Former Vice President Dick Cheney was making comments this past week about his former boss, George W. Bush when he was president. The Washington Post was reporting on Cheney's comments and said that Bush didn't rely on Cheney's advice during his second term in office as well as Bush allowed public opinion influence some of his policy decisions. Cheney described Bush as resolute when he became president but now he said Bush was just like another ordinary politician as he ended his second term. I'm not going to comment on Cheney's comments, but I"ll make a few of my own.
First of all, I'm thankful Al Gore didn't win the presidency in 2000. Even though Bush had several shortcomings, Gore would've been much more lethal. He would've pushed a socialist agenda through our Congress as well as he would've pushed a global warming agenda on us. America would've transformed into a socialist country much quicker under Gore than Bush. Bush did some good things as president. However, there were several things he did that wasn't good for America as well. He paved the way for the Obama presidency during his second term in office. The bailout of the banks and other financial institutions sealed it for Barack Obama. Most of my frustration with Bush was during his second term. It it wasn't for some of the things he did his second term, I would've given Bush a higher grade. I give Bush a D+. The financial bailout of the mortgage industry was a negative for Bush, in my opinion. I was greatly frustrated with Bush as a result of that.
I will list some of the positive accomplishments Bush made. He helped Congress pass a tax cut in 2001 which I felt was needed. The only negative about that was he wasn't able to persuade Congress to make the tax cuts permanent. I agreed with his response when he sent troops to Afghanistan to route the Taliban. However, I found it disappointing he didn't finish that war before he left office. I believe he also made a mistake when he didn't order the poppy fields to be torched in Afghanistan as well. When the war in Iraq began, Sadaam Hussein and his regime was toppled and that part was good. However, the aftermath of Iraq since the downfall of Hussein has been downhill. I believed that was another war that should've been won before he left office.
Another accomplishment of Bush's was the interrogation methods the CIA used to extract information from the Guantanamo Bay detainees concerning future terrorist plots. Waterboarding was used to extract information from one of the Al-Qaeda masterminds Khalid Shaikh Mohammad. We learned of some future plots Al-Qaeda had planned for the United States and using that method against him helped save some American lives. One of the reasons why America hasn't experienced another attack has been due to the interrogation techniques. For that I'm very thankful.
Bush supported the pro-life cause as president. He voted for a bill that would ban partial-birth abortion. It was sad that a lower federal court declared that bill unconstitutional. He did a good job when it came to his judicial appointments. He appointed good lower federal court judges even though the Democrats prevented them from being voted on in the senate judiciary committee. He also appointed two good Supreme Court judges John Roberts and Samuel Alito to the bench. Those were the highlights of Bush's accomplishments.
Some of the negatives of the Bush administration were increasing the size and scope of government for one thing. Following the September 11 terrorist attacks, he helped create the Department of Homeland Security, which hasn't been effective in fighting terrorism. It's just another bureaucracy America doesn't need. Also, Congress created a position called "National Intelligence Director" to be over the CIA and the intelligence department. That was another unnecessary position. That position was created due to the 9/11 commission's report. What benefit is it to create new governmental positions if they're going to be infiltrated with political correctness? It's worthless. The two unfinished wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is another negative as well. We haven't learned our lessons from Vietnam when it comes to fighting a limited war. When you go to war, you must supply your soldiers with all the equipment necessary to win the war. Bush didn't mind waging war, but he didn't seem to be concerned with winning the war before his term ended. Last year I heard a radio talk show commenting on how Bush would say that the war in Iraq was one of the most important wars there was and that we needed to win it. The host asked the question why would Bush want to leave this war to his predecessor who might be Barack Obama knowing where he (Obama) stood on Iraq? I agreed with that.
The national deficit skyrocketed under the Bush administration. National spending kept increasing every year. It wasn't all for the purpose to fight the war on terror, either. A lot of foolish spending was taking place when it came to pork barreling projects in many of our elected officials' home districts. A lot of the foolish spending as usual. Much of that foolish spending was taking place when the Republicans were in control of Congress. Also, Bush supported expanding Medicare with it covering prescription drugs, which hasn't helped our senior citizens. In 2005, Bush signed a treaty called Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) which wasn't good for American manufacturing. Bush also signed an agreement along with Canadian President Stephen Harper and then Mexican President Vicente Fox calling for a North American Union which would erode America's sovereignty and create one currency. It also called for the creation of a NAFTA superhighway which would allow trucks from Mexico to come through America's highways to carry goods. It could put many of our truckers out of business. Also the failure to rein in the high fuel costs was another problem for Bush. The government could've used antitrust laws to break up the monopoly of these oil corporations. In the process, there wasn't any progress made to drill for domestic oil, which is what we needed given the problems our world has with Islamic terrorists.
Bush also failed to secure our borders. That was one of the first things that should've been done when we were hit by terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. He tried to push for amnesty for illegals and thankfully that measure failed. Lastly, the bailout of the mortgage industry last year was another bad thing. That incident helped seal the election for President Obama last year. If companies are too big to fail, then they need to be broken up into small companies.
I could still continue, but these are the positive and negative highlights of the Bush administration. Bush did some good things, but he also in the process did a lot of bad things. His actions brought America down the path to socialism. Barack Obama has picked up where Bush left off and will probably complete the deal unless the Lord intervenes. Bush and his family are wealthy elitists and they are believers in the New World Order. Bush's policies the last few years have brought us closer to that realization.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
The Tres Amigos Summit in Guadalajara
This past Sunday and Monday August 9 and 10, the North American Summit met in Guadalajara, Mexico. It was a meeting of North America leaders discussing issues ranging from health care to drug trafficking to trade. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, U.S. President Barack Obama, and Mexican President Felipe Calderon discussed issues revolving around the swine flu, the North American Free Trade Agreement, health care, and drug cartels.
I have some ideas of my own on what needs to be done about all the different issues that were discussed at the meeting. In regards to health care, overhauling America's health care system and creating a nationalized system of health care won't work. There's no way we can fund it with so many people being out of work, for one thing. Also, when government tries to take over certain portions of the economy, they make the system more complicated. It's just another way for the federal government to usurp control over the lives of the American people. We don't need government sponsored health care. What would help in controlling the costs of health care is to put a cap on all these liability lawsuits that take place. They do nothing but drive up the cost of health care and fatten the pockets of trial lawyers.
Back in 1994, President Clinton signed the North American Free Trade Agreement. I believe that treaty needs to be forfeited. The agreement didn't bring about free and fair trade for America. Millions of manufacturing jobs have went overseas since 1994. I'm not opposed to free trade as long as it's fair and it doesn't place us at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to jobs in America. Obama has downplayed the "Buy American" provision that was placed in the stimulus bill in January. He doesn't want to anger Canada. However, America's first response should be to protect American manufacturing.
