Archive for the ‘Christian’ Category
Great Podcast on a Great Orphans Ministry
Last week, Brad from the Two Blind Squirrels podcast interviewed my friend Dan Shepherd for his podcast, talking about what Dan does at Visiontrust, a wonderful Christian ministry that cares for orphans all over the world.
I’m not going to go into details of what Visiontrust is because you can hear all about it in the podcast (and it’s less typing). I will simply quote Mathew 25:40 40And(A) the King will answer them,(B) ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these(C) my brothers,[a] you did it to me.’
We are called to aid those less fortunate than ourselves, especially widows and orphans. Visiontrust helps us do just that by providing schools, medical care, Christian instruction, and other things as the children have need.
Please check out this brief podcast and prayerfully consider helping through donations, volunteering for a missions trip, and your prayers.
Thank you.
Persecution of Christians in San Diego
Filed under: bible, Christian, family, government, religion | Tags: bible, Christian, government, ministry, politics, religion
Leave a Comment I just found this story about a Christian family in San Diego County being persecuted by the government for holding a home Bible study. I think this is absolutely outrageous. This flies in the face of the rights we take for granted: reasonably doing what we want in our homes, freely getting together with others, and most importantly freely practicing our religion.
For me, I hear these stories all the time from other countries. My heart goes out to them, but then I usually think of how lucky I am to be able to not have to worry about such things. I guess I have been wrong.
Thomas Jefferson said: “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” This fact is true in all times, but especially now. We need to stand strong for our rights, and oppose anyone who tries to take them away.
I think I have said this before, we need to pray for revival to come to our nation. For Jesus to be accepted as Lord and Savior, and for a return to our being a Christian nation.
Amen.
Proposition 8 Upheld in Court-Update
Filed under: Christian | Tags: courts, gay, homosexuality, marriage, men
Leave a Comment This is pretty amazing. Earlier today I posted a story about CA’s Prop 8 being upheld in court. I would have thought this would have been the end of the issue, but apparently gay activists are not ready to let this go.
Since the California Supreme Court, the highest court in the state upheld this amendment, gay activists have decided to file an injunction in Federal court. My question is: “what do they think this is going to accomplish? Why would a Federal court strike down a part of the Constitution of a sovereign state?” Okay, that was two questions. But hey, it’s my blog.
My best guess is they expect to get this case from the circuit court to the 9th Circus Court of Appeals, the most liberal court in America. This is unfortunately possible, as I don’t think they will win in the Circuit.
Here is another question: does anyone out there know if a federal court has ever struck down a state constitutional amendment? It seems to me that would be over stepping the federal court’s bounds just a bit. Of course, these courts have been doing that a lot lately.
Men, let’s keep the same prayers as the prvious post, adding that God would give the dederal jurists wisdomn in dealing with this case.
Amen.
Proposition 8 Upheld in California
Filed under: Christian, religion, sex | Tags: Christian, gay, homosexual, marriage, religion
Comments (1) Earlier this week, the Supreme Court of California upheld Proposition 8 as a true Constitutional Amendment. In case you have been living under a rock for the last year, and your laptop and Internet card just arrived, you should know that prop. 8 was a Constitutional Amendment to the CA constitution defining marriage as one man and one woman. The referendum passed with a 53 percent majority. This is the second time CA voters have made this decision, passing a similar resolution in 2000 that was only a law and found to be unconstitutional last year. After the 2008 election, gay activists challenged the amendment in court, claiming it was somehow not a constitutional amendment.
Now that everyone is on the same page, let’s move on. I am thankful for two things. First, that the people of CA, or at least 53% of the voters, have either recognized the will of God for marriage, or understand the disasterous consequences that gay marriage can have on the family. I have stated before that the Bible only recognizes one type of marriage, and that breaking this commandment could not only lead to his wrath but could lead to legalized incest, pederasty, and even polygamy.
Second, as a proud American, I am grateful that the will of the majority of the people of CA has been heard and allowed to stand. I recognize the purpose of the courts in our system to interpret what the Founding Fathers intendend when they wrote the Constitution, when compared to new laws. But we must do everything we can, including Judicial Impeachment, to prevent our courts from legislating from the bench. When the will of the people and the intent of the Constitution are both ignored, tyranny will reign.
