(WORLD News Service) - Six conservative leaders blasted Mitt Romney as a "weak, moderate" candidate and called for Republican Party leaders to resign a day after Democrats dealt the GOP a sweeping defeat in the 2012 elections.
Brent Bozell, the chairman of ForAmerica and founder of the Media Research Center, Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List, and Jenny Beth Martin, national coordinator for the Tea Party Patriots, were among the press conference speakers who laid "the epic election failure of 2012" at the feet of Republican elites.
ConservativeHQ.com's Richard Viguerie identified Republican National Chairman Reince Priebus, Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Speaker John Boehner as individuals who "should be replaced with leaders more in tune with the conservative base of the Republican Party. Likewise, in any logical universe, establishment consultants such as Karl Rove, Ed Gillespie, Romney senior campaign advisor Stuart Stevens, and pollster Neil Newhouse will never be hired to run or consult on a campaign again, and no one would give a dime to their ineffective super PACs, such as American Crossroads."
Republicans failed to take the White House and lost ground in both houses of Congress. Speaking at a pre-planned event at the National Press Club, the conservative speakers pointed to several reasons for the result, including not clearly defining separate worldviews, failing to run on pro-life or religious freedom issues, and ignoring minority voting blocs.
Bozzell said Republicans should get no support from conservatives until they "re-earn it" by agreeing to a list of commitments. The group said conservatives are working together on a "No Excuses" pledge that it will use to hold GOP lawmakers accountable for policies such as not raising taxes, banning earmarks, and defunding Obamacare.
"The GOP has an excellent party platform," Bozell said. "If you want our support, support your own platform first."
Dannenfelser said Election night was "not a good night" for the pro-life movement but pointed to the Senate election of Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and the reelection of Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., as silver linings.
(J. C. Derrick, WORLD News Service, Nov. 9, 2012)
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Don't Quit
Do your daily tasks to bring glory to God.
(World News Service) - I'm a fan of The Pacifier, the 2005 action comedy starring Vin Diesel as Shane Wolfe, the U.S. Navy SEAL assigned to protect the children of a man killed by Serbian rebels. One of my favorite scenes shows the dim-witted high school vice principal and wrestling coach telling the family's oldest son to quit the wrestling team. He then solemnly pronounces: "Quitters, quit!"
Our family has incorporated that two-word power punch into our lexicon because it's the comical antithesis of what my husband calls "the most important academic subject - work." Jim grew up working on his dad's Arizona cotton farm, studied agriculture at the University of Arizona, graduated and went to work as a farmer. Every day of every week of every year, he does the same work. He's on our turf farm 10 or more hours a day, six days a week, 52 weeks a year, growing a crop that will beautify the arid desert landscape. One of the most important things he's taught our nine children is to work.
To work? Yes, we must learn to work. Typical of the enemy's deceit is the lie that work is a curse, but that's just not true. According to Genesis 2:15, God put Adam in the garden to cultivate and keep it - or to farm it. God taught Adam to work for his (Adam's) own benefit, no curse involved. Only after Adam and Eve sinned did work fall under God's judgment. All of a sudden, cultivating and keeping the garden became more difficult. But in light of the cross, our work becomes a reflection of the redemptive grace of Christ. And as believers, it's imperative that truth motivate our efforts in the cultural sphere of work.
In The Biblical Perspective of Work, Crown Financial Ministries point out that the average American spends 100,000 hours working during five decades. Unfortunately, dissatisfaction is part of the reality of work. American workers change jobs every three to four years, a statistic that proves the average employee isn't content with his or her job. Quitters really do quit.
To find satisfaction in our work, and to be placed in a position where God can prosper our work, we must first understand what the Bible teaches about work, as well as the responsibilities of the employee and the employer. Our work is not merely a collection of tasks that bring in wages. Work is a means by which we can use our talents and abilities to develop godly character, communicate the gospel, and worship the Lord.
