Consideration of Christianity

I was doing some research on Barack Obama's profession of faith and I came across a blog with a few comments in it, and a comment sprang up from me.

I was struck by what seemed to be indignation that Christians would seek a leader who reflected Christian values. There also seemd to be an assumption that for Christians to want the nation's leader to be a Christian was evidence of Christians wanting to institute a theocracy. I was obviously compelled to respond.

Now, I'm sure I do not represent all Christians (I have enough trouble adequately representing myself), but I pray I have at least represented the truth.

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I don’t think Christians expect a theocracy, and I’m pretty sure the New Testament never advocates such government, but to tell Christians they should not expect a Christian President is the same as telling non-Christians they should not expect a non-Christian President.

It’s true on both counts, but the point is you have a right to your expectation, your beliefs, and your vote.

Christians feel that faith is a virtue; therefore they will (as is their right) consider the presence, lack, or pretense of such virtue when casting their vote. To assume this means all Christians vote based on some judgmental measure of their fellowman’s righteousness is about as logical as assuming all non-Christians vote based on a selfish, prideful resentment and rebellion of God. It’s just not so.

Many people are trying to vote according to what they feel is best for the nation. Is it always best for the nation? No, but you can’t reserve credit for the attempt to only those who vote like you.

When it comes to Barack Obama’s faith, would you call someone who cannot swim a swimmer? Or someone who runs once every two months a runner? Yet, our culture regularly celebrates as Christians those who do not believe in the standards God set or his Son, the Christ (the foundation and identity of Christianity).

In case you’re missing the point, imagine how indignant you might feel if Obama regularly attended a Bible believing church, surrounded himself with a Bible believing cohort, carried a Bible everywhere he went, and was known to regularly read and quote scripture and voted according to God’s standard of morality, yet he claimed to be of no particular faith and professed to represent all non-Christians…as well as Christians, of course.

It’s only reasonable that you’d be skeptical of his professed life philosophy. You would scrutinize his claim to the non-Christian religion, and where you found evidence that that claim was erroneous, you would cry, “charlatan!”

In a country where freedom of religion reigns, why should the religion of Christianity be any less welcome in politics than the religion of individualism, homosexuality, or feminism (yes, though not theistic in nature, they are religions)?

It is not my place to judge Obama’s relationship with or profession of faith to the one true God. It is my calling, however, to look at Obama’s fruit and test it against the Biblical measure. In my humble opinion, he comes up short. Does that mean he is damned, that’s above my pay grade; but it does mean I reasonably assess his beliefs and his politics to be incongruent with mine, and I will not vote for him…as is my God given right.

Vocation Is Not Salvation

Can a godly woman serve as Vice President?

Yes, it’s that time again; time to ask some religious questions within a political forum. Of course, on this blog it’s a religious forum and the question is political. Believe it or not, we’ll sort through the confusion before it’s over.

So, the question of the day: Can Sarah Palin, or any woman, serve as Vice President of the United States, or in any government leadership position, and not betray the biblical roles and relationships ordained by God for women?

I believe that the simple answer is yes, but since it says in the Bible to test everything, let’s not settle for the simple answer.

Does the Bible say that a woman cannot lead? No.

While the Bible does seem to indicate that women are not to be the heads of a/the church, we see in the Old Testament that women, on rare and obviously special occasion, were judges over Israel. Proverbs also lays out the responsibilities of a woman, specifically a wife, which clearly indicate that she is serving in a leadership capacity, but that same woman is called to submit to her husband (and ultimately her family) in all those things.

So, does that mean that a woman can only serve if there is a man over her? Does that rule out President of the United States? No on both counts.

I think (and I’m no biblical scholar) that the Bible makes it clear that faith in and service to God is first for men and women. God calls men and women to humbly serve Him and one another before self, and the hierarchy within the family helps to maintain the purity and heart of faith and service. For this reason, I think as God addressed the hierarchy within the family He also addressed the hierarchy within the church. God never, however, addresses the hierarchy of secular government.

When God gave Israel the kings that they asked for, He told them it was a bad idea and that they would regret it. Just as God differentiates between good and evil, He differentiates between His rule (good) and man’s rule (evil). If man rules apart from God (almost the definition of the US government), what does it matter who is in charge; can man alone do good (for all you dreamers and schemers, the answer is no…sorry)? If a man (women included) serves God and serves as a leader as unto God, again, what does it matter who is in charge; will not God bless such leadership?

The Bible makes it clear that women are valued equally in the sight of the Lord, women are more than capable of bearing significant responsibility, and a woman, with God’s calling and blessing, can serve as a leader of the people.

If we say that a woman must stay in the home to serve her family in a godly manner, we are merely translating God’s call for a woman into a legalistic mandate. There are plenty of women who stay home and completely miss the mark.

Career is a religion and the office is the temple, in both the private and public sector, for men and women alike. The world is an incredible temptation promising deliverance which it cannot provide; “you will not surely die.” So, while it is prudent to avoid legalism, it would be horribly misleading to say that women can serve their families in a godly manner outside the home…if you do not also offer this singular caveat: by the grace of God.

