Coward in Chief

From the A/P:
“U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday that she is concerned about the Obama Administration’s "corruption, lack of transparency, poor governance (and) absence of the rule of law."“

Okay-I fudged, but I own up to it. I replaced Afghanistan with the Obama Admin. Supposedly it’s Karzai’s administration which is riddled with corruption, lack of transparency poor governance (and) absence of rule of law.
This coming from Hillary Clinton can be likened to a prostitute jeering at a bride for not being a virgin on her wedding day.
“President Barack Obama won't accept any of the Afghanistan war options before him without changes, administration officials say, amid an argument by his own ambassador in Kabul that a significant U.S. troop increase would only prop up a weak, corruption-tainted government.”
(But he has no such benchmark for Chicago?)
The military commanders have stated that more troops are required for Afghanistan to achieve a positive outcome.
But the Peace Prize President doesn’t want to hear it. So our troops in Afghanistan are in more danger, as they will continue to be undermanned, and undermined by their own Commander in Chief.
Obviously Obama wants to be a Peace time President, and resents being saddled with a war he didn’t want. Pity poor him. Pity poor U.S. as we are ‘being led’ by a non-Leader.
If he doesn’t have the intestinal fortitude to face down our country’s enemies-and I’m not talking about Republicans here-then he shouldn’t be President.
I expect him to cut and run while blaming everyone else for the troubles he has brought on our country. I also expect that he will not seek re-election. I hope I'm right.

I'm Not Confused

I know that today is Veteran's Day. I'm a peacetime veteran myself. I was going to forgo commenting on this Day as words seem trite, and with what has happened at Fort Hood, in Afghanistan and Iraq; this day seems more like Memorial Day.
So, no real post. May God Bless you and also Bless the rest of us.

Some Good News For A Change

When the Lord takes up His people in what is colloquially referred to as "The Rapture", it will certainly be good news for Christians. Leaving behind a world of sin, our sinful bodies? Who wouldn't want that?
I can't see if anyone is raising their hands.

"2 The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”
Psalm 2:2-3

We see the leaders of the nations (kings of the earth) seemingly bringing about this prophesy today.
You hear of the proud and OH! so civilized "Post-Christian Europe",
you read of the advances of Islam conquering more and more of the planet,
You see billions of peoples in the gulags of Communist atheism.
The 'tearing apart of the fetters' ? Have you desired to be free from the guilt that Christians keep talking about?
Be careful what you wish for, friends.
When all of those noisome Christians are taken away, with their preaching at and sharing the Gospel with a world that doesn't want to hear it....

11 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD,
“When I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water,
But rather for hearing the words of the LORD.
12 “People will stagger from sea to sea
And from the north even to the east;
They will go to and fro to seek the word of the LORD,
But they will not find it. Amos 8:11-12

The context of the book of Amos shows that this famine will take place during a time when God is judging the world.
Just as the Bible is a closed book to those who do not have God's Spirit, during that famine the world will be so troubled, tribulations will be so great that some people will seek God, desire that God will forgive their sins and save them. But the Salvation available NOW will at that time be hidden from them. I know that there will be some who accept Christ in the troubled times ahead...but they will be killed by those rejecting the Gospel.
The good news for you? We're still here. The Christians have not yet left the building. The 'time of the gentiles' has not yet ended. There is still time for you to seek God and His forgiveness.

Those kings of the earth mentioned above? Do you know how that "unfettering" will turn out for them?
"15Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; 16and they said* to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; 17for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”"
Revelation 6:15-17
Who indeed?

Post 580! Whoop De Do!

Consider this a rebut from all of the terribles going on in the world.

