Caffeinated Thoughts |
- And Santorum Rested…
- Barack Obama: Same Tired Rhetoric
- A Conspicuous Absence
- Gay Rights Group Files Complaint Against Christian-Owned T-Shirt Company
- Is Rush Limbaugh Exempt from the Free Market?
- One Struggle
| Posted: 04 Apr 2012 10:51 PM PDT David Brody at CBN noted Rick Santorum’s decision to take 4 days off prior from Thursday to Sunday from campaigning in Pennsylvania:
The Santorum campaign emailed me tonight to inform me that Santorum will resume a full schedule events on Monday. Brody seemed to not take some things into account. First of all, Easter Weekend rallies are not going to be particularly well-attended. I was raised in a house where Easter was not given a whole lot of respect and so during my 2004 bid for the State House, I campaigned on Easter Sunday. Second worse day campaigning next to Mother’s Day. The fact is that a well-rested Santorum campaigning 17 days in Pennsylvania is worth a whole lot more than the current version campaigning in twenty-one. To say Santorum has run a tireless campaign understates the matter. From After Christmas until today, Santorum hasn’t had a day off. He’s been at work for 100 straight days. (He did take 4 days away in Florida, but given that he came home to find a child facing death, this can hardly be considered R&R time) Some of these days featured lighter public schedules, but Santorum is a candidate who does many events that aren’t publicly announced such as tele-townhalls. He is the hardest working candidate in the race, running each state uphill against insurmountable media odds, scrapping for every vote. Unfortunately, he’d begun to see diminishing returns. Even supporters began to comment on videos of interviews that he looked “tired.” Probably most of us have no conception of how “tired” he is. Certainly Santorum grabbed moments of relaxation when he could (infamously sun-bathing for a few minutes in Puerto Rico and then bowling in Wisconsin where bowling regretably became part of the campaign.) This rest was overdue. If Santorum made one big mistake in his campaign, it was not taking enough days off to keep himself refreshed. Santorum called “half time” in his Tuesday speech and in football, there’s a break at half time. And this is good timing for a break. It’s Holy Week with Catholics having a series of services. Santorum. Santorum gets a 4-day weekend from the campaign trail and gets to spend some time with his family and church as Rick with no campaign agenda. Then on Monday, it starts all over again. If Santorum wins Pennsylvania, he’ll have a two month road ahead of him that will go through thirteen states. Hopefully, he’ll take a few more pit stops in the second half. Link to this post!        |
| Barack Obama: Same Tired Rhetoric Posted: 04 Apr 2012 03:54 PM PDT Video proof that President Barack Obama needs to hire some new speechwriters. The Republican Party just released a new ad which highlights President Obama’s budget speech yesterday. In it they found he recycled the same scare tactics that he used in a similar speech last year. It’s uncanny that he even stumbled over the same phrase. Link to this post!      |
| Posted: 04 Apr 2012 03:22 PM PDT
I was appalled. A sign in front of a Baptist church in Charlotte openly advocates its opposition to Proposition One in North Carolina. The proposition, which is due to go to the ballot in NC on May 8, 2012, reads: “Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State.” One familiar with the Bible’s unequivocal teaching that God ordained marriage is solely between one man and one woman, as well as the Bible’s condemnation of adultery, fornication, homosexual acts, and incest, might be confused by this Baptist church’s position. The fact is there are a host of others, a variety of more liberal denominations and religious groups, now coming out to pronounce that Proposition One in North Carolina is evidence of hatred and intolerance by those who preach the sanctity of biblical marriage. However, radical groups, including churches and pastors, have that right, according to our Constitution. Now let me be clear: I think they are wrong, and are pushing our nation onto the brink of self destruction. They are fulfilling St. Paul’s epistle to the Romans, that those who have denied God and God’s Word, ultimately end up codifying that which God abhors. Yet, although I think they are wrong in their assertion, I say again, they have every right to speak. This episode of churches speaking into the State’s affairs is lacking in one thing: the shrill voices of the separation of Church and State groups. Where are the famous “separation” activists of the world on this occasion? The undeniable evidence suggests that as long as churches advocate radical, left wing politics, they are safe from the groups who would scream “Separation of Church and State.” If the message reflects left wing political positions activist clergy have no fear of putting their message on a church sign on a busy street in the state’s largest city. Ah, but let a congregation — or a minister — speak into the culture from a conservative Biblical position, that sodomy is ungodly, should be condemned as sin, and that believers have a God given responsibility to take a stand for righteousness in the public square, you will hear the familiar cries of “crossing the line” of politics and religion. Yet speaking the truth of God from His Word into the public arena of our nation is not only biblical and with great historical precedent in