If Sarah Palin is without God, there is absolutely no difference between her and any other run-of-the-mill politician. If she is with God, what man (women included) can be against her. Either way, make no mistake, the next leader of this nation is there only because God allowed it, and regardless…

His will be done.

Pro-life = Anti-war?

Cameron Strang of Relevant Magazine made a statement in a FOX interview in which he seemed to indicate that pro-life for Christians means not only anti-abortion, but anti-war as well.

(Note: In Mr. Strang’s defense, it was a limited sound bite, so I may have misunderstood his meaning or caught it out of context, but it’s definitely an issue worth tackling.)


The first things that come to mind are the obvious…or seemingly obvious…exceptions to the rules. In the case of medical situations where it is reasonably certain that the mother, the child, or both will die, is abortion, the intentional killing of an unborn child, a moral alternative? As Nazis ravaged Europe and Asia, murdered millions, and threatened to expand their evil footprint across the globe, was war (a definition here may be the crux of the argument) a moral alternative?


In this particular case of abortion, we can say what we would do, but we cannot say what is moral. Our worldly and human sense of compassion might say it is an acceptable path to abort the baby, but maybe this is what God meant when He said he who tries to save his own life will lose it, but he who gives his life for another will gain it.

It is not our place to decide what is right, we can only attempt to discern what God has deemed right. We pray and fast and meditate on the word, and then ask for God’s wisdom and guidance to help us do His will, and we ask for His mercy and forgiveness if we fail. If you are genuinely seeking His will and giving it all up to His judgment, I have faith that He is faithful.


In the not so particular case of war, what biblical basis is there for refusing to violently oppose such evil? Also, when the soldiers asked the Christ what they should do (as righteous soldiers), he told them not to intimidate people or accuse them falsely, and be content with their wages. He did not tell them not to go to war, or to resist their leaders' direction to war.

What we see in the Bible is not an opposition to war itself, but more likely an opposition to the misuse of military might. Here again, we do not decide what is right, we attempt to discern what God has deemed right.


To say war in and of itself is wrong does not seem to be biblical, so to say a Christian has to be anti-war is legalistic at best.

Not of the Body of Christ

Anyone who says that there are other paths to God, is not of His Christ.

If you do not believe … “the word of the Lord” … “I am that I am” … “the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” … “so loved the world” … “gave His only begotten Son” … “the way, the truth, and the life” … “no one comes to the Father except through Me” … “narrow is the way which leads to life” … “in Him we have redemption” … “through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” … “He will come again” …

…if you do not believe, can you still profess to be a Christian?

Which of the above truths can you denounce and still be a Christian?

Test everything!

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. (1 John 4:1-3)

The word of the Lord!

Thanks be to God!

Service of Love of Service of Love of Service of...

It’s been a long and hectic while….since I blogged…that’s my excuse anyway.


I was in church this morning (the long and hectic while inhibited that as well), and the pastor had a wonderful message, straight out of the Bible. Imagine that.

Getting to the point, he referenced Christians who are saved, yet we do not serve. One of the reasons I (we) have been church hunting is because I wanted to find a church where we could serve as a member of the church family.

I’ve used the “busy-ness” excuse to justify not reading my Bible and not praying or meditating on the Word, and now I realize that I’ve used the very same excuse for not serving.

Note, I said “not serving,” instead of “not serving in the church,” because service goes beyond the church.

Obviously, we are called to serve in our church communities, but just as the Christ was sacrificed for all, so that all might be reconciled to God, if we are to imitate or reflect Him beyond our church communities, where He is needed most, we are to serve beyond our church communities as well.

How?

Love.

I do not swear or use crude language around my children or family, because I love them far too much to denigrate their ears (or personalities) through the use of such language, so why would I use such language at work? I must take the same love I show to my family, in Christ, to those for whom God gave Him.

We are all undeserving of God’s grace, but that is exactly who He has extended it to, everyone. In the same way, we as Christians are called to love and serve all, according to God’s will, for His glory.

One meager act of service is this blog, and I have neglected it.

Give us a servant’s heart, Lord, and help us to give of ourselves cheerfully and generously, so they will know we are Christians by our love.

Caesar’s Religion

The state has adopted a religion and dictates that religion to its citizens.

As a citizen and soldier, it troubles me that our courts misuse their authority and attack the very fabric of our nation’s constitution in order to usurp the authority of the people’s voice, and the voice of the majority is drowned out by the voice of the media supported hyper-minority.

As a husband and father, it troubles me that the state would bind me to equate the faith, commitment, and sacrifice of marriage with the fashion, fickleness, and folly, of dating; and the state advocates the legal degradation of children to little more than hobbies.

Yet we champion this as progress.

We overlook human nature, history, logic, commonsense, and the will of the majority. The truth is swept away as we progress toward self-imposed oblivion. “Oh come now,” they said twenty years ago…and twenty years before that…and twenty years before that…and so on. Conveniently, progress never takes account.