Oklahoma and Dr Zhivago are very well known, which is why I didn’t give many clues. The other movie is “Very Other”. The tag line is: “The motion picture with something to offend everyone!” and it certainly attempts to do just that. “The Loved One” came out the same year as “Dr. Zhivago”, with two very interesting performances from Rod Steiger.
Of course, Christianity is one of the elements which gets the greatest going over. But it’s a strawman religion that gets set fired to-Christianity as perceived by Hollywood. It misses what should have been an easy target, not that I’m complaining.
Many of the ‘closeted gay Hollywood’ community of the 1960’s appear in this movie, gathered by the director for his own reasons. It goes beyond co-incidence that the chaps are acting together here.
The movie is hilarious, and, when it misses a mark, it isn’t from a lack of effort. Rod Steiger as Mr Joyboy (the character is straight, but the movie?) is worth the price of a rental/purchase by himself, but his mother...
So ends the weakest movie quiz ever. James wins, as the only participant.
If you haven’t seen these movies, I encourage you to seek them out.

Evil Is Like A Box Of

"NO lover of the gospel can conceal from himself the fact that the days are evil."
C. H. Spurgeon in "The Sword and Trowel" August, 1887

Charlie, if you think times were bad back then...

Last night I listened to an interview of Pastor John MacArthur on the subject of what God says about Homosexuality.
I'm going to stop right there for a moment to point out: if you make negative assumptions about MacArthur and the content of the interview based on the subject matter, be careful that your prejudice doesn't rear up, as you would be pre-judging something you haven't heard.
During the interview, MacArthur is posed questions by an associate, and MacArthur makes plain at the outset that he is not offering his opinion. He rightly says that no one's opinion, not even his own, matters. What matters is God's opinion, clearly stated in Scripture.
I would encourage you to seek out MacArthur on the web-I go through iTunes-and listen to that interview yourself. What you hear may surprise you, or confirm your prejudice, if you have any. He makes a very good reasoned response to the query of why Christians get all into the personal business of sinners, why Christians oppose Homosexuality.
I also listened to a sermon from MacArthur on the subject, "The R-Rated Church." Quite.

Who's That?

Who's That?

There's nothing wrong with having a bit o` fun. For your bemusement, from the photo above, name the movies, the actors AND name the characters they played.
If you've seen and enjoyed the movies, do tell. If you haven't...do watch.

Bumping Against Bad

Recently a soul took issue with my Christian witness because I put a picture of President Obama in a post with the word “COWARD” written across his face.
My response, that I didn’t care what anyone thought about the post, was met with a return volley of chastisement, that I should care, because: “By their fruits shall ye know them, as it's written.”
Chuck Smith had a great line in one of his books about “Renegade Fruit Inspectors”.
You know, Christians and others (especially others) who take upon themselves the checking of Christians efforts/witness.
Am I offensive? If so, please feel free to ignore me and go about your day. But please, PLEASE, I beg of you(!)...stop back and share here at FDW the next time you apologize to someone for speaking your mind, for having an opinion. I'm eager to learn what that's like.

Faith Is Fine, But…

If you refuse to accept the impossible as possible, you’re on your way to quiet.
Here-two examples: let’s call them Vern and John.
Vern is an adult, mid-twenties, who was born into a church denomination which he still attends.
John has pinballed between religions, looking for Salvation in many dark corners.
Which one stands a better chance of becoming a Christian?
If you say Vern, as he already is one…no soup for you!
While Vern is comfortable in the religion he grew up in, he will never seek to become a Christian because his church has taught him that he is a Christian. He doesn’t think he needs Salvation, as he has already acquired it.
John, on the other hand, is not satisfied yet, has no such quiet in his soul. He knows he is a sinner, but is stuck in the reason/logic vs. faith conundrum.
The doors of Heaven will never be opened by logic or reason (or church membership), as those are part of man’s attempt to explain existence. If it were possible to win Salvation through reason/logic, then Christ wouldn’t have had to die for sinners, as they could argue their way into Heaven.
You can find Verns and Johns in the New Testament-Vern is a type of Pharisee whose religion has told him that he is just and right before God, irregardless of whether his heart is filled with sin.
John is still looking for someone to take his sin away.
If you refuse the impossible idea that man can earn, argue, reason his way into Heaven…you are on your way to the quiet Peace which God gives to His children. God only allows Himself to be discovered through Faith.