In a "Biblical View of Work," an article written by C12 Group, a coalition of Christian CEOs, Christian workers are reminded that our time at work must be intertwined with our primary calling as Christians to share the hope that we have in Christ and make disciples (Matthew 28, Mark 24, and 1 Peter 3). We also must steward God's provision as excellent leaders and managers, reflecting the heart of Christ to serve and benefit others. (Matthew 5, Luke 16, 19, ephesians 4, 1 Peter 2)
This is a tall order, but God never asks us to do something for His glory without preparing us first. Whether our work involves flipping burgers to pay for college expenses, on-campus secrtarial work in trade for books, business or engineering internships, clinicals, student teaching or that first "real" job after college commencement, the most important question to ask every day is, "for whom do I work?"
If the answer is anything or anyone other than Christ Jesus, re-examine your understanding of the biblical view of work. Then add this wise word to your lexicon - work is a gift from God. That's the antidote to quitting.
(Diana smith write for www.worldoncampus.com where this article first appeared.)
(World News Service) - I'm a fan of The Pacifier, the 2005 action comedy starring Vin Diesel as Shane Wolfe, the U.S. Navy SEAL assigned to protect the children of a man killed by Serbian rebels. One of my favorite scenes shows the dim-witted high school vice principal and wrestling coach telling the family's oldest son to quit the wrestling team. He then solemnly pronounces: "Quitters, quit!"
Our family has incorporated that two-word power punch into our lexicon because it's the comical antithesis of what my husband calls "the most important academic subject - work." Jim grew up working on his dad's Arizona cotton farm, studied agriculture at the University of Arizona, graduated and went to work as a farmer. Every day of every week of every year, he does the same work. He's on our turf farm 10 or more hours a day, six days a week, 52 weeks a year, growing a crop that will beautify the arid desert landscape. One of the most important things he's taught our nine children is to work.
To work? Yes, we must learn to work. Typical of the enemy's deceit is the lie that work is a curse, but that's just not true. According to Genesis 2:15, God put Adam in the garden to cultivate and keep it - or to farm it. God taught Adam to work for his (Adam's) own benefit, no curse involved. Only after Adam and Eve sinned did work fall under God's judgment. All of a sudden, cultivating and keeping the garden became more difficult. But in light of the cross, our work becomes a reflection of the redemptive grace of Christ. And as believers, it's imperative that truth motivate our efforts in the cultural sphere of work.
In The Biblical Perspective of Work, Crown Financial Ministries point out that the average American spends 100,000 hours working during five decades. Unfortunately, dissatisfaction is part of the reality of work. American workers change jobs every three to four years, a statistic that proves the average employee isn't content with his or her job. Quitters really do quit.
To find satisfaction in our work, and to be placed in a position where God can prosper our work, we must first understand what the Bible teaches about work, as well as the responsibilities of the employee and the employer. Our work is not merely a collection of tasks that bring in wages. Work is a means by which we can use our talents and abilities to develop godly character, communicate the gospel, and worship the Lord.
In a "Biblical View of Work," an article written by C12 Group, a coalition of Christian CEOs, Christian workers are reminded that our time at work must be intertwined with our primary calling as Christians to share the hope that we have in Christ and make disciples (Matthew 28, Mark 24, and 1 Peter 3). We also must steward God's provision as excellent leaders and managers, reflecting the heart of Christ to serve and benefit others. (Matthew 5, Luke 16, 19, ephesians 4, 1 Peter 2)
This is a tall order, but God never asks us to do something for His glory without preparing us first. Whether our work involves flipping burgers to pay for college expenses, on-campus secrtarial work in trade for books, business or engineering internships, clinicals, student teaching or that first "real" job after college commencement, the most important question to ask every day is, "for whom do I work?"
If the answer is anything or anyone other than Christ Jesus, re-examine your understanding of the biblical view of work. Then add this wise word to your lexicon - work is a gift from God. That's the antidote to quitting.
(Diana smith write for www.worldoncampus.com where this article first appeared.)