It’s very difficult to write about without despairing, but…

“…we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Not a few things or some things or most things or the vast majority of things or practically all things, but “ALL THINGS.”

So, “do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the wicked.” (Proverbs 24:19)

The Lord still reigns sovereign and His standard of righteousness bends neither to the will of man nor the courts of the world. Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give thanks and praise for all that is good and holy to the one, true God.

Biblical, not Political

We go to church to worship the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to give thanks for our risen Savior, the only Son of God, who suffered, died, and was raised so that all sins might be forgiven.

What did the “unashamedly black” congregation of Trinity United go to church to worship? What was it that Jeremiah Wright taught his flock? To get an idea, let’s take a look at a couple of the questions he fielded at the National Press Club.

Jeremiah Wright was asked to explain how the black church and white church can reconcile. His reply was fairly lengthy and seemed to please some in the audience, but failed to include any biblical basis, guidance, or understanding.

My heart cried out that the body of Christ is neither black nor white, and any church which identifies itself as such is not reconciled to God, so what does it matter if they are reconciled to other men. The Bible makes it quite clear how the children of God are to reconcile to one another:

Jesus said …“ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. (Matt 22:36-40)

When asked if Islam is a way to salvation, Wright quoted Jesus as saying, “Other sheep have I who are not of this fold.”

So that we don’t miss the significance of Wright’s answer, let’s take a look at the biblical reference in context:

“And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.” (John 10:16)

In that the Messiah is referencing all lost gentiles, Muslims are included, but He clearly states that He must bring them, they will hear His voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd. At no time does the Christ ever relinquish the truth:

“[He] is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through [Him].” (John 14:6)

Jeremiah Wright is not the only false prophet out there.

Oh Lord,
My soul weeps and trembles in fear and anger;
Have mercy.

Working as a Mother

Wife and mother is a vocation.

The duties and responsibilities of a wife and mother are not part-time activities; they are a full-time endeavor requiring dedication and commitment to build the skills necessary to be successful. Similar to how one might go to school and/or focus time and efforts toward a career discipline, even more so a wife and mother must dedicate her life to experience the fullest measure of success in her home.

I am confused at the wider range of skills, higher degree of competence, and more demanding and strenuous labor required and demonstrated in my wife compared to my female co-workers, yet my co-workers bear the term “working” while my wife gets branded as “stay-at-home.” Then, to add insult to injury, in spite of the incredible disparity in dedication and endeavor on behalf of the family, the term “mother” seems equally and somewhat arbitrarily applied.

I also think it’s interesting, that we would never encourage would be accountants, doctors, or lawyers to actively pursue other endeavors that would undoubtedly require them to sacrifice time away from their primary studies. You would never hear anyone counseling young budding professionals or tradesmen that they could divert their attentions toward competing pursuits and still effectively master their disciplines and achieve at their highest potential.

In the above instances, dedication and commitment mean 100% of your focus and attention; sacrifice other things, but not that which you are dedicated and committed to. It stands to reason that the increasingly automatic practice of pushing family and children to the back burner indicates that our culture values career above family and/or children.

It’s debatable whether we’re looking at the chicken or the egg, and obviously some very devoted mothers have no choice but to do additional work outside the home, but it is clear that straying from God’s path has clearly inhibited (sometimes prohibited) the recognition of wife and mother not only as a vocation, but as a worthwhile vocation. Some would argue that women have benefited, but it is unarguable that the family and children have not.

Lord, protect our children.

(I can’t possibly credibly address every aspect of this issue, partly because I have neither the time nor the wisdom, but mainly because I am not a woman. Here’s a blog post my wife showed me that goes much further to challenge today’s mis-understanding of women.)

There can be only One.

We did a Bible study this morning on the light that God made. It was kind of an impromptu….uh, who am I kidding….we prayed and then pulled it out of thin air.

Seriously, I wanted to talk to the girls about worldly deception, and I had planned to talk about the serpent in the garden, but things went in a different direction. Instead, we talked about light and dark…and the alleged worldly grey.

It turned out to be a very simple and easy study.

God made the light, and it was good. He divided/distinguished the light from the dark, and that was good. The Bible doesn’t say anything about grey. God said it was good. He did not say it’s good for some people, but not everyone sees things the same way, so it’s not good for others.

Truth is a common theme in the Bible; a theme the world is not very fond of. The idea that good and evil exist and are mutually exclusive of one another is not something the world is eager to embrace. I mean after all, “you will not surely die.” Even more offensive to the world is that there is only one Truth, one Light, and one Way.

It is the Truth, or it is not; it is the Light, or it is not; it is the Way, or it is not. There is no in-between. There is no grey.

As it says in the Bible, you cannot serve two masters, you will “hate the one and love the other…be loyal to the one and despise the other.” In the worldly debate over a black and white moral standard, grey is not an argument against black.

