If I Were The Devil - by Paul Harvey

If I were the Devil. . .

I would gain control of the most powerful nation in the world;
I would delude their minds into thinking that they had come from man's
effort, instead of God's blessings;
I would promote an attitude of loving things and using people, instead of
the other way around;
I would dupe entire states into relying on gambling for their state revenue;
I would convince people that character is not an issue when it comes to
leadership;
I would make it legal to take the life of unborn babies;
I would make it socially acceptable to take one's own life, and invent
machines to make it convenient;
I would cheapen human life as much as possible so that the life of animals
are valued more than human beings;
I would take God out of the schools, where even the mention of His name was
grounds for a law suit;
I would come up with drugs that sedate the mind and target the young, and I
would get sports heroes to advertise them;
I would get control of the media, so that every night I could pollute the
mind of every family member for my agenda;
I would attack the family, the backbone of any nation.
I would make divorce acceptable and easy, even fashionable. If the family
crumbles, so does the nation;
I would compel people to express their most depraved fantasies on canvas and
movie screens, and I would call it art;
I would convince the world that people are born homosexuals, and that there
lifestyles should be accepted and marveled;
I would convince the people that right and wrong are determined by a few who
call themselves authorities and refer to their agenda as politically
correct;
I would persuade people that the church is irrelevant and out of date, and
the Bible is for the naive;
I would dull the minds of Christians, and make them believe that prayer is
not important, and that faithfulness and obedience are good enough to get by;
Hmmm...I guess I would leave things pretty much the way they are."

Duck Tales Inflation Lesson

What with all the monetary problems perhaps its time politicians/Wall Streeters were sent back for a refresher course in basic economics. Here's a tutorial that hopefully even they can understand.

AL QAEDA TARGETS ARAB EVANGELIST FOR PREACHING THE GOSPEL TO MUSLIMS

You have probably never heard of Father Zakaria Botros. But you need to know his story. He is far and away the most-watched and most-effective Arab evangelist reaching the Muslim world, and by far the most controversial.

Read More..

Ponderings of a Christian American

Today I was thinking about a sermon I heard back on the 4th of July. The pastor indicated that as Christians we shouldn't complain about our leaders, instead we should support our government leaders and pray for them. While I do agree we should support them as best we can and definitely we should pray for them, at what point do we quit supporting them? America was founded as a Christian nation, but there's no denying the Declaration of Independence was an act of treason against the English crown.

Thinking about this has led me to some conclusions about the true responsibility of a Christian. While we are citizens of the nation in which we live, our real citizenship isn't America or Germany or South Africa or China, it's Heaven.

While we can and must maintain participation in the community of humanity in order to provide witness to everyone for Christ, we needn't concern ourselves so much with the laws of the land that get passed (homosexual marriage for instance), though we should continue to effect the process so government coincides with biblical teaching when possible. Rather, we should concern ourselves more with winning our lawmakers and judges to Christ and electing Christian lawmakers/judges and they'll be in the position to pass and maintain godly laws for us all.

Yes, homosexuality is certainly is a sin and shouldn't be condoned, but you cant legislate morality. Jesus said anger is tantamount to murder - should we make anger illegal? The argument that homosexuality is a "worse" sin than anger, or lust, or sticking your tongue out at your mother (disrespecting one's parents) doesn't wash in God's eyes and it shouldn't wash in ours either. Sin is sin, period.

By the same token there should be laws passed expressly giving ministers the right to deny marrying anyone he or she so chooses, for any reason he or she chooses. This is necessary not to keep the homosexual from getting married so much as protect the minister's legal ability to not condone the unbiblical act of a homosexual union. If the minister marries them he is, in effect saying "I believe this to be good in the sight of God." This puts the pastor in the untenable position of going to jail for not marrying them or giving up his ministry. Any other option would be going against the God he vowed to serve. The law hasn't gone down this path quite yet in the U.S., but it has in Canada and several other countries; it's only a matter of time.

The thing I have a problem with regarding homosexuality is the attitude within that community that regards the public school system as a legitimate indoctrination camp whereby they can force their moral agenda onto the children of America and stifle any opposing viewpoint by screaming "separation of church and state!" which isn't even a law much less part of the Constitution like they love to claim.

