Archive for Family Life
Miss California Carrie Prejean did not win the Miss USA crown because she answered a polticially motivated question to the dislike of the judge who is a gay activitst. The question of whether or not gay marriage should be legal, is a legitimate question, but it should not be held against her if she answers it to a judges dislike. I have watched the pageants before, but I confess I did not watch this one. But I have watched the interviews and this invent. It seems clear that this question alone lost her the pageant. Was this right or wrong? What does this say about our culture? What does this say about her and all Christians in America?
Miss California answered the question by her convictions. She clearly believes that the country and family she was raised in does not support gay marriage. She said everyone has their choice or opinion and that she did not mean to offend, but that she believes in marriage being between a man and a woman. She later said it was Biblical and she does not regret her answer. I applaud her for that. Way to go.
It is ashame that this happened. It was wrong, clearly wrong. However, I believe this is a good thing. It is showing just how divisive this issue is to our culture and it shows who is causing the division…not Miss California, but those who do not care about anything but their own agenda, not the good of society! Hopefully, good citizens and Christians will rise up for the good of our culture and fight to preserve the sacredness or tradition of marriage for the good of society, not to be mean toward gay people. That is what she did by answering this question this way. She stood up for what is right! Praise the Lord! Her loss was wrong, but her statement was a victory.
She clearly suffered persecution and discrimination as a result of her answer. Yes, you read that correctly. She was discriminated against because she held to her moral and religious convictions. I do believe that is our first amendment right!? Where is the ACLU when you need them? Where are the alarmists? Where is the media? The truth is the liberally minded people or people categorized as lef in our culture and the media will never be seen calling this discrimination, but that is what it is! If someone lost the Miss USA pagaent because they answered in support of gay marriage, could you imagine the response? Why does it only go their way on their one way street? But it is the truth, she suffered discrimination and our constitution was violated at the Miss USA pageant. Perhaps we should have a recount? (My attempt at humor…sorry!)
The response of the audience shows that a majority still agree with her answer; however, there is a growing minority sympathic to the homosexual agenda to redefine marriage. What this tells us about our culture is that the traditions and values that have made our culture and nation great will be pushed and pushed until there are no traditions or values left…yes we will have new ones, but not the ones of our forefathers or from those who worked hard to make this nation great.
America is on a path of destruction and the coming moral collapse of our culture is right before us. We are beyond the crossroads in my opinion. The Miss USA pageant paints a picture of what America will become – an anti-God, anti-Bible, anti-Christian society that will allow the Persecution of those who hold to Biblical and traditional values. We all witnessed it during the Miss USA pageant…this is only the beginning I do beleive. Discrimination against Christians or traditional values will not be called discrimination by those on the left or with this type of agenda. You see those who have this agenda don’t truly want equality, they want it their way and they will do anything and everything to promote their agenda and force it upon our culture.
Thank you Miss California for your courage to speak the truth. It cost you something you work for all your life. Great will be your reward in Heaven. But the price was worth it for the whole world to see that you would not compromise the truth. That was refreshing and bold. I wish you the best of life and God’s blessings always!
I walked into the office this morning and my secretary had a tea bag attached to the cabinet above her desk and that got me thinking. I have no idea what many of you think about the tea party’s going on around America tonight, but I think they are a good thing personally. It caused me to go back and look at the history of the Boston Tea Party…those guys were patriots and risked it all. I thank GOd that we live in a nation in which we can have a tea party in freedom, but sadly I don’t know if the tea party’s will make a difference.
Before I proceed let me get one thing out in the air…can a pastor speak on taxes…should a pastor speak about taxes…isn’t this political and on and on go the questions…so what should a pastor do? Taxes are a reality in life and they impact our families, our communities, our commerce and much more; therefore, a pastor should bring proper perspective to these matters. A pastor is called by God to bring His truths to all matters…even taxes. It is sad that in our culture there are those who have tried to compartmentalize life so that common folk don’t view all of life connected to the Creator…but our forefathers knew better (read the Delcaration). But life is life and God is a part of our lives…this is a fact; therefore taxes and all other issues are to be spoken on from a biblical persepctive unashamedly. You cannot put God in a box, nor can you put your faith in a box. Our faith should impact our view of taxes…to let others tell you otherwise is a lie, deceptive, and harmful to the good of society.