PoliWax

PoliWax has been unlocked, so New American Racism: Embracing Obama has been removed from this site. It can be found on PoliWax.

Sorry for the confusion..."these aren't the droids you're looking for...move along."

Narrow Path Exit 3:16

I got an audio Bible for Christmas, and I recently threw caution to the wind and stored the CDs in my car. Now, I listen to the Bible on my way to and from work.

It’s actually pretty cool.

If I wasn’t listening to the Bible, that’s almost an hour and a half (sometimes more) of cursing my neighbor for driving too slow, cutting me off, not using blinkers, tailgating, and other stuff that I’m sure I’m typically cursed for when I drive. Now, instead of being angry that people are driving like I do, I focus on the word of God. The only bad part is that if I try taking notes I end up driving into the bay, and if I underline significant passages I end up with a CD that plays nothing but the genealogy of Gad over and over and over.

At least “Raca” is slowly being weeded out of my driving vocabulary. (Matt 5:22)

I definitely prefer reading my Bible, and actual reading is definitely a more complete and engaging experience. While I don’t think listening (while driving anyway) can adequately substitute for reading, I find that having listened to several chapters earlier during my drive, when/if the opportunity to read later arises, I tend to feel absolved of the responsibility to actually crack the book. My usual excuses for not reading my Bible are bolstered by the fact that I listened and meditated…at 70 mph…right through a red light.

My Bible CDs are a stumbling block…how did that happen?

I definitely need a Savior.

Anyway, it is an awesome gift, and I think my car is a good place for it; it’s being put to good use. I do feel that I still need to take active responsibility for my relationship with God and actually read. Besides, I noticed that I haven’t blogged on the Word in a while. Also, it’s time to start Bible studies with our oldest…but that’s another post.

New American Racism: Embracing Obama

(This post was a copy of a post from another blog. While it has been removed from this blog, it can still be found in its original location on PoliWax.)

Our Intellectual Tower

Suddenly I realized what God meant:

“…this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.” (Gen 11:6)

My wife showed me an article today on MSNBC about a woman who had a surgery altering her breasts and began taking testosterone because she wants to be a man. Even though she wanted to be a man, and she pursued this desire by physically altering her body, she decided not to have her female reproductive organs removed...because she wanted to one day have a baby. Well, the first attempt at having a baby resulted in her fallopian tubes being removed, but undaunted, she is again pregnant.

Satan has told us, “You will not surely die. For God knows…your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God…” (Gen 3:4) Deceived in our pride, as Adam and Eve were, we are empowered, and simply because sin is within our grasp and it seems desirable to us, we cast off the love, wisdom, and guidance of God, and show no restraint as we strive to exalt and justify the self by any and every means.

Have Mercy, Lord.

Political senses starting to dull?

Try PoliWax!

I was thinking…I spend so much time posting to this blog that maybe I should mix it up a bit and post to another blog…everything in moderation, right?

I sense skepticism.

The truth is I am utterly dumfounded by some of the latest political developments in the US, especially with relation to Presidential hopeful, Barack Obama; so much so, I have to blog about it, and since this blog was not meant as a political forum, I started another.

Don’t get me wrong, I completely expect that politics will at times be very relevant and applicable fodder for growing in faith and leading our families in faith, especially since modern day politicians and government seem so intent on encroaching on religion and family. I simply want to make certain politics does not dominate the landscape.

The Father-hood is devoted first to God and family, and while obviously (I cannot betray my values) the other blog is likely to be inadvertently devoted to the same things, the topics will focus more on politics, policy, and the zany antics of voters within the US.

Anyway, in case postings seem to get sparse here in the Father-hood, you can always check the other blog for some PoliWax.

Once, twice, three times a homeowner?

We have just put down our third contract on a house. Or is it the fourth? Anyway, we were having a bit of trouble; we were stuck over $5,000.

We’re not getting a lot of relevant guidance on buying a house these days. There’s no-brainer guidance, “don’t spend more than you can afford;” uhm…thanks…we hadn’t thought of that one. Then there’s old school guidance, “Your mortgage shouldn’t be more than 25% of your take home pay;” yeah right, a single income family can’t go to the movies on 25% of their take home pay. Then there’s worldly guidance, “Can’t your wife get a job;” actually…she’s got a very respectable job, and her Boss has promised her a raise.

Anyway, we asked our realtor to step out of character as our realtor, and give us her opinion as our friend. She said, that from what she had seen, our faith/kids are most important to us, and if we thought for a second that buying that house would possibly detract from that aspect of our lives, we shouldn’t do it.

We had been so busy crunching numbers and balancing ledgers that we had failed to consider that.

While we cannot see the future and can’t possibly plan for every financial possibility, we can say with confidence, more importantly we can say with faith, buying that house will not detract from our faith or the love and values of our family.

Once again we ask for prayer; not that we would get the house, but that we are walking in God’s will.

Complicit, cowardly, or just plain foolish

I am a simple black man, and I was able to rationally conclude inside of an hour of my exposure to Trinity United Church of Christ (via their website) that the philosophy and likely the body of that church was steeped in hatred/racism.

