Bible gets a reality check - Cosmic Log - msnbc.com

Bible gets a reality check - Cosmic Log - msnbc.com


REALLY? The BIBLE gets a reality check? How about the skeptics get a reality check?
They will.

HILARIOUS!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/11/16/do1610.xml

NASA declares October the hottest on record - by using September's temperature readings.

The head of this particular lab happens to be buddy-buddy with alGore.

Is God on our side?

A little something I wrote and preached:

JOSHUA 5.13-14
PSALM 46
Is God on our side? On the side of America?
Certainly God has greatly blessed the USA over its history. Much of our history can only be explained by God’s providence. Many of our victories can only have occurred by His intervention. We like to credit American power, American courage, American ingenuity for our successes; but, I would suggest to you (based on what I have observed in my reading about WWII and the War for Independence) that many more battles went our way than should have - certainly more than could be explained by mere chance.
So, is God on our side? Did you know that in the Civil War, both sides claimed God on their side. There were generals on both sides who were professing Christians; yes, even slave owners claiming God’s support. Of course, many of the founding fathers of our country were slave owners as well. Was God on our side in the War for Independence? My reading on the subject leads me to conclude that without God’s intervention, there would be no United States of America. George Washington and his troops lost - at least for awhile- virtually every battle they fought.
Is God on our side? On America’s side? On the Republican’s side? On the Democrat’s?
Is He on the side of Bible Baptist Church of Osborne?
The answer to these questions can be found in an incident that happened some thousands of years ago, in the dark of the night, near a hostile city surrounded by an imposing wall.
A leader of Israel met a mysterious figure and asked - challenged, actually - Him our question: Are you on our side? Years ago, as I would read this passage, the answer this mysterious Man gave always seemed contradictory - or, at least, non responsive - to me. But now, I think, I understand His answer. In a column I read in the most recent (Nov.1/8, 2008) issue of WORLD magazine this week, this incident was referenced in the context of the election, and on the subject of in whom or what we are putting our trust.
Is God on our side? Was God on Israel’s side? The leader asking the question was Joshua. And, as has been discussed more than once around here recently, we know that the powers that be (government) are ordained of God - this includes such powers as Adolf Hitler, Saddam Hussein; Hugo Chavez, as well as those we may think are/were good leaders. But even beyond that general rule, that governments are ordained of God, Joshua was a leader who was specifically chosen and publicly approved by God as the successor of Moses and the new leader of Israel as they were on the brink in entering the Promised Land. So, surely God was on his side?
And, who was this mysterious figure? I believe that this was an appearance of God the Son, Jesus Christ. He often appears in the O.T. as "The Angel of the Lord." He is not called that here, but there are reasons to believe that this is He. One is that Joshua calls Him "Lord" as soon as He answers the challenge; a second is that who else could claim to be the "Commander of the army of the Lord"?
Was God on the side of the chosen leader of God’s chosen people?
(Read Joshua 5.13-14). The leader, again, is Joshua; the city is Jericho; the figure is the Son of God; the situation is Israel’s beginning of conquering the Promised Land.
Joshua is wisely surveying the situation
He encounters a Man
The Question
"Are you for us, or for our adversaries?"
Are you on our side?
The Answer
Part One
"No..."
I am not for you OR for them
Is God on our side, or that of our opponent? NO.
INTERESTING
Part Two
"But as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come."
I am here to lead the followers of God; to do God’s will and work; to fulfil God’s plan.
This is the part that confused me in times past. "No, but..."
Is God on our side?
WRONG QUESTION!
The Response
Joshua fell on his face and WORSHIPED
The right question is: Are you on God’s side?
Is our nation on God’s side? Is your political party on God’s side? Is your candidate on God’s side? Is this church on God’s side? Are you on God’s side?
Janie B. Cheaney, WORLD Magazine, Nov. 1/8, 2008, p.32 writes: "Christians everywhere should be falling on their faces. Whether or not the Lord’s angel stands over America with drawn sword, our shield is a hope that does not disappoint. Whether or not God is on our side, we must endeavor with all our might to be on His. Psalm 46 describes catastrophe: Nations rage, kingdoms totter, mountains collapse in the heart of the sea. But ‘God is our refuge and strength....Therefore we will not fear.’
Rather, we lift up our heads: the world’s catastrophe is our opportunity"

It's True: Mosquitoes do like you better

Fact or Fiction: Why Some People Are Mosquito Magnets Newsweek Fact or Fiction Newsweek.com

It says larger people are more likely to attract them - that would explain why they are bothering me more than they did in times past!