Enough said…so what about tea party’s? First, I agree that the approach of the leadership in America today is to spend money we do not have and this should be protested becasue it is is not biblical. I am not saying the church protest it, but we as citizens have the right to protest it. Secondly, we must realize that Jesus said we should pay taxes “Give to Ceasar what is Ceasar’s, but give to God what is God’s.” We need to pay taxes for the good of society. So from my biblical perspective we are not saying taxation is wrong, but that the way government is spending is wrong and we pay too much in taxes already. SO I say let’s throw the tea bags in the harbor…there is nothing wrong with that. We need to stand, we need to be involved, and we need to say enough is enougy. Our Governemtn has got to get our priorities straight and as Christians we must speak Godly wisdom to this situation. It is not biblical to spend money you don’t have, it is not right to reinforce bad commerce through bail-outs, and it is not biblical to not balance a budget…and there is more I could say, but will stop there.
God intended government to be for our good…the good of all of society (Romans 13). However, when you have a President and Congress who are bailing company’s out for mismanagment and spending money we do not have and then not balancing a budget and on and on and on it goes…it is not for our good. We may get through the economic crisis, but someday we will reap what we have sown. Then you add on all the morality issues that our judical branch is creating…we have a mess…we are already reaping this and it will only get worse. I think the tea party is long over due. I am not sure we can trun back the core issue which is our values and morals. I beleive that taxation has a value/moral base to it. Sadly I think we are so far down stream that we missed the harbor opportunity.
Regardless, I also think the tea party is a good idea even though I believe it will have little effect for the politicians and the judges will continue to do what they want and the American people continue to loose ground morally and value wise each day. I don’t know if the voice of the people who care really matters and I don’t think a lot of people really care or know what is going on. It is a sad reality. We are kind of like Jeremiah…he was the weeping prophet. He came with a message that no matter what you do you are going down, but you still need to return to God anyway. In other words God turned them over to the results of their own doing and allowed Jerusalem to fall. He still loved them and wanted them to return to Him and His ways, but the consequences would not be altared. That message didn’t sit well with the people of Jerusalem and I am sure it doesn’t bring us a lot of hope either.
Regardless I think it’s tea time and that we have the GOd-given right to take such action as Christians and as citizens for the glory of God and the good of society. I can only hope and pray that it has some impact.
Following up on my blog from last week about Rick Warren and his position on Larry King Live about the gay-marriage issue.
After the dust has settled a little I still have some issues. It is not neccessarily what Rick Warren said, but what he did not say that is troublesome to me. I still believe that the Purpose Driven LIfe has great merit, is Biblically solid and God has used this work to accomplish some great things and transformed lives. I also still beleive that Rick Warren is a good man and that he does love the Lord. However…
Let me first applaud Rick Warren for clearly defining marriage as between one man and one woman. I can also understand him trying to not be associated with the anti-gay movement. For we as Christian’s are not anti-gay people. So what is the however? THe however, is that Rick Warren is involved in many cultural aspects. The mere fact that we find purpose from God (as he espouses in his book) means that we need to promote God’s purposes. Rick did promote the definition of marriage. In his mind he probably believes that he did enough. But the problem is that when asked about the Iowa Supreme Court decision he said he was oblivious to that and then went on to say that is not on his agenda. THis is the problem. It is GOd’s purpose to establish God-honoring homes…homsexual marriage is not GOd’s purpose. How can we live a purpose driven life when we cannot defend the purpose of marriage. Rick had an opportunity to stand for truth…in my opinion he fail short.
So now what? First, I believe my initial reaction was too strong. Looking over the actual footage…not what others have said or written about it reveals that Rick does hold a Biblical view. So the real issue is that there are many who beleive Rick did not take a firm enough stand and dodged the issue. This is something that still bothers me, but it is not something that I can reject Rick Warren’s ministry upon. I hope and pray that in the future Rick will not be oblivous to culturally relevant issues that the Bible clearly speaks about. I also pray that Rick will be more forthcoming and supportive of pro-marriage issues instead of taking a back seat and declaring he never attended or supported them. Lastly, may we realize that people who speak in public are allowed to make mistakes. Rick lost an opportunity in my opinion. I will give him the benefit of the doubt and say that I believe his intentions were good and that he does desire to glorify God…but along the way all of us that desire that sometimes fall short of GOd’s glory (Romans 3:23). But in the end thanks for Jesus who gives us the victory (Romans 6:23).
* I had told everone that in my assessment as more information came out I would be humble enough to change my position if neccessary. That is what this write up is about. If things change I will post more in the future. God bless – PC
Just in case there was any doubt…Jesus is awesome!