America was appalled at the words spoken by Jeremiah Wright. What is more shocking is that he serves as the shepherd of a flock and wears the title “Reverend” and is referred to as “Pastor.” Even more troubling is that the so-called “Reverend” Wright…“Pastor” Wright uttered these words from the pulpit, from what might be considered an alter of God; leading his flock toward hatred. The most disturbing aspect of all of this seems to have gone almost completely overlooked:

The flock willingly followed…and came back for more.

Maybe the forces of political correctness (read as “selective racism”) continue to bind us from holding all Americans, regardless of skin color, to an equal standard of accountability; the same forces that prevented opposition against Trinity United’s less overt hatred, the same forces that keep so-called “Reverends” Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson legitimized as leaders within the black community, and the same forces that have previously absolved politicians like Barack Obama as they decry racism external to the black community while turning a blind eye to it internally.

It’s the same old song of hatred that the Reverend, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. died trying to silence. The difference is instead of white faces hidden shamefully behind white hoods, we now see black faces beaming proudly in choir robes. Why did it take such an extreme expression of that hatred for the rest of America to take notice? I didn’t have to attend the church for 20 years. I didn’t need to sit in the pews and hear the venom spewed from the pulpit. I didn’t need the media to constantly flood my home with repugnant images. I didn’t need to be questioned under a spotlight in front of millions of people.

I just opened my eyes (when I was about 10 years old) and saw what was right in front of my face.

The Not-So-Secret of Marriage

Lately I’ve been seeing the media fawn over men and housework. One piece asserted that men who helped around the house had more sex. Another piece went so far as to allude to helping around the house being the secret to marital success, touting statistics about how much more time the modern man spends around the house and with the kids.

I always find these types of studies and their findings humorous…and annoying.

Man needs companionship, and biblical, ordained marriage is the most stable and rewarding version of that much needed companionship. Obviously, not everyone with eyes sees this, but it doesn’t stop them from trying. All who endeavor at marriage harbor at least an inner desire for forever, “til death do us part.” While this explains the human interest in studies about the characteristics of a successful marriage, it does not explain the less than stellar efforts at applying God’s standard for marriage to God’s establishment of marriage.

Now, there’s no need to feel bad or guilty, or to launch into the modern-day “don’t judge me” diatribe; not even the greats in the Bible got it completely right. God used Abraham to start a new covenant with man; Abraham slept with his wife’s servant…at his wife’s direction. Jacob would become Israel and the children of God would spring from the womb of his wife…and her servant…and his other wife…and her servant. Contrary to popular belief, 2 out of 3 can be bad; and there’s no reason to assume Isaac did it completely right; God simply may not have seen fit to share his sordid details.

The point is, no man is perfect, so no man’s marriage will be perfect. The good news is that God didn't call us to be perfect. He did, however, call us to be faithful and to love one another, and this covers a multitude of sins (through the Christ, it covers all sin…but that’s another marriage for another day). If those in marriage obey the Lord and seek Him first above all things, and then love one another as they love themselves, the FOREVER God will sustain their marriage.

If you exclude the author of life, love, and marriage from your life, love, or marriage, you’re building a house on sand.

Well, I should probably go empty the dishwasher.

Freedom of Religion?

Not long ago I had a fairly lengthy discussion with a guy who felt religion was the root of all mankind’s problems. His belief in the ill effects of religion was the foundation from which his life’s decisions were made, the root of his moral code, and his personal justification for being an atheist.

A few weeks ago I read a story about how a church’s tax exempt status was threatened because the Pastor endorsed a candidate using church stationary. That very day I found an article in which the National Organization of (or maybe for) Women (N.O.W.) endorsed a candidate quite openly and officially, yet their tax exempt status was unthreatened. (I assumed I obviously did not have all the details, so I wrote to the ACLU and inquired…no response as of yet.)

I recently had a discussion, at work of all places, about the social and/or biological origins of homosexuality. Very early in the discussion it was noted that the woman representing the biological side "believed" that homosexuality was rooted in the genetic foundation. As we talked further, it became apparent that almost every point, explanation, or hypothesis she presented was hinged on that "belief."

It is not uncommon to have a person take up a position or make a decision on an issue and then indicate that the decision or position for the other side of the issue is “religious” and unconstitutional. Very often, even though I seldom use religious arguments, simply because I do not assume the mainstream view, I am asked about my religion. When I indicate my belief in God, suddenly the discussion ends as if I was not worth talking to.

It would seem that freedom of religion does not include theism.

We didn't get it

We didn’t get it.

Someone else had already put in a bid before us…but they were having trouble with financing…so, we were out of a contract, but in a holding pattern. Since we were no longer in a contract, and we had some time, we went to look at a few houses to at least fine-tune the searching. In less than 24 hours the house we had put in a bid on had slipped back into a dead heat for fourth place, and its luster was all but lost. We allegedly went house hunting with God as our guide, and we somehow managed to put a bid down on a house we are now ecstatic not to actually be buying.

