Hug a Veteran This Memorial Day…My Personal Tribute

Originally posted on November 11, 2011, for Veteran’s Day, I cannot improve on this.  Thus, at the risk of self-aggrandizement, which would be truly ironic given the nature of this post, I present it for your edification again.

~~~

 

We call them the Greatest Generation. They fought what was probably the last war in which moral clarity was not attacked and eroded by the enemy within, at least not to the extent to which is done today. In many cases they were barely out of high school, and lied about their age to get in, driven by a sense of duty to country that has become an endangered species in many places these days. (I thank God for the many who still have it and are now in uniform or preparing to put one on.)

History tells us of the tremendous toll paid by these young men, both in the lives given in the ultimate sacrifice, and all too frequently in the havoc wrought upon the lives of those whose souls were maimed by the carnage they witnessed and in which the enemy made necessary for them to participate. Yet because they had moral clarity in their day, they acknowledge with both their words and their deeds that the defense of liberty is worth such a cost. Our world is fallen and evil is present, definable, and represented by individuals and groups within the human race despite what your liberal “multiculti” teachers may have tried to tell you.

I have always respected and held the veterans of this conflict (and any other conflict) in high esteem, being an avid student of the history of WWII, but had never had the opportunity to know any such very closely. That changed in November of 2008 when I met my step-father for the first time since he married my mother three years earlier. My step-father was 86 years old at the time and had been in the U.S. Army Air Corp. (later to become the U.S. Air Force) during WWII as an aerial photographer. At age 19, he apparently had no problem hanging out of bomb bay doors during bombing runs to get the necessary surveillance pictures with nothing but a buddy sitting on his legs to keep him from plummeting out with the rest of the payload.

He is also a survivor of Iwo Jima.

Iwo Jima. The words should immediately remind the student of history of the famous flag raising. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific campaign. He was in the second wave and so missed the worst of the initial assault. But he saw his share of blood and body parts and lost his share of friends and buddies. When asked for some of his war stories, he broke down in tears only once during his brief visit with us. Most of the time, and indeed, throughout most of his life since the war, he has been one of those who adjusted back into civilian life with the strength of God’s grace and the American spirit. His sense of humor was alive, active, and put you ROFLOL without resorting to crudity or vulgarity. My mother was blessed to have had God’s providence bring this man to her, and I am honored to have called him my step-father.

And this honorable man was very distressed by what he saw going on in this country today. That distress was primarily caused by the fact that he saw the freedoms for which he fought and for which his friends died being surrendered to the onslaught of leftist liberalism more and more each day. He was incensed at the Democrat’s defeatism in the war on terrorism, and he was appalled by the gutless wonders on both sides of the aisle who cannot see beyond their own personal power struggle to the real dangers in the world threatening our country and, indeed, the entire world.

The astute reader will have noticed that all the verbs in the above description of this man are in the past tense.  Saturday night, February 19, 2011, at about 11:00 PM, my step-father (I’ll call him Joe) received his final wish and was ushered into the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Like Jacob/Israel of old, he was able to have last words with each of his children and loved ones, and then was “gathered to his people.”  I have no doubt that he will hear those words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of thy Lord!”

You see, although my personal relationship was carried out almost entirely by long distance phone calls, in the same way astronomers deduce the presence of a planet by its effects on other heavenly bodies, so Joe’s character could be readily deduced by its impact on the lives of others, and most notably on that of my Mom.

I did have that one opportunity to observe Joe firsthand when they were eventually able to visit us, and in that short time, I truly grew to love and respect this gentle giant. (And by giant, I don’t mean in stature but in Christian integrity.) His sense of humor was infectious, his faith in his God triumphant, and his care for my Mom obvious. How could I not love this man? It was with no difficulty at all, and the very truth, that I shook his hand as they were leaving and told him point blank that I was proud to call him “Dad.”

That pride was even more reinforced by my phone calls with my Mom and Joe in the ensuing years. The joy and happiness, in the Lord and not in frivolous things, that Joe inspired in my Mom was such a blessing to observe. I was constantly challenged by the calm acceptance of the physical pain he endured as his body succumbed to age but his spirit clung to the truths of Scripture and rejoiced in the Lord regardless, truly a living lesson in Philippians 4 (the whole chapter!) attitudes.

The strength I’ve seen in my Mom in the last months leading up to his graduation as Joe’s health declined and he was hospitalized is a direct reflection of the spiritual life Joe nurtured in her, and while I weep over the events that have required the utilization of that strength those last days, I rejoice that my Mom has had that strength at her disposal planted in her from her time with her husband.

So, yes, I know my step-father is now enjoying his rest from pain and his audience with his Lord. May I find the same strength of character and follow in his footsteps to the foot of the same cross of our Lord and Savior. Amen.

~~~

As a measure of the character of the man and those like him, I give you a short piece he wrote last Veteran’s Day that was published in their local paper regarding the meaning of that day.

Army Air Forces, World War II
November 11, 2010

I am an Iwo Jima survivor, and Veterans Day to me represents the sacrifices our men and women endured during the wars.

As a combat veteran, I am appalled as to what is happening to the freedom that was bought by the lives of all servicemen and women. It seems that those in power have totally forgotten what our Constitution stands for and the oath that they swore to uphold. They should be ashamed of what they are doing in Washington.

Recently I had the honor to visit Arlington National Cemetery. I stood in awe of the many graves that represent the price paid for the freedoms we enjoy.

Please, each and every president, senator and congressman, visit this hallowed place, examine yourselves and honor those brave men and women by standing up for what you once swore to uphold. Be not a Democrat or Republican or independent, but be an honest and truthful public servant. God bless and save America.

