Addressing Bologna

I need to say a few things about a column by Cal Thomas which he wrote last week.

The position he takes in this piece entitled Religious right should put politics aside is simply empty-headed. First, he assumes that if Christians engage themselves in the political process, than they are not trusting God. I used to believe that. That philosophy, in fact, was at the heart of why I turned down a job working for Senator DeWine back in the late '90s. Thomas' assumption has no basis with empirical evidence and Scriptural imperatives (e.g. be in the world but not of the world).

Another thing he doesn't understand is the purpose of laws and how it relates to morality. Here's two very short pieces (1 / 2) that I would strongly encourage you read that refutes this presupposition of Mr. Thomas.

If he really believes this view that he asserts in this piece, then he should relinquish his power position as a national syndicated columnist, and go start an orphanage in an obscure town in eastern Kentucky.

I'm not surprised that Thomas is a national syndicated columnist. The leftist media love to give people a microphone, a camera, or a column, who know how to pacify and confuse those religious-right fundamentalists.

Just Tell Us The Truth!

If you are a Christian, you need to watch this video before you cast your vote! And please send this to all of those you know who also care about what God cares about!

One Vote

For Such A Time As This

If you want to help influence this election, use your time wisely. We only have a week and a half to do all we can to get McCain elected. Ask yourself how you are in the position to affect as many people as possible before the election.

One Recommendation: Wise Personal Engagement – person to person:

• Ask people (not in CA or NY) if they have made up their minds yet about what presidential candidate they are voting for.
• If they say yes, McCain, move on. You don't want to waste your time in a love-fest about how bad Obama is.
• If they say yes, Obama, move on. Don't try to change their minds. Most people do not want someone to change their minds once it is made up. It's called pride. Deal with it.
• If they say no, then ask what is their top consideration when voting for president.
• Once they tell you, then offer the best reason or reasons why McCain would do a better job in that area than Obama.
  

That is unless they offer any of the following as their top consideration for president:

• one who will take money from those who work hard and pay taxes to those who don't work and don't pay taxes (i.e. "spread the wealth around").
• one who will appoint justices to the Supreme Court who will preserve the right of women to kill their unborn children.
• one who believes that world dictators don't like us because they just don't understand us.
• one who is not one of those evil Republicans.
• one who is black.
  

In any of these instances, than Obama is their man; just move on.*

*This segment of this post was brought to by moveon.org . . . not. ; - )

Another Recommendation: Wise Personal Engagement – via the internet:

• forward to everyone you know good online media clips that make a good argument.
  
• most who have yet to make up their minds are not the most read-up individuals, so most of them will not be very interested in reading stuff about who to vote for, but they would be willing to watch something. (Homer: “Ahhh, pretty lights moving around and making funny sounds.”) This is pathetic I know, but the sad reality is that these still-undecided voters will be deciding the outcome of this election.*
  
• For those who don’t have internet access, bring over your laptop or put them in front of your computer and show them something online.
  
  *If you prefer watching over reading, it’s obvious you are not one of those I am talking about above. Afterall, you are reading right now. ; - )
  
  

Another Recommendation: Wise Personal Engagement – with God:

• not only should you do all that you can as if everything depended on you, but you should pray as if everything depended on God.*
  
  * The truth is, everything is dependent on God, but apart from direct divine intervention, He uses His people in the process of redemption. (e.g. the Book of Ruth).

Introducing…STTIL Outreaches!

Here’s a video showing what some of us in our church are doing related to evangelism. The key to our success and the centerpiece of this initiative in biblical evangelism is built around a mutual encouraging community. We also designed it so it can be easily duplicated in other churches. So if you feel so inclined, go for it!

Voter Guide for Ohio Voters

Here's a great resource to help you cast an informed vote this election.

Loving through Adoption

If there was a ship lost at sea full of orphan babies, the world would rally together to save them. Yet, today, there are a million children around the world who live without the love of a permanent family. These children seem to have no hope, lost in a world that does not want them. But God loves them. And God has filled the hearts of couples stretching all over this country with His love for these children. One case in point, about a month ago, some friends of mine were finally able to bring home their new son from Russia after enduring many hurdles over a long 3 ½ year adoption process. There is probably no better champion of adoption than one of my heros, multi-award-winning Christian singer and song writer, Steven Curtis Chapman. Here’s a recent Focus on the Family radio broadcast were he discusses his own family’s experience with adoption. Lastly, here’s the video of he and wife – along with their children – on Larry King Live where they shared about the tragic death back last spring of their little daughter, Maria Sue. This segment will melt your heart and inspire you to trust God through your own storms of life.