So, leave a comment - are you a mosquito magnet, or do they ignore you?

Bible Reading -

From time to time, I ask the congregation how they are doing on their daily Bible reading. I usually get a positive response from most. As I was talking about that, I mentioned that I have to have a reading schedule, or it just won't get done. I have to something that says on this date, you read these portions. I am, at the moment 5-6 days behind on that schedule. BUT, the very existence of the schedule keeps me going and not giving up because I missed a day here and there.
While mentioning that, I thought of something else. I like to have a list to check things off when they are done. Sometimes I write something down after I have done it, just so I can check it off! That way, at least something is checked off - most stuff I write down to do, doesn't get done!

Anyone else out there like that? Comment and let me know.

NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quoted in the "08-27 Brief" of the Patriot Post (see link in sidebar):

“One of the most dramatic changes in American life in the years since World War II involves the way we raise our children. We used to do it ourselves. Now, convinced we have better things to do, many of us leave the job to others. Encouraging this flight from parenthood, Sen. Barack Obama... has proposed what he calls his ‘Zero to Five’ plan. It is a collection of programs aimed at getting the government involved in the raising of your children from the moment they are born. ‘The first part of my plan focuses on providing quality affordable early childhood education to every child in America,’ Obama said... ‘As president, I will launch a Children’s First Agenda that provides care, learning and support to families with children ages zero to five.’ ‘We’ll create Early Learning Grants to help states create a system of high-quality early care and education for all young children and their families,’ he said. ‘And we’ll help more working parents find a safe, affordable place to leave their children during the day by improving the educational quality of our childcare programs and increasing the childcare tax credit.’ This week, Obama upped his ante by vowing to ‘double funding for after-school programs that help children learn and give parents relief.’ Obama, of course, will also continue to defend your ‘right’ to hire a physician to kill your child in utero so you won’t have to raise the child at all.” —Terence Jeffrey

My comment: KEEP THE GOVERNMENT'S FILTHY HANDS OFF OF MY KIDS!

Global Cooling on the way????

Very interesting.......


IBDeditorials.com: Editorials, Political Cartoons, and Polls from Investor's Business Daily -- The Sun Also Sets

Gun Control

Received this in an email:

