Our first snow arrived this evening. We got about 2 inches. John loved it...Molly not so much. While we were standing in the snow she was saying "Don't!" The bottom image is one of our snowman lights covered in snow.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Believers Beware!
Well, we are almost to the end of W's time in the Oval Office, and the truth just hit the fan. I will warn the reader that I am most definitely, not in any way politically savvy. Just ask the reporter from the AP who approached Amy and me at the SBC annual meeting this year prior to the presidential election asking us qeustions about John McCain. One question concerning McCain's record on the abortion issue was answered by yours truly, "I think he's pro-choice!" Mr. AP quickly replied, "No, he's openly, plainly, clearly pro-life. Staunchly pro-life. His voting record strongly supports it." So, I prove my point about my political ineptness.
But when it comes to W, I think the overwhelming majority of evangelicals were embarasingly duped about his understanding of orthodox Chrisitianity. In an article on AOL's news page, George makes the statement that he does not believe the Bible is literally true. "I'm not a biblical literalist," Bush said. I had some misgivings about "W" along the way through his eight year presidency, but I supported him and I liked him. I still do like him, but I am deeply disappointed in where he is in life. I am particularly concerned about his relationship with God.
In the interview, George made this statement which I will paraphrase, "I got back into religion and I stopped drinking. I was a one-step plan guy. That's all I know." His continual use of the term "the Almighty" show reverence for God but seem to reveal an impersonal understanding of the personal God revealed in the Bible. I rarely hear brothers and sisters in our church or any Christians that I feel truly know God refer to the God that revealed Himself to them on a very personal level as the aloof Almighty. The Almighty which is far, far beyond us and seemingly unknowable. This concept of God seems to say that He is just out there randomly helping people like George. Don't get me wrong, I don't think there is anything wrong with the term Almighty, but how does George Bush assume to know the Almighty if the Bible is not literally true? It seems that may be unlike many and I fear many in our church pews, who "know" God not through the revealed, inspired words of the Bible but through their own understanding and experience.
Mr. Bush (a term my wife has despised when it comes out of the mouths those liberal reporters) or Mr. President Bush also said that he believes that the God he prays to is the same god that everyone else is praying to. This is very troubling to me especially when I remember going to the SBC annual meeting in Nashville 2005 and watching Geroge W. address a convention of what I considered primarily conservative Bible believing Christians with a "let's go get 'em boys" rally.
My point is simply and plainly this - As Christians we must be sure that our allegiance is tied to NO ONE, NO ONE other than Jesus the Christ, Lord of all and Savior of the believer. We need to learn a valuable lesson in all this. When it comes to politics, politicians deserve our vote and even our support but they DO NOT DESERVE OUR HOPE. Our hope should be reserved for no one but Jesus because the ultimate government will rest on His shoulders. No human politician is going to usher in another golden age in this country or this world. By the way Christian believers, also beware of someone who claims the name of Christ but will not place his hand on a Bible to be sworn in to the the highest known human position of leadership on the planet. Beware of a man who has membership in a local body of believers where the "preacher" spews words of racial hate and slander, but changes that membership ONLY when that membership is scrutinized in public.
Christians must not withdraw from the political process. We cannot become isolationists to borrow a foreign policy term. However, we must inject our beliefs into society not through elected officials but through our own lives lived in relation to others who need the salt and light, the truth in love.
But when it comes to W, I think the overwhelming majority of evangelicals were embarasingly duped about his understanding of orthodox Chrisitianity. In an article on AOL's news page, George makes the statement that he does not believe the Bible is literally true. "I'm not a biblical literalist," Bush said. I had some misgivings about "W" along the way through his eight year presidency, but I supported him and I liked him. I still do like him, but I am deeply disappointed in where he is in life. I am particularly concerned about his relationship with God.
In the interview, George made this statement which I will paraphrase, "I got back into religion and I stopped drinking. I was a one-step plan guy. That's all I know." His continual use of the term "the Almighty" show reverence for God but seem to reveal an impersonal understanding of the personal God revealed in the Bible. I rarely hear brothers and sisters in our church or any Christians that I feel truly know God refer to the God that revealed Himself to them on a very personal level as the aloof Almighty. The Almighty which is far, far beyond us and seemingly unknowable. This concept of God seems to say that He is just out there randomly helping people like George. Don't get me wrong, I don't think there is anything wrong with the term Almighty, but how does George Bush assume to know the Almighty if the Bible is not literally true? It seems that may be unlike many and I fear many in our church pews, who "know" God not through the revealed, inspired words of the Bible but through their own understanding and experience.
Mr. Bush (a term my wife has despised when it comes out of the mouths those liberal reporters) or Mr. President Bush also said that he believes that the God he prays to is the same god that everyone else is praying to. This is very troubling to me especially when I remember going to the SBC annual meeting in Nashville 2005 and watching Geroge W. address a convention of what I considered primarily conservative Bible believing Christians with a "let's go get 'em boys" rally.
My point is simply and plainly this - As Christians we must be sure that our allegiance is tied to NO ONE, NO ONE other than Jesus the Christ, Lord of all and Savior of the believer. We need to learn a valuable lesson in all this. When it comes to politics, politicians deserve our vote and even our support but they DO NOT DESERVE OUR HOPE. Our hope should be reserved for no one but Jesus because the ultimate government will rest on His shoulders. No human politician is going to usher in another golden age in this country or this world. By the way Christian believers, also beware of someone who claims the name of Christ but will not place his hand on a Bible to be sworn in to the the highest known human position of leadership on the planet. Beware of a man who has membership in a local body of believers where the "preacher" spews words of racial hate and slander, but changes that membership ONLY when that membership is scrutinized in public.
Christians must not withdraw from the political process. We cannot become isolationists to borrow a foreign policy term. However, we must inject our beliefs into society not through elected officials but through our own lives lived in relation to others who need the salt and light, the truth in love.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Opryland
We had a great time tonight celebrating Brad's birthday. We went to Opryland Hotel to see all of the Christmas decorations and then over to Opry Mills to see Santa. John talked Santas ear off while Molly screamed at him. She did not care who he was or what he might bring her.
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