Would God own a Blog?

Today, I came across an article within a God Blog that comes highly recommended in Christian circles. The author of SmartChristian.com wrote about his view of how to engage in politics and keep your Christian character and spirit intact. I thought some of my readers might find this interesting. I'm curious as to your thoughts on his interpretation of Christians blogging and being active in politics. Feel free to comment.

What I did tend to agree with is the following from this article:

"One of the dangers that many Christians seem to often fall into is that we begin to elevate the outcome of presidential elections to an apocalyptic status. In other words, if our presidential candidate or party does not win, we begin to see it as the end of the world. This is what I call the “Y2K complex.”

"When we allow ourselves to understand politics in apocalyptic terms, we at the same time express an unbelief in the sovereignty and Lordship of God over his creation and human history. Yes, elections have real consequences for people, but in the larger scheme of history, don’t worry, no matter who becomes our president, God is in control and will take care of things." (emphasis mine)

Where I tend to diverge is the concept in this article that talked
about as Christians not allowing ourselves to become so immersed in political activism that we give up our identity as followers of Christ. He goes on to say we risk losing the voice we have as believers to illuminate the Gospel.

My belief is that our "identity" as a Christian is inseparatable from our involvement in politics. Essentially our Christian identity is the character of our walk with God. Many of the distinctions that polarize political bents will either fall in sync with one's Christian character, or be contrary. Whatever your label while blogging or expressing political viewpoints, be it as a believer, an evangelical, a Christian, or a conservative it will be your stand in the issues that testifies to your walk as God's child. You are accountable to proclaim how politics affects your walk of faith. See Colossians 3:17 from the Word of God.

In other words, walk the talk, and talk the walk. I have some very good friends in my American Conservative Forum circles who have very clear, often concise and sometimes brusque opinions. They also are God fearing Americans with a heart for God and for America.

It is a matter of owning your own faith in God; recognize your ability to state your beliefs and how they fit in context with the politics you are supporting, and remain steeped, not in the politics themselves, but in recognizing that your opinions will allow another Americans to make a wiser choice in their political decisions. It could result in profound evangelical change but more likely it may simply cause pause, allowing others to view the political scene from a Biblical perspective.

That is what American Conservative Forum is about, it is how my husband's blog is presented, and I fervently pray that Right Turn - Your Turn also demonstrates the love of the Lord, while standing firm on the beliefs I hold in my walk with Christ and yes, even in Politics.

How do you see God and Politics? Or, God and blogging?

For more information on GodBlogs and blogging unto God, see http://www.godblogcon.com/.

Government Does it Again--Discrimination of Conservative, Evangelical, Religious Beliefs

Today Dr. Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family based out of Colorado Springs, Colorado commented, "Who would have believed that the Colorado state legislature and its governor would have made it fully legal for men to enter and use women's restrooms and locker-room facilities without notice or explanation?.” “The law makes it illegal to deny a person access to public accommodations, including restrooms and locker rooms, based on gender identity or the "perception" of gender identity.” It goes on to specify in great depth, that except in church buildings, no discrimination in any form-paper, audio, video, blog, pamphlet, letter, book, even advertisement, etc., can be formulated to actually state or infer discrimination against any sexual orientation, nor the accomodations of such.

One of the most frustrating parts of this law is it’s exclusion of the body of the church, meaning those buildings assigned as legal religious bodies. They are able to freely continue condemning this practice per their beliefs. Yet, any point outside the walls of the church can become privy to penalization for breaching this law. This means that in essence,by the very nature of making this law for “anti-discrimination” they have chosen to “discriminate” against evangelical Christians, who are by far the most likely of church groups to “condemn” this practice based on our religious faith and doctrine.

In essence we are entering a new era in the United States of America—it is no longer “The North” Vs. “The South” but rather the “Church” Vs. “All other facets seeking to undermine the Church.”

You can view a PDF file of this law here.