When it comes to the drug trafficking that's been taking place across our border, America needs to secure it's borders and build a security fence. Any illegal alien that comes across our border with drugs should be immediately deported. If our government would work towards protecting our borders, most of the drug smuggling would end. However, our politicians don't want to upset La Raza and those illegals that have supported our politicians as well as those multi-national corporations that want open borders. Those two groups monetarily contribute to the campaigns of our elected elite.
All three leaders at the summit agreed to keep our borders open while battling the swine flu. That is something we shouldn't do. We shouldn't keep our borders open since anyone from Mexico could come to the USA and spread the disease to America's civilians. In order to fight the swine flu disease, we need to work from external to internal. We need to protect our borders to prevent unnecessary people from coming in to bring this disease to America. Then we need to work internally to test people for the disease and to stop the spread of it.
Lastly, President Obama should renege on the "North American Union" agreement that former president George W. Bush made with Harper and Fox back in 2005. The North America Union would merge Canada, the U.S. and Mexico into one country with one currency. We would lose the sovereignty of our country doing that. It's a shame we no longer have any leaders that will promote the interests of our country first and not go along with the New World Order crowd. We need some patriots once again occupying Capitol Hill and the White House.
I have some ideas of my own on what needs to be done about all the different issues that were discussed at the meeting. In regards to health care, overhauling America's health care system and creating a nationalized system of health care won't work. There's no way we can fund it with so many people being out of work, for one thing. Also, when government tries to take over certain portions of the economy, they make the system more complicated. It's just another way for the federal government to usurp control over the lives of the American people. We don't need government sponsored health care. What would help in controlling the costs of health care is to put a cap on all these liability lawsuits that take place. They do nothing but drive up the cost of health care and fatten the pockets of trial lawyers.
Back in 1994, President Clinton signed the North American Free Trade Agreement. I believe that treaty needs to be forfeited. The agreement didn't bring about free and fair trade for America. Millions of manufacturing jobs have went overseas since 1994. I'm not opposed to free trade as long as it's fair and it doesn't place us at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to jobs in America. Obama has downplayed the "Buy American" provision that was placed in the stimulus bill in January. He doesn't want to anger Canada. However, America's first response should be to protect American manufacturing.
When it comes to the drug trafficking that's been taking place across our border, America needs to secure it's borders and build a security fence. Any illegal alien that comes across our border with drugs should be immediately deported. If our government would work towards protecting our borders, most of the drug smuggling would end. However, our politicians don't want to upset La Raza and those illegals that have supported our politicians as well as those multi-national corporations that want open borders. Those two groups monetarily contribute to the campaigns of our elected elite.
All three leaders at the summit agreed to keep our borders open while battling the swine flu. That is something we shouldn't do. We shouldn't keep our borders open since anyone from Mexico could come to the USA and spread the disease to America's civilians. In order to fight the swine flu disease, we need to work from external to internal. We need to protect our borders to prevent unnecessary people from coming in to bring this disease to America. Then we need to work internally to test people for the disease and to stop the spread of it.
Lastly, President Obama should renege on the "North American Union" agreement that former president George W. Bush made with Harper and Fox back in 2005. The North America Union would merge Canada, the U.S. and Mexico into one country with one currency. We would lose the sovereignty of our country doing that. It's a shame we no longer have any leaders that will promote the interests of our country first and not go along with the New World Order crowd. We need some patriots once again occupying Capitol Hill and the White House.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
America and the Judgment of God
Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou has rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee . . ." Back when Bill Clinton was president I used to hear preachers say then that the fact that America elected Bill Clinton as president is indicative that America is experiencing the judgment of God. I'm sure there's preachers that made that same statement since Barack Obama was elected president last year. I don't deny that the judgment of God is on America. However, I also believe the judgment of God was on America when George W. Bush was president. I furthermore believe that America would've still been under the judgment of God had George H.W. Bush won re-election as president in 1992, Bob Dole as president in 1996, and John McCain as president in 2008. Both parties are taking America in the same direction. The only exception is that the Democratic party is taking America down the road to socialism at jet speed. The electoral process in America is rigged anyway. Those that occupy the Oval Office are just figureheads for the internationalists.
There's no doubt that America is living in perilous times as II Timothy 3 says. Men today are lovers of themselves, are boastful, proud, unthankful, unholy etc. America is full of the world, the flesh, and the Devil. America is drunk on fornication, pornography, alcohol, drugs, lewd entertainment and the list continues. Everyday in America numerous women have abortions. The homosexual rights lobby has made great inroads when it comes to promoting their perversion. They've pushed gay marriage into several states in our country. Even some of the state courts such as Iowa struck down a voter referendum banning gay marriage. The Devil's crowd is having the time of their life right now. America has forgotten God. The secularists have been successful in removing numerous references to God in the public sphere. The 1962 and 1963 Supreme Court decisions have removed the right to public prayer and Bible reading in our public schools. The secularists have tried to tear down everything our Puritan forefathers had established.
However, the question needs to be asked, is America under the judgment of God because of the shape of the world, or because of the condition of the churches in America? Immediately following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack, the late Jerry Falwell was a guest on the 700 Club and he was telling Pat Robertson in response to the attacks that America was under the judgment of God due to the abortionists, the homosexual crowd, etc. Then he later apologized for that statement. I Peter 4:17 says, "For the time is come judgment must begin at the House of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?" The House of God will be judged before the world's judged. It's easy to point our fingers at the world and say that America is under judgment because how wicked the world is. However, the world is living according to what is natural to them. Consequently, the church is living below it's birthright when it comes to normal Christianity.
We're living in the Laodecian church age today and you read where the Laodecian church was rich and increased with goods and didn't need anything. They didn't need God. That's how our churches are in America today. We have our programs to reach the "unchurched". We rely on all types of business methods to bring people to the House of God. We may draw a crowd, but we don't produce any new converts. Those that do come to church, they don't stick. They leave after a while. I've heard the statement made that whatever method you use to draw your crowd to church, you'll have to come up with something greater to keep them there. The Word of God will accomplish the task. You can use the Word of God to draw sinners to church and the Word of God will keep them in church if they become saved. Our churches are failing to rely on the power of the Holy Ghost to draw sinners to God.
A country isn't going to be any stronger than it's churches. If the church is complacement and weak spiritually, then the world will be exceedingly wicked. The church is to be the standardbearer to the world. When the church no longer holds a standard, then the world will decay and crumble. When it comes to preserving meat, you must use salt to preserve it or it will rot and decay. That's the same way with the church. If the church doesn't possess the power of God, then the world will crumble. The standard of truth and morality comes from the Bible. When the church fails to uphold that standard, then the world has nothing to hold onto. The church is to be salt and light to the world.