My brothers, we need to thank God for upholding this good law, and we must pray for our friends and neighbors that have chosen the homosexual lifestyle. We must have the strength to gently but firmly bring the law of God down upon them, convicting them of their sin, and then give them the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Is America a Christian Nation?
Filed under: bible, Christian, religion | Tags: bible, Christian, politics, religion
Comments (4) Last month, President Obama visited several Asian and Middle Eastern nations, meeting with other heads of state During a press conference on April 6th the President said that the US was not a Christian nation, but a nation of citizens. Now the second half of that statement is obviously correct. All countries are nations of citizens. But are we a Christian nation? Many non-believers would agree with that statement, espousing the false belief that we have some sort of separation of church and state that does not allow us to be a Christian nation, only a nation that contains Christians. Tonight I am going to show you just how ridiculous that statement is.
On May 4th members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus introduced Hourse Resolution 397 which affirms our heritage as a Christian nation. Here are some facts from this document:
- The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that we are a religious people.
- During the Founding Era, the most frequently cited source was The Bible.
- The first act of the first Congress in 1774 was to ask a minister to open with a word of prayer and read from The Bible.
- Congress has appropriated money for missionaries and religious instruction, even after the ratification of the First Amendment.
- The Declaration of Independence identifies God as Creator, Law Giver, Judge, and Protector.
- Congress paid to import Bibles in 1777 and authorize the printing of a Bible for schools in 1782.
- The Treaty of Paris begins with: “In the name of the Most Holy Trinity.”
- Congress not only has paid Chaplains, the military has over 4500 chaplains in it’s ranks.
- The United States Supreme Court has declared
throughout the course of our Nation’s history that the
United States is ‘‘a Christian country’’, ‘‘a Christian nation’’,
‘‘a Christian people’’, ‘‘a religious people whose institutions
presuppose a Supreme Being’’, and that ‘‘we - cannot read into the Bill of Rights a philosophy of hostility
to religion.’”
These are just some of the many facts of this document that disprove the President’s opinion. Men of God, I urge you to check out this inspiring resolution, call your Congressman and ask him or her to co-sponsor it, and pray not only for it’s passage, but also for the revival of the Christian heritage of our great nation.
Washington Quote
I will be posting an article on the USA as a Christian nation, but for now I want to tease you with this quote: “It is the duty if nations to acknowledge God.”
George Washington
Think about that, and stay tuned.
Recommended Resource on being Prepared for Christ’s Return
A friend of mine just published a great article on being prepared for Christ’s Return. She give some very practical tips on what we are called to do to prepare for this fast coming day, as well as providing scriptures on end times Prophecy. Check it out!
In Praise of Carrie Prejean
This past Sunday was the Miss America Pageant. As a Christian and a married man I did not watch the pagent, as I do not need to see 50 girls parade around in bikinis. However, there I have learned this week of a contreversy during the pageant which involves an important Christian issue that I just had to share my thought on.
Traditionally, the questions the ladies get asked at these pageants are pretty easy, related to world peace or puppies. This year the questions were challenging and politically charged, such as when Miss South Carolina, who won the competition, was asked about big businesses receiving bail out money. One of the judges, an openly gay gossip blogger named Perez Hilton, Asked Carrie Prejean, Miss California, if she thought more states should allow gay marriage. Prejean answered that in her state and in her family, marriage was between one man and one woman, and then even apologized if she offended anyone.
Not only did she end up in second place, but Hilton posted a Vlog blasting Prejean for not being prepared for the question, bringing her religion into the answer, and giving the worst answer in pageant history. This is where I have a problem.
First, Prejean did not appear to be unprepared, as she answered the question immediately, without stumbling or second guessing. She did not say anything about religion, only about the law in her state and the opinion in her family. I think this is one of the best answers she could have given.
I think the real problem here is that Hilton wanted to use his moment in the national TV spotlight to advance the radical homosexual agenda and it backfired right in his face. In his Vlog he said he didn’t want to hear people talking about Jesus (which she never did). Could this be because deep down he knows his chosen lifestyle is wrong, and that he can’t stand up under the heat of the Gospel?
