Well, I think this is a little overdue, but here comes my word to the conservative evangelical church,since I promised it in my response to the liberal Christians. So I was raised in this group, so in a sense it's like I am talking about family and so I have less anger toward this group and a deep sense of wanting them to "get it".
One evening last weekend a dear friend of mine and I sat watching You Tube videos until 2 in the morning. You might think we were being typical twenty somethings just having a good time, but trust me, it was a little different. My friend and I have become immersed in and very passionate about the war for truth in the church and we watch video after video of John MacArthur vs. Brian McClaren, etc. For those of you who don't know those names basically they are the most conservative and liberal voices within the evangelical church, and I'm not even sure McClaren would claim to be part of the evangelical church. But that's not the point. Here is the point: after watching one of the more liberal speakers at a conference in the video speak about God's vast love for all of us, here was the conservative's response who posted it:GETTING ON TOP OF A LITERAL PEDESTAL AND YELLING ABOUT THERE BEING A HEAVEN AND A HELL AND FUTURE JUDGMENT AND GOD IS ALSO A GOD OF WRATH. Ok, is there anything untrue about this? I don't think so. It was the manner in which he was trying to convey this truth.
Too often in the conservative evangelical church, in holding on to the truth we have let go of the amazing model of love and service Christ gave us to serving the poor and those who didn't know Him. We've got our doctrine in our head right, but has it moved to our hearts? Not near enough. Christ did come to bring peace, He did come to feed the sick, cloth the naked, and bind up the broken hearted, He did! And in doing so He never once compromised the truth. Why don't we enter into broken people's lives more? Are we not broken too? The only difference is that somebody came alongside us and introduced us to the One who could mend our souls.
I have this assumption, that many of us in the conserative evangelical church came to know Christ through the sharing of some family member. That family member probably was also meeting your daily needs for food, and your needs for shelter, and your needs for love. They were meeting both you physical and your spiritual needs, right? At least this was the case for me. I knew my parents loved me, they showed me that everyday. So when they explained to me who Jesus was, it made sense. They had modeled His love so well that I got it. Of course, the Holy Spirit did a work in my heart too, but my family set a great foundation to understanding this love.
So when we think about those who do not know Christ yet, it seems essential to me that we step into their lives and build relationship. That we show them that we really care, much in the same way that I knew my parent's loved me before I knew Jesus loved me. That doesn't mean letting go of truth, it means living it!!
Oh church, we are supposed to look different than the world! They will know we are Chrstians by our love. And then when the tough questions come about truths such as eternal destinations, we have more respect and validity to be heard.
I fear that far too many of us, myself included, are far too concerned with what the world thinks of us. We don't want too be too different, too drastic, we want to blend into our society and speak in our comfortable circles about the truth. It isn't supposed to be that way! The irony of this is, that much of the world already thinks poorly of conservative Evangelical Americans. They think we are judgmental,intolerant, and have little concern for the poor and downcast. I would rather be thought radical and crazy because I step into uncomfortable circles for my Jesus, than intolerant and judgmental because of the pedestal I preach from. By all means, yes, PLEASE hold on to truth, the church is in crisis on doctrine. But just as much live a life of love to the least of these so that Jesus can do through you what He did through His own flesh when He walked this earth. This is the truest and best thing we can do for our Jesus.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
FINDING PLEASURE...
I know this blog is called Laura G's Philosophies, so you might hope for more original pieces by me. but I have found that the authors I read each day formulate so much of my philosophies on life, that it's best to just put their own words. SO I hope you enjoy my occasional quoting of those who have shaped my philosphies...
"If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own good and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit that this notion has crept in from Kant and the Stoics and is no part of the Christian faith. Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
C.S. Lewis
Oh my Christian friends, that we would challenge one another on this!!! Do not be too easily pleased, our joy and the joy of the world needs us to be what the Creator created us to be.