Even though America's churches are in the shape they're in today, I believe they can experience revival if they will turn to God and repent as II Chronicles 7:14 says. I don't know whether or not America will experience an awakening such as the Great Awakening where modern culture is reformed and liquor stores, casinos, and strip clubs will shut down like in the past. I heard a preacher once say it's easier to prevent the Devil from coming into your church than kicking him out. It's a lot easier to prevent wickedness from coming to America than trying to remove wickedness once it creeps into our country. However, America's problems are all due to the sad state of our churches today. The world is doing what's natural to them. It's Gods' people that are living abnormally. Our churches need revival across this country.
There's no doubt that America is living in perilous times as II Timothy 3 says. Men today are lovers of themselves, are boastful, proud, unthankful, unholy etc. America is full of the world, the flesh, and the Devil. America is drunk on fornication, pornography, alcohol, drugs, lewd entertainment and the list continues. Everyday in America numerous women have abortions. The homosexual rights lobby has made great inroads when it comes to promoting their perversion. They've pushed gay marriage into several states in our country. Even some of the state courts such as Iowa struck down a voter referendum banning gay marriage. The Devil's crowd is having the time of their life right now. America has forgotten God. The secularists have been successful in removing numerous references to God in the public sphere. The 1962 and 1963 Supreme Court decisions have removed the right to public prayer and Bible reading in our public schools. The secularists have tried to tear down everything our Puritan forefathers had established.
However, the question needs to be asked, is America under the judgment of God because of the shape of the world, or because of the condition of the churches in America? Immediately following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack, the late Jerry Falwell was a guest on the 700 Club and he was telling Pat Robertson in response to the attacks that America was under the judgment of God due to the abortionists, the homosexual crowd, etc. Then he later apologized for that statement. I Peter 4:17 says, "For the time is come judgment must begin at the House of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?" The House of God will be judged before the world's judged. It's easy to point our fingers at the world and say that America is under judgment because how wicked the world is. However, the world is living according to what is natural to them. Consequently, the church is living below it's birthright when it comes to normal Christianity.
We're living in the Laodecian church age today and you read where the Laodecian church was rich and increased with goods and didn't need anything. They didn't need God. That's how our churches are in America today. We have our programs to reach the "unchurched". We rely on all types of business methods to bring people to the House of God. We may draw a crowd, but we don't produce any new converts. Those that do come to church, they don't stick. They leave after a while. I've heard the statement made that whatever method you use to draw your crowd to church, you'll have to come up with something greater to keep them there. The Word of God will accomplish the task. You can use the Word of God to draw sinners to church and the Word of God will keep them in church if they become saved. Our churches are failing to rely on the power of the Holy Ghost to draw sinners to God.
A country isn't going to be any stronger than it's churches. If the church is complacement and weak spiritually, then the world will be exceedingly wicked. The church is to be the standardbearer to the world. When the church no longer holds a standard, then the world will decay and crumble. When it comes to preserving meat, you must use salt to preserve it or it will rot and decay. That's the same way with the church. If the church doesn't possess the power of God, then the world will crumble. The standard of truth and morality comes from the Bible. When the church fails to uphold that standard, then the world has nothing to hold onto. The church is to be salt and light to the world.
Even though America's churches are in the shape they're in today, I believe they can experience revival if they will turn to God and repent as II Chronicles 7:14 says. I don't know whether or not America will experience an awakening such as the Great Awakening where modern culture is reformed and liquor stores, casinos, and strip clubs will shut down like in the past. I heard a preacher once say it's easier to prevent the Devil from coming into your church than kicking him out. It's a lot easier to prevent wickedness from coming to America than trying to remove wickedness once it creeps into our country. However, America's problems are all due to the sad state of our churches today. The world is doing what's natural to them. It's Gods' people that are living abnormally. Our churches need revival across this country.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Protecting the United States Against the Swine Flu
The Department of Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano said Tuesday August 3, 2009 that pandemic flu will probably flare up soon after schools open in the fall, before enough of the swine flu vaccine is available. Napolitano stated there probably wouldn't be enough of the flu vaccine in the early stages of the flu season. Napolitano claims this year's flu season probably will be severe but not as severe as the 1918 influenza pandemic, which killed at least 675,000 people in the USA and up to 50 million people worldwide.
The swine flu, which is called the H1N1 virus, is considered especially dangerous because it's supposedly different from every other flu virus and as a result, it makes people defenseless against it. Whether or not the swine flu is a pandemic or not remains to be unseen. There's not been that many people that have died with it yet. It's an opportunity to give the media something to spin. It hasn't caused the kind of damage that influenza did back in 1918. However, precautionary measures should be taken with this flu like any other flu, especially since we don't know much about it. The most important thing is to protect the American citizens against diseases.
The first thing that needs to be done is we need to secure our borders. Open borders is no excuse considering the danger our country is in. Somebody with a deadly disease can cross our borders and we not know it. We should build a border fence and we need for border patrol to send those that cross our border to be checked for swine flu. When America used to have a sane immigration policy we had a place called Ellis Island where immigrants came to be checked prior to being allowed in our country. We need to have an immigration center similar to Ellis island as a checkpoint to those that come into our country. When immigrants would come to our country decades ago Ellis Island would check them for diseases and if they had any kind of illness or disease they would be quarantined or sent back from where they came. The immigrants weren't allowed to come and spread whatever illness they had to the American public.
Our schools need to check their students for illnesses and diseases. Our schools should test the students for swine flu. If the students tests positive, that student shouldn't be allowed to attend class with that disease. They should be quarantined. The workforce should test their employees for the swine flu virus. The commercial airlines need to check their passengers for the virus before boarding the plane. The U.S. military needs to test those that are enlisted in the armed forces for the swine flu. There should be clinics available to test people for the swine flu in all our communties across the country.
If America would stop allowing illegal aliens crossing our borders unawares, that would help prevent many diseases from coming into America. Because of the insane border policy our government has, there have been many diseases that have come to America such as the West Nile Virus, the bird flu, the Avian flu, and the swine flu. There's a good possibility the origins of the swine flu came from Mexico. We need to guard our borders along the U.S. Mexico line. In order to stop a disease or illness from spreading, you must find out where the origin of that disease came from and then work from there. If we don't guard our borders against Mexico and Canada, then there's no way to stop that disease. You must work from external to internal. Once we guard our borders, then we can work internally to stop the spread of swine flu.
The swine flu, which is called the H1N1 virus, is considered especially dangerous because it's supposedly different from every other flu virus and as a result, it makes people defenseless against it. Whether or not the swine flu is a pandemic or not remains to be unseen. There's not been that many people that have died with it yet. It's an opportunity to give the media something to spin. It hasn't caused the kind of damage that influenza did back in 1918. However, precautionary measures should be taken with this flu like any other flu, especially since we don't know much about it. The most important thing is to protect the American citizens against diseases.
