First Amendment Rights

I guess Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is in hot water again. You remember him as the object of a recall election in 2012. That was when union bosses from around the country sent masses of temp workers into the state to act as protesters against his alleged “union busting” policies. Whether union busting or necessary for job growth, as Walker contends, I don’t know. I do know that he campaigned with this policy proposal being presented publicly and the people of the state elected him. Just why his opponents then had a recall election, I don’t quite understand. Sore losers, presumably. But back to the current controversy. Walker professes to be a Christian. As a Christian, he posted a scripture reference from the New Testament on his personal Twitter and Facebook accounts. The verse is the familiar Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” But please do not misunderstand. He did not quote the verse. He merely cited it. His Twitter and Facebook accounts read simply, “Philippians 4:13”. For this citation of Philippians 4:13, an aggressive atheist group called The Freedom From Religion Foundation wrote a letter to Walker asking him to delete the message from both accounts. Rather than considering his accounts personal, the argument made by the atheists is that “it is improper” for a politician to promote personal religious views using the “machinery of the state.” Dan Barker is the co-President of The Freedom From Religion Foundation (the other co-President is Barker’s wife, Annie Laurie Gaylor). Barker and Gaylor have become adept at mailing letters threatening legal action whenever any public mention is made of God - and making certain the press is told about these letters. The website for his organization is curious for sure: tabs at the top of the page are a pretty color of blue, with a garish gold tab sticking out like a sore thumb. The garish tab that is impossible to miss is inscribed with the word DONATE. One could reasonably conclude that the website is designed not so much to inform but to fleece. Sort of like having the press report on letters sent: the more press, the more donations. What little bit of information is on the website is mostly sterile, easily refuted and belligerent diatribes that parade as “Free Thought.” There is also an atheist radio broadcast, listened by someone, somewhere I suppose, that is promoted on the site. Barker and Gaylor’s comment on their website, regarding Scott Walker posting “Philippians 4:13” on Twitter and Facebook, was “seems more like a threat, or the utterance of a theocratic dictator, than of a duly elected civil servant.” Posting “Philippians 4:13” is a threat? By a “theocratic dictator”? See, I told you the web site was, um, let’s just say bereft of intelligent discourse. Their comments seem more like an attempt to bully a duly elected civil servant into silence. “Don’t tell us about the core of your being and the values that mean the most to you and influence public policy. We don’t want to know. Keep silent about your faith!” I prefer knowing what the core values are of my elected officials. I may or may not share them, but I find it helps to know. Okay, here is my take on it. The last time I looked, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees freedom of Religion, Assembly, Petition, Press, Opinion, and Speech. I know this is tough for The Freedom From Religion Foundation to accept – but there it is. I do not read in the First Amendment where an exception is made for an elected official. Particularly one who happens to cite a verse from the Bible on Twitter and Facebook. This is not like sending out the troops to convert people to his religion. So, I say Hurrah for Scott Walker! Way to keep freedom of speech alive, Scott. Way to protect the right of all Americans to practice the freedom of Religion, Assembly, Petition, Press, Opinion, and Speech, or what we commonly call… First Amendment rights.

