Pat Condell hits another one out of the park with his assessment of the Geert Wilders trial. As Pat says, authoritarianism mixed with cowardice will have deadly consequences. I fear that the forces of darkness are winning the cultural and spritual battle. The time of the church age is about to close. Will you be ready when Jesus comes?
Johnny Cash
Saw this recently on newsrealblog.com and decided to share it with you. The video was made in 1948 by Harding College during the height of the Cold War. The quality is a little iffy and the overall effect a bit hokey, sort of like the old projectors I saw in the 70's. However, the message is a timeless one for all people regardless of their political affiliation. Please do give it a viewing!
Johnny Cash
Merry Christmas everyone! I'd like to give that to the Wall Street Journal and to the late Vermont Royster for this timely article.
Johnny Cash
In Hoc Anno Domini
So the light came into the world.
When Saul of Tarsus set out on his journey to Damascus the whole of the known world lay in bondage. There was one state, and it was Rome. There was one master for it all, and he was Tiberius Caesar.
Everywhere there was civil order, for the arm of the Roman law was long. Everywhere there was stability, in government and in society, for the centurions saw that it was so.
But everywhere there was something else, too. There was oppression—for those who were not the friends of Tiberius Caesar. There was the tax gatherer to take the grain from the fields and the flax from the spindle to feed the legions or to fill the hungry treasury from which divine Caesar gave largess to the people. There was the impressor to find recruits for the circuses. There were executioners to quiet those whom the Emperor proscribed. What was a man for but to serve Caesar?
There was the persecution of men who dared think differently, who heard strange voices or read strange manuscripts. There was enslavement of men whose tribes came not from Rome, disdain for those who did not have the familiar visage. And most of all, there was everywhere a contempt for human life. What, to the strong, was one man more or less in a crowded world?
Then, of a sudden, there was a light in the world, and a man from Galilee saying, Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's.
And the voice from Galilee, which would defy Caesar, offered a new Kingdom in which each man could walk upright and bow to none but his God. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. And he sent this gospel of the Kingdom of Man into the uttermost ends of the earth.
So the light came into the world and the men who lived in darkness were afraid, and they tried to lower a curtain so that man would still believe salvation lay with the leaders.
But it came to pass for a while in divers places that the truth did set man free, although the men of darkness were offended and they tried to put out the light. The voice said, Haste ye. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you, for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
Along the road to Damascus the light shone brightly. But afterward Paul of Tarsus, too, was sore afraid. He feared that other Caesars, other prophets, might one day persuade men that man was nothing save a servant unto them, that men might yield up their birthright from God for pottage and walk no more in freedom.
Then might it come to pass that darkness would settle again over the lands and there would be a burning of books and men would think only of what they should eat and what they should wear, and would give heed only to new Caesars and to false prophets. Then might it come to pass that men would not look upward to see even a winter's star in the East, and once more, there would be no light at all in the darkness.
And so Paul, the apostle of the Son of Man, spoke to his brethren, the Galatians, the words he would have us remember afterward in each of the years of his Lord:
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
This editorial was written in 1949 by the late Vermont Royster and has been published annually since.
Ever wonder what one of the most well-known stories of the Christmas season would look like if translated into legalese? Well look no further! You can view the original here. Mr. Lloyd Duhame is a lawyer out in Victoria, B.C. and is one seriously funny dude. His website is a must-see for all lawyers, paralegals (to be) and others working and living in the legal field.
Johnny Cash
Thinking is an art form, just like Rodin's well known piece of sculpture. In like fashion, a flash of inspiration hits me and seeing as I have time, I decided to attend forthwith my train of thought and write it down for posterity's sake.
The Trouble with Humanism and Morality
I have a quarrel with those who reject Christ yet still claim a high moral ground. I have no problem conceding the obvious: That it is possible to be in a state of unbelief and yet still be a moral person. There are many Atheists/Muslims/Pagans/Hindus/Sikhs etc. in Canadian society that would be regarded as 'moral' persons by average secular standards. So yes, both a Christian and a non-Christian can be moral. The question then becomes: Who will be more faithful over the long haul in their morality and ethical conduct?
The Limits of Earthly Sanctions
We intrinsically know that certain things are wrong. Our parents instructed us so when we were little. We regard others who likewise hold to the same common beliefs in a positive light. For those of us in the legal field, we familiarize ourselves with the laws that govern Canadian society. We are warned not to break the law or to engage in unacceptable behavior. Once those moral boundaries are breached, certain penalties or sanctions will be levied against us. Seems fair enough to the rational and reasonable person. But what of the classic case where temptation comes along (which invariably catches us in a position of weakness) and we have every reason to believe that any sanction(s) has been momentarily lifted. What do we do then?
Is a Cost/Benefit Analysis Sufficient?
Can a moral society which believes in the rule of law prescribe acceptable behaviors to its citizens and regard that on its face to be wholly sufficient? Would it be enough to ask those committing unlawful acts to give pause because of public moral sentiments? In a business setting, decisions are made based on the cost involved and the benefit that will be the reward. Profit is the key motivation for that businessperson in their decision-making process. Taking care of the bottom line is indeed critical. However, can the same approach be used for the individual in all cases? That is do we refrain from 'bad things' merely due to cost considerations and carry out 'good things' because of the benefits it confers?
The Superficiality of such an Assumption
Here lies the problem of such thinking. On the face of it, we engage in approved behavior because we fear being ostracized. We do good in order to gain the advantage over others (a sort of 'pay it forward' tribalism) in order to 'cash in' the favor at a later date. The 'good' that we do for the most part is based on self interest and is rather narrow in its scope and effect. This is precisely where the humanist model falls apart. There has to be something substantive in our morality that guides us in our everyday lives.
