Oaths

I'd be interested to get some feedback on how you guys view this stuff. Is it an overreaction by Prager, or is this something you think we need to be actively resisting? I know it's kind of long, but I really think it would be worth your time.Please take a moment to read the following TownHall.com column by Dennis Prager, who is a Jew. After reading the column, take the suggest action at the bottom of this email.

America, Not Keith Ellison, decides what book a congressman takes his oath on
By Dennis Prager - Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Keith Ellison, D-Minn., the first Muslim elected to the United States Congress, has announced that he will not take his oath of office on the Bible, but on the bible of Islam, the Koran.

He should not be allowed to do so -- not because of any American hostility to the Koran, but because the act undermines American civilization.

First, it is an act of hubris that perfectly exemplifies multiculturalist activism -- my culture trumps America's culture. What Ellison and his Muslim and leftist supporters are saying is that it is of no consequence what America holds as its holiest book; all that matters is what any individual holds to be his holiest book.

Forgive me, but America should not give a hoot what Keith Ellison's favorite book is. Insofar as a member of Congress taking an oath to serve America and uphold its values is concerned, America is interested in only one book, the Bible. If you are incapable of taking an oath on that book, don't serve in Congress. In your personal life, we will fight for your right to prefer any other book. We will even fight for your right to publish cartoons mocking our Bible. But, Mr. Ellison, America, not you, decides on what book its public servants take their oath.

Devotees of multiculturalism and political correctness who do not see how damaging to the fabric of American civilization it is to allow Ellison to choose his own book need only imagine a racist elected to Congress. Would they allow him to choose Hitler's "Mein Kampf," the Nazis' bible, for his oath? And if not, why not? On what grounds will those defending Ellison's right to choose his favorite book deny that same right to a racist who is elected to public office?

Of course, Ellison's defenders argue that Ellison is merely being honest; since he believes in the Koran and not in the Bible, he should be allowed, even encouraged, to put his hand on the book he believes in. But for all of American history, Jews elected to public office have taken their oath on the Bible, even though they do not believe in the New Testament, and the many secular elected officials have not believed in the Old Testament either. Yet those secular officials did not demand to take their oaths of office on, say, the collected works of Voltaire or on a volume of New York Times editorials, writings far more significant to some liberal members of Congress than the Bible. Nor has one Mormon official demanded to put his hand on the Book of Mormon. And it is hard to imagine a scientologist being allowed to take his oath of office on a copy of "Dianetics" by L. Ron Hubbard.

So why are we allowing Keith Ellison to do what no other member of Congress has ever done -- choose his own most revered book for his oath?

The answer is obvious -- Ellison is a Muslim. And whoever decides these matters, not to mention virtually every editorial page in America, is not going to offend a Muslim. In fact, many of these people argue it will be a good thing because Muslims around the world will see what an open society America is and how much Americans honor Muslims and the Koran.

This argument appeals to all those who believe that one of the greatest goals of America is to be loved by the world, and especially by Muslims because then fewer Muslims will hate us (and therefore fewer will bomb us).

But these naive people do not appreciate that America will not change the attitude of a single American-hating Muslim by allowing Ellison to substitute the Koran for the Bible. In fact, the opposite is more likely: Ellison's doing so will embolden Islamic extremists and make new ones, as Islamists, rightly or wrongly, see the first sign of the realization of their greatest goal -- the Islamicization of America.

When all elected officials take their oaths of office with their hands on the very same book, they all affirm that some unifying value system underlies American civilization. If Keith Ellison is allowed to change that, he will be doing more damage to the unity of America and to the value system that has formed this country than the terrorists of 9-11. It is hard to believe that this is the legacy most Muslim Americans want to bequeath to America. But if it is, it is not only Europe that is in trouble. (End Commentary)

Do it anyway

I recieved this quote from Ted Witzig Jr. several days ago. I really appreciate it's message and thought it was worth sharing. Things always seem to have a way of coming back to motives“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous of you. Be happy anyway. The good you do today, may be forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. Give it your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”

--- Mother Teresa ---

Sometimes...

Luke's wisdom for this Tuesday the 28th of November 2006.

Sometimes when you're struggling with a negative attitude or you just feel a little down, the best way to get over it is to do nice things for other people.

