Thoughts on Forgiveness

Why do you forgive someone who has sinned against you?  Why would you even consider it?


Let's remember what forgiveness is.  Forgiveness is releasing someone who has sinned against me their sin debt to me and agreeing to live with the unchangeable consequences of that act.  We're talking about sins of significance, not small or petty offences.  The small things we're supposed to overlook anyway.  Proverbs 19:11 says that it's the glory of a man to overlook an offence. Literally, it's his crowning honor to overlook it.  As we begin to mature in Christ, the small stuff should roll off us like water off a duck's back.  If small slights or inconveniences really bother us and upset us, we have a pride problem that we need to deal with before the Lord.  (See Proverbs 13:10.)


Many of us would immediately think of the command and example of Jesus.   He commanded through prayer in the Sermon on the Mount, "forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."  And He commanded it through precept in Matthew 18:21-22,35:  ²¹ Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” ²² Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times...So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.


Remember Jesus on the cross?  "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."  We have command and example.

Often we hear that we should forgive others because of its benefits to us.  And we are benefited when we forgive!  We no longer carry the weight of the grudge.  Our hearts are clear and unburdened.  The root of bitterness that can so easily poison our entire outlook and spill over to other relationships is removed. My vertical relationship with the Father is open and unobstructed.  These are all real benefits to granting forgiveness!  But are these worthy of being my motive to forgive?

Look again at Jesus' example.  Do we really think that He was asking the Father to forgive those who were crucifying Him so that He could feel better?!  No!  Jesus' forgiveness of His martyrers was based on love and was focused on them, not on Himself.

Forgiveness is divine.  It's a supernatural move of the Holy Spirit in us, empowering us.  Forgiving is an act of the will rather than a simple emotional response.  When love for Christ and the love from Christ abounds in our hearts, we can forgive from the heart.  The challenge we have in our growth as disciples is to ferret out the motives of our hearts and to submit our hearts and wills to the ongoing work of repentance so that we can become like our Lord Jesus.  Offences are opportunities for change and growth if we will respond in Christlikeness rather than react in the flesh.

Together For the Gospel

I wish I were in Louisville at this week's Together For The Gospel.  Here are links to audio from the conference as found on Desiring God:

The audio of Tuesday's messages at Together for the Gospel is now available for streaming and download on their site:

• C. J. Mahaney, The Sustaining Power of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 4)
• Al Mohler, The Power of the Articulated Gospel (Romans 10)
• Mark Dever, False Conversions: The Suicide of the Church

Check out the full schedule of the conference speakers, and what it might look like if this were a baseball team.

Burkean Conservatism

Through my friend @Markjakubik, I became aware of Professor Stephen Bainbridge of UCLA Law School.  I'm enjoying and benefiting from reading his blog.  He has a particularly good excerpt that distinguishes a conservative from a libertarian.

Indeed, the irony is that left-liberals who use terms like "wingnuts" and the Objectivists who want to "Go Galt" both want to free the individual from the alleged shackles  imposed by those platoons. The latter prefer a society in which the autonomous individual stands naked in the market. The former prefer a nanny state in which the individual is dependent upon the state (except when it comes to abortion and sex, oddly enough). Because the little platoons--family, church, workplaces, and civic organizations--provide alternate centers of power within society that insulate the individual from the raw power of both Leviathan and the market, they don't fit into either camp's vision of the ideal society. In my view, however, they are essential if we are to resist the crushing of civil society beneath the mission-creep of the state and the raw force of the market.

This is the kind of writing we need to help provide the intellectual firepower to counter the ascendancy of what I consider a libertarianism on steroids.

Basketball Dawgs Drawing A Crowd

UGA is a known as a emphatically football school.  But the hardwood Dawgs are drawing fans with their much improved play.  My brother and nephew got to see them play in person on Saturday.  I'm jealous!

Read all about the Dawgs at the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Mike Pence Stands For The Unborn

Mike Pence may not be a household name.  And he may not be the bandwagon choice for the GOP 2012 nomination.  But he's my choice.

Read his words at today's March For Life:

“We gather to mark the 38th anniversary of the worst Supreme Court decision since Dred Scott.  And we gather today in the shadow of a new pro-life majority on Capitol Hill.  And we will keep gathering until Roe v. Wade is sent to the ash heap of history where it belongs.

“These are trying times in the life of this nation.