 

So am I going anywhere with this? The writer of the book of Hebrews captures the thought: “Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.”  (Heb 12:4) In 2008, the GOP had its head handed to it on a platter…again. Yet, as the polls and pundits repeatedly said, conservatism did not lose, the GOP that abandoned conservatism lost. Still, the pragmatic outcome was that conservatism was in the back seat watching someone else drive the car, and they appeared to be driving it towards a cliff.

We are that much closer to the cliff’s edge today, and we have another opportunity to do something about it in the upcoming election.  If we are to prevent the car from being driven off the cliff, we cannot sit back and enjoy the ride, pointing fingers at each other and everyone else. Let us learn from the Greatest Generation that there are some things worth fighting for, and that our liberties fall into that category. Duty and honor require it of us now as it did then for the Greatest Generation.

 

While I’m not a fan of “rock” music, the power of music in this video helps transmit the message with clarity, the sentiment is on target and the various comparisons made throughout give a sobering reality check for those who think otherwise.

 

 

Here’s another classic that speaks volumes and is well worth the time to watch it all:

 

And truly let us not forget…

 

Don’t forget what this weekend really stands for…

Hint:  it’s not the barbecue, but the freedom to have a barbecue at all.

 

He is Risen!

 

 

He is risen indeed!

The Bottom of the Abyss Beckons

Unless you’ve been living under a rock in Outer Mongolia somewhere, you have to at least be aware of the latest movie sensation sweeping the country and setting records everywhere, to wit, The Hunger Games.  Probably one of the clearest measures of the state of health of a culture is that with which it chooses to entertain itself.  The basis of this assertion is the observation that is best formulated in the form of a question:  if you wouldn’t do it yourself, why be entertained by it?

Sadly, this movie strongly suggests we are so close to the bottom of the abyss of depravity that the sudden stop at the end is imminent.

Why would I utter such a scathing criticism when everyone else, or so it would seem, is brimming over with praise?  The fact that someone would have to ask the question is a condemnation of the desensitization of our culture in general, and of the individuals in particular that comprise that culture.

The key question:  What is the core, the essence of the plot?  What is drawing such crowds?  Plain and simple, it is teens murdering teens.

You can gush over how they don’t emphasize the blood and gore all you want…it’s still teens murdering teens.

You can pontificate all you want over the alleged redeeming qualities, or the profound political statements, or the dystopian setting of the film, or the heroine’s undaunted courage in the face of such adversity…it’s still teens murdering teens.

And you want to be entertained by it?!?

Note:  lest you think I am being hypocritical, all my comments are based on the various and sundry commentaries and movie reviews and other such news stories that have bubbled to the surface on the web lately.  I have not seen the movie nor read the book(s), nor do I plan to do so.  There is more than sufficient material in these reviews to render viewing the film unnecessary to the formation of a judgment.  And I choose to make a statement in not being entertained by a movie that glorifies teens murdering teens.  If you have chosen otherwise, that is your prerogative, but I would seriously ask you to evaluate your reasons for doing so, the consequences of having done so, and what it says about you that this is how you choose to be entertained.  Consider, one honest youngster actually responded to a reporter’s question about what he thought about the movie with something like, “I think I’ll have nightmares.”  (Sorry, I forgot to save the link; I didn’t know I’d be writing this at the time.)

It should also cause some consternation that even secular authorities are voicing concern over whether or not the film is appropriate for the alleged target audience.  That is a discussion one rarely sees.

Now, I would further call your attention to the slippery slope into depravity that God describes for us in Romans chapter one and ask you to briefly consider, if you will, where we are in the progression described there relative to this issue and this movie.

Step one:  Suppressing the truth – 1:18-23

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man–and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Lest you object that you don’t worship idols, we still have gods made in the image of man and by man…just check your TV and news media.  Our current MSM does bow down to the One in more ways than one.  An idol does not have to be some statue to which you bow down.  It can be anything from the almighty dollar to Globaloney Warming to evolution.  Anything that replaces the Creator God from His rightful position of unique supremacy in your life.

The fruit of this first step?  Futile thoughts, foolish and dark hearts.  Self-profession of wisdom while totally missing the boat on even the most basic things of life.  Sound at all familiar?

Step two:  heterosexual immorality – 1:24-25

Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

We saw this at the end of the 20^th century in an overabundance and still see it today.  It is the next fruit of self-worship in which self-gratification is the highest goal.

Step three:  homosexual immorality – 1:26-27

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.  Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

No, it is not the most wicked of sins, but it is still sin.  And don’t blather about love and how all love is OK and isn’t God all about love and aren’t we supposed to love one another.  Those who do so simply show an ignorance of magnanimous proportions regarding the topic and the Bible.  How do I know?  One verse points out the flaw in their logic (if logic it be):  1 Corinthians 13:6:

[Love] does not rejoice in iniquity [lit., lawlessness], but rejoices in the truth;

The militantly aggressive agenda of the homosexual activists goes well beyond a simple protection from persecution to a forcing of their worldview upon all.  And please don’t hyperventilate and obfuscate into the tactic of trying to call this hate speech.  Disagreement is not hate, pure and simple, and no, you cannot redefine the language to suit yourself.

More could be said here, and maybe I will sometime later.

Step four:  a debased mind that issues forth in a depravity that permeates all aspects of life – 1:28-32

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

This is the bottom of the barrel.  I invite you to hold up the newspaper (or the computer screen as the case is more often these days) to this list.  Look at it carefully.  And more relevant to this post, hold this list up to the movie we are talking about here.  (Hint:  check out the words highlighted in red.)

Notice how these verses close.  Not only is pleasure taken in the practice of such depraved behavior, but these individuals encourage one another in their depravity, patting each other on the back for their liberality of life.  They are in for a rude awakening when they do finally meet their Maker!