Oklahoma Rebellion

Check out this article!

Lions and tigers and dinosaurs, oh my!

Dinosaurs only lived "millions and millions of years ago", ehh? take a look at this!!

Chuck Baldwin For President!

Please don't feel you have to vote for the Dempublicans yet again! Instead, why not vote for someone who actually beleives in the America our founding fathers envisioned?
Vote for Chuck Baldwin!
Mr. Baldwin is running for President representing the Constitution Party, the third largest political party in the U.S.A.!

WHAT ABOUT ABSTINENCE?

Written by Robert Layton
I was holding a notice from my 13-year-old son's school announcing a meeting to preview the new course in sexuality. Parents could examine the curriculum and take part in an actual lesson presented exactly as it would be given to the students.

When I arrived at the school, I was surprised to discover only about a dozen parents there. As we waited for the presentation, I thumbed through page after page of instructions in the prevention of pregnancy or disease. I found abstinence mentioned only in passing.

When the teacher arrived with the school nurse, she asked if there were any questions. I asked why abstinence did not play a noticeable part in the material. What happened next was shocking.

There was a great deal of laughter, and someone suggested that if I thought abstinence had any merit, I should go back to burying my head in the sand. The teacher and the nurse said nothing as I drowned in a sea of embarrassment. My mind had gone blank, and I could think of nothing to say. The teacher explained to me that the job of the school was to teach "facts" and the home was responsible for moral training. I sat in silence for the next 20 minutes as the course was explained. The other parents seemed to give their unqualified support to the materials.

"Donuts at the back," announced the teacher during the break. "I'd like you to put on the name tags we have prepared. They're right by the donuts and mingle with the other parents." Everyone moved to the back of the room. As I watched them affixing their name tags and shaking hands, I sat deep in thought. I was ashamed that I had not been able to convince them to include a serious discussion of abstinence in the materials. I uttered a silent prayer for guidance.

My thoughts were interrupted by the teacher's hand on my shoulder. "Won't you join the others, Mr. Layton?" The nurse smiled sweetly at me. "The donuts are good!" "Thank you, no," I replied. "Well, then, how about a name tag? I'm sure the others would like to meet you." "Somehow I doubt that," I replied. "Won't you please join them?" she coaxed. Then I heard a still, small voice whisper, "Don't go." The instruction was unmistakable. "Don't go!" "I'll just wait here," I said.

When the class was called back to order, the teacher looked around the long table and thanked everyone for putting on name tags. She ignored me. Then she said, "Now we're going to give you the same lesson we'll be giving your children. Everyone please peel off your name tags." I watched in silence as the tags came off. "Now, then, on the back of one of the tags, I drew a tiny flower. Who has it, please?" The gentleman across from me held it up. "Here it is!" "All right," she said. "The flower represents disease. Do you recall with whom you shook hands?" He pointed to a couple of people. "Very good," she replied. "The handshake in this case is intimacy. So the two people you had contact with now have the disease."

There was laughter and joking among the parents. The teacher continued, "And with whom did the two of YOU shake hands?" The point was well taken, and she explained how this lesson would show students how quickly disease is spread. "Since we all shook hands, we all have the disease."

It was then that I heard the still, small voice again. "Speak now," it said, "but be humble." I noted wryly the latter admonition, then rose from my chair. I apologized for any upset I might have caused earlier, congratulated the teacher on an excellent lesson that would impress the youth, and concluded by saying I had only one small point I wished to make.

"Not all of us were infected," I said. "One of us ABSTAINED."

Toby Mac - Irene
by wanzea

I've Moved!

My move is done! It only took 1 day to move, an hour to clean up and 2 days to put everything away thanks to help from my sister, my mom and my neighbor Curtis. I'll post more later, for now I just need some rest.

Stairway to Heaven

This is the best instrumental version of the classic "Stairway to Heaven" that I've personally ever heard. Enjoy!

Rodrigo y Gabriela - Stairway to heaven
by yroshimasystem

Time To Move

Well, time to move (almost...moving Friday) I'm really excited about the move and cant wait to see what God has in store for my life next.