“Our economy is struggling and our national government is awash in a sea of debt.

“Amidst these struggles, some would have us focus our energies on jobs and spending.

"We must not remain silent when great moral battles are being waged. Those who would have us ignore the battle being fought over life have forgotten the lessons of history. As in the days of a house divided, America's darkest moments have come when economic arguments trumped moral principles.

“A nation that will not stand for life will not stand for long.

“You know there can be no lasting prosperity without a moral foundation in law.

“And as to focusing on spending, I agree.

“Let’s start by denying all federal funding for abortion at home and abroad.

“The largest abortion provider in America should not also be the largest recipient of federal funding under Title X.

“The time has come to deny any and all federal funding to Planned Parenthood of America.

“Thank you for braving the cold one more time and saying to the heart of our national government, ‘We will fight on for life. We will fight on for the unborn and the brokenhearted.’

“And we will fight on because we know, as Jefferson said, ‘God who gave us life gave us liberty…and God is just and his justice cannot sleep forever.’

“And we know this:  We will win this fight because the deepest desire of every mother and father is to protect their child, at any cost, even with the own lives and that truth cannot be erased.

“The American people will make this right.  We will restore the sanctity of life to the center of American law.  Because every American knows in their heart, this is the greatest nation on earth because we acknowledge the God-given right to liberty, the pursuit of happiness and the unalienable right to life.”

See the story at The Weekly Standard.

Explanation of Legalism and Worldliness

In this interview, Phil Johnson gives the clearest, most succinct explanation of legalism that I've heard.  He also discribes worldliness as the heart matter that it is, slaughtering a few sacred cows along the way.

What Shapes Your Faith?

A story from USA Today caught my eye. Sunday's article in the Faith & Reason section by Cathy Lynn Grossman reports on the book American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us by political scientists Robert Putnam of Harvard and David Campbell of Notre Dame. Their research concludes that American evangelicals believe that most good people will make it Heaven regardless of what the Bible says about Jesus being the only way to the Father.

Grossman says:

They found that on the ultimate religious tolerance questions -- who is saved -- Americans overwhelmingly believe "a good person who is of another religion (than your own) can go to heaven. The group that scored lowest, evangelicals, were still greatly in favor of a wide and generous grace with 83% saying yes to this.

But did they really mean non-Christians, or was this Methodists saying, sure, Lutherans are saved, too? They asked again,adding "even if they are not Christian" and 54% of evangelical protestants on up to 98% of Mormons agreed.

This is a particularly disturbing opinion, if true. One of the things a pastor must continually repeat is the simple premise of the Gospel: Humans are alienated from God by sin. The exclusive cure for sin is the payment made by Christ, His shedding His blood on the cross. The only hope any person has of eternal life is repenting of their sin and coming to Christ by faith alone.


It is particularly frustrating that Christians don't get the fact that God will not "grade on the curve" for their loved one or friend. Just because we love them and see lovable qualities in them doesn't mean the Father will give them a mulligan on the Gospel at the judgment. They will be judged based on their righteousness, or on the imputed righteousness of Christ. If they don't have Christ, they will not gain eternal life. That is why it is critical for every Christian to share the Gospel with those he loves. No Gospel, no Heaven.


Our church's theme is "First Baptist Church Loves Robinson!". The way this church or any individual Christian can best show love is by showing people the way to Christ. Anything less is simply kind-hearted wishful thinking.

There's A Conservative Christian Running For President

There's a real conservative who is making noises about running for President in 2012.  He's visiting Iowa and staying active in the media.  This past week, he was one of the keynote speakers at the Family Research Council's Values Voter Summit.  His name is Mike Pence.  He's a leader in the House and is a member from Indiana.  He states that he's "a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican...in that order."  He deserves a good look by everyone interested in conservatism and by every politically active Christian.

The time to fight for our values is in the primaries.  Remember Rush's rule: vote for the most conservative Republican in the primaries.  We have to pay attention early this cycle and get behind and work for our preferred candidate.  The cycle for 2012 begins on November 3rd this year.

Listen to his speech at the Value Voters Summit:

Back In Action and Two Quick Hits

After neglecting the blog for too many months, I'm back in action. I must admit that my inclination to update and inform didn't go away. But I was seduced by Twitter and Facebook, using those platforms for lots of quick hits. After some time, reflection, and encouragement, I'm going to try to merge all three venues.

