Filibuster, pro-abortion logic, and stupidity

Texas has some of the bravest and most wonderful people, and then there

is Sen. Wendy Davis. Talk about misdirecting and deceiving rhetoric. She went to Texas Christian University and then on to Harvard.

In Texas, as I am sure there is probably one operating in every state, there are those so-called doctors who are enthralled with killing babies. Karpen (click the link and read the story) has killed as many babies as Gosnell thought about, although the statistics are not in, yet. These late term babies are aborted and if born alive, they are murdered by Karpen.

Davis talked for a little more than 10 hours to stall a vote to prohibit abortions after 20 weeks. That is 5 months. My daughter was kicking and playing when I was five months pregnant. There was a definite heart beat. I loved her even though I didn't know if she was a girl or a boy (that was before sonograms and such. But, Davis talked and talked about a woman's right to choose to kill her baby.

Across the world people were jumping into the social media pool to give their hoo-rah's, back-slapping, and calling Davis a hero for standing up for the rights of mothers to take the lives of their babies before the babies had even taken their first breath. Davis was speaking out for the right women had to go to a back alley abortion clinic so there would be no supervision as in an ambulatory surgery clinic. She was speaking out for the right mothers had to die on the doctor's operating table too many miles from a hospital so the mothers would have no professional medical care close by to save them from a botched abortion. Davis actually said,

A lot of women resent the fact that this legislation is being voted upon by, look around this room, primarily by men," she said at one point, suggesting they were heedless of the impact of the proposed law because they don't have "the equipment." LA Times

I'm really surprised that women are not deeply angry at Davis for the filibuster. I'm bumfuzzled.

This is just another example of how much the love of man has grown cold. We live in a world that is becoming numb to life, thinks nothing of the pain and torment of little babies as their life is snuffed out. How can anyone not have a deep empathy for the helpless infants? Where is the tolerance for their rights? The unprecedented conviction of Scott Peterson on two counts of murder, his wife and his unborn child, tells me there are many more people out there who truly do understand those unborn children have a right to life. It is an inalienable right given by our Creator. Who is man, or mother, to deny that right?

Wisdom from Sages

freedigitalphotos.net

 

Charles Stanley said, "Never throw away the notes you've made while in study of the Bible. These were important enough for you to jot them down, they may be a life saver later on."

That was the one time I was blessed enough to go to Charles Stanley's church in Atlanta years ago.

Well, he was right!

I spent a few minutes each day after that rummaging through my notes from such sages as Charles Stanley, Patsy Clairmont, Luci Swindoll, James Merritt, Beth Moore, Shelia Walsh, Nicole Johnson, David Jeremiah, my pastor and others. You would think that since I've listened to all these wise people, I'd be a bit smarter!

Here are some gems,

Shelia Walsh: "God's love is never one petal short."

Nicole Johnson: "God takes thousands of things in one life that are broken and makes treasures."

Jennifer Rothchilde: "It should be, it is well with my soul, not it is well with my circumstances.
We can't use a mirror to see the standard because we always fall short. The mirror of God's Word gives us the truth.

Pastor Philip Caples: Takeaways from Jonah.. Be honest. Be open to what God is doing. Understand about realities of life and know that God controls them. Be prepared for the 180 degree turn around when you discovered you are not within God's perfect will.

Gina thought: Psalm 45:11 The King is enthralled with your beauty. My hope is in Him alone, therefore we must gain strength and truth from Him alone. Any hope in healing or in other things is false hope. God wants us to love heaven and Him more than anything here on earth. Why is that so hard for us to fathom? We place our hopes in so many different things that have no substance such as 1. A wonderful husband; 2. Beautiful children; 3. College education; 4. Beautiful home. Jesus said to lay up treasures in heaven for where lies your treasure, there lies your heart also.

Jennifer Rothchilde: "The woman of faith looks through the eyes of eternity and when she does so, the temporaries of today fade to insignificance. The things unseen are eternal things, so don't wait for it to be well with your circumstances, look for God to make it well with your soul and when it is well with your soul, how can we ask for more?"
(A note about Jennifer, she has been blind since she was a child.)