What is God’s judgment for such people?  Aside from what we can glean in the above, we have, for example, Isaiah 5:20:

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Our entire cultural milieu has become toxic for biblical godliness by attempting all too successfully to adopt this Doublethink and Newspeak.  The evidence is before your eyes in just about every day’s news.

For those who are Christians, who mourn over the sin of our country (and I’m talking about much more than our current administration at the Federal level), we would do well to remember a principle of life that God repeatedly puts forth implicitly and explicitly from Genesis through Revelation.  It is a principle liberals hate, but their hate is impotent (see Psalm 2, especially verse 4).  It won’t stop this because neither God nor reality really care about what they feel.  You will find one of the more explicit statements of this principle in Galations 6:7, where we read:

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Yes, the abyss beckons…in more ways than one.  Are you prepared?

Unprecedented

Whatever you may think about David Barton, he knows how to do research.  You may not like what he finds, but seeing the record all in one place is certainly revelatory.  The inability of the left to deal with the second clause of the first amendment (“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;…”) finds its complementary position in the hostility of our present POTUS to any of the Biblically based faith systems as documented below.  This record should make any “tolerance loving” liberal cringe.  Alas, the liberal capacity for Doublethink will most likely render that response a non sequitor for their worldview despite its positive potential to generate cognitive dissonance in the normal rational mind.

Yet another reason this upcoming election must result in anyone but “The One” in the Oval Office.

 

America’s Most Biblically-Hostile U. S. President

by David Barton

When one observes President Obama’s unwillingness to accommodate America’s four-century long religious conscience protection through his attempts to require Catholics to go against their own doctrines and beliefs, one is tempted to say that he is anti-Catholic. But that characterization would not be correct. Although he has recently singled out Catholics, he has equally targeted traditional Protestant beliefs over the past four years. So since he has attacked Catholics and Protestants, one is tempted to say that he is anti-Christian. But that, too, would be inaccurate. He has been equally disrespectful in his appalling treatment of religious Jews in general and Israel in particular. So perhaps the most accurate description of his antipathy toward Catholics, Protestants, religious Jews, and the Jewish nation would be to characterize him as anti-Biblical. And then when his hostility toward Biblical people of faith is contrasted with his preferential treatment of Muslims and Muslim nations, it further strengthens the accuracy of the anti-Biblical descriptor. In fact, there have been numerous clearly documented times when his pro-Islam positions have been the cause of his anti-Biblical actions.

Listed below in chronological order are (1) numerous records of his attacks on Biblical persons or organizations; (2) examples of the hostility toward Biblical faith that have become evident in the past three years in the Obama-led military; (3) a listing of his open attacks on Biblical values; and finally (4) a listing of numerous incidents of his preferential deference for Islam’s activities and positions, including letting his Islamic advisors guide and influence his hostility toward people of Biblical faith.

1. Acts of hostility toward people of Biblical faith:

• April 2008 – Obama speaks disrespectfully of Christians, saying they “cling to guns or religion” and have an “antipathy to people who aren’t like them” ¹
• February 2009 – Obama announces plans to revoke conscience protection for health workers who refuse to participate in medical activities that go against their beliefs, and fully implements the plan in February 2011. ²
• April 2009 – When speaking at Georgetown University, Obama orders that a monogram symbolizing Jesus’ name be covered when he is making his speech. ³
• May 2009 – Obama declines to host services for the National Prayer Day (a day established by federal law) at the White House. ⁴
• April 2009 – In a deliberate act of disrespect, Obama nominated three pro-abortion ambassadors to the Vatican; of course, the pro-life Vatican rejected all three. ⁵
• October 19, 2010 – Obama begins deliberately omitting the phrase about “the Creator” when quoting the Declaration of Independence – an omission he has made on no less than seven occasions. ⁶
• November 2010 – Obama misquotes the National Motto, saying it is “E pluribus unum” rather than “In God We Trust” as established by federal law. ⁷
• January 2011 – After a federal law was passed to transfer a WWI Memorial in the Mojave Desert to private ownership, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled that the cross in the memorial could continue to stand, but the Obama administration refused to allow the land to be transferred as required by law, and refused to allow the cross to be re-erected as ordered by the Court. ⁸
• February 2011 – Although he filled posts in the State Department, for more than two years Obama did not fill the post of religious freedom ambassador, an official that works against religious persecution across the world; he filled it only after heavy pressure from the public and from Congress. ⁹
• April 2011 – For the first time in American history, Obama urges passage of a non-discrimination law that does not contain hiring protections for religious groups, forcing religious organizations to hire according to federal mandates without regard to the dictates of their own faith, thus eliminating conscience protection in hiring. ¹⁰
• August 2011 – The Obama administration releases its new health care rules that override religious conscience protections for medical workers in the areas of abortion and contraception. ¹¹
• November 2011 – Obama opposes inclusion of President Franklin Roosevelt’s famous D-Day Prayer in the WWII Memorial. ¹²
  November 2011 – Unlike previous presidents, Obama studiously avoids any religious references in his Thanksgiving message. ¹³
• December 2011 – The Obama administration denigrates other countries’ religious beliefs as an obstacle to radical homosexual rights. ¹⁴
• January 2012 – The Obama administration argues that the First Amendment provides no protection for churches and synagogues in hiring their pastors and rabbis. ¹⁵
• February 2012 – The Obama administration forgives student loans in exchange for public service, but announces it will no longer forgive student loans if the public service is related to religion. ¹⁶