The first thing that needs to be done is we need to secure our borders. Open borders is no excuse considering the danger our country is in. Somebody with a deadly disease can cross our borders and we not know it. We should build a border fence and we need for border patrol to send those that cross our border to be checked for swine flu. When America used to have a sane immigration policy we had a place called Ellis Island where immigrants came to be checked prior to being allowed in our country. We need to have an immigration center similar to Ellis island as a checkpoint to those that come into our country. When immigrants would come to our country decades ago Ellis Island would check them for diseases and if they had any kind of illness or disease they would be quarantined or sent back from where they came. The immigrants weren't allowed to come and spread whatever illness they had to the American public.
Our schools need to check their students for illnesses and diseases. Our schools should test the students for swine flu. If the students tests positive, that student shouldn't be allowed to attend class with that disease. They should be quarantined. The workforce should test their employees for the swine flu virus. The commercial airlines need to check their passengers for the virus before boarding the plane. The U.S. military needs to test those that are enlisted in the armed forces for the swine flu. There should be clinics available to test people for the swine flu in all our communties across the country.
If America would stop allowing illegal aliens crossing our borders unawares, that would help prevent many diseases from coming into America. Because of the insane border policy our government has, there have been many diseases that have come to America such as the West Nile Virus, the bird flu, the Avian flu, and the swine flu. There's a good possibility the origins of the swine flu came from Mexico. We need to guard our borders along the U.S. Mexico line. In order to stop a disease or illness from spreading, you must find out where the origin of that disease came from and then work from there. If we don't guard our borders against Mexico and Canada, then there's no way to stop that disease. You must work from external to internal. Once we guard our borders, then we can work internally to stop the spread of swine flu.
Study to Shew Thyself Approved
This week school is starting back up in many geographical locations around the country. One of the county schools in where I live is starting back tomorrow. With the start of school, there's many opportunities to make new friends, to learn new things, and to make goals during the upcoming school year. One of the goals to make is to strive to make the top grades in the class and to take advantage of every learning opportunity afforded to you.
II Timothy 2:15 says, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Studying is a serious thing to the Lord. Even though that particular verse is making reference to studying the word of God, you can apply that to all the different subjects that you study in school. God expects those that are students to be very studious in school. Schools weren't created just to give students something to do. Education is important. You won't be able to be competitive in the workforce and find a job unless you've completed the requirements necessary in school when it comes to finding a vocation to provide a living.
We as Christians have a responsibility to be all that we can be before the Lord. We are to be salt and light in this world. Everything that we put our hands on we should do with all our might. There's a world out there that's watching us and we need to show them the Lord's no slackard. We should strive for excellence in everything we do when we're at work and at school. Ignorance is no excuse. It's also a poor testimony before the world. How can we reach a lost and dying world if our attitude towards learning is like that of many people in this world. Just being versed on the Word of God alone is not going to reach the lost. We need to be knowledgeable about a variety of things as Christians. We should educate ourselves with a broad-based curriculum so we can be well-rounded.
Your knowledge about a particular subject or issue will make a difference in reaching the world in various vocations. There are doctors, businessmen, lawyers, teachers, etc. that need the Lord and if we don't educate ourselves in those areas, we limit ourselves in whom we can reach. Ignorance isn't spiritual.
Students should strive to be their best and educate themselves thoroughly. Just think, there might be a cure for cancer discovered because a Christian had an interest in science and studied medicine. Christians need to influence the world when it comes to the intellect. As the late Francis Schaeffer used to say, he believed the Lordship of Christ should be extended to all areas of life which include the academics, the arts, sciences, government, and the list continues. The reason why our country has been secularized is because Christians don't influence the culture anymore. That's why it's so important that we study and become scholars so we can dominate our culture with Christian thinking.
We as Christians need to study to show ourselves approved unto God in every subject level. Then we need to apply the knowledge we learned into whatever vocation God has put us in. We've all been gifted in certain areas in life. We need to study so we can possess the knowledge to use it for the gifts God's given us.
II Timothy 2:15 says, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Studying is a serious thing to the Lord. Even though that particular verse is making reference to studying the word of God, you can apply that to all the different subjects that you study in school. God expects those that are students to be very studious in school. Schools weren't created just to give students something to do. Education is important. You won't be able to be competitive in the workforce and find a job unless you've completed the requirements necessary in school when it comes to finding a vocation to provide a living.
We as Christians have a responsibility to be all that we can be before the Lord. We are to be salt and light in this world. Everything that we put our hands on we should do with all our might. There's a world out there that's watching us and we need to show them the Lord's no slackard. We should strive for excellence in everything we do when we're at work and at school. Ignorance is no excuse. It's also a poor testimony before the world. How can we reach a lost and dying world if our attitude towards learning is like that of many people in this world. Just being versed on the Word of God alone is not going to reach the lost. We need to be knowledgeable about a variety of things as Christians. We should educate ourselves with a broad-based curriculum so we can be well-rounded.
Your knowledge about a particular subject or issue will make a difference in reaching the world in various vocations. There are doctors, businessmen, lawyers, teachers, etc. that need the Lord and if we don't educate ourselves in those areas, we limit ourselves in whom we can reach. Ignorance isn't spiritual.
Students should strive to be their best and educate themselves thoroughly. Just think, there might be a cure for cancer discovered because a Christian had an interest in science and studied medicine. Christians need to influence the world when it comes to the intellect. As the late Francis Schaeffer used to say, he believed the Lordship of Christ should be extended to all areas of life which include the academics, the arts, sciences, government, and the list continues. The reason why our country has been secularized is because Christians don't influence the culture anymore. That's why it's so important that we study and become scholars so we can dominate our culture with Christian thinking.
We as Christians need to study to show ourselves approved unto God in every subject level. Then we need to apply the knowledge we learned into whatever vocation God has put us in. We've all been gifted in certain areas in life. We need to study so we can possess the knowledge to use it for the gifts God's given us.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Discovering Your Gifts
Romans 12:5-8 says, "So we being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching: Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity: he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness." God endows every man with a talent. Some men he bestows more talents on than others. But we're all gifted. God gives all those that are members of his body a particular gift to use to edify the body. It's our responsibility to find that God-given talent and use it.
When reading Matthew 25, you read about the parable of the talents and about the three men that he gave talents to. He gave one man five, another two, and the last person, one talent. The first two that he gave talents to they were faithful with them and their talents were increased. The third man took his talent and hid his in the earth. The slothful man's lord came and took his one talent that he hid and gave it to the one that had ten talents. Even though the talents in this portion of scripture was talking about money, you could apply the same principle when it comes to our gifts. The gifts that God has bestowed upon us is a very serious thing and we should recognize it's a privilege to have what God's given us. God doesn't give us a talent to throw away or not use. We're to use it for the glory of God. If it wasn't necessary for our gifts to be used, then God wouldn't have bestowed it unto us.