Contact Colorado State Legislatures here: http://www.leg.state.co.us/

Christians and conservatives should be appalled and humbled by the blatant changes coming into our country, literally day-by-day and hour-by-hour, not only undermining our Constitution, but the inherent Word of God. We need to understand that while the law is intended to be upheld, as per Romans 13, still the overruling focus of our values comes from the Biblical teachings of Jesus and the need to abstain from immoral, homosexual, adulterous, and other manners of evil.

My next free few minutes will be spent forming a letter appealing to those government officials to repeal this law. If anyone hears or sees an option for forming (or has already begun) a petition to this state government against this ruling, please let me know. I’d like to post it and encourage all I know to sign it.

God's Racist Thoughts On America

Finally, able to complete my blog thoughts regarding Scriptural references to Ablur's well stated mandates in "You May Be a Racist"

Enjoy.

Interestingly, while researching Scriptures for this I came across a certain publishing company that refuses to allow any copyright of "their" translation (not paraphased) of the NIV Bible in any form. I read their policy/permissions, and was appalled at how blatantly they ignored the obvious fact that this Book in God's own Words:

Timothy 3:16 Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof,for correction, and for training in righteousness, 3:17 that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work. (Italics added by blogger)

The good news is that I will have something new to blog about soon. :)

God is at the center of your life or you are choosing not to have life (eternal).

Matthew 6:33 But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Marriage is between one man and one woman with a commitment to endure for a life-time and God is the head of this marriage.
I Peter 3:7 Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as the weaker partnersand show them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers.

Choosing to be Pro-Life is a choice, and choosing to be Pro-Death is a sentence to end life.
Psalms 127:3 Yes, sons are a gift from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.
Exodus 20:13 “You shall not murder.

Jesus said, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.
Matthew 22:19-21 22:19 Show me the coin used for the tax.” So they brought him a denarius. 22:20 Jesus said to them, “Whose imageis this, and whose inscription?” 22:21 They replied,“Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Obey the government in so far as it honors the king (or Uncle Sam), but do not forsake your own faith in God and his ultimate laws.
Romans 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God’s appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God.
I King 2:3 Do the job the Lord your God has assigned you by following his instructionsand obeying his rules, commandments, regulations, and laws as written in the law of Moses. Then you will succeed in all you do and seek to accomplish,

Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you.
Matthew 6:19-20 6:19 Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal 6:20 But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:33 But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Everyone has the right to confess their sins, repent, and choose eternal life. This ensures eternal liberty and solidifies eternal peace of one’s soul.
I John 1:9 But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing.
Romans 10:9-10 10:9because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10:10 For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation. Romans 10:13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

God supported the nations who stood up for His precepts and who fought those nations that chose to disobey them. That is what God expects of great nations like America.
Matthew 7:13-14 7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 7:14 But the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword.

The long term solution to America is placing our trust in the one, true God from where our roots began.
Joshua 24:15 If you have no desire to worship the Lord, choose today whom you will worship, whether it be the gods whom your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But I and my family will worship the Lord!” Proverbs 3:5-6 3:5Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. 3:6 Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.

English is the language of America. God chose the Tower of Babel to confuse because the people were not focused on him. Focus on one language for one purpose and on the only God for worship.
Genesis 11:6-9 11:6 And the Lord said, “If as one people all sharing a common language they have begun to do this, then1 nothing they plan to do will be beyond them. 11:7 Come, let’s go down and confuse their language so they won’t be able to understand each other.” 11:8 So the Lord scattered them from there across the face of the entire earth, and they stopped building the city. 11:9 That is why its name was called Babel – because there the Lord confused the language of the entire world, and from there the Lord scattered them across the face of the entire earth.

There is rich heritage in our religious beginnings and schools should teach this part of American history.
Deuteronomy 4:9 Again, however, pay very careful attention, lest you forget the things you have seen and disregard them for the rest of your life; instead teach them to your children and grandchildren.