Drag Me To Heaven Instead

Sam Raimi may someday catch up on his adulthood, but right now, I’d say he’s busy being a kid, one with a BIG sandbox.
I wouldn’t want to spoil “Drag me To Hell” for anyone, but there is one point in the mythos which caught my mind’s ear enough to comment on: the idea of anyone ‘cursing’ someone else to Hell.
Nope no nyet.
You say, “Of course no one can do that, Doug!” and I say that
If people COULD damn someone to Hell with a curse, with people being the way they are, there wouldn’t be enough of us left up here to whistle back at the birds. We’d ALL be down there.
Conversely, not a one of us can bless someone into Heaven. It’s not up to us, for which we should all be grateful. I wouldn’t want to be the one to decide who goes where.
God reserves that decision for Himself.
Here’s a little side note:
the apostles James and John once asked Jesus if He wanted them to call down fire from Heaven to destroy some Samaritans who were obstructing Christ and His apostles. The brothers had already miraculously healed, cast out demons, and seemed to think that they had the power to burn up a village of Samaritans.
Jesus rebuked the brothers, and said, “the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” Luke 9:56a
God need not give Christians any special powers to damn someone to Hell-that would be like giving Christians the ability to teach fish how to swim. All we can do is point towards Christ and tell what He did for us. Even if no one listens. Tap tap...is this thing on?

Is The Pope Catholic?

Something out of the ordinate-ary: Pope Benny kicking open the doors to the Catholic Church, inviting Anglicans to (re)join the Mother church they so foolishly left in 1534 when “H’nry th’ ait” kicked those doors shut.
So now, with the Anglican Church split over the issue of acceptance/ordination of homosexuals, Pope Benny and the powers that be in Popery have seized upon the opportunity to proselytize.

“Come unto us, all who are weary of a church which accepts homosexuals as priests!”
“Anglican priests who join us get to keep their wives! AND get HUGE discounts at Costco and Sears!”
“Ye Anglicans were led away from the Mother Church by the lusts of one man. All is forgiven! Come home! Come HOME!”

You see, here’s the rub in the rubbish: either the Pope is Catholic, meaning that he is the head of the CHURCH, which is populated by all who have faith in God, what/which/however they may attend other denominations…or he ain’t.
I have faith in God. According to the doctrines of the Catholic (universal) church, I actually belong to them.
The fact that Catholics used to burn us Baptists as heretics notwithstanding, I am considered a misguided soul who doesn’t know that he is part of the universal church.
Sorry, Benny. Anglicans returning to your roost are simply trading one tyrant for another. You are no more the Head of the CHURCH than I am.
I now offer, in this space, (which is read by up to nearly three people on any given day), my own WELCOME to dissatisfied Anglicans who are looking for a new church home.
If trading up, please consider Baptist. Our Baptist Distinctives all fit on one page, unlike the edicts and pronouncements of the unholy Catholic Church. And we guarantee: NO Transubstantiation! Well Come home!

Slough-ly They Walked

God called one of His angels, Phil, to come before Him.
“Phil,” said the Lord, “I have a very special task for you. Take this list, go down to Earth, and follow My instructions.”
A list appeared in Phil’s hand, and he said, “I will do anything You ask, Lord!”
The Lord smiled. “Good luck, Phil.”
“Luck?” thought Phil as he headed down to earth. “Why would my Lord wish me luck? How hard could this task be?”

It was dark on the side of the planet where Phil arrived at the bedroom of John Hagee. The pastor was asleep in his bed; after filling the room with heavenly light, Phil shook Hagee awake and said, “Pastor Hagee, I bring you greetings from the throne room of God! He has sent me this night to bring you up to Heaven, to forever be with the Lord!”
Hagee stared at the angel.
“What is this?” he said. “How did you get in here? I’m calling Security, so you better get out of here right now!” Hagee hit the panic button next to his bed, and sirens sounded all through his ten million dollar mansion.
Phil looked again at his instructions, nodded, and disappeared.

