick ignorance; ignorance can be cured. Obviously there's a lot of it out there, if Beck feels he must educate his audience about Che!
I repeat...if Guevara was an "evil murderer", who is a good murderer?
Perhaps this guy?
My second reply:
Abortion advocates and abortionists?Quote:
GM: I'd really like to know...if Guevara was an "evil murderer", who is a good murderer?
In the view of liberal leftists who do all that they can to protect abortion "rights," perhaps you could call them advocates for "good" murder and the abortionists "good" murderers? Of course, they are only "good" in their own minds...
Woe to those who would call evil "good" and good, "evil."
__________________
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8
The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth to show Himself strong to those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9
GM wrote:
Re: Post #9479
Don't go dumping the definitions on me, hostess. You determined that Che was an "evil murderer', so I assumed you knew what a "good" one was. I offered you a couple of possibilities, and you wouldn't commit to either one.
If you find you can't answer that question, maybe you should retract that adjective and just settle for "murderer".Quote:
Woe to those who would call evil "good" and good, "evil."
Murder isn't "evil" if He commands it, though. Ever notice that?
__________________
"Religion is fundamentally opposed to everything I hold in veneration--courage, clear thinking, honesty, fairness, and above all, love of the truth." --H L Mencken
"When someone asks you if you're a god, you say yes." --"Ghostbusters"
I included our tag lines in the last two comments because I thought they were so fitting to the differences in our spiritual beliefs.
Notice that GMPilot did not address the issue of abortion as being considered as "good murder" - which pro-abortion advocates must obviously think. Otherwise, abortion would be unthinkable to them, would it not?
I have not yet responded to GM's last comment. I find it strange that he now claims to object to my use of the adjective "evil" to describe a person who was a murderer. And, GM objects to the fact that God has the power over life and death. He seems to think that is evil.
My question. Who but the Creator of the Universe should have the ultimate power over life and death?
Taking Scripture out of context is a sport with many atheists/skeptics/Christian haters. The fact that many of these kinds of people hate the God of the Bible is quite evident, too.
The fact that Scripture upholds the death penalty bothers them, as well. But what would they want? Freedom for murderers to get away with their crimes? Life in prison without the possibility of parole?
The admonition, "Thou shalt not murder" in the Ten Commandments does not mean that the act of killing (for self-defense, in war, in protecting family etc.) is never justified. That is a misconception by some who can't understand why there is a death penalty in the first place.
[Note: Please see the essay at the end of this post for Greg Koukl's excellent article: What Exodus 21:22 Says About Abortion. It includes some facts about why the death penalty in the Old Testament is considered biblical.]
Physical death is the penalty for sin that every human being must go through. However, without the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross - the idea that sinners can be set free from spiritual death without confessing and recognizing that Christ paid the penalty for their sin - would not be justice.
Thus, we come full circle on the idea that "Freedom Is Not Free." Of course, this is not an exhaustive essay on the topic. Much more can be written and said about it. But I hope that this brief explanation will get readers thinking about why that phrase is so true.
It also explains why many Americans today are protesting this out-of-control government takeover that we are experiencing today at an alarming rate.
Our Charters of Freedom are on the line. When our United States Constitution is ignored by government leaders, and a presidency can be usurped due to cover-up, we can see the inherent danger that we face in losing our freedoms; as well as our way of life via what the Founding Fathers envisioned for our Constitutional Republic.
Recall what Benjamin Franklin once said to a woman who asked the question, "what type of government have you given us, sir? He replied, "We have given you a Republic, if you can keep it."
What are you willing to do to keep our Constitutional Republic here in the United States of America intact?
If you want to find out what you can do, go to ResistNet.com
You can have most of your questions about the forum answered here.
*******
Copy of Greg Koukl's essay:
What Exodus 21:22 Says About Abortion
Gregory Koukl
The Torah's teaching about accidental "miscarriage"; has been hotly contested concerning the value of the unborn. Is it pro-life or pro-abortion? Here are the facts. You decide.
Most attempts to argue against abortion from biblical texts are misdirected. In the absence of specific prohibitions of abortion in the Scripture, Christian pro-lifers quote equivocal passages.
Some citations use personal pronouns to describe the unborn, but many of these are in poetry texts, so the conclusion is not entirely convincing. God’s personal acquaintance with the unborn can be explained by His omniscience. After all, some texts make it clear that God “knows” us even before we’re conceived.
One text, however, is strong. Exodus 21:22-25 is usually used to argue that the Bible assigns a lower value to the unborn than to other humans. Rabbis and Jewish thinkers I’ve discussed this point with on the radio have been especially adamant--even irate. I think the evidence shows, though, that Moses taught just the opposite. If I’m right, we have a powerful argument for the value Scripture puts on the life of the unborn.
Dead or Alive?
The New American Standard Bible (NASB) renders Exodus 21:22-25 this way:
And if men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she has a miscarriage, yet there is no [further] injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband may demand of him; and he shall pay as the judges decide. But if there is any [further] injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.[1]
This translation suggests that if a miscarriage takes place and the child is lost, the antagonists are simply fined, but if the mother dies in the scuffle, then the penalty is “life for life.” In the Torah, it seems, the unborn is not considered fully human.
