Below is a link to one of the most disturbing articles I have ever read. It is from the LA Times (registration may be required). Warning: This article is not for the faint of heart and contains graphic descriptions of the willful destruction of human life sacrificed on the altar of the idol gods of selfishness, convenience, irresponsibility, self-gratification and sexual immorality.
Offering Abortion, Rebirth (LA Times Nov. 29, 2005)
This article is so disturbing that I don’t even know where to begin to comment so I won’t – but I will just add these:
Can the Lord’s Judgment upon our nation be far off?
“The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones. I myself will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given one of his children to Molech, to make my sanctuary unclean and to profane my holy name. And if the people of the land do at all close their eyes to that man when he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death, then I will set my face against that man and against his clan and will cut them off from among their people, him and all who follow him in whoring after Molech.” Leviticus 20:1-5 (ESV)
Cherish the wondrous works of the Lord:
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:13-17 (ESV)
A Prayer: Have mercy on us, Oh Lord. For we have sinned against you, we have shed innocent blood and we have been silent while others have done the same. We pray O God that you would humble our nation and bring us to repentance for this plague of wickedness. Without your grace and mercy Oh God, we know your judgment will be severe against such evil. Have Mercy on us, we pray. And Father, we pray for this Dr. Harrison and others like him, we pray for the nurses in such clinics and we pray for the women who patronize them – We pray Oh Lord that you will turn their hearts toward you and by your masterful grace have mercy upon their souls. We also pray Father, that you would do the same for our elected officials and the judges of our land – that they would be converted to the truth of the Gospel and that they would rule and judge according to truth and righteousness. Revive us Oh Lord to the truth of Your Ways and Have mercy upon us. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray – for His glory and honor, Amen.
Note: If you are unable to read the article due to publication lapse or its being removed from the site you can contact me for a MS Word copy that I saved. I don’t want to publish the article on the site as I am not sure about publication rights on a public forum. But please don’t make a request if you can view it and cut and paste for yourself. Much thanks.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Monday, November 28, 2005
Sunday Postscript
The "Sunday Postscript" will be my time to share and reflect on the messages and events from the Lord's Day.
In the morning service, I have been preaching through Genesis. Yesterday I preached from Genesis 2:1-3 on "God Blessed the Seventh Day". God blessed the seventh day and He also sanctified it (set apart, made it holy). Through the use of repetition and ascribing a moral value to the seventh day, God clearly wanted us to notice and take heed to observing the seventh day. God honored the seventh day because after working six days he rested (stopped His creative activity). What He had created was perfect, and all 'very good' (1:31) and so there was no need to do anything else. In doing so, God gave us a pattern for our own practice which was later codified in the 4th Commandment, that one day in seven would be the Lord's - a day of resting from our usual labors and recreations, worshipping God, fellowshipping with one another and serving one another. The first important point to remember is that the Sabbath command was not new with Moses at Sinai - but was a Creation ordinance for all of mankind to follow. Unfortunately by Jesus' day, the Jews had distorted God's intent and design for the Sabbath and made it a burden for the people. The second important point to remember is that Jesus never abolished the Sabbath observance. Jesus, as Lord of the Sabbath (Mk 2:28) taught that “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mk. 2:27), thus restoring the Sabbath to its God ordained design. On the Sabbath we see Jesus and His disciples, resting from their usual labors, worshipping, fellowshipping and doing acts of necessity (getting food from the fields) and mercy (healing). Jesus has given us the example as to how we should spend the Sabbath. The third important point to remember is that though Jesus did not abolish the Sabbath observance – He did institute one significant change – with His resurrection the day of rest changed from the seventh day of the week to the first day of the week. Just as God rested after His work of Creation, so Jesus on the first day of the week rested from His work of redemption accomplished for His people. The ‘one day in seven’ principle of Exodus 20 remains, but for the Christian, the day for resting, worshipping, fellowshipping and serving has changed. The Apostle John later referred to this as the Lord’s Day (Rev. 1:10). We closed with the fourth important point to remember from Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 58:13-14) regarding the duty we have of calling the Sabbath a delight – when we observe it and delight in it as God intends – we delight in Him. This was true for Israel in the OT, it is true for the Church today, and it will be true in glory when we enter into the eternal Sabbath rest that has been prepared for us by our Lord.
