You've heard the one about the frog and the pot of slowly heating water. Well I think the temperature is being turned up a little.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=61342
The question, "Does a Christian business person have the right to deny serving a customer when that customer violates the principle by which the Christian orders their life?"
Some other questions that occur to me.
"Does the "couple" in question have the right to break the Law governing the States by use of semantics?"
"If the Christian lied and said they had a "scheduling conflict" what would have been the implications of their faith and their business?"
"Were Biblical convictions used to overturn discrimination half a century ago?"
"How do those same Biblical convictions apply to this kind of "discrimination"?"
"Does a Muslim Photographer have the right to deny homosexuals their photographic services?"
"Why didn't Miss Willock choose a Muslim Photographer?"
As a pastor I watch this sort of thing a bit more closely because I fully anticipate that one day soon clergy will be brought into this same arena, actually they already are, but that's another post. And the Law of this land changes like the wind but the Law of the Lord has remained for centuries and He is my judge. I need to love Him with my whole heart, mind and strength. It will take all of that to stand firm as a Pastor, photographer, you fill in the blank.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
Is this really News???
It seems that American Idol changed the words to Shout to the Lord.
Check it out at WorldNetDaily:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=61234
Unfortunately I have come to expect this from the mainstream culture. I do think it is good that somebody keeps track of this whole culture that opposes Christianity and I completely affirm that Christians, real Christian, must engage in the arena of ideas.
But to take American Idol seriously as one of the places where anyone should be upset that they disavowed Jesus by changing the words to Shout to the Lord seems like a waste of ink to me. I am glad that WND reporter tried to contact Idol and that Idol did do the song as originally written the next night. Cudos to American Idol...still why should anyone expect redeemed behavior from unredeemed people. Does that mean I'm judging the people on American Idol...nope. TV programs can't be Christians only people can be Christians. Jesus never said to "non-believers" if you deny me before men I will deny you before My Father...He said that to "Christians." Besides have you watched FOX lately...not cable FOX...the regular one.
I suppose that someone could argue that because the show in question on Idol was doing a relief concert that ended with Shout to the Lord that they might expect a bit more fair treatment of the lyrics but was any "Christian musician" on the show? Yes, I know artists can be Christian and sing country...blah, blah, blah... What fellowship has light with darkness? Were the sponsors of the broadcast Christian sponsors? or were they selling alcohol, and cars, and other FOX shows? Come on true believers use the mind God gave you and engage in more than rants against the world. Come up with a plan to love Ryan, Simon, Paula and Randy the way Christ loves them.
Check it out at WorldNetDaily:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=61234
Unfortunately I have come to expect this from the mainstream culture. I do think it is good that somebody keeps track of this whole culture that opposes Christianity and I completely affirm that Christians, real Christian, must engage in the arena of ideas.
But to take American Idol seriously as one of the places where anyone should be upset that they disavowed Jesus by changing the words to Shout to the Lord seems like a waste of ink to me. I am glad that WND reporter tried to contact Idol and that Idol did do the song as originally written the next night. Cudos to American Idol...still why should anyone expect redeemed behavior from unredeemed people. Does that mean I'm judging the people on American Idol...nope. TV programs can't be Christians only people can be Christians. Jesus never said to "non-believers" if you deny me before men I will deny you before My Father...He said that to "Christians." Besides have you watched FOX lately...not cable FOX...the regular one.
I suppose that someone could argue that because the show in question on Idol was doing a relief concert that ended with Shout to the Lord that they might expect a bit more fair treatment of the lyrics but was any "Christian musician" on the show? Yes, I know artists can be Christian and sing country...blah, blah, blah... What fellowship has light with darkness? Were the sponsors of the broadcast Christian sponsors? or were they selling alcohol, and cars, and other FOX shows? Come on true believers use the mind God gave you and engage in more than rants against the world. Come up with a plan to love Ryan, Simon, Paula and Randy the way Christ loves them.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
NIMBY and all sorts of fun stuff for Minnesota
Well folks just in case you missed this or your copy of the Star Tribune was late in arriving I thought I'd send along this very helpful link. It seems that a Muslim Public school right here in MN is functioning as a religious school with tax payers money. You can file this one under, "What's good for the goose..." Personally I'd like to see some consistency by the government but I'm not going to hold my breath.
http://www.startribune.com/local/17406054.html
http://www.startribune.com/local/17406054.html
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Geothermal Heat
I recently watched a commercial that advocated for the efficiency of heating with geothermal sources. It was interesting to me how they attached such heating with being friendly to the environment. Here's the rub.
I'm 40 years old and I remember back to the 70's when the environmentalists said that "unless we did something drastic acid rain was going to kill us all." That's a little bit hyperbolic. But since the fear mongering of the environmentalists caught on in the 70's the past 40 years has paraded out one "environmental crisis" after the next.
Now understand I am not advocating the wanton destruction of the environment but I believe that it is hubris to think that we "control" the destiny of this planet. God has placed us here as stewards of His creation and we ought to fulfill that duty with vigilance but I am going to make a prediction. And I want to be the first on record.
Heating with geothermal energy will one day come under scrutiny of the "environmental crowd" and will, I predict, be declared as harmful to the environment because slowly we are changing the temperature of the earth's crust. There, that's my prediction.
Here's the thing. Plastic bags were going to save landfill space and trees because they replaced paper bags. Not even 30 years have gone by and now plastic bags are being outlawed as harmful to the environment. We have developed energy efficient light bulbs that can save $47.00 per year but the reason they are so efficient is because they contain mercury. Oops...what happens when they go to the landfills and break and all that mercury gets into the water table? Hmmmmm..... that's a tough one.
