Lights Out!

“Turn lights off when you leave a room! “

My Dad had a pet peeve about leaving the lights on when no one was in the room. He was paying the electric bill. He had a right.

Now, of course, we have more important reasons to turn off lights than we used to. The very planet we live on may cease to exist if we don’t.

From earthhour.org :

Earth Hour 2008 was a remarkable global event, and in towns and cities across America people "turned out" to lend their voice to the worldwide call for action on climate change.
On March 29th, people everywhere turned off their lights–to make a statement, to help find new ways to reduce their impact on the environment, and to start a movement that ends with a solution to the common challenge we all face.
Millions of Americans–in Chicago, Atlanta, Phoenix, San Francisco and dozens of other communities large and small–joined mayors, citizens' groups, schools and corporations from coast to coast. Around the globe, people on five continents took part, from Albania to Zimbabwe, Bosnia to Uzbekistan, Canada to Uruguay.
Earth Hour broke down boundaries. Never before have people from so many different backgrounds, cultures, and geographies come together to press for urgent change. Never before have governments, NGOs, businesses and average people called upon each other and the world to find a new direction.
That unity inspired millions, and with that same spirit we can move forward to find answers to this most urgent of problems. And the time to begin is now.
Earth Hour 2008 made a difference. Millions of people around the world continuing the commitments we have made–changing our lives and encouraging others to do the same–will change the world.

So, I ask…

Was this done in hospitals? Police stations? Malls? Parking lots? How about Military bases? Grocery stores? Walmarts? Drug Stores? Maybe liquor stores, or the local honky tonk? The White House????

Other questions...

What, exactly, did turning off lights for an hour do to help the environment? According to this article, it made a statement.

What, exactly will these “earth hours’ do? It will change the world.


The ridiculous notion that this “global event” was somehow “remarkable” is laughable. I would like to see proof that anything was accomplished whatsoever, other than a bunch of feel-good liberals who think they need to save “mother earth” got to do something that made them feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

It is estimated that 1.6 billion people live without electricity. Ask them if they’d like the option of turning their lights off.

Makes me wanna sing Kumbaya. Where’s my marshmellows…

To Those Who Antagonize

The last rambling, almost psychotic message from Christslave was the last straw. I have tried to be polite and allow him/her to post comments within reason, but you will not post here anymore.

Sir, or ma'am, I suspect that you are a homosexual who hates Christians and have gone on a personal mission to ridicule, insult and spew hatred toward those who believe in Christ. You are not a happy person, that is clear. I pray your eyes will be open soon to the truth of God's love and forgiveness so that you can find true joy.

A missionary I talked to today had been witnessing to a young man for over 2 years who said he was an atheist. When the missionary tried to talk to the atheist about God, the atheist said he didn't need God - he was extremely happy in life and didn't need all that superstitious nonsense.

Two weeks ago this happy atheist committed suicide.

There is no true joy without Jesus.

Bush and Mexican Murderer vs US Supremes

Whose court is it anyway?

Bush and Mexican murderer vs US Supreme Court.

In 1993 in Houston Texas, a Mexican citizen by the name of Ernesto Medellin was arrested and convicted for the rape and murder of two teenaged girls – Jennifer Ertman, 14, and Elizabeth Pena, 16. Ernesto could speak and write in English. During his arrest, he was given the Miranda rights and he ended up giving the authorities a written confession. He was sentenced to death in 1994 and has been on death row ever since.

In International court, of which the United States has agreed to abide by, said that Ernesto’s rights were violated. It seems that a 1964 “Vienna Convention” ruling says that when people are arrested in another country, they should have access to their home country’s consular officials. The International Court of Justice (as it is called) said that Ernesto and 50 other Mexicans on death row in the United States should be allowed new court hearings to determine whether their violated rights affected the outcomes of their court decisions. Bush came out in support of the Mexican and the World Court.

The US Supreme Court ruled against Bush and Ernesto and other Mexicans on death row and said that neither Texas nor any other state had to abide by the World Court. The outcome of Ernesto’s trial would not have been affected either way.

The word “sovereignty” comes to mind.

The Mexican government stirred this whole thing up in the first place according to the article. Mexico has no death penalty.

It is unclear from the articles I’ve read whether Ernesto and his parents are here in the US legally or not. Regardless, he is considered a citizen of Mexico.

If Mexico doesn’t wants its citizens to face the death penalty for capital crimes then Mexico should keep its citizens home and quit encouraging them to cross the border.

If Mexicans disagree with the death penalty, then they shouldn’t murder and rape on US soil. When in Rome…

Passover and Redemption

Passover.

From Exodus Chapter 12:

“Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb… Your lamb shall be without blemish…

And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses…

For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.”