GPS - God positioning system

My daughter has one of those GPS thingys… Global Positioning Systems… that tells you how to get from point A to point B. Sometimes it doesn’t take the usual route that I’ve gone for the past several years from point A to point B, and that has given me a fresh look at where I live. I never knew you could drive down Palestine Road and get to Jackson Landing with no traffic. Or take Highway 11 instead of the Interstate and shave off 15 minutes. Fascinating that it will tell you the quickest route or shortest route, all you have to do is plug it in and then type in where you want to go.

Another fascinating thing is that it won’t yell and scream at you if you miss a turn.  It says, “Recalculating.” Then in a few seconds, it will tell you to “Turn right at the next intersection in 400 meters…” If you miss that turn, “Recalculating…” How refreshing. It will continue to recalculate your position and give you directions back to where you need to go, even if you’ve missed the mark by a wide margin. Always patient, never excited, never yelling or waving the map around pointing to an indistinct spot on the map saying, “You missed the exit! We’ll be another hour before we get there!” Then adding a few more “Harumphs!” just to let you know that you are an incompetent driver.

Last week we talked about how to know God’s personal will for our lives. We don’t always follow the perfect route that God has laid out for us. If we did, we’d most likely have fewer bloody knees and noses because we’d fall down less often, I’m sure. However, God, in His perfect foreknowledge of us and His design of the perfect works we are to do in our Christian walk, prepared for those moments for “Recalculating.”

Think about Sampson, called by God to judge Israel. He was born to an infertile couple, although the Bible calls The Wife barren. She is not named, however the father is Manoah of the Tribe of Dan. The Angel of the LORD came to The Wife and told her she would bare a son and he was to be dedicated to the LORD, be a Nazarite (someone who makes a vow to God and who does not drink strong drink, never cuts his hair until the vow is complete which could be for life or for a pre-set time) most likely for life as God asked for him to be dedicated from the womb.

Compare Sampson with Samuel. The only thing similar between the two was they were both named Sam. Samuel did as the LORD bade him, followed the Torah, and he was a great Judge of Israel. Sampson, on the other hand was not so dedicated to the LORD.

Sampson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman of the daughters of the Philistines. His dad said, “Is there no one of our people that you would like to marry? Must you go to another nation to claim a wife?” God had forbidden Israel to marry women from seven surrounding nations, but the Philistines were not one of the nations God had forbidden. Technically speaking, to marry one of them was not a sin, but they were uncircumcised, and they were foreign. Sampson’s choice of a bride was seriously weak. In fact, his choice in women was poor to say the least, and he could not see the deceit of his choices for what it was. God, however, took Sampson’s poor choice and used it to work against the wickedness of the Philistines. God destroyed the power of this people through one man and his weaknesses rather than through an army just as He used one small boy and a stone to destroy a Philistine giant.

So off Sampson’s father goes and procures this woman that Sampson must have for a wife. At the wedding feast, he sets a riddle for the guests along with a bet. They puzzled over the riddle for three days then finally threatened the wife to find out the answer upon pain of death of her and her father if she did not. Instead of telling her husband of their treachery, she enticed Sampson to tell her the answer. This set of a chain of events that lead to the killing of 30 Philistines, then the torching of the ripened wheat fields plus olive groves and vineyards. This led to the killing of 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. The oppression of Israel by the Philistines was lifted and Israel was at peace for about twenty years.

In our weakness is God’s strength. No more is that evident than when Sampson fell in love with Delilah. His weakness for Philistine women with terrible ethics and no loyalty for their husband ends with his death and the destruction of the temple to the Philistines’ demon god, Dagon. One must wonder that if he could slay 1,000 men with the jawbone of a donkey, what kind of destruction could he have wreaked if he had not fallen for Delilah. How much greater would God’s glory have been if Sampson had been obedient to the calling of the LORD?

The Dagon idol landed on its face broken to pieces which did bring God glory. It would be almost laughable, if the consequence of Sampson’s sin wasn’t so tragic.