"If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own good and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit that this notion has crept in from Kant and the Stoics and is no part of the Christian faith. Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
C.S. Lewis
Oh my Christian friends, that we would challenge one another on this!!! Do not be too easily pleased, our joy and the joy of the world needs us to be what the Creator created us to be.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Waiting and Unfulfilled Desires
I am 25 years old. I live with my brother and his family. I have a job that requires little to no thought. I do not own a home, I do not have a boyfriend or a spouse, and I still question whether I am choosing the right career path. I have many things I long for and desire that the Lord has not yet fulfilled. How do I wait in a way that is honest and yet honors Him? This is what I am wrestling with as of late.
My mom sent me this article this morning that reminded me that most of our life is waiting for something and eventually we are waiting to die. How do we take today, just today, and find purpose and joy in it alone? That's hard when the day is spent in front of the computer, when the things I think would bring me the most joy ellude me. But this is what it is right now. So how do I find joy and purpose in this?
I think there are two thoughts I've had as I've been grappling with this. First, I think we are to take the mundane and try to use it for the glory of God. We know He is more interested in our hearts than the exact work our hands are doing. Do I come to work ready to respond in love to angry clients, to those whose English I can't understand, to the old woman who has never had a ticket before and doesn't know what to do? Sometimes I do, too often I don't. I was thinking that if every interaction, big or small, that we have with people was responded to with Christ's love this world would be more peaceful and less stressful. I think there is definite purpose in that.
The broader thought is this, what processes are underway in my life right now because I am waiting that make me more Christlike, or have the potential to do so? All this waiting and quietness lets me think a lot about myself, who I am becoming, what I want to become, how there is still so much sin in me that I need to let the Lord remove. I'm learning more about desiring God through John Piper's book. I think I could really enjoy being a Christian Hedonist, I am a pretty big fan of pleasure. But the challenge is finding that pleasure in Christ. I'm not gonna lie, more often than not pleasure comes from the things God gives me and not from the giver himself. So when my pleasures are altered or changed or taken away, I feel unfulfilled. So I'm not sure how I make Christ where I find pleasure and joy. I don't think I experience it often enough. But I think and pray that He is taking me a on journey to that place because never before have I so wanted to figure it out.
God is on my side. I know this. So I pray that I would wait well. That I would find my pleasure in Him and that I will stay on this journey of learning how to do that.
My mom sent me this article this morning that reminded me that most of our life is waiting for something and eventually we are waiting to die. How do we take today, just today, and find purpose and joy in it alone? That's hard when the day is spent in front of the computer, when the things I think would bring me the most joy ellude me. But this is what it is right now. So how do I find joy and purpose in this?
I think there are two thoughts I've had as I've been grappling with this. First, I think we are to take the mundane and try to use it for the glory of God. We know He is more interested in our hearts than the exact work our hands are doing. Do I come to work ready to respond in love to angry clients, to those whose English I can't understand, to the old woman who has never had a ticket before and doesn't know what to do? Sometimes I do, too often I don't. I was thinking that if every interaction, big or small, that we have with people was responded to with Christ's love this world would be more peaceful and less stressful. I think there is definite purpose in that.
The broader thought is this, what processes are underway in my life right now because I am waiting that make me more Christlike, or have the potential to do so? All this waiting and quietness lets me think a lot about myself, who I am becoming, what I want to become, how there is still so much sin in me that I need to let the Lord remove. I'm learning more about desiring God through John Piper's book. I think I could really enjoy being a Christian Hedonist, I am a pretty big fan of pleasure. But the challenge is finding that pleasure in Christ. I'm not gonna lie, more often than not pleasure comes from the things God gives me and not from the giver himself. So when my pleasures are altered or changed or taken away, I feel unfulfilled. So I'm not sure how I make Christ where I find pleasure and joy. I don't think I experience it often enough. But I think and pray that He is taking me a on journey to that place because never before have I so wanted to figure it out.
God is on my side. I know this. So I pray that I would wait well. That I would find my pleasure in Him and that I will stay on this journey of learning how to do that.
Friday, February 8, 2008
A Man of Noble Character....