*bows quickly and exits the stage*

Thanksgiving

Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving!

Ro 14:6-8
He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

Amen?

Holiness

I've been thinking this morning about God's attribute of holiness. Two different times in scripture where someone is allowed to see the throne room of God, they describe the words "Holy, Holy, Holy" being called out continually in the presence of God.Isaiah 6:3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

Revelation 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. There are a lot different adjectives that God could've decreed to be sang for eternity in His presence - Loving, Loving, Loving... Righteous, Righteous, Righteous... Forgiving, Forgiving, Forgiving... Sinless, Sinless, Sinless... Yet "Holy" is what God has decreed.

In the Hebrew language a word is repeated to when they want to show emphasis. If there was a really big storm last night, they would say something like "it was a stormy storm". Holy is the only word that is repeated 3 times in the Bible indicating that God's holiness is bigger than can ever be explained.

Now take that same concept of repetition to show emphasis, and imagine an endless chorus of "Holy, Holy, Holy" echoing through enternity. Our finite minds will never come close to understanding that degree of ANYthing, let alone holiness.

Now for the challenge: 1Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

God forgive us when we think we can even begin to approach you any other way than clothed in Christ's imputed righteousness.

Peace?

A former president of the Norwegian Academy of Sciences and historians from England, Egypt, Germany, and India have come up with some startling information.

They say that in the more than 5,600 years since 3600 B.C., the world has known only 292 years of peace!

During this period there have been 14,351 wars, large and small, in which 3.64 billion people have been killed. The value of the property destroyed would pay for a golden belt around the world 97.2 miles wide and 33 feet thick.

Since 650 B.C. there have also been 1656 arms races, only 16 of which have not ended in war. The remainder ended in the economic collapse of the countries involved.

The Personnel Journal reported only slightly better statistics, saying that since the beginning of recorded history, the entire world has been at peace less than eight percent of the time! In its study, the periodical discovered that in excess of 8,000 peace treaties have been made -- and broken. Peace treaties signed by people who really do not want peace are worth about the cost of the paper they are written on.

In addition to national wars, in every nation's cities and villages, men, women and even children war with each other, often killing and maiming each other, often within the same families.

We live in a world without peace. Yet, paradoxically, God's Word repeatedly tells us to be at peace and to have peace. What is the answer?

Someone has said, "Safety consists not in the absence of danger but in the presence of God." You could also say, "Peace consists not in the absence of conflict but in the presence of God."

Galatians 5:22 tells us that peace is a fruit of the Spirit.

May Christ's Spirit bring you peace in the midst of this turmoil we call life.

Pencils

"We are all pencils in the hand of God"

---

Mother Teresa

Somedays I really feel like a pencil.

stacking atoms to reach pluto

Ephesians 2:8-9

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.Can you imagine it any other way? Have you ever had a really good spiritual week? I'm talking about a week where EVERYthing goes right. You feel like you're right on track. God just HAS to be loving you a little more than he did last week right?

Right?

On man's BEST day - On our best day EVER - We are SO incredibly far from God's Holiness that it's like we barely breathed. And yet, from our pathetic perspectives, we sometimes look at our lives as this ebb and flow of spiritual achievement and failure when, in reality, the incredible distance that man is from God's holiness makes our ups and downs indiscernible.

God forgive us for thinking we're acheiving something on our good days, and forgive us for thinking we're worthless on our bad days.

Lord, help us to trust in your sovereignty as we walk the journey of our lives, and help us to rest in your loving promises as we build a relationship with You.

Would you?

Another great message from Bill Bright from Campus Crusade for Christ.

I once heard a story about a baby girl who lay near death, critically injured in an automobile accident. She desperately needed a blood transfusion, but no one could be found who shared her rare blood type.

In the midst of their frantic search, the doctors discovered that the child's older brother, Kevin, had the right type of blood. Anxious to proceed, one of the doctors sat down with the seven-year-old boy and talked quietly with him.

"Your sister is very sick, son," he said, "and if we don't help her, she's not going to live. I want to know if you are willing to give your blood to help your baby sister?"

His face pale with fear, Kevin seemed to struggle with his answer. But after a few moments, he said softly, "Yes, I will."