When we saw that house, because we had never had even that much before, we thought in our hearts, “Surely God won’t (can’t) bless us more than this."

We just didn't get it.

How we underestimate God. Often when man tries to contemplate the glory of God, we only have the glory of man as a reference, so our understanding is extremely limited. While we apparently cannot fathom the full measure of the blessings God has in store for us, He is faithful and delivered us from our finite understanding of His power.

Heap of Faith

A couple weeks back a co-worker contacted me and told me about his realtor. He and his family had just closed on a house and were very happy with the entire experience. My co-worker was struck by how similar our families were, figured our needs in a home must also be similar, and so he called me and gave me the information because he thought it might help.

Since it came out of the blue I wasn’t sure what to do, but I took the information and shared it with my wife. Alone, insignificant, and in a strange place with four very messy little girls, that poor little post-it-note didn’t stand a chance. The information was all but forgotten.

After a couple weeks, we were moved to begin house hunting and somewhat halfheartedly renewed our search. After a weekend not quite devoted and just short of wasted on drive-by rejections of would-be abodes, I was determined to give up our amateur real estate efforts and turn it over to a professional.

My wife confessed that the little post-it was no more…but then she found it a few moments later. I called the realtor during a break at work. The realtor suggested a house; we looked at it the very same evening.

We just initiated a contract on the home.

Now, we prayed repeatedly throughout the ordeal. Specifically, we paused and took a moment to pray before putting our signatures on the dotted line. We really want a house, we really want the search to be over, we really want a backyard for our girls, but more than any of that we absolutely want to take the narrow path.

All who read this please take a moment to pray for us; His will not ours.

Survey Says!

I was watching Fox News (“watching” might be overstating the event), and they were discussing a survey in which people were asked about how they would characterize their job satisfaction if their job were a relationship. Among the choices for response were “marry” the job, “casually date” the job, and “break up” with the job. Toward the end of the segment, the reporter doing the piece informed the two anchors that according to the survey, married people were more likely to choose to “marry” their job, while single people were more likely to choose to “casually date” their job.

My first response was to try to formulate a rational explanation for such a trend. I naturally leaned toward the characteristics typically associated with the real life relationships of married and single people and compared them to the characteristics of their respective responses. My tentative conclusion was that maybe married couples were more inclined toward commitment, while singles were more inclined toward … well … shopping around. Or, maybe married couples looked at things from a planning and responsibility angle, while singles looked at it more from a personal satisfaction and personal freedom angle.

Anyway, the only thing the reporting crew had to offer about the findings were a derogatory statement about the quality of marriage sending people running for the safety of the office. Granted, the crew was joking, and I think they were all married, so I’m sure they wouldn’t set themselves up for failure intentionally, but the exchange struck me.

Has our culture so devalued and trivialized marriage that the characteristic of marriage we are most comfortable addressing in public is dissatisfaction? Or has political correctness so restricted our freedom of expression that we simply confine our jokes to those topics which the PC police have condoned for ridicule?

Honestly, there’s no need to be thin-skinned. There is no way of truly knowing why the results of the survey are what they are, and since levity played well and the safest joke was of “the old ball-&-chain” variety, there ya go. I wonder though; how many people watched the segment and were acquiescent to the idea that marriage was naturally an undesirable situation?

As for me, I locked up my office and went straight home to my wife and family.

The Religion of Race

The following statement is taken from an actual church website:

About Us

We are a congregation which is Unashamedly White and Unapologetically Christian... Our roots in the White religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are an Aryan people, and remain "true to our native land," the mother continent, the cradle of civilization. God has superintended our pilgrimage through the days of slavery, the days of segregation, and the long night of racism. It is God who gives us the strength and courage to continuously address injustice as a people, and as a congregation. We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a White worship service and ministries which address the White
Community.

The Pastor as well as the membership of our church is committed to a 10-point Vision:

1. A congregation committed to ADORATION.
2. A congregation preaching SALVATION.
3. A congregation actively seeking RECONCILIATION.
4. A congregation with a non-negotiable COMMITMENT TO EUROPE.
5. A congregation committed to BIBLICAL EDUCATION.
6. A congregation committed to CULTURAL EDUCATION.
7. A congregation committed to the HISTORICAL EDUCATION OF ARYAN PEOPLE IN DIASPORA.
8. A congregation committed to LIBERATION.
9. A congregation committed to RESTORATION.
10. A congregation working towards ECONOMIC PARITY.

What sort of church would you expect to be attending if you were to read the statement above? Does this sound like a church that is inclusive of all Gods children? Would you attend such a church? Do you think you would be allowed to attend such a church?

What if I told you that your elected representative attended such a church? Would you feel that you were genuinely represented? Would you vote for them again?

What if I told you that the US government and communities across the nation have bent over backwards to support and propagate the same philosophies all across the country, in our academic communities, in the workplace, and in our courtrooms?