2. Acts of hostility from the Obama-led military toward people of Biblical faith:

• June 2011 – The Department of Veterans Affairs forbids references to God and Jesus during burial ceremonies at Houston National Cemetery. ¹⁷
• August 2011 – The Air Force stops teaching the Just War theory to officers in California because the course is taught by chaplains and is based on a philosophy introduced by St. Augustine in the third century AD – a theory long taught by civilized nations across the world (except America). ¹⁸
• September 2011 – Air Force Chief of Staff prohibits commanders from notifying airmen of programs and services available to them from chaplains. ¹⁹
• September 2011 – The Army issues guidelines for Walter Reed Medical Center stipulating that “No religious items (i.e. Bibles, reading materials and/or facts) are allowed to be given away or used during a visit.” ²⁰
• November 2011 – The Air Force Academy rescinds support for Operation Christmas Child, a program to send holiday gifts to impoverished children across the world, because the program is run by a Christian charity. ²¹
• November 2011 – The Air Force Academy pays $80,000 to add a Stonehenge-like worship center for pagans, druids, witches and Wiccans. ²²
• February 2012 – The U. S. Military Academy at West Point disinvites three star Army general and decorated war hero Lieutenant General William G. (“Jerry”) Boykin (retired) from speaking at an event because he is an outspoken Christian. ²³
• February 2012 – The Air Force removes “God” from the patch of Rapid Capabilities Office (the word on the patch was in Latin: Dei). ²⁴
• February 2012 – The Army orders Catholic chaplains not to read a letter to parishioners that their archbishop asked them to read. ²⁵

3. Acts of hostility toward Biblical values:

• January 2009 – Obama lifts restrictions on U.S. government funding for groups that provide abortion services or counseling abroad, forcing taxpayers to fund pro-abortion groups that either promote or perform abortions in other nations. ²⁶
• January 2009 – President Obama’s nominee for deputy secretary of state asserts that American taxpayers are required to pay for abortions and that limits on abortion funding are unconstitutional. ²⁷
• March 2009 – The Obama administration shut out pro-life groups from attending a White House-sponsored health care summit. ²⁸
• March 2009 – Obama orders taxpayer funding of embryonic stem cell research. ²⁹
• March 2009 – Obama gave $50 million for the UNFPA, the UN population agency that promotes abortion and works closely with Chinese population control officials who use forced abortions and involuntary sterilizations. ³⁰
• May 2009 – The White House budget eliminates all funding for abstinence-only education and replaces it with “comprehensive” sexual education, repeatedly proven to increase teen pregnancies and abortions. ³¹
  He continues the deletion in subsequent budgets. ³²
• May 2009 – Obama officials assemble a terrorism dictionary calling pro-life advocates violent and charging that they use racism in their “criminal” activities. ³³
• July 2009 – The Obama administration illegally extends federal benefits to same-sex partners of Foreign Service and Executive Branch employees, in direction violation of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. ³⁴
• September 16, 2009 – The Obama administration appoints as EEOC Commissioner Chai Feldblum, who asserts that society should “not tolerate” any “private beliefs,” including religious beliefs, if they may negatively affect homosexual “equality.” ³⁵
• July 2010 – The Obama administration uses federal funds in violation of federal law to get Kenya to change its constitution to include abortion. ³⁶
• August 2010 – The Obama administration Cuts funding for 176 abstinence education programs. ³⁷
• September 2010 – The Obama administration tells researchers to ignore a judge’s decision striking down federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. ³⁸
• February 2011 – Obama directs the Justice Department to stop defending the federal Defense of Marriage Act. ³⁹
• March 2011 – The Obama administration refuses to investigate videos showing Planned Parenthood helping alleged sex traffickers get abortions for victimized underage girls. ⁴⁰
• July 2011 – Obama allows homosexuals to serve openly in the military, reversing a policy originally instituted by George Washington in March 1778. ⁴¹
• September 2011 – The Pentagon directs that military chaplains may perform same-sex marriages at military facilities in violation of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. ⁴²
• October 2011 – The Obama administration eliminates federal grants to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for their extensive programs that aid victims of human trafficking because the Catholic Church is anti-abortion. ⁴³

4. Acts of preferentialism for Islam:

• May 2009 – While Obama does not host any National Day of Prayer event at the White House, he does host White House Iftar dinners in honor of Ramadan. ⁴⁴
• April 2010 – Christian leader Franklin Graham is disinvited from the Pentagon’s National Day of Prayer Event because of complaints from the Muslim community. ⁴⁵
• April 2010 – The Obama administration requires rewriting of government documents and a change in administration vocabulary to remove terms that are deemed offensive to Muslims, including jihad, jihadists, terrorists, radical Islamic, etc. ⁴⁶
• August 2010 – Obama speaks with great praise of Islam and condescendingly of Christianity. ⁴⁷
• August 2010 – Obama went to great lengths to speak out on multiple occasions on behalf of building an Islamic mosque at Ground Zero, while at the same time he was silent about a Christian church being denied permission to rebuild at that location. ⁴⁸
• 2010 – While every White House traditionally issues hundreds of official proclamations and statements on numerous occasions, this White House avoids traditional Biblical holidays and events but regularly recognizes major Muslim holidays, as evidenced by its 2010 statements on Ramadan, Eid-ul-Fitr, Hajj, and Eid-ul-Adha. ⁴⁹
• October 2011 – Obama’s Muslim advisers block Middle Eastern Christians’ access to the White House. ⁵⁰
• February 2012 – The Obama administration makes effulgent apologies for Korans being burned by the U. S. military, ⁵¹ but when Bibles were burned by the military, numerous reasons were offered why it was the right thing to do. ⁵²

Many of these actions are literally unprecedented – this is the first time they have happened in four centuries of American history. The hostility of President Obama toward Biblical faith and values is without equal from any previous American president.