Not a Loser

Every morning after sipping on a cup of coffee, I call the local weather station. It has a computerized answering device that gives the day, the date and the current temperature. It then gives a recorded advertisement before proceeding to the forecast. Recently the advertisement has been that the caller can ride a bus very conveniently to the new “racino.” Nothing is said about the possibility of losing all you money and having to walk back home! The Bible does have principles that speak to gambling – and none condone it. Now, I am aware that, as I have been told, getting in your car and driving on the highway is a gamble. But, of course, that kind of rationale encompasses all of life. This article is not discussing a drawing to help a charity or a $1 bill stuck in a jar at work with coworkers to buy a group raffle or lottery ticket. The former could be considered a charitable cause and the latter is a desire to maintain cohesion and team unity in a work environment. What I have in mind is institutionalized, commercial gambling - the expenditure of a sum of money in hope of returning an instant larger return, and done at a gaming facility. You know, the internet cafes, the race tracks, racinos and casinos. The inherent dangers include: loss of money necessary to sustain life (known as gambling the milk money), an adrenalin rush that excites so much that the gambler wants it repeated (addiction), and with the above two always at work, the loss of family, career and even, in some cases, life. This is not an exaggeration. There is a reason that “Gamblers Anonymous” exists, after all. But what principles from God’s Word address this issue? What can we assume God thinks of the institutionalized, commercial ventures that we call “gambling”? The toil assigned to Adam by God in Eden (Genesis 3) makes it safe to assume that working and saving for the acquiring of wealth is God’s plan. This is the opposite of the “get rich quick” approach of the gambling establishments. Here is a Biblical principle not to be overlooked: “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). I realize this verse says nothing directly about gambling, but it says a mouthful regarding the importance of work and implies that gambling is not the way we are to earn our keep. Working and saving is God’s appointed way of getting ahead financially, not gambling. Then too, the Bible warns that people who inherit wealth suddenly are those who frequently have not learned how to manage money. Consequently, they can (and often do) lose it quickly. Proverbs 13:11 states, “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle.” I have read that ninety per cent of lottery winners are penniless within five years. How can this be? It is because they never learned the rules of money, i.e. how to manage it. The Bible, incidentally, transmits those rules to the reader. Then too, God’s Word has told us that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). Let me use myself as an example. For me to win at gambling means that a lot of other people have to lose. Hoping or even praying for their failure is not loving them. Stop to think about it for a minute: other gamblers want to see you lose. You have to lose so that they can win. How does it make you feel to know that others are hoping you lose your money? It is a pretty lousy feeling. Then why do it to others? Statistics show that those who gamble are disproportionately from the ranks of the poor or struggling. Addiction and criminal activity are associated with gambling; suicide rates for gamblers are the highest of any addictive group. Is your contributing to all these personal and social problems an act of loving your neighbor? Is your wanting to see them become losers a way of loving them? No, of course not. The old saying is “the House never loses.” The gaming establishment excites with false promises of instant wealth. But it loses just enough to keep people coming back. At the end of every day, the customers always lose and the House always wins. I don’t intend to take a bus to the racino. I don’t want to lose my money and I don’t want to walk home. I will not be a loser.

It's About God

I was reading the 2006 book by Oxford University professor Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion. I was curious how a person of his stature could profess atheism and the book enlightened me: he makes people insensitive to issues like responsibility and accountability; in his writings it becomes apparent that “good works” is meaningless, as is “final judgment.” He contends that people who believe in these ideas are delusional. “When one person is delusional, we call it ‘insanity’; when thousands of people are delusional, we call it ‘religion.’ I choose to disagree. I will hang on to the ideas of responsible behavior, accountability, good works and final judgment. These ideas, based upon the Bible’s teachings, give me definition for life. Unlike Dawkins, I do believe there is that which is always and for all places bad and that which for all times and all places is good. Some day we will stand accountable for these deeds before God. This is God’s world, not mine. “The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1). If I find definition for my life in this world, it will be from a desire to know the Creator-God and His purpose in creation. “It’s not about you.” These powerful words begin the best-selling book by Pastor Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life.” No, it’s not about me. It’s about the Creator and His purpose in creation – and then me finding my role in His world and His plan for it. Dawkins, and others like him, patronize the idea that it is all about me. It may be subtly put, but the idea is there: I will choose how to spend my time and money. I will choose who and what to love and discard; I will choose how to spend my energy. Furthermore, I will answer to no one, especially a God who is greater than time and space, for these decisions. That God is beyond time and space places Him in a realm beyond our senses. We see Him, touch Him and hear Him, at His discretion, not ours. Many of us, probably far too many of us, have long ago learned how to rationalize our sin, justify our wantonness, and argue that the Bible has no relevance for today. It was written for a different people in a different culture and time. We want to be served, rather than serve. We demand our rights and ignore our responsibilities. We continually push God or any thought of God out of our lives. But all along, there is something deep inside that says, “God is – and someday you will meet Him.” And so furiously, we argue against the existence of God and rationalize guilty conscience. It is futile. We need to get over ourselves and realize, “it’s not about me.” It’s about God. “Look to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:22). Want to know something? In the final analysis, it will never be about you. It never has been. The earth is the LORD’s. It’s about God.