I was moved by this speech by Mitt Romney. It is less about me being a huge Romney fan and more about how noble I believe his decision was. As my mom put it, he sure has got a lot of things right.
Governor Romney's Address To CPAC (As Prepared For Delivery):
"I want to begin by saying thank you. It's great to be with you again. And I look forward to joining with you many more times in the future.
"Last year, CPAC gave me the sendoff I needed. I was in single digits in the polls, and I was facing household Republican names. As of today, more than 4 million people have given me their vote for President, less than Senator McCain's 4.7 million, but quite a statement nonetheless. Eleven states have given me their nod, compared to his 13. Of course, because size does matter, he's doing quite a bit better with his number of delegates.
"To all of you, thank you for caring enough about the future of America to show up, stand up and speak up for conservative principles.
"As I said to you last year, conservative principles are needed now more than ever. We face a new generation of challenges, challenges which threaten our prosperity, our security and our future. I am convinced that unless America changes course, we will become the France of the 21st century – still a great nation, but no longer the leader of the world, no longer the superpower. And to me, that is unthinkable. Simon Peres, in a visit to Boston, was asked what he thought about the war in Iraq. 'First,' he said, 'I must put something in context. America is unique in the history of the world. In the history of the world, whenever there has been conflict, the nation that wins takes land from the nation that loses. One nation in history, and this during the last century, laid down hundreds of thousands of lives and took no land. No land from Germany, no land from Japan, no land from Korea. America is unique in the sacrifice it has made for liberty, for itself and for freedom loving people around the world.' The best ally peace has ever known, and will ever know, is a strong America.
"And that is why we must rise to the occasion, as we have always done before, to confront the challenges ahead. Perhaps the most fundamental of these is the attack on the American culture.
"Over the years, my business has taken me to many countries. I have been struck by the enormous differences in the wealth and well-being of people of different nations. I have read a number of scholarly explanations for the disparities. I found the most convincing was that written by David Landes, a professor emeritus from Harvard University. I presume he's a liberal – I guess that's redundant. His work traces the coming and going of great civilizations throughout history. After hundreds of pages of analysis, he concludes with this:
"If we learn anything from the history of economic development, it is that culture makes all the difference. Culture makes all the difference.
"What is it about American culture that has led us to become the most powerful nation in the history of the world? We believe in hard work and education. We love opportunity: almost all of us are immigrants or descendants of immigrants who came here for opportunity – opportunity is in our DNA. Americans love God, and those who don't have faith, typically believe in something greater than themselves – a 'Purpose Driven Life.' And we sacrifice everything we have, even our lives, for our families, our freedoms and our country. The values and beliefs of the free American people are the source of our nation's strength and they always will be.
"The threat to our culture comes from within. The 1960's welfare programs created a culture of poverty. Some think we won that battle when we reformed welfare, but the liberals haven't given up. At every turn, they try to substitute government largesse for individual responsibility. They fight to strip work requirements from welfare, to put more people on Medicaid, and to remove more and more people from having to pay any income tax whatsoever. Dependency is death to initiative, risk-taking and opportunity. Dependency is a culture-killing drug. We have got to fight it like the poison it is.
"The attack on faith and religion is no less relentless. And tolerance for pornography – even celebration of it – and sexual promiscuity, combined with the twisted incentives of government welfare programs have led to today's grim realities: 68% of African American children are born out-of-wedlock, 45% of Hispanic children, and 25% of White children. How much harder it is for these children to succeed in school and in life. A nation built on the principles of the Founding Fathers cannot long stand when its children are raised without fathers in the home.
"The development of a child is enhanced by having a mother and father. Such a family is the ideal for the future of the child and for the strength of a nation. I wonder how it is that unelected judges, like some in my state of Massachusetts, are so unaware of this reality, so oblivious to the millennia of recorded history. It is time for the people of America to fortify marriage through Constitutional amendment, so that liberal judges cannot continue to attack it.