The little boy watched sadly and silently as his blood flowed from his arm through the tube. "We're almost finished," the doctor smiled encouragingly.

Kevin's eyes filled with tears. "How long 'til I die?" he whispered.

Looking at him in amazement, the doctor realized that Kevin thought he had been asked to give all his blood to save his sister. That brave little boy had believed that his act of mercy for his sister would cost him his life. Yet he was willing to do it!

What great love! Our Lord Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13, NIV). It makes me wonder how many of us would be willing to give up our own lives so unselfishly for someone we love, much less someone we do not even know, especially if they are living a sinful life? "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8, NIV).

The Bible also reveals, "He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again" (2 Corinthians 5:15, NIV).

Let us, indeed, no longer live for ourselves, but for Him, who died for us. How can anyone say no?

Wishin'

I'm wishing I had something to write - something profound to consider - something that would touch people.

But I don't.

Do you ever have those times in your life when the relationship between your wretchedness and God's infinite holiness seems to be so clear?

And yet there is no way for us to even minutely understand that gaping chasm.

wait

If you wanna see a bunch of pictures from our N.C. trip go over to facebook. I have close to 120 pictures of the trip posted there. It was a great trip.

The trip home definitely made some memories. Our flight was two hours late leaving Raleigh meaning we missed our connection in Atlanta. It was the first time I ever had to spend the night somewhere due to a missed connection.

We arrive at the Raleigh airport at 5:45pm for our 7:01pm departure. This was when we first learned that our flight out of Raleigh was going to be delayed. We finally went to our rooms at a hotel in Atlanta at 1:30am. Out of this 7hrs and 45 minutes of time 1 1/2 hrs of it was actually spent flying to Atlanta. The rest was spent waiting. What an awesome lesson in patience! I'm thankful I was with friends who kept a great attitude.

It was definitely an "experience". I deciced you couldn't pay me enough to be a customer service person for an airline.

Teaser

I'm still in NC, so this'll be short. Here's a sample. It's been a great trip so far! Beautiful scenery.

Faith & Breakfast

Sorry this got kinda long. I wasn't planning on that.

So, I met with my mentor over breakfast this morning. We usually meet on Friday mornings, but I'm going to be in North Carolina on Friday morning. Five of us (Josh Gerber, Jake Gerst, Trent Leman, Tony Esslinger, and myself) are going out to visit John Eisenmann. We're leaving this evening around 6:00pm and getting home on Sunday night around 10:00pm.

So anyway, I met with my mentor this morning, and we discussed a bunch of issues, but one of the issues that came up was "pleasing God".

How do we please God? How do we make decisions that please Him? When we're new born babes in Christ, we're ignorant of a lot of the principles that are found in His Word. Does that mean, when we make decisions in ignorance, that we're less pleasing to God?

The Scripture says that "without faith it is impossible to please God". Does that mean that all it takes it faith to please him, or is it just saying that without faith it's impossible to do the things that please God? See the difference?

See...if you believe that faith allows us to do the things that please God...then when we do things in ignorance of His Word, then that would be "displeasing" because we're doing the wrong things.

However, if faith is what it takes to please God, then where does obedience to His Word fit in?

Motives? It starts with faith. Faith in what? Faith that God exists. Faith that He is who He says He is. Faith in God's promises in His Word. Faith that He'll continue to work out our sanctification regardless of our ignorance. Then that faith will manifest itself in our obedience - in our things. It isn't the manifestation of the things that our Father is looking for. It's the motive behind them. It's the relationship He's seeking, not our actions.

I know it may seem like an insignificant thing to some of you. I mean...if obedience is what it comes around too...As long as we're obedient, we're all good right? Well, this is where I struggle. Obedience for the sake of obedience isn't really the obedience that's on God's heart. I struggle with the mindset of, "If I do A, B, and C, then I'll end up with D. If, when I get up in the morning, I read for a half hour and then pray for a half hour, then I'll eventually overcome this certain sin in my life. If I'm obedient...If I just do what I'm supposed to do, then I'll be victorious right? That's not necessarily how God works. Sometimes we're doing all the right things, and we still can't seem to overcome an issue.

That's where it comes back to the heart! Let's focus on God...on who He is...on our perspective...on our relationship, and let our obedience flow from an awe of HIM!

God Bless.