---

Endnotes
1. Sarah Pulliam Baily, "Obama: ‘They cling to guns or religion’," Christianity Today, April 13, 2008 (at:http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2008/04/obama_they_clin.html).
2.Aliza Marcus, "Obama to Lift ‘Conscience’ Rule for Health Workers," Bloomburg, February 27, 2009 (at:http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a6GWyHUjvpn0); Sarah Pulliam Baily, "Obama Admin. Changes Bush ‘Conscience’ Rule for Health Workers," Christianity Today, February 18, 2011 (at:http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctpolitics/2011/02/obama_admin_eli.html).
3.Jim Lovino, "Jesus Missing From Obama’s Georgetown Speech," NBC Washington, April 17, 2009 (at:http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Jesus-Missing-From-Obamas-Georgetown-Speech.html).
4.Johanna Neuman, “Obama end Bush-era National Prayer Day Service at Whit House, Los Angeles Times, May 7, 2009 (at: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/05/obama-cancels-national-prayer-day-service.html).
5.Chris McGreal, “Vatican vetoes Barack Obama’s nominees for U.S. Ambassador,” The Guardian, April 14, 2009 (at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/14/vatican-vetoes-obama-nominees-abortion).
6. Meredith Jessup, “Obama Continues to Omit ‘Creator’ From Declaration of Independence,” The Blaze, October 19, 2010 (at: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/obama-continues-to-omit-creator-from-declaration-of-independence/).
7. “Obama Mocks Congress For ‘In God We Trust’ Motto Vote, Ignoring Jobs Bill,” Huffington Post, November 2, 2011 (at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/02/obama-mocks-congress-in-god-we-trust-jobs-bill_n_1072497.html).
8. LadyImpactOhio, "Feds sued by Veterans to allow stolen Mojave Desert Cross to be rebuilt," Red State, January 14, 2011 (at: http://www.redstate.com/ladyimpactohio/2011/01/14/feds-sued-by-veterans-to-allow-stolen-mojave-desert-cross-to-be-rebuilt/).
9. Marrianne Medlin, “Amid criticism, President Obama moves to fill vacant religious ambassador post,” Catholic News Agency, February 9, 2011 (at: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/amid-criticism-president-obama-moves-to-fill-vacant-religious-ambassador-post/); Thomas F. Farr, “Undefender of the Faith,” Foreign Policy, April 5, 2012 (at: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/04/05/undefender_of_the_faith).
10.Chris Johnson, “ENDA passage effort renewed with Senate introduction,” Washington Blad, April 15, 2011 (at:http://www.washingtonblade.com/2011/04/15/enda-passage-effort-renewed-with-senate-introduction/).
11. Chuck Donovan, “HHS’s New Health Guidelines Trample on Conscience,” Heritage Foundation, August 2, 2011 (at: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2011/08/hhss-new-health-guidelines-trample-on-conscience).
12. Todd Starns, “Obama Administration Opposes FDR Prayer at WWII Memorial,” Fox News, November 4, 2011 (at: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/11/04/obama-administration-opposes-fdr-prayer-at-wwii-memorial/?cmpid=NL_FNTopHeadlines_20111104).
13. Joel Siegel, “Obama Omits God From Thanksgiving Speech, Riles Critics,” ABC News, November 25, 2011 (at:http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/obama-omits-god-thanksgiving-address-riles-critics/story?id=15028644).
14. Hillary Rodham Clinton, “Remarks in Recognition of International Human Rights Day,” U.S. Department of State, December 6, 2011 (at: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2011/12/178368.htm).
15. Ted Olson, “Church Wins Firing Case at Supreme Court,” Christianity Today, January 11, 2012 (at: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/article_print.html?id=94909).
16.Audrey Hudson, “Obama administration religious service for student loan forgiveness,” Human Events, February 15, 2012 (at: http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=49551).
17.“Houston Veterans Claim Censorship of Prayers, Including Ban of ‘God’ and ‘Jesus’,” Fox News, June 29, 2011(at: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/06/29/houston-veterans-claim-censorship-prayers-ban-on-god-and-jesus/).
18.Jason Ukman, “Air Force suspends ethics course that used Bible passages that train missle launch officers,”Washington Post, August 2, 2011 (at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/checkpoint-washington/post/air-force-suspends-ethics-course-that-used-bible-passages-to-train-missile-launch-officers/2011/08/02/gIQAv6V2pI_blog.html).
19. "Maintaining Government Neutrality Regarding Religion," Department of the Air Force, September 1, 2011 (at:http://forbes.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Gen_Schwartz_Letter_Religion_Neutralilty.pdf).
20. "Wounded, Ill, and Injured Partners in Care Guidelines," Department of the Navy (at:http://forbes.house.gov/UploadedFiles/WalterReedMemo.pdf).
21. "Air Force Academy Backs Away from Christmas Charity," Fox News Radio, November 4, 2011 (at:http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/air-force-academy-backs-away-from-christmas-charity.html).
22. Jenny Dean, "Air Force Academy adapts to pagans, druids, witches and Wiccans," Los Angeles Times, November 26, 2011 (at: http://articles.latimes.com/2011/nov/26/nation/la-na-air-force-pagans-20111127).
23. Ken Blackwell, "Gen. Boykin Blocked At West Point," cnsnews.com, February 1, 2012 (at:http://cnsnews.com/node/508665).
24. Geoff Herbert, "Air Force unit removes ‘God’ from logo; lawmakers warn of ‘dangerous precedent’," syracuse.com, February 9, 2012 (at:http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/02/air_force_rco_removes_god_logo_patch.html).
25. Todd Starnes, "Army Silences Catholic Chaplains," Fox News Radio, February 6, 2012 (at:http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/army-silences-catholic-chaplains.html).
26. Jeff Mason and Deborah Charles, "Obama lifts restrictions on abortion funding," Reuters, January 23, 2009 (at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/01/23/us-obama-abortion-idUSTRE50M3PQ20090123).