We should use the talents that God's given to us at home, at church, at the workplace, and even in the community whenever applicable. However, we're to use that talent for God's glory as often as we're able to use it. We should always seek for opportunities to use it. Those Christians that want to use their gifts the Lord will open us doors for them to be used. I know of a preacher that lives near Greenville, South Carolina and he has been learning Spanish and he's involving himself in ministries where he can use it to those that speak Spanish to preach the Gospel to them. God doesn't make mistakes when it comes to the giving of gifts. Some possess the gift to give. There's a businessman in Louisville that gave large sums of money to help build a Christian campground in Corydon, Indiana. There's people in our churches that are gifted to sing, play the instruments, perform construction, and a host of things.
How do you discover your talents? It's not that difficult. Just engage yourself in exploratory activities and find out which activity you're gifted at. The ones where you have a special ability to perform well are those areas where God's gifted you in. Parents should engage their young children at very young ages in exploratory activities to determine their gifts. It's better to discover your gifts when you're young. You'll have a lifetime to use it once you've discovered it. There's people of all ages that discover their gifts. The important thing is to have a willingness to try different things so you can discover your gifts.
Once you've discovered your gift, then you need to work on developing that gift. Distinguish your talents and determine which ones are important to use for God. Determine those gifts that you can use for a lifetime. Some people are very athletic and play sports, but nobody has the physical ability to play sports for a lifetime. However, you can play an instrument for a lifetime. Distinguish your gifts to determine what's good and necessary. Dedicate your talent. Give it to the Lord and determine whatever facet you use that gift it will be for the glory of God. Wherever you use your gift it should be to glorify God. He's the one that's bestowed that gift upon you. It's our responsibility to discover that gift, to develop that gift, and dedicate it to the Lord.
When reading Matthew 25, you read about the parable of the talents and about the three men that he gave talents to. He gave one man five, another two, and the last person, one talent. The first two that he gave talents to they were faithful with them and their talents were increased. The third man took his talent and hid his in the earth. The slothful man's lord came and took his one talent that he hid and gave it to the one that had ten talents. Even though the talents in this portion of scripture was talking about money, you could apply the same principle when it comes to our gifts. The gifts that God has bestowed upon us is a very serious thing and we should recognize it's a privilege to have what God's given us. God doesn't give us a talent to throw away or not use. We're to use it for the glory of God. If it wasn't necessary for our gifts to be used, then God wouldn't have bestowed it unto us.
We should use the talents that God's given to us at home, at church, at the workplace, and even in the community whenever applicable. However, we're to use that talent for God's glory as often as we're able to use it. We should always seek for opportunities to use it. Those Christians that want to use their gifts the Lord will open us doors for them to be used. I know of a preacher that lives near Greenville, South Carolina and he has been learning Spanish and he's involving himself in ministries where he can use it to those that speak Spanish to preach the Gospel to them. God doesn't make mistakes when it comes to the giving of gifts. Some possess the gift to give. There's a businessman in Louisville that gave large sums of money to help build a Christian campground in Corydon, Indiana. There's people in our churches that are gifted to sing, play the instruments, perform construction, and a host of things.
How do you discover your talents? It's not that difficult. Just engage yourself in exploratory activities and find out which activity you're gifted at. The ones where you have a special ability to perform well are those areas where God's gifted you in. Parents should engage their young children at very young ages in exploratory activities to determine their gifts. It's better to discover your gifts when you're young. You'll have a lifetime to use it once you've discovered it. There's people of all ages that discover their gifts. The important thing is to have a willingness to try different things so you can discover your gifts.
Once you've discovered your gift, then you need to work on developing that gift. Distinguish your talents and determine which ones are important to use for God. Determine those gifts that you can use for a lifetime. Some people are very athletic and play sports, but nobody has the physical ability to play sports for a lifetime. However, you can play an instrument for a lifetime. Distinguish your gifts to determine what's good and necessary. Dedicate your talent. Give it to the Lord and determine whatever facet you use that gift it will be for the glory of God. Wherever you use your gift it should be to glorify God. He's the one that's bestowed that gift upon you. It's our responsibility to discover that gift, to develop that gift, and dedicate it to the Lord.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
What is Legalism?
Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast." Salvation is a gift of God. Ye are saved when you recognize you're a sinner and you repent of your sins and trust in Jesus to be saved. Salvation is from the Lord. . . plus nothing. . . minus nothing. Grace is unmerited favor toward God which no man can earn. If you add to salvation, then it becomes legalism. What is legalism? Legalism is adding to salvation, whether by works, or doing certain rituals, or whatever. In other words, it's a salvation with human merit. That's a false salvation. The Bible says God will share his glory with no man. Salvation is a result of the finished work of Christ.
The term "legalism" has been misconstrued among some of our fundamental and evangelical circles. Many of them will call a church or preacher legalist if he preaches outward separation and says that Christians shouldn't engage in certain types of activity because it's worldly and sinful. Many fundamental preachers have been labeled a legalist for preaching against various types of apparel that Christians shouldn't wear or certain types of music a Christian shouldn't listen to. However, that's not legalism. Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are his workmanship created unto Christ Jesus for good works." There are certain types of activity Christians shouldn't engage in because it would hinder us from being what Christ wants us to be. The Bible warns us to flee from youthful lusts and the appearance of evil. Men of God should preach against things of the world that would hinder our testimony and our walk with God.
It's true that a church can be inundated with standards to the point that they're nothing but pharisees and full of dead mens' bones. We are to watch out for that. As important as it is to preach outward separation, there's other aspects of the Bible that are to be preached as well. The inward sins of the heart is the biggest problem among many church goers today. The whole counsel of the word is to be preached. There has to be a balance. If the people in the church fall in love with the Lord that will solve the problem when it comes to standards.
Legalism can be a number of things. Legalism perverts the Gospel because it's saying that Christ's death on the cross wasn't sufficient in paying the debt for man. The Apostle Paul stated in Galatians 1:6-7, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you unto the grace of Christ unto another gospel. Which is not another; but there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the Gospel of Christ." The Judaizers from Galatia had perverted the Gospel and the Apostle Paul had to address that in his letter to the Galatians. He stated the Gospel hasn't changed. He issued this warning twice and said in Galatians 1:8 "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." That's very stern language. He repeated it again. Anything that labels itself a gospel that preaches a salvation that adds to grace is heresy. That's very serious. That totally undermines everything Jesus did on the Christ for us sinners. If we could add to salvation, Christ's death on the cross would've been in vain. That's why God condemns heretics.
From dawn of the early church to the present, Satan has used religious groups to pervert the Gospel. The Catholic church has taught a salvation by works since its inception. The Church of Christ believes water baptism saves a person. We label that group "waterdogs". There's a group that teach the false doctrine of "sinless perfection" that believe some people aren't born without sin and if they never sin, then they don't have to go through Christ to be saved. That's all heresy. Nothing apart from what Jesus did on the cross will save anybody. Salvation is a free gift and you can't do anything to earn it. Works won't save you, reciting prayers won't save you, living a monastic life won't save you, only Jesus will. He's already paid the debt at Calvary. All we're to do is to repent of our sin and receive Christ as Savior and Lord. Nothing else will accomplish the task. It's a free gift no man can earn. Anything else that's added to salvation is LEGALISM!