"Europe is facing a demographic disaster. That is the inevitable product of weakened faith in the Creator, failed families, disrespect for the sanctity of human life and eroded morality. Some reason that culture is merely an accessory to America's vitality; we know that it is the source of our strength. And we are not dissuaded by the snickers and knowing glances when we stand up for family values, and morality, and culture. We will always be honored to stand on principle and to stand for principle.
"The attack on our culture is not our sole challenge. We face economic competition unlike anything we have ever known before. China and Asia are emerging from centuries of poverty. Their people are plentiful, innovative and ambitious. If we do not change course, Asia or China will pass us by as the economic superpower, just as we passed England and France during the last century. The prosperity and security of our children and grandchildren depend on us.
"Our prosperity and security also depend on finally acting to become energy secure. Oil producing states like Russia and Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Iran are siphoning over $400 billion per year from our economy – that's almost what we spend annually for defense. It is past time for us to invest in energy technology, nuclear power, clean coal, liquid coal, renewable sources and energy efficiency. America must never be held hostage by the likes of Putin, Chavez, and Ahmadinejad.
"And our economy is also burdened by the inexorable ramping of government spending. Don't focus on the pork alone – even though it is indeed irritating and shameful. Look at the entitlements. They make up 60% of federal spending today. By the end of the next President's second term, they will total 70%. Any conservative plan for the future has to include entitlement reform that solves the problem, not just acknowledges it.
"Most politicians don't seem to understand the connection between our ability to compete and our national wealth, and the wealth of our families. They act as if money just happens – that it's just there. But every dollar represents a good or service produced in the private sector. Depress the private sector and you depress the well-being of Americans.
"That's exactly what happens with high taxes, over-regulation, tort windfalls, mandates, and overfed, over-spending government. Did you see that today, government workers make more money than people who work in the private sector? Can you imagine what happens to an economy where the best opportunities are for bureaucrats?
"It's high time to lower taxes, including corporate taxes, to take a weed-whacker to government regulations, to reform entitlements, and to stand up to the increasingly voracious appetite of the unions in our government.
"And finally, let's consider the greatest challenge facing America – and facing the entire civilized world: the threat of violent, radical Jihad. In one wing of the world of Islam, there is a conviction that all governments should be destroyed and replaced by a religious caliphate. These Jihadists will battle any form of democracy. To them, democracy is blasphemous for it says that citizens, not God shape the law. They find the idea of human equality to be offensive. They hate everything we believe about freedom just as we hate everything they believe about radical Jihad.
"To battle this threat, we have sent the most courageous and brave soldiers in the world. But their numbers have been depleted by the Clinton years when troops were reduced by 500,000, when 80 ships were retired from the Navy, and when our human intelligence was slashed by 25%. We were told that we were getting a peace dividend. We got the dividend, but we didn't get the peace. In the face of evil in radical Jihad and given the inevitable military ambitions of China, we must act to rebuild our military might – raise military spending to 4% of our GDP, purchase the most modern armament, re-shape our fighting forces for the asymmetric demands we now face, and give the veterans the care they deserve.
"Soon, the face of liberalism in America will have a new name. Whether it is Barack or Hillary, the result would be the same if they were to win the Presidency. The opponents of American culture would push the throttle, devising new justifications for judges to depart from the Constitution. Economic neophytes would layer heavier and heavier burdens on employers and families, slowing our economy and opening the way for foreign competition to further erode our lead.
"Even though we face an uphill fight, I know that many in this room are fully behind my campaign. You are with me all the way to the convention. Fight on, just like Ronald Reagan did in 1976. But there is an important difference from 1976: today, we are a nation at war.
"And Barack and Hillary have made their intentions clear regarding Iraq and the war on terror. They would retreat and declare defeat. And the consequence of that would be devastating. It would mean attacks on America, launched from safe havens that make Afghanistan under the Taliban look like child's play. About this, I have no doubt.
"I disagree with Senator McCain on a number of issues, as you know. But I agree with him on doing whatever it takes to be successful in Iraq, on finding and executing Osama bin Laden, and on eliminating Al Qaeda and terror. If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or Obama would win. And in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign, be a part of aiding a surrender to terror.