The American border should be secure. After all, God’s Word says that the way of eternal life if narrow and smaller than a needle-in-a haystack. Why should our nation’s borders be any different? Don’t we want to last for generations?
Matthew 7:13-14 7:13 Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 7:14 But the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Global Climate change has happened before and it will happen again because it isn’t Mother Nature who is in control, but our omnipotent, omnipresent, perfect Lord. Psalms 24:1, 2 24:1 The Lord owns the earth and all it contains, the world and all who live in it. 24:2 For he set its foundation upon the seas, and established it upon the ocean currents.

God mandated to the first human couple to use His resources wisely. Let’s not make the same mistakes they did.
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness, so they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move on the earth.”

God firmly instructed the Israelites to keep their business within their own clan, tribe or nation. Perhaps, a hint for America to best utilize our resources?
Joshua 1:14-15 1:14 Your wives, children and cattle may stay in the land that Moses assigned to you east of the Jordan River. But all you warriors must cross over armed for battle ahead of your brothers. You must help them 1:15 until the Lord gives your brothers a place like yours to settle and they conquer the land the Lord your God is ready to hand over to them. Then you may go back to your allotted land and occupy the land Moses the Lord’s servant assigned you east of the Jordan.

The First Amendment forbids government from making laws that infringe on religion. It does not remove religion from anything under the government.
Deuteronomy 29:10-15 29:10 You are standing today, all of you, before the Lord your God – the heads of your tribes, your elders, your officials, every Israelite man, 29:11 your infants, your wives, and the foreigners living in your encampment, those who chop wood and those who carry water – 29:12 so that you may enter by oath into the covenant the Lord your God is making with you today. 29:13 Today he will affirm that you are his people and that he is your God, just as he promised you and as he swore by oath to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 29:14 It is not with you alone that I am making this covenant by oath, 29:15 but with whoever stands with us here today before the Lord our God as well as those not with us here today.

We reject the banning of prayer.
I Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil. [Italics are from translation used-see below]

We need to take terrorist threats more seriously and take steps to eliminate those who are intent on carrying out such acts. God will honor our efforts to defend our families and to save our land, of which we proclaim “in God we trust.”
Joshua 1:13 Remember what Moses the Lord’s servant commanded you. The Lord your God is giving you a place to settle and is handing this land over to you.

In God We Trust. Laus Deo.
Psalms 2:8 Ask me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the ends of the earth as your personal property.

Psalms 8
8:1 O Lord, our Lord, how magnificent is your reputation throughout the earth! You reveal your majesty in the heavens above! 8:2 From the mouths of children and nursing babies you have ordained praise on account of your adversaries, so that you might put an end to the vindictive enemy. 8:3 When I look up at the heavens, which your fingers made, and see the moon and the stars, which you set in place, 8:4 Of what importance is the human race, that you should notice them? Of what importance is mankind,that you should pay attention to them, 8:5 and make them a little less than the heavenly beings? You grant mankindhonor and majesty;8:6 you appoint them to rule over your creation; you have placed everything under their authority, 8:7 including all the sheep and cattle, as well as the wild animals, 8:8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea and everything that moves through the currents of the seas. 8:9 O Lord, our Lord, how magnificent is your reputation throughout the earth! [Italic font for Psalms 8 done by blog author]

All Scriptures are taken from NETBible.org. Except as noted, all italics or font changes are part of this translation.

Laus Deo

One detail that is never mentioned is that in Washington, D.C. there can never be a building of greater height than the Washington Monument .

With all the uproar about removing the Ten Commandments, etc., this is worth a moment or two of your time. I was not aware of this amazing historical information.

On the aluminum cap, atop the Washington Monument are displayed two words: Laus Deo.

No one can see these words. Most visitors to the monument are totally unaware they are even there and for that matter, probably couldn't care less.

Once you know Laus Deo's history, you will want to share this with everyone you know. These words have been there for many years; they are perched atop the monument, 555 feet, 5.125 inches high, facing skyward to the Father of our nation, overlooking the 69 square miles which comprise the District of Columbia, capital of the United States of America.

Laus Deo! Two seemingly insignificant, unnoticed words. Out of sight and, one might think, out of mind, but very meaningfully placed at the highest point over what is the most powerful city in the most successful nation in the world.