Theologian Millard Erickson notes that in this view, “the lex talionis [life for life] is applied only if the mother is harmed. On this basis it is concluded that the fetus was not considered a soul or a person, and thus is not to be thought of as fully human.”[2]
At issue is the phrase translated “she has a miscarriage.” There is an assumption made about this word that is crucial. In English, the word “miscarriage” implies the death of the child. Webster’s New World Dictionary defines miscarriage as, “The expulsion of the fetus from the womb before it is sufficiently developed to survive.”[3] In the struggle, the child is aborted, and so a fine is levied.
Here’s the crux of the issue: Does the Hebrew word carry the same meaning? Is it correct to presume that the miscarriage of Exodus 21:22 produces a dead child, just like an abortion? This is the single most important question that needs to be answered here. If it does, the English word “miscarriage” is the right choice. If it does not, then the picture changes dramatically.
Are we justified in assuming that the child is dead? The answer is in the original language. There’s a history of how these words are used in the Hebrew Bible, and that history is important. Let’s look at it.
Yeled and Yasa
A word’s meaning in any language is determined in two steps. We learn a word’s range of meaning--its possible definitions--inductively by examining its general usage. We learn its specific meaning within that range by the immediate context.
The relevant phrase in the passage, “...she has a miscarriage...,” reads w˚yase û ye ladêhâ in the Hebrew. It’s a combination of a Hebrew noun--yeled--and a verb--yasa--and literally means “the child comes forth.” The NASB makes note of this literal rendering in the margin.
The Hebrew noun translated “child” in this passage is yeled[4] (yeladim in the plural), and means “child, son, boy, or youth.”[5] It comes from the primary root word yalad,[6] meaning “to bear, bring forth, or beget.” In the NASB yalad is translated “childbirth” 10 times, some form of “gave birth” over 50 times, and either “bore,” “born,” or “borne” 180 times.
The verb yasa[7] is a primary, primitive root that means “to go or come out.” It is used over a thousand times in the Hebrew Scriptures and has been translated 165 different ways in the NASB--escape, exported, go forth, proceed, take out, to name a few. This gives us a rich source for exegetical comparison. It’s translated with some form of “coming out” (e.g., “comes out,” “came out,” etc.) 103 times, and some form of “going” 445 times.
What’s most interesting is to see how frequently yasa refers to the emergence of a living thing:
Genesis 1:24 “Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind’; and it was so.”
Genesis 8:17 [to Noah] “Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you, birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth....”
Genesis 15:4 “This man will not be your heir; but one who shall come forth from your own body....”
Genesis 25:25-26 “Now the first came forth red, all over like a hairy garment; and they named him Esau. And afterward his brother came forth with his hand holding on to Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob.”
1 Kings 8:19 “Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you, he shall build the house for My name.”
Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
2 Kings 20:18 “And some of your sons who shall issue from you, whom you shall beget, shall be taken away; and they shall become officials in the palace of the king of Babylon.”
As you can see, it’s common for yasa to describe the “coming forth” of something living, frequently a child. There is only one time yasa is clearly used for a dead child. Numbers 12:12 says, “Oh, do not let her be like one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes from his mother’s womb!”
Note here, that we don’t infer the child’s death from the word yasa, but from explicit statements in the context. This is a still-birth, not a miscarriage. The child is dead before the birth (“whose flesh is half eaten away”), and doesn’t die as a result of the untimely delivery, as in a miscarriage.
Yasa is used 1,061 times in the Hebrew Bible. It is never translated “miscarriage” in any other case. Why should the Exodus passage be any different?
Clues from the Context
This inductive analysis shows us something important: Nothing about the word yasa implies the death of the child. The context may give us this information, as in Numbers 12:12, but the word itself does not.
This leads us to our next question: What in the context justifies our assumption that the child that “comes forth” is dead? The answer is, nothing does. There is no indication anywhere in the verse that a fine is assessed for a miscarriage and a more severe penalty is assessed for harming the mother.
This becomes immediately clear when the Hebrew words are translated in their normal, conventional way (the word “further” in the NASB is not in the original):
“And if men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that the child comes forth, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband may demand of him; and he shall pay as the judges decide. But if there is any injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life....”
The text seems to require a fine for the premature birth, but injury to either of the parties involved incurs a more severe punishment.[8] Millard Erickson notes that “there is no specification as to who must be harmed for the lex talionis [life for life] to come into effect. Whether the mother or the child, the principle applies.”[9]
Gleason Archer, Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, concludes:
“There is no ambiguity here, whatever. What is required is that if there should be an injury either to the mother or to her children, the injury shall be avenged by a like injury to the assailant. If it involves the life (nepes) of the premature baby, then the assailant shall pay for it with his life. There is no second-class status attached to the fetus under this rule; he is avenged just as if he were a normally delivered child or an older person: life for life. Or if the injury is less, but not serious enough to involve inflicting a like injury on the offender, then he may offer compensation in monetary damages...”[10]
Two Rejoinders
Two further objections need to be dealt with. First, if this is a premature birth and not a miscarriage, why the fine?
Babies born prematurely require special care. Because their prenatal development has been interrupted, they are especially prone to difficulty. Pre-term babies often can’t breast feed, and there can be respiratory problems leading to permanent brain damage. The fine represents reimbursement for the expense of an untimely birth, and punitive damages for the serious trauma.
