Oval Office Extreme Makeover? – Political Punch

August 30th, 2010

There are reports that the Oval Office had an extreme make-over this past weekend. I marvel at the timing, well… no I don’t!

But, if I were the betting type, I would wager the primary color used is red, or possibly green. But since I am not, it really doesn’t matter. What matters is was this really necessary?

Was the expenditure from the public treasury justifiable in our precarious economic times?

Or are those of the political elite that far disconnected from the average Joe?

We shall see, soon!

Read more at Political Punch: Oval Office Extreme Makeover?

Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church – We Are One

August 24th, 2010

Being an outsider who does not attend Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, I have watched with some interest the “new” Coral Ridge.

After the merger of New City Presbyterian and Coral Ridge Presbyterian, Tullian Tchividjian took the helm of the mighty church founded by D. James Kennedy. Last year, there was a small dust-up in the church over Pastor Tullian’s convictions on how to do “church.” I remember, during the conflict, one quote that stuck in my head and really bugged me! It went something like Tullian was trying to do away with the “dignity” of  “high church worship.”

I had to ask what that was, and since I know the church I attend has a contemporary worship service that is quite unique. I wondered, since my “warehouse church” doesn’t have a pipe organ, and my pastor does not wear a robe. We do not use hymnals, either. Is our worship experience then “undignified” and not quite “high church?”

Having a Baptist background, I struggle with my preference  of the deep, profound lyrics of hymns and the seeming shallow egocentric modern worship. It was further exacerbated by my dislike of the music pastor and his chosen style of worship at my church. This conflict led me to some profound truths that were fefreshed and reinforced by the events at Coral Ridge.

Rock music, in a Baptist world, was always called “sensual,” mostly because of the “hip grinding” and dancing that it causes. I know, it sounds funny. But it is not. This was also coupled loosely to modern worship music. Years of teaching are hard to overcome… but there is hope, by the grace of God.

You see, my old pastor, Richard Schermerhorn, taught an incredible lesson one morning in Sunday School some 20 years ago. It was on biblical authority. God caused me to remember that lesson, complete with the increasingly larger covering from the umbrella illustrations he used. He showed me the fact that my worship leader is considered an authority figure over me, serving at God’s will. He leads, I submit, as if it were to God Himself, as long as he does not cause me to sin. The authority serves me by willfully taking responsibility from me. I get freedom from that responsibility!

So, I submitted it to God, and my music pastor. About a year later, God, as He is prone to do, refreshed my memory. Our music pastor was out-of-town on an extended absence. God actually impressed upon my heart how much I missed Pastor Clay! And then the lesson was written upon my heart! God had changed my perspective, and in my submission, I was given freedom. In addition, my submission became a blessing to me!

I was able to watch the things happen at Coral Ridge from a distance. I also know New City’s music director personally, and have had some discussions with him on this issue. It intrigued me, and I did continue to pay attention, at a distance. Surprisingly, this week it may have ended!

After seeing this blog post by Pastor Tullian, and his convictions on unity,  I can only think I wholeheartedly agree! This is Divine wisdom, and brings together two separate cultures inside one! It is a perfect lesson on submission, temperance and forbearance!

It leads me to ask how can two walk together, except they agree? I know at our church, we have several campuses, the styles of worship are different at each campus. But through the marvels of technology, the message is the same! However, we are not segregated by worship under the same roof, we are one!

I know that this is placing some difficulty on those who  have attended Coral Ridge for a long time. But I challenge you to submit to those whom God has placed in authority!

There is freedom AND BLESSING in that! But above all, God gets the glory!

Check out the post from Tullian Tchividjian here: We Are One

White House says Obama is Christian, prays daily

August 20th, 2010

I have to offer the one question that is just begging to be asked.

Why does any president of the United States have the need to issue an official press release declaring his faith?

It is plainly evident… Would it not be obvious?

James 2:18 says “But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

But the more discerning words come from Jesus Himself in Matthew 7:15-20 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”

 Lets check out some of that very low-hanging fruit:

Do I need to mention names like Jeremiah Wright or Michael Pfleger?

Here is one that may be obscure, Jim Wallis… the president’s top spiritual advisor. He is one of the progressive, evangelical left, better known as thinly-veiled communism, which is not supported biblically. Who is Jim Wallis and Sojourners, really?

Hey, you decide… if he really is a Christian. I know I am told not to believe what they say, but to examine the fruit. Furthermore please keep in mind what Luke 9:26 says “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”

Perhaps that is why they needed to make a press release. God is omniscient, and I am sure He doesn’t need to read press releases.

Read the article here at the Las Vegas Sun

Youth violence: Grandmother of burned boy speaks out about youth violence

August 15th, 2010

Really?

Just saying we ought to do these things is going to help?

Do you not understand what the real problem is?

You cannot speak to oughtness or even good morality if you hold to the religion of modernity, that of the belief that there is no God and natural selection is responsible for their existence.

If you instill into these kids that they are nothing but an animal, and in the animal kingdom, might makes right. How then do you expect them to behave? Animals have no morality… when a dog steals another dog’s food, does the doggy thief feel bad and then atone for the theft?

Really… the game is survival of the fittest. That is what they are taught in science from grade school through college. There is no basis for morality in that… or even oughtness, yet we expect it!

So let us go back to the basics, teaching all that they are made in the image of their Creator, and as such, every human has great value. Instead of teaching them that life is cruel, teach them that man is noble, yet can be cruel.

Teach them that all life is valuable, especially human life. Teach them that there will be consequences, temporal and eternal. Teach them that there are morals, because the Creator is just and right, and expects us to be like Him.

Do not teach them that they are just animals… and then be shocked when they act like it.

Youth violence: Grandmother of burned boy speaks out about youth violence – South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

In U.S., Confidence in Newspapers, TV News Remains a Rarity

August 13th, 2010

Is it any wonder?

We have been lied to for years…. now it is worse than ever.

I quit my local newspaper… I did not want to PAY for them to insult me by disdain for Christianity. I still find it difficult to shell out the money for the Sunday edition.

Check out the numbers, they are not good. But guess what, they will get a government bailout, too.

In U.S., Confidence in Newspapers, TV News Remains a Rarity

School Group Told Not To Pray On U. S. Supreme Court Steps

August 13th, 2010

Another story that shows the mettle of our Next Greatest Generation.

This reprehensible act occurred earlier this year in May. A small school group bowed their heads to say a prayer on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court. They were approached by a police officer and told…

“Ma’am, I’m not going to tell you that you can’t pray, but you can’t do it here,” he said, according to Mrs. Rigo. “Please go somewhere else.”

Is this not chilling?

The First Amendment is almost completely done in. Once the newspapers are bailed out, where will you get your news?

Read the article here… School Group Told Not To Pray On U.S. Supreme Court Steps – The Philadelphia Bulletin Archives

2 Months After Students Silenced, Crack NBC Washington Bureau Breaks the Story

August 12th, 2010

2 months after some of our Next Greatest Generation were caught in an act of alleged “civil disobedience,” NBC got the scoop!

Sadly, why is singing the U.S. National Anthem a demonstration? Furthermore, why are there “completely content neutral” areas in any U.S. National Park? And then that begs a really OBVIOUS question… isn’t that oxymoronic?

But then the journalist, probably a college graduate, is most likely a moral relativist, and may not understand the issues involved.

Sigh! There is no such thing as a free press in corporate-controlled newsrooms. Truth is what the state says is true, when it says it is true.

Students Silenced for Singing Anthem at Lincoln Memorial | NBC Washington