40 Reasons for Gun Control 1. Banning guns works, which is why New York, DC, & Chicago cops need guns. 2. Washington DC's low murder rate of 69 per 100,000 is due to strict gun control, and Indianapolis' high murder rate of 9 per 100,000 is due to the lack of gun control. 3. Statistics showing high murder rates justify gun control but statistics showing increasing murder rates after gun control are "just statistics." 4. The Brady Bill and the Assault Weapons Ban, both of which went into effect in 1994 are responsible for the decrease in violent crime rates, which have been declining since 1991. 5. We must get rid of guns because a deranged lunatic may go on a shooting spree at any time and anyone who would own a gun out of fear of such a lunatic is paranoid. 6. The more helpless you are the safer you are from criminals. 7. An intruder will be incapacitated by tear gas or oven spray, but if shot with a .357 Magnum will get angry and kill you. 8. A woman raped and strangled is morally superior to a woman with a smoking gun and a dead rapist at her feet. 9. When confronted by violent criminals, you should "put up no defense -- give them what they want, or run" (Handgun Control Inc. Chairman Pete Shields, Guns Don't Die - People Do, 1981, p.125). 10. The New England Journal of Medicine is filled with expert advice about guns; just like Guns & Ammo has some excellent treatises on heart surgery. 11. One should consult an automotive engineer for safer seat belts, a civil engineer for a better bridge, a surgeon for internal medicine, a computer programmer for hard drive problems, and Sarah Brady for firearms expertise. 12. The 2nd Amendment, ratified in 1787, refers to the National Guard, which was created 130 years later, in 1917. 13. The National Guard, federally funded, with bases on federal land, using federally-owned weapons, vehicles, buildings and uniforms, punishing trespassers under federal law, is a "state" militia. 14. These phrases: "right of the people peaceably to assemble," "right of the people to be secure in their homes," "enumeration's herein of certain rights shall not be construed to disparage others retained by the people," and "The powers not delegated herein are reserved to the states respectively, and to the people" all refer to individuals, but "the right of the people to keep and bear arm" refers to the state. 15. "The Constitution is strong and will never change." But we should ban and seize all guns thereby violating the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Amendments to that Constitution. 16. Rifles and handguns aren't necessary to national defense! Of course, the army has hundreds of thousands of them. 17. Private citizens shouldn't have handguns, because they aren't "military weapons", but private citizens shouldn't have "assault rifles", because they are military weapons. 18. In spite of waiting periods, background checks, finger printing, government forms, etc., guns today are too readily available, which is responsible for recent school shootings. In the 1940's, 1950's and 1960's, anyone could buy guns at hardware stores, army surplus stores, gas stations, variety stores, Sears mail order, no waiting, no background check, no fingerprints, no government forms and there were no school shootings. 19. The NRA's attempt to run a "don't touch" campaign about kids handling guns is propaganda, but the anti-gun lobby's attempt to run a "don't touch" campaign is responsible social activity. 20. Guns are so complex that special training is necessary to use them properly, and so simple to use that they make murder easy. 21. A handgun, with up to 4 controls, is far too complex for the typical adult to learn to use, as opposed to an automobile that only has 20. 22. Women are just as intelligent and capable as men but a woman with a gun is "an accident waiting to happen" and gun makers' advertisements aimed at women are "preying on their fears." 23. Ordinary people in the presence of guns turn into slaughtering butchers but revert to normal when the weapon is removed. 24. Guns cause violence, which is why there are so many mass killings at gun shows. 25. A majority of the population supports gun control, just like a majority of the population supported owning slaves. 26. Any self-loading small arm can legitimately be considered to be a "weapon of mass destruction" or an "assault weapon." 27. Most people can't be trusted, so we should have laws against guns, which most people will abide by because they can be trusted. 28. The right of Internet pornographers to exist cannot be questioned because it is constitutionally protected by the Bill of Rights, but the use of handguns for self defense is not really protected by the Bill of Rights. 29. Free speech entitles one to own newspapers, transmitters, computers, and typewriters, but self-defense only justifies bare hands. 30. The ACLU is good because it uncompromisingly defends certain parts of the Constitution, and the NRA is bad, because it defends other parts of the Constitution. 31. Charlton Heston, a movie actor as president of the NRA is a cheap lunatic who should be ignored, but Michael Douglas, a movie actor as a representative of Handgun Control, Inc. is an ambassador for peace who is entitled to an audience at the UN arms control summit. 32. Police operate with backup within groups, which is why they need larger capacity pistol magazines than do "civilians" who must face criminals alone and therefore need less ammunition. 33. We should ban "Saturday Night Specials" and other inexpensive guns because it's not fair that poor people have access to guns too. 34. Police officers have some special Jedi-like mastery over hand guns that private citizens can never hope to obtain. 35. Private citizens don't need a gun for self-protection because the police are there to protect them even though the Supreme Court says the police are not responsible for their protection. 36. Citizens don't need to carry a gun for personal protection but police chiefs, who are desk-bound administrators who work in a building filled with cops, need a gun. 37. "Assault weapons" have no purpose other than to kill large numbers of people. The police need assault weapons. You do not. 38. When Microsoft pressures its distributors to give Microsoft preferential promotion, that's bad; but when the Federal government pressures cities to buy guns only from Smith & Wesson, that's good. 39. Trigger locks do not interfere with the ability to use a gun for defensive purposes, which is why you see police officers with one on their duty weapon. 40. Handgun Control, Inc. says they want to "keep guns out of the wrong hands." Guess what? You have the wrong hands.