Anyway, even if the fine was for the miscarriage, this wouldn’t prove the child was less than human. A few verses later (v. 32), Moses imposes a fine for the death of a slave, but this doesn’t mean the slave is sub-human.
Second, was this the only word that could be used to indicate a miscarriage? No. Two other words were available to convey this particular meaning, if that’s what the writer had in mind: nepel and sakal. These are used seven times in the Hebrew text.
The noun nepel[11] means “miscarriage” or “abortion,” and is used three times:
Job 3:16 “Or like a miscarriage which is discarded, I would not be, as infants that never saw light.”
Eccl. 6:3-4 “If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many they be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things, and he does not even have a proper burial, then I say, ‘Better the miscarriage than he, for it comes in futility and goes into obscurity.’”
Psalms 58:8 “Let them be as a snail which melts away as it goes along, like the miscarriages of a woman which never see the sun.”
The verb sakal[12] means “to be bereaved” and is used four times, including one time when it’s actually translated “abort:”
Genesis 31:38 “These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten the rams of your flocks.”
Exodus 23:26 “There shall be no one miscarrying or barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.”
Hosea 9:14 “Give them, O Lord-- what wilt Thou give? Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.”
Job 21:10 “His ox mates without fail; his cow calves and does not abort.
Moses had words in his vocabulary that literally meant abortion or miscarriage, but he didn’t use them in Exodus 21:22. Instead, he chose the same word he used in many other places to signify a living child being brought forth.
Yasa doesn’t mean miscarriage in the sense we think of that word. Instead, the combination of yeled with yasa suggests a living child coming forth from the womb. Nowhere else is this word ever translated “miscarriage.” Why? Because the word doesn’t mean the baby is still-born. It simply means the child comes out.
Three Questions
When someone raises this issue with you, ask these three questions.
First, why presume the child is dead? Though the English word “miscarriage” entails this notion, nothing in the Hebrew wording suggests it. Yasa doesn’t mean miscarriage; it means “to come forth.” The word itself never suggests death.[13] In fact, the word generally implies the opposite: live birth. If it’s never translated elsewhere as miscarriage, why translate it that way here?
Second, what in the context itself implies the death of the child? There’s nothing that does, nothing at all. The fine does not necessarily mean the child is dead, and even if it did this wouldn’t indicate that the child wasn’t fully human (as in the case of the slave in v. 32).
Third, ancient Hebrew had a specific word for miscarriage. It was used in other passages. Why not here? Because Moses didn’t mean miscarriage. When his words are simply taken at face value, there is no confusion at all. The verse is clear and straight-forward. Everything falls into place.
Regardless of the translation, it’s clear that killing the child--and the text does refer to the unborn as a child--is a criminal act. There is no justification for abortion-on-demand from the Torah. Instead, we have a reasonable--even powerful--argument that God views the unborn as valuable as any other human being.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] The 1995 updated version of the NASB now renders this verse, “If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined...” etc.
[2] Millard Erickson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1985), p. 555.
[3] Webster’s New World Dictionary, Second College Edition (New York: Prentice Hall Press, 1984).
[4] Strong’s Index word #3206.
[5] Definitions come from the New American Standard Exhaustive Concordance. For further documentation, see the Hebrew/English Lexicon of the Old Testament, by Brown, Driver and Briggs, the standard lexicon of ancient Hebrew.
[6] Strong’s Index word #3205.
[7] Strong’s Index word #3318.
[8] The New International Version is correct in rendering this passage, “If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life.”
[9] Millard Erickson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1985), p. 556.
[10] Gleason Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1982), p. 248.
[11] Strong’s Index word #5309.
[12] Strong’s Index word #7921.
[13] Again, in the Numbers passage the context indicates the death, not the word yasa itself.
This is a transcript of a commentary from the radio show "Stand to Reason," with Gregory Koukl. It is made available to you at no charge through the faithful giving of those who support Stand to Reason. Reproduction permitted for non-commercial use only. ©2002 Gregory Koukl
For more information, contact Stand to Reason at 1438 East 33rd St., Signal Hill, CA 90755
(800) 2-REASON (562) 595-7333 www.str.org
Hat Tips:
The Quotations Page
Stand To Reason
Our Judeo-Christian Nation
Judeo-Christian principles are extremely important to our nation. Our Constitutional Republic was founded upon them! Yet, we now have a bogus POTUS who goes to Turkey and ignorantly claims "We Do Not Consider Ourselves A Christian Nation."
Enjoy watching Representative Randy Forbes soundly rebut Obama's claim!
Click Here to View Video
P.S. It is interesting to note a few things at Youtube.
1. Congressman Forbes' speech has been viewed over 2, 915,988 (as of this writing) times, yet comments "have been disabled." Why is that?
2. Obama's rambling has been viewed a mere 113,570 (as of this writing) times, yet comments are allowed there. What gives with that?
Good comment:
Hat Tip:
Stephen LaFata for providing the Forbes video and Christine Lafata for forwarding it to me!
*******
P.S. Maybe Obama's views are so anti-Christian because he isn't a natural born citizen and should not be POTUS! He is doing many anti-constitutional, Marxist activities with the purpose of taking away our freedoms - especially our freedom of speech rights, gun rights, and many other rights.
