Tag Archives: current events

A Not-So-Gentle Reminder

Sin,

Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2). All of us are sinners (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:7-10). The ultimate consequence of sin is the wrath of God for eternity (Matthew 25:41; Mark 16:16; John 3:18-19; John 3:36; Revelation 20:14-15).

There are, however, real consequences in this life. Sin spreads its way through our lives and, like a really bad cold, spreads to those around us.

I recommend a story which displays the consequences of sin and shows how quickly sin destroy even the most innocent among us. Please, take the time to read this tragic story.

Not all sin has the same consequences. But remember, even the most horrendous sin begins small.

The story is at CNN and is titled, “I’m Sorry, Goodbye.”

Praising Teens

Culture, Youth,

Teens are often criticized. Their lifestyle, way of thinking, priorities and such are often assailed. While their behavior may be different than an adult’s it is not necessarily wrong. Minority teens and teens from inner city neighborhoods are especially subject to criticism. But here’s a story about two teen girls from inner city Jersey City, New Jersey. Just west of Manhattan Jersey City is the second largest city in New Jersey and racially one of the most diverse cities in the world. Almost 20% of the residents live below the poverty line.

But two teenaged girls showed aggressive leadership and initiative Wednesday when they saw 6 small children running down the streets naked and unsupervised. The two girls rounded the children up and found a seventh child (age 2) left in the locked apartment. They bathed the children, fed them and called police.

Nilaja Wyatt and Aaliyah Glover are being hailed as heroes.

I’m proud of these two young ladies. They deserve our praise and full support for taking actions that many adults would not, and in this case, did not. But I suspect the girls parents should be praised as well for instilling an attitude of care and concern in their daughters. Great work!

Anthony Weiner Proves Samson Is Alive and Well

Culture, Judges, Sin, ,

New York Congressman Anthony Weiner is the latest VIP to fall victim to his own temptations and sins. Weiner’s rising star among democrats began to fall last week when the Congressman’s Twitter account posted a picture of Weiner’s groin clothed in underwear. He first claimed that his account had been hacked but later admitted that he sent the picture although he intended it only for one woman. And that woman was not his wife. We next learned that a number of other women had racy conversations via text messages with him. We now learn further that he may have coached at least one of the women to lie about the messages.

Here in Alabama we have a Mobile County Commissioner, Steve Nodine, who was a rising star in politics and a darling of the local media. Today, Nodine sits in the Baldwin County jail today on a Federal firearms and drug charge while awaiting a possible second trial on charges he shot and killed his longtime mistress a year ago. His rapid descent from star to scourge still has people shaking their heads.

The common cliche is that both have “feet of clay.” ((A reference that likely goes all the way back to Daniel 2:43.)) That’s true and it also pertains to every one of us. All are fallible, all are sinners (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8). These two very successful men, tracking toward greater success and outwardly happily married succumbed to temptations of the most base sort. In the temptation they are no different from just about any other man.

But we are still prone to ask “why?” How could someone with everything going right for them suddenly go so wrong? We find the answers in Samson. Continue reading Anthony Weiner Proves Samson Is Alive and Well →

Rome Is Burning and I’m Not Worried

Church Bulletin, Culture, Daily living,

Our world is in trouble. Chaos reigns from the shores of Tripoli to the halls of state legislatures. Gasoline prices are at the highest point in almost two years, are rising quickly and show no sign of slowing. Prices at the pump are directly affecting prices at the grocery checkout. Crime is rising; no one feels safe anymore. Worst of all it seems there is no hope for tomorrow. The politicians with whom we have entrusted our life, liberty and our pursuit of happiness are not talking to one another and seem to accomplish little. We’re in an airplane that’s out of fuel and will carry us just to the crash site. We are in trouble.

Not so fast.

We’ve been here before.

Gas prices were higher all the way back in 1981. In fact, gas at the pump would have to be $8.05 per gallon today to match the 1981 levels when adjusted for inflation. At the end of World War II the death toll reached over 60,000,000 with close to a half million deaths among United States soldiers alone. Over 6 million Jews died in the Holocaust; 20,000,000 died in the Soviet purges under Stalin and perhaps more died in China under Mao. Evil was, and is, real. It has often reared its head through anger, terror, war and repression. But in every case it has ultimately been defeated. Let me say that again:

Evil Always Looses.

That good wins over evil is not just a historic fact. It is a Biblical principle too. The greatest catastrophe to befall mankind came in Eden when the first couple chose to sin. They were irrevocably cut off from God and his goodness. There was no greater disaster. All earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanoes, tsunamis, wars and crimes together could not match the horrific events of Eden. Yet immediately God intervened to offer hope. Goodness took from Satan his prize (Genesis 3:15 ff).

In the first century the world was wholly corrupt. Pagan empires ruled. God’s people were under repression. The priesthood went to the highest bidder. But into  the world came Jesus Christ, the very Son of God. The brightness of his light shines from Eden’s tree to Heaven’s gates. In Matthew 16:18 he declared the coming of his church. Of that church Jesus said; “the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” His faithful apostle Paul tells us that the last enemy, death, will be destroyed and that the righteous can laugh at the grave (1 Corinthians 15:26; 1 Corinthians 15:54-57).

The final book of the Bible has a single unified theme. Despite difficulties with figurative dragons, beasts and horrid creatures the book is clear: Jesus Wins!

Let us not be people of fear. God’s people have led the way after every trouble. Opportunities abound. People are frightened and need the hope offered by Jesus Christ. You and I are the heralds of that hope. Sound the message loudly and bring the weak, the fearful and the troubled to Christ for redemption and for hope.