27. "Obama pick: Taxpayers must fund abortions," World Net Daily, January 27, 2009 (at:http://www.wnd.com/2009/01/87249/).
28. Steven Ertelt, "Pro-Life Groups Left Off Obama’s Health Care Summit List, Abortion Advocates OK," LifeNews, March 5, 2009 (at: http://www.lifenews.com/2009/03/05/nat-4888/).
29. "Obama Signs Order Lifting Restrictions on Stem Cell Research Funding," Fox News, March 9, 2009 (at:http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/09/obama-signs-order-lifting-restrictions-stem-cell-research-funding/).
30. Steven Ertelt, "President Barack Obama’s Pro-Abortion Record: A Pro-Life Compilation," LifeNews, February 11, 2012 (at: http://www.lifenews.com/2010/11/07/obamaabortionrecord/).
31. Steven Ertelt, "Barack Obama’s Federal Budget Eliminates Funding for Abstinence-Only Education," LifeNews, May 8, 2009 (at: http://www.lifenews.com/2009/05/08/nat-5032/).
32. Steven Ertelt, "Barack Obama’s Federal Budget Eliminates Funding for Abstinence-Only Education," LifeNews, May 8, 2009 (at: http://www.lifenews.com/2009/05/08/nat-5032/).
33. Steven Ertelt, "Obama Admin Terrorism Dictionary Calls Pro-Life Advocates Violent, Racist," LifeNews, May 5, 2009 (at: http://www.lifenews.com/2009/05/05/nat-5019/).
34. "Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies," The White House, June 17, 2009 (at:http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Memorandum-for-the-Heads-of-Executive-Departments-and-Agencies-on-Federal-Benefits-and-Non-Discrimination-6-17-09/).
35. Matt Cover, "Obama’s EEOC Nominee: Society Should ‘Not Tolerate Private Beliefs’ That ‘Adversely Affect’ Homosexuals," cnsnews.com, January 18, 2010 (at: http://cnsnews.com/node/59965).
36. Tess Civantos, "White House Spent $23M of Taxpayer Money to Back Kenyan Constitution That Legalizes Abortion, GOP Reps Say," Fox News, July 22, 2010 (at: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/07/21/gop-lawmaker-blasts-white-house-m-spent-kenya-constitution-vote/).
37. Steven Ertelt, "Obama, Congress Cut Funding for 176 Abstinence Programs Despite New Study," LifeNews, August 26, 2010 (at: http://www.lifenews.com/2010/08/26/nat-6659/).
38. Steven Ertelt, "President Barack Obama’s Pro-Abortion Record: A Pro-Life Compilation," LifeNews, February 11, 2012 (at: http://www.lifenews.com/2010/11/07/obamaabortionrecord/).
39. Brian Montopoli, "Obama administration will no longer defend DOMA," CBSNews, February 23, 2011 (at:http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20035398-503544.html).
40. Steven Ertelt, "Obama Admin Ignores Planned Parenthood Sex Trafficking Videos," LifeNews, March 2, 2011 (at: http://www.lifenews.com/2011/03/02/obama-admin-ignores-planned-parenthood-sex-trafficking-videos/).
41. Elisabeth Bumiller, "Obama Ends ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Policy," New York Times, July 22, 2011 (at:http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/23/us/23military.html?_r=2).
42. Luis Martinez, "Will Same Sex Marriages Pose a Dilemma for Military Chaplains?," ABC News, October 12, 2011 (at: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/10/will-same-sex-marriages-pose-a-dilemma-for-military-chaplains/).
43. Jerry Markon, "Health, abortion issues split Obama administration and Catholic groups," Washington Post, October 31, 2011 (at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/health-abortion-issues-split-obama-administration-catholic-groups/2011/10/27/gIQAXV5xZM_story.html).
44. Alexander Mooney, "President Obama marks Ramadan," CNN, August 1, 2011 (at:http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/01/president-obama-marks-ramadan/).
45. "Franklin Graham Regrets Army’s Decision to Rescind Invite to Pentagon Prayer Service," Fox News, April 22, 2010 (at: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/21/army-weighs-rescinding-invitation-evangelist/).
46.“Obama Bans Islam, Jihad From National Security Strategy Document,” Fox News, April 7, 2010 (at:http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/07/obama-bans-islam-jihad-national-security-strategy-document/); "Counterterror Adviser Defends Jihad as ‘Legitimate Tenet of Islam’," Fox News, May 27, 2010 (at:http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/05/27/counterterror-adviser-defends-jihad-legitimate-tenet-islam/); "’Islamic Radicalism’ Nixed From Obama Document," CBSNews, April 7, 2010 (at:http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/04/07/politics/main6371159.shtml).
47. Chuck Norris, "President Obama: Muslim Missionary?," Townhall.com, August 17, 2010 (at:http://townhall.com/columnists/chucknorris/2010/08/17/president_obama_muslim_missionary/page/full/).
48. "Obama Comes Out in Favor of Allowing Mosque Near Ground Zero," Fox News, August 13, 2010 (at:http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/13/obama-backs-mosque-near-ground-zero/); Pamela Geller, "Islamic Supremacism Trumps Christianity at Ground Zero," American Thinker, July 21, 2011 (at:http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/07/islamic_supremacism_trumps_christianity_at_ground_zero.html).
49. "WH Fails to Release Easter Proclamation," Fox Nation, April 25, 2011 (at:http://nation.foxnews.com/president-obama/2011/04/25/wh-fails-release-easter-proclamation); "President Obama ignores most holy Christian holiday; AFA calls act intentional," American Family Association (at:http://www.afa.net/Detail.aspx?id=2147505615) (accessed on February 29, 2012).
50. "Report: Obama’s Muslim Advisers Block Middle Eastern Christians’ Access to the White House," Big Peace (at: http://bigpeace.com/elcid/2011/10/25/obamas-muslim-advisers-block-middle-eastern-christians-access-to-the-white-house) (accessed on February 29, 2012).
51. "USA/Afghanistan-Islamophobia: Pentagon official apologizes for Quran burning," International Islamic News Agency (at: http://iina.me/wp_en/?p=1006994) (accessed on February 29, 2012).
52. "Military burns unsolicited Bibles sent to Afghanistan," CNN, May 22, 2009 (at:http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/05/20/us.military.bibles.burned/).

