Mudslinging

There has been a big splash in the news lately about a well-known conservative authoress. Why I don’t really know, as she been on the political scene for quite a while as a ‘champion’ for conservatives. But since she has been a little more public lately, it gave me a chance to see a video of her speaking on some sort of show. I was sickened by what I saw. This woman was sarcastic, annoying, scantly dressed, arrogant and down right rude. The liberal with whom she was talking on the other hand, was poised calm and exceptionally polite. What is the public seeing when they see or hear things like this? They see a proud, defensive, and liberal-mudslinging woman who uses a good deal of her speech to slander liberals and they possibly assume that much of the conservative world is like it. Of course, it works the other way also. Just today, I heard a Democratic Congressman who said some very needless and untrue things about the President and Vice President. What I wish people in Washington could realize is that political mudslinging is unprofessional, unhelpful, and generally is despised by the American public. The legislatures who are in Washington now were sent there to lead our country, not to start a war between Democrats and Republicans. Politics has gotten so dirty that it has become a byword for an untruthful, double-faced, and power hungry acts. I wish we could restore it to what it should be. A group of men and women who, if they wish to speak, speak on the issues and not on their political rivals, A group that looks to see what is best for America, not what they can get, not how they can be re-elected, but what the best way is to lead America. On that subject, they may debate as much as they choose. But choosing to slander the other side just because they are the other side, does neither America or Americans any good. I am a hard-core conservative. But I am sick and tired of politicians on both sides that choose to play ‘nasty words’ with each other. Certainly not all do, in fact, it is very possibly the minority, but it is there nonetheless. Sometimes I wonder how much more efficiently our government would run if they would work with each other and not against each other. I’m not saying they should compromise, no, but rather that they could disagree in a more adult like manner: that they could disagree without throwing mud at each other the first chance they get.

The Name 'Jehovah' - Fact or Fiction?

Fiction, and let me explain why as our pastor did not too long ago. God's name, YAHWEH (or YHWH in Hebrew) was so sacred to the Jewish people that they dared not speak it, lest in some way they blaspheme it. So to get the Jews in the habit of not saying YAHWEH, the scribes, when they came to God's name in the Scripture, stuck in the vowels of the Hebrew word for father in between the Hebrew consonants YHWH - creating something that, if transliterated into English, would be Jehovah. Well, it so happened that a well-meaning German scholar was translating a piece of the Old Testament, and he came upon God's name, and not knowing what had happened with the word, translated it into Jehovah. And as we know, this name has spread throughout the whole world as God's name, when in reality, it is little more than a senseless word. God's true name, YAWEH, implies the idea of the great I AM, the Ruler, the God - Supreme over all. Let us restore to our great God His true name - YAHWEH.

She's Moving Out

Well Kristi moved out on Wednesday to live with some other Bible college students in town. They live a nice house in a country subdivision and needless to say, she is very excited. The girls she is going to live with are all solid Christians who will encourage her in her faith. Being in town instead of 30 minutes out like she was will be really helpful as she is going to college this fall. So although we are happy for her, I'm going to miss her. I know she won't miss us, I mean I wouldn't if I was living in a house with three of my friends. But when you've lived with someone of your entire life...well, I guess I'm bound to miss her. Excuse me as I go have good cry... (just kidding =)

Is God Done With Israel?

Our Pastor is going through a series Sunday nights now regarding Israel and whether or not God is done with her. So I thought that I would put pen to paper, or keyboard to post, as it were on this subject.

So is God done with Israel? Certainly not. I quote from Romans 11,

1 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? 4 But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. 8 Just as it is written:
“God has given them a spirit of stupor,
Eyes that they should not see
And ears that they should not hear,
To this very day.”
9 And David says:
“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
A stumbling block and a recompense to them.
10 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see,
And bow down their back always.”

God made a promise to Israel, and once "I [God] have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David: his [Israel's] seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me "(Psalm 89:35,36) God has sworn time and time again that He will not forsake Israel. And God cannot lie. Has He set Israel aside? Yes, but only temporarily. Has He darkened their hearts? (Rom. 11.10) Yes. He has darkened their minds and hearts so they cannot choose Him, because for so long, they chose not to choose Him. But will this darkness be forever? To use the words of Paul, certainly not! Soon God will bring back His chosen people to Himself. I am looking forward to the upcoming weeks to know exactly what that will mean, but I know it will happen, because God said it will happen. Pastor H---- recounted many parts of Israel's history that showed Providential protection over the tiny country. More than once, by human reasoning, it would seem that Israel should not be on the map today, but continually, God has protected her. And will until He restores her to Himself.