God and Man
Here we enter the crux of the argument. Morality that is divorced from God is a cynical and cruel one. A God-fearing Christian will not cause harm simply because statutory and common law forbids it. He will faithfully seek out goodness because he knows who he is ultimately accountable to. The impetus towards godliness and the desire to uphold the law is significantly higher for those who believe in a just and holy God. That is why such criminal acts as murder are seen in a particularly harsh light. The taking of life is not the problem per se. After all, we routinely slaughter livestock and think nothing of it. No, the murder of a person is special, because of the unique relationship that God has with Man. Plants and animals were created 'according to their kinds' but in the unique case of Man it is God who makes him in His image and gives him special custodial privileges over His creation. If there is no God (and therefore no superior relationship with Man to speak of) than Man becomes nothing more than a clever ape.
Man Apart From God is a Sorry Lot
So what do the ungodly do with these 'clever apes' who do not wish to conform? The totalitarian impulse to 'wipe them off the face of the earth' has never really left us. A godless man might be moral, but he will not stay moral for long if sanctions are removed. A Christian nation such as Germany learned the hard way when it chose the promises of a false messiah over God's unfailing love. Even in hard times, God is still with us. A sobering thought for those who wish to embrace morality apart from divine guidance.
Johnny Cash
Not all churches have gone by the wayside. Sadly, many have - both Catholic and Protestant alike. You can basically boil it down to three main points. First, sound Biblical doctrine is abandoned. Second, the false church will emphasize sensuality and our experience as a means to reach God. Lastly, the move towards ecumenism and a one-world religion. Watch this six-minute video and/or read the points below for yourself.
Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
(Daniel 12:10)
My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. "Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children. The more the priests increased, the more they sinned against me; they exchanged their Glory for something disgraceful. They feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness.
(Hosea 4:6-8)
With all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. For this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
(2 Thessalonians 2:10-12)
I'm sure you've heard this one before: If a tree falls in a forest and no-one hears it, does it still make a sound? Before you attempt an answer let me ask you something similar: If you tell the truth and no-one listens, did you still tell the truth? The answer is YES!
So You Wanna Be a Prophet?
I should caution you that the conditions of the job are bad and the pay is worse. The upside is spending eternity with God in glory. Still interested? Unsurprisingly, many turn away from such an opportunity when they hear of the personal sacrifices that need to be made.
Why We MUST Tell Others of God's Impending Judgement (And The Stony Silence That Usually Follows)
You must understand you'll never win a popularity contest at home, at work or in the blogosphere if you preach the message faithfully. Sin, hell and judgement are not popular topics of conversation at the dinner table. A wall of silence and hostility is often the net result of those who speak lovingly of God's hatred of sin and unbelief. If you want to preach it realize this world will turn you into the villain. 'It's doom and gloom!'. 'It's a negative message!'. 'Why do you want to see the world destroyed?' 'Why the hateful message?'. And so on and so on. You become the bad guy because you don't buy into the secular propaganda about 'saving the world'.
The Call To Repentance and the Humanist Response
So you preach the message of divine judgement falling on this world and what do you get? Right off the top, a wide majority will disregard your warning. A hurricane is headed this way but seeing as it's pleasant outside, why bother. The hurricane comes and by the time they realize their fatal error it's too late. Then there's a second group who do listen but take half-measures. A five foot dike isn't going to do the trick against a ten foot storm surge. The third group represents the minority that do take the appropriate measures and are fully prepared against the storm's onslaught.
So it is with us. Look, all God wants is for you to repent of your sins. We look at the bloody cross and the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf. We believe and then we repent. The first group are those mockers and scoffers who willfully disregard any warnings. 'Life is good' they say. 'No need to repent!'.
The second group isn't much better. They take modest precautions but usually adopt a laissez-faire approach. These are the technophiles who believe that science and technology will save us. They share the same attitude as the rest of the godless utopians who've put their faith in practical atheism and fortune cookie philosophy. Others place their hope on Man (such as President Obama) or other flawed institutions (United Nations) to rescue them.
The third group are those serious-minded folk who truly understand the situation. They don't disregard the warning nor do they place their hope on Man's abilities. Their rock and their foundation is Christ. Eternity is theirs!
The Illusion of a New World Order
I truly believe a renaissance can be had if we repent first. Think of all the racial strife. Think of the war between men and women. Then think of the generational gap. The only thing that can bring peace to mankind is a return to Godly obedience. All attempts at creating a NWO has failed because it has forgotten to put Biblical knowledge at the center. The priests that Hosea speaks of are still with us today. These so-called progressives have appealed to the flesh (meaning our pride) and have sold us a raw bill of goods. Do not think Barack Obama is going to save us. On the contrary, the increasing move towards godlessness will only accelerate God's plan for dealing with an unbelieving world.
If you have not done so, please get saved today. The wicked do not understand but the wise will understand. The wisdom that Daniel speaks of comes from above, not from our experience and human emotion. Have you embraced this yet? This is the hour of your salvation!
Johnny Cash
A quick note here. My brief experiment with Google ads is over. A total of 2 clicks for a total of 31 cents tells me all I need to know. Also, thanks to Fred from Tampa for your most recent comment. You sir are a tremendous source of encouragement!
So many in the secular world use this well-worn expression yet few know of its Biblical origins. The episode of 'The Writing on the Wall' is found in the Book of Daniel, chapter five. For your own edification, I urge you to read the chapter in its entirety. Here's a brief summary.
At the beginning of the chapter, King Belshazzar is having a party using the silver and gold goblets used in the Temple in Jerusalem. At this point, the king receives a terrible fright:
Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way.