My point. Love God with all your mind. Be reasonable when it comes to the use of natural resources. Love God with your whole heart and do not give into the fear of the "environmental gang." Love God with your whole self. Don't worship trees or rain or plastic or global warming...
I'm 40 years old and I remember back to the 70's when the environmentalists said that "unless we did something drastic acid rain was going to kill us all." That's a little bit hyperbolic. But since the fear mongering of the environmentalists caught on in the 70's the past 40 years has paraded out one "environmental crisis" after the next.
Now understand I am not advocating the wanton destruction of the environment but I believe that it is hubris to think that we "control" the destiny of this planet. God has placed us here as stewards of His creation and we ought to fulfill that duty with vigilance but I am going to make a prediction. And I want to be the first on record.
Heating with geothermal energy will one day come under scrutiny of the "environmental crowd" and will, I predict, be declared as harmful to the environment because slowly we are changing the temperature of the earth's crust. There, that's my prediction.
Here's the thing. Plastic bags were going to save landfill space and trees because they replaced paper bags. Not even 30 years have gone by and now plastic bags are being outlawed as harmful to the environment. We have developed energy efficient light bulbs that can save $47.00 per year but the reason they are so efficient is because they contain mercury. Oops...what happens when they go to the landfills and break and all that mercury gets into the water table? Hmmmmm..... that's a tough one.
My point. Love God with all your mind. Be reasonable when it comes to the use of natural resources. Love God with your whole heart and do not give into the fear of the "environmental gang." Love God with your whole self. Don't worship trees or rain or plastic or global warming...
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
The SOUL of it all
A few weeks back I was up before church and watching the Chris Matthews Sunday show. It was interesting because they were discussing the debacle of the adulterous affair of Elliot Spitzer, the then Governor of NY...the place of my birth.
During the discussion Chris threw the 'hot potatoe' to Rick Stengel from Time Magazine. Rick responded with the discovery of some biochemist that the same reaction that takes place in men who 'charge up the hill' is the same internal reaction that makes men do these things. And then things got really interesting. In any case here's the link for the transcript:
http://www.thechrismatthewsshow.com/html/transcript/index.php
Last night on ABC Barbara Walters had a special on concerning living until we are 15o years old. One of the spots concerned cryogenic freezing of humans or at least their heads slightly before or immediately after they die. The hope is that in 25, 50, 100 years the 'cure' for whatever they died from will be found and then they will be thawed and brought back to life.
The intersting thing to me is how both spots reduce human life and action to a matter of matter. It's just the chemicals that make men heroes or scoundrels. So then why the outrage at Elliot Spitzer? Why the morality of it all? Because a grown man should know better...is that it? Why, if it's just the chemicals? Of course I suppose he could have, by a sheer force of will rejected the chemical urge and used his brain matter to avoid the affair. I suppose men in battle reject the urge to charge up the hill...but then why court marshal them for disobeying orders? They are simply following the chemicals.
And this business of freezing oneself post mortem. If we are animated matter that can be resucitated at any time then why do people die at all? Where's Dr. Frankenstein when you need him? These people who shuffle out $75,000 per freeze are being taken for a ride.
The point: we are humans created in the image of God and given a soul by Him. We could discuss when that occurs but that is besides the point...maybe some day. But it is the soul that makes us more than animals who charge up hills or have illicit affairs. That is where morality comes from. We know right and wrong not because it is hardwired into the matter of our brains but because it is placed in our hearts by God through His law. When a person rejects God's law and does whatever is right in their own eyes it isn't a matter of chemicals it is a matter of the soul.
When a person dies their bodies become inanimate matter but their soul continues it's existence. How do the people who are doing the freezing plan to put the soul back into the thawed body? That's what I'd really like to have seen Barbara ask.
During the discussion Chris threw the 'hot potatoe' to Rick Stengel from Time Magazine. Rick responded with the discovery of some biochemist that the same reaction that takes place in men who 'charge up the hill' is the same internal reaction that makes men do these things. And then things got really interesting. In any case here's the link for the transcript:
http://www.thechrismatthewsshow.com/html/transcript/index.php
Last night on ABC Barbara Walters had a special on concerning living until we are 15o years old. One of the spots concerned cryogenic freezing of humans or at least their heads slightly before or immediately after they die. The hope is that in 25, 50, 100 years the 'cure' for whatever they died from will be found and then they will be thawed and brought back to life.
The intersting thing to me is how both spots reduce human life and action to a matter of matter. It's just the chemicals that make men heroes or scoundrels. So then why the outrage at Elliot Spitzer? Why the morality of it all? Because a grown man should know better...is that it? Why, if it's just the chemicals? Of course I suppose he could have, by a sheer force of will rejected the chemical urge and used his brain matter to avoid the affair. I suppose men in battle reject the urge to charge up the hill...but then why court marshal them for disobeying orders? They are simply following the chemicals.
And this business of freezing oneself post mortem. If we are animated matter that can be resucitated at any time then why do people die at all? Where's Dr. Frankenstein when you need him? These people who shuffle out $75,000 per freeze are being taken for a ride.
The point: we are humans created in the image of God and given a soul by Him. We could discuss when that occurs but that is besides the point...maybe some day. But it is the soul that makes us more than animals who charge up hills or have illicit affairs. That is where morality comes from. We know right and wrong not because it is hardwired into the matter of our brains but because it is placed in our hearts by God through His law. When a person rejects God's law and does whatever is right in their own eyes it isn't a matter of chemicals it is a matter of the soul.
When a person dies their bodies become inanimate matter but their soul continues it's existence. How do the people who are doing the freezing plan to put the soul back into the thawed body? That's what I'd really like to have seen Barbara ask.
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