At Passover, salvation was given in the following way:

A lamb without blemish was sacrificed. But that was not enough for salvation.
The blood of the lamb had to be applied in order to receive salvation.

The blood was applied in a picture of a cross : on each side of the door, and over the door.

Redemption.

Jesus was the Lamb of God. He was without blemish and died as a sacrifice for us.
That in itself is not enough for salvation.
The blood of the Lamb must be applied.
The blood of the Lamb is our only salvation.


From Psalm 22:

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

John 19:30: When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your gift of mercy, your gift of love. Thank you for becoming the perfect sacrifice – the Lamb of God slain for the sake of the whole world, which is at enmity with you. How great a love you’ve shown. I praise You. I worship You. I submit to You as Lord.

Racism

Racism “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race”

In an interview with sports radio 610 WIP in Philly early this morning, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, said "the point I was making was not that my grandmother harbors any racial animosity. She doesn't. But she is a typical white person, who, if she sees somebody on the street that she doesn't know, well there's a reaction that's in our experiences that won't go away and can sometimes come out in the wrong way. And that's just the nature of race in our society. We have to break through it."

We have to break through it.

Break through what? The obvious subject of “it” is the noun “reaction” in the previous sentence.

Let me take you through a few scenarios.

A woman is at a stoplight late at night. She sees a group of black teens wearing vests with no shirts, chains around their necks, hands in pockets, and walking with a strut of defiance she’s seen many times before from both Hollywood movies and real life news stories. They are staring at her and mouthing out loud words that are indistinguishable.

Reaction: push the automatic lock on her car doors and prepare to run through the red light if necessary.

***
In a local discount store, a manager watches a trio of women hovering near the jewelry rack, frequently looking around hurredly , blocking anyone else's view of the rack of jewelry and whispering to each other, all of whom are carrying large knapsacks and wearing clothing with lots of pockets. They do this for 5 minutes or so and then leave the store without purchasing anything.

Reaction: The manager sends security out the door to follow and question the women, suspecting shoplifting.

***
A young man walks into a classroom at a new school and discovers that he is in the minority. As he finds a place to sit, he notices others staring at him, and even whispering to each other as they do so. No one speaks to him, or smiles.

Reaction: He considers dropping the class since he doesn’t need it anyway – he feels very uncomfortable and decides to try another class where the environment will be “friendlier”.

***

As a follow up on the above examples.

In the first example, the woman at the light was black just as the teens were black.

In the second example, the women were white and the manager was black.

In the third example, the young man was black and the class was all white.

******************************************
There is a difference between the word “racism” and, say, extrapolation, inference, prognostication or intuition.

We all react to situations based on many different variables. These can include past experience, knowledge, intuition, emotion, probability, the instinct to survive, and other variables as well.

When put in a situation with a stranger, we react to body language, dress, tone of voice, eye contact, posture, and yes – in some situations, ethnicity. Doing so does not automatically make us racist. The word racist is thrown around too frequently and used as a weapon of coercion by those who seek to force their objectives on others. Being called something does not make it so.

I’ve met many people in my life who would be called racist because of language they use or attitudes they have. But if you sit down and talk with them, you find that the language they use, though possible offensive and inflammatory to some, does not reflect a belief in them that they are better than someone else of another race, but rather reflects an ignorance on their part of the implication of its usage and the effect that the language has on others. You’ll also find that the attitudes they have are based on past experience, fear, and lack of knowledge. They will often have friends of other ethnic groups for whom they would do anything for, call them friends, and would defend them against any who would offend them.

What Racism IS

Racism is spitting in the face of someone for no other reason other than their skin color.

Racism is refusing to associate with anyone who does not have your skin color.

Racism is telling your children they can't be friends with someone simply because of their skin color.

Racism is attributing negative traits to a whole race of people instead of to individuals.

What Racism IS NOT

Racism is not locking your car door when you see a group of people coming toward you that seem menacing.

Racism is not being suspicious.

Racism is not feeling uncomfortable around others who are different.

Racism is not commenting that someone’s race in a particular situation is either an advantage or disadvantage.

The only racist statement in this whole post was in the quote made by Obama.

“But she is a typical white person”

One Word...

Influenza

More on "Ex-Christians"

I had someone post and say that they were an ex-christian, and who spoke what sounded like a gnostic type verbage. Here is an excerpt of what they said:

The main idea here is that the truth in the Bible is veiled in a lie that protects the truth from the wise and learned. I was once a die hard Christian knocking down everyones door in the name of Jesus and took pride in being called narrow minded. So, trust me when I say I have some idea of where your coming from.
The word of God is misleading
It's context is deceiving
but read between the LInES [sic]
and there you'll find the meaning.

I believe you are sincere, but there are one of two things happening here.