SEE:
A Place to Ask Questions To Get the Right Answers
The Obama File
The Right Side of Life
Investigating Obama
Daily Thought Pad - Leaked Network Memo Reveals: Obama controls your TV set
And this just published:
Investigating Obama: This Isn't Change - Its Treason!
Update at 11:57 a.m. PT: And this just published:
A Place to Ask Questions To Get the Right Answers: When It Comes to Obama the Media Continues to Fail the American People
Enjoy watching Representative Randy Forbes soundly rebut Obama's claim!
Click Here to View Video
P.S. It is interesting to note a few things at Youtube.
1. Congressman Forbes' speech has been viewed over 2, 915,988 (as of this writing) times, yet comments "have been disabled." Why is that?
2. Obama's rambling has been viewed a mere 113,570 (as of this writing) times, yet comments are allowed there. What gives with that?
Good comment:
randydutton1 (15 hours ago) What point in time did we stop being a country founded on Judeo Christian principals?...............It must have been when Obama became president.
Hat Tip:
Stephen LaFata for providing the Forbes video and Christine Lafata for forwarding it to me!
*******
P.S. Maybe Obama's views are so anti-Christian because he isn't a natural born citizen and should not be POTUS! He is doing many anti-constitutional, Marxist activities with the purpose of taking away our freedoms - especially our freedom of speech rights, gun rights, and many other rights.
SEE:
A Place to Ask Questions To Get the Right Answers
The Obama File
The Right Side of Life
Investigating Obama
Daily Thought Pad - Leaked Network Memo Reveals: Obama controls your TV set
And this just published:
Investigating Obama: This Isn't Change - Its Treason!
Update at 11:57 a.m. PT: And this just published:
A Place to Ask Questions To Get the Right Answers: When It Comes to Obama the Media Continues to Fail the American People
Would You Rather Have the Wages or the Gift?
That is the ultimate question that Dr. David Jeremiah asks near the end of the video presentation called "Finding Freedom Through Slavery" (below) in his new series, "The Upside Down Life." The title sounds like quite the paradox* - doesn't it? You will discover the truth about that statement when you view the video!!
Before you click on the video link, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all of the dads out there a very Happy Father's Day! At our home, it's "Father's Day Weekend" - not just one day...ha ha. Anyway, we have a big seafood fest planned - we found lobster selling for $6.00 a pound at Costco! (Correction: The lobster was from Major Market!) ;-) Some family time is planned - like playing monopoly on the Wii (my son ALWAYS WINS!) and some backyard activities too. It's a day to get away from work, the computer, and any other distraction that might take us away from family time.
But before you turn off your computers today and even if you just returned from church, it is my hope that you will take my recommendation to view and listen to Dr. David Jeremiah's lesson called Finding Freedom Through Slavery from his "The Upside Down Life" series.
It is excellent, people!!!
Remember, if time is short you can "fast forward" to the sermon. But do watch the 1:20 introduction at the beginning of the video. The lesson starts at 18:05.
God bless your day!
Sincerely,
Christine
*P.S. Please keep in mind that the term "slavery" being used in this sermon is not meant to downplay, insult or hurt anyone in the African American community who have suffered, or have known others who have suffered greatly under racial slavery in the past.
Before you click on the video link, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all of the dads out there a very Happy Father's Day! At our home, it's "Father's Day Weekend" - not just one day...ha ha. Anyway, we have a big seafood fest planned - we found lobster selling for $6.00 a pound at Costco! (Correction: The lobster was from Major Market!) ;-) Some family time is planned - like playing monopoly on the Wii (my son ALWAYS WINS!) and some backyard activities too. It's a day to get away from work, the computer, and any other distraction that might take us away from family time.
But before you turn off your computers today and even if you just returned from church, it is my hope that you will take my recommendation to view and listen to Dr. David Jeremiah's lesson called Finding Freedom Through Slavery from his "The Upside Down Life" series.
It is excellent, people!!!
Remember, if time is short you can "fast forward" to the sermon. But do watch the 1:20 introduction at the beginning of the video. The lesson starts at 18:05.
God bless your day!
Sincerely,
Christine
*P.S. Please keep in mind that the term "slavery" being used in this sermon is not meant to downplay, insult or hurt anyone in the African American community who have suffered, or have known others who have suffered greatly under racial slavery in the past.
As the God man passes by...
He looks straight through my eyes
And darkness cannot hide.
Do you want to be free?
Lift your chains
I hold the key
All power on heav'n and earth
Belong to Me
You are free
You are free
You are free
"Set Me Free" by Casting Crowns
It hasn't always been this way
I remember brighter days
Before the dark ones came
Stole my mind
Wrapped my soul in chains
Now I live among the dead
Fighting voices in my head
Hoping someone hears me crying in the night
And carries me away
Set me free of the chains holding me
Is anybody out there hearing me?
Set me free
Morning breaks another day
Finds me crying in the rain
All alone with my demons I am
Who is this man that comes my way?
The dark ones shriek
They scream His name
Is this the One they say will set the captives free?
Jesus, rescue me
As the God man passes by
He looks straight through my eyes
And darkness cannot hide
Do you want to be free?
Lift your chains
I hold the key
All power on Heav'n and Earth belong to me
You are free
You are free
You are free
And darkness cannot hide.
Do you want to be free?