In the second service, we have been working our way through the Apostles’ Creed. Last evening we considered, “I Believe Jesus Christ Suffered Under Pontius Pilate”. The mention of Pilate in the Creed is significant as a historical marker (like the mention of the Virgin Mary) – it ties Jesus, the Son of God, to a particular person, time and place in human history. Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate by being falsely charged and condemned by the courts of sinful men (trials before the Sanhedrin and Pilate). He also suffered abuse, mocking, scourging and the humiliation of the Cross. Why did Christ suffer these things: To give us an example when we suffer (1 Peter 2:21-23), to redeem us and heal us of our sins (vs. 24) and to aid and minister to us in our time of suffering and need (Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:15-16).
In the morning service, I have been preaching through Genesis. Yesterday I preached from Genesis 2:1-3 on "God Blessed the Seventh Day". God blessed the seventh day and He also sanctified it (set apart, made it holy). Through the use of repetition and ascribing a moral value to the seventh day, God clearly wanted us to notice and take heed to observing the seventh day. God honored the seventh day because after working six days he rested (stopped His creative activity). What He had created was perfect, and all 'very good' (1:31) and so there was no need to do anything else. In doing so, God gave us a pattern for our own practice which was later codified in the 4th Commandment, that one day in seven would be the Lord's - a day of resting from our usual labors and recreations, worshipping God, fellowshipping with one another and serving one another. The first important point to remember is that the Sabbath command was not new with Moses at Sinai - but was a Creation ordinance for all of mankind to follow. Unfortunately by Jesus' day, the Jews had distorted God's intent and design for the Sabbath and made it a burden for the people. The second important point to remember is that Jesus never abolished the Sabbath observance. Jesus, as Lord of the Sabbath (Mk 2:28) taught that “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mk. 2:27), thus restoring the Sabbath to its God ordained design. On the Sabbath we see Jesus and His disciples, resting from their usual labors, worshipping, fellowshipping and doing acts of necessity (getting food from the fields) and mercy (healing). Jesus has given us the example as to how we should spend the Sabbath. The third important point to remember is that though Jesus did not abolish the Sabbath observance – He did institute one significant change – with His resurrection the day of rest changed from the seventh day of the week to the first day of the week. Just as God rested after His work of Creation, so Jesus on the first day of the week rested from His work of redemption accomplished for His people. The ‘one day in seven’ principle of Exodus 20 remains, but for the Christian, the day for resting, worshipping, fellowshipping and serving has changed. The Apostle John later referred to this as the Lord’s Day (Rev. 1:10). We closed with the fourth important point to remember from Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 58:13-14) regarding the duty we have of calling the Sabbath a delight – when we observe it and delight in it as God intends – we delight in Him. This was true for Israel in the OT, it is true for the Church today, and it will be true in glory when we enter into the eternal Sabbath rest that has been prepared for us by our Lord.
In the second service, we have been working our way through the Apostles’ Creed. Last evening we considered, “I Believe Jesus Christ Suffered Under Pontius Pilate”. The mention of Pilate in the Creed is significant as a historical marker (like the mention of the Virgin Mary) – it ties Jesus, the Son of God, to a particular person, time and place in human history. Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate by being falsely charged and condemned by the courts of sinful men (trials before the Sanhedrin and Pilate). He also suffered abuse, mocking, scourging and the humiliation of the Cross. Why did Christ suffer these things: To give us an example when we suffer (1 Peter 2:21-23), to redeem us and heal us of our sins (vs. 24) and to aid and minister to us in our time of suffering and need (Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:15-16).
Friday, November 25, 2005
Entering the Blogosphere: An Anti-blog Rant (of sorts)
Well, this is it. I am taking the plunge. The anti-blogger becomes a blogger. I never thought I would succumb to the pressure, but alas, here I am. Yes it is true, I was a blog skeptic. Here is my "anti-blog rant":
What's the point of this new fangled medium? Is it the culmination of the "Me" generation philosophy that has been pounded into our heads for the last 30 years (or more)? "I have something important to say. It's important because I am important and important people always have something important to say." Now through the blogosphere everyone who has something to say (whether they are actually important or not) is able to say it for all to read and take note.
Or maybe this is the peoples revolt against the myriad of talk radio, TV talk show, 24 hour news show "pundits" and "experts" who can spin straw into gold better than Rumplestiltskin himself. So now everyone is a "pundit" and everyone is an "expert" and everyone is "important". And when everyone is important, then no one really is. It's the exaltation of mediocrity. Sounds like a cross between the National Education Association agenda and Syndrome's rant in "The Incredibles"(great flick btw).