Pastors: Keep Politics in its Place

Phil Johnson of Grace To You cautions pastors in this piece entitled Politically Incorrect? that preaching “politically-top-heavy sermons” (my words) may not result in an investigation from the IRS or a lawsuit from Americans United for Separation of Church and State (again, my words), but it can stagnate, and even kill, the spiritual well-being of their hearers and their witness in the culture at large.

Sensible Environmental Protection

Here’s a link to a grassroots movement that is advancing a biblical agenda for caring for the environment and the poor, based on solid facts, without all the hysteria.

We-get-it.org is sponsored by the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation.

Teen Wins Fight for Pro-Life Club at School

Despite the best spin-job by the Post, the facts cannot totally be spun away. This story should encourage other teens to do the same in their schools. I’m not surprised that Alliance Defense Fund helped out to make a difference. If you know a high school teen who is passionately pro-life, please forward them this article.

Understanding the Idea of “Separation of Church and State”

CNN host Lou Dobbs last week criticized church leaders for speaking out on the immigration debate. Here are my thoughts, which I sent to Mr. Dobbs:

It seems to me that you – like most in the MSM – have a completely backwards understanding of the whole concept of the separation of church and state. The intent of the so-called “separation of church and state” principle was to stop government from intruding into church affairs, not to stop the church from intruding into government affairs.

The founders were quite familiar with what happens (i.e. The Church of England) when government without boundaries intruded into church affairs. That is why under the Establishment Clause in the U.S. Constitution (Article 2 of Amendment 1) our government does not have the right to establish religion.

However, when the founders opposed a governmental establishment of religion, they did not mean they opposed a governmental establishment from religion. In fact, the founders believed religion was good for society. George Washington said, “Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.” In 1783, Dr. Benjamin Rush stated, “Without religion, I believe that learning does real mischief to the morals and principles of mankind.” In 1785, James Madison said, “Religion is the basis and foundation of government.”

The separation of church and state idea was intended to prevent the government from intruding in the affairs of religious expression; it was not intended to stop religious people from being involved in governmental affairs. The First Amendment insures that all people – even those in government (e.g. the President himself) – freely have the right to practice their religious beliefs in all aspects of their life. This should therefore impact their public policy. Where the constraints of a government official’s duties come in under the Constitution would be to not infringe on other citizen’s right to believe what they want, and their “free exercise” of those beliefs. That is why Christians like Patrick Henry could celebrate the fact that “peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.”

In conclusion, the idea of a separation between these two social institutions was originally intended to protect religious people from a government establishment of religion while allowing religious people to establish government. Let me be clear: the whole concept of separation of church and state was intended to protect the church from the government, not to protect the government from the church.

Speak With Your Money

David was angry with Goliath for blaspheming his God. What about us? Have we lost our righteous indignation when it comes to those in our midst who blaspheme our God? Take the movie industry, for example. Have we become callous to the slander and mockery of the One who saved us from our sins by those who produce the movies we pay to see? Would they continue to do it if we held back our money?

HollywoodBlasphemy.com writes:

So, how can you (as one person), make a difference and influence the powerful Goliath of the entertainment industry? The answer is in your own hands. In 2005, roughly $8.8 billion was spent on movie tickets in the U.S. How much of $8.8 billion do you think came from those who call themselves Christians? According to The Barna Group, it was a massive $6.94 billion. Over 70% of the box office intake comes from people of faith.

With more than 170 million professing Christians in America, we have a sling that has the power to hit the “dark side” of Hollywood between the eyes and leave a deep impression on its moneymaking mind. Simply stop paying to see blasphemous movies and support the ones you know are good.”

I am making a pledge to you right now: In an intentional step to honor God, I will not financially support any more movies that use the name of my Savior as a four-letter curse word. I believe you can be persuaded, as I have been, to take this pledge after checking out the video clip at the top of this website.