The term "legalism" has been misconstrued among some of our fundamental and evangelical circles. Many of them will call a church or preacher legalist if he preaches outward separation and says that Christians shouldn't engage in certain types of activity because it's worldly and sinful. Many fundamental preachers have been labeled a legalist for preaching against various types of apparel that Christians shouldn't wear or certain types of music a Christian shouldn't listen to. However, that's not legalism. Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are his workmanship created unto Christ Jesus for good works." There are certain types of activity Christians shouldn't engage in because it would hinder us from being what Christ wants us to be. The Bible warns us to flee from youthful lusts and the appearance of evil. Men of God should preach against things of the world that would hinder our testimony and our walk with God.
It's true that a church can be inundated with standards to the point that they're nothing but pharisees and full of dead mens' bones. We are to watch out for that. As important as it is to preach outward separation, there's other aspects of the Bible that are to be preached as well. The inward sins of the heart is the biggest problem among many church goers today. The whole counsel of the word is to be preached. There has to be a balance. If the people in the church fall in love with the Lord that will solve the problem when it comes to standards.
Legalism can be a number of things. Legalism perverts the Gospel because it's saying that Christ's death on the cross wasn't sufficient in paying the debt for man. The Apostle Paul stated in Galatians 1:6-7, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you unto the grace of Christ unto another gospel. Which is not another; but there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the Gospel of Christ." The Judaizers from Galatia had perverted the Gospel and the Apostle Paul had to address that in his letter to the Galatians. He stated the Gospel hasn't changed. He issued this warning twice and said in Galatians 1:8 "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." That's very stern language. He repeated it again. Anything that labels itself a gospel that preaches a salvation that adds to grace is heresy. That's very serious. That totally undermines everything Jesus did on the Christ for us sinners. If we could add to salvation, Christ's death on the cross would've been in vain. That's why God condemns heretics.
From dawn of the early church to the present, Satan has used religious groups to pervert the Gospel. The Catholic church has taught a salvation by works since its inception. The Church of Christ believes water baptism saves a person. We label that group "waterdogs". There's a group that teach the false doctrine of "sinless perfection" that believe some people aren't born without sin and if they never sin, then they don't have to go through Christ to be saved. That's all heresy. Nothing apart from what Jesus did on the cross will save anybody. Salvation is a free gift and you can't do anything to earn it. Works won't save you, reciting prayers won't save you, living a monastic life won't save you, only Jesus will. He's already paid the debt at Calvary. All we're to do is to repent of our sin and receive Christ as Savior and Lord. Nothing else will accomplish the task. It's a free gift no man can earn. Anything else that's added to salvation is LEGALISM!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Burn Those Poppy Fields
I can remember the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that hit America. The Twin Towers went down as well as the West wing of the Pentagon was struck. I can remember following the terrorist attacks that then President Bush stated that he wanted to eradicate all sources of funding that helped fund Al-Qaeda, who was responsible for the terrorist attacks. The problem is that all of the funding hasn't been eliminated. In Afghanistan there's an area called Helmand, a front line between militants and foreign forces, is the world's largest opium-producing region. They grow poppy fields. It supplies 92% of the world's opium.
The money that's generated from the poppy fields supplies the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Around $300 million funds these terrorist groups. This whole notion of the "war on terror" is a farce because you can't win a war if you don't cut off the funding or supplies that fuels the enemy you're fighting. President Obama has sent additional troops to Afghanistan this Spring and our troops are there to provide security for Afgfhanistan. They're supposed to win the confidence of the local Afghan population to fight the insurgents. Our troops are just being sent to slaughter due to NATO's ridiculous "rules of engagement."
When America used to be in the business to win wars, we would attack and destroy anything that would be beneficial to the enemy. During World War II, America and its Allies would destroy synthetic oil plants in Germany? Why? To disrupt their mobility. In war, you must devise strategies that would make your enemy vulnerable and defenseless and you must do so by attacking their fuel plants, communication lines, and anything that would help your enemy to win. That's part of the strategy behind winning wars. We weren't in the business to play "nice guy" or try to get the civilians of the country we were fighting in to like us.
I was reading the New York Times archives on the internet and they were mentioning about the poppy fields being part of the front line in Afghanistan. That part of the economy must be scorched if we are going to stop the insurgency in Afghanistan. Anything that fuels Al-Qaeda and the Taliban must be put to an end. That could include a number of things. If we are going to leave the poppy fields intact, we might as well round up our troops and send them back to America because it will be a dying cause. Al-Qaeda and the Taliban won't be irrelevant as long as they receive some kind of funding to keep them in operation.
The poppy fields should've been destroyed during the Bush administration. That shouldn't been done when we first went to war with Afghanistan in 2001. Instead the job is unfinished and we defeated our purpose by not burning those poppy fields. I read the Pentagon was reluctant to do much about it. I was reading where American officials until the last couple of years or so didn't want to be distracted with a "war on drugs". This is not about a "war on drugs", this is about eliminating any type of funding that would benefit terrorists. In this case, it's the poppy fields. The Pentagon and the CIA clashed over this issue and the Pentagon wouldn't do anything about it. They didn't allow our military to destroy the drug laboratories or burn the poppy fields. The Pentagon ignored rumors that some of the warlords that were put into power were involved with drugs.
The Pentagon at once should order that all the poppy fields in Afghanistan by torched. They should be burned to the ground. There's no sense in having our troops in Afghanistan if they aren't going to be allowed to render the Taliban and Al-Qaeda ineffective. This war has taken a toll on our troops and they don't need their hands tied fighting this war. Our troops don't need to be there providing "security." There's too much violence there. We need an all-out war to destroy Al-Qaeda. We should burn the poppy fields to the ground and attack and destroy anything that would aid the enemy to win. We should destroy any of the underground laboratories or anything related to producing drugs. We should cut off any supplies that would benefit these insurgents. It's time the Obama administration means business and that is to totally eliminate anything that benefits Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
The money that's generated from the poppy fields supplies the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Around $300 million funds these terrorist groups. This whole notion of the "war on terror" is a farce because you can't win a war if you don't cut off the funding or supplies that fuels the enemy you're fighting. President Obama has sent additional troops to Afghanistan this Spring and our troops are there to provide security for Afgfhanistan. They're supposed to win the confidence of the local Afghan population to fight the insurgents. Our troops are just being sent to slaughter due to NATO's ridiculous "rules of engagement."
When America used to be in the business to win wars, we would attack and destroy anything that would be beneficial to the enemy. During World War II, America and its Allies would destroy synthetic oil plants in Germany? Why? To disrupt their mobility. In war, you must devise strategies that would make your enemy vulnerable and defenseless and you must do so by attacking their fuel plants, communication lines, and anything that would help your enemy to win. That's part of the strategy behind winning wars. We weren't in the business to play "nice guy" or try to get the civilians of the country we were fighting in to like us.