Lift your chains
I hold the key
All power on heav'n and earth
Belong to Me
You are free
You are free
You are free
"Set Me Free" by Casting Crowns
It hasn't always been this way
I remember brighter days
Before the dark ones came
Stole my mind
Wrapped my soul in chains
Now I live among the dead
Fighting voices in my head
Hoping someone hears me crying in the night
And carries me away
Set me free of the chains holding me
Is anybody out there hearing me?
Set me free
Morning breaks another day
Finds me crying in the rain
All alone with my demons I am
Who is this man that comes my way?
The dark ones shriek
They scream His name
Is this the One they say will set the captives free?
Jesus, rescue me
As the God man passes by
He looks straight through my eyes
And darkness cannot hide
Do you want to be free?
Lift your chains
I hold the key
All power on Heav'n and Earth belong to me
You are free
You are free
You are free
This song, with it's gripping melody and simple - yet deep lyrics - could be considered a haunting one - if it were not also profound in how it teaches that Jesus came to rescue us.
Within the lyrics, we have the Truth of the Gospel.
Jesus is the only One who can rescue us from our sin. He is the only One who holds the key to the chains that keep us in darkness.
What might look like "freedom" to some, is actually bondage - bondage to darkness - whether we want to admit it or not.
The bondage of sin is like chains keeping us from being set free in Jesus Christ.
Why would anyone pass up the opportunity to be free from their sins?
Jesus - the God man - passes by each of us.
How?
In the form of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit of God knocks on the door of our hearts - urging us to let Him in.
If you have never accepting the invitation to be born again in Christ, now is the day of salvation.
Why wait?
No one ever knows the day nor the hour of the end of one's own life here on earth. Some may live to be 100 years old. Others, may only have 100 minutes left.
Where you will spend eternity depends on what you do here on earth concerning Jesus' question, "Who do you say that I am?"
Remember - there is No Greater Love than Jesus!
Correcting Revisions of America's Christian History
Because of all the craziness (i.e. the election and economic crisis bailout) going on in the news these days, I'm sure that many conservative Christians, like myself, may not have been aware of the deliberate effort to eliminate God (once again!) via revision of America's religious history.
In his article - God gets boot again in Washington D.C., Chuck Norris shares that Rep. Randy Forbes, R-VA. and the 108 congressional members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus would not allow such omissions to stand.
Norris writes:
Read entire article.
HT: WorldNetDaily
In his article - God gets boot again in Washington D.C., Chuck Norris shares that Rep. Randy Forbes, R-VA. and the 108 congressional members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus would not allow such omissions to stand.
Norris writes:
That is why Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Va., and the 108 congressional members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus recently petitioned the Architect of the Capitol by letter, which details and documents the incomplete and inaccurate religious content in the Capitol Visitor Center – also found in Sen. Jim DeMint's, R-S.C., YouTube video "War on God":
1. No mention of our national motto, "In God We Trust";
2. In displaying images of the current speaker's rostrum in the House chamber, the phrase "In God We Trust" is omitted from its location engraved in marble above the speaker's head;
3. The opening words in Article 3 in the Northwest Ordinance (1787) are excluded from an exhibit. The actual article reads, "Art. 3. Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." The exhibit article reads: "Art. 3. … schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged."
4. There are factual inaccuracies regarding church services held at the Capitol in early decades of our republic, saying they were held when Congress wasn't in session, when in fact they were held year around – and even the so-labeled strict-separatist Thomas Jefferson attended them throughout his eight years of presidency.
5. The exhibits include photos from Earth Day, an AIDS rally, various casino grounds and factories, but it does not include photos from monumental religious events such as the National Day of Prayer or the March for Life event, attended by thousands annually, etc.
6. There is an absence of any major display or description of the religious influence within or about the 200-plus year history of the Capitol.
Historical buildings like the Capitol Visitor Center are there to tell the story of our nation," said Rep. Forbes. "When religious history is removed from these displays, the American public is not able to observe an accurate depiction of our nation's story. We owe it to those who have gone before us and to our future generations to provide a complete representation of our nation's heritage. We will continue to fight until this is achieved in the Capitol Visitor Center."
Read entire article.
HT: WorldNetDaily
Set Me Free!
A song and video dedicated to all of those who still need to be set free by the One and Only One who can ....
Jesus Christ!!
Thank you Lord Jesus for setting me free!
Jesus Christ!!
Thank you Lord Jesus for setting me free!
You are awesome and I love you with all my heart...
Set Me Free music video.
"Set Me Free"
It hasn't always been this way
I remember brighter days
Before the dark ones came
Stole my mind
Wrapped my soul in chains
Now I live among the dead
Fighting voices in my head
Hoping someone hears me crying in the night
And carries me away
Set me free of the chains holding me
Is anybody out there hearing me?
Set me free
Morning breaks another day
Finds me crying in the rain
All alone with my demons I am
Who is this man that comes my way?
The dark ones shriek
They scream His name
Is this the One they say will set the captives free?
Jesus, rescue me
As the God man passes by
He looks straight through my eyes
And darkness cannot hide
Do you want to be free?
Lift your chains
I hold the key
All power on Heav'n and Earth belong to me
You are free
You are free
You are free
Set Me Free music video.