In Judges 16:20, he did not even know the LORD had departed from him. How incredibly sad. One has to wonder how many Christians today disobey the LORD and give into all kinds of temptations of the flesh and either lose their life as Sampson did, or suffer all kinds of consequences because of their sin? And never knowing how much richer their life would be if only their relationship with the LORD was strong and deep, not pockmarked with disobedience and rebellion. God “recalculated” after Sampson’s sin and His purpose was served with the destruction of Dagon’s Temple and all those within its walls, including Sampson, but the tragic ending may not have been, except for the disobedience.

Make sure your GPS -- God Positioning System --  is plugged in before you start your day. Listen for that still small voice and follow the instructions. It can definitely keep you on track.

12 ways to bring God glory...

In Nave's Topical Bible I found some interesting things concerning how God expects us to bring Him glory.

According to Scripture...

Romans 4:20… [Abraham] did not stagger by unbelief at the promise of God, but was empowered by faith, giving glory to God,

Our faith gives glory to God. Abraham was one hundred years old when God told him Sarah would bear him a son. He fell down and worshiped God Almighty at this supernatural feat He would perform.

Psalm 50:23 Whoever offers thanks glorifies Me; and he who prepares a way, I will show the salvation of God to him.

Our praises and thanksgivings give glory to God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 Then whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things to the glory of God. 32 Be without offense both to Jews and Greeks, and to the assembly of God. 33 Even as I also please all in all things, not seeking my own advantage, but that of the many, that they may be saved.

Everything we do, we are to do to bring glory to God. Being without offense to anyone is a lot harder than reading the verse. We must buckle in for the bumpy ride that Satan is bound to cause so in order to do it, we must make a deliberate decision to put God first every day. Otherwise, our thought processes can get us into trouble by making self first.

We must be sensitive to our brothers and sisters around us. When I raise my hands to God in praise in church, I do so in a muted manner. Most of the folks in my church are uncomfortable with major displays of affection toward God. I still do it, but not to draw attention to myself. Although, sometimes I hear God shouting, “Wake up, Children! Wake up!”

Jesus told Peter how his death would glorify God.

John 21:19 But He said this signifying by what death he would glorify God. And having said this, He told him, Follow Me.

1Peter 4:14 If you are reviled in the name of Christ, you are blessed, because "the Spirit of God and of glory rests on you." Truly, according to them, He is blasphemed; but according to you, He is glorified. Isa. 11:2

1Peter 4:16 But if one suffers as a Christian, do not let him be ashamed, but to glorify God in this respect.

2 Thess 1:11 For which we also continually pray concerning you, that our God would you worthy of the calling, and would fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness, and work of faith in power, 12  so that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Allowing God to work through us brings Jesus glory and glory to God.

John 15:8 In this My Father is glorified, that you should bear much fruit; and you will be disciples to Me.

Philippians 1:11 being filled with fruits of righteousness through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

1Corinthians 6:20 You were bought with a price; then glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are of God.

Glorifying God should be done in unison... all saints.

Psalm 34:3 O magnify Jehovah with me; and let us exalt His name together
Rom 15:6 that with one accord and with one mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Because of this, receive one another as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.

Seriously, I take this to mean when we are a congregation, we are to worship in unison. We should not be each in our own little world while church is going on. The personal kind of worship is to be practiced when we are alone and this glorifies God in our body and our spirit. But, when we are together, it should be in one body, of one mind, in one accord, in order.

This list is by no means comprehensive. However, it gives a bear bones overview of how to glorify God and what is acceptable. I figure when one does enough genuine glorying of God then the false glorifying will become readily recognizable, kinda like the way bank tellers can spot counterfeit money just by feeling it.

1 Chronicles 16 is David's way of glorifying God in worship. He is not dancing inside the Temple in this exaltation. I think it is worthy to note that neither David, nor the priests nor the people ever danced inside the Temple. I believe it is also worthy to be noted that God was extremely emphatic about the conduct of the priests as they came into His presence. They were to come in fear and trembling, not riotous dancing, shouting and singing. Any slaying to be done was by God Himself in response to profane behavior of the priests who entered the Holy of Holies.