#1 You never were born again. You played church, you followed Christ, you spoke Christianeze, and you did and said all the right things - but you were not born again and the Holy Spirit does not live within you.

or

#2 You have gone astray and believe heresy, in which case, you will be convicted by the Holy Spirit, then chastened, and if you still insist on calling God and the Bible a lie, you are in danger of the sin unto death.

You say on your profile: I feel remarkably healed from the wounds of Christianity's bleak viewpoint of the world and all of the fear that's intertwined in it.

I'm truly sorry that you missed the joy and healing that comes from a true Christian worldview. I can only imagine what type of church you were exposed to that left such negative tastes in your psyche. Truly I am.

I did not post your comment in its entirety, because I reviewed your blog and saw that you blasphemed Jesus, so I won't give any indication to my other readers who you are or give any credence to your blog at all.

But I reiterate - you are not an ex-Christian.

Once you've been born, you can't be "unborn".

Should Christians Argue with Non-Believers?

I have spent several days on another blog watching an interaction with a professed atheist and professing Christians. There was a clear divide between those who seemed to be true believers and those that say they are Christian, but don’t follow the Bible. It actually helped reaffirm what Scripture says about all non-believers: those who admit it, and those who say they believe, but are not truly saved.

We as Christians are to be witnesses to the world, and be willing to suffer persecution for our faith. At the same time, it is not we who save anyone – it is God through His Son, Jesus Christ by the conviction of the Holy Spirit. So at a certain point, when witnessing to anyone, we need to back off kindly and move on. We aren’t to argue with a non-believer.

Why shouldn't Christians argue with non-believers?

Here are some things that Scripture says about non believers (which definitely applies to those who say they are Christian, but who are not born again)

They deny the authority of Scripture. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God…” II Timothy 3:16. “Nevertheless what saith the scripture?...” Galatians 4:30. “Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain,…?” James 4:5. They are no different than the serpent in the garden. “Yea, hath God said,…?” Genesis 3:1

They have no desire to witness to the lost. "Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;" Psalm 107:2

Their only desire is to edify (build up) themselves by proving that their way is better than everybody else's.It's not others' souls they are concerned about - it's about being "right". "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Proverbs 16:25.

They follow a false Christ and they are playing church. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." II Timothy 4:3-4

Why shouldn't Christians argue with non-believers?

Because unless God is drawing them, they won't listen to anyone. "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him..." John 6:44

They are lost, just as the atheist is lost. "For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me." Isaiah 47:10

Scripture tells us we're not to argue with people like this. "Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers." II Timothy 2:14

These are the tares among God's wheat. "Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn." Matthew 13:30

If you are frustrated because you are witnessing to one who is lost, and you feel you’ve exhausted all your efforts and they still deny the truth, God says you should back off and go your way. “And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.” Luke 9:5

Put them in God’s hands. “Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.” Psalm 35:1. God can deal with them much better than you can.

Jesus himself did not argue (strive, i.e: Greek “erizo”, meaning to wrangle, engage in strife). “He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.” Matthew 12:19. So neither should we.

Does that mean we should never discuss our faith with non-believers, or answer questions that they may have, or even give evidence of why they too should become Christians? Not at all. "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" I Peter 3:15.

Keep this rule in mind when witnessing. Let this sink in, because it is extremely important.

If the person you are trying to witness to has no questions, and only answers - you are wasting your time. They are not being drawn by the Holy Spirit.

Good, well meaning Christians can disagree on some things in a friendly way, and we'll all find out we were wrong on some things and right on others. But who is the final authority? God is. Through His Word. Without His word, it's just one man's opinion against another's.

The sad truth is that because of pride, most of mankind will remain lost for eternity.

“Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive (Greek “agonizomai”, meaning to labor fervently or to struggle with difficulties) to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Luke 13:23-24

Should you ever give up? No. Even if you have backed off and decided not to strive with someone over their lost condition, there is one very powerful thing you can still do.

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16

Double Posting

I keep a folder in My Documents of "Blog Ideas" that I work on when I have time, and when I've finished them, I post them here. In looking through the folder this evening, I found the previous post (There's no Such Thing as an Ex-Christian") and decided to tweak it and then post.

About a half hour later I realized that I already posted this at the first of the year. So I started to delete this last post, but then for some reason God said (not audibly, guys- ok?) that I needed to leave it alone. Don't know why.

So if you've already read the previous post on January 1st, no need to read it again. But if you haven't, maybe this second time around is for you?

No Such Thing as an "Ex-Christian"

This is a rather lengthy post, but this is a serious subject and I wish to address every aspect of the falsehood that a person can be someone who "used to be a Christian".

There’s No Such Thing as an Ex-Christian.