"Set Me Free"
It hasn't always been this way
I remember brighter days
Before the dark ones came
Stole my mind
Wrapped my soul in chains
Now I live among the dead
Fighting voices in my head
Hoping someone hears me crying in the night
And carries me away
Set me free of the chains holding me
Is anybody out there hearing me?
Set me free
Morning breaks another day
Finds me crying in the rain
All alone with my demons I am
Who is this man that comes my way?
The dark ones shriek
They scream His name
Is this the One they say will set the captives free?
Jesus, rescue me
As the God man passes by
He looks straight through my eyes
And darkness cannot hide
Do you want to be free?
Lift your chains
I hold the key
All power on Heav'n and Earth belong to me
You are free
You are free
You are free
Lyrics from: Set Me Free by Casting Crowns
Cumbersome Sack of Discontent
Over the last three days, I have had the complete displeasure of watching and listening to most of the keynote speakers at the Democratic Convention. Last night, I watched the repeat broadcast of Joe Biden's speech.
I was struggling to find a catchy line that would describe what was heard in most of the speeches. Then, while reading a chapter from Max Lucado's book Traveling Light, I found the phrase I was looking for:
Democrats: Those people who trudge through each day with a "cumbersome sack of discontent."
I am serious!! All that I heard coming out of the mouths of most of the speakers were complaints!!
Except for moments of grandeur and praise of themselves, their own families, and other Democrats, did you hear any mention of gratitude for living in the greatest nation on God's green earth??
The other thing that really bothered me was seeing Hillary and Bill join the clueless, Kool-Aid drinkers and through their individual speeches, ultimately ended up bowing at the altar of Obamination. Are we to really believe that what they said was sincere?
Perhaps Hillary was sincere in her rejection of John McCain, but the recent campaign commercial where she states something like this - "John McCain is prepared to be president and has served this country honorably for years - Barack Obama gave a speech in 2002." [paraphrased here] has to make one wonder...when was she telling the truth? Was it when she made that original statement about Senator McCain or the other night when she disparaged him and praised Obama?
Isn't it logical to ask, "When was she genuinely sharing her true opinions and feelings?"
It is mindboggling how Democrats consistently talk out of two sides of their faces - and end up saying completely opposite things. What's even worse is that the MSM lets them get away with it!! Thank God for the Internet where we can discern truth from lies!
Did you happen to see the new NOBama fad? Flip flop sandals with mini heads of Obama attached at the top! Each one represents each of his known flip-flopping stances on issues! Ha!! More accurately, it appears that he tries to be "both ways Obama." Now, that's a real hoot!!
It wasn't my intention to continue describing all of the discontent that reeks from the Democrat Party. It's just that it served as a perfect example of what Max Lucado describes as "the prison of want" in chapter four of his book Traveling Light.
This particular chapter is so good that I wish I could type it all out! But I will share just a few portions that will hopefully give you the main message.
Max describes the "world's most oppressive prison" as "the prison of want." He gives examples. People who may not want much, but just that "one thing" that will make them happy.
Excerpt:
Personally, I think that many liberals and most Democrats are in the prison of want. What's worse is the fact that their leaders want them there in order to get what they want...elected!
When the Democrats took over Congress in 2006, did you see them pass any legislation to make their "prisoners of want" happy? No. Of course not! Why? Because they wanted the "sack of discontent" to linger all the way up to this forthcoming election day on November 4th, 2008! Doesn't it seem that way to you, too?
Lucado tells us how to recognize when we are in this type of prison:
If the truth be told, I think that almost everyone goes through a time in this particular prison. However, some people remain their for most of their lives! That's truly sad!
Well, as Max writes, "that's the bad news. The good news is, you have a visitor."
Wow! That's SO POWERFUL!
Let me take a brief time out to share some thoughts about a movie documentary that I saw yesterday. The movie is called Young At Heart.
At that link, you can read a brief review (that doesn't give a lot of the plot away) and also view several video clips (may contain spoilers) of the documentary.
At the end, I teared up big time!!
It was so awesome to see these people perform and receive standing ovations. They got such responses from both a huge concert audience, as well as from prisoners (who were holed up in a real prison camp) they had performed for earlier in the movie.
Several of members of the choral group were believers. One sang in his church chorus and another mentioned that the Lord will take him when it is his time.
I have to say that seeing some grown men at the prison camp tear up - and then hug the choral group members after their performance - was so very moving!
We know that many Christian groups bring children and various singing groups to nursing homes to visit the elderly and cheer them up. But to see the elderly from nursing homes come and sing for a group of hardened criminals was just amazing!
These chorus members still had their problems - health and otherwise. They had their aches and pains. They had difficulty learning and memorizing some of the lyrics. They had their emergency trips to the hospital. They had physical disabilities and all the rest that comes with the aging process. Yet, when they were performing - in those moments - all of those problems went away...for a time. They expressed how much they loved singing and performing for grateful audiences.
The final concert at the end had me sobbing - both with sadness and joy!
You see, the life of the Christian believer is like that. Sometimes filled with sadness - but also overflowing with joy!
When we receive Christ as Lord and Savior, that born-again experience releases "the fruit of the Spirit" within us.
Notice that one fruit is called "long suffering." The Bible tells us the truth - and the truth is just as Jesus described to us in John:
And, why can we be of good cheer despite all of the turmoil going on around us?