I was reading the New York Times archives on the internet and they were mentioning about the poppy fields being part of the front line in Afghanistan. That part of the economy must be scorched if we are going to stop the insurgency in Afghanistan. Anything that fuels Al-Qaeda and the Taliban must be put to an end. That could include a number of things. If we are going to leave the poppy fields intact, we might as well round up our troops and send them back to America because it will be a dying cause. Al-Qaeda and the Taliban won't be irrelevant as long as they receive some kind of funding to keep them in operation.
The poppy fields should've been destroyed during the Bush administration. That shouldn't been done when we first went to war with Afghanistan in 2001. Instead the job is unfinished and we defeated our purpose by not burning those poppy fields. I read the Pentagon was reluctant to do much about it. I was reading where American officials until the last couple of years or so didn't want to be distracted with a "war on drugs". This is not about a "war on drugs", this is about eliminating any type of funding that would benefit terrorists. In this case, it's the poppy fields. The Pentagon and the CIA clashed over this issue and the Pentagon wouldn't do anything about it. They didn't allow our military to destroy the drug laboratories or burn the poppy fields. The Pentagon ignored rumors that some of the warlords that were put into power were involved with drugs.
The Pentagon at once should order that all the poppy fields in Afghanistan by torched. They should be burned to the ground. There's no sense in having our troops in Afghanistan if they aren't going to be allowed to render the Taliban and Al-Qaeda ineffective. This war has taken a toll on our troops and they don't need their hands tied fighting this war. Our troops don't need to be there providing "security." There's too much violence there. We need an all-out war to destroy Al-Qaeda. We should burn the poppy fields to the ground and attack and destroy anything that would aid the enemy to win. We should destroy any of the underground laboratories or anything related to producing drugs. We should cut off any supplies that would benefit these insurgents. It's time the Obama administration means business and that is to totally eliminate anything that benefits Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
No Bipartisanship Here
Senator John McCain (R-AZ) said on CNN's "State of the Union" that President Obama is not a bipartisan leader. He said Obama has failed in that area. He said the success of some of Obama's initiatives such as the stimulus bill shouldn't be mistaken as bipartisanship for the simple fact that both houses of Congress are controlled by a sizable majority of Democrats. The Senate has a veto-proof majority of Democrats. McCain has cited health care legislation as an example that didn't receive any Republican input when it was written. He said Obama is an effective president with sizable majorities of Democrats in Congress.
Let's define bipartisanship. Bipartisanship is when legislators of both parties agree on a particular issue and will commit to including that on a particular bill. Suppose you have both a Democrat and a Republican in a congressional committee that believe that the F-22 weapons should be scrapped and the F-35 weapons should be used in place of the F-22's. Therefore, both legislators will include that provision when writing a bill. There must be agreement or common ground before there can be any type of bipartisanship.
The Democratic Party that's in control of Congress doesn't believe in bipartisanship. You'll hear a lot about bipartisanship, but that's all a smokescreen. The Democrats' agenda is to push through an agenda that's socialistic in nature which will transform the landscape of America. There's not much need for bipartisanship in Congress when they have sizable majorities ruling the Congress. It's all about power and creating a socialist America. The Republican Party needs to be an opposition party and stand against this socialist agenda but they are also part of the problem. Both parties are just puppets of special interests.
In the last several years whenever we've seen "bipartisanship" from both parties it's been to America's detriment. Watch out when both parties can agree together on a certain issue. They're probably selling out our country. Last year we saw both parties band together to support the bailout of the mortgage industry. It wasn't for America's benefit. Two years ago both parties were coming together to support an amnesty bill for illegal aliens called the "McCain-Kennedy" bill. It was due to a few vocal Republicans, talk radio, and a flood of calls from the constituents of the elected officials which stopped this bill dead in it's tracks. Back in 2006 then President Bush tried to push through a Dubais-Ports bill with the help of both parties which would allow the United Arab Emirates to have ownership of the U.S. ports. It was again talk radio, a few vocal politicians against it as well as a flood of constituents that stopped it from going through. I don't classify that as true bipartisanship.
We do need bipartisanship but we need the kind that's good for America. The problem is those that dwell in Congress don't appear to be overtly patriotic. They just spend their time paying back favors to those that have contributed to their campaigns. We need bipartisanship on issues such as drilling for domestic oil, giving incentives for the private sector to create alternate energy fuels, to declare English as the official language in the U.S., for Congress to spend within their means, to lower taxes on business, to guard our borders, to stop abortions, and to not allow the lower courts to trample on our Judeo-Christian freedoms. Bipartisanship is necessary but when we don't have leaders that are out for America's well-being, then it can be dangerous.
Let's define bipartisanship. Bipartisanship is when legislators of both parties agree on a particular issue and will commit to including that on a particular bill. Suppose you have both a Democrat and a Republican in a congressional committee that believe that the F-22 weapons should be scrapped and the F-35 weapons should be used in place of the F-22's. Therefore, both legislators will include that provision when writing a bill. There must be agreement or common ground before there can be any type of bipartisanship.
The Democratic Party that's in control of Congress doesn't believe in bipartisanship. You'll hear a lot about bipartisanship, but that's all a smokescreen. The Democrats' agenda is to push through an agenda that's socialistic in nature which will transform the landscape of America. There's not much need for bipartisanship in Congress when they have sizable majorities ruling the Congress. It's all about power and creating a socialist America. The Republican Party needs to be an opposition party and stand against this socialist agenda but they are also part of the problem. Both parties are just puppets of special interests.
In the last several years whenever we've seen "bipartisanship" from both parties it's been to America's detriment. Watch out when both parties can agree together on a certain issue. They're probably selling out our country. Last year we saw both parties band together to support the bailout of the mortgage industry. It wasn't for America's benefit. Two years ago both parties were coming together to support an amnesty bill for illegal aliens called the "McCain-Kennedy" bill. It was due to a few vocal Republicans, talk radio, and a flood of calls from the constituents of the elected officials which stopped this bill dead in it's tracks. Back in 2006 then President Bush tried to push through a Dubais-Ports bill with the help of both parties which would allow the United Arab Emirates to have ownership of the U.S. ports. It was again talk radio, a few vocal politicians against it as well as a flood of constituents that stopped it from going through. I don't classify that as true bipartisanship.