(Daniel 5:5-6)
From verse 7 to 24, Daniel the prophet is summoned to interpret the message before the king. Daniel's fateful (and fatal) message to Belshazzar follows:
"This is the inscription that was written: Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin" "This is what these words mean: Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."
(Daniel 5:25-28)
After Daniel receives some lovely parting gifts (v. 29), Belshazzar gets his due:
That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.
(Daniel 5:30-31)
Numbered, numbered, weighed and divided. That was Belshazzar's lot. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a just and holy God.
Johnny Cash
Please don't try to eat this cake. The X-Def assumes no responsibility if you damage your computer!
The actual anniversary falls on the 12th but I've decided to start celebrating now. Yessir, the X-Def is now three years old. On to year four!
What's My Motivation After All These Years?
Whenever a milestone is reached, we often look back so we can look forward. I have four main directives which seem more pertinent now then what they were three years ago.
Proclaiming the Good News
This has and always will be the number one priority of the Christian Defender. Just think of the impact that Paul, Barnabas and all the other saints would've had if they had access to the world-wide web! Or imagine if Paul had the use of a simple bicycle? I ponder how many with an internet connection who could've made an eternal impact for the Kingdom of God but chose the easy way instead. Proclaiming the Good News comes with a price, usually a heavy one. Reaching out to the lost while under duress is certainly not for the faint of heart.
The 2 I's: Israel and Islam
One is to be supported and the other is to be shamed into oblivion. So while the world supports Islam and shames Israel, I'm proud to do the exact opposite. The battle between Hamas and the Israeli military in Operation Cast Lead may be over, but the battle over the existence of the Jewish state still continues. Despite all the caterwauling about the 'occupation' (Note to anti-semites and pseudo-academics: Israel left Gaza in 2005), the simple fact is Hamas is much more brutal towards the Palestinian people on a good day then Israeli forces will ever be on a bad day.
Secularists Behaving Badly
Which brings me to the fourth pillar of the X-Def: The ongoing culture war to pulverize Judeo-Christian civilization. President Barack Obama's (pro-choice and Marxist) politics will accelerate America's decline as a world power. Bad science, a left-wing elitist media and the normalization of evil are surely the birthpangs of the last days of this church age. We don't tolerate evil, we prefer its company! Is it any wonder that America cannot be found in Bible prophecy?
Giving Thanks To All Those Who've Supported Me
That includes all my detractors (whom will continue to go unmentioned). Any hate mail I receive simply confirms again and again my eternal destiny. The world is truly in the lap of the wicked one. Thanks for reminding me I'm one of Satan's enemies! My thanks also goes out to those fellow Christian bloggers who are courageously challenging this sensual thinking. Lastly, thanks to all those who've happened to stumble across my humble little blog. Only God knows what the eternal impact will be for all my hours of work. Whether you're a one-time viewer or a regular or a friend or an enemy, I feel nothing but gratitude and encouragement for all your visits. May God continue to bless this blog for the purpose of His glory!
Johnny Cash
The Englishman Pat Condell is at it again, offering his insight as to what's happening in the Netherlands - and by natural extension, the West. He's right of course, which is why we should all be listening. The PC scaredy-cats are rolling over on their backs in a disgusting display of dhimmitude. Please pray for Mr. Wilders and the Netherlands. Looks like they're going to need it!
Johnny Cash
As promised I will give my insight into what happened in 2008 and what that will mean in the upcoming year.
First and Foremost
I hope everybody survived the holiday season. Christmas is not unlike a roller coaster: A long wait leading to an exhilarated rush followed by an overwhelming desire to get off the second it ends. January is a time when many couples call it quits, whether they be married or unmarried. Nobody wants to be the Grinch by pulling the plug just before Christmas and New Year. Hence the reason why many delay the inevitable until January.
Man of the Year: Barack Obama
Of this there is little doubt. Although Michael Phelps had an unprecedented eight gold medals and the lovely Sarah (You betcha!) Palin made quite the impression, it is clear that President-Elect Obama is the man for 2008. Once President Obama assumes office, harsh realities will be front and centre. When looking at President Bush, it's clear that the office of POTUS ages a man like gasoline on fire. Mr. Obama is still a young man but even after four years (never mind the distinct possibility of eight), he will have a few grey hairs to show for it. Four years in the White House ages a man by at least a decade.
Musings on Democracy and the American Republic
Democracy is tyranny. How many of us know this rather salient political point? If 'rights' can be invented or nullified (and therefore abused) by a mere majority vote, how can that not be tyranny? Democracy was never meant to be an absolute, hence the reason why government powers must be curtailed. I think the Americans got it right. If more and more power is concentrated into fewer and fewer hands, liberty becomes endangered. Winston Churchill, never a shy man when it came to the art of bloviating, said it best:
It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried (from time to time).
What Mr. Churchill was eluding to was the tendency towards dictatorship and as an indictment of Man's corrupt nature. It was never meant as a green light for the rich and the powerful to undermine a republic if that republic (meaning her government and her people) stands in the way of their internationalist ambitions. What I fear - with the liberal media being the chief enablers - is that's exactly what's going to happen. Many will interpret an Obama victory as a blank cheque to re-engineer America into their own humanistic and global worldview. A kind of secular-progressive jihad will be waged against America's Christian roots, a battle which will tear the world's most freest sovereign republic to shreds.
Peace In Our Time (Yes We Can? No We Can't!)