"This is not an easy decision for me. I hate to lose. My family, my friends and our supporters – many of you right here in this room – have given a great deal to get me where I have a shot at becoming President. If this were only about me, I would go on. But I entered this race because I love America, and because I love America, I feel I must now stand aside, for our party and for our country.
"I will continue to stand for conservative principles. I will fight alongside you for all the things we believe in. And one of those things is that we cannot allow the next President of the United States to retreat in the face evil extremism.
"It is the common task of each generation – and the burden of liberty – to preserve this country, expand its freedoms and renew its spirit so that its noble past is prologue to its glorious future.
"To this task, accepting this burden, we are all dedicated, and I firmly believe, by the providence of the Almighty, that we will succeed beyond our fondest hope. America must remain, as it has always been, the hope of the Earth.
"Thank you, and God bless America.
Governor Romney's Address To CPAC (As Prepared For Delivery):
"I want to begin by saying thank you. It's great to be with you again. And I look forward to joining with you many more times in the future.
"Last year, CPAC gave me the sendoff I needed. I was in single digits in the polls, and I was facing household Republican names. As of today, more than 4 million people have given me their vote for President, less than Senator McCain's 4.7 million, but quite a statement nonetheless. Eleven states have given me their nod, compared to his 13. Of course, because size does matter, he's doing quite a bit better with his number of delegates.
"To all of you, thank you for caring enough about the future of America to show up, stand up and speak up for conservative principles.
"As I said to you last year, conservative principles are needed now more than ever. We face a new generation of challenges, challenges which threaten our prosperity, our security and our future. I am convinced that unless America changes course, we will become the France of the 21st century – still a great nation, but no longer the leader of the world, no longer the superpower. And to me, that is unthinkable. Simon Peres, in a visit to Boston, was asked what he thought about the war in Iraq. 'First,' he said, 'I must put something in context. America is unique in the history of the world. In the history of the world, whenever there has been conflict, the nation that wins takes land from the nation that loses. One nation in history, and this during the last century, laid down hundreds of thousands of lives and took no land. No land from Germany, no land from Japan, no land from Korea. America is unique in the sacrifice it has made for liberty, for itself and for freedom loving people around the world.' The best ally peace has ever known, and will ever know, is a strong America.
"And that is why we must rise to the occasion, as we have always done before, to confront the challenges ahead. Perhaps the most fundamental of these is the attack on the American culture.
"Over the years, my business has taken me to many countries. I have been struck by the enormous differences in the wealth and well-being of people of different nations. I have read a number of scholarly explanations for the disparities. I found the most convincing was that written by David Landes, a professor emeritus from Harvard University. I presume he's a liberal – I guess that's redundant. His work traces the coming and going of great civilizations throughout history. After hundreds of pages of analysis, he concludes with this:
"If we learn anything from the history of economic development, it is that culture makes all the difference. Culture makes all the difference.
"What is it about American culture that has led us to become the most powerful nation in the history of the world? We believe in hard work and education. We love opportunity: almost all of us are immigrants or descendants of immigrants who came here for opportunity – opportunity is in our DNA. Americans love God, and those who don't have faith, typically believe in something greater than themselves – a 'Purpose Driven Life.' And we sacrifice everything we have, even our lives, for our families, our freedoms and our country. The values and beliefs of the free American people are the source of our nation's strength and they always will be.
"The threat to our culture comes from within. The 1960's welfare programs created a culture of poverty. Some think we won that battle when we reformed welfare, but the liberals haven't given up. At every turn, they try to substitute government largesse for individual responsibility. They fight to strip work requirements from welfare, to put more people on Medicaid, and to remove more and more people from having to pay any income tax whatsoever. Dependency is death to initiative, risk-taking and opportunity. Dependency is a culture-killing drug. We have got to fight it like the poison it is.