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Short Items of Interest
Poll: 60 Percent of Voters Back Traditional Marriage
Despite four victories by gay marriage supporters on Election Day in Maine, Maryland,Washington state and Minnesota, a solid majority of voters nationwide still believe marriage is between one man and one woman, according to a new poll, Baptist Press reports. The Nov. 7 survey by the Polling Company of 800 people who voted either on Election Day or voted early shows 60 percent of voters this year agreed that "marriage is between one man and one woman." Fifty-one percent agreed strongly, and all total, 34 percent disagreed with the statement. "Americans remain strongly in favor of marriage as the union of one man and one woman," said Brian Brown, president of the pro-family National Organization for Marriage. "The election results reflect the political and funding advantages our opponents enjoyed in these very liberal states."
Atheists Ask Obama to Ditch "So Help Me God," Bible in Presidential Oath
When President Barack Obama takes the oath of office for the second time on Jan. 21, 2013, an atheist group wants him to do so without mentioning God and without a Bible, the Christian Post reports. Following Obama's re-election, the Freedom From Religion Foundation sent him a letter asking him to reject the way "this country politicizes religion." FFRF attorney Andrew L. Seidel wrote: "When you stand to reaffirm your oath, do so using the language of the Founders. Eliminate the religious verbiage. While you're at it, why not place your hand on the Constitution instead of a Bible?" The FFRF argued that the words "so help me God" are not prescribed by the Constitution, nor is a requirement for the president to place his hand on a Bible when taking the oath. "[Obama's second term] is a chance to do something that no president in recent memory has done; reach out to secular Americans," FFRF wrote. "In the past, that might have been politically costly. But this recent election shows that it will be politically costly not to reach out to secular America. We are the future."
Graham Organization Takes Heat For Ad
(WORLD News Service) - The Billy Graham organization is taking heat for the hundreds of thousands of dollars it spent on full page ads telling Christians to vote their values, and for taking down a web-site article identifying Mormonism as a cult. The attacks turned personal when Obama surrogates began to suggest that Billy Graham could not make decisions for himself and has been manipulated by others. Rev. Markel Hutchins told CNN, "Reverend Graham is at a very seasoned and elder stage of his life so we have to wonder how much of this is genuinely coming from Billy Graham and how much is being fed to him and propositioned and heaped upon him by those who are around him. For example, his ultraconservative son, the Reverend Franklin Graham." The Graham organization has said that the views in the ad are indeed Billy Graham's own, and they also assert that no general ministry funds went to pay for the ad, but that the funds came from donors who specifically wanted to support this effort.
D'Souza Resigns
(WORLD News Service) - The Board of Trustees of The King's College, New York City has accepted the resignation of the school's president, Dinesh D'Souza, effective immediately. Board chairman Andy Mills said in a prepared statement, "After careful consultation with the board and with Dinesh, we have accepted his resignation to allow him to attend to his personal and family needs. We thank him for his service and significant contribution to the College over the last two years." The King's College Board of Trustees named D'Souza president in 2010. His resignation comes after two days of intense controversy following a story by WORLD documenting D'Souza's relationship with a woman who is not his wife. The board has asked Mills to asssume the position of interim president and will immediately begin a search for the new president. Mills urged the King's community to pray for D'Souza and his family during this difficult period.
Remembering Wittenberg
(WORLD News service) - On Oct. 31, 1517, 495 years ago, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the church at Wittenberg. the rest, as they say, is history. Luther's primary complaints were about the practice of selling indulgences. That argument sounds old and quaint today - unless you consider this: prosperity gospel and seed-faith preachers such as Joel Osteen, Richard Roberts, Benny Hinn, and many more have messages that sound remarkably similar to the ones Luther railed against. Patti Roberts, former wife of Richard Roberts (and daughter-in-law of Oral Roberts) wrote an expose on that theology, in which she said: "I have a very difficult time distinguishing between the selling of indulgences and the concept of seed-faith inflated to the degree to which we had inflated it." Phil Cooke, whose "The Last TV Evangelist" also critiques the seed faith movement, wrote: "Johann Tetzel, the most aggressive of the Dominican friars selling indulgences had a saying: 'As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, the rescued soul from purgatory springs.' It doesn't sound that different from today's, "Plant a seed to meet your need."