Gaza and Israel are once more in the crosshairs of the diplomatic world. The Palestinians in Gaza WERE given their land in 2005 and have been nothing but a constant thorn in Israel's side since. The godless Left, who never met a dictatorship they didn't like, has come roaring to the rescue. Not to the Israelis of course, but to the likes of Hamas! None of which surprises to those who keep a tab on the Left's movements.
This is an ongoing regional conflict in the Holy Land. We must remember however the danger is one of escalation. So long as the superpowers stay out it will remain a regional conflict. I've argued before that the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is largely a static one. Neither side is capable of victory because of their overarching tactical familiarity with one another. There's no reason to believe this most recent military incursion by the IDF is going to any different. This is going to continue for some time minus the happy ending.
The End of History (The Marxist Dream That Will Not Die)
History will end all right. Just not in the way that people expect. Marx taught that capitalism will fade away to be replaced by a socialist new world order. The problem is it's not going to happen. The rise of globalism shows that capitalism is waxing, not waning. The Bible does not teach that things are going to get better, but rather the reverse:
For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.
(1 Thessalonians 5:2-5)
'The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night'. That ought to send a jolt of lightning to every liberal supporter. The expectation that history will come to an abrupt end the second Bush 43 leaves office is but pure fantasy. Not only will it not end, there's every reason to believe it will accelerate like never before. 2009 will be a year of destiny for Bible prophecy to converge on a mass scale. The theme for this year? FULL STEAM AHEAD!
Johnny Cash
Below is the very lovely Keira Knightly as Elizabeth Swann in 'Pirates of the Caribbean'.
If there's one thing I've learnt in my Christian walk is not to be afraid of either personal or geopolitical events taking place. God is in control, and He uses all things for His glory. The same God who places a righteous man in office is the same God who installs tyrants. I like to call it 'the mystery of history'. I've noticed recently the irreversible and accelerating slide towards the end of the age. I'd still feel the same way even if John McCain were elected president. All that would've achieved is to buy us some time. Yet the end result would still be the same.
There's Nothing To Fear But Fear Itself!
It's not Obama that concerns me, it's his followers. As I see it, the system guarantees disappointment. Many black Christian supporters will be less than enthralled as gay marriage moves to the front pages. The possibility of American military action against Somali pirates will cause black Christians grief as well. The pacifists will be horrified as American troops move from Iraq into the quagmire that is Afghanistan. Christian Zionists who voted Democrat will see more nonsensical 'Land for Peace' deals placing Israel in greater peril. Will Obama secure America's southern flank, disappointing the Latino vote? To hear from all these Kool-Aid Utopians, on January 20, 2009, America will be delivered from the Devil himself. On the contrary, it will be more like going from the proverbial frying pan into the fire.
America is a Mess (and there's little we can do about it)
If America cannot be found in Bible prophecy, what does that tell us? A nation that consumes more than it exports and whose citizens save nothing are destined for rocky shoals. I want to be clear on this. I don't wish to drag the new guy down. But there are some hard realities that need to be faced. The standard by where we are headed must be God's Word. It is considered an absolute amongst humanists that we can (if only we truly believe!), pull ourselves out of this mess through our own man-centered efforts. Yet the Bible paints a much darker picture:
At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
(Matthew 24:10-13)
I think its one of the greatest lies ever conceived. If all the 'isms' of the world have not brought us peace, why should we expect anything different? It's the very definition of madness: Doing the same thing over and over again hoping for a different result. I think the very reason why the humanist school of thought is so seductive is because of our pride.
Man's Most Prized Possession Is.....
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
(2 Timothy 4:3-4)
His overwhelming sense of self-importance. And what are the people's treasure? Their biases, their assumptions, their cultural norms and of course, their sensuality and common sense. None of it does us a bit of good if it keeps us from God. Ignorance and apathy is our lot. Civilization is walking the plank and few seem to notice or care.
A Surefire Antidote: Faith and Courage
If trials are to come upon us, what tools do we have at our disposal? The courage to believe in a living God will surely be our most effective testimony. I think many Christians will rue the fact that they failed to capitalize on this unique time in history. Should we become disconsolate and afraid? No, we must not be afraid. We should stand for what we believe in, no matter what the cost.
Johnny Cash
As it was in King Solomon's day, the same can be said today:
What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.
Is there anything of which one can say,
"Look! This is something new"?
It was here already, long ago;
it was here before our time.
(Ecclesiastes 1:9-10)
What the Election of Barack Obama Really Means
To me, it didn't really matter all that much. I was so overcome with emotion that I yawned, turned off the TV and went to bed, secure in the knowledge that the sun would rise again. As a Canadian-born white guy with a proud English heritage, I can tell you I was pretty much underwhelmed. But I think it's important to realize how much it meant to blacks. The election of BHO wasn't merely a changing of the guard, it was seen as a revolutionary act. Like I said, I tend to be a bit jaded by all this. But I do think it's very important that whites don't act dismissively. I believe the racial divide in America is alive and well, despite the fresh blood being injected into the body politic. Whites refuse to acknowledge the harm they've done and many blacks still carry a torch for slavery reparations. If someone wrongs you, repents and asks for forgiveness and is refused, what's a man to do? Jesus said you should grant and seek forgiveness before making sacrifices at the temple. In other words, confess all your sins and pray one for another. How simple. How beautiful. Yet this prescription will never be filled, leaving me pessimistic about future race relations.
Some Perspective Please!
I loved this Wesley Pruden comment from the Washington Times:
This election will be remembered as the campaign that ignited a religious revival. Never have so many atheists, skeptics, agnostics, secularists, heretics, freethinkers and rationalists hit the sawdust trail to imbibe so much on blind faith, and to make it their religion. Eat your heart out, Billy Graham.