Saying Goodbye

It's been a trying week, in more ways than one. At work we are installing a new software, and like anything new, it's trying and sanctifying working through it. But also this has been a week of saying goodbye and getting ready to say goodbye. A good friend from work and his wife just returned to his home state, not to come back for several years. A MK from Tanzania who was here on furlough this last year will return to the field on Monday. Not to mention that my sister Kristi is moving out next week. She's only moving about 15 miles away but it's still hard not to live with someone whom you haved lived with for all of your life. I wonder at why the human mind feels sorrow when someone you've become attached to leaves. Maybe its because that person won't be there to talk to, or be with whenever you want to. Or maybe there's a deeper psychological reason. But all in all, saying goodbye is very difficult part of life. I look forward to the day when we will have to say goodbye no longer to our brothers and sisters in Christ but live forever with them in God's presence.

Wonderings

"Without faith it is impossible to please God, he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him."

~Hebrews

Wanderings
Tracy Anryms
~~~
God was distant,
He seemed so far away!
Why was this so? Thus I cried.
Was not I God’s child inside?
*
I knew I had believed,
I had repented: this is true.
I saw my life changing,
Surely, this was proof in my life of God’s rearranging.
*
So I was saved - it seemed to be true.
But the feelings there were not.
But are emotions what we are to seek?
If they are, then our future is indeed bleak.
*
If God’s Word cannot be trusted
When He says what He will do
Then a Christian’s life, above all
Is that one dubbed Pity’s call.
*
But rejoice! God’s Word is sure.
When our Savior says, ‘believe’
And we believe in truth,
We must have faith that God will to it not be aloof.
*
For this I believe, and I know it is true
That God cannot lie and of mercy is abounding.
If purely from my heart, I love and believe,
I can trust the Savior myself to retrieve.
*
Then when I purpose to seek Him out
When I love Him with all of my being
Thereafter I can know that they will come from above:
The feelings of closeness to my Lord, joy, and love.
*
All praise our Father, Who sent His only Son,
All praise to the Savior, who chose to spill His blood
All praise to the Spirit, who helps us grow in Him.
For our salvation, and His love, may our hearts rejoice to the very brim!

His Plan For Me

His Plan For Me

Rowland Victor Bingham

A Flame of Fire p. 30

No life that is, is a life unplanned

From birth to death, unbridged, unspanned

By purpose wise, counsel true-

Haphazard chance, and unthought thought!

*

Behind the scenes where we cannot see

A Hand Divine works the things that be,

And brings to my path the scheme devised

By the Maker of earth, Who built the skies.

But He leaves me to choose the life He plans

Or to walk the way of self's demands-

To build on the Rock or the shifting sands.

*

But the life from Him is the life for me;

For the path He plans the best must be

And every step will delightful prove

When all the way is planned by love.

To vote or not to vote, that is the question

I could say it's our civic duty to vote, but according to the Bible , what is the directive? Where in the Bible does it talk about electing godly officials? It is amazing how many Christians don't vote. But without any biblical backing, I cannot convince them otherwise. I do believe, however, we can use biblical principles to guide us to and in the booths.

~Voting is good stewardship: God has graciously allowed us to live in a country where voting is not only allowed but encouraged. It would be poor stewardship to let that blessing go to waste.

~"Grant to Ceaser what is Ceaser's..." We all know that this applies to taxes, but it can be applied to voting in this way: our government has asked for our opinion in who rules our country, is it disrespectful not to give it?

~We have an amazing opportunity to influence in some way at least which direction the government takes. An opportunity to either give way to an advance of God's kingdom or let the freedoms we have to worship and witness slowly go to nothing. We should make the most of that opportunity.

There are undoubtedly more, and if anyone has more to say, please do. But for now, I think we may safely say that according to the Bible, to vote, or not to vote, isn't so much an option.

Also, consider, what kind of country will we leave our children or grandchildren if we vote, or if we do not? What kind of country would you wish them to grow up in? If only for them, consider.