So far this is a good story, but the best is yet to come. In an interview yesterday with Matt Lauer, Prejean was asked if she had a do-over, would she make her answer less non commital to give her a better chance at winning. Prejean said that as a Christian (now she invokes her faith, not then) this was simply not an option, and that she was proud of herself, and she knew a lot of other people who were proud of her too.
She could not be more right. Thousands of messages on Twitter have praised her and her actions, and I would like to add mine here as well. Miss Prejean, in this country millions of young girls look up to the likes of Britney Spears (does anybody still look up to her?) and Lindsay Lohan with great disapointment. In you we have a role model who not only fits the world’s criteria for beauty, but whose heart knows beauty that is pleasing to the Lord, standing by her convictions and honoring God.
Carrie Prejean I am truly sorry you did not achieve your goal of becoming Miss America, which you clearly deserved. But as you said in your interview with Matt Lauer, God clearly has another plan for you. I pray that you will continue to honor and speak out for God, and that you will use your celebrity to speak out for His glory. God Bless You.
The Myth about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
Filed under: bible, Christian, men, religion | Tags: Christian, homosexuality, military, religion
Comments (6) A lot of people think that President Clinton changed the law by allowing homosexuals to serve in the millitary by instituting a law called “Don’t ask, don’t tell,” stating that homosexuals were allowed to serve in the millitary as long as they kept their sexual deviance in private. Today I want to set the record straight and give you a status update on this issue.
In 1993 President Clinton attempted to get Congress to lift the ban on Homosexuals in the military. After numerous hearings Congress passed what is officially known as Section 654, Title 10 which clarifies the law that was in place as Pentagon policy even before the Clinton administration, which states that homosexuals are not eligible to serve in the military. Since that time, the law has been held up in federal court numerous times as being constitutional. For confirmation of this and more detailed information, check out the testimony before Congress from Elaine Donnelly from the Center for Millitary Readiness.
Now why do I bring this up on this blog, which is was created to deal with Men growing closer to God? On the surface, this issue probably sounds totally irrelevent. I do it because as Christians we live in the world, and hear about issues like this all the time. It is neccesary for us to be able to stand up and defend the faith to others.
To that end we need to remind people that the Bible clearly says, in both Testaments, that homosexuality is a sin, abhorent to God. It goes directly against God’s plan for sex in marriage. I was going to place Bible references to these points in this post as I normally do, but in my search for them I found an article which does a much better job outlining this entire subject, and is worth reading in it’s entirety.
I hope you will check out the article from CMR for information on homosexuals in the millitary, as well as the article on Homosexuality and the Bible. If you have any questions or need more resources feel free to either leave a comment or use my contact form. And pray for those who are gripped in the sin of homosexuality to repent of their sin and believe the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Have a great Palm Sunday!
Sibelius Confirmation Can and Should be Stopped
As a Christian, we have several requirements and responsibilities. We are required to have faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and our personal savior. We are to love our neighbors, and confess our sins and seek forgiveness from God. We are to uphold the Ten Commandments, the fifth of which is “Thou shalt not commit murder.” Since science has proven that an embryo is a whole and seperate person, this would include abortion. This means we should not only refrain from this heinous act ourselves, but to work to prevent others from participating in it as well.
Chairman Obama, in his effort to advance the pro-death agenda, has nominated Governor Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS) to the office of Health and Human Services Secretary. Governor Sebelius is one of the leading proponents for abortion on demand at the state level. One of her biggest supporters is Dr. George Tiller, one of the worst abortionists in the country, currently on trial for violating laws restricting late-term abortions.
Clearly, this is not the kind of person that should be in charge of the health of the country. I do not think that someone who does not respect life, especially a life that cannot defend itself, should be in charge of the welfare and well being of the country. Well right now, there is something we can do about it. You can call the capital switchboard at 1 202 224 3121, ask for your Senator, and ask the to vote no on Governor Sibelius’ confirmation. If you do not know who your Senator is, just tell the operator where you live and they will look it up and connect you.
Please prayerfully consider doing this today. Even if Sebelius never did anything as HHS Secretary to change laws regarding abortion, we can send a clear message to our representatives about the will of the people on this important issue. Thank you.
