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David Letterman's Last Sin?
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Oct 7, 2009 3:33 pm
422 Views
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No, these affairs of the past are not Mr. Letterman's last and final sin. Bertha Smith, a well balanced Baptist, in her book "How the Spirit Filled My Life", 1973 Broadman Press, made a stunning statement. She said that we never stop sinning all of our life. The Apostle John, in his Epistles, had the revelation that we don't make a practise of sin. He never denied that it happens.
Sin is part of our life from cradle to grave. This is hard for some people, if not many people, to accept. The truth of this brings us to trust in Jesus to take care of us. Actually, it forces us to rely on Him. We never do enough good works to justify oneself. Thankfully we don't have too.
Overly critical people and overly indulgent people are always obvious as to where they are in dealing with this salient fact of life. Those who criticize Mr. Letterman are themselves sinning in some place in their life. Jesus implied this when He gave permission to anyone in the crowd of stone throwers who was without sin (implying present tense) to go ahead and throw. The oldest left first. The truth heals but also hurts. I feel in fact we do sin all our life in that we are never live without sin in attitudes, or words, or actions. Yet, blessed said Jesus are the people who mourn.
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Rio, Rio, Rio !
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Oct 3, 2009 12:02 am
465 Views
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Over 7 million Brazilians of the city of Rio de Janeiro (River of January) are ecstatic. They will host the 2016 Olympiad. South America has never had this favor. Now only Africa and Antarctica are left of the world to host an Olympiad for the first time.
Rio is as astonishing city of contrasts. The hugh statue of Christ the Redeemer on top of the mountain overlooks the city which is close to 79% religious, with some 61% Catholic and 18% Protestant. The city is famous for new year's eve celebrations on the copacabana beach of 7 kilometers length, great wealth along side poverty, and reputed to be one of the most violent cities of the world.
I wonder what the Apostle Paul would say in a sermon to the Brazilians? He would probably be reminded of the city of Corinth to which he wrote his famous two letters of the New Testament knows as 1Corinthians, and 2Corinthians. The second letter is one of my favorites. Paul used the imagery of sporting events to remind us of our life in Christ. He compared our relationship to Jesus as being like a race.
For me, salvation is a choice we consistently make, though not perfectly, which keeps it alive. If at the end of our life the choice of Jesus is still alive and being made, we are in heaven. If the choice is no longer being made for Jesus, we are more than dead. God has given us a second chance. One more time we can choose Him or not.
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Beaten To Death In America
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Sep 28, 2009 9:25 pm
555 Views
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Christianity has failed in Chicago. Derrion Albert, an 19 year old High School honor student, went to Church on Sunday, then Bible Class on Tuesday, then Thursday when school let out at 2:50pm and minding his own business he was walking to a bus stop. He was an innocent by-stander when two rival factions met and began fighting over an earlier shooting during the day. Each in turn started beating him. The first attack knocked him unconscious, and regaining consciousness he was then beaten to death by the second. The ages of the four students, now charged with murder, are 16, 17, 18, and 19.
This is America? This is Christian America? I feel the causes are so complicated that no one single cause can be singled out. It seems to me to be excess and riotous living that brings to dominance our savage untamed natures when void of the Holy Spirit. I believe everything the Bible talks about regarding the flesh, and its savage unruly desires, is in play here. The Bible never says that people have self control. It always says that self control is a gift of the Holy Spirit. So, there we go. Self indulgence is disaster. Spiritual mindedness brings peace.
Is it the schools, or the families, or the community that is the cause here? Actually, I believe what is happening in Chicago, and many communities around our country is a vaguely little understood concept known as community. The loss of community not only invites distress, but demands it. The strength of individuals and of families I feel is derived from the strength of communities. This loss of community is being represented now daily in the electorate. As human beings we desperately need to be connected to community, the loss of which is being reported hourly now in the tragedies of each days news broadcast.
How can we get community back? Usually an outside, higher, or larger force does this. Wars, and disease have done this for us in the past. But now these are not enough. I actually believe in the years ahead that Space travel and experiences may give us the pulling together we need. There has to be a reason for people to pull together. I see no reason or threatening force right now large enough to do this. I have little doubt however that it will come.