America, it is critically needed at this time, when the sanctity of marriage in North Carolina needs the same constitutional protection that 30 other states already have. Perhaps the conspicuous absence of Separation of Church and State outcries in the debate on Proposition One in NC means that religious liberty is alive and well and that gospel ministers, in fact, have the right to apply their understanding of Scripture to culture without threat. Or maybe it just means that the unmolested voicing of one’s position publicly is applied to all groups but evangelical, pro family, pro life, Catholic and Protestant voices. We will see. Michael Anthony Milton (Ph.D., University of Wales) serves as the chancellor/CEO elect of Reformed Theological Seminary (one of the largest accredited seminaries in the country), a U.S. Army chaplain (instructing at the Armed Forces Chaplain School) and the James M. Baird Jr. chair of pastoral theology at RTS/Charlotte. He is an author, songwriter, singer, ordained minister, former pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga, Tenn., and he previously served as the president of RTS/Charlotte. Dr. Milton also hosts a national Bible teaching television program, Faith For Living, broadcast on the NRB Television Network, and a radio program broadcast on several stations in the southeast. For 16 years he served in the business world and has also served as a top-secret Navy linguist. Link to this post!      |
| Gay Rights Group Files Complaint Against Christian-Owned T-Shirt Company Posted: 04 Apr 2012 01:30 PM PDT Out of Lexington, KY we see how civil rights laws or ordinances that include sexual orientation or gender identity can come into conflict with religious liberty. The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that the organizers of Lexington's annual gay pride parade (the Gay and Lesbian Services Organization of Lexington) has filed a discrimination complaint with the city's Human Rights Commission against Hands On Originals, a Christian owned t-shirt company, when they refused to produce apparel for the event. Below is a picture of the graphic that went with the order that was refused. The owner of Hands On Originals, Blaine Adamson, issued the following statement:
The story then quotes Raymond Sexton who is the director of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Human Rights Commission whose stated mission is to "to safeguard all individuals within Lexington-Fayette County from discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, familial status and sexual orientation/gender identity in connection with employment, housing and public accommodations." His organization will conduct the investigation into Hands On Originals. Sexton made some troubling comments:
It seems like his mind is already made up before he even starts an investigation. Sexton pointing out that they are not a church is why I have problems with civil rights language that includes sexual orientation or gender identity at the local, state or federal level. There is no protection of religious liberty for those who are not a church. In most cases Christian owned businesses can (and should) serve all customers, but in this instance it was the matter of the message and not the messenger that is the problem so to speak. It isn't an individual homosexual ordering t-shirts for a little league team or some other event. Rather this group, and I have to believe this was intentional (I mean they're the only company in town?), wanted to have this Christian-owned company to produce a t-shirt which violates their convictions. Consider the reverse, how would this group feel if a homosexual owner of a t-shirt company was asked to produce apparel for say… a "Love Won Out" conference or some other event that spoke out against homosexual behavior? I would suspect they would (and should have the right to) refuse the order. If religious liberty means anything it that an individual's, in this case the owner of Hands On Originals, religious conscience is protected. The First Amendment protects freedom of religion, not just freedom of worship, so it includes religious conscience and conduct. A governmental agency should not be allowed to compel a citizen to violate their religious conscience or conviction. But here again we see another instance when religious liberty buts up against homosexual "rights" the First Amendment doesn't seem to matter. Link to this post!      |
| Is Rush Limbaugh Exempt from the Free Market? Posted: 04 Apr 2012 05:36 AM PDT The American Spectator’s Jeffrey Lord put out a seven page piece on Mike Huckabee daring to challenge El Rushbo for talk show supremacy that could be kindly described as overwrought as he warns of RINO radio and attacks Governor Huckabee for raising taxes while Governor of Arkansas, which is apparently very important to being a talk show host and warns of Huckabee’s big problem:
If Mr. Lord were hermetically sealed inside the beltway, it would be easy to conclude that all conservatives were as critical of Huckabee as beltway insiders. The reality was far different. Huckabee won very conservative voters throughout America’s heartland in several exit polls. In 2011, Huckabee had the best favorable rating of any potential candidate for President. Certainly, this wasn’t helped when many “economic conservatives” who castigated Huckabee as a liberal supported a big government rescue of the financial services sector sending the message that they believed in socializing the risks of capitalism, but not its profits. Huckabee meanwhile stood firm for principles like “creative destruction” and “moral hazard.” Apparently, that’ll get you called a liberal by Mr. Lord. I suppose if the only people who owned radios were Club for Growth members, a Huckabee show would be a more dubious proposition, but that’s not the case. For his part, Huckabee doesn’t see this the same way as Lord does