That's the great thing about politics. You will never suffer for lack of material. Or people to mock and ridicule. Again, as with my previous post, none of this is meant as a personal attack against those who voted for the man. Far from it. On the contrary, I wish to engage those who take a more 'progressive' (read: socialist) view of things. I don't want to alienate anyone. But I do want to show the secularists the error of their ways. Let's be crystal clear on this: The secularists would love nothing more than to banish us evangelicals to some distant land, never to be heard from again. I believe this anti-God worldview is going to dominate like never before.
A Checklist Every President Should Adhere To
I wish nothing but the best for the new president. The foreign policy challenges are immense, but not impossible to overcome. Let's start with Israel. Despite the urgings of the Left, do not under any circumstances divide Israel's land. Ariel Sharon paid for giving away Gush Katif (Gaza) with an incapacitating stroke. I fear worse things will happen to Obama if he tries to negotiate away Judea and Samaria (the West Bank). Israel has many enemies, Russia being chief amongst them. Recent moves in Libya confirm this. Do not be afraid to confront them and call their bluff if necessary.
Restore consumer confidence. Easier said than done I know, but this will make the difference from being a one-term president to a two-term one. A far-left policy of 'economic justice' would put America into a depression, never mind a recession. Re-engineering a free and open society is the last thing you should attempt.
Lastly, respect God's laws. A nation that willfully disobeys His ways is a nation that is destined for destruction. You serve a God for His purpose and at His pleasure. The God that delivered you victory on election night is the same one who can bring you down to defeat. President Obama, you are both a husband and a father. Don't place marriage and family on the altar of expediency in order to prove some obscure point.
Johnny Cash
Well, I managed to survive my move over the weekend. Six full truckloads over three days just about killed me. Glad it's over though. The X-Def lives on!
Barack Obama as President
Get used to it for at least the next four years. Possibly eight. Yikes! Here's what I think what happened over the past two years. John McCain lost this election not because he wasn't suitable or ready, but due to hubris. He's basically running as a member of Dubya's Republicans as opposed to running on his own name. The GOP ran out of luck and out of time to correct their mistakes. To be sure, many of the wounds inflicted were of the self-inflicted variety.
The 2003 War In Iraq
Irrational exuberance combined with underestimating the resolve of the enemy guaranteed that no lightning victory would occur. The Bush doctrine, which put forth the idea that free and democratic countries don't start wars, was correct on the strategic level. Lack of discernment hobbled the Iraq and Afghanistan efforts from the start.
McCain's Sisyphean Struggle
Sisyphus was the poor sod doomed to roll a massive rock uphill everyday for eternity. The media was in Obama's pocket from the get-go. Hard to get your message out when no-one wants to co-operate. To be sure, media liberals outnumbered conservative thinkers even in Reagan's day. Still, the Great Communicator managed and led. I think however that Reagan's America is vastly different than the one Bush 43 presided over. Prayer and attending church on Sundays were a given. Today, when a believer mentions God people look at them like they talk to an invisible man in the sky. Marriage was always between a man and a woman. Life began at conception and that was that. Sure there was sin in America in Reagan's day. But we didn't advertise and brag about it, did we? It isn't the demographic shift that should worry us, it's the moral shift away from Biblical values that will pose problems for America.
Swimming with Sharks
What's next? The next president faces immense challenges. Will Russia, with its increasing move towards sovietism, make a move? How about Iran? So many questions. I have a feeling that we'll soon find out. President Obama will be tested, let there be no doubt about that. In the meantime, do pray over President Obama. He'll need God's protection and all of His wisdom to guide a very difficult and complex country.
God Bless America!
Johnny Cash
"Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants."
- William Penn
There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
- Psalm 33:16-18
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. - Psalm 20:7
See full article here for the above quotes.
'There are some men out there who simply want to watch the world burn.'
So says Alfred (Michael Caine) to Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) in 'The Dark Knight'. Alfred relates a story about a jewel thief in the Burmese jungle. Later in the movie, Bruce asks if they ever caught him. Alfred answers in the affirmative saying, 'We burnt down the forest'. Certainly a high price to pay to catch just one man.
What Truly Divides Us Then?
Let me articulate what many are thinking today: The lunatics are running the asylum. I'm talking about the paranoid and the conspiracy whisperers who see all manner of enemies, both real and imagined. As it turns out, we don't have to look far to find these strange individuals.
The Battle for Young Hearts and Minds in the Classroom
From another K-House article:
In Louisiana this week, Governor Bobby Jindal has opened himself to a whole hurrah of criticism from the liberal community because he has signed into a law a state bill that basically allows academic freedom when it comes to controversial subjects like evolution or global warming. The law does not mandate the teaching of anything. It merely allows teachers to teach the controversies, a long as they do so objectively without an attempt to promote religious doctrine.
As John G. West recently noted on National Review Online,
"Opponents allege that the Louisiana Science Education Act is 'anti-science.' In reality, the opposition’s efforts to silence anyone who disagrees with them is the true affront to scientific inquiry. Students need to know about the current scientific consensus on a given issue, but they also need to be able to evaluate critically the evidence on which that consensus rests. They need to learn about competing interpretations of the evidence offered by scientists, as well as anomalies that aren’t well explained by existing theories."
Free and critical thought in our schools? Wow, what a radical idea! If this revolutionary idea actually catches on, more than a few university professors might be out of work!
The Battle for Young Hearts and Minds in the Classroom: Part II
The Rise of Anti-Semitism in Our Universities
There is indeed rot in our Canadian universities. I consider myself fortunate that I graduated McMaster well before 9/11. The efforts on campus to delegitimize Israel and blame America for those fateful attacks have no doubt skyrocketed since I left. If there's one thing I've learned about anti-semites is this: Not reason, not logic, not even the lessons of history can budge an anti-semite from his paranoid, conspiratorial mind-set. Jew-hatred is implacable. There cannot be peace between those that love God's chosen people and those that wish their destruction.