Polygamy is Wicked and Depraved

I read in the paper where a United States District Judge, Clark Waddoups, ruled against a portion of Utah’s anti-bigamy law. This portion of the law was an effort by the state legislature to combat polygamy, a practice advocated by early settlers of Utah. The reason the law was passed originally is because polygamy causes big problems. But now that the outlaw of polygamy has been ruled unconstitutional, it might do us well to contemplate polygamous marriage. This was not a ruling in a state court. Since this was a ruling in a District Court of the United States, it will apply to all states in that district, and possibly the entire country (unless overturned, of course). What can we expect? Advocates of polygamy (and they are few) are usually quick to point out that Biblical characters had multiple wives: Jacob, David and Solomon. This is correct. It is also correct to point out that, without exception, whenever polygamy is presented in the Bible, it is presented as a situation that is troubling. God’s ideal, which is always best, is established in the Garden of Eden: marriage is between one man and one woman for life. This is certainly what Jesus taught in Mark 10:11, where He assumes monogamy to be the standard for marriage. Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, interviewed on Issues Etc. (http://issuesetc.org) about polygamy shared that in polygamous societies, universally, rich men have more than their share of wives; young men and men of modest means are left to scramble looking for a girl to marry. Dr. Morse also has observed that in polygamous societies, women are pressured to marry at a young age. And then younger, yet. And then, even younger. And then, – well, you get the picture. Child brides become the norm. In spite of some testimonies to the contrary, in polygamous societies the girls, not really women yet, don’t have much choice as to whom they will marry. So, what can you expect if polygamy becomes widespread nationally? You can expect less freedom for women, and men of wealth having several wives. The average guy will be out of luck. The age of wives will decline until there are young girls, actually, being snagged away by old men. The younger the wives are, the more status for the man among his peers. Naïve, young girls will run off with older men who promise them everything; the parents of these girls will probably have little or no ability to stop it from happening (since it will be legal and age of consent laws will be ruled unconstitutional – yes, that’s next folks). In polygamous societies, young men, the teenage boys, are driven off the homestead since their vitality and age likeness appeals to the youngest wife. Just where do these boys end up? Oh, doing lovely things like begging and robbing in order to get something to eat, or posing for pornographic pictures and engaging in homosexual prostitution. Some of them will make it in life and a lot will not. Of course, some parents will continue housing their sons, even when a younger girl comes into the home as his father’s newest wife. If the newest, youngest wife starts flirting around with the son close to her age, he will be sent out on his own. There is a good reason polygamy was outlawed several years ago in Utah. There is a good reason the Mormon Church, started by the polygamist Joseph Smith, now stands against polygamy. It presents a flawed picture of marriage, a jaded distortion of God’s ideal. It results in shameful practices that injure both the young boys and girls of society. Polygamy did not work in the Biblical days and it will not work now. Polygamy is wicked and depraved

The Most Important Resolution

If you’ve ever seen the movie “Saving Private Ryan”, you know the opening scene. Powerfully, it shows an elderly man being followed by his wife, adult children and grandchildren. They are in Normandy, France and make their way into the cemetery known as The Normandy American Cemetery. Here, James Ryan pays respect to the man who both saved his life during World War II and challenged him to live it effectively: Captain John Miller. As the story line goes, Ryan was dropped behind enemy lines prior to the D-Day invasion. One of four sons, the other three have been killed. General George C. Marshall, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has ordered Private James Ryan saved – and a military team led by Miller is sent to find him and send him home. In the process of finding and saving Private Ryan, Miller is shot and slowly bleeds to death. His last words to Ryan are “James. Earn this…earn it.” At the cemetery, the now senior Ryan concludes his visit to Miller’s grave by turning to his wife and imploring, “Tell me I have lived a good life.” She is bewildered, and then Ryan says, “Tell me I have been a good person.” An elderly man asking the question, “Am I a good person? Have I lived a good life?” captures the goal most seek. For most thinking and caring people life boils down to this simple request, “Tell me I’ve lived a good life. Tell me I am a good person.” The New Year is a time for resolutions - resolutions that we believe will help us live a good life and be a good person. Resolutions are those changes in attitude and behavior that make us stronger and better: a good person, living a good life. In the spirit of the New Year then, I offer some resolution suggestions. They are based on Biblical teaching and I think that any of us, incorporating them into our lives, will be good and live a good life. • Be honest, trustworthy and respectful in your dealings with others. These traits are foundational to any successful endeavor. • Be able to look at yourself in the mirror each morning as you are brushing your teeth and be proud of the way you treated others the previous day. • Choose your friends wisely. They will dictate your future to a great degree – “Show me your friends and I will show you your future.” • Do the right thing. If you do the right thing long enough, eventually others will notice. • Enjoy the journey. By the time you arrive at the place you want to be, the journey will be over. • Avoid people who don’t like nature or animals. • View obstacles as opportunities because with God’s help, nothing is too difficult to overcome. And finally, I want to add one more suggestion. I saved the best for last. This one is the most important of all, for if you will incorporate it into your mind and lifestyle, it will definitely change you. Listen to this instruction from 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” So, here is the last suggested resolution for the New Year: • Be thankful for what you do have, rather than complain about what you don’t have. As we go through life and especially when we enter the senior years, the realization hits us that the meaning of life is to live a life of meaning. Living with the attitude of gratitude is… The most important resolution of all! Happy New Year everyone!