Another alleged contradiction bites the dust

Atheists and various and sundry other unbelievers like to say that the Bible is full of contradictions and errors.  Alas and forsooth for their worldview, it just tain’t so.  Here from the pages of Answers in Genesis is the solution to one such alleged error for your edification and enlightenment.  It is something that has also puzzled me, but utilizing proper inductive reasoning, one doesn’t throw out the baby with the bathwater.  (I.e., given the weight of all the evidence for the historicity, authenticity, and accuracy of the Bible, the inability to figure out one problem here or there does not invalidate the general claim to said historicity, authenticity, and accuracy.)  Be careful with whom you share this; we are not responsible for cranial implosions of any liberals who might read this!  The following comes from Dr. Tommy Mitchell over on said website:

The “Problem”

One of the most often cited “contradictions” in the Bible involves the lowly rabbit.¹ Does the Bible actually indicate that rabbits “chew the cud”? And if this is what Scripture says, then isn’t it in error?

Two places in the Bible include the hare among animals that chew the cud.

Among the animals, whatever divides the hoof, having cloven hooves and chewing the cud—that you may eat. Nevertheless these you shall not eat among those that chew the cud or those that have cloven hooves: the camel, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; the rock hyrax, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; the hare, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you. (Leviticus 11:3–6)

Nevertheless, of those that chew the cud or have cloven hooves, you shall not eat, such as these: the camel, the hare, and the rock hyrax; for they chew the cud but do not have cloven hooves; they are unclean for you. (Deuteronomy 14:7)

In the modern scientific classification system, animals that chew the cud are called ruminants. Cattle, sheep, deer, giraffes, and camels² are ruminants. Ruminants have four stomach compartments. They swallow their food into one stomach compartment where food is partially digested. Then the food is regurgitated back into the mouth, chewed again, and then swallowed into a different stomach compartment. This process is called rumination.

So is the Bible wrong? After all, rabbits are not ruminants.³ They do not have four-compartment stomachs. How can they “chew the cud”?

The Solution

Obviously, rabbits do not share the digestive anatomy of modern ruminants. However, to describe rabbits chewing the cud is not incorrect. Simply stated, it is not reasonable to accuse a 3500-year-old document of error because it does not adhere to a modern man-made classification system.

Consider what rabbits do. They engage in an activity called cecotrophy. Rabbits normally produce two kinds of feces, the more common hard feces as well as softer fecal pellets called cecotropes. Cecotropes are small pellets of partially digested food that are passed through the animal but are then reingested. As part of the normal digestive process, some partially digested food is concentrated in the cecum where it undergoes a degree of fermentation to form these cecotropes. They are then covered in mucin and passed through the anus. The rabbit ingests the cecotropes, which serve as a very important source of nutrition for the animal.

Is this the same as cud? In the final analysis, it is. Cud-chewing completes the digestion of partially digested food. Why would it be strange to think that centuries ago, the idea of “cud” had a somewhat broader meaning than a modern definition.

But does the rabbit actually chew the cud? The Hebrew word translated “chew” is the word ‘alah. With any attempt to translate one language to another, it is understood that there is often more than one meaning for a given word. A cursory glace at any Hebrew lexicon reveals that ‘alah can mean go up, ascend, climb, go up into, out of a place, depart, rise up, cause to ascend, bring up from, among others. Here it carries the implication of moving something from one place to another. So the phrase translated to English as “chew the cud” literally means something on the order of “eats that which is brought forth again.”

Also, most reference material on rabbit digestion says that the cecotrope pellet is swallowed whole and found intact in the rabbit stomach. However, experts have observed that rabbits keep the cecotrophe in the mouth for a time before swallowing.⁴ So even though the mucin membrane covering the cecotrope is not broken, the rabbit is able to knead it in its mouth before swallowing, possibly to enhance the process of redigestion.

Conclusion

So is the Bible in error here? No it is not. Rabbits re-ingest partially digested foods, as do modern ruminants. They just do so without the aid of multiple stomach compartments.

Footnotes

1. In the modern system of classification, there are differences between hares and rabbits. However, most Biblical creationists would consider them to be a part of the same created “kind.” For the sake of this discussion, “rabbit” will include both rabbits and hares.
2. By some modern classification systems, the camel, the llama, and the alpaca are actually “pseudo-ruminants” because they only have three stomach compartments.
3. Although rabbits and horses are not, by definition, ruminants, they are considered “hind-gut fermenters.” Similar fermentation takes place in the “rumen” compartment of the stomach during rumination. Of course, rabbits—but not horses—add reingestion of cecotrophs to this process.
4. R.M. Lockley, The Private Life of the Rabbit (Suffolk: The Boydell Press, 1964), 105.

Choices and Changes

Actually, this is not a political post despite what the title may have suggested in light of previous campaign slogans.  It is an information post regarding the future of this blog.  I’ve made no secret of the fact that blogging is merely a hobby and not an obsessive profession, or anything in between.  As life goes on, changes happen that force choices to be made in response.

Some of you may have noticed a decrease in the frequency in my visits to your blogs, and an even greater drop in the frequency of my own posts.  Moreover, the content of my posts has devolved to, in many cases, selected editorial cartoons with my commentary restricted to the title and perhaps a few choice words.  There is a reason.