The 'I Hate Bush' Agenda: The Disturbing Fanaticism of the New Left
In a recent FPM article, the battle to profile terrorists in order to save American lives is one we should all support. Yet, even an attempt to try a more watered-down approach is met with hostility and threats of litigation from the usual suspects (CAIR, ACLU). I can sort of understand their point. Profiling can be abused and given to excess. I think the real reason for opposing the profiling of terrorists has more to do with left-wing fanaticism. The assumption of a 'vast, right-wing conspiracy' led by the President is a pet theory the leftists are loathe to surrender. As with the evolutionists and the anti-semites, any attempts at reason and logic is met with a brick wall of denial and a closed mind.
Of This I Am Convinced
Though we may suffer for the cause of Christ, I am convinced of the need of those who need God's healing touch. Their struggle may not neccessarily a physical one, it is a struggle that causes lack of discernment. It is God and God alone that gives us true wisdom. Therefore let us not hate our enemies; let us pray for them instead. In the meantime, we need to hold fast and continue to look up for our redemption.
Johnny Cash
After Jesus told Nicodemus 'For God so loved the world .....', He gave us this warning about those who choose darkness over the light:
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
(John 3:19-21)
Saving the World Can Be Hazardous to Your Health
Have you heard of this 'one world' movement? You know what I'm talking about: That annoying touchy-feely Hollywood PC that has all the charm and romance of a malignant brain tumor. Were it not for such conservative thinkers such as Pat Buchanan, this type of doe-eyed pacifism would destroy us.
All Is One, Dammit!
All is indeed one - except for those who see this sham for what it truly is. Do you want to know the greatest lie out there today? It goes something like this:
Truth divides and causes problems (true). Therefore, eliminate truth (and all those who speak it) and all our divisions and problems will cease (false).
To the short-sighted and foolish this logic makes sense. But like all good lies, it must have an element of truth in order for it to be believed. 'Let us rid ourselves of these truthmongers', the elites tell us, 'and then shall we have our godless utopia!'. Know what I call that? A death wish. Here in point form is my refutation of that silly lie:
There is no unity apart from truth.
Truth is not some inanimate object that we play with for a while and afterwards throw it away when we get bored.
Truth is a person whom we know as Jesus Christ. Jesus is the visible, undeniable and physical manifestation of truth. Therefore whoever rejects Christ rejects truth also. Hence, there will never be unity in a Christ-rejecting world.
Truth is both timeless and universal. All the time, everywhere! What a concept! Like it or not religion matters, be it in church, business or in nation-wide elections. Despite all the secularists' best efforts, people are still defending the cause of Christ.
There is no 'Whatever, whatever, whatever' when it comes to truth. Either something is or it is not. If it be true then we must seize it. If it is false it must be vigorously opposed. So yes, truth does divide. Who says that's necessarily a bad thing? What's wrong with making the right kind of enemies? What's wrong with striking fear into the hearts of those who wish to eliminate our God-given freedoms? There's nothing wrong with it!
Calling out our Enemies: Islam, the Loony Left and the Law
As I see it, we have a choice. We can fight in the darkness and lose. Or we can fight in the light and achieve victory. There cannot, nor will there ever be, peace, justice and unity apart from victory. For it is only in the crucible of victory that freedom is upheld.
Recently in Canada and in Europe, it is obvious where the real allegiances of our courts lie. The term 'legal jihad' has greater swath than ever before. Our dhimmi courts have abandoned our Judeo-Christian traditions and have sided with the enemy.
Does the term 'amoral sociopath' mean anything to these MoveOn.org types? Bill O'Reilly exposes an outlandish ad launched recently smearing Republican candidate John McCain. The concept of 'shame' and 'accuracy in journalism' is forever lost to them.
Were they just plain annoying (not to mention rude and abrasive), we could ignore the Left completely. But as observers of both Islam and the Left, it is clear that an 'Unholy Alliance' of sorts has arisen. In this Daniel Pipes article, a particular paragraph for me stood out:
Throughout his life, Michel Foucault's concept of authenticity meant looking at situations where people lived dangerously and flirted with death, the site where creativity originated. In the tradition of Friedrich Nietzsche and Georges Bataille, Foucault had embraced the artist who pushed the limits of rationality and he wrote with great passion in defense of irrationalities that broke new boundaries. In 1978, Foucault found such transgressive powers in the revolutionary figure of Ayatollah Khomeini and the millions who risked death as they followed him in the course of the Revolution. He knew that such "limit" experiences could lead to new forms of creativity and he passionately threw in his support.
Great passion in the defence of irrationalities? No wonder these socialists scare us!
The Forces of Light: The (Hidden) Army of Jesus Christ
Gospel for Asia missionary Layak Kamol risks his life every time he walks to church and back. Anti-Christian fanatics have threatened him numerous times that they will kill him because he continues to share Christ in Chhattisgarh, India. On June 29, they did more than threaten.
You can read the rest here.
Jesus said to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26)
Do you believe?
Johnny Cash
With this being Father's Day, it seemed appropriate to have a Father theme mixed in with my usual banter.
My Parents
I'm extremely fortunate to have two loving parents. As they've now become grandparents to my two nephews I have to treasure each moment that I have with them. As I'm out of the house, I only see them once a week for 2-3 hours at a time. As for my Mom, motherhood is an unassailable institution and she is no exception.