Jesus is all about overcoming. At the moment of salvation, he overcomes the effect of sin on our souls. With Him in our hearts, he allows us to overcome our fears, trials, tribulations and yes - even the "prisons" that tempt to snag us in this life.
Which brings us back to Max Lucado's book.
Excerpt:
The author goes on to tell the familiar story of one of the wealthiest men in history, John D. Rockefeller. When he died, his accountant was asked, "How much did John D. leave?" The accountant answered, "All of it."
"Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand." (Eccles. 5:15 NIV).
Back to the election for a moment. During all of the back and forth about Barack Obama's elitism (and, now he's 4 million dollars richer through book sales) and John McCain's wife owning seven homes; on campaign camp tried to outdo the other in the "rich man" game.
However, I liked what I heard from John McCain. Compared to most of the rest of the world, every single one of us in America is rich! He probably wasn't only talking about financial circumstances. America is rich in many other things too.
Rich in faith, hope, love, forgiveness, grace, mercy, and salvation through Christ.
Rich in freedom.
Rich in generosity.
Rich in protection.
Rich in good people.
Rich in a military unsurpassed by any other.
Rich in giving to those less fortunate.
Rich in providing education.
Rich in opportunity for those who work for it.
The list could go on and on.
What would you add to it?
I see John McCain's candidacy as being filled with optimism - about today and tomorrow. I see Obama's campaign as filled with pessimism and discontent about today - with a pseudo kind of "hope" for tomorrow. These are just my opinions, of course.
Back to Lucado's book:
Back to the election.
Tonight, there will be a grand performance held at a stadium which holds 70,000 people for Obama's speech. I just can't even imagine what the cost of such an extravaganza will be. In the midst of all this hype, I have two questions.
1. Why doesn't Obama donate money (even just some of the 4 million from book sales could do a LOT!) to the needy he often talks about in his speeches?
2. Why is he wasting millions of campaign donor money on an event that is designed just to specifically glorify himself?
HT: Young at Heart
Max Lucado's Traveling Light
I was struggling to find a catchy line that would describe what was heard in most of the speeches. Then, while reading a chapter from Max Lucado's book Traveling Light, I found the phrase I was looking for:
Democrats: Those people who trudge through each day with a "cumbersome sack of discontent."
I am serious!! All that I heard coming out of the mouths of most of the speakers were complaints!!
Except for moments of grandeur and praise of themselves, their own families, and other Democrats, did you hear any mention of gratitude for living in the greatest nation on God's green earth??
The other thing that really bothered me was seeing Hillary and Bill join the clueless, Kool-Aid drinkers and through their individual speeches, ultimately ended up bowing at the altar of Obamination. Are we to really believe that what they said was sincere?
Perhaps Hillary was sincere in her rejection of John McCain, but the recent campaign commercial where she states something like this - "John McCain is prepared to be president and has served this country honorably for years - Barack Obama gave a speech in 2002." [paraphrased here] has to make one wonder...when was she telling the truth? Was it when she made that original statement about Senator McCain or the other night when she disparaged him and praised Obama?
Isn't it logical to ask, "When was she genuinely sharing her true opinions and feelings?"
It is mindboggling how Democrats consistently talk out of two sides of their faces - and end up saying completely opposite things. What's even worse is that the MSM lets them get away with it!! Thank God for the Internet where we can discern truth from lies!
Did you happen to see the new NOBama fad? Flip flop sandals with mini heads of Obama attached at the top! Each one represents each of his known flip-flopping stances on issues! Ha!! More accurately, it appears that he tries to be "both ways Obama." Now, that's a real hoot!!
It wasn't my intention to continue describing all of the discontent that reeks from the Democrat Party. It's just that it served as a perfect example of what Max Lucado describes as "the prison of want" in chapter four of his book Traveling Light.
This particular chapter is so good that I wish I could type it all out! But I will share just a few portions that will hopefully give you the main message.
Max describes the "world's most oppressive prison" as "the prison of want." He gives examples. People who may not want much, but just that "one thing" that will make them happy.
Excerpt:
They want just one thing. One new job. One new car. One new house. One new spouse. They don't want much . They want just one.
And when they have "one," they will be happy. And they are right - they will be happy. When they have "one," they will leave the prison. But then it happens. The new car smell passes. The new job gets old. The neighbors buy a larger TV set. The new spouse has bad habits. The sizzle fizzles, and before you know it, another ex-con breaks parole and returns to jail.
Personally, I think that many liberals and most Democrats are in the prison of want. What's worse is the fact that their leaders want them there in order to get what they want...elected!
When the Democrats took over Congress in 2006, did you see them pass any legislation to make their "prisoners of want" happy? No. Of course not! Why? Because they wanted the "sack of discontent" to linger all the way up to this forthcoming election day on November 4th, 2008! Doesn't it seem that way to you, too?
Lucado tells us how to recognize when we are in this type of prison:
Are you in prison? You are if you feel better when you have more and worse when you have less. You are if joy is one delivery away, one transfer away, one award away, or one makeover away. If your happiness comes from something you deposit, drive, drink, or digest, then face it - you are in prison, the prison of want.
If the truth be told, I think that almost everyone goes through a time in this particular prison. However, some people remain their for most of their lives! That's truly sad!
Well, as Max writes, "that's the bad news. The good news is, you have a visitor."