On the health front if you're one of the two readers that bother to come here you know I was told in Feb that I have type 2 diabetes. Well, I took that as a sign and got off my butt and started moving as well as drastically changing my diet. I've lost about 30 lbs so far and my goal is to lose about another 40-45 by Feb of 2009. I never thought I'd say it but I actually enjoy the exercise! Anyhow, I just thought I'd post an update before I moved.

Testimony Afshin - Muslim Journey to Hope

The Physical Ashen Remains of Sodom & Gomorrah

Happenings

There's a lot going on right now but all for the better, Praise God.

I just had to buy 4 new tires, I'm moving apartments next week, and I just completed testing for a CPAP machine for my sleep apnea. The CPAP machine is 100% covered by my insurance though, so I'm happy. Also, I only had to spend 300$ for the tires (at Wally World), 100$ cheaper than Pep Boys was gonna charge, so that's good as well. The only thing left as far as I know is the move.

Once thats done I'm sure more tests will come my way, but for now that's enough.

Powerful Sermon

If you've not seen Paul Washer, you should. At this youth conference he preaches on Matthew 7:13-22 and shortly after beginning drops a verbal bomb on the crowd and afterwards you could hear a pin drop.

Changes, Changes

Well, I had to cancel my trip. Thankfully it's for a good reason; I'm moving closer to work. The new place is bigger (thank goodness, I'm sick of the shoebox I've been in for the past 2 years). It also has 3x the closet space, which is also good. Plus I'll be close enough to ride my bike to work when its nice. I'll be moving in June so this summer's gonna be kinda busy.

On another front, I've started going to church again. I've been wanting to go for a while but mostly its big churches around here which I'm not used to. Anyhow I'm really enjoying the people in my class there, so I've decided to join. It's Sevier Heights Baptist Church.

As for school, the semester is almost over. I have a final art project to present tomorrow and one more test next week and I'll be done till fall. I was going to take a summer class but what with moving I don't think I will.

Update

It's been pretty busy lately, but I needed a break so I thought I'd pop on here and post an update to my 1 or 2 readers.

School is going well, though I cant seem to catch up on my art class assignments. It seems every time I get caught up enough to start working on my big final project she throws another log on the proverbial fire. Add to that an art history class and a programming class and I feel like I'm about to drown any time now.

I've decided as soon as school's out for the semester I'm heading up to Cumberland Mountain State Park for a few days of well earned relaxation.

Spring Break

It's that time of year again at the University. Midterm exam cram sessions, students packing up for the beach, staff and faculty looking forward to a week of peace and quiet. Meanwhile those of us who are both staff and student simply look forward to a little rest before it all starts up again.
On a personal note, I'm planning my vacation in May and beginning to put together an aquarium for my apartment. I'm also planning a weekend trip up to Dollywood a couple days before Easter. Dollywood is only about 80 miles away from here, so it's a nice, inexpensive (with a season pass anyhow) mini-vacation that I'm really looking forward to.
As to the diabetes, I've lost around 20 lbs so far so I'm doing pretty good. Hopefully this time next year I'll be down to my weight in the military or at least close.

Oh, No!

Well, I saw the doctor recently and found out I'm diabetic. I wasn't really surprised as I've been letting my weight go every since I got out of the military in '96. What did surprise me was how nonchalant the doctor was about it. It was almost like he said "yep, its a hang nail". This sounds odd but I now actually have a reason to be thankful to have been with my ex-wife (she had type 1 diabetes which is much worse). Being with her taught me pretty much everything I needed to know as a new diabetic.
I'm still learning of course, its been 13 years since we were together and there's been some pretty great strides in the realm of diabetes in terms of both the blood meters and diets. Fortunately though what I already knew has allowed me to get my blood sugar under control quickly so now I can concentrate more on losing weight and hopefully coming off the pills at some point (I hope).

UK Facing National ID Card Woes

At first when I began reading this article about the National ID card and how it poses a loss of basic right to privacy I thought it was about how here in America we are facing the Real ID requirements to State driver's licenses. Unfortunately freedom seems to be dying everywhere, and Great Britain seems to be next on the chopping block. It shouldn't come as any surprise I suppose, given their love for surveillance cameras. In fact in Middlesbrough, England they've even gone so far as equip these cameras with loudspeakers so the operators can fuss at passersby dropping litter or whatever. Even George Orwell would be shocked at how far we're devolving.