Finally what if I told you that the statement above has been altered slightly from the original (read closely)?


Did you read the original? Now what do you think?

Tithing Income/Money

The following post is a lengthy response to a comment string from the previous post on tithing.

Are you implying they were to tithe money?

I am implying that they were (as we are) to tithe the best/first of all that God provided them.

The first mention of the tithe in the Bible, Abraham gives Melchizedek, king of Salem, who was the priest of God Most High, a tithe (tenth) of everything (Genesis 14:18-20). The next time we see a tithe, Jacob vowed that of all that God gave him he would give God a tenth (Genesis 28:20-22).

Money was not acceptable as a tithe. Not one account of money being used as a tithe or commanded to be used by Our Lord.

I do not recall seeing anything in scripture indicating that money was not acceptable as a tithe.

It is possible that the Widow was giving something other than the tithe when she dropped money in the offering box, so you may be right that there was not one account of money (a formal unit of currency used as a circulating medium of exchange) being used as a tithe.

We know from history, however, that food items were often used as a medium of exchange (payment), and we see plenty of instances in the Bible to support that fact/practice. So, the food items that were tithed were often used to purchase other needed goods or services, and the first fruits and first born were the most valuable portion of such food items.

If a person wants to tithe their income that is up to them.

This sentence addresses two issues (albeit inadvertently): free will and morality. I agree that all people are free to decide the course of action they will follow, but we are not free to arbitrarily decide what is right and wrong. We have to try to discern God's will on tithing our income and then submit.

Tithing money has become a salvational issue.

You introduced the idea of tithing (money) as a salvational issue, I never connected tithing and salvation, so since I think we both agree that salvation is in no way dependent on tithing, and I cannot determine where that argument came from, I will leave it for someone else.

Scriptures are being taken out of context to chain people to a lie.

The issue of context is always touchy; everyone has a different idea of what context consists of, and before you know it, it’s an argument about who is right about context rather than what does scripture tell us.

I try to ask simple questions: what is revealed of God’s character, is that consistent with what the rest of the Bible says and what we know of God’s character, and how does this affect my relationship or understanding of God?

Since my job and my income is God’s provision for my family, much the way the harvest and the flock were God’s provision for the Israelites; I tithe from my provision as they were commanded to tithe from theirs. I cannot tell from scripture that this diminishes the greatness of God or harms my relationship with Him. Of course, I’m not sure how I would tithe otherwise, and if I did not tithe or if I had a diminished or dubious tithe, scripture is clear where that can lead.

It is clear what Our Lord commanded in tithing under the law and that was food items.

Yes, in the tithing commanded according to the law God specifically addressed the tithing of the first fruits of the harvests and the first born of the flocks, both of which are edible, but He didn’t command, “Give a tenth of all food items.” Why didn't He? Nor did He command, “Do not tithe items that are not food.” Why didn't He? Nor do I recall seeing a mention of the tithe the Christ spoke of: justice, mercy, faith, love of God. Why didn't He? What about people who were not farmers or herdsmen?

As it is clear that the things God commanded the Israelites to tithe were edible, it is just as clear that they were valuable. The point of the tithe, however, is not food or money, it is faith and sacrifice. If you have faith that God provided all of it, then joyfully and obediently give (sacrifice) to Him the best you have as an expression of that faith and thanksgiving. If this can be applied to life, love, justice, compassion, mercy, and food items...why not income/money?

Can we really say we are joyfully, obediently, and faithfully tithing all God has provided us today if we are unwilling or reluctant to tithe our income?

The command to tithe money is just not there.

Once, the food items were first and they generated income and everything else, so the income was not the first fruits. Now, the income comes first, and you use it to by the food items and everything else, so we tithe the first fruits, the income.

Tithe

As we were preparing for church today our oldest daughter excitedly proclaimed, “Dad, I can give my tithe today!”

We began giving her allowance at the age of six, but we didn’t allow her to spend it until she had completely mastered counting money, and we explained quite thoroughly to her that the first thing she always needed to do was tithe a tenth to God; and she is very happy to do it.

Upon seeing her glee at having an offering for the Lord, her two younger sisters inquired what they could give. So, we doled out a few bucks and explained that it was for the tithe and they joined their sister in joyful giving.

Two things came to mind:

First, I was reminded of the “ceremonial quarters” we were given as children to drop into the collection plate as it passed by, and I always wondered, “Why?”

The answer (which is the second thing) comes right out of the Bible; “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

Happy Birthday!

Today was my wife's birthday. She is still so young and so pretty. I think, and I'm sure our children would agree, that the world is a better place because she is here. We took the day to celebrate her life and to thank God for blessing us with her and through her.

She's not the best bowler I've ever seen, but as wives and mothers go, she's the tops.

Thank you, God.

In one year

Since the year started fresh, my wife and I started fresh in our efforts to read the Bible from cover to cover again. Instead of just reading so many pages a day, we're using a plan that has us reading a bit from four separate sections (One Year Bible, try to ignore all the advertising). I'm not sure what the purpose is behind reading it sectioned, but it does offer a different approach.