And your visitor has a message that can get you paroled. Make your way to the receiving room. Take your seat in the chair, and look across the table at the psalmist David. He motions for you to lean forward. "I have a secret to tell you," he whispers, "the secret of satisfaction. 'The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want'" (Ps. 23:1 NKJV).
David has found the pasture where discontent goes to die. It's as if he is saying, "What I have in God is greater than what I don't have in life."
You think you and I could learn to say the same?
Wow! That's SO POWERFUL!
Let me take a brief time out to share some thoughts about a movie documentary that I saw yesterday. The movie is called Young At Heart.
At that link, you can read a brief review (that doesn't give a lot of the plot away) and also view several video clips (may contain spoilers) of the documentary.
At the end, I teared up big time!!
It was so awesome to see these people perform and receive standing ovations. They got such responses from both a huge concert audience, as well as from prisoners (who were holed up in a real prison camp) they had performed for earlier in the movie.
Several of members of the choral group were believers. One sang in his church chorus and another mentioned that the Lord will take him when it is his time.
I have to say that seeing some grown men at the prison camp tear up - and then hug the choral group members after their performance - was so very moving!
We know that many Christian groups bring children and various singing groups to nursing homes to visit the elderly and cheer them up. But to see the elderly from nursing homes come and sing for a group of hardened criminals was just amazing!
These chorus members still had their problems - health and otherwise. They had their aches and pains. They had difficulty learning and memorizing some of the lyrics. They had their emergency trips to the hospital. They had physical disabilities and all the rest that comes with the aging process. Yet, when they were performing - in those moments - all of those problems went away...for a time. They expressed how much they loved singing and performing for grateful audiences.
The final concert at the end had me sobbing - both with sadness and joy!
You see, the life of the Christian believer is like that. Sometimes filled with sadness - but also overflowing with joy!
When we receive Christ as Lord and Savior, that born-again experience releases "the fruit of the Spirit" within us.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Eph 5:8 ¶ For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Notice that one fruit is called "long suffering." The Bible tells us the truth - and the truth is just as Jesus described to us in John:
Jhn 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
And, why can we be of good cheer despite all of the turmoil going on around us?
1Jo 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Jesus is all about overcoming. At the moment of salvation, he overcomes the effect of sin on our souls. With Him in our hearts, he allows us to overcome our fears, trials, tribulations and yes - even the "prisons" that tempt to snag us in this life.
Rev 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Which brings us back to Max Lucado's book.
Excerpt:
Think for just a moment about the things you own. Think about the house you have, the car you drive, the money you've saved. Think about the jewelry you've inherited and the stocks you've traded and the clothes you've purchased. Envision all your stuff, and let me remind you of two biblical truths.
Your stuff isn't yours. Ask any coroner. Ask any embalmer. Ask any funeral-home director. No one takes anything with him.
The author goes on to tell the familiar story of one of the wealthiest men in history, John D. Rockefeller. When he died, his accountant was asked, "How much did John D. leave?" The accountant answered, "All of it."
"Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand." (Eccles. 5:15 NIV).
Back to the election for a moment. During all of the back and forth about Barack Obama's elitism (and, now he's 4 million dollars richer through book sales) and John McCain's wife owning seven homes; on campaign camp tried to outdo the other in the "rich man" game.
However, I liked what I heard from John McCain. Compared to most of the rest of the world, every single one of us in America is rich! He probably wasn't only talking about financial circumstances. America is rich in many other things too.
Rich in faith, hope, love, forgiveness, grace, mercy, and salvation through Christ.
Rich in freedom.
Rich in generosity.
Rich in protection.
Rich in good people.
Rich in a military unsurpassed by any other.
Rich in giving to those less fortunate.
Rich in providing education.
Rich in opportunity for those who work for it.
The list could go on and on.
What would you add to it?
I see John McCain's candidacy as being filled with optimism - about today and tomorrow. I see Obama's campaign as filled with pessimism and discontent about today - with a pseudo kind of "hope" for tomorrow. These are just my opinions, of course.
Back to Lucado's book:
All that stuff - it's not yours. And you know what else about all that stuff? It's not you. Who you are has nothing to do with the clothes you wear or the car you drive. Jesus said, "Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot" (Luke 12:15 MSG). Heaven does not know you as the fellow with the nice suit or the woman with the big house or the kid with the new bike. Heaven knows your heart. "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart" (1 Sam. 16:7 NIV).
When God thinks of you, he may see your compassion, your devotion, your tenderness or quick mind, but he doesn't think of your things.
And when you think of you, you shouldn't either. Define yourself by your stuff, and you'll feel good when you have a lot and bad when you don't. Contentment comes when we can honestly say with Paul: "I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have....I know how to live when I am poor, and I know how to live when I have plenty" (Phil. 4:11-12).
Back to the election.
Tonight, there will be a grand performance held at a stadium which holds 70,000 people for Obama's speech. I just can't even imagine what the cost of such an extravaganza will be. In the midst of all this hype, I have two questions.
1. Why doesn't Obama donate money (even just some of the 4 million from book sales could do a LOT!) to the needy he often talks about in his speeches?
2. Why is he wasting millions of campaign donor money on an event that is designed just to specifically glorify himself?
HT: Young at Heart
Max Lucado's Traveling Light
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)