Two articles from my morning reading deserve mention. The first is from Dan Burrell. He posted a new article titled Paying The Price When You Take a Stand. Using the recent case of the family who objected to overly-sexual cheers on their six year old's cheer squad, he makes the following observation:

But let’s make something clear — taking a stand will often require you to pay a price and that’s a good thing. Dead leaves and dead fish go with the flow. Taking a stand causes ripples and waves. Turn on a light and watch the cockroaches run for the shadows. Put some salt on ice and watch things start changing. Taking a stand on matters of propriety, morality, philosophy, ethics, values and conduct is going to exact some sort of price at the hands of those whose values are different than yours.

We should expect nothing less.

The entire article is worthy of reading and considering. He makes powerful points of living biblically holy lives without being legalistic prudes.

The other article is on a blog new to me called Sola Sisters. It's a revealing and discerning article on Glenn Beck.

And okay, sure, I knew you were a Mormon. But maybe, I said to myself, he's really a Christian. Maybe he's one of those "cultural Mormons," a Mormon in name only, who doesn't even know about all that kooky Mormon theology. After all, he talks about God and Jesus and salvation and atonement.... Looking back, I'm so ashamed of myself: I should have known better! After all, a large part of what I do is write about cults, and how they use the same terminology that Christians do, only with redefined meanings. Oh, how I wanted to believe.

The rest of the article details the deviant and false gospel beliefs of Mormonism.

A Testimony To God's Terrible and Wonderful Sovereignty

Patrick Hughes is a living example of God's terrible and wonderful sovereignty. This young man was born blind and crippled. Yet God gifted him with an amazing native musical talent. Watch the report on him and his dad.

New Sermons, MLK, Odds & Ends

The last two weeks worth of audio have been uploaded to my podcast. There's a player here on the blog that you can use to listen, if you like.

My message last night was on the Christian and racism. I don't think I "nailed" the subject. In fact, I just began to scratch the surface of it. But this has been a journey that started for me ten years or so ago. And it's one that has unfortunately not started for many white Christians. I've been particularly challenged by John Piper's writing on the subject and by his example. Even though most of us have not engaged in overt or conscious hatred of other ethnic groups, the very facts that we have eschewed much consideration of race relations in our churches and that we unconsciously and unwittingly consider "minorities" as other are damning indictments. May God give us the grace to live out our oneness with all our brothers in Christ. I include the link to MLK's Letter From A Birmingham Jail and a video of his I Have A Dream Speech below.

Also, I unashamedly borrow from Dan Phillips' blog the video of Wintley Phipps singing "Amazing Grace". What a blessing this man is to the Church!

Resolved: To Make An Impact For Christ This Year

I believe in evaluating myself and in setting goals. It’s a healthy practice everyone should cultivate from the beginning of adolescence until their last breath. The New Year is a traditional time to do this. Many people start the off the year with a set of resolutions. “I’m going to lose weight.” “I’m going to learn a new language.” “I’m going to manage my finances better.” All of those are good resolutions.

But what if your resolutions this year included things that were greater than that? What if your resolutions weren’t just about self-actualization and life enhancement? What if your resolutions were God-centered? Let me share three questions with you to get you started. And then let the Lord guide your thinking and praying as you resolve to serve Him this year.

1. How can I serve the family I live with so they will see God’s glory this year?
2. How can I serve through my church so that my brothers and sisters enjoy the presence of Christ and the Gospel advances in our community?
3. How can I surrender my will to God this year so that Christ’s glory blazes brightly to everyone around me?

A Powerful, Poignant Pro-Life Video

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Get Acquainted With Rand Paul

Rand Paul is a candidate worthy of your support. Even if, like me, you don't live in Kentucky, you can support him. He will be a great voice for liberty and good sense in the U.S. Senate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2rqCOFtacE&feature=player_embedded

Huckabee on Israel

Piper on the Value of Literal Translations

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Sunday Morning Prayer for August 16, 2009

Prayer for August 16, 2009


Dear Lover, Redeemer, and Friend,

We know that in You dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Everything that God is, all His glory, all His majesty, all His beauty, all His perfection, is displayed in You, Lord Jesus. We worship and prize You above everything and everyone else. We delight in Your presence. We long for Your fellowship.

Father, if we’ve come here for anything else today, please forgive us and correct us.

If we’ve come to be entertained by good music, forgive us and help our souls to be enraptured in You.

