Building A Just Society - Apr 27

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

The Greatest Lie Ever Told - Apr 21

If the greatest truths are about God, it stands to reason that the greatest lies we face also concern God.

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

1Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2"The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

4"Then he sent some more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.'

5"But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

8"Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.' 10So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless.

13"Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

14"For many are invited, but few are chosen."
(Matthew 22:1-14)

Let's see if we can figure out what this parable means.

The King: This one strikes me as obvious. This is God the Father. The son is none other than Jesus Himself.

The Invitees: The high muckity-mucks of this world. The 'beautiful' people if you will. In 21st century terms, they'd be the Hollywood celebrities and the political elite. Sadly, their businesses keep them away from God.

The Servants: This one is the most curious of them all. Three times the King sends forth His servants. These are three seperate and unique groups sent out in chronological order:

Verse 3: Those who served God faithfully prior to His First Advent such as the OT prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah.

Verse 4: God's people, the Jews. Don't you find verse 7 terrifying? Yet that's exactly what happened to Nazi Germany in the waning months of WW II (More specifically, think of the firebombing of Dresden). It was God's plan that it would be the Jewish people who were going to spread the gospel. Satan's great plan therefore is to rid the world of Jews because they delivered the gospel to humanity.

Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed." (Isaiah 61:9)

Verse 8-10: Seeing as European Jewry fared poorly, the third set of servants must be Gentiles. These are your pastors, your Sunday school teachers, and (blush) your faithful Christian bloggers.

The Guests: These lucky guests have chosen to accept Jesus Christ as their saviour. However in verses 11 and 12 the King confronts an usurper. Who is this person who has shown up in his old, shabby clothes?

Many Are Invited But Few Are Chosen

Thus verse 14 closes the parable. But we are still left with the question: What is the greatest lie ever told? It is this: We CANNOT stand before God based on our own righteousness. This is exactly what the usurper finds out when he is dramatically given the heave-ho. On the surface, this seems strange to us. After all, Jesus hung out with prostitutes and tax-collectors. Why is our King so enraged at our usurper not wearing the wedding clothes? It is the sin of pride. Not just any kind of pride mind you, it's religious pride.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)

Not by our own efforts and by our works do we please Him. When we put on the garments of salvation and robes of righteousness it is only then we are allowed to enter into the banquet hall. By believing in the shed blood of Christ alone do we achieve full atonement.

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (Isaiah 64:6)

Johnny Cash

The second part of this post can be found here. Please do give it a read.

Asking God For Silly Things - Apr 13

God does not need to answer a prayer He's already answered. If God says 'Yes' we don't need to 'check in' periodically to see if He has forgotten. It then becomes a question of His timing. This is not a minor theological point. Many a Christian believer has stumbled on this most basic doctrine. Here's but a few examples:

In the beginning was the Word ...

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

God is not unfamiliar with our frailties and infirmities. Jesus felt the cold and the heat. He's felt the pangs of hunger and thirsted for water. He knows intimately all of our unglamorous body functions. He knows what it's like to bleed, suffer and die. We don't need to ask God to come down from His heavenly abode to teach us His ways. He has and we still reject Him today.

Eternal Life

Whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16b)

We don't need to ask God for eternal life over and over again. If we have truly put our faith in Christ our redemption is 100% certain. Once saved, always saved. All of our sins (past, present and future) are forgiven. There's nothing Satan delights in more than planting the seed of doubt as to our heavenly estate. In a world gone mad, our salvation ought to reassure us and give us peace of mind. It shouldn't be a constant source of worry. Even when you have a bad day, God still loves you. Got that?

Victory Over Sin

While we were sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

We don't need to ask God to give us victory over sin. Our victory over sin was achieved at the cross. When we humbly come to Him, our sins are remembered no more.

Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. (1 Cor 15:51-53)

We don't need to ask God for victory over death. When Jesus rose from the dead on that first Easter Sunday he proved His mastery over physical death. In like manner we too shall be raised incorruptible on the Last Day. Like I said, it's simply a question of His timing.

The Millenial Reign: The Golden Age of Humanity

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. (Genesis 2:2-3)

Why do I choose this interesting piece of scripture? What does the creation account have to do with the millenial reign of Christ? Everything as it turns out. Bible prophecy is not one of doom and gloom. It is first and foremost a study of redemption. That is what the sabbath represents. Does God need to 'rest'? No! But we do. The sabbath was made by God for Man, not the other way around.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:8-9)

Jesus Is Coming. Look Busy!

First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." (2 Peter 3:3-4)

Will you perish as Peter warns? Will you be amongst those mockers and scoffers? Human history isn't finished yet. Ours is a story having a distinct ending engineered by God Himself. He has seen the end from the beginning. His victory is complete and certain. Hallelujah!