I am approaching one of those significant life altering events with some twists and turns that are demanding more and more of my time and thought, as they should.  The situation may be briefly described in the following bullet points thus:

• my adult daughters have moved out not only of our house but out of state and are happily ensconced in South Carolina teaching at a Christian liberal arts university;
• my house is on the market here in Chicagoland (if you or anyone you know wants to move to the north suburbs of Chicago, they have my condolences, but by all means, put them in touch through my email);
• once my house sells, I will be retiring from my job of 25+ years as a research biochemist here in the land of Lincoln to join my daughters;
• where I actually already have a job awaiting me in the same university, if I can get there in a reasonable timeframe.

I trust y’all (practicing my Southern already) can see that this is introducing a modicum of stress into my life that squeezes out blogging at the quality level I try to achieve here at the Interface.  I hope to be able to continue as I have two series still to complete (one on Creation/Evolution and one on Christian apologetics, both of which are nearing their terminus), but my output at least for now must decrease.  And there are a few other considerations as well.  (Be forewarned, what follows is applied theology of a decidedly Christian nature.  Liberals are encouraged to inoculate themselves with whatever reality bender they normally use to ignore such information.)

Over on the top right of this blog, you will note that one of my goals for this blog is to be “like…the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…” (1 Chronicles 12:32).  Now I ask you, how did the sons of Issachar acquire this wisdom and insight, this understanding of the times?  They had no Internet, no TV, no radio, news was word of mouth and severely limited to what people could carry with them from point A to point B at the pace of how fast their donkey, camel, horse, or own two feet could travel.  The answer is actually not a great mystery if you are familiar with their primary textbook, the Old Testament of the Bible.  There we find:

Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.  You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me.  I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation.  I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts.   (Psalm 119:97-100 [NKJV])

Or consider:

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.  (Josh 1:8 [NKJV])

What is the prerequisite for success? for wisdom and understanding?  Daily meditation on God’s Word.  And for those who think this implies Bibliolatry (making an idol out of a book), realize you must incorporate the totality of Scripture (a finite volume so not an impossibility) into your model of reality with which you are trying to rationalize your own intransigence, cover your ignorance, or otherwise disagree (see my page on how to truly disagree intelligently).  For example, how else does one explain:

I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.  (Ps 138:2 [NKJV])

or

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.  More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.  Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.  (Ps 19:7-11 [NKJV])

God gave us His Word as an owner’s manual for His creation.  We are fools indeed to ignore it and use it as He prescribes.  What I’m trying to say here is that I personally need to be spending more time doing the above and less time surfing the web.  The providential circumstances imminent in my life require this of me if I am to meet the challenges coming my way in a gracious and efficient manner.

So…this post is a forewarning of things to come, or not come as the case may be.  I will still post here, and visit your sites as time allows.  Perhaps the best way to be sure to catch new material is to subscribe.  And future posts will probably be taking a more theological tack (although the interface of theology with life has always been a part of this blog).  If you have subscribed with my more political posts in mind and don’t want the theology, I will not be offended if you unsubscribe.  That said, I truly hope you will stay as anything I post I hope will be of some benefit to any readers thereof.

The real numbers

Hey, ACLU and all you other Bah Humbuggers out there! Merry Freakin’ Christmas to ya!

Yes, I am hoping someone at the ACLU is reading this!  The adrenal rush will do them good.

So to them (just to get what passes for their heart pumpin’ real good), and to the greater than 97% of Americans that are not offended by someone wishing them a Merry Christmas, including most Jews, and the majority of other normal (statistically and otherwise) people of this great country:

MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Now for those of you who never grew up and constantly take offense at others with different opinions from you so that you have to whine and complain and Bah-Humbug your way through this holiday (holy day) season, I offer the following:

From us ("the wishor") to you ("hereinafter called the wishee"):  Please accept without obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, politically correct, 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 persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all

… and a financially successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2011, but with due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures or sects whose contributions to society have helped make America great, (not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country or is the only "AMERICA" in the western hemisphere), and having regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, choice of computer platform or dietary preference of the wishee.

By accepting this greeting you are bound by these terms that-

• This greeting is subject to further clarification or withdrawal
• This greeting is freely transferable provided that no alteration shall be made to the original greeting and that the proprietary rights of the wishor are acknowledged.
• This greeting implies no promise by the wishor to actually implement any of the wishes.
• This greeting may not be enforceable in certain jurisdictions and/or the restrictions herein may not be binding upon certain wishees in certain jurisdictions and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wishor.
• This greeting is warranted to perform as reasonably may be expected within the usual application of good tidings, for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first.
• The wishor warrants this greeting only for the limited replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wishor
• Any references in this greeting to "the Lord", "Father Christmas", "Our Saviour", or any other festive figures, whether actual or fictitious, dead or alive, shall not imply any endorsement by or from them in respect of this greeting, and all proprietary rights in any referenced third party names and images are hereby acknowledged.

And for those who really want to know what this season is truly about:

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:1-14

P.S.

Blogging (both reading and writing) will be light to nonexistent due to vacation/holidays!  Sorry about that…(well not really)…see y’all next year!

A Theological Thought for a Monday – The measure of a person

(HT:  J.C.Ryle Quotes; emphases added)

You would do well to measure all people by God’s standard — to measure them not by the amount of their income — but by the condition of their souls. When the Lord God looks down from Heaven upon people, He takes no account of many things which are highly esteemed by the world. He looks not at a person’s money, or lands, or titles. He looks only at the state of their souls — and reckons them accordingly. Oh, that you would strive to do likewise! Oh, that you would value grace above titles, or intellect, or gold! Often, far too often, the only question asked about a person is, “How much is he worth?” It would be well for us all to remember that every person is pitiably poor — until he is rich in faith, and rich toward God.

~ J.C. Ryle

Tract: Riches and Poverty

 

(Suggested for further reading on this topic:  the About…Our Theology page here at the Interface.)