I strongly believe that the believers of today have forgotten the Holiness of God and Who God really is. He is Just as well as full of Mercy. He is not The Great Daddy-O, but is worthy of deep respect to the point of foreheads to the ground. I tremble with fear and disgust when I hear someone take the Lord's Name in vain or in curses. They know not what they do.

Since David danced before the Lord, can we assume that dancing would be equivalent to running down the aisles?

There is no reference to dancing in the Temple. There are about seven references to dancing before the Lord (one in Luke 15 the Prodigal Son parable). I admit that my search is not thorough, but I have not found any place in Scripture where it was holy or reverent or glorifying to God to run down the aisles (dancing) in the Temple.

The only place I find where there is great celebration in dance before the Lord is the invitation in Psalm 149. Here it is clearly a celebration and it is for everyone to dance. I find a correlation in Luke 15 when the Prodigal Son comes home and there is great celebration and dancing. But, not in the Temple. It is a group thing, not an individual thing.

Desk Lasagna

(From a recent column at LiveAsIf.org)

Desk Lasagna

    I kept putting off writing this last week because I thought I had just too much on my plate to take time for it. I thought other things were more important. Well, school work is more important right now, but I’ve had this column as a responsibility long before I went back to school to earn my Master’s.

It’s the desk lasagna that gets in my way. I suddenly found that I was closed in and had a 5” x 10” space to write in, and that all my layers had closed in over things I needed. This reminded me of how much worldly things close in around me, and I let God’s word sit on the side. David didn’t let that happen very often. He penned the words, “What is man that Thou are mindful of Him?” Solomon wrote, “Don't procrastinate-- there's no time to lose.” I have been searching scripture for God’s promises and I just did not have time this week for my usual study, so I offer this bit of advice this week. Don’t do as I do.

    I am quite sure there are things on your desk that you’ve pushed to the side because other things seem more important. Maybe that spreadsheet that you’ve got on your computer all set up for this year’s budget needs filling in, or that cute cartoon about Maxine, you simply must read to the very end.

    Take a look at my Desk Lasagna. Calendar is out of date. Folder with bills to pay is on the far right.  Stacks of phone messages are somewhere on the right and the clock is ticking telling me “time’s a-wasting”. Inbox with stacks of things that I have not looked at in several days, to the far, far right. And top left my computer box because I don’t want to put it on the floor (it’s new, you see, or was new in 2010). Center front my new book I just finished final approval, and next to it is the book I’m to post a review for today … quadruple sigh. Somewhere over there is a box of Kleenex but I haven’t seen it for a couple of weeks. Then there’s the phone that keeps getting lost under papers. If I don’t remember to put my keys in my purse, they get lost under yesterday’s mail which has been opened, but not filed, yet.

    Sound familiar?

    I searched the world over and found some very interesting helpful hints. There is Nancy Schimelpfening—I dare you to say that out loud three times fast!

    Nancy has done a lot of research and says that we procrastinate because we’re depressed. Well, I have to beg to differ. Who has time to be depressed? I’m just drowning in paper lasagna. However, she did divide up the types of procrastination that may make sense to you; such as too many tasks that one is overwhelmed. Yes, Absolutely, I identify. Another type is difficulty in keeping on track (getting sidetracked with Maxine cartoons), or sidetracked with internet searches, tweaking my blog so I can sell my book from it.

    See how easy it is to get sidetracked?

    I’m going to call her Nancy, because I cannot pronounce her last name, says hostile feelings toward someone will make you put off getting things done to punish them [insert shocked look here]. Maybe if I were a psychologist or counselor I’d understand this one. I cannot imagine anyone deliberately shooting themselves in the foot, or setting themselves up to get fired because of hostile feelings… but, it takes all kinds, I guess. Fearing disapproval, Nancy says is another reason. Then there is the rebellious feelings brought on by routine and hectic schedule. I can certainly identify with that one, and that could be a whole different discussion.