If we’ve come to be pleased or to think better of ourselves through a well-presented talk, forgive us and give light to our minds to know You better.

If we’ve come to see and be seen, forgive us and help us to see only Christ and Him crucified.

Give us more of You today, Lord Jesus.

In Your precious name I pray,

Amen.

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Prayer for August 9, 2009

Prayer for August 9, 2009


Dear Lover Of Our Souls,

May we read your tender heart towards us in the manger of Your birth, in the garden of Your agony, in the cross of Your suffering, in the tomb of Your resurrection, and in the heaven of Your intercession. Deepen in us a sense of our holy relationship to You as spiritual bridegroom and sinners’ friend. You have loved us everlastingly and unchangeably; may we love You as we are loved by You.

If temptation comes to us, give us grace to overcome evil and do what is right.
If we have important decisions to make, give us grace to choose the right way and to refuse the wrong way.
If things go well with us, keep us from all pride and from thinking that we do not need You.
If sorrow and trials come to us, keep us from despair and give us hope in You.

In Jesus’ precious name I pray,

Amen.


(Based on “Christ Is All” in The Valley of Vision, edited by Arthur Bennett: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1975 and from The Plain Man’s Book of Prayers, by William Barclay, p. 10)

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What Age for Marriage?

My friend Howard Fisher gives a "heads up" on his blog today on Albert Mohler's new article. The money quote from Mohler's article is:

The biblical case for early marriage is even stronger than Regnerus indicates. Our bodies are not evolutionary accidents, and God reveals his intention for humanity through the gifts of sexual maturation, fertility, and sexual desire. As men and women, we are made for marriage. As Christians, those not called to celibacy are called to demonstrate our discipleship through honoring the Creator's intention by directing sexual desire and reproductive capacity into a commitment to marriage. Marriage is the central crucible for accepting and fulfilling the adult responsibilities of work, parenthood, and the full acceptance of mature responsibilities.

Indeed, design reveals purpose. The fact is that young people value their freedom, independence, and opportunity for adventure more than they value obedience to the Lord in matters of sexual expression. Some delay marriage to get their education, and then to get established in their careers and finances. And their parents' generation has encouraged them to do so. And our pulpits have been silent, for the most part, in encouraging young people to marry. Mohler says:

The vast majority of Christians who have gone before us would surely be shocked by the very need for a case to be made for Christian adults to marry. While the New Testament clearly honors the gift of celibacy for the cause of the Gospel, the eight out of ten evangelical young people admitting to sexual intercourse before marriage are clearly making no claim to the gift of celibacy.

It is time for us to boldly teach our people to marry soon if they do not have the gift of celibacy.

Africa

As always, Dan Phillips discovered a cool video that he posts on his blog today. Enjoy!

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Plans and Prayers

We all have plans for our lives. Consciously or unconsciously, we have an idea of a timeline with major events or a direction with milestones along the way. But man’s plans don’t always coincide with God’s plans. Proverbs 16:9 A man's heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. Proverbs 19:21 There are many plans in a man's heart, Nevertheless the LORD's counsel—that will stand. Seldom does life turn out the way we expected nor are all the events ones we would have chosen. But our God, who is equally wise and loving, directs our steps in the way that is best for us and for His glory…the way they ought to go.

How can we be sure that we are going with God and that our life-path is right?

First, trust in the truth of God’s Word, His promise. Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. God is actively at work in your life, fulfilling His purpose in and through you. God in never working just one purpose in your life; He’s working a thousand purposes. And He knows the impact of the thing He is doing in you that will touch and influence others in your circles of influence, not only through six degrees of separation, but to the furthest degree of separation! Just trust Him to do good to you and through you. Psalm 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

Second, humbly and consciously submit yourself and your plans to God. Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Planning isn’t wrong. In fact, it’s good stewardship. But when we do it with hubris or with confidence in our own abilities or without considering the Lord, it’s sinful and self-centered. James 4:13-15 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"--yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." So be sensitive to the Lord’s direction and mindful of His superintending control.

Third, pray about your plans, your hopes and dreams. And pray for them! If you’re humbly walking with God, you can have assurance that He is helping you want the right things, the things that please and honor. Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. God wants you to ask. He wants to say, “Yes!” So, ask.