My Dad I could right volumes about. I don't think I would be the man that I am today without him. Even as he approaches his 70th birthday (as of 2011) my father isn't just my Dad, I consider him my friend. I doubt many individuals can say the same. I shudder at the idea when he will be no longer with me but I know that day will come. Not for my sake, but for my mother's sake. They enjoy their empty-nest lifestyle and I hope it lasts as long as possible.
Fatherhood: The Ultimate Example of Masculine Leadership
So what did my sister and I do to deserve a loving and safe childhood? As I grew in wisdom I realized but for the sheer grace of God I was lucky that I had such a blessed upbringing. That and nothing else. Others, through no fault of their own, aren't so lucky or blessed. Did they do anything wrong to deserve such an upbringing? No. Our earthly dads are mortal. They make mistakes, some humorous and some more serious. Sometimes they aren't always there when you need them the most. Never once did I feel neglected by my Dad despite his often gruelling work schedule.
Which leads me to one of my first major points about fatherhood. There is nothing more devastating to a child than having a negligent (or non-existent) father. Many violent criminal males in our justice system had fathers who were absent, abusive (to the mother and/or the kids) and/or were emotionally unresponsive.
Secondly, females growing up with absent dads carry through their adult lives a sense of abandonment. A high-risk lifestyle, including promiscuity, is often chosen to 'make up' for that male attention that she so lacked.
I think God has a special place reserved for stepdads. Being the biological father of a son or daughter is tough enough, for a stepdad it's twice the work.
Make no mistake, having a strong and consistent masculine presence makes the world of a difference to a young person. When ideology is placed ahead of the natural bond between husband and wife and between parent and child everyone suffers.
The Sanctity of Sodomy?? I Don't Think So!!
Ready for some bona fide hatemongering? Here goes: I believe that marriage solely consists of a union between one man and one woman. That's it. I take serious issue with the 'reimagining' of marriage as some warped liberal 'ideal' or 'alternative lifestyle'. Here now are three major objections I have to gay marriage.
First, let it be said that every single time a referendum is put forth to its citizens, it's consistently voted down. So what do these gay activists do? They go to the courts to have a majority decision overturned. Now I have no problem with gays or anybody else hiring lawyers to petition the courts. It's a free country and they have every right to do so. What gets my dander up is the profoundly anti-democratic nature of these proceedings. Nobody is being deprived of their rights here. An adult male can marry an adult female so long as he has her consent. What's the problem here? Why this need by an activist court to circumvent and undercut clear majority decisions as it pertains to family law?
Here's my second point. If two men or two women are to be regarded as 'married', what next? Polygamy? Incest? Bestiality? Polyamory? Pedophilia? Inanimate Objects? Rights is rights, right? Once the golden standard of marriage is abandoned, a Pandora's box is opened and all manner of unintended consequences will naturally follow. Furthermore, it would be next to impossible to make a legal argument barring gay couples from adopting children. Depriving a child of the love of a mother or a father is nothing short of criminal.
Thirdly, all this strikes me as incredibly selfish. 'So long as I get what I want is all that matters' is a theme I hear time and time again from these liberals. Does the ends truly justify the means here? Be it sexual attitudes or something else, why this narcissistic need to offend others so as to appear 'cutting-edge' or 'avant-garde'? To earn the applause of Man is to earn the condemnation of God. The false god of ego, 'Me first, all the time, right now', is one that dominates the secular-progressive worldview. Leading a selfish life is but an empty one.
Good enough for now. Sorry about not posting sooner. Time flies when you're not paying attention.
Johnny Cash
As we close out April of 2008, events south of the border are gathering speed. Hillary has won Pennsylvania thanks to a well-documented Obama gaffe. A gaffe is often described as a public figure who tells us exactly what he/she is really thinking when they believe no-one is listening or paying attention. That got me thinking: Isn't politics supposed to be about building a just society? After all that's why people form political parties and trade unions and such. More importantly, to whom do we give the glory? All of our troubles originate from the fact that Man desires his emancipation from God:
The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters." (Psalm 2:2-3)
Rank disobedience. The grand socialist experiment that excludes the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is one that is founded on sand:
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matthew 7:24-27)
I would go even further. Man's dream of a secular humanist utopia may come close to destroying us. The only thing atheist idealism has ever truly achieved is piles of dead bodies.
Lessons From the Past
Do you think I exaggerate? Why were the German people were so enraptured with Hitler? Why were so many Russian peasants attracted to Lenin's promise of 'Land, Peace, Bread'? There's no way they could've achieved infamy without popular support. It was not until it was too late that it was seen for what it was: A power grab by desperate and unscrupulous men. I want to be clear on this point. Whenever Hitler's name is invoked we find ourselves in a downward spiral. Rational people lose all sense of proportion and the debate goes right into the toilet. However, without Jesus Christ at the center we are merely rebuilding the Tower of Babel.
What Have We Learned?
Absolutely nothing. If truth is deemed purely subjective than so is human history. I find myself going back to this dark period in human history time and again. Yet I see little in the way of breakthrough in trying to change hearts and minds. The point here is not trivial. Obama isn't going to save Western civilization and neither is Hillary. An unbelieving John McCain seems content to hold the fort for another four years assuming he doesn't start another war. The point is moot as Congress holds the real power anyways. Sure, politics can be fun. But do not expect God to honor our false gods as we've done in the past. Jesus must be the first and last - the Alpha and Omega if you will - otherwise we are wasting our time.
A Top-Down Solution Won't Work
The building of a just society starts with the individual on up. Politicians can say all the right things and even believe in what they say, but make no mistake: A top-down humanist solution is profoundly fascist. No wonder I shudder at the thought. Democracy may be a charade, but it's better than any of the other alternatives I've seen.