"The attack on faith and religion is no less relentless. And tolerance for pornography – even celebration of it – and sexual promiscuity, combined with the twisted incentives of government welfare programs have led to today's grim realities: 68% of African American children are born out-of-wedlock, 45% of Hispanic children, and 25% of White children. How much harder it is for these children to succeed in school and in life. A nation built on the principles of the Founding Fathers cannot long stand when its children are raised without fathers in the home.
"The development of a child is enhanced by having a mother and father. Such a family is the ideal for the future of the child and for the strength of a nation. I wonder how it is that unelected judges, like some in my state of Massachusetts, are so unaware of this reality, so oblivious to the millennia of recorded history. It is time for the people of America to fortify marriage through Constitutional amendment, so that liberal judges cannot continue to attack it.
"Europe is facing a demographic disaster. That is the inevitable product of weakened faith in the Creator, failed families, disrespect for the sanctity of human life and eroded morality. Some reason that culture is merely an accessory to America's vitality; we know that it is the source of our strength. And we are not dissuaded by the snickers and knowing glances when we stand up for family values, and morality, and culture. We will always be honored to stand on principle and to stand for principle.
"The attack on our culture is not our sole challenge. We face economic competition unlike anything we have ever known before. China and Asia are emerging from centuries of poverty. Their people are plentiful, innovative and ambitious. If we do not change course, Asia or China will pass us by as the economic superpower, just as we passed England and France during the last century. The prosperity and security of our children and grandchildren depend on us.
"Our prosperity and security also depend on finally acting to become energy secure. Oil producing states like Russia and Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Iran are siphoning over $400 billion per year from our economy – that's almost what we spend annually for defense. It is past time for us to invest in energy technology, nuclear power, clean coal, liquid coal, renewable sources and energy efficiency. America must never be held hostage by the likes of Putin, Chavez, and Ahmadinejad.
"And our economy is also burdened by the inexorable ramping of government spending. Don't focus on the pork alone – even though it is indeed irritating and shameful. Look at the entitlements. They make up 60% of federal spending today. By the end of the next President's second term, they will total 70%. Any conservative plan for the future has to include entitlement reform that solves the problem, not just acknowledges it.
"Most politicians don't seem to understand the connection between our ability to compete and our national wealth, and the wealth of our families. They act as if money just happens – that it's just there. But every dollar represents a good or service produced in the private sector. Depress the private sector and you depress the well-being of Americans.
"That's exactly what happens with high taxes, over-regulation, tort windfalls, mandates, and overfed, over-spending government. Did you see that today, government workers make more money than people who work in the private sector? Can you imagine what happens to an economy where the best opportunities are for bureaucrats?
"It's high time to lower taxes, including corporate taxes, to take a weed-whacker to government regulations, to reform entitlements, and to stand up to the increasingly voracious appetite of the unions in our government.
"And finally, let's consider the greatest challenge facing America – and facing the entire civilized world: the threat of violent, radical Jihad. In one wing of the world of Islam, there is a conviction that all governments should be destroyed and replaced by a religious caliphate. These Jihadists will battle any form of democracy. To them, democracy is blasphemous for it says that citizens, not God shape the law. They find the idea of human equality to be offensive. They hate everything we believe about freedom just as we hate everything they believe about radical Jihad.
"To battle this threat, we have sent the most courageous and brave soldiers in the world. But their numbers have been depleted by the Clinton years when troops were reduced by 500,000, when 80 ships were retired from the Navy, and when our human intelligence was slashed by 25%. We were told that we were getting a peace dividend. We got the dividend, but we didn't get the peace. In the face of evil in radical Jihad and given the inevitable military ambitions of China, we must act to rebuild our military might – raise military spending to 4% of our GDP, purchase the most modern armament, re-shape our fighting forces for the asymmetric demands we now face, and give the veterans the care they deserve.
"Soon, the face of liberalism in America will have a new name. Whether it is Barack or Hillary, the result would be the same if they were to win the Presidency. The opponents of American culture would push the throttle, devising new justifications for judges to depart from the Constitution. Economic neophytes would layer heavier and heavier burdens on employers and families, slowing our economy and opening the way for foreign competition to further erode our lead.