Jesus Saves!
Jesus Loves!
Jesus Heals!
Jesus Forgives!
Jesus Creator!
Jesus Wine Maker!
Jesus Carpenter!
Jesus Judges!
Jesus Mends!
Jesus Sends!
Jesus Eternal!
Jesus Immanuel!
Jesus Son of Man!
Jesus Son of God!
Jesus Prince of Peace!
Jesus lover of my soul!
Jesus Friend!
Jesus Forever!
Jesus Fabulous!
Jesus Fantastic!
Jesus Worthy!
Jesus Glorified!
Jesus Good!
Jesus Best!
Jesus Blessed!
Jesus Happy!
Jesus Mercy!
Jesus Possible!
Jesus Hopes!
Jesus Perfect!
Jesus Terrific!
Jesus Super!
Jesus Suffered!
Jesus Satisfies!
Jesus Sacrificed!
Jesus water walker!
Jesus Cried!
Jesus Splendor!
Jesus Miraculous!
Jesus Victorious!
Jesus Baptized!
Jesus Crucified!
Jesus Died!
BUT Jesus Lives!
Jesus is Awesome!
I just thought I would let you know several reasons why!!!!!
Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year – I can say that right?
Posted by: Pastor Chris | Comments (1)In America the Christmas War continues. We all have witnessed it. It truly is a “Silent Night” in so many ways. The battle has been fought through fear tactics. Schools are threatened lawsuits if they have a nativity or a Christmas program that mentions Christ…even though they have won these battles in court School boards don’t know this. Merchants don’t want to offend anyone so they try to be neutral but in doing so they offend those who hold to the true meaning of Christmas and a majority of American’s who still celebrtate Christmas in some form or fashion. I don’t have to tell you, you have probably witnessed it. If you are one of them that wants to take away Christmas or say Happy Holidays so not to offend then please put this in all of your Christmas Cards:
“Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2009, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country. This statement is made to you without regard to your race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference.”
How insulting this must be God, but also to our Founding Fathers of this the Greatest Nation on God’s Green Earth. It not the holidays…its Christmas!!!
So to all who know the Way, the Truth and the Life and are not afraid to speak the truth:
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
“As for me and my house we will serve the Lord” We will not follow the gods of the people.
To all of my congregation – know that the Great Shepherd loves us all and your pastor is proud to serve Him and you. Have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS that is filled with Christ’s message and love and have a Blessed New Year in which the Hand of God guides you every day.
Pastor Chris
Hey church family and friends…I just wanted to share a special note with all of you about Josh Metzger. From a human perspective it is sad that Josh only had 8 years on this earth. His journey here was short and many of us may question a little boy dying of brain stem cancer. I agree with that assessment for anyone who does not know the Lord or understand the consequences of sin or the brokenness of God’s creation or the hope that we have in Christ as our redeemer and so forth. The big picture is this…we are not promised another day, not even another breath. Death will call upon us all. The consequence of sin is that bad things do happen. Life is not perfect. But the Good News is that God has made away for us to live life now with Him and to know that our eternal home with Him will be without tears, pain, or death.
We speak of coming Home for Christmas…Joshua truly experienced a homecoming like no other this Christmas. I know it will be a difficult Christmas for Joshua’s family – the loss it great. I hope that this Christmas we can mourn with the Metzger family with the hope we have in Christ. We can cry with hope. We can mourn and be comforted.
Below is an email that Dave Baughman wrote about Josh…be blessed.
Over the past few weeks, Josh has had the opportunity to meet a lot of very unique and famous people. From Labron James, the Cleveland Browns, many Kent State Football players, Mickey & Minnie Mouse and my favorite, Tinker Bell. But Sunday morning Josh met who I believe is his biggest hero of all. Josh Said that He came and spoke to him and said that he will have to suffer a little, but then it will all be ok.
My Friends, Josh is ok now. God called him home Sunday morning.
His departure was peaceful. He flight home was first class and the reception when he got their was like non other I am sure. The cost of the ticket on that flight was very costly, but that is ok. It was paid in full by someone that Josh knows very well.
Life is but a whisper in time. We all have travel arrangements to make. If you would like to know who paid the price for Josh’s ticket home, you need only look for that star. Wise men still seek him. He will be wrapped in swaddling clothes this December 25th, for all to see. I hope you all except that gift.
May the life of Joshua Metzger remind us of the importance of the babe of Bethlehem. He came to show us the way…will you seek Him?
Merry Christmas to all.