Wednesday, February 4. 2009
We couldn't make it to our normal Church Services recently because of the road conditions so we attended a Service near our house. Roads and sidewalke were still a mess and slippery. So were the sidewalk and steps going into the church building. Once in we saw two ushers in the foyer, chatting while they waited for folks to arrive. They welcomed us, but I was disgusted. Didn't they know how bad the walks and steps were? Apparently not their job. They didn't care and kept chatting. They had made it in, apparently through a side door only regulars would know about. I found a shovel and cleared the walks and steps- not my job either. We were visitors. But it had to be done before someone fell and got hurt. Not a warm welcome, for sure. We know this particular church is dying, I wonder if indifference to the needs of visitors could be part of the reason?
Wednesday, February 4. 2009
Across the street from the aforementioned church is a Middle School. Around 2:30 every weekday hundreds of young teens gush from the bowels of the building and pour out on the sidewalks and into the street. Like a river, they flow around the church which stands empty most of the time. Rapidly and noisely, they disappear into the neighboring-hoods. Almost all of students are Hispanic or African American. I pray for them and I pray especially for their Teachers. What important and "challenging" work they have cut out for them. I am very thankful for Christians who answer the call to minister in Public Schools, all public schools, but particularly inner city ones. (To be honest I wouldn't want to do it. But I was an inner city social worker and an inner city Pastor and we have lived for years in an "inner city") Most of the students in our City drop out before twelfth grade. The majority live below the poverty level. Many are from single parent homes. In spite of that, our Superintendent is quoted in today's paper that "Demographics do not determine destiny." He himself is a Black man with a PhD who has a tough "No excuses" policy. He says self esteem is important and the way to find it is through academic achievement! And he repeats the truism, the key to that achievement is parental involvement. I pray for him too. Good man!
Tuesday, February 3. 2009
We previously posted an article about the Tithe and sought to answer the question: Is tithing for Christians? I have now posted an article about the Sabbath on my website, Reformedliving.org. What is the Sabbath? What does observing it involve? Does God expect Christians to observe the Sabbath? Why?
Tuesday, February 3. 2009
Some Christians today believe in what they call "Jubilee Economics". They are convinced that the Bible teaches an economy of enough, of economic equality and that the Bible rejects private enterprise, the free market and the profit motive. The latter are supposed to be unchristian. Where do these Christians find Jubilee Economics? One of the primary passages they use is Leviticus 25. I have posted a new Essay on this subject on my website, Reformedliving.org
Tuesday, February 3. 2009
We constantly hear in the media stories that are supposed to make us sorry for people who are having a terrible go of it in these "tough economic times". To be frank, I do not really feel bad for most of them. Some, sure; they are genuine victims; but I have no particular sympathy for people who over extended and spent or bought irresponsibly. I do feel sorry for the multitudes who have always played the Game by the Rules and who will have to pay for the sins and foolishness of others. I especially feel sorry for our children and grandchildren who will be adversely effected by the egregious behavior of others (including our Government) for years to come. I salute all those who work hard, save, manage their money well, stay out of unnecessary debt, live frugal and simple lives, are honest and trustworthy (the way Christians are supposed to do). God bless and keep you. Actually, I know He will. Stay the course, don't cave in to fear or despair. Stick to your guns and Biblical principles.
Tuesday, February 3. 2009
I am confused. An IVCF staffer wrote recently about a renewed effort to promote Racial Reconciliation among staff and campus chapters. I agree that breaking down barriers between ethnic and so-called racial groups is important and that Christians should seek to be one in Christ. And yet at the same time, IVCF is renewing efforts to have Black only Ministry on campus, separate but equal.
Continue reading ""SEPARATE BUT EQUAL" RACIAL RECONCILIATION?"
Monday, February 2. 2009
OK. I must change my focus. There is almost nothing in the national news that does not disturb me. I have decided that writing about Mr Obama, the Democrats and the Congress is counterproductive and useless. They are not listening to me or to millions of others who did not vote for them (to hear them talk, we are not among to "The American People" who, they claim, mandated the "change" they are ramrodding through). Maybe the current mess in our Country may turn out to be a very good things as multitudes of people must now reevaluate their values and way of living. Just maybe this will bring opportunity for God and His Word to break through into many hearts and minds that have been closed. Maybe as people suffer and pay a steep price for their greed, self-indulgence and irresponsibility they might repent and turn to the Lord. Maybe.
I am also turned off by the RNC trying now to reinvent itself for "next time". I have got caught up in all of this and my Blood pressure shows it! I again conclude Evangelicals who support Mr Obama's agenda are wrong. And I conclude that Evangelicals who adopt the principles of secular Conservatism are also wrong (what are they anyway these days?) Atlas shrugging Libertarians are also very wrong- certainly, not Biblical.
So I am re-focusing on my original purpose. See my post below. Thanks and Good Night. Better yet, thanks and Good Morning! It is a new day dawning 
Monday, February 2. 2009
“One desire is the ruling passion of my life. One high motive has acted like a spur upon my mind and soul. God’s holy ordinances must be established again in the home, in the school and in the public and civic lives of Believers for the good of the Nation; to carve as it were into the conscience of all Christians the ordinances of the Lord, to which the Bible and Creation bear witness, until the Church thus pays homage again to God in our Nation.”
I have amended the words of Abraham Kuyper to fit me. God has a Word for our times. Please read the articles I have written and posted on my website, Reformedliving.org. The link is on your right at the top of the column. You will find there some of my attempts to explain the Norms for living which God has revealed. Norms for marriage, family, work, economics and government. They are not Democratic, Republican, Liberal or Conservative.
They are Biblical and what I will now focus on here.
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