Putting Christ Back Into Christmas

Putting Christ Back into Christmas Now that Thanksgiving has passed, the Christmas season is upon us. Just today, while walking with Lulu, we noticed a home with pillars. On each pillar was a big, red ribbon – a sure indication that people are getting into the Christmas spirit. It won’t be long until I either read or hear the phrase, “Put Christ Back into Christmas”. I know what the phrase means. It means that the holiday has lost its sacred emphasis. It means that a meaningless secular emphasis has become paramount and the true meaning should be reclaimed. For some, “putting Christ back into Christmas” is pretty simple: let the public school children sing carols at the school; and do not shop at stores that eliminate the phrase “Merry Christmas” by substituting “Happy Holidays.” Let’s get away from the simplistic, emotional stuff. Yes, I think public school children should be able to sing “Silent Night”. This is, after all, a Christian holiday. And I prefer “Merry Christmas” to “Happy Holidays” any time. But this is not really “putting Christ back into Christmas” to me. Do you really want to “put Christ back into Christmas”? Remember that the church is called “the Body of Christ” in 1 Corinthians 12. Among other things, that means that we are supposed to be doing what Jesus would do if He were on earth physically today. You can put Christ back into Christmas by doing what He would do. Is you church having a food drive to replenish the shelves at The Salvation Army in Alliance, Ohio? If not, don’t wait, go ahead and purchase some staple and canned goods and take them, with your children, down to 57 E. Main Street in Alliance. Let the children walk in with the groceries to feed the hungry in our community. Let them experience the joy of giving. Do it in the Name of Jesus – that would be putting Christ back into Christmas. Do you know a boy or girl whose prospects for a Christmas gift are bleak? Why not make an additional purchase for that child and his or her family. Invite the child and his or her family over to your home for Christmas lunch, give a small gift and tell them that Jesus loves and cares for them. That would be putting Christ back into Christmas. Do you have a family member with whom you are estranged? Make a call either on the phone or physically and seek to restore the relationship. Take a meaningful gift – like a grocery store gift card. Let the person know you are doing this because Jesus told us to do so. That would be putting Christ back into Christmas, too. Do you know someone who is all alone, perhaps elderly and unable to get out? Visit him or her. Take a small block of cheese and a box of Ritz crackers as a gift. Then visit for a half hour or so. Let the person know you are doing this because Jesus loves us all. That would be putting Christ back into Christmas. I think we can all agree that a thoughtful gesture or deed done in the Name of Jesus would go a long way toward… Putting Christ back into Christmas.

Thank You, God, for C.S. Lewis

Thank You, God, for C.S. Lewis As I write today, it is November 22, 2013. President Barack Obama has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in memory of former President Kennedy, who was tragically slain on this date fifty years ago. The newspaper is featuring this sad episode from the nation’s history; we should as Americans reflect and mourn Jack Kennedy’s unnecessary and brutal assassination. I think of another who passed away in England on this same date: the great thinker and writer C.S. Lewis. He genuinely possessed one of the finest and clearest thinking minds of the Twentieth Century, and his books continue to sell in the millions annually. Some of you may be asking, “What are his books?” Some of the more popular ones are The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian. These have both been made into blockbuster films. But my favorite book is Mere Christianity, a series of radio lectures given to the British people during the dark days of the Second World War. These lectures, now published as a book, provide clear, logical, sensible reasons to believe in Christianity and the hope it provides. Oddly, there was a time when the young C.S. Lewis was not a Christian and made no pretenses about it. Actually, he was an atheist. But through the influence of Oxford friends J.R.R. Tolkien, Owen Barfield and Hugo Dyson, Lewis first became a theist and then a Christian, “the most reluctant convert in all of England” he would call himself. He spent the rest of his life lecturing and writing at Oxford and Cambridge. He became an ardent proponent of “mere Christianity”, the essence of the faith. He was emphatic in the belief that if Christianity is fiction, then it has no importance, but if true, has eternal and utmost importance. He has written in regard to Christianity, “The one thing it cannot be is moderately important.” He also desired to make the Christian message appealing and meaningful to children and did so with the writing of the Narnia series, which famously features Aslan, the lion who is a picture of Christ. In the first of the series, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Aslan sacrifices his life for the sake of a traitor, but is resurrected and returns to defeat the white witch and restore peace to the land of Narnia. One of the positive traits of these works, and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in particular, is that they are not fairy tales denying reality. Anyone, child or adult, who reads the story will come to grips with stark realities such as violence, pain, adventure, heroism, betrayal and death. The world is presented as it really is, not as we wish it were. So today, while our country mourns the passing of President John Kennedy, I also mourn the passing of C.S. Lewis. But along with the mourning, I commend his works to you. Purchase or borrow his books. Read them. Learn from them. You will be entertained, enlightened, encouraged and helped. And you will say, as all who have read Lewis say, “Thank you, God, for C.S. Lewis.”