Despite four victories by gay marriage supporters on Election Day in Maine, Maryland,Washington state and Minnesota, a solid majority of voters nationwide still believe marriage is between one man and one woman, according to a new poll, Baptist Press reports. The Nov. 7 survey by the Polling Company of 800 people who voted either on Election Day or voted early shows 60 percent of voters this year agreed that "marriage is between one man and one woman." Fifty-one percent agreed strongly, and all total, 34 percent disagreed with the statement. "Americans remain strongly in favor of marriage as the union of one man and one woman," said Brian Brown, president of the pro-family National Organization for Marriage. "The election results reflect the political and funding advantages our opponents enjoyed in these very liberal states."
Atheists Ask Obama to Ditch "So Help Me God," Bible in Presidential Oath
When President Barack Obama takes the oath of office for the second time on Jan. 21, 2013, an atheist group wants him to do so without mentioning God and without a Bible, the Christian Post reports. Following Obama's re-election, the Freedom From Religion Foundation sent him a letter asking him to reject the way "this country politicizes religion." FFRF attorney Andrew L. Seidel wrote: "When you stand to reaffirm your oath, do so using the language of the Founders. Eliminate the religious verbiage. While you're at it, why not place your hand on the Constitution instead of a Bible?" The FFRF argued that the words "so help me God" are not prescribed by the Constitution, nor is a requirement for the president to place his hand on a Bible when taking the oath. "[Obama's second term] is a chance to do something that no president in recent memory has done; reach out to secular Americans," FFRF wrote. "In the past, that might have been politically costly. But this recent election shows that it will be politically costly not to reach out to secular America. We are the future."
Graham Organization Takes Heat For Ad
(WORLD News Service) - The Billy Graham organization is taking heat for the hundreds of thousands of dollars it spent on full page ads telling Christians to vote their values, and for taking down a web-site article identifying Mormonism as a cult. The attacks turned personal when Obama surrogates began to suggest that Billy Graham could not make decisions for himself and has been manipulated by others. Rev. Markel Hutchins told CNN, "Reverend Graham is at a very seasoned and elder stage of his life so we have to wonder how much of this is genuinely coming from Billy Graham and how much is being fed to him and propositioned and heaped upon him by those who are around him. For example, his ultraconservative son, the Reverend Franklin Graham." The Graham organization has said that the views in the ad are indeed Billy Graham's own, and they also assert that no general ministry funds went to pay for the ad, but that the funds came from donors who specifically wanted to support this effort.
D'Souza Resigns
(WORLD News Service) - The Board of Trustees of The King's College, New York City has accepted the resignation of the school's president, Dinesh D'Souza, effective immediately. Board chairman Andy Mills said in a prepared statement, "After careful consultation with the board and with Dinesh, we have accepted his resignation to allow him to attend to his personal and family needs. We thank him for his service and significant contribution to the College over the last two years." The King's College Board of Trustees named D'Souza president in 2010. His resignation comes after two days of intense controversy following a story by WORLD documenting D'Souza's relationship with a woman who is not his wife. The board has asked Mills to asssume the position of interim president and will immediately begin a search for the new president. Mills urged the King's community to pray for D'Souza and his family during this difficult period.
Remembering Wittenberg
(WORLD News service) - On Oct. 31, 1517, 495 years ago, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the church at Wittenberg. the rest, as they say, is history. Luther's primary complaints were about the practice of selling indulgences. That argument sounds old and quaint today - unless you consider this: prosperity gospel and seed-faith preachers such as Joel Osteen, Richard Roberts, Benny Hinn, and many more have messages that sound remarkably similar to the ones Luther railed against. Patti Roberts, former wife of Richard Roberts (and daughter-in-law of Oral Roberts) wrote an expose on that theology, in which she said: "I have a very difficult time distinguishing between the selling of indulgences and the concept of seed-faith inflated to the degree to which we had inflated it." Phil Cooke, whose "The Last TV Evangelist" also critiques the seed faith movement, wrote: "Johann Tetzel, the most aggressive of the Dominican friars selling indulgences had a saying: 'As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, the rescued soul from purgatory springs.' It doesn't sound that different from today's, "Plant a seed to meet your need."
Don't Flee to Canada
Inform, converse, engage, but don't run!
