News Story

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/31/funeral.protest/

Not much to say today... I'm actually not sure how to respond Christian-ly to this one. You know the "Baptist" church that goes out and protests military funerals, saying that God is judging America by killing its soldiers because of the homosexuals? Well, that church lost a court case in Maryland, and is now required to pay some 10 million dollars. That's what the CNN News Story is above.

Maybe the judgment of God is not killing American soldiers, but having the government (His executor of judgment) heavy fines against them. Homosexuality, Sodomy, whatever you want to call it, is a sin, but at the same time, so is lying... being uncharitable... pride... fornication... All of those things have been accepted in America today too. There are right and wrong ways to go about it.

Anyway, just a thought...

Happy All Saint's Day

Forgive me... I let you all down again... Yesterday was Halloween, and I failed to make one single post on the subject. My apologies... Maybe I can try to make it up.

Yesterday was Halloween and all, and we, in our little town of Greece, had a public school student that dressed up like an ancient Egyptian "queen." The only problem was that the school specifically said no costumes at school on Halloween. This girl protested saying that they were prohibiting the free excercise of her religion.

You see, this girl's mom is a practicing witch. Together, they practice 'wicca.' Halloween is their holy day (holiday), and her belief is that she is to portray herself as somebody that she was in one of her former lives. She refused to change her clothes as instructed by the school, and the girl and her mother brought in their local high priestess of witches (I'm sure I'm wrong on the official title, but you get the point), to protest with the school administration.

Here's the deal, I'm happy about this. Just like I'm happy about the new pope... (Here's where you're saying, "Huh?")

Halloween is a witch's holiday. Let's not be confused about that. Perhaps the origin of the name, and of the holiday comes from something else, but today, there is no more Christian practice associated with Halloween. It is a wizard's and witch's holy day.

What does this have to do with the pope? Well, this pope is really Roman Catholic. He is making clear that there is no salvation outside of the Roman Catholic Church, etc. He is making it clear, that there are differences. Now, we don't have to be confused about the Roman Catholic Church and say, "Oh, it's not as bad as we were taught, just ask people." Most 'people' would not have held to the strict Roman Catholic teachings, and their old pope didn't say too much about it. This pope, he speaks up. Let there be no confusion.

Halloween is a witch's holiday. Let there be no confusion.

What communion hath light with darkness?

Just a thought.

Honey, not just Water

Testerday's post was fairly long, so I decided today to make a short post (see picture).

Psalm 81 refers to God tesing the people of Israel at Meribah, in the wilderness. We find there, or at least in the vicinity, that God had Moses draw water from the Rock. God provided their needs miraculously... awesome. But Psalm 81 ends with this phrase, "...and with honey out of the rock should I have satisified thee." But He didn't because His people, the Israelites didn't hearken to his voice, "and Israel would none of me."

He was ready to pour out blessing much better than just the necessary water, He wanted to give even more... yet they would not.

Lord, may I open my mouth wide, that Thou wouldest fill it!

Just a thought...

In Jesus Name I... Do Everything!

(Colossians 3:17) And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

This verse was in my Bible reading this week. I have read in many times before, and would probably have been able to quote it to you before I read it this morning. But it jumped out at me because it contained that phrase, "in the name of the Lord Jesus." I still haven't quite figured out why, but people keep searching on Google for the phrase - "In Jesus name we pray" or other close searches like "what is it to pray in Jesus name," and other very similar phrases. I actually looked and for the past 10 weeks, I have had at least one search come to my blog that was looking for that phrase, with as many as up to 4 a week! To me, that's amazing. Original Post here.

So, as I was reading this week, and I came across this verse, I realized that it says, "And whatosever ye do in word or deed..." We are not only supposed to pray in Jesus' name, but we are supposed to DO everything in Jesus name. Well, at least whatever I do in word or deed. That is, whatever I say or do, ought to be said in Jesus' name or done in Jesus' name.

We go back and ask the question: What is it to "do" something in the name of Jesus? Well, in my previous post about praying in Jesus name, I said how it means we do it with the authority of Jesus. As in, "Stop, in the name of the law" - we are claiming the authority of the law when we tell that person to stop. We do things with the authority of, and in the place of, somebody else, when we do something in their name.

To "DO" everything in the name of Jesus means that we only do what Jesus Approves of. When we sin, we cannot claim to be doing that in the name of Jesus. That would pretty much be blaspheming His name, I think... We are supposed to DO only those things which Jesus would approve of us doing, those things which we can honestly assume that Jesus would do - I mean, we are the body of Christ, we are supposed to manifest His life in our bodies (2 Corinthians 4:10).

Here's one to ponder. In Jesus name, means in His stead. As if Jesus were doing it. I should be able to say, I am doing in Jesus' stead. I am writing this post right now, in Jesus' stead - I am doing it for Him. I am at work today in the place of Jesus, so that I can provide substance for my family. I go to church in Jesus' stead - He did it when He was alive on the earth. I guess it goes along with the concept of WWJD - What Would Jesus Do? That is truly what we are supposed to do.

So, for every action today can you say, "I Do This in Jesus' Name?" Think about that the next time you sit down to watch something on TV - the next time you are considering saying something about somebody else - the next time you are talking with your spouse...

Just a thought...

IMPORTANT!!!!

Happy Birthday to You... Happy Birthday to You... Happy Birthday Dear, Sarah... Happy Birthday to You!!!

I just wanted everybody in the world to know that today is my beautiful wife's birthday. She turned 28 years old today. Isn't she beautiful? You can call her and wish her a Happy Birthday!

Here she is down in Guatemala when we went a couple years ago...


She's a great Mom... She loves her kids.


I'm sure she won't mind me sharing her High School pictures with everyone...

Like I said, isn't she just gorgeous!!!


Jen, these next two are for you...

I'm really not sure why she had a problem... It's just a volcano.


She likes her food too!

Another old picture that she is happy that I have on my computer...

And here she is last Christmas... She just loves having her picture taken!

Anyway, I just wanted everyone to know that I love my wife...

I love you, Sarah!!!