    My particular problem is not adhering to the “Touch Paper Only One Time” rule. Open the letter, read it and then file it where it belongs. Finish reading a newsletter… industry magazine… update or whatever, then file it for future reference or file in the trash, just get it off the desk top.

    Okay, that takes care of the first layer.

    Grab that phone message and write down the name and number, or type it into your contacts list, or how ever you keep track of your contacts, then throw the message away. Your secretary has the carbon copy of it in her little book. Or, you may not have stacks of phone messages, but you’ve got stacks of things that you want to keep for future reference, to read, or to study. Make a file marked “Reading”. When you go on a trip or don’t have a book to read, take that folder with you and you’ve got something productive to do. How hard is that to do?  Evidently, very hard because I have, wait let me count them, forget it, I lost count of the things I need to read to keep up. Let’s just say, I have every message that has been given to me except the exact one I need which includes every business card that has been put into my hand. Now, that is daunting. How will I ever find that phone number if I have to dig through 100 messages?

    Don’t do as I do.

    When you get a Round Tuit click on About.com and see if you agree or disagree with the woman whose name I cannot pronounce. 

Posting prayers on social media: New Lifeway survey

An interesting online survey was conducted by Lifeway

May 24-25 from 1040 respondents to a survey with a margin of error +/- 3.1%. Some of the questions asked were:

• Q: “How do you feel about God when suffering occurs that appears unfair?”
• Q: “When a natural disaster occurs, my interest in God increases.”
• Q: “I trust faith-based disaster relief agencies to use their donations more responsibly than secular groups.”
• Q: “Praying can avert natural disasters.”
• Q: “Do you post that you are praying for someone or something on social media (like Facebook or Twitter)?”

To the first question, 33% of respondents said they do trust God more, 7% say they don't believe God exists, and 16% say they don't think about God at all. But 57% of Americans say their interest in God increases after a disaster. A majority of Americans 56% trust faith-based agencies to be more responsible with donated monies than secular groups. Surprisingly, 32% of Americans do not donate to any relief agency. I also found interesting that 33% of Americans believe praying can avert a natural disaster, and 67% will not post prayers on social media. And here's the kicker, 23% will actually take a few minutes and pray while 10% will consider posting an update as a form of prayer.

Concerning the prayer questions, I am surprised to note to the question about posting prayer to social media that:

• Americans who attend at least About once a week are the most likely to
  select “Yes” (45%) and the least likely to select “No” (52%)
• Self-identified born-again, evangelical, or fundamentalist Christians are
  • More likely to select “Yes” (51% to 22%)
  • Less likely to select “No” (47% to 75%)

I am moved to ask the question: Is prayer really decreasing?

Is prayer an art?

I can be lost in wonder at the beauty of some prayers. David's for example how Psalm 16 begins, A Secret Treasure of David. Watch over me, O God, for I take refuge in You... Or how about Paul's in Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may yet abound more and more in full knowledge and all perception, 10 for you to distinguish the things that differ, that you may be sincere and without blame for the day of Christ, 11 being filled with fruits of righteousness through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Some prayers have been combined with music which settles the soul’s yearning such as David’s cry after he acknowledged his sin with Bathsheba, Create in me a clean heart, Oh, Lord, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, and remove not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me, the joy of my salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

What glory shines from our faces and our lives when we exercise our faith by praying? It is well with the soul as one song declares, when we know Who is powerful enough to deliver us from our troubles. And if not deliverance, then we are sustained through them. God is pleased with our faith.
But the simple prayer of Jesus, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do," is one of the greatest works of art of all time. The wonder and beauty of this plea from the cross in His darkest hour, and His deepest pain cannot be fathomed in a lifetime. This is our lesson. This is God’s pleasure that we forgive through faith as He forgives us.


So is there a gift from prayer? The joy that accompanies the presence of God, the forgiveness of God, and the peace from God seems to me like a gift that keeps on giving. What do you think?

National Secrets, NSA,and the U.S. Citizen

Here is an updated version of a previous post from 2009 about all this hullabaloo going on over the N.S.A leak that U.S. citizens' communications are being tracked...