I fell asleep last night with one hand on my iPhone, where I was simultaneously reading the Psalms, listening to Bon Iver, and scanning Facebook. As soon as Obama won, both cries of celebration and disappointed threats to move to Canada filled my screen.
I found Obama's reelection disheartening. I was sad to see the victory go to a leader who represents dependency, debt, and entitlement. Perhaps even more disappointing was the reality that Obama's campaign fought ugly with fear-based ads and hyperbolic logic.
I dragged myself out of bed this morning divided by two impulses. The first was to pretend it doesn't really matter. The second, to face my own inner chaos and work it out by what I do best: writing and drinking coffee. While I understand the "move to Canada" sentiment, I'm convinced there's a better way to move forward.
Our freedom as Americans is a beautiful thing. It means we get to participate in forming our nation's identity. Part of that responsibility is to get informed. We should make a habit of self-education. We should revisit our history and keep up with the current issues. We've grown accustomed to not talking aout politics, but I think by "playing nice" and avoiding political debates, we're stunting our growth. Instead, we should make it a point to learn the "other side" through gracious conversation.
Part of that conversation should include asking ourselves and each other what it means for humans to truly flourish. For Christians, the biblical narrative is deeply concerned with what it means for people to flourish. It also offers a template for our understanding of history, the present, and the future. We should work out for ourselves what it means to face the turbulence of the times, the lessons of the past, and the uncertainty of the future with a mentality rooted in God's promise to redeem all things.
Lastly, we should be more intentional about the culture we consume. We shouldn't passively engage mass media (not even this column), the Internet or entertainment. Passive consumption is active formation. Instead, we should engage with culture more intentionally and respond proactively - the only way to improve culture is to create more of it. We have great technology and tools at our fingertips. How can we use those to cultivate cultural engagement and informed dialogue?
The impulse to flee is human and understandable. But we have the responsibility to participate in the formation of our society and culture. Our founding fathers fled for freedom, but they never used their freedom to flee from hard times. To do so would be a dishonor. Instead,we should think critically, discuss gracefully, and engage courageously.
(Tiffany Owens writes for WORLD News Group.)
Matthew Henry writes, "Truth is a debt we owe to one another; and, if we love one another, we shall not deceive one another." Christians must be known for their love of the truth and the trustworthiness of their speech. When we lie and gossip, we bear false witness to the God of truth who has transformed our hearts to love and serve Him. May we seek to tell the truth to friends, family, fellow church members, and coworkers. May we also repent when we fail to do so.
(Tabletalk, Nov. 2012, Ligonier Ministries)
I fell asleep last night with one hand on my iPhone, where I was simultaneously reading the Psalms, listening to Bon Iver, and scanning Facebook. As soon as Obama won, both cries of celebration and disappointed threats to move to Canada filled my screen.
I found Obama's reelection disheartening. I was sad to see the victory go to a leader who represents dependency, debt, and entitlement. Perhaps even more disappointing was the reality that Obama's campaign fought ugly with fear-based ads and hyperbolic logic.
I dragged myself out of bed this morning divided by two impulses. The first was to pretend it doesn't really matter. The second, to face my own inner chaos and work it out by what I do best: writing and drinking coffee. While I understand the "move to Canada" sentiment, I'm convinced there's a better way to move forward.
Our freedom as Americans is a beautiful thing. It means we get to participate in forming our nation's identity. Part of that responsibility is to get informed. We should make a habit of self-education. We should revisit our history and keep up with the current issues. We've grown accustomed to not talking aout politics, but I think by "playing nice" and avoiding political debates, we're stunting our growth. Instead, we should make it a point to learn the "other side" through gracious conversation.
Part of that conversation should include asking ourselves and each other what it means for humans to truly flourish. For Christians, the biblical narrative is deeply concerned with what it means for people to flourish. It also offers a template for our understanding of history, the present, and the future. We should work out for ourselves what it means to face the turbulence of the times, the lessons of the past, and the uncertainty of the future with a mentality rooted in God's promise to redeem all things.