So, what do those two words, in Latin, composed of just four syllables and only seven letters, possibly mean? Very simply, they say "Praise Be to God!"

Though construction of this giant obelisk began in 1848, when James Polk was President of theUnited States, it was not until 1888 that the monument was inaugurated and opened to the public. It took twenty-five years to finally cap the memorial with a tribute to the Father of our nation, Laus Deo. "Praise Be to God!"

From atop this magnificent granite and marble structure, visitors may take in the beautiful panoramic view of the city with its division into four major segments. From that vantage point, one can also easily see the original plan of the designer, Pierre Charles l'Enfant .a perfect cross imposed upon the landscape, with the White House to the north. The Jefferson Memorial is to the south, the Capitol to the east and the Lincoln Memorial to the west.

A cross you ask? Why a cross? What about separation of church and state? Yes, a cross; separation of church and state was not, is not, in the Constitution. So, read on. How interesting and, no doubt, intended to carry a profound meaning for those who bother to notice.

Praise Be to God! Within the monument itself are 898 steps and 50 landings. As one climbs the steps and pauses at the landings the memorial stones share a message.

On the 12th Landing is a prayer offered by the City of Baltimore;
on the 20th is a memorial presented by some Chinese Christians;
on the 24th a presentation made by Sunday School children from New York and Philadelphiaquoting Proverbs 10:7, Luke 18:16 and Proverbs 22:6. Praise Be to God!

When the cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid on July 4th, 1848, deposited within it were many items including the Holy Bible presented by the Bible Society. Praise Be to God! Such was the discipline, the moral direction, and the spiritual mood given by the founder and first President of our unique democracy "One Nation, Under God."

I am awed by Washington's prayer for America. Have you ever read it? Well, now is your unique opportunity, so read on!

"Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whos e example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Chr ist our Lord. Amen."

Laus Deo!
When one stops to observe the inscriptions found in public places all over our nation's capitol, he or she will easily find the signature of God, as it is unmistakably inscribed everywhere you look. You may forget the width and height of "Laus Deo ", its location, or the architects but no one who reads this will be able to forget its meaning, or these words: "Unless the Lord builds the house its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." (Psalm 127: 1)
It is hoped you will send this to every child you know; to every sister, brother, father, mother or friend. They will not find offense, because you have given them a lesson in history that they probably never learned in school. With that, be not ashamed, or afraid, but have pity on those who will never see this.

Etch-A-Sketch Sin

I enjoyed my church service today, as the pastor had a unique illustration about God's grace and sin. He established that most of our congregation still remembers the classic toy "Etch-A-Sketch" (still available, but not as widely recognized today), and then said something like this: "Our sins are written as if displayed on an Etch-A-Sketch. You can do all kinds of writing, drawing, doodling on an Etch-A-Sketch. No matter how artistic, how geometric, or how raw the scribble, it remains your own masterpiece [in this example, your own sin, etched in your life].
The devil would like to keep your mind pinned on the sin you've experienced all your life, until your "Etch-A-Sketch is so messy, so scratched up, it ceases to function as it once did. However, God's grace simply turns your life upside down, inside out, and gently and completely erases sin from your life." We call this experience being "born again" or "brand new" in evangelical Christian circles.

I was reminded at how simple it is to God, to erase our sins, yet how hard it is for us to give them up. We are like the little children who stare at the well-worn Etch-A-Sketch, seeing the faint lines from their prior drawing, and wanting it back, after it has been clearly wiped off the screen. We are so stubborn to literally "turn it over to God." Yet, His Grace, is gentle, simple, and patiently waits for us to receive it. It isn't a payment, it isn't a reward, and it isn't even a gift we can give ourselves. Pastor Robinson reminded us today "God's Grace can only be given and received with an open heart." In essence, it has to be chosen by free will.

I hope as you enter this week, you will be reminded of the many times God has patiently waited for your free will, to direct your daily existence, piece by piece. He's faithful and never ever gives up on you.