Johnny Cash

When Nations Die - Apr 10

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

Soylent Green is People! - Apr 7

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

The EU, NATO and Nicolas Sarkozy - Apr 2

French President Nicolas Sarkozy's rise has not gone unnoticed by us Bible scholars particularly as it concerns Europe. Daniel gives us this prophecy of a kingdom that has at least partially arrived:

After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns. (Daniel 7:7)

The move towards greater military integration is the third step that the EU is about to take (the first being economic and the second political). France's move to re-join NATO represents a giant leap forward in end-time prophecy.

Johnny Cash

Nicolas Sarkozy Speaking in London


EU, NATO: Sarkozy's European Defence Plan
April 2, 2008

Summary

French President Nicolas Sarkozy not only wants to return France to NATO’s fold — he also wants to bring the European Union and NATO closer together. His plan for European defense involves close cooperation, rather than competition, between the European Union and NATO. If he can drum up support for his plan at the current NATO summit, Sarkozy will be in a much better position to earn support from EU members during France’s EU presidency in the latter half of 2008.

Analysis

French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s vision for future defense relations between the European Union and NATO has become clearer in recent days. In addition to France’s reintegration as a full member of NATO’s military command (a topic to be discussed at the April 2-4 NATO summit), Sarkozy will seek support, especially from the United Kingdom and United States, for bringing the European Union closer to NATO. He hopes to convert the old dream of an autonomous EU army into a specialized European force operating in tandem with NATO.
In the past, Europe has suffered from two divisive impulses that weakened its collective security. On one hand, European countries recognized the absolute need for protection provided by the United States and its creation, NATO. On the other, many countries felt a desire for self-reliance and freedom from U.S. interests. France, under the leadership of Jacques Chirac, hoped to take advantage of this latter impulse of U.S. resentment by creating the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP), which was to rival NATO as Europe’s defender while serving as an instrument of French power.

Now Sarkozy is redefining Europe’s security and defense strategy in a distinctly post-Gaullist and post-Chirac way.

He first signaled a break from previous French policy when he announced that he would bring France back into NATO as a full member. (France withdrew from the integrated command structure in 1966, though it increased participation under Chirac.) Some NATO members might grumble that France is a Johnny-come-lately, but most will be happy to have France back in the fold.

In addition to rejoining NATO, Sarkozy’s administration has devoted press time to proclaiming France’s partnerships with the United States and United Kingdom as “beacons of freedom” in the world. With Germany’s reunification and resurgence spurring competition, France is attempting to realign its interests with the Anglo-American alliance. Because France is a formidable military power on the Continent, European defense is an area where it can strengthen ties with its Anglo allies while one-upping Germany. Also, by the same means, France can send a clear message to Russia about European self-sufficiency.

But such an alliance means France must revise its concept of European defense. An independent EU army that is both financially sustainable and strategically effective is highly unlikely to develop. The European Union currently sustains troops in Bosnia and Chad and will soon rotate troops into Kosovo to replace U.N. peacekeepers. But these forces have strictly defined missions, little flexibility, minimal rapid deployment capacity and few resources. To build a coherent and enduring fighting force for all of Europe would require funds that no EU member has to spare. And as they stand, few EU armies could make a significant contribution to a pan-European army in terms of materiel and personnel. Of 300,000 troops available from NATO members, 290,000 are already committed. Sarkozy realizes these inherent limitations for the European Union’s defense structure and has therefore conceded that the ESDP cannot — and should not — rival NATO for military dominance.

But Sarkozy expects some returns for his renewed devotion to NATO. After Sarkozy’s recent talks with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, it is clear what Paris wants from London in exchange: British support in transforming the old dream of an independent EU army into a special European component under NATO’s aegis. In particular, France needs British approval to build a European military command headquarters on the Continent.

The advantages of a coordinated EU-NATO defense policy are manifold. First, member states of both organizations would be able to consolidate their military spending. (Only a few members are spending NATO’s recommended minimum 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense.) They would also avoid the costly redundancy of paying for the upkeep of both NATO and the ESDP. Moreover, all parties — even countries such as Turkey, which are involved in NATO but not the European Union — will save money when the European Union and NATO stop intentionally obstructing each other, as when France interfered with NATO’s attempts to acquire transport aircraft, for example.

But the most significant advantage of a closer EU-NATO partnership would come from uniting the European Union’s trade policy and civilian policing capabilities with NATO’s military might. The combined efforts of these two organizations would be considerably more difficult for countries from Sudan to Iran to resist.

As compensation for France’s return to NATO — especially in the interest of building a unified Western power capable of reaching the farthest corners of the globe to intervene economically and militarily — the United States will probably agree to assist Sarkozy in creating a European substructure within NATO.

Inevitably, major budgetary problems will challenge France’s plan for EU defense. But if Sarkozy and his ministers succeed in drumming up support at the ongoing NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania, Paris will be in a much better position to cajole EU members in July, when it takes over the rotating EU presidency. Then Europe can begin bridging the chasm that has divided its defense structures for decades.