Lastly, we should be more intentional about the culture we consume. We shouldn't passively engage mass media (not even this column), the Internet or entertainment. Passive consumption is active formation. Instead, we should engage with culture more intentionally and respond proactively - the only way to improve culture is to create more of it. We have great technology and tools at our fingertips. How can we use those to cultivate cultural engagement and informed dialogue?
The impulse to flee is human and understandable. But we have the responsibility to participate in the formation of our society and culture. Our founding fathers fled for freedom, but they never used their freedom to flee from hard times. To do so would be a dishonor. Instead,we should think critically, discuss gracefully, and engage courageously.
(Tiffany Owens writes for WORLD News Group.)
Matthew Henry writes, "Truth is a debt we owe to one another; and, if we love one another, we shall not deceive one another." Christians must be known for their love of the truth and the trustworthiness of their speech. When we lie and gossip, we bear false witness to the God of truth who has transformed our hearts to love and serve Him. May we seek to tell the truth to friends, family, fellow church members, and coworkers. May we also repent when we fail to do so.
(Tabletalk, Nov. 2012, Ligonier Ministries)
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Excerpts from Matthew
J. C. RYLE
The brightest days of the Church have been those when preaching has been honoured; the darkest days of the Church have been those when it has been lightly esteemed. Let us honour the Sacraments and public prayers of the Church, and reverently use them; but let us beware that we do not place them above preaching.
Let us notice the class of men whom the Lord Jesus chose to be His disciples. They were of the poorest and humblest rank in life. Peter, and Andrew, and James, and John, were all "fishermen."
The religion of our Lord Jesus Christ was not intended for the rich and learned alone: it was intended for all the world: and the majority of all the world will always be the poor. Poverty and ignorance of books, excluded thousands from the notice of the boastful philosophers of the heathen world: they exclude no one from the highest place in the service of Christ. Is a man humble? Does he feel his sins? Is he willing to hear Christ's voice and follow Him? If this be so, he may be the poorest of the poor, but he shall be found as high as any in the kingdom of heaven. Intellect, and money, and rank, are worth nothing without grace.
The religion of Christ must have been from heaven, or it never could have prospered and overspread the earth as it has done. It is vain for infidels to attempt to answer this argument: it cannot be answered. A religion which did not flatter the rich, the great, and the learned, - a religion which offered no license to the carnal inclinations of man's heart, - a religion whose first teachers were poor fishermen, without wealth, rank, or power, - such a religion could never have turned the world upside down, if it had not been of God. Look at the Roman emperors and the heathen priests with their splendid temples on the one side! Look at a few unlearned working men with the Gospel on the other! Were there ever two parties so unequally matched? Yet the weak proved strong, and the strong proved weak. Heathenism fell, and Christianity took its place. Christianity must have been of God.
To be willing to come to Jesus as helpless, lost sinners, and commit our souls into His hands is a mighty privilege: let us ever bless God if this willingness is ours, for it is His gift. Such faith is better than all other gifts and knowledge in the world. Many a poor converted heathen, who knows nothing but that he is sick of sin, and trusts in Jesus, shall sit down in heaven, while many learned English scholars are rejected for evermore. Blessed indeed are they that believe!
What do we each know of this faith? This is the great question. Our learning may be small: but do we believe? - Our opportunities of giving and working for Christ's cause may be few: but do we believe? - We may neither be able to preach, nor write, nor argue for the Gospel: but do we believe? - May we never rest till we can answer this inquiry! Faith in Christ appears a small and simple thing to the children of this world. They see in it nothing great or grand. But faith in Christ is most precious in God's sight, and, like most precious things, is rare. By it true Christians live; buy it they stand; by it they overcome the world. Without this faith no one can be saved.
(J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on Matthew)
The brightest days of the Church have been those when preaching has been honoured; the darkest days of the Church have been those when it has been lightly esteemed. Let us honour the Sacraments and public prayers of the Church, and reverently use them; but let us beware that we do not place them above preaching.
Let us notice the class of men whom the Lord Jesus chose to be His disciples. They were of the poorest and humblest rank in life. Peter, and Andrew, and James, and John, were all "fishermen."