"Even though we face an uphill fight, I know that many in this room are fully behind my campaign. You are with me all the way to the convention. Fight on, just like Ronald Reagan did in 1976. But there is an important difference from 1976: today, we are a nation at war.
"And Barack and Hillary have made their intentions clear regarding Iraq and the war on terror. They would retreat and declare defeat. And the consequence of that would be devastating. It would mean attacks on America, launched from safe havens that make Afghanistan under the Taliban look like child's play. About this, I have no doubt.
"I disagree with Senator McCain on a number of issues, as you know. But I agree with him on doing whatever it takes to be successful in Iraq, on finding and executing Osama bin Laden, and on eliminating Al Qaeda and terror. If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or Obama would win. And in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign, be a part of aiding a surrender to terror.
"This is not an easy decision for me. I hate to lose. My family, my friends and our supporters – many of you right here in this room – have given a great deal to get me where I have a shot at becoming President. If this were only about me, I would go on. But I entered this race because I love America, and because I love America, I feel I must now stand aside, for our party and for our country.
"I will continue to stand for conservative principles. I will fight alongside you for all the things we believe in. And one of those things is that we cannot allow the next President of the United States to retreat in the face evil extremism.
"It is the common task of each generation – and the burden of liberty – to preserve this country, expand its freedoms and renew its spirit so that its noble past is prologue to its glorious future.
"To this task, accepting this burden, we are all dedicated, and I firmly believe, by the providence of the Almighty, that we will succeed beyond our fondest hope. America must remain, as it has always been, the hope of the Earth.
"Thank you, and God bless America.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Ravi Said It Better....
"In the cross alone, pain and evil meet in consummate conflict. In the cross alone are integrated love and justice, the twin foundations upon which we may build our moral and spiritual home, individually and nationally. It is theoretically and practically impossible to build any community apart from love and justice. If only one of thse two is focused upon, an inevitable extremism and perversion follow. Throughout history, mankind has shouted ideals of liberty, equality, and justice; yet the ideologies that have risen, supposedly in the pursuit of human progress, have left in their wake some very dastardly experiments that echo with the whimpering sounds of man, like a trapped animal. Rising above the cry of liberty, equality, and justice is the more rending plea for that sense of belonging we call love. And love unbounded by any sense of right or wrong is not love but self-centeredness and autocracy. In the cross of Jesus Christ, the demands of the law were satisfied, and the generosity of love was expressed." (emphasis mine)
Excerpt taken from "Can Man Live without God" by Ravi Zacharias
Excerpt taken from "Can Man Live without God" by Ravi Zacharias
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Why Do I Cringe at the word "Humanitarian"?
Way to pic a lofty topic for my first real blog entry, right? I am a professing Christian who cares about the spiritual and physical needs of people. I try to live my life in a way that models this. So I grew up in the church, the kind of church, that "cared" about the poor, but didn't do a whole lot about their welfare on a continuous basis. But I got down the basics of the gospel for sure and understood the brevity of life and the seriousness of the afterlife.
Upon entering college, I was introduced to a group of Christians who were much more about the physical needs of the world, all truly in the name of Jesus, and I became a part of them for a season. I learned that the things these people were concerned about had a highly specified named called "humanitarian causes". I thought "that can't be bad, a group of people caring about the needs of people, the real physical needs of people." And it wasn't bad...not initially. But the more I was surrounded by these types of Christians, the more I wondered if they actually were only concerned with "humanitarian" causes. Slowly, I learned that some humanitarian Christians didn't believe what I thought were the basic tenets of the faith. They weren't so sure about their being a hell, if you didn't know Jesus you probably just ceased to exist after you died. This group also thought, the more liberal you were the more Christian you were. And so I found and continue to find myself thinking, several years removed from this intimate circle of people, that a humanitarian is this: A PERSON WITH LITTLE REGARD FOR THE HARD TRUTHS OF SCRIPTURE WHO WOULD RATHER IDENTIFY THEMSELVES WITH PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE BODY OF CHRIST WHO CARE FOR PHSYICAL NEEDS THROUGH SECULAR PROGRAMS.
