G.K. Chesterton on Absentee Fathers
“What is called matriarchy is simply moral anarchy, in which the mother alone remains fixed because all the fathers are fugitive and irresponsible.”
– The Everlasting Man, CW II, p.186
Excuses! Watch the Whole Video
How Offensive! A Christian Praying in Jesus Name!
In this article from the LA Times, we see a glimpse of our culture’s view of us. Christians are allowed to exist as long as they don’t bring their convictions out of the closet. This is a really strange perspective coming from people who want to bring homosexuality into public life with full acceptance.
This article by by Duke Helfand reports that some people are up in arms over several things from Rick Warren’s prayer at Obama’s inauguration. I don’t agree with Warren on everything, but I am really glad that he didn’t sell the farm on Tuesday. Please remember that the people with their skivvies in a bunch are the people that keep telling us how accepting and inclusive we should be. What are they so upset about:
- That a pastor would oppose homosexuality.
- That a pastor would quote the Lord’s prayer at the inaugeration. It is so distinctly Christian.
- And finally, that a public prayer would be offered in Jesus name.
Religion is allowed, as long as you don’t say that anyone is wrong or take a stand on moral issues. There will be more of this, and the heat is going to rise. We will have more and more opportunities to stand for truth in the coming days.
A Good Source for Info and News: The Pew Forum
From time to time as a pastor or student I find myself looking to find some statistics about religion in America or current news related to religion and culture. The Pew Forum may be a good place to look if you are looking for similar info for research purposes. They conduct research but also give links to current news in issues such as gay marriage and the death penalty. It is a good resource.
What Books does President Bush Read?
Here is an interesting write up on what the president reads. A challenge to anyone who wants to grow as a thinker and a reader.
Clever Accapella Tribute to John Williams- Star Wars Composer
Postmodern Group Hug
Here is a link to an interesting article about a Pew research poll and some folks at Lifeway research that call the poll into question due to the wording of the survey. The research attempts to find out how many christians believe that christianity is the only way to eternal life. The folks at Lifeway bring up some valid points about the way that the questions were asked. However, even in their own survey (with better questions) they found that almost 40% of “Protestants” do not believe that faith in Jesus is the only way to heaven. That is almost half! Whoa, are we in trouble! The words of the Bible are pretty clear on this subject. Jesus said he was the only way (John 14:6), and his disciples echoed that (Acts 4:12). In this discussion someone HAS to be wrong. So we are left in a precarious position. We have to decide if Jesus is wrong, or if the universalists are wrong.
This poll is revealing about our new “kinder” “more tolerant” society. What can get you into trouble as a pastor or christian and bring on the beginning of persecution? This issue is perhaps one of the best examples. We are supposed to accept everyone NO matter what. If you say that what you believe is the only truth, get ready to be put through the meat grinder as an insensitive-unloving-radical.
This is becoming very clear as the debate on homosexuality warms up. They (and you now who they are) have constructed the questions and the nature of the debate in such a way that we have swallowed the rhetoric with very little protest. The only way to truly love homosexuals is to support their lifestyle by approving it. IF you disagree with them it is because you hate them and want to deprive them of their civil rights. The question: “why don’t you think gays should have civil rights?” resembles the well known fallacy: when are you going to stop beating your wife? The question is framed with lots of assumptions, and we need to be wise enough to address them.
John 12:42-43 “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
So the bottom line is, everyone (in theory) will be welcome in the group hug except Jesus and the people who agree with him. I think that this will be one of the great tests of our faith in the next 40 years in America. Many have already fallen…
“But the cowardly… shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)
Current Abortion Statistics
For those who want a factual basis for claims on the abortion issue, the Alan Guttmacher institute has a website and publishes respected data on this subject. This page is a good place to go to find an overview on the whole issue. It is also full of references and footnotes. It is truly startling.
• Nearly half of pregnancies among American women are unintended, and four in 10 of these are terminated by abortion. Twenty-two percent of all pregnancies (excluding miscarriages) end in abortion.
• In 2005, 1.21 million abortions were performed, down from 1.31 million in 2000. From 1973 through 2005, more than 45 million legal abortions occurred.
• Each year, about two percent of women aged 15-44 have an abortion; 47% of them have had at least one previous abortion.
• Forty-three percent of women obtaining abortions identify themselves as Protestant, and 27% as Catholic.
May we be like the people in Ezekiel 9:3-5 who sigh and cry over the abominations.
Need Help in Fresno?
I found out about “Need Help Now” through a friend. I browsed through the newspaper format and found information about all kinds of help for people in the midst of a crisis. I was surprised, and delighted, to find out that this magazine is the result of the loving labors of a couple of Christian men who want help people in need. Their website describes the touching story behind this idea. I wanted to learn more about this ministry and spoke with James Carrasco, one of the operators for this ministry. James was truly pleasant and I came away with the impression that these men feel very strongly about what they are doing. They do not want hurting people to suffer through a crisis when there are dozens of willing organizations standing in the wings waiting to help, but often unused because people do not know where to turn.
In many ways, “Need Help Now” is like a small phone book containing information about services for people with problems. Because of this perspective, this resource contains information about help offered from government, nongovernment, and faith-based groups. This little newspaper provides a “one-stop-shopping” place for resources. Best of all, it is free. Dale, Frances, and James provide this service out of love. They know what it is like to be in a desperate situation with no place to turn, and they do not want others to face that darkness.
“Need Help Now” provides information about resources for homelessness, food pantries, addictions, crime victims, rape, suicide hotlines, etc. Before becoming a pastor I worked as a Paramedic for over 10 years. I wish that I had been supplied with a big stack of these newspapers. I would have given them away frequently. The folks at “Need Help Now” will allow you to use their file for free if you want to change it for your church, and they are beginning to sell advertising. Also, they have some ways that youth groups and others can deliver these newspapers door-to-door as a fundraiser. The bottom line is that this is a wonderful resource that is providing real help to people in desperate trouble. Visit their website to read their story, and download the paper. I would recommend that you find a way to support them. I keep a stack of them in my briefcase and give them away when I meet people who need help that I cannot provide.
Their website: http://www.needhelpfresno.com/home.html
Beware of the Doghouse!
What a crack up! and true to life as well!
MattTroupe.net 