Why I Haven't Been Blogging

I’ve been getting emails from my Internet friends and inquiries from those who know me personally asking why I haven’t been blogging lately.

I have compiled a short but incomplete list of reasons.


Kids and grandkids from out of state all at my house during the last few weeks of 2006

Frequent visits to the hospital (Sister battling cancer broke her hip Christmas Eve and is still in the hospital)

Sister’s 11-year old son staying with my husband and I until she is (hopefully) able to come home

Dad’s been out of town so unable to help with nephew (back now though – huntin’ season’s over)

Making daily runs to sister’s house to feed animals, get mail, etc.

Working long hours at the college. I’m the Registrar and Office Manager and we’ve got an estimated enrollment for the January semester of 5000 students

Martial arts twice a week

Church 3 times a week

Praise team practice 2-3 times a week

Bible Class one night a week

Choir practice once a week

Trying to spend quality time with my husband in addition to everything else.


I know God is in control, and is trying to teach me and grow me. I know that this particular period in my life will pass and I will get back to my reading and writing soon.

Thanks to those of you who have asked. I miss you guys. I miss reading your blogs. I miss your comments on mine.

I will be back. Leave the light on for me. Gotta go.


My God is able to deliver me. (Daniel 3:17)

A Liberal Decries the Democrats' Hypocrisy

There an interesting read over at Etherzone.com by freelance writer John Bender, who is no lover of George Bush and has strong liberal leaning tendencies on many issues. Surprisingly, this article comes down hard on the hypocrisy of the Democrats who promise one thing, condemning everything the Bush administration does, but in actuality, they end up just giving us more of the same.

Where have all the true patriots and statesmen gone? I wonder if this wouldn’t work better for us…

1. Clean house. Get rid of every politician in the Congress, Senate, and White House
2. Pass a law that says no one may actively campaign for or seek public office. Anyone seeking to hold a public office is automatically disqualified to serve.
3. Pass a law that says if an individual is voted on by the people to serve in an office, that they mandatorily have to accept the position for a set number of years
4. Let the people choose individuals based on their character and convictions, and demand that they serve (sort of like jury duty).

Crazy? Maybe. But no crazier than what we have now.

Be sure to read the Bender article. It’s sure to raise your dander.

Islamists Stealing Academic Freedom in Canada

Our more liberal neighbor to the north, Canada is experiencing Islamic pains in its colleges and universities. Seems Muslims are slowly taking over the campuses in an effort to further their worldview (further meaning "force").

As usual, intimidation and threats are the modus operandi for these young Muslim adults in their effort to gain more control.

A few highlights from this article:

"the President of the Catholic Student Association discovered that the so-called ‘multi faith room’ was permanently booked by Muslim students. "

At Ryerson University in Toronto, the Hindu Conference of Canada was invited by University groups to speak on "the genocide against Kashmiri Hindus by Pakistani Islamists". Upon which it was reported "Pakistani Student Association executives had received threats by email about the event. Apparently, radical Islamists within the group threatened the PSA leaders for not opposing the ‘biased’ event. Ryerson security was contacted by terrified PSA executives."

"Muslim ‘students’ always seem to find time for Hezbollah rallies and other pro-terrorist demonstrations, leaving one to wonder how they get any time for academic pursuits"

"The halls and classrooms at Ryerson are often decorated with posters denouncing Israel, Islamic icons, and ‘anti- racism’ campaigns invoking ‘Islamophobia’ (as though that were the only form of racism in existence). Jonathon Vandersluis, President of Hillel Jewish group, suggests that Muslims are abusing their power to focus attention only on their issues. "

Islam - the peaceful religion.

Thanks

As the new year begins, I want to say thanks to those of you that take the time to come by and visit from time to time, who take the time to comment, and who encourage and challenge me on occasion. My stat counter tells me I have a good number of repeat visitors, and I'm encouraged that I pick up new repeats each week. Most of you read, but never post a comment - I encourage you to share your thoughts. Sometimes "letting it out" is good for the soul, and sharing makes it easier to endure hardships and concerns. It is encouraging in this day and time to know that there are others out there that do share the same concerns for the world and this country that I do. It is good to know that many brothers and sisters in Christ around the world are aware of the enemy's devices and of his agents who are active (and blatantly so)all around us. We need each other for encouragement, for admonishment, for edification, for prayer support.

I wish you all a blessed and spiritually challenging new year. May God bring you to new levels in your spiritual walk and enable you to become bolder in your faith and stronger in your convictions. Fight the good fight - that you may one day hear those wonderful words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Eternal Security of the Believer

Those of us who believe in the Biblical Doctrine of Eternal Security are sometimes ridiculed for it. On more than one occasion, I've heard, "If I believed that, I'd get saved and then sin all I wanted.". Well, number one, if you have that attitude about sin, you can't get saved in the first place. Number two, if you are truly saved, and then choose willfully to sin, God promises to chasten you. I don't know about others, but I don't want the God of the Universe, the all powerful creator and sustainer of life to get aggravated with me and punish me for being a bad girl! Woe would be me!

So let's take a look at this doctrine more closely.

First, let me say that the Doctrine of Eternal Security of the Believer ONLY applies to TRUE BELIEVERS - those that have put their trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation and have been "born again". The Bible says that not all who claim salvation actually have it. They may "profess" it, but not "possess" it. They may only "say" they have faith (James 2:14). They may really be "tares" among God's wheat (Matthew 13:24-30), they may be "wells without water" (II Peter 2:17) or those who "were not of us" (I John 2:19).

With that in mind, here is what the Bible says about Eternal Security of the TRUE BELIEVER:

A lot of people have trouble with this doctrine, even though it is a Biblical truth. They have bought into Satan's lie that "good people" go to heaven and "bad people" go to hell.

What they don't understand is that God's Word says NONE of us are good.

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:10

"...there is none that doeth good, no, not one." Romans 3:12

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags..." Isaiah 54:6

Like it or not, God's standard of perfection was, is and always will be PERFECTION.

"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:48

We're not perfect BEFORE we get saved, and we won't be perfect AFTER we get saved. That's why Christ died on the cross. Not as a "down payment" to be followed up with our "good works" payments, but as PAYMENT IN FULL.

Both Calvinism and Arminianism teach that only those who persevere will enter heaven. Calvinists teach that only those who persevere were ever really saved.
Arminians teach that those who don't persevere will lose their salvation.

The problem with both of these is that in both cases, MAN has to persevere, which means that works are a part of the equation. But the Bible says that you can't mix works and grace...

"For by grace are ye saved by faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9

"And if by grace, then it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.
But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." Romans 11:6

The definition of grace is "unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification...a virtue coming from God...a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace." If works had anything to do with gaining or maintaining salvation, then grace would have nothing to do with salvation.
To include works as a condition for salvation takes the glory away from what Jesus did on the cross and gives part of it to man.

"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." Galatians 2:21

OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCES REFERRING TO ETERNAL SECURITY (my emphasis in bold)

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. " John 3:16

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life..." John 3:36

"Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life." John 6:47

"I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand." John 10:28

"Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." Romans 5:9-10

" Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works." Romans 4:6

"...the gift of God is eternal life" Romans 6:23

"Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." I Corinthians 1:8

"Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" Galatians 3:3