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The Brave New World Of IVF Surrogates
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Sep 25, 2009 10:15 pm
543 Views
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She cried and cried. Today, Friday September 25, Carolyn Savage of Sylvania, Ohio gave birth to a baby boy who was not hers. Sustained by prayers from people around the world, she and her husband, Sean Savage, fulfilled their decision they made after the shocking phone call they received 10 days later from the IVF (in vitro fertilization) clinic that she had been implanted with another couples fertilized embryo by mistake. She was now a surrogate mother, like it or not for Mr./Mrs. Morell of Troy, Michigan. The Morell's were very concerned, when they found out a day after the Savages, if their baby would be terminated or not. The Savages never even considered that nor did they think about keeping the baby as theirs since the baby was someone else's.
During the remainder of her pregnancy, Carolyn received the utmost support and professional care. The real DNA's mother went one time with Carolyn to one of her doctor's appointments during the pregnancy. Her and her husband Sean will now give up the baby boy to his true genetic parents, the Morell Family. Understandably, her and Sean have asked for privacy.
This mix up of embryos is not the fault of either set of parents, nor of course the baby boy. We can applaud all parties concerned who have made the best of a difficult time. In our brave new world where we learn more of the deep secrets of our God of creation, we marvel once again at the mysteries of life.
Is surrogate Christian? This is like saying if God had meant for us to fly He would have given us wings. What makes anything christian anyway? In whatever we do said Paul the Apostle, give glory to God. Be respectful in everything. These kinds of responses make our actions Christian.
In His life on earth, Jesus performed wonders surpassing anything since, including today, and far into our future. Manipulating matter and energy, speaking to he dead, calling the deceased to life again, propitiating the mercy of God with His own blood for our sins, in all things He acknowledge the majesty of God.
Most anything can be Christian depending on who receives the credit, why and how we use it. The brave new world has been here for some time. As Christians, lets catch up and help the world understand it. This is our job! With God's help we are to bring all things to the feet of Jesus so that He may be Lord of all.
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Vietnam Style Protesting Again
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Sep 24, 2009 3:50 pm
557 Views
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Some people here won't remember the masses of people all over the country protesting the war in Vietnam. Today in Pittsburg in a major protest occurred for the leaders meeting there from 20 nations known as the G-20.
Protests across the nation and world are occurring because people are fed up with violations of their basic human rights. People are fed up with serious damage to our environment, cruelty to animals, the world wide recession, unresponsive governments or oppressive governments, and greed of the elite.
People don't know it, but we are entering a serious time now in world history. The difference now is that the whole world is so visible via the media, economics, and communication. God's law of human right is written on each human heart. Violate it and everyone knows. As Thomas Jefferson said, "We hold these truths to be self evident....". Jesus talked about this constantly in that we need to love as we want to be loved. This presupposes a common understanding among people. The electorate know when they are being ripped off.
If only we Christians could take this current event of major protest world wide regarding the violation of human right and show how this is indeed the backdrop for which Christianity has the remedy. What people the world over are crying out for is christianity in deed. As Christians, we have the ear of the people now. Let's show our stuff. Let's show what respect, decency, decorum, sympathy, and service really is. Let's show Jesus vicariously. In reality, let us let God show Himself through us. We are broadcasting every day, but now we need to turn up the volume.
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Boozing, Busting, Bewildered, Buried Russians
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Sep 22, 2009 3:26 pm
553 Views
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The statistics are beyond alarming. Russia is literally sinking into a vodka bottle. 50% of the Russian population between the ages of 15 to 54 are dying of alcohol related deaths. This compares to only 3% of the American population dying from alcohol related deaths. Each year Russians drink 5 gallons of alcohol which is twice the danger level of consumption. Russians are on such a binge of drinking that 40,000 people die each year from drinking things like cologne, and cleaning fluids just to get the alcohol.
Gorbachev tried in 1985 to turn this deathly situation around. He made it illegal to sell alcohol before 2pm and closed vineyards. It is reported this action saved 1 million Russian lives, yet Gorbachev is not so popular even so. But, then with the end of the cold war these laws were done, and alcohol consumption shot upward higher than ever before.
In 2005 the population of Russia was 143 million people. But guess what? Russia is losing 700,000 people a year. This means by the year 2030 that the estimate of Russian people will be down to 115 million people. Thus 1/5th of the population will be gone in 25 years. China and India are in contrast growing populations.