And that is why I cringe. I in my human mind with friends who do not know the Lord do not like the thought that there is a hell that they are going to. But what I cringe at even more is so thoroughly thrusting the focus onto people's physical needs today that I change my beliefs to be more comfortable to my human mind than to what Scripture states. And I cringe even more because I see the humanitarian as one who has little more than cynicism and belittlement for those Christians who have missed the boat on the Christian privledge and duty to meet the needs of the poor and the oppressed. They would rather be a voice on Capital Hill than a voice in the church for the needs of the oppressed. And I cringe furthermore because they are looking to secular government to do what Christ has called the church to do.
I know my definition is not the true defnition of a humanitarian, but our experiences cause us to make associations and this is now my thoughts when I hear anything about "humanitarian" causes. So you think I am some simplistic right wing evangelical who missed the boat? If that's the case I think you missed the boat. But don't worry, I'll dive into my problems with that group next week. And the week after that, I'll dive into the biggest problem of all, my self and my lack of total surrender to Jesus Christ.
That's all my heavy thoughts for today.
Upon entering college, I was introduced to a group of Christians who were much more about the physical needs of the world, all truly in the name of Jesus, and I became a part of them for a season. I learned that the things these people were concerned about had a highly specified named called "humanitarian causes". I thought "that can't be bad, a group of people caring about the needs of people, the real physical needs of people." And it wasn't bad...not initially. But the more I was surrounded by these types of Christians, the more I wondered if they actually were only concerned with "humanitarian" causes. Slowly, I learned that some humanitarian Christians didn't believe what I thought were the basic tenets of the faith. They weren't so sure about their being a hell, if you didn't know Jesus you probably just ceased to exist after you died. This group also thought, the more liberal you were the more Christian you were. And so I found and continue to find myself thinking, several years removed from this intimate circle of people, that a humanitarian is this: A PERSON WITH LITTLE REGARD FOR THE HARD TRUTHS OF SCRIPTURE WHO WOULD RATHER IDENTIFY THEMSELVES WITH PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE BODY OF CHRIST WHO CARE FOR PHSYICAL NEEDS THROUGH SECULAR PROGRAMS.
And that is why I cringe. I in my human mind with friends who do not know the Lord do not like the thought that there is a hell that they are going to. But what I cringe at even more is so thoroughly thrusting the focus onto people's physical needs today that I change my beliefs to be more comfortable to my human mind than to what Scripture states. And I cringe even more because I see the humanitarian as one who has little more than cynicism and belittlement for those Christians who have missed the boat on the Christian privledge and duty to meet the needs of the poor and the oppressed. They would rather be a voice on Capital Hill than a voice in the church for the needs of the oppressed. And I cringe furthermore because they are looking to secular government to do what Christ has called the church to do.
I know my definition is not the true defnition of a humanitarian, but our experiences cause us to make associations and this is now my thoughts when I hear anything about "humanitarian" causes. So you think I am some simplistic right wing evangelical who missed the boat? If that's the case I think you missed the boat. But don't worry, I'll dive into my problems with that group next week. And the week after that, I'll dive into the biggest problem of all, my self and my lack of total surrender to Jesus Christ.
That's all my heavy thoughts for today.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Monotonous Days begs the Mind to Play...
So I have started this blog with the hope of adding some stimulation to my workday. I am blessed with a job that requires little effort and rarely any stress, but I often find myself wasting days away on My Space, People.com, and Facebook. This should not be dear friends. Not with the education I have or the spiritual convictions. So, I initially intend to post weekly (much to Ivanildo's chagrin) and as I become more adept at this, hopefully they will become more frequent. Quite honestly, I think changing my mind from producing mush to matter will take some time. But I'm excited for this journey and wonder what my mind will come up with and what also the Spirit might lead me to share...See you in a week!!
Laura G.
Laura G.
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