One day my wife and I were talking about the issue, and it occurred to me that I don't recall reading anything in the Bible about a Bible reading quota or schedule. God instructed us to read His word daily and meditate on it daily, but He didn't quantify it with, "so as to get through the entire Bible at least once through the year."

Now, I believe that the size of the Bible is small enough that it is more than possible to get through it, cover to cover, at least once a year with reasonably minimal effort. I also believe that to undertake such an endeavor is a wonderful and purposeful demonstration of our commitment to understanding the word of the Lord and developing a relationship with the Lord. I also believe, however, that more important than getting through the Bible in a year is getting into the Bible everyday.

That said, from my experience, if you read a reasonable portion of the Bible on a daily basis, you will get through the entire Bible in approximately a year (give or take a month or two or three depending on your reading style). The biggest trouble I think most people have is looking at the peak of the mountain and thinking, “I’ve got to climb that?”

Keep your eyes on today and take one step at a time, and that’s one step closer to God.

New York Giants, Super Bowl XLII Champions

While it's tough to see all the hard work of the New England Patriots end so bitterly, the Giants played hard for it and truly won it.

How 'bout that Giants defense!?

GO GIANTS!

Hello February

It’s February 1st; for some reason I feel like I should blog something. No, I’m not going to write about black history month anymore than I would write about white history month; I’m not much of a historian, and I abhor even the most acceptable visage of racism.

I know…

GO GIANTS!

Yes I know, it’s not religious or biblical in nature, but it is appropriate for the day (and at least it’s not political). This is Super Bowl weekend. It’s practically a national holiday.

I wouldn’t mind seeing the Pats win (19-0 would be a beautiful thing), but I’m rooting for Eli and the Giants because I like this particular underdog. Actually the only thing I wouldn’t like is a blow out. Blow outs are never fun.

CHICKEN WHAT?

I’d love to say that I was itching to write, but I’m pretty sure I was just plain itching.

I came down with chickenpox. Apparently I had never had chickenpox as a child, and I was never vaccinated either. Ironically, I caught them from an adult who had had chickenpox as a child and was experiencing a recurrence or something known as shingles.

The good news is that I was able to spend about two weeks at home with my family. The bad news is that the first week was all blisters, itching, headaches, fevers, chills, and abdominal pain.

I’ve recovered quite a bit of lost Bible reading, and I have played numerous games with my children (Nerts). My mother-in-law spent about eight days with us; she helped out a lot and the children love having Grandma around (I have no idea how we will go back to life without her). Also, amidst all the suffering and turmoil, I answered the phone in pain to discover I had been promoted at work and received a raise. Praise God!

Anyway, there were no complications with my chickenpox, and except for a few scabs and scars there should be little physical evidence of the event. Our family is closer, however, and we definitely have a greater appreciation for our health.

So, as always, we thank God…even for the chickenpox.

A Thief in the Night

A man I once called brother was recently killed. Armed men kicked open the door and gunned him down. I say that I once called him brother because while we were definitely related, it had been quite some time since we had practiced anything that might be deemed a relationship. This almost complete absence of a relationship left me wanting with respect to the appropriate emotion for the death of a brother. Our father and grandmother are both quite saddened, but the most I can seem to muster is regret and…well, awe.

I regret that we did not have a better relationship. I regret that I did nothing to improve/develop our relationship. I regret that our society has degraded morality and human life to such extent that gunning a man down in criminal pursuits warrants little more than trivial consideration. I especially regret that he is dead.

I am awed that something as vibrant and inspiring as life can end so suddenly and pointlessly. I am awed by the fact that there is only one standard and one Judge to whom we must all answer. I am awed by the fact that my brother’s sins are no greater than mine and his forgiveness no less. I am especially awed by the will of God; He raises one up and casts another down according to His glory.

If his life did not serve You, Lord, then let his death. Have mercy on his soul, please forgive him his sins, and let Your justice reign.

I most remember his smile.

He was 38.

Resolutions for the New Year?

Lose weight
Exercise a bit everyday (if only five minutes)
Get back into running
Golf more
Read more
Write more
Study the Bible more
Pray More
Be more active in church
Submit to the Lord
Watch less television
Surf less internet
Be more productive
Take my children outside more
Play with my children more
Play with my wife more
Get swim lessons for my daughters
Get dance lessons for my daughters
Get music lessons for my daughters
Practice guitar
Help more around the house
More spirit less flesh
Eat less junk
Eat less
No soda
Focus more at work
Less “work” at home
Pursue a Masters degree
Learn more about computers
Communicate better with my family
Swear less while driving
Swear less (even to myself)
Drive safer

…believe it or not the list goes on. I was going to adjust the list according to priority, but I thought the way it came out in free flow was more indicative of my human nature. I get to thinking about all my shortcomings and get so distracted by all the things I need to do to improve myself, that I forget what is most important.


But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matt 6:33-34)