Huckabee sees himself as less of a threat to Limbaugh than Lord does. Why would anyone want to challenge Limbaugh with his built in audience? It’s about the Benjamins. Rush’s show costs stations more money than the New Huckabee show will. Pardon me, but isn’t this what capitalism is supposed to be about? One person has a product at market and another person has a different product with a different approach and a better price so they bring it to market. If radio stations like what Rush offers them more, they’ll keep Rush. Or they may choose to go with Huckabee. Why is that some conservatives seem to think the Hours between Noon and 3 pm ET are holy and exempt from the free market. Huckabee may find three hours daily radio not to be for him, just as Limbaugh found television wasn’t his medium several years back. If Huckabee does make a go of it in radio, he’ll be unlikely to hurt Limbaugh and more likely to draw his own audience who like Huckabee’s style better as well as the fact that Huckabee won’t be talking non-stop politics for three hours, which sometimes is even too much for me. Some of us would like the ability to choose to listen Huckabee at sometimes and Limbaugh at others. Why shouldn’t we have that option? Link to this post!      |
| Posted: 04 Apr 2012 05:21 AM PDT
All of the battles that rage within our souls can be reduced to one struggle. The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. Though tiny, it grows to be the largest tree in the garden. Mark 4:30. It is the seed, which falls to the ground and dies that bears much fruit. John 12:24.The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. Jesus is trying to show, through parables, that the Kingdom of heaven may be reduced to one choice. One. We spend tremendous amounts of time and energy trying to prune a tree that does not even belong in the garden of our soul. There is not room for two trees here, as in the Garden of Eden. Jesus defeated the tree of the knowledge of good and evil on the cross. He was the second Adam. He got it right, where man went wrong. If a man seeks to lose his life, he will save it. If he chooses to save his life, he will lose it. John 12:25. It will be devoured by the evil one, whose goal is to cause us to forget the simplicity of our devotion to Christ. To lose that single eye is to become double minded. Jesus warned the disciples in Mark 8:15 saying, "Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." The temptation to 'save our lives' will lead us to partake of one or the other type of leaven. Martha was doing 'good'. The woman caught in adultery; doing 'bad'. Mary at Jesus feet was doing the 'one' thing needed. When we are trying to 'save' our lives, we'll be exhibiting control and manipulation in every area. Whether it is in our relationship with God or others. Whether teaching Sunday school or having an affair. It will all be wood, hay, and stubble because it does not flow from the life of the One true vine. The struggle to "live the Christian life" was not meant to be a struggle at all. The struggle was meant to be over when the 'new life' began. The purpose of water baptism was to demonstrate an inward decision, which was final. Death is final. The corpse does not argue with what has happened to it. Or with its Maker. We die; Christ lives. There are a myriad of man's teachings out there to educate us on 'how' to 'live' the Christian life, when it is not meant to be lived by us at all. HE is meant to live through us. "Sanctification" can become a way to continually prune a tree that should have been uprooted and cast into the sea. God is not impressed with our efforts to prune a tree that He does not want there in the first place. 'Cut out television, cut off lust, cut away coveting'. In the same way we attempt to 'graft in Bible study' 'graft in ministry' 'graft in the character of Christ'. No! Paul says, "Have DONE with…the works of the flesh." Be they riotous living or keeping the law. If we are yielded to the seed of new life that the Author and Finisher of our faith planted within us, all of His fruit supernaturally comes with it. I can already hear the "yes, but" resounding in your souls. There are no buts. There is: One life. One heart. One choice. One Kingdom. One destiny. One Way. IF there is a struggle, it is simple. We have turned back from The Way. The Parable of the Sower is meant to alert us, which kind of soil our choice has allotted us. He is merciful. He continues to prune us. He will allow unrest to possess our souls until He possesses all, for a kingdom divided against itself, will fall. I do not say that this choice will not be made many times, in many ways. What I am saying is that it is always reduced to One choice. The "wrong" tree begins to wither of its own accord as it is overshadowed by the growing Tree of Life. Link to this post!      |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Caffeinated Thoughts To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
In case you are interested in making cash from your traffic by popunder ads - you should try one of the biggest companies: PopAds.
RăspundețiȘtergere