And then there is the 'exhibitionist' factor. People used to keep diaries and journals under lock and key; now they are published for the entire world to see. I did a lot of blog hopping the last week while I was trying to make the final decision and I was amazed at how bland (dare I say mediocre) many blogs are. I used to do some journaling when I was younger (it was not cool for guys to have diaries but it was o.k. to have a journal) and several years after I stopped, I read some of what I wrote and thought "Man, my life was pretty boring - couldn't I find anything else more interesting to write about". And yet there are many blogs out there where the blogger is just showing the world how boring their lives are. (I hope I don't become one of them - yikes!). Though I guess it is easier to let the impersonal world know exactly how you feel than it is to have a meaningful conversation with your neighbor.
Finally there is the time factor. Who has the time to blog? And worse yet, who has the time to read blogs? Don't these bloggers have jobs? Don't they ever sleep? Maybe they sleep at their jobs so they can blog all night? Whatever happened to the 'work ethic'? [end of anti-blog rant]
So these are my criticisms of the phenomenon known as the blogosphere. Maybe they are valid, maybe they aren't. But alas here I am writing this all out ......... on a Blog! So what gives? (or rather) What gave in? Especially since I am already busy enough, I am not very good with self exposure and I don't feel as though I have anything all that important to say that someone else can't say better. Well, I sought some input from friends about blogs, clogs, bogs, frogs and hogs etc. (sorry inside joke, but if any friends read this they will understand). The summarized response was "Try it, you'll like it." And guess what "Hey Mikey, he likes it!" (Of course this is my very first blog post - so maybe it's too early to get excited.) Maybe I won't have the time to keep it up and maybe I won't have anything important to say (or anything interesting); but who knows, I just might.
My desire is to use this blog for the glory of God - first and foremost. Posts will range from family, church, theology, bible study and devotion, politics, and culture - in other words- Life. Also, if you haven't figured it out yet, I am by no means always serious - my take is, if God laughs (Psalm 2:4) then why shouldn't the rest of us. We are, after all, created in His Image.
Steve
What's the point of this new fangled medium? Is it the culmination of the "Me" generation philosophy that has been pounded into our heads for the last 30 years (or more)? "I have something important to say. It's important because I am important and important people always have something important to say." Now through the blogosphere everyone who has something to say (whether they are actually important or not) is able to say it for all to read and take note.
Or maybe this is the peoples revolt against the myriad of talk radio, TV talk show, 24 hour news show "pundits" and "experts" who can spin straw into gold better than Rumplestiltskin himself. So now everyone is a "pundit" and everyone is an "expert" and everyone is "important". And when everyone is important, then no one really is. It's the exaltation of mediocrity. Sounds like a cross between the National Education Association agenda and Syndrome's rant in "The Incredibles"(great flick btw).
And then there is the 'exhibitionist' factor. People used to keep diaries and journals under lock and key; now they are published for the entire world to see. I did a lot of blog hopping the last week while I was trying to make the final decision and I was amazed at how bland (dare I say mediocre) many blogs are. I used to do some journaling when I was younger (it was not cool for guys to have diaries but it was o.k. to have a journal) and several years after I stopped, I read some of what I wrote and thought "Man, my life was pretty boring - couldn't I find anything else more interesting to write about". And yet there are many blogs out there where the blogger is just showing the world how boring their lives are. (I hope I don't become one of them - yikes!). Though I guess it is easier to let the impersonal world know exactly how you feel than it is to have a meaningful conversation with your neighbor.
Finally there is the time factor. Who has the time to blog? And worse yet, who has the time to read blogs? Don't these bloggers have jobs? Don't they ever sleep? Maybe they sleep at their jobs so they can blog all night? Whatever happened to the 'work ethic'? [end of anti-blog rant]
So these are my criticisms of the phenomenon known as the blogosphere. Maybe they are valid, maybe they aren't. But alas here I am writing this all out ......... on a Blog! So what gives? (or rather) What gave in? Especially since I am already busy enough, I am not very good with self exposure and I don't feel as though I have anything all that important to say that someone else can't say better. Well, I sought some input from friends about blogs, clogs, bogs, frogs and hogs etc. (sorry inside joke, but if any friends read this they will understand). The summarized response was "Try it, you'll like it." And guess what "Hey Mikey, he likes it!" (Of course this is my very first blog post - so maybe it's too early to get excited.) Maybe I won't have the time to keep it up and maybe I won't have anything important to say (or anything interesting); but who knows, I just might.
My desire is to use this blog for the glory of God - first and foremost. Posts will range from family, church, theology, bible study and devotion, politics, and culture - in other words- Life. Also, if you haven't figured it out yet, I am by no means always serious - my take is, if God laughs (Psalm 2:4) then why shouldn't the rest of us. We are, after all, created in His Image.
Steve
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