Believing The Right Things About God

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” So says the Holy Spirit through the writer to the Hebrews. Exercising faith is central to our Christian life. It’s a defining aspect of being a Christian for Baptists and other Evangelicals. And yet having faith, or believing, is not an end in itself. Rather that faith or belief must be exercised in reference to some object, some person. And it is only useful or praiseworthy when it is exercised towards the Triune God, and most especially towards the Second Person of the Trinity, our Lord Jesus Christ.



Throughout the Bible, trust in God is associated with knowing and doing His Word and His will. In other words, the Lord expects us to know certain truths about Him and to live in ways that are consistent with those truths we know about Him. There are definite facts and doctrines that are vital to your being right about God and, therefore, being right with God. In the New Testament, Paul emphasizes the vital nature of right doctrine, or beliefs, about the Lord to the young pastors Timothy and Titus. In his three short letters to them, he mentions it fifteen times. John writes about it his second letter. Jude says that we should “earnestly contend for the faith” in his letter. Jesus rebukes two of the seven churches in Asia for their lack of right doctrine in Revelation chapters two and three. The Lord takes right beliefs, or doctrines, seriously. Are we wiser or more sophisticated or more tolerant than our Lord? We cannot afford to take doctrine lightly or to brush it aside as if it were trivial. We need to consult the Bible in order to know the truth and specific truths.



That’s why some modern Christian books are so troubling. Men and women who are gifted writers but not careful students of the Bible or trained theologians are planting wrong ideas about God into the Body of Christ. I would prefer to think that this is often unintentional. But whether or not it is unintentional, the danger and the damage remain. Sometimes the books are nonfiction, relating personal experiences or devotional impressions. Other times they are fiction, hiding their erroneous teachings behind the fig leaf of artistic license. In either case, their purpose is to change our understanding of who God is and what He is like. Be discerning as you read. Just because it is sold at a Christian bookstore or website doesn’t make it good or right.



Here are some ideas and questions to help you interact with a book as you read it:



A good book should reinforce the authority of Scripture. Does it make experiences, impressions, nature, or anything else as important as the Bible in understanding God or your walk with Him?
A good book should represent God the way He is represented in the Bible. For example, God always refers to Himself as masculine rather than feminine whether He is speaking of Father, Son, or Holy Spirit. And while God is Three in One, each person of the Trinity has specific functions. There is also a hierarchy, or authority and submission relationships, within the Trinity. Does it represent Jesus as the unique God-man and that He is the only One of the Trinity who became man?
A good book should represent the Gospel and salvation the way the Bible presents them. Does it reinforce that Jesus is the only way to have a relationship with God or to have forgiveness and everlasting life and that any other way leads to eternal ruin?
A good book should show God to be a God of grace, mercy, and love. Does it cast the Lord in a positive light as active, benevolent, and in control of everything?


My list is not exhaustive. But it is a helpful starting place for us to be discerning. I encourage you to read and to read widely. The Bible and books are your best tools for growth and broadened understanding. Please read with a discerning mind and heart.

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Silly, Shallow "Sermons"

In the following video clip, Matt Chandler powerfully exposes the shallowness of some so-called preaching or teaching that is popular in evanjellycalism today. He not only reveals the lack of seriousness involved in the preparation, delivery, and consumption of such worldly pottage, he inspires us to something much better.

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God As A Commodity

Here is an excellent excerpt from Dan Phillip's offering today at Pyromaniacs:

We should unveil the glorious, transcendent majesty of God. We should expose the pathetic, inexcusable, guilty, doomed vulnerability of man. We should set out God's terms of reconciliation, through Christ, because of His work on the Cross. We should call man to immediate and unconditional surrender, by repentant faith.

That's what we should do.

What the church does instead is to try to repackage God, as if he were yesterday's widget, and sell Him as useful. I wish I could say this is seldom done, but you'd know I was lying. I've seen books, I've heard sermons, I've seen ads that present God as the best way to get what we want, to achieve our dreams, and as the ultimate Enabler of our agendas.

Too many times, we unconsciously think of God as someone to bend to our will, someone to achieve our ends for us. What an insufficient view of God! What a short-sighted agenda we have!

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Piper on Obama and Abortion

John Piper is one of my favorite preacher-theologians. Below is an excerpt from his sermon this past Sunday.

Pray for America

Here is what an Antichrist looks like:


An antichrist does not necessarily come with anger, threats, and outright persecution. He comes with a smile and smooth words of peace and unity, offering hope...a messianic figure.

