Friday, December 30, 2005

Let's Hear It For Wiretapping!

K-Mac passed on this good op/ed on wiretapping. I agree with it...the President must do what he needs to not only protect America from terrorism but also DEFEAT it. Obviously there must be checks and balances...the President does not have authority to trample on civil rights. However, tapping the phones of suspected terrorists is not infringing on any rights. So more power to ya G. Dubya...just watch yourself...don't become dictatorial...just fight the evil amongst us.

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Merry Christmas Mother India

Most in India won't be celebrating Christmas this year. December 25 will be just like any other day, as millions struggle to just get by with enough food to make it through the day. India is kept in bondage by Hinduism. The country has more than enough food to feed its citizens, but that food is eaten by cattle and rats. The cattle and rats aren't killed because of the Hinduism belief of reincarnation--people are afraid they'll kill/eat their family members. Thus Satan deceives and people starve, and approximately 1 billion people are heading into a Christless eternity in hell.


Father God, You have shed Your tears for Mother India
They have fallen to water ancient seeds
That will grow into hands to touch the untouchable
How blessed are the poor, the sick, the weak

Father, forgive me, for I have not believed
Like Mother India, I have groaned and grieved
Father, forgive me, I forgot Your grace

Your Spirit falls on India and captures me in Your embrace
The serpent spoke and the world believed its venom
Now we're ten to a room or compared with magazines

Father, forgive me, for I have not believed
Like Mother India, I have groaned and grieved
Father, forgive me, I forgot Your grace

There's a land where our shackles turn to diamonds
Where we trade in our rags for a royal crown
In that place, our oppressors hold no power
And the doors of the King are thrown wide

Father, forgive me, for I have not believed
Like Mother India, I have groaned and grieved
Father, forgive me, I forgot Your grace
--Mother India, Caedmon's Call, Share The Well

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

The Death of Male Friendship?

What does Brokeback Mountain have to do with the death of male friendship? Al Mohler has some interesting thoughts on this as he discusses the change in friendship among American men.

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Whew! Now THAT Was A Close Call

Well I learned today that Christmas, that time Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, has avoided what would have been a crushing blow. Target and Sears have informed the American Family Association and other Christian organizations including the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) that they have decided to include references to Christmas in their advertising and in-store signage. Whew! I was beginning to worry that this removal by retailers would cause people to miss the true meaning of Christmas.

As Richard Land, president of the ERLC said, “Maybe it is politically correct these days to replace our true and tried values, but we think a time will come when Target and other businesses will regret their part in destroying the true meaning of Christmas.” Ah yes, the tried and true Christian values of greed and concern for material things. Errr...perhaps you can sense my sarcasm. Don't get me wrong, I have great respect for Richard Land, he's done much in promoting the Kingdom. But I just don't get this outrage over corporate America's policies on holiday greetings.

The main goal for retailers is to make money, and lots of it. The Christmas season offers the greatest earnings potential. It would seem logical to think that retailers don't want to lose billions of dollars pumped into their treasuries by celebrators of Christmas. This is of course why they reversed their decision on mentioning Christmas in advertising and greetings: Christians (or at least 700,000 people) delcared their intentions to boycott the stores. That brings our first alarm bell to Christians: Businesses rake in more money during Christmas than any other time of the year. That means Christmas is associated more with receiving material things and greed and debt not Christ and Christian virtues like, oh I don't know, not being greedy. So much for remembering the Reason for the season.

Secondly, Target and Sears and other retailers serve a diverse clinetele. While it is true that were it not for Christmas, there would be no holiday season, we must also recognize that not every shopper celebrates Christmas. Now, something tells me a Jew or atheist could care less whether they were told Merry Christmas. They've probably come to just deal with that. But I see nothing wrong with a business wanting to incorporate a greeting (Happy Holidays) to include Christmas, Chanunaka, Kwanza, and New Year's (as well as any other holiday under the sun celebrated during the month of December) to make others feel welcome.

People have been boycotting and threatening to boycott stores who cut Christmas from their marketing. I wonder if those same people will boycott bookstores that sell gay and lesbian books, Islamic and atheistic literature, and racy magazines. I also wonder whether these same boycotters will boycott when they ponder the fact that retailers thrive off of, and consequently promote and encourage, greed. Will they boycott when they consider that very little of the Christmas season mentions anything about Jesus? This is all about a saying, a generic greeting! Those who are in such a hysteria over these practices seem to be accepting the de-Christianization of Christmas in favor of corporate genuflects to celebrators of "greedmas".

Now, I'm no saint. I deal with greed and materialism, too. But, I do think I would feel proud if I read a corporate America memo explaining that there's no need to recognize Christmas, because the celebrators of the holiday have rediscovered the real meaning behind it, and it has nothing to do with buying STUFF!

Am I off my rocker?

Government inclusion of Christmas is a different story...

Meanwhile, about 3,638 babies were aborted in America today. At least Target will tell us "Merry Christmas."

Saturday, December 10, 2005

Nothing Is Sound


The concert last night was amazing (even with the terrible T.J., Janet, and J-Rod--K-J103 morning radio personalities "emceeing")! Howie Day opened and he did a good job. Lifehouse was great! Then came the featured act, Switchfoot, and they did an amazing job! Because I'm not a big concert goer, this was my first time to see either of these bands, and I'm so glad I went. It's hard to beat clean and purposeful music.

Friday, December 09, 2005

Rock On!

Going to see Switchfoot tonight!!! Oh yeah, Lifehouse and Howie Day will be there too.

Monday, December 05, 2005

Lotto Tree?

Opponents of lotteries for education have often told of the dangerous message sent to students that it is okay to make your way off of the backs of those less fortunate (ie, let's pay for education because someone has a gambling addiction!). Of course, proponents pooh-pooh (I've always wanted to used that phrase) any notion that kids would adopt this mindset. Then comes this. Elementary students put together a Christmas tree that was displayed in the state capitol rotunda decorated with used lottery tickets. A school spokeswoman said, "they had been studying about the lottery and understood lottery money benefits public schools. They came up with a theme about the gift of education." Thankfully a Republican state representative called the school principal and Governor Henry's office, and the tree was removed.

One may say, "so what, it's just a decoration." However, when students are studying the fact that their education is paid for off of gambling money and they find out the realities of gambling (as they should), what message does that send? I don't think it's one of compassion. And to celebrate Christmas by commemorating the lottery smacks of idiocy.

So here we go. We will soon be seeing the fruits of the lottery for education. Our youngest minds will soon learn that it doesn't matter what price must be paid--who must be hurt--so long as we get ahead--that's whats important. Such a selfish mindset...one antithetical to everything Christmas stands for.

Saturday, December 03, 2005

The Ministry

From George Muller:

"Many more people have been convicted of sin through brother Craik's preaching than my own. This is probably because brother Craik is more spiritually minded than I am, and he prays more earnestly for the conversion of sinners than I do. He addresses sinners in his public ministry frequently. This led me to more earnest prayer for the conversion of sinners. Since then, the Lord has used me as an instrument of conversion much more often."

Isn't it interesting that Muller didn't say he became more bold in his preaching or addressing sinners. Instead he prayed more for those that don't know Christ, and because of that, people came to know Christ. It is good to read this that testifies to the fact that God does the work, not us.