It was still dark when Phil entered the boardroom of Rick Warren. Pastor Warren was going over plans for his African Mission Hospitals, and barely looked up when Phil approached his desk.
“Pastor Warren, I am an angel. I bring you greetings from the throne room of God! He has sent me this night to bring you up to Heaven, to forever be with the Lord!”
Rick Warren stared at Phil for a moment, then pounded the papers on his desk.
“Are you CRAZY? I don’t have time for that! I have to be about the Lord’s business in Africa! You tell Him I’m busy!”

The sun was just coming up when Phil knocked on the door of the Joyce Meyer Ministry in Tennessee. After requesting an audience with Mrs. Meyer, Phil, following his instructions, sat and waited the eight hours before moving on to the last name on his list.

“Doug,” said Phil, “I am an angel. I bring you greetings from the throne room of God! He has sent me to bring you up to Heaven, to forever be with the Lord!”
Doug didn’t even shut down his computer.
“Let’s roll!”

_________________

Background: Where I’m At

A couple of long time agos I discovered the stinker masquerading as Sean Hannity-before you start cheering my sanity, I think he’s too middle of the road, too too accommodating of Liberal ideas and idealists. He may have to pander to his buddies like Bob Beckel, but I don’t. I don’t have to make nice with the opposing party to fill broadcast hours and, though I admire Capitalism, I think Hannity is only driven by greed. Both for money and *stardom*.
I like Mark Levin; he’s the vociferous in your face thinker/broadcaster that Hannity wishes he were.
But I can only take Levin in small doses.
I had a subscription to Rush Limbaigh’s pod cast which I let run out. I like Rush just fine, but even he tires out my ears-I found that the pod casts were filling up my iPod unlistened to.
So, where am I? I have no great affection for or loyalty to the Republican Party, as they stuck us with the worst possible candidate last time, and probably the next few times ahead.
Washington D.C. corrupts absolutely. Without term limits, there is no whip in the hand of Americans to make the Beast behave. How many innocent do-gooders have come to Washington broke as churchmouses but now are as rich as Popes?
Here is my HOPE: when Christ returns, (and may it be soonerer than laterer!) He will cast all liars into the outer darkness. I daresay that Washington D. C. is going to be a ghost town, tumbleweeds rolling up Pennsylvania Avenue. Even so, come Lord Jesus!

Some Ifs Belong To Us

I stated in my last post, concerning what will happen in our lives, that “Those Ifs belong to God”.
But we do indeed have our own Ifs.
If I were lazy, quit working but continually have my hand out begging money to survive, expecting God to drop daily manna for me…hmmm
It might be better if (there’s another one!) I put it this way:
We are not helpless babes in cradles. We are adults, and there is much work to do. God sets me to work, and I wouldn’t expect, in this life, to live like a Prince.
God never promised me a rose garden.
Paul was a tentmaker-his very important work of proclaiming the Gospel to the Gentiles was subsidized by his day job.
I am skilled in a few different areas, and can do most anything. The work I do is a blessing from God, as it is how He sustains me, takes care of me. But it is up to me to do the work, to earn the pay, to plan (asking His Providence) for the short bit of future I have ahead of me before Jesus returns or I go to meet Him.
That ‘short bit of future’ may be another 40 years, or eternity might sneak up on me this morning as I go to town to walk a puppy (another task I’m happy to have been tasked with).
“By the sweat of your brow you shall earn your bread.” still applies, though, in my present job it’s hard to work up a sweat, sitting at a computer.
Many of the parables which Jesus used to teach can be summarized thusly: “Be ready, work hard, be a good steward of what God has given you.” Amen! Make good use of your Ifs!