This President is enthusiastically in favor of the worst of abominations, homosexuality and abortion. He states on the White House website:

Support for the LGBT Community
"While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect."
-- Barack Obama, June 1, 2007

Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, President Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.
Fight Workplace Discrimination: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. The President also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.
Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: President Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.
Repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell: President Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. The President will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.
Expand Adoption Rights: President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.
Supporting Stem Cell Research: President Obama and Vice President Biden believe that we owe it to the American public to explore the potential of stem cells to treat the millions of people suffering from debilitating and life-threatening diseases. Obama is a co-sponsor of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007, which will allow research of human embryonic stem cells derived from embryos donated (with consent) from in vitro fertilization clinics. These embryos must be deemed in excess and created based solely for the purpose of fertility treatment.
Reproductive Choice
Supports a Woman's Right to Choose: President Obama understands that abortion is a divisive issue, and respects those who disagree with him. However, he has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women's rights under Roe v. Wade a priority in his Adminstration. He opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in that case. Preventing Unintended Pregnancy: President Obama was an original co-sponsor of legislation to expand access to contraception, health information, and preventive services to help reduce unintended pregnancies. Introduced in January 2007, the Prevention First Act will increase funding for family planning and comprehensive sex education that teaches both abstinence and safe sex methods. The Act will also end insurance discrimination against contraception, improve awareness about emergency contraception, and provide compassionate assistance to rape victims.

We need Christians and pastors whose first inclination is not to be lulled into complacency and good feelings by the pervasive media. It is too easy to be co-opted by wanting to join in the euphoria of the historic election of a black man to the nation's highest office. Many erstwhile Bible-believing pastors are taking a jelly-spined approach because they don't want to be offensive or to lose popularity. God deliver us from such quislings! Now is the time to lift up our voices and spare not! This is not a time to be sanguine or to bury our heads in sand saying, "Our only legitimate work is church work." We are called to be prophets of the righteous and holy God. Standing against sin is an indispensible component of real gospel ministry. Announcing God's displeasure and wrath towards sin is not primarily political, but it is public, powerful, and purposeful.

"Dear Father, grant us repentance as a people for we have chosen a president in our rebellion against You and Your laws. Forgive our sins of idolatry of self and of money. We are wrong, O Lord, in calling evil good and good evil. Lord Jesus, forgive us, your pastors, of loving popularity and men's applause more than we love You and Your truth. Help to have holy boldness and to have godly spirits, too. I ask these things in Your Name. Amen."

The True Gospel

Star Wars Acapella!

IS this not the best?!

Global Warming?

Children Following God's Call

Jason Janz posts an timely article at SharperIron on God's call to children:

I want to challenge my generation to take a different attitude toward their children than the boomer generation did. I’m afraid that we have learned to shelter our kids from all and any pain. We strive to give them the best educations, opportunities in sports, and plenty of entertainment. But what if God wants our kids to go through painful things? Are we quick to jump in at the first sign of discomfort, pushing against what could be God’s molding hand? Better yet, what intentionally uncomfortable positions have we put our children into for the sake of the kingdom of God? The gospel compels us to live for others, not for ourselves. Do you reach out to the poor? Do your kids embrace the Bible teaching that it is more blessed to give than to receive? What are your plans to make Christmas a time of transformation, turning the hearts of your family from receivers to radical givers? Do your kids have a ministry at their local church? If I fear anything for my kids, it is that they finish school with a strong education but with a passionless Christianity.

Kirk Cameron Interviews John MacArthur On The True Gospel

I saw these clips on Thabiti Anyabwile's blog today and had to share them with you. My heart rejoiced over the powerful, humble presentation of the pure Gospel! I hope yours will, too.

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Something Else to Cling to

Since every American should own firearms for sport, protection, and the preservation of liberty, I've included this link to recommend the most useful guns.

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Hold to the Truth!

Today's dose of Spurgeon at Pyromaniacs is a bold and needed admonition to hold on the truth. We need to saturate our souls with this mindset:

Jesus never gave countenance to the baseborn charity which teaches that it is no injury to a man's nature to believe a lie. Beloved, be firm, be stedfast, be positive. There are certain things which are true; find them out, grapple them to you as with hooks of steel. Buy the truth at any price and sell it at no price.

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Clinging

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Christless Christianity

Here is a book I'm eager to read:

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