I occasionally run across someone who claims that they used to be a Christian, and got “saved” and baptized and went to church every Sunday etc. etc. Then they realized, they say, that it was all bogus – and now they are either an atheist or have “converted” to some other religion.

Is it possible to be an ex-Christian?

Not according to Scripture.

Becoming a Christian is not just an “I think I’ll decide to be a Christian and go to church” decision.

Being a Christian is not just following the principles that Jesus set before us to aspire to attain.

Being a Christian is more than being born into a Christian family and having been exposed to Christianity all one’s life – going through the rituals and traditions associated with attending Sunday School and Church, singing in a choir, doing charity work, and trying to live a good “Christian” life.

At some point, you might want to ask yourself, Are You Really a Christian?


A true Christian conversion is a supernatural occurrence.

When you are truly sorry of your sins, and realize that you are unworthy of heaven, and call on Jesus Christ to save you, the Holy Spirit comes to you and indwells in you.

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Romans 8:9

“Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.” I John 4:13

Once you have been born again, the Scripture says you are a new creature. The old man (your former self before you were saved) is replaced by the new man (who you are in Jesus Christ). “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” II Corinthians 5:17

Because of this new birth, one cannot revert back to their lost state because they are sealed by the Holy Spirit for all time. “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Romans 6:6

There are those who appear outwardly to be Christians by their actions – but inwardly they are still the “old man” and have never been reborn. And because of this, they have no Holy Spirit guidance or power to get them through disappointments, anger and disillusionment than can cause them to abandon their “Christian” living. These are the individuals that John speaks of in I John 2:19:

“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”.

When we are saved, there is no turning back. We belong to God. He made sure of that. When He makes a promise, He doesn’t depend on us to keep it.

“For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,” Hebrews 6:13


Some people who try to argue that one can lose their salvation use this verse to support their belief:

“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,” Hebrews 6:4

Some believe that the word “enlightened” means that one was saved, but the Greek word from which it was derived is totally different than the word in both Acts 16:31 [“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”] and Romans 10:9 [That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”] that is translated “saved”.

Now I think it’s important to make a distinction here between someone who was never born again and someone who was, but who has turned their back on God and decided to live their own life the way they choose (i.e.: they are in a backslidden state). This is different, because in this case, the person is saved, and is a child of God, but is in rebellion. Just as an earthly father will chastise (punish) his children for rebellion and disobedience, God will do the same to one of His children.

“And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” Hebrews 12:5-8


The Bible tells us the steps that God takes to bring a child back into obedience.

First, there is the conviction of the Holy Spirit. When we are saved, we still sin, but we are sorrowful over our sin. “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” Romans 7:19

Then there is the chastening. “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:10

Third, there is death. “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.” I John 5:16

“To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” I Corinthians 5:5

God PROMISES to chastise His children if they are rebellious or disobedient. So if someone is claiming to be an ex-Christian and their life is miserable and full of trouble and trials, they are being chastened by God, and if they don’t repent and turn back to Him, He will cause them to die before their time.

However, if someone claims to be an ex-Christian, and there is no sign of chastening, and they spend their entire lives mocking God without any consequences, you can be assured they were never born again – and their consequences will take place AFTER their death instead of in this life.

If someone plays around with Christianity without ever repenting of their sin and accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior, then they were never born again. And in the Day of Judgment, when they realize their mistake and try to persuade Him that they really were, He will say “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:23

Muslims Causing Health Concerns in Hospitals

Some Muslim health care workers are refusing to scrub with their sleeves rolled up because it uncovers their forearms, which they say is against their religion. This refusal is in direct violation of attempts to curb the spread of super germs.

Remedy: This is a hospital. If making sure patients get the safest treatment possible is against your religion, you need to find another profession.

Is your doctor/nurse/health care worker a practicing Muslim? Do you feel safe about that?


Hat tip to http://www.bizzyblog.com/

Shades of Terminator

I love the Terminator movies (minus the foul language, which my DVD guardian system beeps out for me). I can envision a planet that has been taken over by artificially intelligent machines that some wacko dictator or subversive government has developed.

That’s why this article caught my attention.

For those not inclined to go and read the article, here’s a synopsis.

University of Sheffield professor Noel Sharkey is warning that technology is producing more autonomous robots that have the ability to act in the place of the human soldier on the battlefield.

Sounds great. Less loss of life – a clash of robots instead of a world war bloodbath, right?

So what happens if this type of technology gets into the wrong hands?

What about terrorism? Instead of a terrorist strapping on a bomb, just send in a robot.

And what about robots making life and death decisions on their own, totally apart from their makers?

"I have worked in artificial intelligence for decades, and the idea of a robot making decisions about human termination terrifies me," Sharkey said.

Interesting stuff.