We do need bipartisanship but we need the kind that's good for America. The problem is those that dwell in Congress don't appear to be overtly patriotic. They just spend their time paying back favors to those that have contributed to their campaigns. We need bipartisanship on issues such as drilling for domestic oil, giving incentives for the private sector to create alternate energy fuels, to declare English as the official language in the U.S., for Congress to spend within their means, to lower taxes on business, to guard our borders, to stop abortions, and to not allow the lower courts to trample on our Judeo-Christian freedoms. Bipartisanship is necessary but when we don't have leaders that are out for America's well-being, then it can be dangerous.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Charlotte Mason: Don't Separate Education Into Christian and Secular
Charlotte Mason, a nineteenth century British educator, was very concerned about the education of children in Great Britain during the nineteenth century. She was born in January 1842 and died in January 1923. There are different volumes that she wrote in the Charlotte Mason series. She understood the importance of a broad-based liberal education. She believed children should be taught from living books that were interesting; not dry factual textbooks. She believed children should be exposed to the outdoors at an early age and learn about nature and living things. There are some homeschooling parents today that incorporate the Charlotte Mason method in their curriculum.
Charlotte Mason in her Volume 2 series was talking about spiritual and secular truth. It was under the Great Recognition Required of Parents. It said, "Both secular and spiritual truth are divine and all subjects whether religious or practical, are God-inspired. We need not separate education into secular and Christian". Mason understood the importance of students being taught the Bible and its truths and for young students to apply it to their lives. She didn't view the Bible as some fictional book irrevelant to the educational needs of children.
Today America's schools have been secularized. The process started in the mid-1800's with Horace Mann and his bid to build common schools in America. There were educators that were appearing on the American scene that didn't believe the Bible was the inerrant word of God and therefore there should be a separation of Christian and secular education. John Dewey was one classic example. He was opposed to Christianity being taught in the classroom. The 1962 and 1963 Supreme Court decisions have basically taken God out of America's classrooms. Look what shape our schools are in today. You can't teach education properly if you remove the Bible and its precepts from the classrooms. The Bible is the basis of morals. You can't teach morals if the Bible is discredited. The basis for morals comes from God's word. Education should begin with the teaching of the Word of God.
A school cannot properly educate a child if the Bible is removed. Life doesn't make sense without the Bible. The philosophy today is secular humanism, which is, "If it feels good do it. Man is the measure of all things." Morals and the truths from the Bible that have been taught and believed for centuries have now come into question. Today moral relativism holds sway which says what's right is dependent upon the circumstances facing your life. It can vary from person to person. Some situations might warrant murder. If an unborn child is an inconvience, then abortion may be justifiable in that particular situation. The Bible gives meaning to truth and morals. The Bible gives unity to the particulars. If the Bible is taught and has its rightful place in the schools, then everything else will fall into line.
It's tragic we've concocted this idea of Christian and secular education. When I speak of Christian education, I don't merely mean just teaching a Bible course and the rest of the courses be taught from a humanist perspective. The underlying philosophy behind everything is Christian. The Bible is the basis for everything that's taught there. All subjects should be taught from a Christian worldview. Children shouldn't be taught that humans are a result of evolution. The students should be taught that God is the author of history. History shouldn't be taught as mankind happening as a result of evolution and that mankind is struggling to adapt to his environment. History is taught today from an evolutionary perspective. Children should be taught history has a purpose to it. Everything in a Christian school should be Christ-centered. The motto in the Christian school where I attend church is "Conforming Students to the Image of Christ." It's all about him. Education should begin with the Bible. Then the schools should teach all the basic academic subjects. Then the schools should offer elective courses that will develop a student and enable them to make decisions in regards to a vocation upon graduation.
There should never be any such thing as Christian and secular education. Secular education is an education which sees no purpose beyond this life. It has removed God from his place in life and as a result we're raising a generation of confused students who don't possess much ambition nor do they know their purpose in life. There are some students in public schools that are ambitious as well as have a purpose in life. It's not because of the public school system. It's because of their parents at home as well as individual teachers in the public school system that believe in educating children properly. However, students will not be well-rounded and educated like they should be unless the Bible is the beginning of their education. It would be wise for these modern-day educators, politicians, judges in the court system, and bureaucrats to take heed to that.
Charlotte Mason in her Volume 2 series was talking about spiritual and secular truth. It was under the Great Recognition Required of Parents. It said, "Both secular and spiritual truth are divine and all subjects whether religious or practical, are God-inspired. We need not separate education into secular and Christian". Mason understood the importance of students being taught the Bible and its truths and for young students to apply it to their lives. She didn't view the Bible as some fictional book irrevelant to the educational needs of children.
Today America's schools have been secularized. The process started in the mid-1800's with Horace Mann and his bid to build common schools in America. There were educators that were appearing on the American scene that didn't believe the Bible was the inerrant word of God and therefore there should be a separation of Christian and secular education. John Dewey was one classic example. He was opposed to Christianity being taught in the classroom. The 1962 and 1963 Supreme Court decisions have basically taken God out of America's classrooms. Look what shape our schools are in today. You can't teach education properly if you remove the Bible and its precepts from the classrooms. The Bible is the basis of morals. You can't teach morals if the Bible is discredited. The basis for morals comes from God's word. Education should begin with the teaching of the Word of God.
A school cannot properly educate a child if the Bible is removed. Life doesn't make sense without the Bible. The philosophy today is secular humanism, which is, "If it feels good do it. Man is the measure of all things." Morals and the truths from the Bible that have been taught and believed for centuries have now come into question. Today moral relativism holds sway which says what's right is dependent upon the circumstances facing your life. It can vary from person to person. Some situations might warrant murder. If an unborn child is an inconvience, then abortion may be justifiable in that particular situation. The Bible gives meaning to truth and morals. The Bible gives unity to the particulars. If the Bible is taught and has its rightful place in the schools, then everything else will fall into line.
It's tragic we've concocted this idea of Christian and secular education. When I speak of Christian education, I don't merely mean just teaching a Bible course and the rest of the courses be taught from a humanist perspective. The underlying philosophy behind everything is Christian. The Bible is the basis for everything that's taught there. All subjects should be taught from a Christian worldview. Children shouldn't be taught that humans are a result of evolution. The students should be taught that God is the author of history. History shouldn't be taught as mankind happening as a result of evolution and that mankind is struggling to adapt to his environment. History is taught today from an evolutionary perspective. Children should be taught history has a purpose to it. Everything in a Christian school should be Christ-centered. The motto in the Christian school where I attend church is "Conforming Students to the Image of Christ." It's all about him. Education should begin with the Bible. Then the schools should teach all the basic academic subjects. Then the schools should offer elective courses that will develop a student and enable them to make decisions in regards to a vocation upon graduation.
There should never be any such thing as Christian and secular education. Secular education is an education which sees no purpose beyond this life. It has removed God from his place in life and as a result we're raising a generation of confused students who don't possess much ambition nor do they know their purpose in life. There are some students in public schools that are ambitious as well as have a purpose in life. It's not because of the public school system. It's because of their parents at home as well as individual teachers in the public school system that believe in educating children properly. However, students will not be well-rounded and educated like they should be unless the Bible is the beginning of their education. It would be wise for these modern-day educators, politicians, judges in the court system, and bureaucrats to take heed to that.
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