Are we suppose to pray for our enemies? Christianity in Russia is only officially tolerated and under strict government control. Alcoholism in Russia, obesity in America, opium drug use in Afghanistan, the problems of the nations goes on and on. Blessed is the nation who God is the Lord. Cursed is the nation whose god is the world. Christian prayers are needed as much as ever.
Ruskies like to say that a little revolution once in a while is a good thing, nyet? I do hope and pray there will be a little revolution in their alcohol consumption.
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When Flying Behave or Pay Plenty
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Sep 20, 2009 3:30 am
584 Views
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It's no nonsense flying now. Frustrated passengers get little mercy from Airlines today. Just because there are delays, and missed baggage, that's too bad. Get mouthy, unruly and the fines are astronomical. A flight may be diverted to another city, and the cost in the tens of thousands of dollars is paid by the unruly passenger. Jail time is not in days, but in months and years.
Since September 11, 2001 the tension has grown, and meals, snacks, and seating space, is less. Even fresh oxygen is less and this may contribute to more anger. The job of the stewardess is not service to the passengers, but to be the eyes, ears, and nose to the flight crew in the cockpit. Service to passengers by the stewardess is an added bonus. Most of us don't know this.
Christians should have no problem with respect and decorum unless they are on edge and part of the fringe. How sad if some of these uptight, rebellious passengers are also Christian. I miss the old days when flying was less turbulent, and fun. The view is still great, but I wish the magical days of flying would come back. We used to really get meals. Now the pretzels, peanuts, and coke snacks are the standard fare. Why is life not fun anymore? I hope in my lifetime some of it comes back. I would like to enjoy more on a flight than the view. Tension and stress go away.
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Kill Romell Broom Again?
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Sep 17, 2009 2:52 pm
772 Views
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"Act of God is a legal term for events outside of human control, such as sudden floods or other natural disasters, for which no one can be held responsible."
The execution team could not kill him after trying for two hours. Is this an "Act of God"? Romell Brown brutally raped and stabbed his victim seven times in the chest killing her, a 14 year old girl, Tryna Middleton in 1984.
Justice is important in any society. Cruel and unusual punishment is forbidden by our constitution. To try a second time is likely to be stated as such. Do we execute people to give some measure of revenge to the victim and relatives? Do we incarcerate people to protect society from any further acts of egregious violence?
It is an interesting case. Governor Strickland of Ohio has called for a halt for one week before another attempt is made to kill him. Ohio is on the spot. Maybe the whole notion of killing is on the spot. Two wrongs do not make a right, some will say because killing is wrong. "Thou shalt not kill...". Our courts say killing murders is right. Now this will be thought over again, and may eventually change.
I don't know the answers to all these profound questions. But, I do know that people who can not live peacefully in society need to be restricted, and sometimes permanently restricted for the rest of their life. The threat of the death penalty does not seem to stop anyone much. The execution of someone does give some token of satisfaction to the victim and relatives.
It is said the greatest victory over an enemy is to make them a friend. Is this what God did to us? We were His enemies, and He even died to make us His friends. Shocking!
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Spank A Child?
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Sep 16, 2009 2:00 pm
646 Views
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Lisa Berlin, a study's lead author and research scientist at the Center for Child and Family Policy at Duke University, says no when the kid is age one or less. Long term negative effects and increase in aggressive behavior is seen when toddlers and infants are spanked. Thinking skills are affected adversely in these children who are spanked.
We need to model behavior before we can teach it. This is so true on BigChurch. Those with the biggest mouths often need the most improvement in their social skills.
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My Health Care
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Sep 8, 2009 5:03 am
559 Views
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My health care is very important to me even though I have few serious health problems. I do a lot of preventative activity on my own. This is an enormously impacting subject to so many people and it is indeed a very hot button issue at the moment.
Health care refers to just about everything and anything referring our overall health. It includes medical, dental, hospitals, nursing, surgery, psychologist, optometrist, pharmaceuticals, and laboratories.
The cost of health care is beyond many people. Yet, the cost of the absence of health care is just as expensive to our society. The loss of productivity from unhealthy individuals is too much for us to bear, as well as the financial strain on the Federal Government. Health is one of our most personal and valuable resources. We work most all our lives and when we retire with no substantial health, its not retirement. It is survival.
This week may be the make or break week that will affect our nation for years to come. I am finally into the health care debate. I want health care. I will need health care. I believe in health care. Short of war, this issue may be one of the most important ever.
I will listen very carefully this week to the discussion.
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