Who to Vote For - A Sinful Christian (Gingrich) or a Squeaky Clean Mormon (Romney)

We have quite a quandary here in the Republican primary. There are many candidates that are running any of which would be much better than the current occupant of the White House. However, the decision of which one to choose is very difficult. Santorum? Not quite there yet. Perry? More likable after his gaffes than before, but no. Cain? Very likable and seems to be a good person, but too much of an unknown especially when there are allegations swirling about. If only we knew more. Bachmann? Would make a good VP, but no way for President. Then we are left with only two real alternatives: Romney and Gingrich. 

Gingrich has major skeletons that have already left his closet. Third marriage? Wow! Left one when she was dying of cancer? Really? However, he is the most qualified and the most Presidential. He clearly has very good ideas and can convey them in an understandable why. He is the grown up. He would be a very good President. Christian? Yes. Sinner? Yes. Like us? Yes. We are all sinners that need a savior. Can we vote for him? Yes, but let's wait a while before making that decision. 

Romney on the other hand has been running for President for about six years now. He looks and acts quite Presidential and is a very good debater although that should not be a factor at all. He has good ideas, but his conservative pedigree is a little debatable. But the big one is that he is a Mormon. Yes this is a factor. It has to be. We are indeed in a post-Christian age when one's religion, or lack thereof as is the case of the current occupant, does not matter. But there are still enough old-fashioned Christians out there to make a difference. Do we really want someone in the White House who thinks he is going to be the god of his own planet. Now that is out there. Christian? No. Sinner? Yes even though he has less visible sins than most, but no redeemer. Pray for Romney that he will come to the truth. Vote for Romney? Not likely. 

Free Trade, Donald Trump, and Stupid Politicians

Love him or hate him, Donald Trump tells it like it is. Our politicians are selling us out. He says its because of incompetence and stupidity. Maybe so, but it is more than this. It is because of pure greed. Those politicians and leaders of big business make more money by dealing with China. They have no motivation to keep factories and jobs in the United States. They only care about how much their bonuses and salaries will be. Now there is nothing wrong with profit and big salaries, but there is something wrong, perhaps even a bit treasonous, about putting these before your country. 

What can we do? Stop buying products from our enemies when there is an alternative and question the motives of our politicians who spout out the virtues of "free trade". 

Good video. Give it a look.

Hagee Embraces Glenn Beck

Recently, prominent Christian pastor John Hagee welcomed Glenn Beck to speak at his church in Texas. Pastors Hagee's affection for Mr. Beck has not been hidden for over the past year or two as they have made prominent appearances together. The only problem here is that Glenn Beck is not a Christian. 

Is that a problem? Not really. Not really in that it is fairly common pal around with non-Christians. Yes, we are even encouraged to do so. Befriending non-Christians is one thing. Letting the speak and promoting them is something completely different.

Glenn Beck is not your ordinary non-Christian. Mr. Beck is a Mormon who purports to be a Christian.  Mormonism is not Christianity. They speak all the same words and have all the same morals on their personal conduct, but they do not worship the same God. Mormons worship a false god. Or more exactly, multiple gods. Quite different than Christianity.

Let's take a look at what King Josiah did when confronting those choosing to worship false gods. He certainly did not allow them to speak in the Temple and did not promote them in his kingdom:

And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the priests of the second order, and the doorkeepers, to bring out of the temple of the LORD all the articles that were made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven;  and he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried their ashes to Bethel. Then he removed the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense on the high places in the cities of Judah and in the places all around Jerusalem, and those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun, to the moon, to the constellations, and to all the host of heaven. And he brought out the wooden image from the house of the LORD, to the Brook Kidron outside Jerusalem, burned it at the Brook Kidron and ground [it] to ashes, and threw its ashes on the graves of the common people. Then he tore down the [ritual] booths of the perverted persons  that [were] in the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the wooden image. And he brought all the priests from the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba; also he broke down the high places at the gates which [were] at the entrance of the Gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which [were] to the left of the city gate. 2 Kings 23

Coptic Christians in Egypt Fed Up

When Christians are in the minority of a predominately Muslim country, they are persecuted. This video shows how those in Egypt are finally fed up with their Muslim overlords. Perhaps they can remember when their country was Christian and home of one of the four patriarchs of the Christian world.

When will the rest of Christianity be fed up with Islam? Will we wait until it is too late?

Steve Jobs and the Meaning of Life

WSJ: “The problem is I’m older now, I’m 40 years old, and this stuff doesn’t change the world. It really doesn’t. I’m sorry, it’s true. Having children really changes your view on these things. We’re born, we live for a brief instant, and we die. It’s been happening for a long time. Technology is not changing it much — if at all. These technologies can make life easier, can let us touch people we might not otherwise. You may have a child with a birth defect and be able to get in touch with other parents and support groups, get medical information, the latest experimental drugs. These things can profoundly influence life. I’m not downplaying that. But it’s a disservice to constantly put things in this radical new light — that it’s going to change everything. Things don’t have to change the world to be important.” [Wired, February 1996]

So Steve Jobs had a huge impact on the way we live, work, and play. He was someone who "changed the world" and we can all admire him for the nice gadgets we have today. But in the end, when men turn back to dust, what does it all mean? If we are merely some advanced microbe that was able to advance quicker to intelligent life forms than the other fragments of ooz, well it would all matter not at all. If we make someone's day a little better, someone's work a little more efficient, or make others in this short life-span of ours a little happier, the only point to it all  is if it has eternal consequences. Did Steve Jobs make the world a little better? Absolutely. Did he do it as a reflection of who he was in Christ Jesus and for the glory of God? Only he and the Lord knows. He certainly hinted that life should have more meaning in the quote above. His gadgets were not the most important thing in his life. They were important and our work is equally important, but we must understand that our time here is short. This life will soon be past, only that for Christ will last. 

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Mathew 16:26

The Blood(line) of Jesus

The bible tells us the Jesus had brother and sisters. His brothers' names were James, Joseph, Simon and Judas. He also had sisters although their names are not given. This is a very interesting fact, but usually it is not thought about very often. Jesus, the Son of Mary and Son of God, had half siblings. Since Mary's husband, Joseph was not his biological father, the only connection to his brothers and sisters is through Mary. But that is enough to make it interesting. If one thinks about it, there were several people that had the same blood in them as did the Creator of the heavens and the Earth, the One in whom all the fullness of the Godhead dwells. 

What does that mean? That means that it is likely that there is some blood relative of Jesus walking around this earth today. That is quite amazing. No. Mary, his mother, was not special of herself other than being the mother of Jesus. She is not sinless as Roman Catholics purport. She is not to be worshipped as Roman Catholics tend to do. She is merely a human like any other. However her blood ran through her first-born Son. That same blood died on a cross to save many from their sins. And it is that blood that runs through the veins of some unknowns alive today. 

It is good that we do not know who they are. Just like it is good that we do not have pieces of the true cross or the robe which Jesus wore since we are so apt to make idols of such things. So too we would likely admire and exult some blood-relative of the only Holy one. However, it is very interesting to think about nonetheless.