Johnny Cash
Terrible Times in the Last Days
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
A Nation's Life Cycle
Nations and empires actually do have "life cycles." This has been studied by many historians throughout the years and they all have come to about the same conclusion: a lifetime of about two centuries. And they all seem to go through the same life cycle: "from bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to great courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to complacency; from complacency to apathy; from apathy to dependency; from dependence back again into bondage (Alexander Tyler, 1750)."
And the trend is definitely downward. The article can be found in its entirety here.
Race Relations in 2008
Are we better off now than twenty years ago? There will always be racist and ignorant people out there who will persecute certain racial, ethnic and religious groups without cause. I do not believe however that America (meaning the West) is intrinsically racist. Given that Man's ignorance isn't going away anytime soon, the question becomes 'Do those attitudes represent the fringe or the mainstream?'. In 1911, Booker T. Washington made this statement still eerily relevant today:
"There is (a) class of colored people who make a business of keeping the troubles, the wrongs, and the hardships of the Negro race before the public. Having learned that they are able to make a living out of their troubles, they have grown into the settled habit of advertising their wrongs — partly because they want sympathy and partly because it pays. Some of these people do not want the Negro to lose his grievances, because they do not want to lose their jobs. … There is a certain class of race-problem solvers who don't want the patient to get well, because as long as the disease holds out they have not only an easy means of making a living, but also an easy medium through which to make themselves prominent before the public."
Please read Larry Elder's article in JWR for proper context.
Evolution and Godlessness
Darwinism and Marxism have to be two of the greatest poisons infecting the minds of young people today. Again, I do not profess to be an expert. Heck, I didn't even take biology in university! But I will say this with authority: When God and faith is pushed out, darkness and superstition fill the void. A nation divided (and in rebellion to God's authority) cannot stand. When evolutionists resort to stormtrooper tactics to shut down debates on intelligient design you know you're in trouble. Genuine scientific debate is dead in modern-day acadamia. 'Toe the line or else' is the threat issued to those who dare suggest that God played a role in our creation.
Last Word
Thank you Kathy for your kind correspondance. I've signed your petition and I'm going to ask others to do the same. Life is indeed precious for these little ones.
Johnny Cash
Sorry, couldn't resist. In the wake of Charlton Heston's passing I'm going to dedicate this post to Chuck and to all those who love to eat their young. The soylent green line and the 'Get your hands off me, you damn dirty ape!' has to be two of the most memorable movie lines ever delivered.
The Destruction of Western Civilization From Within
We must remember Jesus' admonition that we must first remove the plank from our own eye before we attempt to remove the splinter in someone else's eye. Self-criticism must therefore precede the sins of others.
Politics: The GOP, Democrats and the Hollywood Left
Nobody escapes unscathed here. George W. Bush is perhaps one of the greatest lame duck presidents that America has had to endure. Bush has achieved the impossible: He has made Bill Clinton (D) look positively benign by comparison. In his article, Pat Buchanan notes:
Since 2001, he (meaning Bush - JC) has presided over the seven largest trade deficits in history, the loss of 3.5 million manufacturing jobs and the collapse of the dollar, and added but one-fifth of the private sector jobs Bill Clinton created. Gold has gone from $260 an ounce to $1,000, oil from $28 a barrel to $100.
With this in mind, shouldn't the Democrats be laughing all the way to the White House? Not so fast! With Barack Obama (the used car salesman of the year for 2008) getting hammered over his dubious association with 'Black Liberation Theology' and Hillary's obsession with power (All hail Queen Julia!) looking eerily similar to Glenn Close in 'Fatal Attraction' it's a wonder that the bitterly divided Democrats will capture any votes at all.
Our Hollywood liberal 'friends'
Does anyone in the entertainment industry know how to be a loyal dissident anymore? And why are Congressmen Jim McDermott (D-WA), David Bonior (D-MI) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) shilling for Saddam Hussein as late as 2002? Useful idiots the lot of them. Uncle Joe would be proud of such simpletons. Such an unholy alliance the Left has with all those America haters.
Israel and the 'Peace Process': No Shortage of Stupid People in the ME
There is nothing more frustrating than watching this debacle unfold before our very eyes. All evidence shows a gathering storm in the ME and that Israel's relations with Syria and Iran are growing increasingly hostile. Abbas is no moderate and Palestinian children are still being indoctrinated with hate (who unsurprisingly grow up to become hateful adults).
Our response? We defer constantly in the vain hope that through appeasement this will all go away. The jihad that America and Israel face is not based on some cultural or religious misunderstanding. It is a fundamental difference in worldview that Islam preaches to its young that creates conflict. War, death and martyrdom become unassailable virtues. There is no 'gap' between the West and the Muslim world. It's more like a bottomless abyss. The sooner our leaders take this to heart the better (and safer) we'll all be.
Abortion: The War Against Women and Children
No other industry exemplifies human sacrifice and the eating of our young better than the abortion racket. In China and India, many fetuses are being aborted simply because they're female. Not due to some physical deformity. Not because of Down's syndrome. Just for being female. Men in China and India have no hope of getting married and starting a family of their own. Now this godless secular-progressive 'ideal' has come to the Western world. As someone who admires feminine beauty I find this repulsive. So too do many other Americans. Where are all the feminists to be found to denunciate this blatant gender discrimination? Nowhere to be found. As usual it is left up to us Judeo-Christian conservative voters to give a voice to the unborn.
Doing It Right
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)
These Nepalese missionaries know what true wealth is. Praise God!
Johnny Cash