The religion of our Lord Jesus Christ was not intended for the rich and learned alone: it was intended for all the world: and the majority of all the world will always be the poor. Poverty and ignorance of books, excluded thousands from the notice of the boastful philosophers of the heathen world: they exclude no one from the highest place in the service of Christ. Is a man humble? Does he feel his sins? Is he willing to hear Christ's voice and follow Him? If this be so, he may be the poorest of the poor, but he shall be found as high as any in the kingdom of heaven. Intellect, and money, and rank, are worth nothing without grace.
The religion of Christ must have been from heaven, or it never could have prospered and overspread the earth as it has done. It is vain for infidels to attempt to answer this argument: it cannot be answered. A religion which did not flatter the rich, the great, and the learned, - a religion which offered no license to the carnal inclinations of man's heart, - a religion whose first teachers were poor fishermen, without wealth, rank, or power, - such a religion could never have turned the world upside down, if it had not been of God. Look at the Roman emperors and the heathen priests with their splendid temples on the one side! Look at a few unlearned working men with the Gospel on the other! Were there ever two parties so unequally matched? Yet the weak proved strong, and the strong proved weak. Heathenism fell, and Christianity took its place. Christianity must have been of God.
To be willing to come to Jesus as helpless, lost sinners, and commit our souls into His hands is a mighty privilege: let us ever bless God if this willingness is ours, for it is His gift. Such faith is better than all other gifts and knowledge in the world. Many a poor converted heathen, who knows nothing but that he is sick of sin, and trusts in Jesus, shall sit down in heaven, while many learned English scholars are rejected for evermore. Blessed indeed are they that believe!
What do we each know of this faith? This is the great question. Our learning may be small: but do we believe? - Our opportunities of giving and working for Christ's cause may be few: but do we believe? - We may neither be able to preach, nor write, nor argue for the Gospel: but do we believe? - May we never rest till we can answer this inquiry! Faith in Christ appears a small and simple thing to the children of this world. They see in it nothing great or grand. But faith in Christ is most precious in God's sight, and, like most precious things, is rare. By it true Christians live; buy it they stand; by it they overcome the world. Without this faith no one can be saved.
(J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on Matthew)
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
New Congress to Welcome First Buddhist Senator, Hindu Representative
When the new members of Congress are sworn in on Jan. 3, the new Senate will seat a Buddhist member for the first time and the House of Representatives will have its first Hindu member, the Christian Post reports. Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), who currently serves in the House, won her Senate race last week and will be sworn in as the Senate's first Buddhist. Hirono's House seat will be filled by Tulsi Gabbard, who will become the first Hindu in Congress. Hirono will also be the first Asian-American female and the first person born in Japan to be elected to the U.S. Senate. Two other Buddhists, Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) and Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D-Hawaii) were re-elected to the House. In addition, two Muslims, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) and Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.), were re-elected, and Kysten Sinema (D-Ariz.) will become Congress' only atheist after winning her first House race. Pete Stark (D-Calif.), the only atheist in the current Congress, lost his bid for re-election. Sinema will also become Congress' first openly bisexual member.
(ReligionToday@crosswalkmail.com, Nov. 14, 2012)
(ReligionToday@crosswalkmail.com, Nov. 14, 2012)
More Than 85 Percent of American Muslims Picked Obama
According to an informal exit poll by the Council on American-Islamic relations (CAIR), more than 85 percent of American Muslim voters picked President Barack Obama in the last election, CNSNews.com reports. That number, however, is lower than a similar poll conducted in 2008 that showed 89 percent of American Muslims cast a ballot for Obama. According to this year's poll of 650 respondents, just 4.4 percent stated they voted for Mitt Romney. The poll also found that 95.5 percent of the Muslim voters said they went to the polls on Nov. 6, with the highest number of survey respondents being in California, New York, Texas, Virginia, Illinois, Florida, Michigan, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Ohio. According to Nihad Awad, executive director of CAIR, "The fact that more than 95 percent of Muslim respondents went to the polls is a clear indication that they are fully participating in our nation's political process and are part of the fabric of America."
(ReligionToday@croswalkmail.com, Nov. 14, 2012)
(ReligionToday@croswalkmail.com, Nov. 14, 2012)
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