There is an AP article written by Matt Apzuzo which is fullof thinly veiled indignation about PRIZM.  The program to monitor Internet accounts of citizens was begun by George W. Bush late in his admin, and by executive order signed by Pres. George W. in 2001. Let us recall that it was after the 9/11 disaster, and just before we found out about the Al Quada plan to fly crop dusters into buildings.

Anyone who pays careful attention to the “doings” of the National Security Agency knows that any communication which is off United States ground involving non-U.S. citizens is captured and available for taking, storing, analyzing, and reporting to F.B.I. and C.I.A. and the other Spy Alphabet Soup (military and etc.). This practice stems from decades ago Cold War, not the War on Terror.

What is not so well known, is that if the communication (land lines, faxes, emails, cell phones, VoIP or other electronic device) is by a U.S. citizen, then the name of that person(s) cannot be kept in file for more than a year unless criminal activity is detected. Nor, can it be revealed to the F.B.I. or the C.I.A or other Alphabet unless criminal activity is evidenced.

They don’t have to seek a court order. It has already been approved by Congress. It is what the N.S.A. does every day. It was not done in secret.

Now, the government needs only explain to Congress and a secret court exactly how it intends to collect information like emails, Skype video conferences and Facebook messages. Once the court approves the collection rules, the government can grab anything it wants.

Give me a flipping break! With Twitter being the best place to "spy" on celebrities and criminals alike, why get your nerves stretched out like flimsy rubber bands? I have read more personal stuff on Twitter, blogs, and on Facebook that makes me wonder if anyone has any sense of privacy anymore.

The N.S.A. was given authority by Congress back in 2000 to revamp its technology and in 2001 to gather both domestic and foreign intelligence because of the danger of terrorism.

What most of the lawmakers don’t realize is that this 50,000 ton elephant is too big to analyze. I won't even go into how huge the capability of our NSA's electronic surveillance actually is, (but perhaps the new building program out West is not big enough?) Because, it is along the lines of the entire contents of the Library of Congress on an 1/2 hourly basis.

Don't get me wrong. I do not believe the Feds should be able to target and harass citizens because of their ideology. The government should be held to a higher standard than it has sunk right now. Congress should be more careful about the laws they pass, and actually use the brains God gave them in critical thinking processes toward logical consequences of  how the passed law will protect or encroach on U.S. citizens. (Like that really will happen!) NOR should anyone who is working in the NSA or other national security service open their big mouths. No single person should decide what is supposed to be a secret and what is not a secret. That is betrayal of trust in my book.

BUT... All the communications which deal with Aunt Mattie and her two dozen cats, Junior’s school grades and all the other mundane daily activities of the average American Citizen are filtered out before the communication is even recorded. The watchwords, which are varied and number in the thousands (because of all the different foreign languages in the world and all the different technologies) are what causes the click to begin recording. After an initial analysis, the recording may or may not be stored for a year or forever depending upon the context, if persons are named, if one of the conversants is a U.S. Citizen or is a legal, green card holding immigrant. (Yes, green-carders are treated as U.S. citizens.)

Another interesting fact is that if you are trying to purchase uranium in rather large amounts, or if you are trying to purchase a missile from Russia while living in Iran even though a U.S. citizen, then that is probable cause and you'll be monitored. If you bandy about terms like C802 or use bombing and federal within a few minutes of each other, then you'll be monitored and your mode of communication will be flagged. Now why does that make me feel safer?

So, my advice to all of Congress and to regular, law abiding citizens is: Don’t panic. Unwad your underwear. Stay calm in the middle of this storm. If you are not a criminal, if you don’t have anything to hide, then you have nothing to fear because your conversations are not interesting enough to be monitored much less be recorded. Your privacy is intact and will remain so. Just pay closer attention to what you tweet!

If we had had this technology and capability back in 1993 when Timothy McVey had the terrorist idea to bomb the Federal Building in Oklahoma City, then 168 lives would never have been lost.

If you need confirmation of all this, there are several books written about our National Security and you can purchase them from Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble or other bookstores.